Dept. Q – Series Review | Netflix

DEPT. Q on Netflix is a new series based on the hugely popular crime thriller book series. Season 1 has nine very strong episodes and follows one book, so we can look forward to many more seasons. Read our full Dept. Q series review here!

DEPT. Q is a new Netflix series based on one of the books from the successful book series “Department Q” from Denmark. The series, however, plays out in Scotland, and it works brilliantly. The nine episodes of season 1 cover just one book.

Obviously, being the first season of what will hopefully continue covering more books, it’s also an origin story. One that introduces many characters who are recurring in the book (and hopefully the Netflix series). We watched all nine episodes for this review.

Continue reading our Dept. Q season 1 review below. Find it on Netflix from May 29, 2025.

Dept. Q for Cold Cases

The new Netflix series Dept. Q begins with the introduction of DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) on what might just be the worst day of his life. A shooting leaves one young cop dead and his partner paralysed.

Meanwhile, Morck himself gets a new assignment when he returns to work. A new department located in the basement. More specifically, in an area that was previously a bathroom, which means urinals line the walls in some areas.

Sidenote: I love the way the word “urinals” is pronounced with a Scottish dialect.

Anyway, Carl Morck isn’t asked to create “Department Q” because he’s a bad cop. It isn’t even a punishment. It’s just that he’s not good with other people. We get to know him as someone who is clearly a brilliant detective.

Get to know Carl Morck

Unfortunately, he’s also a rather terrible colleague. You can trust him if he’s let you in and you’re a part of his circle of trusted people. However, don’t expect him to say “Good job” or even acknowledge much of anything you bring to the table.

His boss, Moira (Kate Dickie), has a similar approach to those working in her department.

Carl Morck shows that he cares in very different ways. He even mentors, though he would never admit to this himself. Also, being the only Brit in a Scottish police department means he’s always the odd man out. Though he would absolutely say it’s the other way around.

With the first case of Department Q, he’s taking on a cold case that’s only four years old. Or actually, his new assistant, Akram (Alexej Manvelov), has gone through the cold cases and selected that one.

Also, I have to say that I adore Akram and how he consistently says “I am Akram” when introducing himself to someone new. It screams “I am Groot”, and I immediately trust him.

The cast of the new Netflix series

Having watched the Danish movies based on the same book series, I was extra curious about the casting of this UK adaptation for Netflix. Fortunately, I was never worried as soon as Matthew Goode was named as Carl Morck.

Not that Matthew Goode was any kind of obvious choice for this character, but he is always amazing. And yes, he is also perfect (for me, anyway) as Carl Morck in the Netflix series Dept. Q.

Alongside Matthew Goode (Silent Night, Abigail), we have a stellar ensemble cast to ensure that it all comes together perfectly. I’ve already mentioned Alexej Manvelov (Chernobyl) as Akram.

As the key duo of the series, they must work. Which they do. Better than I dared hope. The same goes for the casting of Rose, who also plays a very important role in the newly formed Department Q. Rose is portrayed by Leah Byrne (Nightsleeper, The Last Bus) and is a real joy.

Also, Kate Dickie (Inside Man, Matriarch) as their boss is as brilliant as ever. Kelly Macdonald (I Came By) is just when the doctor ordered as the therapist helping Morck with his PTSD after the shooting. Again, he would never admit to this, but she can handle him.

Finally, as characters, I can’t reveal too much about, we have many more familiar and capable actors cast. They include Chloe Pirrie (Kryptic), Jamie Sives (Annika), Catriona Sterling (We Were the Lucky Ones), Patrick Kennedy, and Shirley Henderson.

Watch season 1 of Dept. Q on Netflix

Dept. Q is a Netflix series adaptation of the novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. The book series of the same name played out in Copenhagen, Denmark, while the series is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. And it works perfectly for the plot and characters alike.

Not least with Carl Morck as a British man with a superiority complex over his Scottish colleagues. Jussi Adler-Olsen was reportedly so pleased with Scott Frank at the helm of the series development that he didn’t even mind waiting.

The result is Scott Frank writing on all nine episodes as co-writer and directing six of the episodes, so it was clearly worth the wait. With Scott Frank (The Queen’s Gambit, Godless) developing the novels into this Netflix series, we’re getting the quality I’d expect from him.

As a Dane, who has (of course!) watched all the film adaptations of these Danish books, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The cold case Department Q covers in this first season was also the first movie. Admittedly, this series adaptation works better.

And I really liked the movie, so that says a lot. Also, if you’ve watched the movie, you’ll realize changes have been made, so this is still a mystery.

Dept. Q is on Netflix from May 29, 2025.

Details

Writer & Director: Scott Frank
Cast: Matthew Goode, Chloe Pirrie, Alexej Manvelov, Kelly Macdonald, Leah Byrne