I heard Netflix trying to do their version of Broadchurch or Slow Horses, which instantly made me skeptical. But then I hit play, and somewhere between the sarcasm, grim atmosphere, and those broken, sharp edged characters, I knew I wasn't going anywhere for the next nine hours.
The show kicks off in Edinburgh with Carl Morck, played by Matthew Goode, a top detective who's been sidelined after a botched operation. He's bitter, damaged, and absolutely does not want to be working in a basement re-investigating cold cases. But that's exactly where he ends up-heading up Department Q, a unit for "cases that don't matter anymore." Only, it turns out they do matter. The first season focuses on a single cold case: the disappearance of a young woman that's remained unsolved for years. What starts off as a procedural mystery slowly unravels into something darker, more emotional, and deeply character-driven.
At first, I wasn't sure about Carl. He comes off abrasive, foul-mouthed, and just generally unpleasant but then you realize he's carrying a mountain of trauma and guilt. The man's barely holding it together, and Goode's performance starts to grow on you. He's like a British Dr. House with a badge and a permanently clenched jaw. Then there's Akram Salim, played by Alexej Manvelov. What a performance. He barely speaks, but when he does, it cuts through everything. You just feel safer when he's around. He's calm, precise, and the moral anchor of the show, the heart of Dept. Q.
The supporting cast rounds out this team of misfits beautifully. There's Merritt, the icy and determined prosecutor with a tragic backstory. Rose, a cadet battling mental health issues but desperate for redemption; and Hardy, Carl's paraplegic ex-partner who offers both insight and heart. You start rooting for them before you even realize you care.
Let me be clear: Dept. Q is not an easy binge. It's dark, gritty, often slow. But it rewards your patience. There are scenes where nothing is said, but everything is felt. The actors communicate with their eyes more than their words. There's a powerful scene in episode 9 with Akram that gave me chills. The show looks incredible too. You can tell they filmed in real Edinburgh locations, and the grey skies, old buildings, and rainy alleys only add to that heavy, haunted tone.
The show does have its flaws. Some episodes dragged, especially mid-season. There's pacing bloat, Netflix could have trimmed nine episodes down to a leaner six. And there's a lot of cursing that sometimes feels excessive. Morck himself isn't always likable. He's cruel. He lashes out. But he's also real, and he grows. By the finale, you may not love him, but you'll understand him.
This adaptation makes changes from the original Danish books, particularly to Morck's character, but it still captures the essence of the story. The writing is subtle. The mystery is emotional, not flashy. The characters are some of the most layered I've seen in a procedural in a while. It's not about the case, it's about the people solving it.
If you like Broadchurch, Mare of Easttown, Mindhunter, or even House, give Dept. Q a shot. Stick through the first two episodes, and I promise you'll be hooked. Netflix better not screw this one up, I need Season 2.
Watch on Netflix