The Serpent (TV Mini Series) Episode #1.8 (2021) User Reviews

Very entertaining but a lot of dramatic licence

[ak2020 · 8/10 · 3 February 2021]

As with my crtique of the previous episode, this last episode only loosely follows the actual last years of Charles Sobhraj (The Serpent).

Much of the detail of his arrests and incarceration is not accurate in this final episode. Indeed, if you follow the factual account of the later years, which is well documented, it is even better than the dramatic story recounted here.

In my view, it would have made a more compelling story if there had been one more episode, giving time to recount in more detail the incredible happenings surrounding this man in the later years.

[7.5] His pompous and senseless game

[cjonesas · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

Episode 8: A hurriedly finished chapter that doesn't do real justice to the previous ones. Many matters left unexplained, accompanied by dramatized events and facts, so it seems.

As one user correctly said, it would have definitely benefited from more episodes, going into details of his final arrest before the 70s ended, (his) later years up to that arrogant and vanituous 2003 trip to Nepal, the events that followed and what ensued afterward.

Dragging it seemed superfluous to the writers, so they wrapped it up like the depicted and in the process delivered a sub-par chapter in relation to the other ones in the series' book.

I hate Knippenberg

[nicofreezer · 7/10 · 28 September 2021]

This man just became crazy about this case, he Never let him go and because of him, Charles did get caugh.

Just let it go man, why are you so obsessed by Charles ? Knippenberg was so annoying thé whole show, he clearly was boring in every scene he was in. And I think everyone just waited for the Alain scenes in every épisodes to be entertain. Dissapointed finale After 7 great episodes.

Decent enough

[Calicodreamin · 6/10 · 7 April 2021]

A decent enough ending, brings the story full circle and enjoyable short bios at the end of the real people. Very "Hollywood" ending.

Episode 8

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 19 June 2021]

This could had been the story of how Charles Sobhraj evaded justice for his killings. He even gave an infamous television interview.

A mixture of daring, cunning and luck were the weapons in Sobhraj's disposal.

He knew that he could always outsmart the authorities in India, Nepal and Thailand. They were always a few steps behind.

Like the way he he escaped from jail in India. It meant when recaptured his sentence was increased and he could not be extradited to Thailand to face murder charges. Those charges would eventually expire.

Charles Sobhraj is in jail though in Nepal. A visit to Nepal that he did not have to make led to his capture and trial.

Maybe it was vanity and arrogance but he finally slipped up.

This was an enthralling story but it could had been done in less episodes. It was too padded and Billy Howle could only do so much angst and frustration as Herman Knippenberg.

Tahar Rahim was excellent as Sobhraj and matched by Jenna Coleman as Marie-Andrée Leclerc. She too evaded justice but succumbed to cancer.