Netflix's latest crime thriller Dept. Q bags solid RT scores: Here's everything we know

In a gritty reimagining of Jussi Adler-Olsen's bestselling Dept. Q thrillers, Netflix’s 2025 series transplants the story from its native Denmark to the haunting streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. The English-language show gives the Nordic noir genre classic a fresh but familiar twist, replacing the Copenhagen fog-bound streets with Scotland's capital city's dark, gothic landscape.

The show centers on DCI Carl Morck, a maverick detective who leads a new cold case unit, investigating overlooked crimes. The tone and characters remain loyal to the spirit of the novels, but they gain new visual and cultural depth in the Scottish context, enriching the story without losing its psychological edge.

Here's the official trailer for your reference:

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Get to know the cast of Dept. Q: Matthew Goode takes the lead

Netflix's Dept. Q stars Matthew Goode (The Crown, A Discovery of Witches) as DCI Carl Morck — an emotionally burdened, troubled detective still beset by traumatic memories. Goode's work has already won praise for bringing quiet intensity and subtle vulnerability to the role.

He is accompanied by:

Kelly Macdonald (Line of Duty, Boardwalk Empire) as a senior officer with a link to Carl's history.

Alexej Manvelov (Before We Die, Chernobyl) as Carl's mysterious sidekick, Assad.

Chloe Pirrie (The Game, The Crown) as a supporting forensic scientist.

The great cast helps balance the procedural elements against dramatic weight, paving the way for an extremely character-led mystery drama series.

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Creative vision: Scott Frank brings prestige TV flair

Dept. Q is created and written by Scott Frank, the Emmy-winning master of Godless and The Queen's Gambit. With his history of cinematic storytelling and complex heroes, Frank's stamp is well and truly in place in Dept. Q's atmospheric gloom and multi-layered storytelling.

Frank's approach is less about episodic elements but rather about long-form, psychologically nuanced storytelling — something the dark complexity of Adler-Olsen's source material is ideally suited to.

Influenced by noir and Westerns, Frank seamlessly blends high-stakes tension with emotional introspection, moving the genre far beyond typical crime fare.

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Premiere details: Now streaming on Netflix

The first season of Dept. Q premieres globally on May 29, 2025, with the complete nine episodes released simultaneously on Netflix.

It is the first English-language adaptation of the Department Q book series and introduces the franchise to a whole new set of viewers beyond the 2010s Danish feature films.

Every episode is approximately 50–60 minutes and combines episodic mysteries with a cold case spanning the season, a style that holds audiences enthralled from start to finish.

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A global bestseller reimagined

Adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q books, a global bestseller with over 20 million copies sold, the series follows Carl Mørck and his team as they crack complex cold cases hidden in the fog of history and red tape.

Though the Scotland-based Netflix adaptation uproots the action, the emotional and thematic core remains the same: exploring guilt, justice, trauma, and institutional failure through compelling investigation drama.

Prior Danish productions from 2013-2018 were themselves critically successful. Netflix's version, however, offers a new English-speaking viewing hook, with enhanced character work and serialized storytelling.

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Netflix's Dept. Q reworks a vintage Nordic noir franchise with style, depth, and a touch of Scottish noir pessimism. Starring Matthew Goode in a decadent lead performance and anchored by Scott Frank's thoughtful adaptation, this is not just another crime procedural — it's a low-key, mood-piece thriller that pays off on an emotional level as much as an entertaining one.

If you’re a fan of Broadchurch, The Fall, or Mindhunter, you’ll likely find this series to be a satisfying and chilling addition to your watchlist.

Also read: Top 10 small-town crime thriller shows to watch, explored