Netflix’s Dept. Q grabbed fans with its raw, twisty crime drama, landing on screens May 29, 2025. Pulled from Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Danish books, it follows Detective Chief Inspector Carl Morck, brought to life by Matthew Goode, as he digs into Edinburgh’s dustiest cases with a scrappy crew. After a killer first season, everyone’s itching for news on Season 2. Here’s the full rundown on release date buzz, who’s back in the cast, and what the plot might hold, written to hook readers and climb search rankings.
Is Dept. Q Season 2 Happening?
As of August 2025, Netflix hasn’t locked in Season 2, but things look hopeful. The show’s a hit, rocking a 93% audience score and 86% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It cracked Netflix’s Top 10 in 72 countries, proving it’s got serious pull. Netflix even tossed it into the Emmy ring for Best Drama Series, a bold move that usually means they’re betting on a show’s future. Shows submitted for Emmys rarely get the axe, so that’s a big hint.
Showrunner Scott Frank’s pumped for more, telling Collider he’s got a “solid plan” for Season 2, maybe cutting it to six episodes from nine for a sharper story. Matthew Goode, chatting with Deadline, raved about the cast’s vibe and said they’re “dying” to come back. With 11 books in Adler-Olsen’s series, there’s plenty of material to keep the cases coming.
When Could Dept. Q Season 2 Hit Screens?
No official word on Season 2 yet, so it’s hard to say exactly when it’ll come out. Season 1 took about 15 months from filming to release, so if Netflix gives the green light by late 2025 and filming starts early 2026, we might see it sometime between late 2026 and early 2027. Some guess May 2026, but that feels a bit too soon. Bottom line: expect at least a year and a half wait from Season 1’s debut if things move quickly.
Who’s Back for Dept. Q Season 2?
Crime shows like this lean on their core squad, so expect familiar faces with some new ones for fresh cases. Here’s the likely lineup based on Season 1 and recent chatter:
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Matthew Goode as DCI Carl Morck: The gruff, haunted detective is the show’s pulse. Goode’s all-in for Season 2, so he’s a lock.
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Jamie Sives as DCI James Hardy: Carl’s old partner, now on crutches after a rough injury, should stay central.
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Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim: The Syrian cop-turned-detective, thanks to Carl’s pull, will likely get a bigger arc.
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Leah Byrne as DC Rose Dickson: The rookie with spunk is set to keep shining.
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Kelly Macdonald as Dr. Rachel Irving: Carl’s therapist, helping him unpack his past, might return to dig into their connection, though Goode told Collider it’s likely staying non-romantic.
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Chloe Pirrie as Merritt Lingard: The prosecutor saved in Season 1 could pop up, but new cases might shift focus.
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Others: Kate Dickie (DCS Moira Jacobson), Mark Bonnar (Stephen Burns), Shirley Henderson (Claire Marsh), and maybe Tom Bulpett (William Lingard) could return, with fresh faces for new mysteries.
The cast’s tight bond is a big draw. Goode told The Hollywood Reporter working with folks like Shirley Henderson and Kelly Macdonald was a blast, making Season 2 a “must-do” for the team.
What’s the Plot for Dept. Q Season 2?
Season 1, based on The Keeper of Lost Causes, wrapped with Carl’s team cracking a four-year kidnapping case involving prosecutor Merritt Lingard, nabbed by a vengeful mom and son. A three-month jump showed Merritt healing and Carl scoring more cash for Dept. Q, teeing up new cases. The Leith Park shooting—where Carl and Hardy got hit and a rookie died—still looms, begging for answers.
Season 2 will probably tackle The Absent One, the second book. It dives into a 20-year-old double murder of a brother and sister at a fancy boarding school. One guy confessed and is in jail, but Carl smells something off, leading him to Kimmie, a homeless woman with heavy secrets. Big shots want her quiet, and her own hidden truth could turn the case upside down. Expect a new case woven in, as Frank hinted, with the team’s personal struggles—Carl’s guilt, Hardy’s recovery, Akram’s rise, Rose’s drive—adding heart. The Leith Park mess might creep back, with Carl poking at DCI Bruce’s shady investigation despite pushback.
