Episode 5 is gripping piece of Nordic Noir, masterfully intertwining past traumas with present-day horrors while building the suspense and emotional fall-out. This chapter, full of atmospheric tension, stands as one of the most compelling episodes yet, brilliantly advancing the central mystery as the pennies start to drop.
The episode opens with a haunting flashback to 1985 in West Zealand, where young Rosa plays with twins Toke and Astrid Bering. The children craft chestnut men while singing an eerie tune that has become the series’ chilling signature. When their foster parents announce the twins’ permanent adoption, the scene has a subtle unease – Rosa’s uncertainty foreshadowing deeper fractures. These flashbacks are seamlessly integrated, shedding light on Rosa’s suppressed memories and the origins of the chestnut motif as both a symbol of innocence and unimaginable suffering. The flashbacks are filtered with a golden autumn light and childlike playfulness before twisting it into something profoundly sinister, setting a tone of lingering dread that permeates the present-day storyline.
In the present, both Naia Thulin and Mark Hess appear ready to move on from the case. Thulin prepares for her transfer to cybercrimes, eager to reconnect with her daughter Le, while Hess packs up his apartment for a new posting in Bucharest. Yet neither can truly let go. Danica Ćurčić’s Thulin has a quiet internal conflict as her ambition and maternal instincts clashing as she attends Le’s school Halloween event, only for chestnut-themed activities to pull her back into the investigation. Mikkel Boe Følsgaard’s plays Hess with an an intensity that gives way to determined clarity as he pursues loose ends even while boarding his flight. Their reluctant partnership, now tinged with mutual respect and unspoken chemistry, continues to be one of the show’s most interesting hooks.
Rosa Hartung’s arc reaches a devastating peak here. In the process of being forced out of office amid political pressures, she and husband Steen prepare to clear Kristine’s room, only for her to discover a circle of chestnut men holding hands – an intimate, terrifying message – while alone in the house. Iben Dorner’s performance grips as she conveys Rosa’s unravelling composure as suppressed childhood memories flood back. Her frantic research into old foster cases, combined with a cryptic message from the killer promising answers about Kristine, propels her into dangerous territory. The emotional weight of her guilt over past decisions regarding child welfare cases feels authentic and heartbreaking, adding layers of moral complexity to the ongoing mystery.
Hess’s deep dive into the 1987 Ørum farm massacre begins to blow the case wide open. Traveling to Møn, he uncovers the horrific abuse suffered by the Bering twins at the hands of their foster family, where chestnut men were not playful crafts but desperate talismans against torment. The revelation that Toke and Astrid were previously with Rosa’s family ties everything together with a focused precision. Archive footage, survivor testimonies, and painstaking detective work build a compelling picture of systemic failure and personal vendetta. The psychological horror is ramped right up by the discoveries from the past.
The episode’s biggest shock comes through revelations about forensic expert Simon Genz, played with understated menace by David Dencik. As Hess chases down leads to find the current whereabouts of the Bering twins, he discovers a photo the indicates that Toke and Simon are the same person. At the same time, Thulin teams up with Genz to analyse chestnut varieties from the crime scenes – revealing discrepancies that further link the killings . A car ride to investigates the chestnuts is racked with tension, as his comments about Thulin’s parenting echo the killer’s apparent motive against “bad parents.”
The episode is perfectly balanced, delivering major revelations without feeling rushed, allowing space for quieter moments that build the growing sense of dread. It also allows space for character moments – Thulin’s guilt over Le, Steen’s descent into alcoholism while searching for Kristine, and Rosa’s confrontation with her – that keep the series grounded. Pacing is near-perfect, as clues click into place, builds an atmosphere of paranoia where no one feels safe, especially as Genz and Thulin venture to remote locations for evidence.
Episode 5 leaves you gripped and perfectly sets up the finale with all the main players converging on the same location. and desperate for the finale. The blend of Scandinavian darkness, psychological horrors, and family drama is flawless, making this chapter a standout in an already impressive season that propels the series toward what promises to be a unforgettable climax.
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