One of the most overlooked thrillers on Netflix has officially returned. The Chestnut Man, a 2021 show based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Søren Sveistrup, revolves around a killer who leaves creepy little figurines at the scene of his crimes and the law enforcement professionals who must team up to catch him. A Danish series, the first season is excellent and a perfect example of the Nordic noir subgenre, which is known for its complex characters, bleak subject matter, and slow-burn storytelling.

It’s been five years, but The Chestnut Man has finally returned for a second go-round, this time subtitled Hide and Seek. Season 2 is based on Sveistrup’s new book — also called Hide and Seek — which was published in Danish in 2024. The wait has paid off, because the second season of The Chestnut Man currently has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes just like the first, which puts it in rarefied company.

The new season reunites Copenhagen detective Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and Europol officer Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) and puts them on the hunt for a new killer who stalks his victims, taunts them with creepy rhymes, and ultimately murders them.

The show takes place after an actual five-year gap, and a lot has happened in between. Most notably, Naia and Mark tried dating, but it ended badly. That gives their relationship a texture it didn’t have in the first season, adding a bit of interpersonal drama to the mix. As Decider writes, “The Chestnut Man: Hide And Seek is as creepy as the original season of The Chestnut Man, with the case at hand enhanced by the now-established personal and professional relationship between Naia and Mark.”

ScreenRant weighed in with a very positive review, praising the second season of The Chestnut Man for being more action-packed and having richer character development than the first:

After watching The Chestnut Man Season 1, I was afraid there was no way that Hide and Seek could quite live up to expectations, as the Danish crime thriller series’ first season is near-perfect. Well, Hide and Seek manages to impress anyone who might have doubted its strength. The show’s new mystery hits the right notes, being just as creepy and moody as Season 1, while providing a deeper exploration of its main characters…The new season feels like the show has evolved in the years it was away, and the result is what I believe to be one of the best seasons for any show on Netflix.

RogerEbert.com isn’t quite as enthusiastic about Hide and Seek, noting that while the show isn’t “groundbreaking” in any way, it will still satisfy people who enjoy this kind of story:

The series is incredibly atmospheric, boasting moody visuals, muted colors, and a generally claustrophobic feel. It’s definitely not a drama for the faint of heart—there’s lots of violence, death, and some fairly grisly kills—but it’s tense and tastefully shot. It wrestles with frequently difficult subject matter without sensationalizing its worst elements. And there are several major surprises, including a dramatic mid-season twist that completely (and unexpectedly) reshapes much of the story, and a final reveal that is less overtly telegraphed than the conclusion of its predecessor.

Admittedly, there aren’t many reviews in for The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek yet. Only five counted at the moment, which is down from nine for Season 1. Still, that just adds to the sense that this show is an overlooked gem just waiting to be discovered.

All six episodes of The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek are available to stream now on Netflix.