The Serpent: Murder and Mystery on the Hippie Trail

The Serpent is the true story of Charles Sobhraj; a French serial killer who drugged, robbed, and killed numerous young travelers in South Asia in the 1970s. The victims were primarily Westerners with no more than a backpack on them (and lots of traveler’s checks) traveling through Bangkok on their way to Katmandu or other exotic locations; the so-called hippie trail. He stole their passports and identities to travel the world and sell stolen gems. A Dutch diplomat investigates the deaths of two of his countrymen and begins a life-defining mission as he discovers that are many more similar, suspicious deaths. The Serpent is a BBC production now airing on Netflix with 8 one-hour shows.

Tahar Rahim plays the lead role. At first, I wasn’t sure he was dynamic and charismatic enough to get all those young people so quickly under his spell. But it’s his calm, cool authority that comforts these travelers in a strange land thousands of miles from home. (I wasn’t familiar with him, but I plan to watch The Mauritanian with Jodie Foster soon for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.) Doctor Who fans will know Jenna Coleman who plays Charles’ girlfriend and accomplice. In her stylish clothes, shades, and French accent, she looks the perfect partner for a international gem dealer. The Dutch diplomat (Herman) and his wife (Angela), along with Charles’ right-hand man (Ajay) and neighbor (Nadine) all play compelling roles.

One aspect of the show must be discussed – the jumping back and forth in time and place frequently. Chyrons (the electronically generated captions we’ve all grown accustomed to) announce these changes for us. You will see immediately that this show overindulges in non-linear storytelling. It’s quite something to get used to as it jumps from “six months later” to “three months earlier” to “six months later” sometimes in quick succession. It appears that this trait alone ruined the show for many viewers. I would suggest sticking with it. As the suspense grows you get used to it. Here are some more good reasons to keep watching:

The Chase: The show picks up tension as Herman’s investigation gets deeper and other players enter the story, particularly neighbor Nadine and her brave evidence-gathering missions. The cat and mouse game between Herman, Charles, and the local authorities is tense.

The Sights: The series was filmed on location in Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand until March, 2020. The filming finished in England after a five-month shutdown due to COVID-19. You can feel the heat, sweat, bugs, and chaos of a tropical urban environment. The clothing and hair styles of the ’70s looks authentic and not costume-y.

The Sounds: The soundtrack by French musician Dominik Scherrer is a contemporary take on traditional Thai instruments. It sets the mood of the time and place. So do the rock and roll tunes: Joni Mitchell’s “Coyote,” Harry Nilsson’s “Jump into the Fire,” James Gang’s “Funk #49,” Rolling Stones’ “Fingerprint File” (perfectly edgy here), and the maybe too obvious, but still apropos, Bob Seger’s “Katmandu.”

The Story: This is a true story! You can’t make this stuff up. It’s tragic. It’s bizarre. It highlights the remarkable dedication of Herman. And it leaves us with many questions. How many people did Charles kill? 15? 20? What happened to Ajay? Why did Charles go back to Katmandu in 2003?

The End: Epilogues are always interesting to me. What happened to them, where are they now, and what did they really look like? This is a good finale as it confirms that we may never know the answer to many questions and highlights the interesting lives of key people. All set to the tune of the Stones’ “Moonlight Mile.”

D² Rating ◼◼◼◼☐

Trivia ? – Part of The Serpent takes place in this area of India known for its beaches.

Answer: Goa