The Snow Girl is a Spanish mystery thriller series that premiered on Netflix on January 27, 2023. Based on Javier Castillo’s novel, the series unfolds in Málaga, Spain, and follows the harrowing disappearance of five-year-old Amaya Martín during the 2010 Twelfth Night Parade. The narrative intricately weaves between the perspectives of the grieving parents, Ana and Álvaro Martín, the determined journalist intern Miren Rojo, and the diligent police inspector Belén Millán.

Season 1 Plot Overview
During the festive Twelfth Night Parade, young Amaya vanishes amidst the crowd, leaving her parents devastated. The police, led by Inspector Millán, launch an extensive investigation but struggle to find leads. Miren Rojo, an intern at the local newspaper Diario Sur, becomes deeply invested in the case, driven by her own past traumas. She embarks on a parallel investigation, often collaborating with her mentor, Eduardo.
The series spans several years, depicting the relentless search for Amaya. In 2016, a breakthrough occurs when Miren receives a VHS tape showing Amaya alive, reigniting hope and intensifying the investigation. The narrative delves into themes of loss, resilience, and the impact of past traumas on the present.

Key Characters
Eduardo (José Coronado): Miren’s mentor and a seasoned journalist who supports her investigative efforts.
Miren Rojo (Milena Smit): A tenacious journalist intern haunted by her past, whose determination drives the search for Amaya.
Inspector Belén Millán (Aixa Villagrán): The lead police investigator committed to solving the case despite numerous challenges.
Ana and Álvaro Martín (Loreto Mauleón and Raúl Prieto): Amaya’s parents, whose lives are shattered by their daughter’s disappearance.

Season 1 Reviews
Critical Reception:
- Ready Steady Cut: Praised the series as “a well-constructed and compelling crime thriller,” noting its “horrifying what-if scenario” and describing it as “a captivating bit of crime-thriller television.”
- Fiction Horizon: Described the show as “a gripping and terrifying kidnapping mystery,” highlighting its ability to “grab you and not let you go until the final episode.”
- The Review Geek: Commended the series for delivering “a taut mystery,” stating that “The Snow Girl is truly a remarkable achievement given how saturated the genre is.”
Audience Reception:
- IMDb: The series holds a rating of 6.8/10 based on over 8,900 user ratings, indicating generally favorable feedback.
Season 1 The Ending Explained
In the final episode, set nine years after Amaya’s disappearance, Miren’s investigation leads her to Iris Molina, a former patient of Ana’s fertility clinic. Iris, unable to have children, had impulsively kidnapped Amaya during the parade to raise her as her own daughter, renaming her Julia.

Miren visits Iris’s secluded home under the guise of a reporter. Although she doesn’t immediately find Amaya, her visit alarms Iris, prompting her to flee with Amaya that night. Miren follows them, leading to a tense confrontation. In a desperate attempt to avoid capture, Iris drives their van off a cliff, resulting in her death. Amaya survives the crash but is initially hostile toward Miren, having been brainwashed to fear outsiders. After a brief struggle, Miren restrains Amaya until authorities arrive.
The reunion between Amaya and her biological parents is emotionally complex. Having been isolated for nine years and believing Iris was her mother, Amaya struggles to reconnect with Ana and Álvaro. The series concludes with a glimmer of hope as Amaya allows her parents to sit with her while watching cartoons, suggesting the beginning of a slow healing process.
Season Two Plot Overview
In Season 2 of “The Snow Girl,” investigative journalist Miren Rojo delves into a new case that intertwines past traumas with present dangers. The season begins with Miren receiving a mysterious letter containing a photograph of a gagged young woman and the message: “Do you want to play?” This prompts her to investigate the murder of a teenage girl, Allison Hernández, and its possible connection to a decade-old disappearance of another student, Laura Valdivia, both from the prestigious Los Arcos Málaga school.
As Miren digs deeper, she uncovers “The Soul Game,” a deadly challenge that coerces participants into dangerous acts under the guise of testing faith and courage. This game traces back to a religious group called “The Crows of God,” founded by the school’s principal, Andrés Garrido, during his student years. The group’s sinister activities have been haunting the institution for decades.
Throughout her investigation, Miren faces personal losses, including the death of her mentor, Eduardo Vergara, which leaves her questioning her resolve. She also confronts her own traumatic past, as the case forces her to relive memories of her own assault.
The narrative intensifies when Nacho, Laura’s younger brother, is revealed to be the new “Crow of God” and the orchestrator of the current iteration of “The Soul Game.” Driven by a twisted sense of justice and revenge for his sister’s disappearance, Nacho kidnaps Miren, subjecting her to the game’s final, most perilous test. In a climactic confrontation, Miren manages to overcome Nacho, leading to his death and her survival.
S2 Ending Explained
The season concludes with the revelation that Laura had been alive all along, having run away due to personal reasons. The police discover tapes of various assaults, including one depicting Miren’s own, leaving her fate and future uncertain as the series hints at potential developments in a subsequent season.
Season 2 Reviews
Critical Reviews:
- Decider: The platform suggests streaming the season, noting that while the new mystery is intriguing, it may not match the complexity of the first season’s narrative.
- Times of India: The publication praises the series for its tight and gripping storytelling, highlighting its compelling murder mystery and strong performance by Milena Smit as Miren Rojo.
- TheReviewGeek: This review points out that the season favors a slow pace, which may border on dullness for some viewers. It mentions that the narrative feels stretched and lacks character exploration, leading to a less engaging experience compared to the first season.
Viewer Feedback:
- IMDb: User reviews are mixed, with some praising the series as a “wonderful crime thriller” with “amazing” acting and writing, while others feel that certain character developments don’t align with the established personas from the first season. IMDb
Conclusion
“The Snow Girl” offers a compelling exploration of a family’s anguish and a journalist’s relentless pursuit of truth. Its intricate storytelling and character development make it a noteworthy addition to Netflix’s catalog of international thrillers.