Netflix's Scottish crime drama Dept Q, based on Jussi Adler-Olsen's beloved Danish book series, has been hailed as one of the best crime series on the platform, drawing comparisons to Slow Horses.
Launched in 2025, the series follows DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an exceptional yet abrasive detective who returns to duty after recovering from a disastrous ambush shooting. He is assigned a run-down basement office, formerly the police station's shower facilities, and instructed to work through an enormous pile of unsolved cold cases on his own.
Dept Q team and first case
As the series progresses, Morck is joined by Akram Salim, a former Syrian police officer (Alexej Manvelov), recuperating partner James Hardy (Jamie Sives), and rookie constable Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne). Together, they investigate the disappearance of Crown solicitor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), a case that becomes the focal point of the first season.
Comparisons to Slow Horses
Fans of Slow Horses will recognise the familiar formula of gifted, troubled characters relegated to a forgotten department that nobody takes seriously, headed by a boss who is undeniably talented but thoroughly disagreeable to work alongside. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have also drawn parallels between the two shows.
One reviewer for the Jerusalem Post described it as "a perfect series for those Slow Horses fans who want something to watch while waiting for the new season," while the Financial Times called it "a new Netflix crime thriller with a title that's evocative of James Bond, and a premise more than a little reminiscent of Slow Horses."
Viewer and critic reception
Audience reviewers have heaped praise on the storyline: "This show kept me glued! The plot is well thought out, and is full of twists without being too convoluted." Another described it as "one of the best crime series I've seen in a while. Dark, smart and full of interesting characters."
There is also considerable admiration for the ensemble cast, with one reviewer highlighting the strength of the supporting performances: "You know it's going to be good when Mark Bonnar and Kelly MacDonald are almost reduced to bystanders and it certainly didn't fail to deliver." A fourth viewer noted: "Started very slow but then it took off and I couldn't stop watching. Fantastic actors and an off-the-rails story."
Cast and future series
The cast is brimming with British and Scottish talent: alongside Goode, Pirrie and Manvelov, the show features Kelly Macdonald as Morck's therapist, Kate Dickie as his commanding officer, and Mark Bonnar as the Lord Advocate tangled up in Merritt's disappearance. A second series of Dept Q has already been confirmed, with filming currently under way in Edinburgh, Scotland.
