The Serpent

I have been interested in serial killers for quite some time (not that I admire them or want to emulate them). I was looking forward to the series, and I was all the more disappointed. It was mostly boring, and the constant time jumps annoyed the hell out of me. I wasn't entertained and I don’t see any point in watching this show. (12.08.2021)

I'm left with mixed feelings. The 70s atmosphere was brilliantly crafted, and I've always had a fascination with killer stories (especially serial ones), so one might expect me to enjoy this one. However, the pacing felt sluggish at times, and those constant time jumps really grated on my nerves. 3*- (08.08.2021)

Not that I was thrilled, but I found the plot of the second episode a tad better than the first one. The central couple didn't add much, but Herman Knippenberg, the fearless and honest diplomat, and his Belgian mentor, who turned out to be Lord Percy much to my delight, really carried the episode. So, amidst the occasional time jumps, I even managed to chuckle a bit. (08.08.2021)

Alright, it's becoming apparent that this series won't be making it to my list of favorites. The constant time jumps are so frequent here that I'm surprised Netflix didn't include a warning before each episode, something like "Watching may induce epileptic seizures." And then there's the recurring theme of emptying intestines in various ways, which honestly isn't my thing. (10.08.2021)

The show is getting increasingly boring and, most importantly, that wretched scum does not deserve so much space. Mr. Knippenberg will have to work hard for another four episodes and I do not envy him or myself for that matter. (10.08.2021)

The fifth episode stands out as the most thrilling of what I've seen so far. However, the tension was somewhat diminished by a plot that seemed a bit too transparent. It was almost too easy to predict the outcome - after all, there are still three episodes left, so what can the investigators really achieve? I just feel sorry for all the viewers who have ended up with nail-biting injuries during the nerve-wracking safe-cracking scene. (11.08.2021)

Once again, Herman Knippenberg's mental processes were the highlight of the episode. The scenes with the waterlilies were simply magical, and I have to give that Dutch pitbull an extra star. Whenever he appeared on screen, he kept me from falling asleep. 3*- (11.08.2021)

Another episode about the futile struggle against bureaucrats. But this theme has been hammered home in previous episodes, and I also have a lot of first-hand experience with that, so the creators didn't exactly bring anything new to the table. Then again, I wasn't expecting much from the series at this point. (12.08.2021)

A bland ending to cap off a bland series. I didn't particularly mind, I'm just glad it's over. However, to be fair and not just critical, I will say that the final photo album did intrigue me to some extent. But why Nepal when he was sentenced in Paris? That bit lost me. (12.08.2021)