Netflix’s Dept. Q, a gripping British crime thriller adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Danish novels, took the streaming world by storm with its debut season on May 29, 2025. Starring Matthew Goode as the sardonic Detective Chief Inspector Carl Mørck, the series captivated audiences with its slow-burn intensity, complex characters, and a chilling cold case narrative. Following its critical and viewer success—boasting an 86% critic score and 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes—fans are eagerly awaiting news of a second season. While Netflix has not officially confirmed Dept. Q Season 2, strong indicators, including creator Scott Frank’s enthusiasm, cast support, and Emmy consideration, suggest a renewal is likely. This article explores the anticipated plot, returning cast, potential plot twists, and everything we know about Dept. Q Season 2 as of August 2025.

Plot Overview: A New Cold Case with Dark Secrets

Dept. Q Season 1, based on Adler-Olsen’s The Keeper of Lost Causes, followed Carl Mørck, a brilliant but abrasive Edinburgh detective reeling from a traumatic shooting that left a young officer dead and his partner, DCI James Hardy (Jamie Sives), paralyzed. Exiled to the basement of the Edinburgh police station to head the newly formed Department Q—a PR stunt to distract from an underfunded force—Carl assembled a team of misfits, including Syrian refugee Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov) and cadet Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne). Together, they unraveled the four-year-old disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), kidnapped by a mother-son duo seeking revenge. The season ended with Merritt’s rescue, a three-month time jump, and Carl leveraging a corrupt official, Lord Advocate Burns (Mark Bonnar), to secure funding and a detective badge for Akram.

For Season 2, creator Scott Frank has confirmed plans to adapt Adler-Olsen’s second novel, The Absent One (Fasandræberne), blending a cold case with a current investigation, much like Season 1. The novel centers on a double murder from the late 1980s, where a brother and sister were brutally killed at their family’s summer home. A suspect from a group of elite boarding school students confessed and was convicted, but Carl’s investigation reveals the case is far from solved. The plot follows Carl and his team as they pursue Kimmie Lassen, a woman who has vanished from society, evading both police and powerful individuals desperate to keep her secrets buried. Kimmie’s disappearance is tied to the murders, which scarred her, and her own hidden truth threatens to upend the case.

The series is expected to relocate the novel’s Copenhagen setting to Edinburgh, maintaining the gritty, green-tinged aesthetic that critics praised for its “sickly, bureaucratic decay.” Season 2 will likely explore a conspiracy among society’s upper echelons, with Carl rattling cages as he uncovers dark secrets tied to wealth and privilege. Frank has hinted at a tighter season, potentially six episodes instead of nine, to deliver more fast-paced storytelling. The unresolved Leith Park shooting from Season 1, which left Carl and Hardy injured and a young officer dead, is also expected to linger, with the series delving deeper into who orchestrated the attack and why.

The Cast: Returning Favorites and New Faces

The core cast of Dept. Q is expected to return, with Matthew Goode leading as Carl Mørck, whose razor-sharp sarcasm and trauma-driven intensity made him a standout. Goode has expressed enthusiasm for returning, telling Deadline, “We’re desperate to do a second season,” and suggesting more focus on Akram’s home life with his daughters. Jamie Sives is likely to reprise his role as James Hardy, now using crutches after physiotherapy, bringing emotional depth to the team’s dynamic as he joins them in the basement. Alexej Manvelov, a breakout star as Akram Salim, is expected to return, with his character’s journey from civilian assistant to detective offering rich storytelling potential. Goode even suggested Krav Maga training for Manvelov to enhance Season 2’s fight scenes. Leah Byrne as Rose Dickson, the eager cadet, and Kelly Macdonald as Dr. Rachel Irving, Carl’s therapist, are also anticipated to return, with Macdonald’s role potentially exploring a romantic arc with Carl, inspired by the novels’ depiction of Carl’s therapist, Mona Ibsen.

Supporting players like Kate Dickie as DCS Moira Jacobson, Mark Bonnar as Stephen Burns, and Alison Peebles as the female captor from Season 1 may appear, though their roles could shift depending on the new case. Chloe Pirrie’s Merritt Lingard, while central to Season 1, is less likely to return prominently unless tied to lingering plot threads, though Pirrie has voiced excitement for the team’s future, telling Cosmopolitan UK, “I want to see that team do more stuff together.” New characters are expected, particularly those tied to the boarding school elite and Kimmie Lassen, whose role as a fugitive with dangerous secrets could introduce a compelling antagonist or ally, potentially played by a high-profile actor to match the series’ prestige.

