Netflix’s latest, Dept. Q, has soared to No. 1 globally since its May 29, 2025, release, and audiences can’t stop talking about it. Created by Scott Frank (The Queen’s Gambit) and Chandni Lakhani, the Scottish crime thriller brings a dark new twist to the genre, adapted from the best-selling novel by Jussi Adler-Olsen.
The highlight of the series is Matthew Goode’s stellar performance as DCI Carl Morck, a brilliant but emotionally scarred detective who heads Edinburgh’s newly formed Department Q, a cold case unit set up to uncover what time has tried to bury. Haunted by an inescapable past, Morck is joined by an unforgettable team: Alexej Manvelov as the fierce and mysterious Akram Salim, and Leah Byrne as the sharp and determined Rose. One of Dept. Q’s most prominent and disturbing features is the mysterious disappearance of a prosecutor – a representative of law and justice. However, the deeper DCI Carl Morck and his team dig, the more they discover that this disappearance is not a random mission or the work of a personal enemy. Instead, it is directly related to a web of power within the legal system itself, where those who claim to be “protecting justice” are actually the ones manipulating, covering up and committing crimes.
The Truth Is Made Up by the Powerful
In the film, some high-ranking figures in the system – from judges, high-ranking police officers to politicians – have participated in or intentionally covered up heinous crimes in the past. They manipulate records, destroy evidence and create stories to launch a closed-door project, thereby protecting their image and power.
When the law is no longer justice
The film asks the full-picture question:
“If the prosecutor himself is a criminal, who will stand up to demand justice for the victim?”
This question is not only for the world of Dept. Q, but also reflects the reality in many countries today, where there are jobs that are “under the radar” because they quickly reach those in power or great power.
Department Q’s Decision
The show’s brilliance lies in the fact that, despite facing a broken and booby-trapped system, Morck and his team do not stop. They do not hold back from digging up difficult truths, fighting against the system to bring to light the hidden corners that have been dug up. It is this spirit that inspires viewers – that no matter how twisted justice is, there are still brave people who seek to change it.
In nine tightly woven episodes, the team delves into the grisly disappearance of a prosecutor – only to discover that the case is entangled in a web of corruption, betrayal, and chilling revelations that endanger Morck himself. With each twist, viewers are drawn deeper into the secret world that lurks beneath Edinburgh’s foggy cobblestone streets.
Critics and fans alike are raving. Dept. Q has a 78% critic score and an 81% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Social media exploded, particularly on X, where viewers praised the dark tone, sharp dialogue and Goode’s portrayal of a man struggling with his inner demons.
Filmed entirely in and around Edinburgh, the show captured the eerie beauty of the city and added an atmospheric depth rarely seen on television. If you’re a fan of dark mysteries, compelling characters and slow-burn suspense, Dept. Q is the next show you need to watch.
