Movies

Here’s why Dept Q’s Akram is even more compelling than the show’s leads (who we also love)

BBG News

Since its premiere on May 29, Netflix’s gripping crime thriller Department Q has garnered a lot of interest, and it’s well deserved.

As a devoted admirer, I must say this watch nearly attains the pinnacle of five stars, but it’s the rich tapestry of compelling characters that truly sets it apart. The performances from Matthew Goode and Chloe Pirrie are nothing short of remarkable, shouldering the emotional heart of the narrative with a depth and intensity that leaves a lasting impact.

In the Department Q series, even after several months have gone by, Detective Carl Morck of Goode’s department continues to grapple with the effects of a past shooting incident as he carries out his duties.

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Apart from dealing with the aftermath of his near-death experience, he’s also grappling with feelings of guilt over potentially endangering others. In simpler terms, he’s in a state of distress due to the incident that left his partner partially paralyzed and resulted in the death of a young officer on the scene. In essence, he’s quite overwhelmed.

His combination of past traumas and a somewhat abrasive, overconfident demeanor results in an intriguing spectacle to observe.

In a single moment, he can be tender yet off-putting. His deep affection for his stepson Jasper shines through his efforts to shield and bond with him, but his emotional management leaves much to be desired, as evidenced by an unsuitable crush on a client. Goode skillfully portrays this intricate character.

In much the same way, Pirrie delivers a remarkable and chilling portrayal of Merritt. Before and after her abduction, Pirrie skillfully balances Merritt’s contrasting feelings.

Prior to Merritt, she came across as calm, aloof, and unyielding in both her speech and actions. Yet, beneath this stoic exterior, her compassion for others ran exceptionally deep. Conversely, the ‘captive’ Merritt presents a completely different persona.

Before Merritt was known for being calm, reserved, and as blunt with words as she was with decisions, but within her there was an unwavering care for people that ran deep. However, when Merritt is in captivity, she transforms into a completely new entity.

Removing any semblance of grace and subjecting her to pain reveals an almost primal side in this character, Merritt. Her internal struggles are initially portrayed as an emptiness she conveys, creating a disheartened, hollow aura. Simultaneously, she shows a powerful will to survive. Pirrie masterfully depicts the complex duality within Merritt.

In a dynamic display of acting, both Goode and Pirrie deliver compelling performances that leave a lasting impression on the audience. However, among these strong characters, it is Alexej Manvelov’s portrayal of Akram Salim that stands out as the most captivating.

Akram, with his delightful sweets and eagerness to gain respect, initially comes across as modest. It’s almost tempting to underestimate him, labeling him as someone eager to please and be helpful – ready to sweep the floors at Department Q just to earn a police officer’s badge instead of being an admin employee. However, it is precisely this aspect of Akram that makes him intriguing.

The character appears to be much more complex than initially perceived, and as the narrative unfolds across the nine episodes, his layers of mystery gradually become evident, even before DCI Morck poses the question, “What on earth happened in Syria?” (Noticeably, this question is met with an almost comically tense silence due to the palpable awkwardness that ensues in the quiet.)

Merritt and Carl’s travels are intriguing, yet predictable, as one might expect their ordeals to have left deep scars on their souls. Given their past and ongoing hardships, it comes as no surprise that they bear the marks of being emotionally scarred individuals. Their state is not a puzzle; it is a reflection of their trials and tribulations.

While Akram’s history is subtly revealed through small clues, creating a gradual unveiling of his personality that adds an element of intrigue and enhances the pleasure of getting to know him.

At first glance, Morck and Akram seemed to embody the roles of a good cop and a bad cop due to Carl’s impulsive and extreme nature contrasting with Akram’s calm demeanor. However, as time passes, it becomes evident that their dynamic isn’t about one being good and the other being bad. Instead, it’s more accurate to describe them as an impulsive officer and a subtly lethal one.

In the moment when Carl interjected Akram as he was performing one of the five daily Islamic prayers, it was the initial instance where Department Q had sown a particular seed.

At that instant, Akram appears clearly agitated yet compliant, as one might anticipate. Yet, once he had assisted in calming down Carl’s panic attack, Akram assertively made it clear to the DCI (his supervisor) never to disturb him during his prayers again.

In that moment, he’s unyielding, completely serious. There’s a hint of menace in his words that Carl senses, and it’s evident now that our assumptions about Akram were misguided.

As Akram questions a group of drug addicts, the crowd gains a deeper understanding of his character.

In this situation, an unarmed individual named Akram found himself facing a group who threatened him with a knife. Remarkably, it was Akram who emerged unharmed, while one of the group later needed hospitalization for a damaged windpipe. It seems that Akram’s exceptional abilities resurfaced when he managed to subdue a man much larger than himself effortlessly, using nothing but his skill and efficiency. After knocking the man down the stairs, he deliberately stepped on the man’s broken femur, but only after the man had already been incapacitated.

Unlike when I perform such actions, I am never out of control. I am always in complete control.

Among all the lines in the show, Akram’s statement about himself stands out as most captivating. In just a few words, he discloses his thoughts, making it clear that each decision he has made, even those that appeared impulsive or harsh, were choices he deliberately made. This new perspective paints him as a thoughtful individual, setting him apart.

The show on Netflix causes you to ponder over past events featuring the character Akram and scrutinize each action, from the brutal ones to those where he humbly complies with “Yes, sir. Yes ma’am.” Everything seems carefully planned. One of the ways Dept. Q develops Akram into such an intriguing figure is by challenging viewers to reevaluate his true identity.

By the end of the show, the audience still isn’t given the full picture of Akram.

It is known that he was a police officer in Syria. He and his wife aspired to relocate to the United Kingdom for the sake of their two daughters’ education. Unfortunately, his wife passed away in Syria under tragic circumstances – she had operated on the wrong person. Despite these heartbreaking events, the full extent of his personal struggles remains hidden from us.

Even though the nine-part series concludes, Merritt’s perilous voyage ends, and Carl Morck finds temporary relief from his remorse, it’s Akram’s narrative that continues to intrigue us. We yearn for more insights into his story.

Akram, the humble administrative officer at the police station, who also happens to be a generous treat-sharer, and maintains an agreeable disposition, which is what makes him particularly captivating.

Dept. Q is available to stream now on Netflix.

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2025-06-05 19:49

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