Television: The Serpent

[kingofallasians]

This is a show that takes place during the 70's and it's main location is in Thailand.  I believe it's on Netflix and was originally on the BBC.

 

Anyone else watching it?  I am and it's making me scared as hell to go back to Thailand.  It's such a good story.

[yeahbutif]

Yes only watch the first one but was good.thought it was a movie.when it finished I thought funny way to end. But then realized it was a series.but can't get them without going Via a VPN so  too slow.

[Kwasaki]

Don't come back that's OK. 

[northsouthdevide]

I think you'll be OK to come back now, as it was in the 1970's and all of the characters are old and frail by now.

Saying that, if you do return, I think it best that you don't flash any expensive gems or travelers cheques around any nightclubs or hotel lobby's and you'll be OK ????

[Jeffr2]

Just starting it now!

[Tony M]

It's fairly superficial, even though it is a long series. There are several good books that give much more background, and have actual photos. Sobhraj didn't operate only in Thailand, but also in India.  He escaped from prison a couple of times in India, from the main, and biggest, prison in Delhi. Try "The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj" and "Serpentine".

[mvdf]

Just finished all episodes. May he continue to rot in Kathmandu prison. 

 

Knippenberg should be awarded royalties and proceeds of the film for his unselfish efforts to bring this criminal to justice. 

[heybuz]

On 4/9/2021 at 7:58 PM, yeahbutif said:

Yes only watch the first one but was good.thought it was a movie.when it finished I thought funny way to end. But then realized it was a series.but can't get them without going Via a VPN so  too slow.

seen them all he is in prison in bhutan i think ,for life, has tried two appeals both failed  and in poor health.

[jesimps]

34 minutes ago, mvdf said:

Just finished all episodes. May he continue to rot in Kathmandu prison. 

 

Knippenberg should be awarded royalties and proceeds of the film for his unselfish efforts to bring this criminal to justice. 

I was in the Brit foreign service at the time he got nicked in Delhi. He was staying in the Ashoka Hotel where he made a hole in the floor of his room to rob the jewellers below. The vice-consul who was a drinking mate of mine used to have to visit Brit backpackers in Tihar jail on an almost daily basis and got to know him quite well. My mate said that Sobhraj was almost running the place and had all the guards in the palm of his hand. Probably why he was able to escape so easily.

[Fairynuff]

Watched it all a couple of months ago. Thought it was excellent and really great to see how they cut in some old footage of Bangkok.

[whaleboneman]

Thanks. Now I don't have to watch it.

[sandyf]

On 4/9/2021 at 4:58 PM, yeahbutif said:

Yes only watch the first one but was good.thought it was a movie.when it finished I thought funny way to end. But then realized it was a series.but can't get them without going Via a VPN so  too slow.

I have seen the whole series, very good.

I use Kodi and not  problem, don't need a VPN.

[kwak250]

I watched it a few months ago while staying near "The Legend" which i wqlked past to my hotel each day and then found out the apartments he was staying at is now where the legend stands .

It didnt affect the price of the apartments i think they are selling for 30-40m baht

[kwak250]

I also didnt need vpn when you use the pirate ship...

[Darksidedude]

Great series i had not heard of this evil person before.

[TigerandDog]

On 4/9/2021 at 4:58 PM, yeahbutif said:

Yes only watch the first one but was good.thought it was a movie.when it finished I thought funny way to end. But then realized it was a series.but can't get them without going Via a VPN so  too slow.

Watched it earlier this year. excellent series. You don't need a VPN to watch, you can Download as a Magnet download and watch without any buffering involved.

[clivebaxter]

The Kannit house was in Saladeang demolished in the 90's so they filmed at a house in Suk soi 4, just before that was knocked down. You could not get away with his passport frauds today of course with computerisation. Nobody knows what happed to his mate, maybe killed by him in Malaysia, a sighting in Europe was never confirmed. Good portrayal of the Thai cops but not of the cheery, have a nice trip immigration officers at passport control.

