The gritty streets of Edinburgh are about to get darker. Dept. Q, Netflix’s gripping crime thriller, is poised to return with a second season that promises to plunge Detective Chief Inspector Carl Mørck and his misfit team into a treacherous web of power, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. Just when they thought the shadows of their last case had faded, a new mystery emerges—one that threatens to unravel not just the truth, but the very fabric of their lives. With a brutal double murder from decades past at its core, season 2 of Dept. Q hints at a conspiracy among the elite, where Carl Mørck, the brilliant but haunted detective, might find himself the prey in a deadly game of cat and mouse. What you think you know about justice might just be a lie.
A New Case That Defies the Past
After solving the harrowing disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard in season 1, Carl Mørck and his Department Q team are no strangers to digging up truths others would rather keep buried. Season 2, inspired by Jussi Adler-Olsen’s second novel, Disgrace, thrusts them into a chilling investigation that dates back to the late 1980s. A brother and sister were savagely murdered in their family’s summer home, a crime that shocked the nation. At the time, a suspect from a group of privileged boarding school students confessed, seemingly closing the case. But when an old case file lands on Carl’s desk, it’s clear the truth was never fully uncovered.
The case centers on Kimmie Lassen, a woman who was part of the elite group of suspects but vanished from society after inheriting immense wealth. Now living off the grid, Kimmie holds a secret that could expose a conspiracy among the upper echelons of society. As Carl and his team—Akram Salim, Rose Dickson, and the newly returned James Hardy—reopen the investigation, they uncover a trail of corruption that leads to some of Edinburgh’s most powerful figures. The surviving members of the original suspect group, now wealthy and influential, will stop at nothing to protect their secrets, setting the stage for a high-stakes power struggle that could cost Carl everything.
Carl Mørck: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Carl Mørck, played with brooding intensity by Matthew Goode, is no stranger to danger. Haunted by a shooting that left his partner James Hardy paralyzed and another officer dead, Carl has spent his career rattling cages and defying authority. But in season 2, the tables may turn. The deeper he digs into the double murder case, the more he attracts the attention of those who thrive in the shadows. Whispers of corruption within Edinburgh’s law enforcement resurface, tying back to the mysterious shooting that scarred Carl’s past. Could the same forces that orchestrated that attack now be targeting him to silence the truth?
The narrative teases a chilling possibility: Carl, the relentless pursuer of justice, might become the hunted. As the elite close ranks to protect their empire, Carl’s dogged determination makes him a threat they can’t ignore. Every clue he uncovers—every secret he exposes—brings him closer to danger. The stakes are personal, with Carl’s guilt over his partner’s injury and his fragile connection with therapist Dr. Rachel Irving adding emotional weight to his mission. Will he outsmart his enemies, or has he finally met his match?
A Conspiracy Among the Elite
The heart of season 2 lies in its exploration of power and privilege. The original suspects in the murder case—now successful figures in business and politics—have built their empires on lies. Kimmie’s disappearance wasn’t a coincidence; it was a calculated move to escape those who would silence her. As Carl’s team tracks her down, they navigate a world of wealth and influence, where connections and resources make their adversaries nearly untouchable. The investigation reveals a network of corruption that stretches from elite boarding schools to the highest ranks of Edinburgh’s establishment, exposing a dark underbelly of greed and violence.
The case also tests the dynamics of Department Q. Akram Salim, the former Syrian cop turned detective, faces new challenges as his mysterious past comes under scrutiny. Rose Dickson grapples with her own demons, hinting at deeper complexities in her character. Meanwhile, James Hardy’s return to the team, despite his ongoing recovery, adds tension as he seeks answers about the shooting that changed his life. Together, they must outmaneuver their enemies while battling internal doubts and external threats.
The Shadows Seek the Light
The tagline “the darkness still finds a way to see the sun” encapsulates the season’s central theme: no secret stays buried forever. Kimmie’s quest to expose the truth, despite the scars it has left on her psyche, mirrors Carl’s own journey. Both are driven by a need to bring light to the darkest corners, even at great personal cost. The season promises to blend gritty crime drama with psychological depth, exploring how far people will go to protect their power—and what it takes to tear it down.
The unresolved shooting from season 1 looms large, with hints that it was an inside job tied to a local crime boss. This subplot weaves into the main narrative, suggesting that the conspiracy Carl uncovers may be linked to his own past. The tension builds as Department Q races against time to protect Kimmie and expose the truth before their enemies strike first.
A Cinematic Triumph in the Making
With its moody Edinburgh backdrop, Dept. Q season 2 is set to deliver the same atmospheric intensity that made the first season a global hit. The show’s strength lies in its character-driven storytelling, with Matthew Goode’s Carl Mørck anchoring a stellar ensemble cast. The addition of new characters tied to the murder case will bring fresh faces, while the return of core players like Jamie Sives, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne, and Kelly Macdonald ensures continuity. Showrunner Scott Frank, known for The Queen’s Gambit, has hinted at a tighter season, possibly six episodes, to maintain the breakneck pace and emotional stakes.
The series’ exploration of institutional corruption, personal redemption, and the cost of truth resonates in a world where power imbalances are ever-present. Fans can expect a rollercoaster of twists, with each episode peeling back layers of deception. The cinematography, steeped in Edinburgh’s foggy alleys and grand estates, will amplify the sense of unease, making every shadow a potential threat.
What Lies Ahead?
As Dept. Q season 2 approaches, the anticipation is palpable. Will Carl uncover the truth behind the murders and the shooting that haunts him? Can Kimmie survive long enough to expose her former classmates? And what secrets does Department Q’s misfit team still hold? The answers lie in a season that promises to be more intense, more personal, and more dangerous than ever.
For fans of crime thrillers, Dept. Q season 2 is shaping up to be a must-watch. It’s a story of justice versus power, truth versus lies, and a detective who refuses to back down—even when he’s the one in the crosshairs. As the darkness seeks the light, one thing is certain: nothing is as it seems, and the truth will come at a cost.
