Netflix’s 2025 series, Dept. Q marks an astonishing return to form for co-creator/developer Scott Frank, the visionary creator behind acclaimed series like The Queen’s Gambit and Godless. Diving into the dark recesses of detective work and human emotion, Dept. Q is a masterstroke of layered storytelling and cinematic excellence—a crime drama that captivates, devastates, and utterly consumes its audience.
 
At the heart of this series is Carl—played with magnetic intensity by Matthew Goode—whose journey forms the backbone of Dept. Q. A former top-rated detective, Carl is haunted by the ghosts of his past: an attack that left his partner paralysed and claimed the life of another officer. Wracked with guilt and wrestling with the trauma of his shooting, Carl’s return to work is anything but triumphant. Instead, it is a slow, painful reckoning, as his commanding officers assign him to a cold-case department—a position that feels like exile to a broken man yearning for redemption.
 
What follows is a plunge into the mystery of a missing person’s case, a plotline that evolves with every episode into a labyrinthine tangle of clues, revelations, and hidden motives. The missing person case is not merely a procedural exercise; it’s a canvas on which the series paints broader themes of guilt, obsession, and the enduring search for truth. As Carl delves deeper, the investigation becomes a mirror reflecting his own fractured psyche, forcing him to confront truths he has long buried.
 
Scott Frank’s brilliance as a storyteller shines most brightly (as co-creator/developer with Chain Lakhani) in his ability to craft multidimensional characters. Carl is more than just a detective; he is a study of humanity at its most vulnerable. Matthew Goode delivers a career-defining performance, embodying Carl’s complexities with remarkable depth. His portrayal captures the torment of a man grappling with his past while navigating the demands of justice.
 
Equally compelling are the supporting characters who orbit Carl’s turbulent existence. From his paralysed partner, whose resilience and bitterness add emotional texture to the narrative, to witnesses and suspects whose lives intersect with Carl’s investigation, every individual is written with care and authenticity. Scott Frank, who also penned blockbuster films like Minority Report (2002) and Logan (2017), ensures that no character is a mere narrative device; each feels fully realised, contributing to the fabric of the story.
 
Dept. Q is driven not only by its central mystery but also by a resonating subplot that explores Carl’s personal trauma. The psychological weight of his partner’s paralysis and the death of a fellow policeman is palpable throughout the series. These events are not relegated to backstory; they are integral to Carl’s arc, shaping his actions and decisions.
 
The series excels in navigating Carl’s emotional landscape, presenting the aftermath of trauma with unflinching honesty. Scenes where Carl struggles with his guilt, flashes of memory from the fateful attack, and quiet moments of introspection are as riveting as the mystery itself. This dual narrative—a missing person’s case interwoven with Carl’s journey toward self-reconciliation—creates a rich tapestry that keeps viewers engrossed from start to finish.

What sets Dept. Q, apart from other crime dramas, is its masterful pacing. Scott Frank and Chadni Lakhani understand the art of suspense, doling out revelations at just the right moments to keep viewers on edge. The twists are unexpected yet carefully foreshadowed, ensuring that the story remains organic and believable.
 
For viewers who crave intelligent, emotionally charged storytelling, Dept. Q is an unmissable experience. Whether you are drawn by the intrigue of its mysteries or the poignancy of Carl’s personal journey, this series promises to captivate and move you. It is, quite simply, as good as television gets.

Now streaming on Netflix.
 
-Dirk Lombard Fourie