When it comes to Nordic noir, Netflix consistently delivers gripping crime dramas that know how to keep audiences invested. Atmospheric cinematography, powerful performances, brutal violence and layered storytelling make it one of the platform’s biggest strengths. And that’s exactly why the return of The Chestnut Man, almost four years after its debut, was a big deal for fans of Scandinavian thrillers.
The title is Hide and Seek and it is the second novel in the series by Søren Sveistrup that is adapted in Season 2. The new season brings back familiar faces but also a new investigation and a new terrifying killer. Danica Curcic and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard are back as Naia Thulin and Mark Hess, alongside Sofie Gråbøl, Katinka Laerke Petersen, Liva Forsberg, Anders Hove and Özlem Saglanmak.
The second season picks up two and a half years after the first season, and immediately highlights a big shift in the dynamics between its two leads. Mark Hess and Naia Thulin are more than just partners now, they’re ex-lovers. Their chemistry in season 1 was obviously intended, but their relationship is already gone and done before the story begins. Mark’s two-year absence is about to end when a new murder investigation connects to a cold case in Copenhagen.
The case concerns a talkative teen girl, Emma Holst, who is murdered and her family left to search for answers. Her mother Marie is not going to let the case go cold and is determined to find the truth. Meanwhile, Zara Solak, a newly divorced woman who is trying her hand at online dating, disappears without a trace.
The link between the victims is both unsettling and deeply personal. Each woman receives cryptic text messages with countdown rhymes, turning their last days into a macabre game of hide-and-seek. When the count-down reaches zero death is unavoidable. Naia and Mark are assigned to the task force and must put aside their personal history to catch the killer before claiming another victim.
Visually, Hide and Seek retains that same chilling atmosphere that made Season 1 so memorable. Dark shadows, haunting close-ups, unsettling tracking shots, graphic crime scenes, all evoke a sense of constant unease. The tension is increased by the percussive music, the folk-inspired sound design and the isolated summer houses, making the viewer feel trapped with the characters.
One of the great strengths of the season is how it methodically unspools its mystery. All the clues are presented incrementally so that the audience can follow the investigation as it happens. Instead of exposition, the series allows viewers to piece together evidence with the detectives, making for a more immersive and rewarding experience.
The second season also leans a bit more into personal drama than the first, and mostly works. We’ve already met many of these characters, and that makes the emotional conflicts feel earned. Their flaws, their complicated relationships and unresolved tensions add depth to the investigation and raise the personal stakes.
Danica Curcic and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard are strong as Naia and Mark, especially as their unfinished business complicates their professional partnership. But it is Sofie Gråbøl who steals the show as Marie, a grieving mother willing to cross every line in pursuit of justice. She delivers one of the season’s defining performances, particularly as the story enters its stunning final chapters.
That said, not every creative decision is a home run. The progression of Mark and Naia’s relationship sometimes feels rushed, making some emotional beats harder to fully buy into. Meanwhile, Naia’s daughter gets more screen time, but her story never quite lands the emotional punch it seems to promise.
And then there’s the season’s most discussed moment – the mid-season twist.
Not to give away any spoilers, but let’s just say the twist totally changes the course of the story. It is bold, unexpected and guaranteed to get viewers talking. It will add emotional weight and unpredictability and heighten the season for some. To some, it can be an infuriating decision that diminishes one of the show’s best characters.
Hide and Seek may not quite achieve the same level of precision and balance as Season 1, but it’s still a stylish and engaging continuation of the series. There are a couple of iffy narrative choices and one hugely contentious twist that prevent it from being a perfect sequel, but its solid performances, atmospheric directing and engrossing mystery still make it a worthy return for fans of Nordic crime drama.
