There are so many great crime dramas that have come out this year on NETFLIX and this Edinburgh based show is no exception.
DEPT Q is a detective show that keeps your mind turning and stomach churning throughout its 9 episodes.
You could tell straight away that this TV Show would be an amazing adaptation as it is directed by Scott Frank and Detective Carl Morck is played by Matthew Goode. Audiences would recognise Scott Frank as he directed The Queens Gambit, which also starred Goode.
The impressive cast also includes Trainspotting and Nanny McPhee star Kelly Macdonald and Harry Potter’s moaning Myrtle herself, Shirley Henderson.
In the first 10 seconds of the show you might think that Morck is an awful colleague and person, but we are in no doubt he is a very good detective.
Morck’s arrogance gets the better of him, leading to a young officer getting killed and his own partner being paralyzed by a bullet that then ricocheted through Morck’s neck.
Consequently, Morck is put-on long-term leave.
He is not welcome upon his return to the office and his new boss assigns him to head of a new department to investigate cold cases. More to get him out of the away than anything else.
His office is in the basement beneath the station. Previously it was used as Shower Quarters (The only letter left visible from its sign is Q.)
He gradually assembles a ragbag team of misfits to help him, which includes Cadet Rose (Leah Bryne) who is trying to get away from desk duty as she previously had a breakdown and Morcks paralysed partner DI James Hardy, who is still hospitalized and is slowly enticed into the team to give him some purpose. Another maverick in the team is Syrian Refugee Akram Salim, who picks their first case.
It is the mystery surrounding a young lawyer called Merrit Linguard who has been missing for four years.
I won’t go into more details so as not to spoil the fun, but fair to say there are lots of twists and turns that keep the team guessing and danger never far away.
The acting was on par, the script was excellent, however, for me it took a few episodes to be pulled into the storyline and characters fully.
I do agree with the audience reactions that it was a tad too sweary. I don’t mind a swear word, but these seem to be inserted to try and make it grittier. The storyline was gruesome enough.
It isn’t one of those shows that you can binge watch, its better to savour a couple at a time to fully appreciate it. Detective shows are two a penny now, so it is hard to get one that stands out of the crowd.
DEPT Q is head and shoulders above the competition. Don’t Miss.