As the 5th episode begins, we’re transported to March 11, 1976 in Bangkok. Nadine (Mathilde Warnier) gets a call from Angela (Ellie Bamber) who tells her that the police will be there this afternoon as Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim) listens to the conversation. With Charles listening, Nadine abruptly hangs on and that concerns Nadine and Herman (Billy Howle). Angela is worried he is with her while Charles asks about Angela. Nadine claims she is some woman who is trying to learn Mah-Jong but Nadine doesn’t like her and doesn’t want to hang out with her. Charles says that is Angela’s loss before Nadine agrees it is time to go. After the intro, Paul Siemons (Tim McInnerny) visits Herman and learns that Major General Janthasin has agreed to send police into Kanit House but under the pretext of a narcotics raid.

However, Herman is worried that Gautier heard Nadine’s conversation. He is trying to get the Major General to move faster since they didn’t think Nadine would get trapped there. Paul agrees to go there right away so he checks his handgun and leaves. Meanwhile, Ajay (Amesh Edireweera) tells Charles that he found Nadine snooping around yesterday before reminding him how close she was with Dominique. Charles confirms he sees these things too. Marie-Andree Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) tells Nadine she thinks she is through with Asia now and Alain is moving the business to Europe so they’ll move there as well. They won’t be leaving for a few months, but Marie wants to be there and Charles will be introducing her to his mother. Charles and Ajay come down with drinks and Ajay specifically gives one to Nadine.

She tries to turn it down but they put pressure on her to try it. She relents and shares a toast with Charles to their friendship. Herman contacts Angela who says Remi is going out of his mind and Herman says he is feeling the same. When the Major General calls, Herman pleads with him and explains a woman’s life is in danger. Charles pulls his abs magic trick on one man before telling Nadine it is her turn, but she doesn’t want to. Marie tries to get him to lay off of her too. Seconds later, Ajay enters and reminds Monique they should go since she is having a dress made and needs to try it on. She isn’t sure when she’ll get back. The Major General makes a move sooner. Captain Chupong (Charlie Ruedpokanon) grabs a gun and tells his men to get ready. Paul rushes to reach Kanit House but the traffic is horrible.

Charles tries to force Nadine to punch him in the stomach but she wonders if she should go. She stops resisting and barely punches him but not hard enough. She punches him hard and complains she sprained her wrist. She wants to get ice for it but Charles grabs her hand to check it and says he finds it hard to understand that Dominique didn’t say anything to her. She says she hasn’t heard anything from him before Charles says he didn’t have a passport or money. He torques her hand while saying it is hard to understand how he left. They agree they miss him before Charles pops her wrist back into place and offers to show her why it hurt. He shows her how to make a fist and punch by driving his fist into her stomach. While she wretches in pain, Charles says he knows she helped Dominique and he wonders who is going to help her. The others watch as Nadine asks to go home before Paul gets out of his vehicle and walks.

He makes it to Kanit House and grabs his firearm under his jacket. He calls Nadine’s name so she breaks free from Charles, hugs Paul, and tells him they’re not here. She tells Charles that Paul works with Remi. He invites Paul to join them but Paul says no because he can’t stand the heat. Paul speaks to her in private and tells her about the police coming earlier, but she says they’re not here. She is worried and says the police needs to arrest all three of them or she and Remi will be dead. Paul tells her she needs to go back down and keep Charles where they can see him. Before Herman can leave, Lawana (Apasiri Kulthanan) tells him there is a call from Paul and it is urgent so he rushes back inside. Herman is forced to call the Major General and asks him to delay the raid. Charles checks on Nadine who tells him he doesn’t punch hard and she wants to swim.

He watches her as she gets into her swimsuit and climbs into the pool. Herman explains everything to the Major General who calls his team and tells them to wait until all three suspects are in the apartment. The convoy pulls over and waits for new orders. Paul keeps an eye on Charles and Nadine from the balcony above. Monique arrives with Ajay and asks Nadine if everything is okay before Paul quickly calls Herman and gives him to okay. The convoy begins moving again. Charles grabs his key and hides it and tries to destroy evidence. He tells Monique and Ajay that there is nothing to fear as long as they listen to him before ordering Monique to deal with the gems. He tells them to trust him before the police burst in and put them all in handcuffs. Since there is no key to the safe, the authorities decide to take the whole thing.

