“Department Q” is the crime thriller series I’m currently watching. It’s received high ratings—but that’s not why I’m watching it.
Maybe it’s just me, but very few shows these days offer any real sense of escapism. Most lose my interest within ten minutes.
I’m not a binge-watcher. What I love about streaming is the flexibility—I can watch five minutes now, fifteen later, and pick it up whenever I feel like it.
I can’t quite explain how this show manages to wade through so many genre clichés without tipping into the obnoxious, but somehow, what I normally find grating feels oddly tolerable here. I suppose that says more about me than the show.
I’m not here to recommend it—I know I’m a bit of an oddball in my tastes—but I am curious: what do the rest of you on this message board think about Department Q?
There is a little bit of discussion towards the end of this very long thread.
I’d sorta agree with one aspect of your take, in the sense that I can see the cliches at play but I don’t find them obnoxious or intrusive. The miserable protagonist becomes more tolerable and relatable as time goes on, the supporting characters are reasonably well-drawn and while the story has some of the normal flaws of this type of modern whodunits (i.e. a wee bit over-the-top and unbelievable) the acting and character arcs are solid enough to carry it.
I’d rate it as pretty good and compelling enough for me to want to watch another season. But I get the complaints of people that found it a bit bleak and torturous to watch at points. Didn’t much bother me, but I have friends that flat-out wouldn’t like it because of the occasionally graphic violence/abuse.
Thank you for recommending the other discussion. I had already read parts of it and didn’t notice the opinions about “Department Q.” Now I see them.
The bleak parts of the show may stem from many people’s realization that we probably can’t improve human nature or build a better society. I wonder if this perspective on things may be an important reason why some viewers find the show appealing.
That thread really should be a secondary place, there should be more stand-alone threads. I miss the days when there were always 5-10 ongoing threads about new shows rather than 1 amorphous mass of a thread.
I liked it! I thought the development and humanization of the main character was good. And, I love, love, love the Scottish accents! I didn’t love the torture stuff, though.
I’m hoping it gets picked up for a second season.
I’m a sucker for UK police procedurals and grumpy detectives, and I hadn’t had a good one to watch for a while. This one fit the bill for me, and I especially enjoyed the character of Akram and the head DCI or ? , Moira. Edinburgh is also one of my favorite places, and it was fun to recognize spots here and there. I would give it a solid 8-9 - the torture parts do bring it down and the villains are slightly cartoonish, but it was still a good binge for me.
I thought it was excellent, just as good as Slow Horses, a show that has a very similar vibe.
Dept. Q = Slough House, disgraced detectives = disgraced agents, and that uniquely British blend of subtle humor and shocking violence.
And both shows are very bingeable too.
I’m actually interested in reading/viewing the original Danish version, just to see how much was changed to fit in the Edinburgh environment.
I loved the show, especially how even the minor characters are really fleshed out. My biggest quibble is that midway through the season, Rose and the deputy go to interview the eventually revealed villain. “She’s not home; must be at work. Oh well, I got a ferry to catch. No point following up the lead about the wackadoodle bird killer with a pretty clear revenge motive who lives on a creepy old industrial site.”
i thought it was good, i did have to turn away at parts. the amount of dead birds was rather disturbing.
I watched the whole thing straight through in two days. NOT the Matthew Goode we’re used to!
I thought the whole thing was okay, nothing to write home about, but I would watch a second season. At first one is shocked by the torture, then sadly, you actually become fatigued.
I came to say I loved Akram. He was the anti-Carl-- quiet, polite, well-dressed, competent, always in control, subtle, aware, insightful, choosing his moment, and ultimately saving both their lives… I could go on and on! It was very cool to see a Muslim character portrayed so positively.
Actually, originally Nordic noir…
I’ve been watching it and should finish by tomorrow.
What I like is the House, MD vibe. Morck has the same sarcastic mien as Gregory House – he knows he’s right and doesn’t give a damn about anything that gets in his way. I do think they should have held off another episode before revealing what happened to Meritt, though. It would have been more interesting if it was kept unclear for longer.
Does anybody have a theory about how Akram was so sure about Meritt being still alive? I get that there was no evidence she went overboard, but how did that translate into her still being alive?
Thanks for starting this thread. I’d been hoping for more in-depth discussion than was possible in the “shows you are watching” thread. Are open spoilers OK in this thread or not? (I know some folks are still watching…)
If @PlaceboTarget likes, they can request a moderator to put an “Open Spoilers” warning in the thread title.
I think it’s because there was no positive proof that she was dead, mostly but not limited to, no body.
And cause he was smart and a good cop.
I’d watch a series with Akram as the principal.
Me, too. I particularly liked his sense that violence was a tool to be deployed carefully and sparingly and even remorsefully rather than an acceptable vent for anger and frustration.
We liked it and will sign up for a second series! Definitely in the same general area as Slow Horses, mixed with Scandi Noir.
For anyone reading here put off watching it by the mentions of torture upthread, it is not explicit physical torture-porn, more psychological in nature.
Akram outclassed Carl by a mile.
Yes, I agree. I think a more in-depth discussion is difficult without mentioning aspects of the plot, scenes, and details in the show.
A moderator should put an “Open Spoilers” warning in the thread title, indeed, if they were kind. Thank you. 