The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek Episode 4 starts with Mark still searching for Peter and Sandra interrogating Lena, Ditte’s girlfriend. Lena hopes the pair are in the tavern in Praesto, a place associated with their wedding memories.
In the tavern, Ditte tries to calm Peter down and makes coffee. The peaceful moment is shattered by terror as the lights go out. Peter disappears and a phone starts playing the familiar countdown rhyme. Ditte arrives and is greeted by a chilling text message: ‘I found you.’
Moments later police arrive on a gruesome scene. Peter seems to have hacked Ditte to death with an axe before shooting himself.
Naia’s Death Leaves Everyone Devastated Aksel is forced to tell Le the devastating news that Naia has been murdered, leaving her absolutely shattered.
In the meantime, Marie meets Anders and Signe offers to help. Bo, who was fired because he had an affair with Silje, has an alibi for the night Emma disappeared. Anders feels sorry for Marie and puts her on leave, but the meeting is interrupted when Signe reveals that the media are already reporting Peter as Emma’s killer.
Mark Disbelieves the Official Version
The investigators confirmed that the axe found at the tavern was the same one used to kill Zara. There is evidence, but Mark refuses to believe Peter was the stalker.
The task force also finds out that Naia is also a target. Mark is guilt-ridden, believing that he should have noticed the danger sooner. Esra tells him to take a leave of absence and see a counselor, but he refuses.
Instead, he is told to return Naia’s stuff. Aksel is visiting Le, but makes it clear that Mark is not welcome and asks him to stay away from the place.
Marie Struggles to Balance Family & Grief
Marie wants answers but Esra doesn’t give her any clear details.
Things only get tougher at home. Marie forgets Molly’s dentist appointment and practice and Michael and Thor are annoyed. Marie attempts to explain the chaos that surrounds the investigation but her family is tired of being pushed aside.
It becomes painfully obvious that Marie cannot dissociate herself from Emma’s case.
Le Seeks Comfort From Mark
Overcome with grief, Le turns to Mark for comfort and asks if she can stay with him.
Mark loves her deeply, but he also knows he can’t be the family she needs now. Instead, he takes her back to Aksel’s house, and gives her Jon’s canary as a little comfort.
New Evidence Points to a Third Killer
Working alone, Mark convinces the coroner that Peter may not have committed suicide. He suspects that the stalker might have killed Peter with the axe first and then staged the rifle shot later.
CCTV footage supports his theory. Cameras captured a car near the tavern the night of the murders, and blood near the front entrance suggests another person was there.
When a video from a nearby shed shows a parked car at the scene, Mark is convinced that a third person is behind the murders.
He asks Sandra to find the car. She’s concerned about Mark’s obsession and agrees to help.
The Past Begins to Come Back
Emma’s family starts sorting through her belongings, and everyone is feeling very emotional. A simple baseball cap that says “Stay Gold Girl” becomes a painful reminder of what they’ve lost.
Meanwhile, investigators discover that Naia had been investigating a murder from 1992. Old interrogation tapes come in and Mark gets hooked right away.
He suggests his third-person theory to Esra, but she rejects it when forensic evidence shows DNA from both Emma and Zara on the axe. There was also the suspicion that Peter had once been Emma’s soccer coach.
But Mark will not believe that Peter is to blame. Esra sends him home after an emotional clash.
Before he leaves, Mark secretly snags the 1992 tapes.
A Shocking Final Revelation
Finally Esra tells Marie that Peter is suspected of killing Emma. The family breaks down in tears as they hug each other, unaware that they are being watched from afar.
Mark is back in his hotel, watching the old interrogation tapes of Staal, the killer from ’92.
As the recording continues, Staal begins discussing cuckoo birds pushing other birds’ eggs out of the nest, an unsettling metaphor that foreshadows deeper connections yet to be uncovered.
Episode 4 Recap:
In Episode 4, we get one of the most emotionally intense chapters of the season so far. Naia’s death changes everything. Every major character goes into grief, confusion, and emotional instability.
The tension is compelling, as Mark refuses to believe the evidence, especially when new surveillance footage supports his theory of a third killer. Marie’s personal struggles at the same time add a human touch that keeps the story grounded.
Killing off such an important character halfway through the season is a bold and risky move. If handled well it could take the story in even darker emotional territory. Otherwise it can be seen as shock value.
Either way, Episode 4 raises the stakes considerably, leaving viewers with big questions going into the next chapter.
