What Hidden Assets Season 1 Reveals About the Crime World
Director: Thaddeus O’Sullivan, Kadir Ferati Balci
Writer: Peter McKenna, Morna Regan (Screenplay)
Cast
- Angeline Ball (Deadly Cuts)
- Simone Kirby (Calm with Horses)
- Wouter Hendrickx (De infiltrant)
- Cathy Belton (Nocebo)
- Aaron Monaghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Gilles De Schryver (Above the Law)
Plot: A routine raid by the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau turns up diamonds that are linked to a series of bombings in Belgium. Detective Sergeant Emer Berry teams up with Belgian anti-terrorism cop Christian de Jong, to work the linked cases.
Runtime: 50 Minute Episodes.
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on Hidden Assets Season 1
Episode 1 (D. Thaddeus O’Sullivan)
This episode starts when DS Emer Berry (Ball) leads a drug bust on a notorious dealer. However, what they find is something unexpected. Elsewhere, in Belgium a terrorist attacks a famous show. Emer and her team make a connection to Antwerp and she decides to head to Belgium to see if she can identify the diamond’s owners. Once in Belgium, Emer meets local officer Christian De Jong (Hendrickx) who is investigating the bombing. The two worlds collide when the apartment in question connects both of their cases.
This is a strong introduction to the two detectives from different worlds. It takes our Irish detective to Belgium for a case which ends up becoming a lot bigger than she imagined. Now, the two are going to have to work together as they look to bring down a terrorist organisation. (4/5)
Episode 2 (D. Thaddeus O’Sullivan)
This episode picks up in the aftermath of the murder of the prime suspect. Back in Antwerp Richard Melnick (Ironside) arrives to finish off his business on the docks with his daughter-in-law Bibi (Kirby) running operations. Bibi goes on the defensive, as it is her former employees who have become a prime suspect in the terrorist attack. Emer and Christian return to their homeland in search of potential answers, as their clues start coming together. Meanwhile, Bibi finds herself targeted by extremists who don’t like her words against their leader.
We continue to see the bigger case being brought together from both departments. Each clue is slowly tying things together and the suspects are starting to line up. Outside of the police operation, the personal side of businesswoman Bibi is taking centre stage to what could be a bigger secret. (4/5)
Episode 3 (D. Thaddeus O’Sullivan)
This episode shows Emer leading the investigation into Fionn Brannigan’s (Coonan) property. All this after she has made a connection to her previous deceased suspect. In Belgium, Christian starts his investigation into a recently captured suspect. This all leads to a tense showdown between Fionn and Emer, as he looks to clear his name or face the same fate as the original suspect.
In this episode, we see the investigation getting more intense and the family getting targeted. There is a lot more focus on the Irish side of the investigation, as the hunt for evidence continues. The limited time in Belgium puts a lot more focus on Bibi’s battle to keep her business, as she turns to people who can help clear her from the suspect list, despite her commitment to helping the investigation. This does hold the story back a little bit more, as it does feel like we are going through the same loop as the previous episode. (3/5)
Episode 4 (D. Kadir Ferati Balci)
This episode starts as Emer returns to Antwerp in search of Fionn. She teams back up with Christian, as Bibi searches for her estranged brother. Christian and Emer explore different leads in Antwerp, while Emer’s team continue their investigation back in Ireland. However, a discovery starts to unlock an even bigger conspiracy going on.
While the bigger picture is slowly building up, it doesn’t seem to be moving forward as fast as it could. We are now in episode 4 and it never feels like anything hinted in episode one feels as relevant. It also moves away from the potential bigger subject, that ends up going in a more terrorist cell. (3/5)
Episode 5 (D. Kadir Ferati Balci)
The episode starts as Emer and Christian start looking deeper into the place the prime suspects are coming from. It leads to their next question, how did they get into the country? Siobhan Brannigan arrives to identify her husband’s body, while potentially offering up more answers as to who was behind it. Emer’s team get caught up spending too much time on the case, struggling to find anything to connect the two suspect lines.
This episode reveals who is truly behind everything. However, the officers face a race against time to capture them. It leaves everything in the balance as they rush to stop the next terrorist attack. Even if the truth feels a lot more farfetched than anything suggested so far. (4/5)
Episode 6 (D. Kadir Ferati Balci)
The final episode sees the prime suspect captured. However, their latest threat is now at large in Antwerp. Christian and Emer must track down the terrorist before they unleash the new attack on the country. However, not everything is as simple as it looks, as the threat remains at large. With the clock ticking the race to stop the threat is real.
The final episode does tie up most of the loose ends, while never reaching the intensity levels you would have imagined. As with most series, it presents the next big mystery to watch unfold in the next season. (3/5)
Overall
Hidden Assets Season 1 is an entertaining mystery thriller following two detectives from different worlds teaming up. One follows an Irish officer working with a Belgium officer. The bigger mystery keeps us guessing, however the twists and turns feel unrewarding. Many of them come out of nowhere and make the previous one feel out of place. It could easily be compared with a 24, as each chapter offers up a new twist we never saw coming.
Where to Watch
Hidden Assets Series Two is set to arrive on DVD on 22 January 2024, alongside Series One & Two Box set, courtesy of Acorn Media International, following its BBC Four transmission. Both series are available on digital now.
Final Thoughts – Hidden Assets Series 1 is an entertaining mystery thriller series.
