The Chestnut Man, a Danish crime drama streaming on Netflix, has been hailed as one of the best series ever made by the platform, boasting a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show, which premiered on Netflix in 2021, follows Detective Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and her partner Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) as they investigate a series of brutal murders in Copenhagen. A chestnut figurine is left at each crime scene by the killer, triggering a manhunt for a culprit who appears connected to a politician's child, supposedly kidnapped and murdered the year before.
Based on the best-selling novel
Directed by Kasper Barfoed and Mikkel Serup, The Chestnut Man is adapted from the 2018 novel of the same name by Søren Sveistrup, which became an international bestseller. Sveistrup is best known for creating the hit Danish crime drama The Killing, which introduced many British viewers to Scandinavian noir.
Season one of the Danish thriller landed on Netflix in 2021, while the second series was released on the streaming service in May 2026. The show's gripping and dark storyline drew praise from critics, with performances from Curcic and Følsgaard highlighted as standout elements. Others lauded the series for being an exceptional adaptation of Sveistrup's novel.
Viewer reviews praise the series
Sharing their reviews online, one viewer said: "Completed Watching The Chestnut Man season 2 and it is one of the best dark mystery, suspense, and creepy vibe series ever made by Netflix. Better than part 1. 9/10."
Another echoed: "Do not listen to any negative review. This was a good series 100%. The plot twists were just crazy. Was kinda slow at first but was worth the wait. I really enjoyed this man!"
Another described it as "great storytelling", writing: "The mark of a truly great Whodunnit film is how well it's able to conceal the identity of the killer without trying too hard through plot devices or tricks that cheapen how the story is told. This film succeeds in doing this. No one, including the viewer, has an inkling who the Chestnut Man is until the very end.
"Intriguing story with a quite capable cast. Mikel Folsgaard and Naia Thulin make a good pair of detectives. David Dencik (Simon Genz) is a cool forensic doctor and Iben Dorner adds a palpable human touch as the grieving mother and public official. It's well-executed with consistently good cinematography. It's binge-worthy."
A fourth branded it a "chilling atmospheric masterclass in Nordic Noir", adding: "If you are a fan of the Scandi-crime genre pioneered by the likes of The Bridge and The Killing then The Chestnut Man is a mandatory watch. This Danish miniseries delivers a haunting, visually stunning, and relentlessly grim mystery that keeps you guessing until the final frame.
"The Chestnut Man does not reinvent the wheel, but it polishes it to a dark and terrifying shine. It is a grim, compelling, and beautifully acted series that reminds us why the Danes are the undisputed kings of the crime thriller."