[Saltire]

Just watched the last episode last night, quite enjoyed it.

 

Unusually the wife watched it with me in English on Netflix, all 8 episodes.

 

I'm pretty sure she thought it was a Thai soap ????

 

 

[TimBKK]

Glad this was posted as was wondering if it is worth a watch - sounds like it is ????

[pmarlowe]

the first book Serpentine by Tom Thompson came out in late 70s or early 80s. seems to be primary source material. I read the footage of 70s BKK was not actually cut in but shot in locations where they could make it look dated to the period.

[greenmonkey]

I just finished watching it on Netflix. After the first episode I nearly binned it as I thought it was a bit lightweight with poor acting. However, glad I stuck with it because it does tell a fascinating tale and I was pretty gripped.

 

Now. Whilst I deplore everything about this man and his actions, leaving aside his psychotic personality - am I the only one that did have a slight feeling of admiration? I couldn't help thinking that his unwavering self belief, ambition, ability to charm and manipulate was something else. Had he channeled his efforts into a legitimate business - this is a guy that would have been hugely successful.

[Tubulat]

A few months ago I downloaded from TPB, very nice serie.

[newnative]

Just finished it the other day and I thought it was excellent.  I, too, had never heard of this guy.  Happy he was finally caught and locked up.  Very good production values--so much well-done tv these days.  

[Dirk Z]

Interesting but too long. Funny language issues like two Dutch men speaking English together. Poor French of the French Canadian girl. Direct phone calls from a hotel lobby to Paris, 1976? Cars in Paris with right hand drive. But the story is ok and the Dutch staff member of the embassy certainly to be praised.

[RocketDog]

3 hours ago, sandyf said:

I have seen the whole series, very good.

I use Kodi and not  problem, don't need a VPN.

Or just get a torrent client (P2P) for your computer and download the whole series. I never watch anything live any more. Just put it on a memory stick and plug into your TV. I've usually got several seasons of various TV series and a few dozen movies on one most of the time. Search for 1337x.

I usually also download subtitle files as well from Subscene. 

The entire universe of entertainment from dozens of providers is open to you at no cost. 

[Caldera]

I watched it on Netflix and I liked it. Scary stuff. 

[Mahseer]

The question remains why would a mass murderer living life as a free man in France return to Nepal where he knows he is wanted for murder? And even when journalists started questioning his identity he still didn't flee. 

[clivebaxter]

1 hour ago, Mahseer said:

The question remains why would a mass murderer living life as a free man in France return to Nepal where he knows he is wanted for murder? And even when journalists started questioning his identity he still didn't flee. 

 

1. He craved fame and notoriety 2. He thought he was too smart to be charged as he was there before on fake passport under another name, he did not think the gf confession would be known about.

I thought a bit too much back and forth on the time line and over acting on the part of the Dutchman.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, RocketDog said:

Or just get a torrent client (P2P) for your computer and download the whole series. I never watch anything live any more. Just put it on a memory stick and plug into your TV. I've usually got several seasons of various TV series and a few dozen movies on one most of the time. Search for 1337x.

I usually also download subtitle files as well from Subscene. 

The entire universe of entertainment from dozens of providers is open to you at no cost. 

What do you think Kodi does? Very little live TV available through Kodi.

Why mess about downloading with a torrent client when you can open Kodi and watch straight off any of the available links including torrents. The Seren addon only searches torrent links.

Link description often indicates if subtitles are embedded but if not you have the option to add subtitles, often do it on English programmes to make it easier for my wife.

 

[RocketDog]

38 minutes ago, sandyf said:

What do you think Kodi does? Very little live TV available through Kodi.

Why mess about downloading with a torrent client when you can open Kodi and watch straight off any of the available links including torrents. The Seren addon only searches torrent links.

Link description often indicates if subtitles are embedded but if not you have the option to add subtitles, often do it on English programmes to make it easier for my wife.

 

Ok, good info. I don' know much about Kodi, but it seems complicated to me.

Thanks for the info.