Netflix Crime Thriller Renewed for Season 2 After Scoring 90% With Viewers

Netflix has officially renewed the British crime thriller Dept. Q for a second season, only a few months after its debut.

The show, created by Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani, is based on the best-selling book series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. It premiered on May 29, 2025, and quickly became a hit with both critics and audiences, earning strong reviews and a growing fan base.

The news of the renewal came in August 2025, and the creative team celebrated with statements full of excitement and humor. Qureshi and Manda Levin said, “We are raring to return to Carl Morck and his band of glorious misfits at ‘Dept. Q.’ Scott Frank brought us best-in-class storytelling and thrilled Netflix audiences worldwide. We can’t wait to see what Morck and the gang uncover in Season 2…. Edinburgh, we’re back.”

Rob Bullock from Left Bank Pictures added his own playful comment. “So, we are going downstairs to ‘Dept. Q’ for a second season. We at Left Bank Pictures nervously await what Scott has in store for his alter-ego Carl Morck, and the other enabling members of team do-lally. We salute Netflix’s courage to let them loose once again.”

Scott Frank, who serves as creator and showrunner, showed his gratitude for the chance to keep the story going. “I’m grateful to the folks at Netflix, as well as our shining cast and crew, for once more risking their careers to enable my folly,” he said.

Matthew Goode, who stars as Carl Morck, also expressed his appreciation. “I’d like to thank Netflix for giving us the opportunity to further investigate Department Q’s storylines. We have a wonderful cast and crew, headed by our resident genius Scott Frank. I cannot wait to read what comes from his magic quill!”

Dept. Q tells the story of detective Carl Morck, a skilled but deeply scarred investigator. At the start of the series, Morck returns to work after a violent shooting left him badly wounded.

The same incident left his partner, James Hardy, paralyzed and killed another police officer. Morck is bitter, seen by many colleagues as arrogant and hard to work with, and he is forced into therapy sessions as part of his recovery. Instead of returning to normal detective work, he is placed in charge of a new cold case unit called Department Q.

As the show progresses, Morck begins working with an unusual group of people who each bring their own strengths and flaws to the unit. Together they take on unsolved cases while Morck tries to manage his own trauma and strained relationships.

Critics responded well to the first season. Rotten Tomatoes reported an 87 percent approval rating from nearly 50 reviews, with the critics’ consensus saying, “In a sea of generic crime dramas, Dept. Q stakes its claim amongst the thrilling, enthralling, and sublime thanks to a winning cast and veteran creative Scott Frank.” Metacritic gave the series a score of 69 out of 100, which it classifies as “generally favorable.”

The combination of strong performances, dark storylines, and sharp writing has made Dept. Q stand out in a crowded genre. With Season 2 now confirmed, fans can expect more cold cases, more drama, and more of Carl Morck’s battles with his past.

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