"The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek" is a Serviceably Grim Nordic Noir Thriller

"Usually quite a bit darker than your average crime thriller, these stories often feature familiar plot beats garnished with unflinching violence and complex supporting characters. Netflix's "The Chestnut Man" is one of the better recent examples of this phenomenon, a Danish thriller from 2021 that follows the investigation into a string of serial murders, all marked by the inclusion of a disturbing chestnut figurine alongside various mutilated dead bodies."

"Now, five years later, Netflix is returning to the Nordic noir well with "The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek". A standalone sequel that's based on another book by author Søren Sveistrup, who is probably best known as the creator of the internationally acclaimed drama "The Killing," it's a follow-up that ticks many of the same narrative boxes that made its predecessor so successful, and even cribs its name for some added brand awareness. Technically, viewers don't even need to have seen the original to enjoy this installment."

"The six-episode sequel re-teams the unorthodox pair of seasoned Copenhagen detective Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and Europol interloper Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) for a completely new investigation. The pair's pre-existing emotional connection is the show's only real link to its predecessor, but "Hide and Seek" adds some new context by confirming that the two attempted a romantic relationship in the unseen multi-year gap between the two seasons, and their subsequent (also offscreen) break-up has left plenty of unresolved tension between them."

A Danish Nordic noir sequel follows a new investigation into serial murders marked by a disturbing chestnut figurine and mutilated bodies. The six-episode story re-teams Copenhagen detective Naia Thulin and Europol interloper Mark Hess, whose only direct connection to the earlier case is their emotional history. The sequel adds context by confirming they attempted a romantic relationship during the gap between installments and later broke up, leaving unresolved tension. The narrative maintains familiar crime-thriller beats with moody visuals, flawed protagonists, bleak subject matter, unflinching violence, and a slow-burn approach. Viewers can enjoy the installment without having seen the earlier series.

Read at Roger Ebert