Hidden, the Welsh mystery, finishes up its series run with season 3. Each season of Hidden has been excellent. In season 3 the tone shifts a bit to be more personal, emotional, and about the hidden aspects of lead character Cadi John (Sian Reese-Williams).
The Crime
As in past seasons, we know from the start who the killer is. A big difference this season, however, is that Siôn Thomas (Sion Ifan) is not an evil person. He’s the carer for his older brother, the neurodivergent Glyn (Justin Melluish). The two of them survived several traumas as youngsters. Their mother died in a house fire that was deliberately set. No one has ever learned who did it. They spent time in care until they were of age and now live together.
Glyn has pigeons, which he loves taking care of. Siôn is working a construction job at a derelict hospital, a location which is triggering for him. We don’t learn until the final episode what made him snap and turn violent.
The man who was killed, Ifan Williams, was not a nice man. He abused his wife Siwan (Rhian Blythe). He bullied and demeaned and acted entitled for years. He let his inherited farm go to ruin.
There are several subplots that don’t weave into the solution of the crime until late in the season.
A young woman struggling to keep her family home, Lea (Lara Catrin), was a character we first met in season 1. She was not in season 2. In this season, the local priest, Father McEwan (Rhodri Evan) helps her deal with the council who wants to move her into a smaller home.
Father McEwan also helped Siôn and Glyn when their mother died. He’s everywhere helping everyone, and he can deliver a powerful rendition of The Lord’s Prayer when needed.
Cadi and her partner Owen Vaughan (Sion Alun Davies) in this North Wales police force struggle to find any kind of lead in the murder. Four episodes of frustration pass before there’s another murder and finally a hint as to motive and opportunity.
Cadi
Cadi was a buttoned down, all work, cop for two seasons. But this season she’s in a relationship with the pathologist Rachel West (Mali Tudno Jones). Rachel can even make Cadi smile at times, something we haven’t seen before.
Cadi is not good at the emotional stuff. She messes up her relationship with Rachel and they spend several episodes in a kind of holding pattern as Cadi figures out how to make things right.
The push and pull of Cadi’s desire to be with Rachel and her ambitions on the job force Cadi to dig into her own psyche and emotions. I felt like the title Hidden applied to Cadi finding and facing her own deeply buried emotions this season.
Cadi and her sisters Elin (Nia Roberts) and Bethan (Megan Llyn) are selling their father’s house. Cadi’s not much help with this project. Her performance as a sister isn’t much better than her performance as a girlfriend.
Wales
This series has been a love letter to Wales. The camera takes in wide vistas that emphasize the beauty of the country – mountains, oceans, streams. There’s atmosphere aplenty as rain, gloom, and stunning sunny days alternate.
The characters often speak Welsh among themselves, although English is mostly used in public and professional settings.
Overall, every season of this drama has been well-written and beautifully told. It’s on Acorn TV, where you can watch all three seasons.
Was enjoying the series until season 3 when a lesbian affair was shoved down our throats. A not so subtle shift to appeal to a a segment of the population in an obvious effort to increase overall viewership..
That was the most discreet lesbian affair ever. It was almost invisible.
Wow how disgusting is that statement! It would’ve been OK if she was rolling around in bed with a dude though boobs a swinging? I don’t even think they showed them kiss or anything lol it was just a fact man! Got a grip.
Rob, hear me out… maybe the story of Cadi and her partner was just the story of two people in love and struggling to balance life and careers and relationships. Real issues, real people face every day. Straight or gay. Also, maybe you should examine your own biases and try to unpack why you are so bothered by this subplot which was about as tame as I’ve seen.
Wow love, you said that way better than I could’ve ever hoped to! I wasn’t as kind so it may not be approved lol Well said indeed sweet person x
Amen. Barely a relationship & no sign of an actual affair, so seems VERY bizarre to find it so offensive – any chance Rob might have some personal inner conflicts?
Btw: I was really impressed by the terrific snuggly bathrobes supplied at the hospital in the show. In series 1, w/Dylan’s victims & Dylan’s daughter& again in series 2 w/Conner’s Mom after she rescues him from the ice cold water, the women are made to feel a safe & cared for w/fluffy, warm bathrobes – totally unlike the scroungy, thin fabrics in US hospitals. That point really stood out to me; it showed a better, more thoughtful attitude toward what constitutes “healing,” one that encompasses the needs of the whole person. Seems minor, but it set a mood for me.
Gosh, I completely missed the bathrobes. I may have to watch all three seasons again to see what else I missed!
I noticed that too! With Connors Mum, I thought she was also in the hospital maybe from stress? But now that I think about it, I think you’re right and that’s just how they treat grieving people! That is so amazing. It really did stand out to me as well.
Just started watching this tonight and after three episodes i had to turn it off. As a non smoker i was sick of watching chain smoker Cadi.
What an odd, petty reason to stop watching something. You could have simply fast forward through some scenes of smoking… Also, many people don’t smoke yet not all of us are triggered by this – so that’s not a justification or explanation.
If that is a reason to not watch something it’s a good enough reason. Calling someone odd and petty because you don’t agree with them is unacceptable.
this was a great series from start to finish. real characters behaving in a real way. no one making ridiculous choices, people working through their personal issues as best they can, forward movement for all of the characters.
I agree. Wonder ful acting, fantastic scenery and well written storyline. The 3 seasons were fantastic
I have just finished the first 2 seasons and can’t wait to watch the third. I have watched all the Scandi Noirs I could find. This was equal in quality. Acting was superb, from all of the characters, story lines compelling, and as a language teacher, I found the Welsh to be the icing on the cake while watching the beautiful cinematography of Wales in different lighting. I’m obviously a fan.
Have you seen Hinterland yet? It’s another Welsh mystery series.