Netflix: SECRETS WE KEEP Ending Explained

Looking for the SECRETS WE KEEP ending explained? Wondering what happened to Ruby, or if the Netflix mystery thriller series is based on a true story? Here’s a complete breakdown of the ending, key twists, and what it all means.

Get the SECRETS WE KEEP Ending explained here. Including what happened to Ruby and whether the show is based on true events. The Danish mystery thriller Secrets We Keep (org. title: Reservatet) is a dark story.

It’s a slow-burn look at privilege, silence, and what happens when the perfect façade cracks. Secrets We Keep is set in a wealthy suburb of Copenhagen nicknamed “Reservatet” (hence the Danish title), which means “The Reservation”.

The series was created by Ingeborg Topsøe (Wildland, Hanna), directed by Per Fly (Borgen), and written by Ina Bruhn (Darkness: Those Who Kill) and Mads Tafdrup (Speak No Evil).

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Our review of the Danish Netflix series Secrets We Keep >

In this wealthy community, nearly every family employs an au pair from the Philippines, so it’s seen as a normal part of life.

Cecilie (Marie Bach Hansen, The Legacy) and her husband Mike (Simon Sears, Shadow and Bone), are no different, but they treat their au pair with more respect than most. Their au pair, Angel (Excel Busano), is trusted with everything involving their kids and home.

When Ruby (Donna Levkovski), the au pair working next door for Cecilie’s best friend, suddenly disappears, Cecilie begins digging. And what she uncovers will change everything.

SECRETS WE KEEP Ending Explained (Spoilers)

The mystery of Ruby’s disappearance lies at the heart of Secrets We Keep.

Initially, the series teases viewers with potential suspects: Was it the host dad, Rasmus (Lars Ranthe, Another Round)? Mike (Simon Sears, Shadow and Bone), Katarina (Danica Curcic, The Chestnut Man), the teen son? Or could it be someone else entirely?

Just before Ruby disappears, she tries telling Cecilie something. Ultimately, Cecilie learns that Ruby was raped by Oscar (Frode Bilde Rønsholt), Katarina and Rasmus’ teenage son, and had become pregnant as a result.

On Cecilie’s advice, Ruby tried to speak to Katarina about what happened. Unfortunately, that conversation would be her last as Katarina defended her family. Very misguided and wrong, obviously,

However, those are the “secrets we keep” in high society, where your name is everything.

Who killed Ruby in Secrets We Keep?

In the final twist of Secrets We Keep, it’s revealed that Katarina murdered Ruby to protect her son and maintain the family’s reputation.

Cecilie, devastated by the truth and her own role in encouraging Ruby to come forward, is left in silence. The show closes not with justice, but with an eerie sense of complicity.

Oscar is clearly a troubled young man, who even recorded himself raping Ruby. He showed the video to Viggo (Lukas Zuperka), the son of Cecilie and Mike, and he told his mom. However, the video cannot be found, so only Viggo can testify about what he saw.

That would never hold up in court.

How could Oscar get away with rape when they had DNA?

The fact that Ruby was pregnant and DNA proves Oscar was the father isn’t much help. Rasmus, Oscar’s extremely wealthy and powerful dad, is claiming that maybe Ruby groomed Oscar and was guilty of abuse.

With no evidence either way, Oscar gets away with rape, and Katarina gets away with murder.

Did Ruby kill herself?

No, it’s heavily indicated that Katarina killed Ruby. When confronted by Cecilie with the accusation, Katarina doesn’t deny it, which is a silent admission of guilt. Not that Katarina feels guilty, as she did it for her son.

It’s assumed that Ruby took her own life. Something Cecilie never believed because Ruby was a devout Catholic.

If Ruby couldn’t bring herself to have an abortion due to her religion, then suicide was out of the question as well.

Common Questions About the SECRETS WE KEEP Ending

The Q&A below will be a little repetitive, but we’ve included all the quick Questions and Answers that we know you’re looking for.

What happened to Ruby?

Ruby was killed by Katarina after revealing that she had been assaulted by Katarina’s son, Oscar. Ruby vanished shortly after trying to speak to her employer about it.

Who is the killer in Secrets We Keep?

Katarina is revealed as Ruby’s murderer, motivated by fear of scandal and a desire to protect her family’s image.

What does Oscar show Viggo on the phone that we never see?

Oscar filmed himself raping Ruby, which he only shows to Viggo and later deletes. The only other person to see the footage is his mom, Katarina, who finds the SIM card in the nanny cam. After she deletes the footage, there is no evidence of the rape.

Is Secrets We Keep based on a true story?

No, the series is fictional. However, it’s based on real-life dynamics. Denmark has a long-standing culture of employing au pairs from the Philippines. Often, these au pairs are hired by very wealthy families. Even a few who do not necessarily have kids in need of a nanny.

The show uses this reality to explore power imbalances and exploitation of au pairs, who can be in dire situations.

What happens to Angel?

Angel remains one of the few innocent characters in the story. She is deeply affected by her friend Ruby’s disappearance, and her presence adds emotional depth to Cecilie’s moral unraveling.

Because Cecilie decides to fire Angel, she will have to return home to the Philippines and her son, whom her sister cares for.

Will Oscar ever face consequences for what he did?

No.

One of the most disturbing elements of the show is that Oscar never truly faces the consequences for his assault. His mother, Katarina, covers for him, and Cecilie remains silent as she has no evidence.

The only “consequence” Oscar faces is that he will be sent to a fancy boarding school.

This makes the show a harsh critique of a system that protects the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable.

What Does the Ending of Secrets We Keep Mean?

The Secrets We Keep ending is intentionally unresolved. Katarina’s crime goes unpunished. Oscar avoids justice. And the system that allows all of this to happen remains untouched.

It’s a commentary on power, silence, and privilege. Particularly, how those in higher social positions are often shielded from the consequences of their actions.

For Cecilie, the realization that her world is built on secrets and that she’s now become complicit leaves her emotionally shattered.

The final moments are not about justice. Instead, it’s about the cost of keeping the peace at the expense of the truth.

Will There Be a Secrets We Keep Season 2?

Netflix has not announced a Season 2 of Secrets We Keep yet. The series concludes with a strong emotional resolution. Still, there’s room for a follow-up exploring the fallout and whether the truth will eventually come out.

Cast of Secrets We Keep – Who’s Who?

• Marie Bach Hansen (The Legacy) as Cecilie
• Simon Sears (Shadow and Bone) as Mike, Cecilie’s husband
• Lars Ranthe (Another Round) as Rasmus, the neighbor
• Danica Curcic (The Mist series) as Katarina, Rasmus’ wife
• Excel Busano as Angel – Cecilie and Mike’s au pair
• Donna Levkovski as Ruby, the murdered au pair
• Lukas Zuperka as Viggo, Cecilie and Mike’s teenage son
• Frode Bilde Rønsholt as Oscar, Rasmus and Katarina’s son
• Sara Fanta Traore (The Nurse) as Aicha, a police officer fighting for justice

Final Thoughts on the SECRETS WE KEEP Ending

The Secrets We Keep ending is subtle, unsettling, and leaves viewers with more questions than answers. It’s less about solving a mystery and more about revealing the darkness lurking in comfortable homes.

With powerful performances from Marie Bach Hansen and Danica Curcic, this Danish thriller series is a haunting, thought-provoking must-watch. Also, we have to highlight the heartbreaking turn by Excel Busano as Angel.

If you enjoy slow-burning psychological mysteries with a social message, Secrets We Keep should be at the top of your list.