Dept. Q (Season 1/UK/2025) Series is a slow-burning, suspenseful crime mystery drama set in Edinburgh, Scotland. This high-quality Police procedural saga focuses on the new “Department Q”, where detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) leads an unlikely team of misfits in solving the historical cold cases.
This Netflix show is based on the 2007 Danish novel “The Keeper of Lost Causes” by Jussi Adler-Olsen. It is the first book featuring Detective Carl Mørck and the nonconformist team members working in Department Q. As of now, in this Nordic noir crime book series, there are 10 novels in total. So, the show has a future.
Can “Dept. Q” Save The Lost Ones – Detective Carl, his team-mates & the missing Attorney Merritt, in this grim crime thriller?
Spoiler Free Review of the Dept. Q (Season 1/UK/2025) Series
Trailer & Synopsis (Official)
A brash but brilliant cop, Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), becomes head of a new police department, where he leads an unlikely team of misfits in solving Edinburgh's cold cases.
To elaborate, DCI Carl Morck is certainly a sharp detective, yet he struggles as a colleague. His biting sarcasm hasn’t won him any allies within the Edinburgh police force. After a tragic shooting claims the life of a young officer and leaves his partner in a wheelchair, Carl finds himself relegated to the basement, the only member of Department Q—an underwhelming cold case unit created more for public relations than for real change. This department serves as a distraction from the shortcomings of a police force in dire straits, and they seem relieved to see him go. Nevertheless, by some twist of fate, Carl begins to gather a team of misfits eager to prove themselves. When the once-forgotten case of a missing civil servant suddenly gains traction, Carl leaps back into action, ready to shake things up and uncover the truth, determined to make a noise and push boundaries.
The introduction
The “Dept. Q” (2025) series is based on the “The Keeper of Lost Causes” novel, and as the title of the original novel suggests, they are indeed dealing with the lost causes. As there are quite a few lost causes and certainly, each one needs rescuing. The historical cases department Q is tasked to pick one of the cold cases which have remained unsolved for many years. Then, focus their time, energy and resources on solving that particular “white whale” police case. So, the first season of the nine-part series mainly focuses on the case of advocate Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), who went missing a few years ago, without a trace.
And, since then, the trail has gone cold. Now, can this department led by the angry and bitter middle-aged man, DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), find her before it is too late for her? So, are they able to crack open her complicated case and rescue her in time? That is the story.
This 2025 crime drama series comes from the show creator Scott Frank of "The Queen's Gambit" (2020) series fame.
We loved its intriguing and riveting storyline
The source material of the first season comes from the Danish novel “Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes”, which is considered one of the top crime thrillers. Moreover, in the past, in our Focus Magazine, we have heaped praise on the high-quality and captivating Nordic Noir genre. It is worth noting that the original Danish novel “The Keeper of Lost Causes” was set in Copenhagen. However, the creators of the “Dept. Q” series have set this story in Edinburgh, Scotland. So, there are bound to be some discrepancies in terms of the laws as well as the police procedures. Still, it is a very good adaptation.
FYI, we have seen the original 2013 Danish movie named "Kvinden i buret" (Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes) based on the same novel.
The eerie and haunting music just sets the tone and paints a gloomy picture of a sinister crime. With nine episodes, the creators have given us a layered and stratified crime drama. Where almost all the key characters are well-etched out. They are given ample screen time to share their tales.
We liked Matthew Goode, Chloe Pirrie, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne and others
English actor Matthew Goode plays the headstrong DCI Carl Morck in his unique style, and we liked that. He plays the character of a troubled policeman, Carl Morck, who would have a lost cause himself, but for this challenging case. The same is true for his second-in-command, Akram Salim, who was forced to move to Scotland from war-torn Syria. Swedish actor Alexej Manvelov plays this grief-stricken character, Akram Salim, with a lot of sensitivity. His on-screen character is also trying to make a fresh start after a tragic loss. However, the presence of the smart and bubbly DC Rose Dickson lifts the mood, as Leah Byrne plays her well.
Not to forget, Scottish actress Chloe Pirrie also portrayed the challenging character of the victim Merritt Lingard in an empathic manner. All in all, backed by a fairly engrossing storyline, almost the entire ensemble cast kept us engaged in this suspenseful crime drama.
The conclusion
To err is human… The story of this crime drama exposes us to all kinds of flaws that exist in humans. But, then, the sadistic and criminal bent of mind is of the worst kinds. This is what Nordic Noir are known for. Thankfully, “Dept. Q” keeps alive the dark storylines and bleak settings to keep us invested and entertained.
FM Rating
| FM Rating of the Dept. Q (Season 1) | 4.05/5 |
Key details
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Original Language | English (UK) |
| Season | First (1st) Season |
| Episodes | Nine (9) Episodes |
| Show Creators | Scott Frank & Chandni Lakhani |
| Writers | Jussi Adler-Olsen (Novelist), Scott Frank, Chandni Lakhani, Colette Kane & Stephen Greenhorn |
| Directors | Scott Frank & Elisa Amoruso |
| Main Cast | Matthew Goode (Carl Morck), Chloe Pirrie (Merritt Lingard), Leah Byrne (DC Rose Dickson), Alexej Manvelov (Akram Salim), Steven Miller (Sam Haig/Lyle Jennings), Jamie Sives (James Hardy), Kelly Macdonald (Rachel Irving), Aaron McVeigh (Jasper Stewart), Catriona Stirling (DC Wilson), Aron Dochard (DC Clark), Kal Sabir (DCI Logan Bruce), Sanjeev Kohli (Martin Fleming), Kate Dickie (Moira Jacobson), Bobby Rainsbury (Teenage Merritt), Tom Bulpett (William Lingard), Patrick Kennedy (Liam Taylor), etc. |
| Taglines | Not All Causes Are Lost |
| Network | Netflix |
| Award Nominations | Primetime Emmy Awards – 2025 Nominee Primetime Emmy – Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music – Carlos Rafael Rivera (composer) & Scott Frank (composer) |
Poster
Spoilers Alert: Summary of its Nine (9) Episodes
Peek into the Nine Episodes of the Dept. Q (Season 1/UK/2025) Series
Episode 1
DCI Carl Mørck returns to work after a near-fatal incident and finds himself head of a new department. A prosecutor faces a tough day in court.
Episode 2
As Carl and his new assistant start digging into their first cold case, he can’t stop his personal demons encroaching on his professional life.
Episode 3
Carl and Akram recreate the fateful ferry journey on their way to the isle of Mhor, a frustrated Rose makes her case for joining the department.
Episode 4
Rose goes to the island to find out what Carl couldn’t. Akram finds a note which sends the investigation in an entirely new direction.
Episode 5
The prosecutor’s disappearance becomes connected with a death. A scuffle in a newspaper office sees Carl making headlines, and Moira sees a therapist.
Episode 6
The police detain a suspect for the Leith Park shooting. Carl returns to the scene of the crime, before losing his temper in public once again.
Episode 7
Carl makes some dangerous allegations to some powerful men, while Rose takes a fresh angle to uncover more information about Sam Haig.
Episode 8
The kidnappers give their victim a clue as they press her for an answer to their question. Dept. Q gets closer to unraveling its own riddle.
Episode 9
A decades-old recording helps all the clues to fall into place. But as the pressure rises – in and out of the chamber – can Carl get there in time?
Also, check out the review of the Ballard (Season 1/USA/2025) Series in our Focus Magazine, which also deals with cold cases.
Poster and Featured Image of the Dept. Q (Season 1/UK/2025) Series are credited to Netflix.
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