Dept. Q stars urge renewal as Netflix thriller takes off

Netflix’s Dept. Q stars urge renewal for season 2 as the crime drama earns praise and strong viewer interest

Netflix’s crime drama Dept. Q, set in Edinburgh and starring Matthew Goode as detective Carl Morck, has yet to be confirmed for a second season, but the cast is already pushing for its return.

Dept. Q follows Morck, who returns to work after a traumatic attack to lead a new cold case unit in the basement of Edinburgh police station.

Alongside Salim, a Syrian police officer played by Alexej Manvelov, Morck investigates the disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard, played by Chloe Pirrie.

The first season, released on 29 May, consists of nine episodes and has received largely positive reviews.

The Guardian praised the show as "a grimy, gothic treat," while Variety described it as "an emotionally fraught crime thriller that never lets up."

Netflix has not officially renewed the series, and a spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. The streaming service is likely monitoring viewership numbers before making a decision on a second season.

Despite this, lead actor Matthew Goode expressed enthusiasm for continuing the series.

In a recent interview, he stated that he had urged the director and writer to produce a second season, suggesting it could include more intense fight scenes.

Co-star Chloe Pirrie also supported the idea, noting, "These characters are such fun to be with," and expressing hope to see the team tackle more cases together.

The series is adapted from the novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, whose Dept. Q series includes ten books, offering Netflix ample material should the show be renewed.

While the first six novels have been adapted into Danish films, the remaining four are expected to be released between 2026 and 2032.

Dept. Q is currently available to stream on Netflix.