The second episode dives right back in with Mark Hess poring over archived footage from the Kristine Hartung case. He watches the confession of Linus Bekker, a man who claims to have murdered the missing girl with a machete. Bekker recounts the killing in chilling detail, yet something feels off. This poses the question: was the Hartung case really solved, or is the real killer still out there?.
As the episode unfolds on a rainy Monday in October, Naia Thulin continues her investigation into the murder of Laura Kjær. She presses Laura’s fiancé, Hans Henrik Hauge, about the chestnut man figurine and why the locks have been changed on his home without his knowledge. Hauge remains evasive, his demeanour shifty and his lack of a solid alibi enough to raise red flags. Meanwhile, Hess grows increasingly convinced that the two cases are linked. He challenges the official narrative around Kristine’s supposed death, pointing out a crucial forensic inconsistency: the alleged murder weapon showed traces of blood but no bone fragments which should have been present if it had been used to dismember a body. To prove his point, Hess resorts to an unorthodox, and somewhat grim, demonstration involving a pig carcass and a similar machete. Thulin, initially sceptical, begins to see merit in Hess’s theory. Their partnership evolves subtly here, with moments of reluctant collaboration that hint at growing mutual respect. These are two cops who both want a way out of their current roles but are committed to the job.
The episode expands the web of suspects and victims effectively. An anonymous audio clip sent to Laura Kjær’s phone leads the team to Erik Sejer-Lassen. During his arrest, the police find that he has been mailed Laura’s severed hand. At the same time, his wife, Anne, discovers a chestnut man doll placed ominously near family photos in her home. Anne’s growing fear in intercut the police’s race to her house, creating a ticking-clock urgency. The detectives arrive too late, and Anne becomes the Chestnut Man’s second victim, her body discovered in brutal condition, this time with both hands missing. The crime scene maintains the show’s commitment to gritty realism, rain-soaked, dimly lit, and devoid of glamour, amplifying the horror. This murder seemingly clears Hauge as he was with his lawyer at the time.
In the background, Rosa Hartung’s sub-plot is building with her torn between resuming her duties in parliament and the fresh torment of seeing her daughter’s fingerprint linked to new murders. Rosa navigates the political world versus rival Gert Bukke, attempting to advance policies on children’s care while concealing her personal turmoil. Threatening emails and ‘Murderer’ spray on her car add a layer of conspiracy, suggesting the killer’s game extends into the corridors of power. Also, her husband wants the investigation into their daughter disappearance reopened and is starting to dig around himself but she just wants him to let it go, suggesting that she may know more than she is letting on.
The episode builds to a thrilling and creepy climax at Hauge’s house. The two detectives go back there to interview the neighbours after finding the Laura had been anonymously reported for mistreating her son. After discovering a disturbing basement setup, Hess is assaulted by a black clad figure and trapped underground. Thulin confront the assailant who is revealed to be Hauge. The tense standoff that quickly escalates into physical violence. Hauge’s sudden aggression catches the detective off guard, leading to a raw, frantic struggle filled with overturned furniture and a desperate escape. The sequence is shot with intense, handheld energy that heightens the immediacy and danger, breaking from the show’s usual measured pacing to deliver visceral action. It culminates in a shocking discovery and a narrow escape that leaves crucial evidence potentially compromised, while underscoring the unpredictable nature of the suspects they’re pursuing. This ending not only delivers an adrenaline surge but also puts Hauge back on top of the suspects list and propels the investigation into even darker territory.
Episode 2 maintains the Nordic noir atmosphere of gloom. Persistent rain and overcast skies of Copenhagen to mirror the characters’ inner turmoil. Interiors feel claustrophobic, whether it’s the police station, the Hartung family home heavy with spoken and unspoken grief, or the suburban settings where the killings take place, with the camera always pushing in. Multiple plot threads are woven together more intricately as the story progresses but it doesn’t feel over stuffed with the political subplot with Rosa feels more integrated here. By the close, the team has made tangible headway, yet the chilling final moments suggest the killer is always one step ahead.
The central mystery strengthens the core duo’s growing chemistry, and escalates the stakes with a second victim and mounting threats to Rosa. You’re now firmly hooked with the promise of escalating tension and darker secrets in the episodes ahead.
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