Episode #1.1

The premise and story are really quite interesting with an impressive cast. Good cinematography and all. It's a bit of a slow burn... but it does provoke intrigue. The problem I have is the unnecessary excess of profanity. I have no problem with cursing, lord knows I curse a lot... But in this, it's simply gratuitous... Forced in to try and make it seem "grittier" I mean 5 F-bombs within the first 3 minutes is completely unnecessary. It's as if the writers were on a quest to put the F-bomb in every sentence uttered. It just feels so forced and unnatural in it's delivery. In their attempts to make it feel gritty, they succeeded in making absolutely none of the major characters even remotely likeable. It has a lot of promise but they're trying way too hard.

I watched some of the first episode, abandoned it but returned to it after reading excellent reviews. I got through it in fits and starts, not really engaged by it... until the last ten minutes when it really took off, after the Syrian assistant took a quiet persistent interest and the plot gelled. It reminded me a bit of Memento, the plot revealed in time shifting bites. The characters are unlikeable, rude to each other and swear profanely for no apparent reason. The Syrian assistant is the only person who seems to be on an even keel, the police team are worn down by their lack of resources and good leadership. I shall probably watch on but it's unusual not to be gripped one way or another by the end of episode one. I reserve my judgment!

Forget everything you thought you knew about cold cases; Netflix's "Dept. Q" drags you into a new kind of darkness from its very first episode. If you're into those dark, rainy, deeply psychological crime dramas, this one kicks off strong.

Right away, you're dropped into the grim reality of Detective Carl Mørck. The guy's been shelved, stuck in a dusty basement, and you feel every ounce of his exhaustion through Matthew Goode's performance. He absolutely nails Mørck's weary cynicism and world-weariness; it's a masterclass in understated acting that really grounds the show.

What really stands out, though, is the dynamic brewing between Carl and his new assistant, Akram Salim. Alexej Manvelov brings a surprisingly light touch that genuinely balances out Carl's heavy cynicism, and it's clear this duo is going to be the heart of the show. The direction here is spot on.

This premiere episode meticulously sets up the vanished politician cold case, creating this constant hum of dread and revealing how easily people, and cases, can get lost in the shuffle. The show uses its visuals incredibly well; the direction creates a stark, muted palette that perfectly mirrors Carl's internal state.

However, for some, the deliberate pacing might feel more like a slow crawl than a steady build, and the relentless bleakness could prove a heavy lift if you're not fully invested in the genre's familiar trappings. It just pulls you deeper into the bleak, intriguing world of Dept. Q, but be warned: it lingers for a reason.

Dept. Q's first episode opens with a familiar thriller move: two parallel stories that seem unrelated at first. It wastes no time, starting with a literal bang - Detective Morck and his partner get shot on a crime scene. Fast forward, Morck is back at the office, cold-shouldered, while prosecutor Merrit is busy with a case that couldn't feel more disconnected.

The dialogue, however, quickly wears thin. Thick Scottish accents make understanding a chore, and the relentless profanity, once maybe fresh, now feels dated and tiresome. The atmosphere is heavy with disrespect and nastiness, leaning less toward gritty realism and more into the realm of annoying noise. To top it off, the cast is a parade of the least aesthetically appealing actors I've ever had the displeasure to watch.

But credit where it's due: the episode closes with an unexpected punch that jolts you out of the gloom. After trudging through predictability, that sharp twist leaves a spark of intrigue. So far, Dept. Q is mostly a murky slog, but at least it knows how to end with style.

As usual with Netflix series this show is very slow. Several times I felt like switching it off. It seems most of the shows made for Netflix would be great if they ran for 6 episodes which would keep the storyline tight. But they drag them out for 8 plus episodes and pad the storyline out with endless, pointless scenes where nothing happens just lingering camera shots.

The acting is good, but the characters are not likeable. I can't see myself rooting for any of them. It all looks very bleak and depressing.

The only positive was the twist in the last few minutes. I will endeavour to watch the second episode but if it doesn't pick up the pace I'll give it a miss.