They thought the case was closed. But the past always finds its way back. On the heels of its breakout success, Dept. Q, Netflix’s gritty Nordic noir-inspired crime drama, is set to return in 2026 with a second season that promises to unravel a chilling web of secrets buried for two decades. Detective Chief Inspector Carl Mørck, portrayed with magnetic intensity by Matthew Goode, is back, but this time, the hunter may become the hunted. A missing witness, a shadowy group of former boarding school students, and an unexplained death propel Dept. Q into a breathless new chapter that will keep true crime fans on the edge of their seats. As Edinburgh’s cold case unit dives into a brutal double murder from the past, the stakes are higher, the mysteries darker, and the personal toll on Mørck more devastating than ever. Here’s everything we know about Dept. Q Season 2, from its tantalizing plot to its stellar cast, and why it’s poised to be one of Netflix’s most gripping releases of 2026.

A Breakout Hit Returns

When Dept. Q premiered on May 29, 2025, it stormed Netflix’s Global Top Ten, holding a spot for six weeks and earning critical acclaim for its blend of Nordic noir grit and emotional depth. Adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling Danish novel series, the show, reimagined in Edinburgh, Scotland, introduced viewers to Carl Mørck, a brilliant but broken detective haunted by a shooting that left his partner, DCI James Hardy (Jamie Sives), paralyzed and another officer dead. Banished to the basement to lead the newly formed Department Q—a PR stunt to solve cold cases—Mørck assembled a team of misfits, including Syrian ex-policeman Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov) and the tenacious but troubled DC Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne). Together, they cracked the case of missing prosecutor Merritt Lingard, uncovering a shocking conspiracy tied to her past.

The first season’s success, driven by creator Scott Frank’s masterful storytelling (The Queen’s Gambit), a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a stellar ensemble, set a high bar. On August 18, 2025, Netflix announced Season 2, with filming returning to Edinburgh’s moody, cobbled streets. “We are raring to return to Carl Mørck and his band of glorious misfits,” Netflix executives Mona Qureshi and Manda Levin said in a statement. “Scott Frank brought us best-in-class storytelling and thrilled audiences worldwide. We can’t wait to see what Mørck and the gang uncover in Season 2.”

Season 2, likely adapting Adler-Olsen’s second novel, The Absent One (titled Disgrace in some markets), promises a darker, more personal mystery. The official synopsis teases: “A brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier, and one of the suspects—part of a group of privileged boarding school students—confessed and was convicted. But Mørck believes there’s more to the story. A secretive witness, unhoused and hunted by powerful people, might hold the key—if Mørck can find her before they do.” This premise, combined with hints that Mørck himself may be targeted, sets the stage for a pulse-pounding narrative that blends cold case investigation with a chilling present-day threat.

A 20-Year-Old Mystery Resurfaces

At the heart of Season 2 lies a double murder that has haunted Edinburgh for two decades. In 2005, a brother and sister were found brutally slain, their deaths tied to a group of elite boarding school students whose wealth and connections shielded them from scrutiny. One suspect confessed and is serving time, but Mørck, with his razor-sharp instincts, senses the case is far from solved. The official logline hints at a cover-up involving “powerful individuals,” suggesting a conspiracy that reaches into the upper echelons of Scottish society.

The key to unlocking the truth lies with a mysterious witness, described as an unhoused woman named Kimmie, whose secrets could dismantle the carefully constructed lies of the guilty. But Kimmie is a ghost, hunted by those desperate to keep her silent. Mørck’s pursuit of her will take him and his team from Edinburgh’s gritty underbelly to the remote Scottish Highlands, where the past and present collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Showrunner Scott Frank, who teased a “great idea” for Season 2, told Collider that the season will balance a cold case with a current investigation, weaving a narrative that’s “even more interesting and relevant” than the first.

What makes this case particularly thrilling is the suggestion that Mørck himself may be in the crosshairs. The Season 1 finale left a critical thread unresolved: the identity of the shooter who attacked Mørck and Hardy, leaving Mørck with lingering trauma and guilt. Season 2’s promotional materials hint that this personal mystery could intersect with the new case, with Mørck becoming a target of the same powerful forces he’s investigating. Is the killer from his past connected to the boarding school clique? Or is Mørck’s relentless pursuit of truth making him a liability to those with secrets to hide? The possibility that the hunter is now the hunted adds a layer of suspense that promises to keep viewers guessing.

Carl Mørck: A Detective on the Edge

At the core of Dept. Q is Matthew Goode’s portrayal of Carl Mørck, a detective whose brilliance is matched only by his flaws. Described as “abrasively supercilious” and “cantankerous,” Mørck is a man hollowed out by trauma, his sarcasm a shield against the guilt and PTSD from the shooting. Season 1 saw him reluctantly embrace his role at Department Q, finding purpose in his misfit team while grappling with mandatory therapy sessions with Dr. Rachel Irving (Kelly Macdonald). His evolving bond with Akram and Rose, coupled with his awkward home life with his stepson Jasper (Aaron McVeigh) and lodger Martin (Sanjeev Kohli), revealed a man struggling to reconnect with humanity.

In Season 2, Mørck’s personal demons will take center stage. The unresolved shooting looms large, and promotional materials suggest he’ll face new emotional challenges as the case threatens his safety. Goode, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, hinted at exploring more of Mørck’s home life, describing his “interesting throuple” with Jasper and Martin as a source of both humor and tension. There’s also buzz about a potential romantic entanglement with Dr. Irving, though Goode told Collider, “Sometimes I think people shouldn’t be afraid to see a man and a woman navigate a friendship.” Whether romance or camaraderie, Mørck’s sessions with Irving will likely delve deeper into his psyche, forcing him to confront the guilt that drives his relentless pursuit of justice.