Before Charles is led away, he notices the blueprint Nadine drew for cops on the table nearby. Then, we jump back two days and watch as Charles, Monique, and Ajay return from their trip. They learn about Dominique’s disappearance and check the safe. The only thing that is missing is Dominique’s passport. They discuss whether he could’ve changed the passport. They don’t think he could’ve so they wonder if Nadine might’ve helped him. Charles says nothing changes. They go to the post office to see if his parents wrote to him and run into Nadine. When asked, she denies knowing anything about his disappearance. Later that night, Remi gets worried and meets up with them before Charles gives Nadine her commission. When they leave, Monique wonders if it is safe to stay but Charles says she needs to trust him and all will be well.

Later, Charles meets with Suda (Chicha Amatayakul) and tries to explain that he was working while away. He gives her money in hopes of smoothing things over with her. He claims this is the moment they’ve been waiting for and it will set them up forever. She finds out he is leaving again, but he says he will return before giving her a jewelry box. He wants to marry her and wants hundreds of babies. Ajay tells them congratulations before Charles admits he needs to take the dog back to Monique. He gives Suda his briefcase and asks her to look after it for a few days. When she leaves, Ajay asks Charles what he is going to do with Monique, but Charles says that isn’t for him to worry about. Charles tells him about his plan to move back and forth while making more money than they could ever spend. Suda gets a call from Charles later and tells him about dinner.

She puts the gems away after that. Charles confirms to Ajay that they’re all set before we jump three hours later and see the suspects at the jail. They’re forced to remove their possession and jewelry before they’re moved. Paul and Nadine return to Herman’s place and celebrate the arrests. They drink wine through the evening until Herman gets a call from the police station. He goes to the station with Paul and learns that nobody is denying it is Gautier’s apartment, but there is no Gautier. Herman shows them a picture of Ajay with Charles. The officer says he is an American citizen before showing them a passport belonging to David Alan Gore. They try to explain everything to the Captain but he won’t listen and says they have no reason to hold any of them. Herman asks to speak to the Major General before the captain reminds him he was put in charge of the investigation.

Again, Herman tries to convince him that the passport is a forgery. They look through the passport and see that the man has been all around the world. Herman says the man in the passport photo is Alain Gautier and this is what he does. Herman asks about the safe but he is told they can’t open the safe without the owner being there. They’ll need Gautier. Paul finds that funny and asks if there is a real police officer around. Herman asks Paul to leave so he can handle it and he does but he isn’t sure it’ll work. Then, Herman learns the release papers are already being prepared. He quickly tries to change the officer’s name. Moments later, he joins Paul outside and tells him they’re going to hold the suspects until noon.

They’ll need to prove that the man is Gautier but Paul says he is finished. Herman admits they might not be able to prove that but they can prove he is not who he says he is. Paul reminds him that Nadine said Gautier knew people in the force and they’re protecting him. Despite the argument, Paul agrees to help him get a car so he can reach the Americans. Alain is allowed to see Monique who is taking it hard. He encourages her to remember who she is because she is not a criminal. She asks if Suda’s father is going to help them and he admits he has made a few friends around here. Herman calls Gilbert Redland (Adam Rothenberg) in hopes of getting his help. Redland is convinced Herman’s problem might be connected to a little problem that landed on his desk and won’t get off of it. Suda and her dad argue about Alain’s arrest for drugs and she says he barely even drinks. She asks if he can help but he reminds her that he is a Traffic Sergeant and he wouldn’t help if he could.

