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The Netflix crime drama, Dept. Q, penned and directed by Scott Frank of The Queen’s Gambit, is a series that delves into the complexities of challenging characters. The protagonist, Edinburgh police detective Carl Morck, has recently returned to duty after being wounded in a line of fire incident. In a tragic twist, a young officer was killed before Carl could complete his reprimand, and body camera footage of the event, coupled with his already volatile temperament, makes his return far from celebratory. The first episode also introduces Merritt Lingard, a prosecutor known for her abrasive nature, whose aggressive grilling of a suspect accused of murdering his wife enrages her peers. Her superior cautions her, “You’ve gone too far,” while Carl’s superiors share similar concerns about his confrontational methods.

The combination of these honorable characters with complex personalities, whose unyielding quest for justice has led them to feel lonely and resentful, presents a significant opportunity. Regrettably, the numerous plot turns in the series often restrict our understanding of Merritt (Chloe Pirrie), as the narrative seems to favor Carl’s perspective more. In essence, this decision, though somewhat disheartening, lays the groundwork for a detective series that could potentially endure for multiple seasons due to its compelling characters and acting talents, which are rarer than usual in this oversaturated genre. Adapted from a series of novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, “Frank” offers such potential.

In the portrayal of the talented Matthew Goode, a captivating regular in period dramas such as ‘The Crown,’ ‘Downton Abbey,’ and ‘The Offer,’ we find Carl, an Englishman who persistently grumbles about his adopted home of Scotland. This character is equally intriguing for his arrogance that seems to be a mask, as it is infuriating. Dr. Irving, played by Kelly Macdonald with a touch of wit, comments on this pattern in Carl’s behavior, suggesting that the theme running through his personnel file appears to be ‘superiority complex.’ However, Carl claims that he feels more underwhelmed by others rather than boasting about himself. As time passes, it becomes clear that this mindset serves as a defense mechanism against his guilt over not only his inferior’s death but also the severe injury sustained by his partner, DCI James Hardy (Jamie Sives), in an incident where everyone seems to hold Carl responsible.

Instead of immediately launching a high-octane pursuit to capture the enigmatic gunman who killed three police officers following a routine wellness check that uncovered a corpse, the storyline takes a unique turn as the creator, Frank, elects to keep this case largely in the periphery. The narrative instead centers around Carl’s task of establishing Department Q – an underfunded cold-case unit backed by law enforcement leaders aiming to generate good press through true crime podcast material. This assignment is far from prestigious. Carl’s supervisor, Moira, a perpetually disgruntled woman who harbors contempt for him, begrudgingly reopens old cases due to her urgent need of resources for active investigations. She gives Carl a stack of aging case files to sift through, assigns him to the dimly lit basement that once housed the building’s showers, and uses his budget for modern equipment for everyone else.

Although Moira isn’t particularly keen on assisting him, since he has little else to do while recovering, Hardy spends his time examining evidence, and eventually, the Department Q manages to gather a modest team. Detective Constable Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne) has been restricted to her desk due to a car accident that left her nerves shattered. Despite its unpleasantness, working with Carl offers the young officer an opportunity to return to the field, where her friendly demeanor and people skills help her gain valuable allies, while Carl alienates many. Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov), a refugee from Syria who was previously in IT, has been bothering Moira to join the force, claiming he has relevant experience from his home country. Like Carl, Akram oversteps boundaries, but his actions are driven more by necessity than temper. “At home, were you working for the good or the bad?” Carl asks him. “When I know which is which,” Akram replies, “please let me know.

In the gripping series I’m engrossed in, the moral ambiguity of detectives engaging in questionable actions for noble ends, and the debate over whether they are truly accountable or if it’s the flawed institutions pushing them to manipulate, is a recurring theme. No simple resolutions are offered as the Dept. Q case grows increasingly complex. This departure from the preachy tone of many crime dramas is invigorating, even though Frank leaves some intriguing concepts unexplored. Instead, he seems more focused on establishing relationships and plots that could set the stage for future seasons by concurrently developing each character, with the exception of Merritt. His reluctance to delve into major aspects of Carl’s personal life feels a tad excessive. Despite their differences, characters like Carl, Rose, Akram, Hardy, and even Moira have all been shaped by jobs that subject them to endless suffering. In a rare moment of introspection, Carl admits, “I’m two people.” One who is deeply entrenched in humanity’s darkest impulses and another who strives for normalcy. “I must be this way,” he confesses.

A wise decision by the creators of ‘Dept. Q’ is to focus on the character’s cognitive dissonance rather than maintaining a consistent mood throughout the series. The contrast between the unstable criminals and the grounded interactions between Carl and his team while solving the case adds psychological depth to the show. Just like ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, which went beyond its themes of chess, fashion, and female empowerment, ‘Dept. Q’ also transcends typical crime drama by exploring the lives of detectives who navigate both our ordinary world and a scarier, equally real one. The first season may not have the same depth as ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, but it still has enough appeal to become a popular choice. If given the chance to develop further like a long-running procedural, ‘Dept. Q’ could potentially rank among TV’s best crime dramas with numerous opportunities for deeper exploration.

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2025-05-29 11:06

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