Netflix and Acorn TV viewers have discovered a hidden gem in Hidden Assets, the Irish-Belgian crime drama that’s quietly become one of the most bingeable international thrillers on streaming. Created by Peter McKenna (Kin, Red Rock), the series premiered its first season in 2021 on RTÉ and Acorn TV, with Season 2 following in 2023 and a third season airing on RTÉ in November 2025. Now available globally on platforms like AMC+, Prime Video, and select Netflix regions, this taut procedural has earned a devoted following for its sharp writing, cross-border intrigue, and unflinching look at corruption—from diamond smuggling to terrorism financing. With a 7.2 IMDb rating and praise for its “dense, juicy plot” (The Guardian), Hidden Assets is the smart, stylish crime fix fans of The Bridge and Line of Duty have been craving.
The story follows Detective Sergeant Emer Berry (Angeline Ball, Acceptable Risk), a tenacious officer with Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), who uncovers rough diamonds during a routine raid on a small-time Limerick drug dealer. The find links to a series of bombings in Antwerp, forcing Emer to team with Christian De Jong (Wouter Hendrickx), a brooding Belgian counter-terrorism detective. What starts as asset seizure spirals into an international conspiracy involving ruthless business tycoons, political corruption, and a shadowy family dynasty with fingers in diamonds, drugs, and terror. Season 1’s six episodes build relentlessly to a cliffhanger that demands continuation, while Season 2 shifts to cyber-attacks and corporate espionage, and Season 3 explores Dublin-Bilbao ties.
Ball’s Emer is the standout—a no-nonsense Irish cop whose moral compass clashes with Hendrickx’s by-the-book Belgian, their culture-clash chemistry crackling. Supporting cast shines: Simone Kirby as the enigmatic Bibi Brannigan, Aaron Monaghan as Emer’s loyal colleague, and Nora-Jane Noone as DS Claire Wallace in later seasons. McKenna’s script weaves real-world issues—money laundering, elite impunity—into propulsive storytelling, with directors Thaddeus O’Sullivan and Kadir Balci capturing Limerick’s grit and Antwerp’s sleek menace.
Critics rave: “Superbly dark and twisted” (The Guardian) for Season 2, “Sunday’s best!” (Irish Mail on Sunday) for Season 3. Viewers binge: “Better than most Scandi-noir—twists you don’t see coming” (@CrimeDramaFan, 50k likes).
Hidden Assets isn’t flashy—it’s smart, suspenseful, and deeply satisfying. Stream Seasons 1-3 now on Acorn TV/AMC+ (Season 3 rolling out). The assets are hidden; the thrills aren’t.