Angela and Herman meet with Gilbert who gives them information about a missing tourist from California. Herman says he hasn’t come across her but she is precisely the sort of person Gautier destroys. Angela tells Gilbert about everything Herman has accomplished and Herman says he is confident Gautier is responsible. The suspects continue waiting in jail while Gilbert and Herman try to work on the Gore lead. They meet with the Captain to discuss it and Gilbert says the passport would be a good fake. He says he wants to talk to him. They go across the way to talk to Gautier but Herman thinks he should stay in the shadows because he wants to stop him from finding a connection between him and Nadine. Gilbert enters alone and tries to connect with Charles who says he finds it hard to believe Gautier has done anything wrong either. When asked, Charles says he didn’t think Gautier was a drug dealer but he was generous.

Gilbert asks him about being from Iowa and Charles says he is. He says his accent doesn’t sound it so Charles says he spent a lot of time with his parents in Puerto Rico. Charles is shown pictures of Teresa and asked about her but Charles doesn’t recall her. Gilbert returns to Herman and admits he doesn’t know. Herman convinces him to talk to Monique next. He shows her pictures of Teresa and asks about her. She seems moved by Teresa’s story and nearly burns her fingers with her cigarette but she denies knowing Teresa. When Gilbert leaves, he agrees with Herman that something isn’t right. He promises to do what he can to get it checked out. Next, Alain calls Suda and tells her it is just a misunderstanding. He claims a Dutch diplomat is setting them up before asking about his briefcase and she confirms she still has it. He believes someone has taken pity on him and he’ll be out soon.

She checks the briefcase when the call ends and it is still there. When Herman returns, Lawana tells him Redland is calling. Redland confirms that David Alan Gore was drugged and robbed in Hong Kong. He gave a full description of his attackers. Herman goes to Angela, Remi, and Nadine to tell them that Redland has found the real David Alan Gore. He says it is everything they need and Remi and Nadine can go home. Herman spends the night with Angela and he admits he can’t stop thinking about Gautier in that interview room. They discuss his decision not to go into the interview room with Gautier and Herman says he wasn’t afraid. One of the officers places all of the jewelry into an envelope. Later that night, Redland calls Herman again and tells him that someone left the doors open and the suspects just walked out. Herman meets with Redland and the Major General as they belittle the Captain for the mistake.

The Captain says he’ll find out who was responsible but the Major General wants the paperwork now. Nadine and Remi notice someone in Gautier’s apartment across the way. Remi isn’t worried about it, but Nadine is. Herman asks about the safe but again the captain says they can’t open it. The Major General doesn’t agree with that and orders him to open it now. Remi showers while Nadine goes outside and watches the couple’s apartment. She goes upstairs to investigate further and finds the door cracked. Meanwhile, they work on opening Gautier’s safe. Nadine is surprised to find Ajay in the apartment.

He tells her that she doesn’t know Alain at all before accusing her of drawing the map. He also mentioned her Dutch friend. Ajay tells her he won’t forget it before we find that Charles has moved in with Suda and her father. Charles understands why her father feels the way he does before taking Suda’s ring so he can fix a bent claw. He goes down and grabs his briefcase as the safe is opened. They find that the safe is completely empty. Charles has everything with him, including the passports and gems. Ajay tells Nadine they’ll be watching her before he leaves. Charles joins Monique in a taxi and gives her Suda’s ring. He says here comes the future and the taxi pulls away. Herman isn’t so happy when he gets into his own vehicle.

 

The Serpent Review

The Serpent just keeps getting better and better. I can undoubtedly say it is one of the best shows I’ve watched during the past few months. Some of the flashbacks are difficult to follow, but I can overlook that. The Serpent shows what needs to be done with true-crime dramas. It is intense, thorough, and so dang entertaining.

The actors and actresses are captivating as are their respective characters. Although I won’t be able to, I could easily binge watch the entire season right now. I can’t say that about a lot of other recent shows because they’ve failed to hold my attention.

The Serpent has. It is one of the few recent shows I can recommend. This episode was excellent so I’d give it an 8.5 out of 10. Looking for past and future recaps of The Serpent? They’ll be available on Reel Mockery here.