Fans of gritty crime thrillers have plenty to celebrate these days. Netflix’s Dept. Q burst onto screens back in May 2025, hooking viewers with its sharp dialogue, brooding atmosphere, and a detective team that feels more like a dysfunctional family than a squad of sleuths. Set in the misty streets of Edinburgh, the series follows the cold case unit led by the brilliantly flawed Carl Mørck. Just when binge-watchers started mourning the end of those nine gripping episodes, Netflix dropped the good news: Season 2 is officially greenlit. The renewal hit in August 2025, mere months after the premiere, signaling that this Scandinavian-inspired gem has legs for the long haul. Here’s everything you need to know about the new season.
Dept. Q Season 2 Release Date Buzz
Everyone’s dying to know when Dept. Q Season 2 hits screens. Filming started hot on the heels of the renewal, with cameras rolling in Edinburgh and a wrap expected by spring 2026. That puts the premiere in the ballpark of June or July 2026, maybe even echoing Season 1’s May 29, 2025, debut. No official date’s locked in yet, but Netflix’s Tudum blog is the spot to watch for updates.
Dept. Q Season 2 Cast Updates
The Dept. Q crew is the show’s beating heart, a mix of misfits who bicker and bond in equal measure. Matthew Goode is locked in as DCI Carl Mørck, the chain-smoking, sharp-tongued lead who’s as charming as he is infuriating. Goode’s stoked, raving about diving deeper into Mørck’s chaos and calling creator Scott Frank a “bloody genius.” The squad’s dynamic—equal parts tense and hilarious—keeps viewers glued.
Here’s who’s returning:
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Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim, the quiet analyst with a murky past. Fans love his intensity, and book readers know his story’s about to get wild.
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Leah Byrne as Rose, the oddball researcher who digs up truths with deadpan flair.
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Chloe Pirrie as Merritt Lingard, the prosecutor whose Season 1 disappearance shook the team. Her rescue left big questions—friend or foe?
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Jamie Sives as DCI James Hardy, Mørck’s paralyzed partner, now inching back to action.
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Kelly Macdonald as Dr. Rachel Irving, the therapist who might be more than just Mørck’s shrink.
No word on new faces yet, but rumors swirl about additions to unpack Salim’s history or a fresh suspect to shake things up. The ensemble’s chemistry is a fan favorite, with their “spot-on” banter cutting through the gloom.
Dept. Q Season 2 Potential Plot Details
Dept. Q shines by blending personal baggage with chilling cases. Season 1, inspired by Adler-Olsen’s Mercy, tackled the five-year-old disappearance of Merritt Lingard, exposing corruption and betrayal that hit Mørck hard. The finale tied up loose ends—Lingard saved, Salim promoted, Hardy stepping up—but left that sniper ambush dangling, promising trouble.
Season 2 will likely draw from The Absent One (or Disgrace), diving into a decades-old double murder linked to an elite boarding school and its dark secrets. Expect Edinburgh’s foggy streets to amplify the noir vibes, with Frank weaving in Scottish flavor. The team’s bonds—think Mørck’s snark versus Rose’s wit or Salim’s mysterious edge—will get messier. Will Mørck chase down the ambush’s mastermind? How does therapy with Dr. Irving play out? Those basement files are sure to unearth another nightmare, forcing the squad to face their own cracks.
