Crime dramas are some of the most popular shows on TV, and Netflix’s new series Dept. Q has proven that it can keep up with the competition. From the AMC series The Killing over a decade ago to the ongoing Emmy Award-winning series Slow Horses, the genre has plenty of great options. With so many impressive crime dramas to choose from, it can be difficult to find one that stands out above the crowd, but Netflix’s most recent series has managed to do so, becoming an instant hit.
Dept. Q topped Netflix’s streaming charts shortly after its release, and its 86% Rotten Tomatoes score shows that audiences and critics alike are enjoying the series. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes a crime drama work, as they can be infused with elements of many different genres, from comedy to horror. Netflix has numerous crime shows that have found varying degrees of success, proving that not every show hits the mark. When one does, however, it is hard to look away from, and Dept. Q is a perfect example for fans to check out.
Dept. Q Is Perfect For Fans Of Recent Crime Drama Hit Shows
It Builds Suspense Well And Comes To A Satisfying Conclusion
Dept. Q fits well with several of the best recent crime thrillers, but at the same time, it forges its own path. The series follows Carl Morck, a detective who was shot during a seemingly routine welfare check, leaving him with a psychological scar and his partner paralyzed. In the aftermath of his shooting, Morck is relegated to a new cold case department that keeps him out of the way of his coworkers, but he quickly becomes invested in solving the four-year-old disappearance of Merritt Lingard.
While the show does a great job of creating the relationships between its main characters, it also builds an incredibly compelling mystery.
Like Slow Horses‘s Jackson Lamb and his team, Dept. Q excels at the dynamic of the grumpy, cynical Morck and his more optimistic teammates. As the season progresses, it becomes clear that Morck believes his team, Rose and Akram, are more than capable, even when others in the department don’t. While the show does a great job of creating the relationships between its main characters, it also builds an incredibly compelling mystery. The series is able to create tension and twists as Morck rushes to solve Merritt’s case before it’s too late.
Why Dept. Q’s Reviews Are So Good
Critics Have Praised Many Aspects Of The Series
Dept. Q‘s premise may be enough to get many crime thriller fans excited, but its reviews and Rotten Tomatoes score highlight that critics agree on the show’s merits. Many reviewers noted the show’s dark tone and the intensity of the ongoing mystery. Like many crime dramas of a similar ilk, the series makes full use of its moody setting, in this case Edinburgh, and its sullen leading character. On this front, Matthew Goode, who plays Morck, also received praise for his character work.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that the series “boasts a terrific lead performance from Goode, introduces a memorable ensemble cast and even unfurls a compelling mystery.” Numerous other reviews likewise noted Goode’s performance as a highlight of the series, thanks to his ability to make the oft-unlikable Morck into a compelling character that audiences want to root for. Even those critics who argued that the series had room for improvement seemed to agree that the series deserves a chance to come back stronger.
Dept. Q Has A Bright Future If Netflix Renews The Show
DCI Morck Has Plenty Of Cold Cases To Choose From
Dept. Q‘s ending does create a satisfying resolution, but it still leaves a few mysteries unsolved. Although the series has not yet been renewed by Netflix, this ending was certainly by design. The series answers some of the biggest questions, but leaves viewers wanting more, hopefully prompting a second season. Because the show is based on a Danish book series and the cold case department has any number of cases to work on next, Dept. Q season 2 is full of possibilities.
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7 Best Shows To Watch Like Netflix’s Dept. Q
Netflix’s recent crime thriller Dept. Q has become a huge hit with audiences, but there are other crime shows fans of the genre should check out.
While Morck and his team do have a great dynamic, it also feels like they are just getting started, and Dept. Q can expand both on its characters’ lives and on the cases that they tackle. More specifically, the next book in the Dept. Q series focuses on a double murder. With 10 books in the series, Netflix has an opportunity to create a long-running and highly-rated competitor to some of the best-known crime shows. All that’s left now is to wait and see if Dept. Q maintains its popularity long enough for that to happen.
Source: THR
Dept. Q
- Release Date
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May 29, 2025
- Network
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Netflix
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Matthew Goode
DCI Carl Morck
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Chloe Pirrie
Merritt Lingard
