User Reviews

Dept Q. completely caught me by surprise. I Googled shows like Slow Horses (which I completely think is brilliant) and Dept Q. came up in the results. I started watching it and it starts very slow. It does the standard character and plot development, which takes time. But it is worth the storytelling. By the time they "catch" the bad guy I was yelling at my TV and I actually got misty eyed the last 5 minutes. Great show with a superb cast.

Unlikable characters with no humor. Trope after trope. More tropes... nope.

It's an excellent piece of police irreverent drama. Characters are priceless. Not hyperrealistic style, but fictional.

Season 1 kept me bound from episode 1 to the end. Great actors and great story.

Not every detective series manages to go beyond genre clichés, but Dept. Q brings a fresh take thanks to its perfect balance of intrigue, drama, and humanity. What begins as a dark story about cold cases becomes an experience that is as moving as it is **** heart of the show lies not only in the crimes but in the relationship between its characters. Matthew Goode delivers an ambiguous, magnetic performance as the haunted detective, but the real standout is the Syrian assistant, a character full of nuance who blends humor, tenderness, and resilience. He makes you laugh, feel, and even cry along the way.Edinburgh’s gothic streets and shadowy atmosphere heighten the tension of each case, wrapping every episode in a magnetic tone. Add to that a polished production and a script that knows how to build suspense **** the end, Dept. Q works not just as a crime series but also as a portrait of damaged people finding redemption through their work. A solid, emotional show with the potential to become one of the genre’s greats.

Sentimental and nonsensical crime dramas I've seen in decades. Acting was stilted, the story was convolutedthe story was convoluted and illogical, including characters that were unrealistic.. Save yourself in trouble, and move onto the endless amount of good content out there.

Stylishly shot and atmospherically moody, Dept. Q walks a fine line between familiar genre tropes and deeper emotional introspection. What elevates it is the strong lead performance and visual precision that lend the show a certain gravitas. While the pacing falters in places, the craft and tone make for a respectable entry into the Nordic noir-inspired canon. A solid, if not groundbreaking, procedural.

Dept. Q is a rare case where the show matches the book(s) in entertainment value. The TV show does make some significant changes to main characters but perhaps for the better? At least you can understand why. However the main characters keep their gender/race identities which is actually refreshing. I guess the DEI-cops were sleeping? (note: changing a race/gender can be ok if the character is kept consistent but don't change race/gender just to meet some silly DEI counts that no one really cares about). The story is actually moved from Denmark to The English Isles - but nothing seems to be lost with that. Mathew Goode IS Carl **** as I read more of the books I can easily picture him in the books - and that is a good thing (much like Season 1 of Reacher-TV, until they completely ruined the show in season 2 and even moreso in Season 3... doesn't change the fact that Alan Richardson IS Jack Reacher (not Tom Cruise :( ) The story, dialogue, banter between the characters is excellent. The show moves quickly and is a wonderful mystery that keeps you interested and engaged. Watch it! Can't wait for Season 2 (please don't pull a Reacher!)

Wow! Best show so far this year. I rarely write reviews on TV series, but for this one I had to do it. I loved the humor, the dark humor, the Scottish accents, the way the story was told, the quirky characters. For me the last two episodes were a bit too dark and graphic, but it made the whole thing very realistic. Hoping for a season 2.

Dark, with a good sense of pace and gravitas. Although the behavior of the main character is at times exteme enough to be implausible, overall well-done.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Solid performer in the detective with humour mystery genre. Original plot, good character development and some of the story arcs are smart. Flows well until last 1-2 episodes whichwere dragged out unnecessarily.

Best new show streaming so far in 2025! Fantastic thriller with a tremendous cast and acting. Plot is full of twist and turns to the last minute. Watch and enjoy.

Way too drawn out. Some goofy out of place characters that adds nothing really but it kept a bit of an interest.

While it features a solid cast and direction, the series has no redeeming characters and is utterly bleak and depressing.

Series starts off with a bang, but Goode's egocentric character quickly wears out his welcome, as do the interminable scenes set in a hyperbolic chamber. Proof that fewer episodes were needed is evident in episode 8, which is made up of flashbacks, dreams and background on the characters that were wisely cut from the original episodes. Kelly MacDonald is in fine form, and fellow detectives Salim, Hardy and **** were top-notch. In fact, I'd prefer a spin-off with Salim (call it I Am Akram) to a second season of Q. There's something to be said for an understated but competent character in contrast to the brash, showboating leads that populate far too many series.

This was better than expected. The story actually grew as the season went on. The acting was pretty good. The personal story lines were good and, what's unusual, they actually grew throughout the series. Some of the flashbacks and scenes of the kidnapping were a bit confusing and disorienting, but it worked itself out in the end. The team came together well and the mystery was solved. There wasn't much wasted time in the episodes as there was a lot to cover. All in all, we'd rate this "well worth binge-watching with some good snacks."

Matthew Goode plays a Scottish detective whose character is also an arrogant arse. Despite his lack of people skills, he’s a top-notch investigator. After a traumatic encounter that leaves his partner paralyzed, he’s assigned to a cold case, which sets the story in motion. Goode is effective in the part and even though his character isn’t plagued by alcoholism or another trite blemish, he does have clashes with almost every human, including his son. Fortunately, he’s joined by 2 sidekicks that add a bit more personality: Alexej Manvelov, as the serious Syrian refugee, and Leah Byrne, the resourceful redhead. Meanwhile, the primary suspect’s captivity plays out with a dark edge. The series does sprawl into several side plots and there’s not much real suspense, but it does present a solid mystery with the strong ensemble that makes it enjoyable for what it is. (9 one-hour eps)

Jint. We need more of this. Enjoyable and a romp. I like it. Do you want me to keep talking until 75 words ok then.

This was surprisingly good. I usually avoid UK crime dramas, but this one held my interest.

Captivating, suspenseful, creative. characters are well flushed out and a good puzzle box mystery.

Really well made series, i liked all the characters (this show doesn't focus only on the main character but let you get to know, little by little all the other characters and i liked it), the scenography and the mysteries involved. Hope for another season since there's still a lot to unpack!

A bit of Dr House but in criminal way and not that strong. Still, really good series to watch

Starts of well and then turns into such a ridiculous mess that I that questions why I bothered watching it in the first place.

Extremely well done series. With an incredible cast like this I really hope they have a season two. Very impressed!

I absolutely loved it! Great cast, engaging story, and all around very well done. I highly recommend it. I hope they will continue the series with the rest of the books.