Mørck’s leadership of Department Q will also evolve. Season 1 ended with him blackmailing Lord Advocate Burns (Mark Bonnar) to secure funding and a car for the unit, proving his cunning. Now, with Akram officially a detective and Rose fighting to overcome her past breakdown, Mørck must balance his lone-wolf tendencies with the team’s growing cohesion. The Nordic theme of “trusting teamwork over unruly individualism” will be tested as Mørck’s obsession with the case puts everyone at risk.

The Case: A Web of Privilege and Vengeance

The double murder at the heart of Season 2 is a masterclass in Nordic noir intrigue. Set against the backdrop of an elite boarding school, the case exposes a world of privilege, cruelty, and buried secrets. The victims—a brother and sister—were killed in 2005, and while one suspect confessed, Mørck’s instincts tell him the truth lies elsewhere. The boarding school clique, now powerful figures in their 30s and 40s, includes individuals with the means and motive to silence anyone who threatens their status. Who are these former students, and what did they do to ensure their secrets stayed buried?

The missing witness, Kimmie, is the wildcard. Described as unhoused and elusive, she holds critical knowledge but is being hunted by those she could expose. Her backstory, hinted at in Adler-Olsen’s novel, suggests a connection to the boarding school, perhaps as a victim of its toxic culture. Mørck’s race to find her will lead to tense confrontations, from Edinburgh’s shadowy alleys to the windswept cliffs of the Highlands. The trailer, released on Netflix’s Tudum, teases a scene where Mørck and Akram chase a figure through a fog-laden forest, only to find a cryptic clue—a bloodstained locket—raising questions about Kimmie’s identity and her role in the murders.

The case’s contemporary stakes add urgency. As Mørck digs deeper, he uncovers a current crime linked to the old one, possibly involving the same players. Could a new murder be planned to protect the past? Or is Kimmie herself a danger, driven by revenge? The trailer’s tagline—“The past always finds its way back”—suggests a cycle of violence that refuses to stay buried, with Mørck caught in its grip.

A Stellar Cast and Edinburgh’s Gritty Charm

Season 2 will see the return of the core cast, with Goode leading as Mørck. Alexej Manvelov’s Akram, whose “seductively low-key intelligence” stole scenes in Season 1, will continue to anchor the team with his perceptive calm. Leah Byrne’s Rose, battling the ghosts of her mental health struggles, is poised for a breakout arc, with hints that her past may tie to the new case. Jamie Sives’ Hardy, now providing remote support from his wheelchair, will remain a moral compass, his “menschiness” a counterpoint to Mørck’s cynicism. Kelly Macdonald’s Dr. Irving and Kate Dickie’s Chief Superintendent Moira Jacobson will also return, their fraught dynamics with Mørck adding tension.

New faces are expected, though casting details are under wraps. Based on The Absent One, we may see actors portraying the boarding school clique—now powerful lawyers, politicians, or CEOs—whose polished exteriors hide dark secrets. A yet-to-be-cast actress as Kimmie will be pivotal, her performance crucial to the season’s emotional weight. Radio Times speculated that Scottish actress Shirley Henderson, who played housekeeper Claire Marsh in Season 1, could return in a new role, given her versatility.

Edinburgh remains a character in its own right. The city’s gothic architecture, misty hills, and rain-soaked streets provided a haunting backdrop in Season 1, and Season 2 will lean further into its “Tartan noir” aesthetic. Filming locations like the Royal Mile and the Highlands will amplify the sense of isolation and danger, with Scott Frank directing the first two episodes to set the tone.

Why It’s a Must-Watch for True Crime Fans

Dept. Q Season 2 is tailor-made for true crime aficionados. Its blend of cold case procedural and psychological drama mirrors shows like Broadchurch and Your Honor, but its Nordic noir roots—think The Bridge or The Killing—give it a darker edge. The season’s focus on a 20-year-old double murder taps into the genre’s obsession with buried secrets, while the boarding school setting evokes real-life scandals of privilege and cover-ups. Mørck’s personal stakes—his trauma, his potential as a target—add a layer of intimacy that elevates the show beyond typical procedurals.

The series’ emotional intelligence, praised by critics, will deepen in Season 2. Mørck’s struggle with guilt, Rose’s fight for redemption, and Akram’s quiet strength create a character-driven narrative that’s as compelling as the mystery. The possibility of Mørck being hunted introduces a thriller element, with each episode likely to peel back layers of deception. Will Kimmie be a victim, a villain, or both? Are the boarding school alumni orchestrating a modern-day crime to protect their past? And how does the unresolved shooting tie into Mørck’s pursuit?

Social media is already abuzz with fan theories. Posts on X speculate that Kimmie could be a former student seeking revenge, while others predict a twist linking her to Mørck’s shooting. The show’s 86% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and fervent fanbase suggest Season 2 will be a cultural event, with potential Emmy nominations in 2026.

What’s Next for Dept. Q?

With 10 novels in Adler-Olsen’s series, Dept. Q could run for years, each season tackling a new cold case while deepening Mørck’s arc. Scott Frank’s vision, blending gritty realism with dark humor, ensures the show remains fresh. Filming is slated to begin in late 2025, with a likely premiere in mid-2026, possibly featuring six episodes instead of nine for a tighter narrative.

For now, fans can only speculate about the twists awaiting Mørck and his team. Will he uncover the truth behind the double murder, or become a casualty of his own obsession? Can he protect Kimmie from her pursuers, or is she playing a dangerous game of her own? And what secrets from his past will resurface, threatening to unravel everything he’s fought for? Dept. Q Season 2 promises to be a thrilling, heart-wrenching journey into the shadows of human nature, where the past is never truly dead—and the hunt is far from over.