Ncuti Gatwa is a great Doctor, but the scripts just don’t deliver for him. And if you aren’t aware:
He regenerated already, I guess quitting the show. I don’t blame him. It’s subpar.
I think they should let Dr Who lay fallow for another 10, 20 years, the show it’s tired, let it rest.
Man, I agree. Maybe reboot at this point?
If Russel T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa can’t make it work, it’s dire. Love Russel and think Gatwa was terrific, but the content. Just too bad.
I’ve yet to watch the final episode, which I understand has a surprise, but these episodes just haven’t worked. And then there was that odd Ruby Sunday episode in the middle.
One might say that the problem wasn’t Who, it was What (or perhaps Why?)
We’ve just watched the first episode of Department Q.
Should I continue?
The Mrs. liked it fine, but my problems:
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there were no conversations in the entire hour; just people giving terse commands and insults to each other. Contrast with, say, Chelsea Detective or Midsummer Murders.
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I don’t care for anyone I’ve met, and I don’t care if they succeed. Again, contrast with those other shows, where I like everyone.
Bonus hate: random use of characters in slow motion.
Am I likely to soften? I know first episodes have a goal of giving lots of exposition, and that can make them clunky.
And I know I’m an outlier; it’s the #2 show of its type on Netflix.
The two notable assholes (Carl and Merritt) in the first episode are that way for pretty understandable reasons. And they do evolve. Akram and Rose are very likable characters who are quite impressive detectives in their own right.
I also didn’t like it, only based on half an episode. I trust my instincts on if it’s my kind of thing or not, and accept that I will miss out on very popular shows.
Maybe? I’m inclined to say yes, for the reasons Elmer_J.Fudd notes - the team slowly expands over a few episodes with more likeable people becoming more significant players in the investigation. Carl doesn’t remain purely an unreasonably abrasive asshole, but slowly emerges as a bit of a curmudgeonly mentor and (slightly) more reasonable sort of difficult asshole as he grows to appreciate and trust said team.
But then again everybody’s tolerances are different. Carl never stops being abrasive, sardonic and pushy. He does become more human and sympathetic, but its a little bit of a slow crawl of development the first few episodes if you’re not bingeing. The series’ character development is overall solid, but it isn’t quick. It makes you work for it a bit.
Well, it’s got me hooked. I’m about halfway through it. Yeah Carl’s an ass, but who wouldn’t be in his situation? He’s recovering from a gunshot to the neck, his marriage is in shambles and he’s stuck living with his ex’s teenage son (and a boarder), his boss is misusing all the money appropriated for his project while he’s stuck working in the basement… hell yeah I’d have a bad attitude too.
While I agree with all your points, I think it’s made clear in the script, from his interactions with colleagues on returning to work, that Carl has always been an ass.
But then, played straight, most fictional detectives would probably be asses.
OB
Dept Q is based on a well known set of mysteries:
Through four episodes of Dept Q, and it’s not the abrasive characters so much as the slow mental torture of the victim that has me thinking about abandoning the show. Is that really necessary to portray?
Yeah. I’m mostly enjoying Dept Q, but as a claustrophobic, this really puts me on edge. I’m just not sure I can see this through to the end.
On top of my earlier comments, I avoid movies or shows that are set in prisons or similar situations, so having just watched episode 2, if that aspect gets turned up any higher, I’m out.
That aspect is just a personal glitch, not a quality issue.
and you will need to to sort it…redefining twists. 
Well, last night I watched Ep 1 of Q. I liked it, so I’m looking forward to the next one.
Or maybe not, after I read the comments here.
I’ve been liking Dept. Q. Carl reminds me a lot of Dr. House - the same sarcasm.
The torture scenes are off-putting and don’t really seem necessary. It would be stronger without them and it might be more interesting if there were still a question if Merrit were alive or not.
I do like the rest of his team, though.
Thanks for this; I think that seals the deal for me.
That reminds me of a show I watched a few months ago. Escape At Dannemora was really good, and I don’t think it’s been mentioned in this thread yet.
Coincidentally it’s been ten years since that jailbreak.