Written by Isabella Baute Arboleda
The Netflix thriller you won’t want to stop watching is Dept Q. This series offers a captivating mix of mystery, suspense, and emotion, the type of thriller we haven’t seen in a long time. It’s an engaging watch that draws you into its world.
The story begins with detectives Hardy (Jamie Sives, Game of Thrones) and Morck (Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey), who receive a call to respond to a case. Along with a new police officer, they decide to enter the scene without waiting for backup. Unfortunately, they are ambushed by a masked assailant, resulting in the death of the new officer. Hardy is seriously injured and unsure if he will ever walk again, while Morck has a horrible near-death experience.
After that, the police department establishes a new division called Department Q, dedicated to reopening cold cases of public interest. Morck, who survived the ambush but is traumatized by it, is placed in charge of this new department and is assisted by Akram (Alexi Manvelow, Chernobyl). They decide to revisit the mysterious case of Prosecutor Merritt, who vanished after losing a case against a powerful figure. Her last sighting was during a confrontation on a ferry with her brother. Throughout the series, Morck pieces clues together to solve this case while grappling with the trauma from the ambush.
Each episode focuses on the Prosecutor Merry case, providing the audience with a wealth of information to keep the viewer informed and enthralled. The episodes are not just about discovering who committed the crime – it is also an emotional story that evokes sadness and empathy as we understand their pain.
Something that stands out in this thriller is the strong acting and great writing. You’ll feel like you’re watching something real, enhanced by scenes of gray skies and rain that contribute to the overall atmosphere. One of the standout performances in Dept. Q is by Chloe Pirrie, who plays Merritt Lingard. As we watch her, we can really feel the fear and sadness of her character through the way she speaks and reacts. Her performance makes you care about the character and what might happen to her. Another excellent performance comes from Matthew Goode. He portrays a great detective with conflicting attitudes and effectively shows how the character has been affected after the ambush.
Nominated for an Emmy in 2025 ​​for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, Dept. Q is a show full of enjoyment, helping you grasp everything that’s going on and making you feel like a true detective. Now streaming on Netflix, Dept. Q is one of the best choices to watch, featuring strong characters, mystery, and emotional depth.
