Chestnut

The ending of “The Chestnut Man” reveals that the true mastermind behind the murders and the entire cycle of violence is Simon Genz, the forensic expert. It turns out that Simon’s childhood trauma, involving the abuse and murder of his foster family by Orum and his wife, pushed him to become a psychopath obsessed with punishing “bad mothers”—those who neglect their children or contribute to their suffering. Simon’s desire for revenge extends beyond just killing; he cements his identity by creating the chestnut figures as symbols of his twisted morality.

In the climax, Simon captures Rosa Hartung, the social minister, and Thulin, revealing that Kristine Hartung, Rosa’s missing daughter, is still alive, hidden away by Simon himself. Simon’s plan is to kill Rosa and keep Kristine as a trophy, but Hess intervenes just in time, saving Rosa and Thulin during a chaotic confrontation. Simon is ultimately killed in a car accident when a tree branch pierces his chest while he tries to escape.

After his death, the investigation uncovers a crucial piece of the puzzle: Simon had a twin sister, Astrid, who is revealed to be the one behind Kristine’s rescue. She had hidden Kristine to protect her from Simon, her psychopathic brother’s, wrath. Astrid’s connection to the crime confirms that she was the real savior, while Simon’s twisted motives and actions were fueled by his traumatic past and mental illness.

The series concludes with Kristine finally being reunited with her mother, Rosa, and the case being closed. Thulin decides to move to the cybercrimes unit to spend more time with her daughter, while Hess contemplates returning to Copenhagen. Meanwhile, the fate of Linus Bekker, who was falsely accused of the murders, is left open—an innocent man released, but potentially vulnerable to returning to his disturbed ways due to his schizophrenia and obsession with the killer’s ideals.

In the final scenes, it is hinted that there might still be future threats, as Simon’s psychological influence, expressed through the chestnut figures and his obsession, leaves a lingering danger of more such crimes happening again. The series ends on a note that although Kristine is safe, the darkness that spawned the killer might not be entirely gone, hinting at a potential for future violence.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:02