A Geeky Guy's Guide to Department Q
The 2025 British version of Department Q is a perfect police rime procedural. There may be police shows as good, but I can't recall any better.
If you haven't heard about Department Q, then you don't hang out at my poker games. My friends have been telling me to watch it for months. My wife and I finally got around to it and wow were my friends right. This new version is based off Danish movies that were based on a book series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. So it is like a dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude. But thank god they jumped through those complicated hoops to make this show.
The show centers around a British police detective named Carl Morck, played by Matthew Goode, who is incredibly abrasive and has pushed basically everyone in his life away from him. It gets worse after he survives a shooting (this is no spoiler as it happens 5 minutes into the show). He is so hated in his department that he is banished to the basement (literally) and given the impossible task of solving cold cases that have been forgotten about.
I truly think the key to these types of shows are the side characters. There have been many shows with amazing main characters but the side characters are so annoying that they bring the show down. This was actually my problem with Breaking Bad. I get that people love the show but so many of the side characters made me want to take some meth (I'm looking at you Mrs. White, little son white, brother and sister in law... and many others). This is also why I loved Better Call Saul far more than Breaking Bad. All of the side characters were compelling. But I digress. Back to Department Q.
Although Morck hates everyone and would rather work on his own, he does put together a team (son of a bitch). And that is one of the true strengths of the show. Alexj Manvelov as Akram Salim is one of the best parts of the show. His character was some kind of badass officer back in Syria but he can't even get a job as a police secretary in England. So naturally he joins Morck's team. He's amazing! The two other members of the team, Rose and Hardy, also bring a ton to the table. I loved that they portrayed a police officer with a disability as still having tremendous value. His legs are weak... not his brain! Even Morck's roommate and step son are interesting characters. It also contains the best therapist/patient relationship I have seen since the Sopranos.
But all the characters in the world could not save a show if the driving mystery were not compelling. And believe me this one is. I can't say too much about it without spoiling it but trust me, the acting and surprises of "whodunit" are sensational.
It seems they are already making a second season. I can't wait!
I've been wanting to get to this one, but there is so much stuff to watch already. I am sure we will circle around to it at some point. Maybe in the winter when our evenings are less busy. It's kind of funny how every show seems to revolve around a team now. Like NCIS or CSI started this whole thing. Breaking Bad wasn't our favorite either. My wife liked sons of anarchy a lot more.
I hadn't heard of that Department Q series. Police dramas are my favorites, so I'll watch it and give my opinion on it.
I really liked your analysis of Department Q. One thing I have to say is that I completely agree with your opinion on the importance of side characters. I think this aspect is what took the series to a different level.
Honestly, I prefer watching movies because I don't like TV series because I know they don't have an ending. Of course, this doesn't mean I don't like TV series. When we watch a series, we start living in its environment, but when they leave you at the end and go away for a while, it's really bad. So I try to get attracted to something that I know has an ending.😁
I felt the same excitement while reading what you wrote about Department Q. The character depth and the processing of the side characters really make the series special. Especially the story of Akram Salim is reflected both touchingly and strongly. It's hard to find such a balanced fiction and immersive mystery in the detective genre. I'm also one of those who are looking forward to the second season @hanshotfirst
Maintaining the mystery in each episode to captivate viewers isn't uncommonly simple, and from that perspective, it seems like an excellent series with characters who each contribute their unique touch. I haven't seen it, but I'll try to get a few episodes and enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the couch with my husband.
the way you review this one, make me interested to watch.
We really enjoyed it even though it was hard to watch. My other half was shouting at the TV in the last episode. There were lots of twists along the way.
We have been to Edinburgh a lot, so we recognised some locations. Looking forward to another series.
If the performances of all the characters are interesting, then that series becomes a lot more popular with people. So here I will say that Department Q is quite interesting in the way you have described, so people will definitely like it. I have Netflix but I forgot its password, so I will call my friend again and ask him because we all have a screen together and we pay together every month, so I will try to get the password from him and start watching this series today.
I always like to watch something that has been fully played out or its series has been completed because then I can't stop. I'm very excited to know the next story. This also looks like a very interesting series, so I'll definitely watch it
I really enjoyed this adaptation too. The characters are so well written, and Carl Morck makes the story even more intense. Can’t wait to see what season two brings.