Potential Plot Twists: What to Expect

Dept. Q Season 1 was praised for its well-timed twists, and Season 2 is poised to deliver similar shocks, drawing from The Absent One’s complex narrative. While avoiding spoilers for new viewers, here are potential twists based on the novel and series’ tone, adapted to fit the show’s Edinburgh setting and Frank’s vision:

Kimmie’s Dual Role (Mid-Season): In The Absent One, Kimmie Lassen is both a victim and a wildcard, her disappearance tied to the double murder but also to her own dangerous secret. Season 2 could reveal Kimmie as a former student who witnessed or participated in the crime, now living off the grid to evade powerful figures. Her introduction, likely in Episode 2 or 3, might present her as a suspect before a twist reveals her as a survivor seeking justice, flipping Carl’s investigation on its head. This mirrors Season 1’s twist with Merritt’s captors, where motives were more complex than initially assumed.

The Elite’s Conspiracy (Episode 4): The novel implicates a group of wealthy, influential former students in the murders, and Season 2 is likely to unveil a conspiracy among Edinburgh’s elite. A twist could reveal that one of Carl’s superiors, possibly DCS Moira Jacobson or Lord Advocate Burns, has ties to the perpetrators, complicating the investigation. This would echo Season 1’s theme of institutional corruption, with Carl’s blackmail of Burns setting a precedent for bureaucratic betrayal.

Carl’s Past Resurfaces (Episode 5): The unresolved Leith Park shooting, which left a young officer dead and Carl guilt-ridden, is a lingering thread from Season 1. A major twist could uncover that the attack was orchestrated by someone connected to the Season 2 case, perhaps a powerful figure from the boarding school clique seeking to silence Carl’s earlier investigations. This would tie the cold case to Carl’s personal trauma, raising the stakes.

Akram’s Hidden History (Finale): Akram’s mysterious past as a Syrian refugee was a fan-favorite element in Season 1. Season 2 could deliver a twist revealing that Akram’s skills as a detective stem from a darker history, such as involvement in covert operations or a personal loss tied to crime, challenging his bond with Carl. Goode’s suggestion to explore Akram’s home life hints at this arc, with a potential betrayal or redemption moment in the finale.

These twists align with Frank’s goal of blending a cold case with a current investigation, maintaining the series’ signature mix of psychological depth and procedural grit. Critics have noted that Season 1’s twists, like the revelation of Merritt’s captors’ motives, were “disclosed at just the right pace,” and Season 2 is expected to follow suit with shocks that feel earned rather than sensational.

Confirmation Status and Release Timeline

As of August 2025, Netflix has not officially greenlit Dept. Q Season 2, but multiple signs point to a renewal. The show’s strong performance—reaching #1 on Netflix’s global viewership charts within days and maintaining a top 10 spot in 78 countries—bolsters its case. Netflix’s submission of the series for Emmy consideration in the Best Drama Series category, as reported by TVLine, is a significant indicator, as streamers rarely submit shows they don’t plan to continue. Creator Scott Frank has expressed enthusiasm, telling Collider, “I’ve got a great idea for a second season,” while suggesting a leaner six-episode arc. The cast, including Goode, Pirrie, and Manvelov, have publicly campaigned for a return, with Goode noting the show is “begging for” a second season.

Production for Season 1 began in February 2024 and wrapped in time for a May 2025 release, a 15-month timeline. If Season 2 follows a similar schedule, with pre-production potentially underway in 2025, a release is estimated for mid-to-late 2026, possibly between May and September. Some sources, like whenetflix.com, speculate a specific date of May 28, 2026, with nine episodes, though this seems premature given Frank’s preference for a shorter season. The retention of studio sets and Netflix’s investment in the series’ international appeal, rooted in its Nordic noir origins, further support a likely renewal.

Fan and Critical Reception

Dept. Q Season 1 was a critical and audience hit, with fans on X calling it “a must-see for mystery/thriller lovers” and praising its “amazing cast” and “thrilling butterflies.” Reddit users hailed it as “one of the better series Netflix have put out in ages,” with Akram’s character earning particular acclaim. Critics lauded its character-driven storytelling, with Forbes noting its “great critic and audience scores” and Elle calling it a “character study in disguise.” The series’ exploration of grief, institutional neglect, and team dynamics resonated, with IMDb reviews highlighting the “beautifully done” ending and “excellent cast and camera work.”

Conclusion: A Promising Future for Dept. Q

Dept. Q Season 2 is poised to continue the series’ legacy as a standout crime thriller, with a likely adaptation of The Absent One promising a dark, conspiracy-laden case. The returning cast, led by Matthew Goode’s magnetic Carl Mørck, and potential twists involving Kimmie Lassen, elite conspiracies, and unresolved traumas ensure a gripping follow-up. While Netflix has yet to confirm the renewal, the show’s critical acclaim, global viewership, and Emmy submission make a strong case for its return. As fans await news, the anticipation for Carl and his team to tackle Edinburgh’s next cold case is palpable, with Dept. Q set to remain a must-watch for thriller enthusiasts.