Dept. Q Episode 3 recap: A little town called Mhòr and Merritt Lingard's dark past

In Dept. Q Episode 3, Detective Carl Morck and his assistant Akram travel to the Scottish island of Mhòr, Merritt Lingard’s childhood home, to dig deeper into her past. Their goal: uncover clues that explain what happened the day she vanished. As the investigation unfolds in Dept. Q Episode 3, hidden resentments in her family bubble to the surface.

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Retracing Steps on the Ferry and at Home

Dept. Q Episode 3 recap (Image via Netflix)

Morck and Akram retrace Merritt’s final visible steps on the ferry to Mhòr. Akram even mimics how William tossed his cap into the wind, only for it to land back in the ferry’s parking bay. This moment in Episode 3 highlights that someone was watching Merritt long before her disappearance.

At the home of the local constable, they learn about William’s troubling past. Years ago, he suffered a head injury from a thief named Harry Jennings, who later died after jumping off the ferry. The incident adds to the mystery. The ferry reappears as a key location in Episode 3.

Family Secrets in Mhòr

At her estranged father Jamie Lingard’s house, Morck and Akram see photos of William but none of Merritt. In Dept. Q Episode 3, Jamie admits to resentment.

He complains Merritt “stole” their late mother’s necklace and left William when he needed her most. Tensions reveal that while Jamie may not have cared much for her, others in Mhòr might and may have been waiting.

William’s Drawing & The Bird Logo

After William escapes custody, they find him with drawings: a circular bird-like logo appears both on the ferry and in Merritt’s childhood home. In Dept. Q Episode 3, this symbol becomes a focal lead.

When Merritt peels off paper in the hyperbaric chamber, she reveals etched letters "L & H" along with the question “Why are you here?” suggesting someone else was imprisoned before her.

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Rose Joins Department Q

In Dept. Q Episode 3, Detective Rose pushes hard for a field role in Department Q. Her father was Morck’s mentor, and she proves her worth by charming local law enforcement to extract fresh leads from Constable Cunningham.

Overarching Themes & Tension

Dept. Q Episode 3 masterfully balances procedural detective work with personal backstories. Morck opens up about his trauma and therapy, while Rose and Akram fight for a place on the team. Meanwhile, Merritt remains trapped in that chamber, surviving torturous pressure tests and discovering evidence of a previous victim.

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Why This Episode Stands Out

Dept. Q Episode 3 deepens the mystery through symbolic clues: the bird logo and chamber inscriptions.
Background revelations about William, Harry Jennings, and the ferry death lend critical context.
The strained Lingard family dynamics come into sharper focus, hinting at darker motivations.
New team dynamics emerge in Department Q, setting up personal and professional stakes.

By the end of Dept. Q Episode 3, investigators are more convinced that Merritt was watched and targeted long before her abduction. The appearance of the bird logo, along with the ominous initials "L & H," suggests a connection to her childhood and possibly Mhòr's hidden past. Rose’s infiltration of the island milieu could be a turning point in identifying the culprit.

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