Dept. Q Episode 7 recap: Carl and Akram interrogate Stephen Burns

Dept. Q Episode 7 dropped on May 29, 2025, and kicked off with Carl and Akram arriving at the Crown Office to interrogate Stephen Burns, a key figure whose influence and evasions have made him increasingly suspicious. They lay out the web of connections that links Kristy Atkins and Merritt, along with Liam Taylor.

Combined with the suspicious deaths following Kirsty’s confession and Julia’s car accident, the case against Burns grows stronger. Meanwhile, Merritt is still alive inside the hyperbaric chamber and attempts to escape. Read on for a full recap of the Dept. Q Episode 7.

Here is what happened in Dept. Q Episode 7

Tortured in a hyperbaric chamber, Merritt develops a severe tooth infection. She is handed pliers and ends up pulling her own tooth — painful but empowering. Using the pliers, she sabotages the chamber’s airlock during a supply delivery. Although she momentarily incapacitates her captor and dials emergency services, she is quickly overwhelmed by the second kidnapper. Merritt scrubs off markings on the walls, perhaps to clear her mind or erase hope, and in flashbacks we learn about her past with Harry Jennings. They shared a romantic relationship as teens and were deeply connected. Therefore, her abduction here becomes something more personal than random, as it is someone she deeply trusted. If she survives, she could be the only one who could expose the full truth.

Carl then connects some more dots, and deduces that the same men who tried to intimidate Jasper also targeted Fergus. The visits were not random but were orchestrated by Finch's team. Sam Haig had told Robert, Finch’s lawyer, about Kirsty’s testimony a day before the trial. He had offered the information easily without any exchange, which raises the question if he was coerced or manipulated to do so.

Sam wasn’t just a victim — he was working on a story of his own. Dennis, the journalist, hints that Sam may have been getting close to someone linked to the wider conspiracy. He advises Carl to speak to Terry Dundee, a Godhaven officer, for more context, suggesting this is where Sam’s investigation may have led.

Carl and Jasper share a vulnerable moment in Dept. Q Episode 7

Carl, in a rare moment of vulnerability in Dept. Q, finally opens up to Jasper, his stepson, about the emotional weight of the case and the events of that fateful night. This happens after he consults with his therapist, Rachel. Jasper clearly looks up to him but struggles to articulate it, making this connection both moving and necessary for Carl’s growth.

Trending

Although Sam’s death was officially ruled an accident, new evidence and Paul Evans’ behaviour raise doubts. Rose discovers Paul sent ominous messages to Sam urging him to “stop keeping secrets.” Rose presses Evans, and he reveals that he and Sam were emotionally close, using their climbs to share personal struggles. However, he never heard Sam mention Merritt, but was involved with Chloe. The affair occurred at The Spivey Inn, not the hotel previously thought, contradicting earlier assumptions about Sam’s timeline.

Watch Dept. Q only on Netflix.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback