When a little girl goes missing during a parade in Málaga, a young newspaper journalist becomes fiercely determined to help Amaya’s parents find her – and to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. The Snow Girl (La chica de las nieves) transforms this premise into a slow-burning psychological thriller where every revelation cuts deeper than the last. Set against the wintry melancholy of southern Spain, the series delves into trauma, guilt, and obsession with chilling precision.
Led by Milena Smit (Parallel Mothers), whose performance radiates quiet intensity, The Snow Girl remains one of Netflix’s most acclaimed Spanish series, with a 100% Avg. Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For fans of Ángela or Muted, it’s a gripping, emotional journey through the shadows of the human mind. Here is everything you need to know about Snow Girl – from the plot and cast to its origins, reviews, and where to watch it.
You may like ► Here are the best Spanish shows to binge on Netflix
The Snow Girl – All the key details
- Title: The Snow Girl
- Original title: La chica de las nieves
- Format: Series
- Runtime: 2 seasons / 12 episodes
- Genre: Psychological thriller, crime drama
- Country of production: Spain
- Original language: Spanish
- Release date: January 27, 2023 (S1) – January 31, 2025 (S2)
- Creators: Jesús Mesas, Javier Andrés Roig
- Directors: David Ulloa, Laura Alvea
- Lead cast: Milena Smit, José Coronado, Aixa Villagrán, Loreto Mauleón
- Produced by: Netflix
What The Snow Girl is about
It begins with a public celebration that turns into a nightmare. During the Three Kings parade in Málaga, five-year-old Amaya vanishes without a trace. Years later, on the child’s birthday, a young journalist named Miren Rojo reopens the case on her own, driven by an urgent need to help the family and confront the demons that her investigation awakens. The series unfolds through carefully woven flashbacks and flash-forwards, creating a circular narrative that keeps the audience in a state of tense anticipation.
You may like ► She Walks in Darkness: the true story that shook Spain is coming to Netflix
The atmosphere is icy and intimate at once, pairing a procedural spine with a raw exploration of trauma, guilt, and obsession. As Miren follows cryptic clues and disturbing tapes, the hunt for Amaya becomes a journey into memory and survival, where the truth hides in plain sight.
The Snow Girl cast: the main characters
At the heart of Snow Girl is Milena Smit, one of Spain’s most captivating young talents. After her breakthrough in Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers, Smit delivers a haunting, restrained performance as Miren Rojo, a journalist whose determination to find the missing child exposes her own buried trauma. Her portrayal balances fragility and obsession, making Miren one of the most complex female leads in recent Spanish thrillers.
Beside her is José Coronado, veteran of countless Spanish crime dramas, in the role of Eduardo, Miren’s mentor and editor. His character represents both guidance and guilt – the voice of reason trying to contain Miren’s growing fixation.
Aixa Villagrán stands out as Belén Millán, the police inspector whose pragmatic approach clashes with Miren’s emotional drive, while Loreto Mauleón (Patria, Express) brings heartbreaking realism to Ana, Amaya’s mother, who embodies the agony of hope after loss. Together, the ensemble captures the show’s blend of human pain and moral tension that defines the best of Spain’s psychological storytelling.
Is The Snow Girl based on a true story?
No. The series adapts the hit novel by Javier Castillo, originally set in New York in 1998 and centered on the disappearance of a girl named Kiera. Castillo has explained that the idea sprang from a parent’s worst fear and the question of how one survives such devastation. While the series is fictional, it tackles real-world themes like the trafficking of minors and the long tail of abuse, grounding its tension in painful plausibility.
What reviews say about The Snow Girl
Upon release, the show became a word-of-mouth success, staying in Spain’s Top 10 for weeks and breaking into the Top 10 in the U.S. and the U.K. Viewers praised its circular narrative, steady pacing, and Smit’s performance. The 100% Avg. Tomatometer underscores its critical embrace, while audiences highlight the series’ haunting mood and ethical gray zones. Season 2, subtitled The Game of the Soul, extends the investigation’s emotional fallout and hints that Miren’s story still has chapters to write.
Where was The Snow Girl filmed?
The story is rooted in Málaga, whose winter light and coastal streets shape the series’ chilly aesthetic. Specific location details remain [TO BE ADDED] if further verified by production notes or interviews.
Why watch Snow Girl
If you enjoyed Ángela or Muted, this Spanish thriller blends meticulous, patient storytelling with an emotional core that lingers. It’s ideal for viewers who like character-driven mysteries, morally complex choices, and the slow tightening of a narrative noose.
Explore our guide ► The best Spanish shows to binge on Netflix.
The Snow Girl release date on streaming
Available now. Snow Girl is streaming on Netflix. Release dates: Season 1 on January 27, 2023; Season 2 on January 31, 2025. Watch on Netflix.
