''A certain degree of laziness'': Dept. Q author reveals how he based his protagonist Carl Morck on some of his own characteristics

Netflix's latest Scottish thriller series Dept. Q has climbed the network's Top 10 charts and is gaining positive reviews from the audience and critics alike.

Starring Matthew Goode in the lead role, the show is based on the book series by Danish crime fiction author Jussi Adler-Olsen of the same name.

The story follows an emotionally scarred Detective Chief Inspector Carl Morck (Goode), who assembles a group of misfit officers and forms the titular department, tasked with tackling cold cases.

Dept. Q Season 1 adapted Olsen's first novel, where Carl and his team investigate a missing prosecutor, Merritt Lingard.

Carl Morck serves as the protagonist for Olsen's novels throughout the book series, and talking to Crime Fiction Lover, the author revealed that he based the character on some of his traits:

''One characteristic we share is a certain degree of laziness. I have always been embarrassed by this so I have always been quite diligent out of fear of indulging in my laziness.''

While Netflix is yet to renew Dept. Q for Season 2, creator Scott Frank and Goode seem interested in bringing more of Olsen's novels to the small screen.

More on this in our story.

Dept. Q author Jussi Adler-Olsen revealed the inspiration behind Carl Morck

Goode's Carl Morck undergoes a reflective journey in Netflix's latest thriller series and assembles the misfit detectives in Edinburgh's basement office into a team of skilled investigators, ready to take on their next case.

In a 2017 interview with Crime Fiction Lover, Adler-Olsen revealed that he made his protagonist his namesake:

''My christened name is Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen.''

Expanding upon his similar characteristics with Carl Morck from Dept. Q, he added:

''I envy [Carl's] aability to put his feet up and take a nap. As Carl, I find it easy to come up with creative ideas and we are both direct. We do not beat around the bush when having to get a message across.''

''My personal experience has taught me that it makes lots of things easier to be honest, even when it is not welcome. Contrary to Carl I am diplomatic, but I envy him when he speaks plain truths directly to people.''

Will Dept. Q return for Season 2? Possibilities explored

Since Adler-Oslen's Dept. Q book series contains a total of 10 books; there is much scope for Season 2 and expanding the show through multiple seasons.

While the Netflix show neatly solved the mystery around Merritt Lingard in the Season 1 finale, it merely touched upon Carl and the other characters. Since Olsen continued the story across ten books, each book dives further deep into the characters, especially Morck, who was on the precipice of trauma when we meet him in the premiere.

The Netflix show certainly has a lot of opportunity to expand on Morck and other characters for Dept. Q. Creator Scott Frank discussed in an interview with Collider that he even has an idea for Season 2:

''The second book in the series is quite good, so I’ve got a great idea for a second season. It is another cold case and also a current case, at the same time, that they’re looking into. So, I would do that.''

Lead actor Matthew Goode, who was also present with Frank in the interview, also seemed interested in reprising the character for a sophomore season. He shared some of his ideas for Dept. Q Season 2, and want the creators to focus more on Morck and Akram's personal lives.

Syrian immigrant police officer Akram is surely an intriguing character, and Season 1 merely touched upon his tragic backstory in Syria with his wife, where she mysteriously died, and he moved to the UK with his two daughters.

It would certainly be interesting to know more about Morck and Akram's personal lives, especially with their families.

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Dept. Q Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

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