Netflix’s Best Crime Thriller Series Rewrites The Rules Of The Genre In New Episodes

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Netflix’s popular crime thriller is back with a new season, and it’s pushing the boundaries of the genre. With a large selection of shows, Netflix is a great place to find compelling crime series, whether they’re original productions or licensed favorites.

I’m so excited for all the returning shows on Netflix in 2026! Whether it’s been a year or a few years, so many of my favorites are coming back with new seasons and they’re delivering some really thrilling content. I’m especially happy to see shows like The Night Agent, Running Point, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Bridgerton all renewed. And if you love crime thrillers like I do, you’ll be glad to know Netflix is really bringing its A-game in that genre right now.

Most compelling crime thriller series follow a familiar pattern. You often see incredibly smart detectives struggling with personal issues, or partnerships built on contrasting personalities. Plus, the criminals are usually very clever and stay one step ahead of the investigators.

Okay, as a huge fan of crime thrillers, I have to say The Chestnut Man on Netflix is seriously top-tier. And the new season, The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek, which dropped on May 7th, is fantastic! It’s a six-episode run, and while it’s brilliant, it does something really unexpected – it actually breaks one of the biggest unwritten rules of the whole genre, which is pretty shocking!

The Chestnut Man: Hide And Seek Features A Shocking Death

Please be aware that this article contains spoilers for season 2 of The Chestnut Man. After a long wait since the first season premiered on Netflix in September 2021, the new season of this Nordic crime drama has arrived. The five-year wait was worthwhile, as the show successfully recaptures the dark atmosphere of the original and adds even more emotional tension. The characters are weighed down by past events that unfolded before our eyes, and Mark Hess and Naia Thulin remain central to the story.

The shocking death of Lise Thulin in The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek is a major turning point in the series. After playing a key role in both the first season and the beginning of the second, Thulin is unexpectedly killed in the third episode. Her death comes at the hands of Ditte Kølster’s ex-husband, Peter Hougard, who shoots her while kidnapping her and opening fire at the Family Law Agency. Though initially appearing to survive the gunshot wound to her stomach, she ultimately dies, a fact later confirmed by Hess when he finds her body. It’s a deeply impactful and somber scene.

Netflix’s Returning Crime Thriller Series Breaks The Rules Of “Buddy Cop” Crime Thriller Series

I really got into The Chestnut Man from the beginning, and it felt like a classic buddy cop setup. We’ve got Hess, this really skilled detective who, honestly, seemed to think the case was beneath him at first. Then there’s Thulin – total opposite! She’s super driven, eager to close her final case before slowing down to spend more time with her daughter, Le. Over the first season, you see these two connect, and there’s even a little spark of romance, which was fun. But the best part was watching Hess completely change his attitude – it was a great character arc.

The connection between the two main characters in The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek was growing, but when Thulin died, it ended the most interesting part of the show – the chemistry between the partners. With Thulin gone, Hess doesn’t have anyone to play off of, and the series becomes noticeably more bleak and depressing. It’s unusual for one half of a buddy cop duo to die, making season 2 of The Chestnut Man a departure from typical genre conventions.

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2026-05-12 02:48