If you like a good mystery that makes you question everything, then Secrets We Keep on Netflix might be just what you are looking for. This Danish drama pulls you right into a seemingly perfect, wealthy Copenhagen suburb. But like most perfect things, this one has a dark side. When a young au pair goes missing, it does not take long for the shiny surface of this neighborhood to crack, revealing all sorts of messy things underneath.
The show sets up its world pretty fast. You meet Cecilie (Marie Bach Hansen) and her husband Mike, who have a beloved au pair named Angel. Just like many other families in this rich area, their friends and neighbors, Rasmus (Lars Ranthe) and Katarina (Danica Ćurčić), also have an au pair. This one is Ruby (Donna Levkovski), a friend of Angel's. But then one morning, Ruby just disappears without a trace. Her employers, Rasmus and Katarina, do not seem too bothered at first. They think Ruby just left for another chance, which is something au pairs from the Philippines sometimes do. But Cecilie and Angel know Ruby better than that, and they feel very worried.
Cecilie gets more and more concerned. She notices Rasmus’s odd jokes about Ruby being gone. She also finds a pregnancy test box near where she saw Ruby last. All of this feels like too much of a coincidence. Her husband Mike tells her not to gossip, but it is clear that something is wrong. A new police detective, Aicha (Sara Fanta Traore), takes on the case. However, it quickly feels like a missing Filipino au pair is not a top priority for the police or for Ruby's employers. This sets up a situation where Cecilie, with Angel's help, takes it upon herself to find out what really happened. It really puts a spotlight on the differences between the rich and those who work for them.
Uncovering The Unsettling Truths Hidden Within A Seemingly Perfect Community
How The Show Exposes Deep-Seated Issues Of Class And Privilege In Its Narrative
This series definitely fits into that kind of story where wealthy people are not always good people. It handles themes of privilege and how some people just dismiss others. Characters like Rasmus are quick to assume things about Angel that are quite rude, all while he himself seems like a suspect. The show presents a clear picture of the differences between the very rich and those who are less fortunate. It does so without much humor or satire. This straightforward way of looking at things really makes you think.
The show’s writers, Ingeborg Topsøe (who also created it) and Mads Tafdrup and Ina Bruhn, do a good job of creating a world where everyone seems to have something to hide. Rasmus, for example, is just plain creepy from the start. You immediately get a bad feeling about him. But then there are layers to the story. Rasmus and Katarina’s teenage son, Oscar, also seems a bit off, with his drones and VR goggles. He was the only one who visited Ruby in the basement where she lived. Mike and Rasmus also have a business deal going on, which could make things complicated. And what about Oscar’s influence over Cecilie and Mike’s older son, Viggo, who really likes Angel? There are many questions swirling around, and that is a good sign for a mystery series.
The series is split into short episodes, usually around 34-38 minutes long. The final episode is a bit longer. What surprised me is how much story and detail they manage to pack into such a short time. Often, when an episode is this brief, it feels like half a show. But Secrets We Keep gives you plenty of information about the characters and the situation. It left me wanting more. It does not try to trick you with too many false leads. This means the story feels tight and focused, which I really appreciate in a thriller.
Key Performances And The Unforgettable Characters That Bring The Story To Life
Spotlighting The Actors Who Make The Show's Mysterious World Feel So Real
The acting in Secrets We Keep is a major reason why it works so well. Marie Bach Hansen, who plays Cecilie, gives a strong performance as a main character who is good-hearted but not perfect. She makes you believe in her need to find out the truth. The young actors playing the sons, Oscar and Viggo, are also quite unsettling in their roles. Their performances add another layer of unease to the story. I think the child performances are very important in this kind of series and they certainly deliver here.
However, it is Serbian-Danish actress Danica Ćurčić, who plays Katarina, who really stands out. She previously appeared in Netflix shows like The Chestnut Man. Katarina is incredibly self-serving, even scary at times. She is a rather nasty person and highly suspicious, but she still feels human and oddly magnetic. It is a tough balance to pull off, and Ćurčić does it well. Her performance really makes you dislike Katarina but also want to keep watching her. Lars Ranthe also plays Rasmus very effectively, making him truly disturbing. You just know he is hiding something, and it makes you eager to see what he is really up to.
Just like any good crime story, Secrets We Keep makes you think about what you would do if you were in the same situation. It makes you consider the complex choices people make. This is one of the best parts of this kind of story when it is done right. And this series does it right. It is a gripping thriller that you can easily watch all the way through, probably in just over three hours. It gives you an interesting look at class, wealth, and race, all wrapped up in a mystery. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a captivating new show.