'The Queen's Gambit' Creator Returns to Netflix With 94%-Rated Hit Perfect for 'Slow Horses' Fans

Following the underrated Monsieur Spade, starring Clive Owen, writer and director Scott Frank – who also brought us The Queen's Gambit – returned to Netflix with an adaptation of Jussi Adler-Olsen's best-selling Danish novel series – Dept. Q.

Frank moves the action from Denmark to Scotland: with its grim streets and gray buildings, Edinburgh becomes the perfect setting for a slow, yet inexorably gripping investigation.

What Is 'Dept. Q' About?

Carl Morck is an antisocial, rude detective. One day, he caused a tragedy when he recommended an inexperienced patrolman check the crime scene.

The young police officer was killed, and Morck's partner and best friend, James, was paralyzed. Morck himself escaped with psychological trauma.

After receiving orders from above to improve statistics, Moira, the head of the Edinburgh police department, decides to take the opportunity to remove Morck, who was recently released from the hospital. She appoints him head of a unit consisting of only himself.

'Dept. Q' Is a Scandinavian Noir Series with Slow Horses Vibes

Dept. Q is a classic Scandinavian noir with a principled yet distant protagonist, corrupt institutions of power, and slow-paced yet gripping investigations.

Morck enlists the help of two other unfortunate detectives, and many viewers will draw parallels with Slow Horses, another thriller about a motley crew of losers who unite under the leadership of an experienced but grumpy detective.

The comparisons are appropriate, but Scott Frank created a show with its own style. And although Morck resembles other narcissistic and rude geniuses like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. House, he finds his own voice.

'Dept. Q' Is a Worthy Detective Show Even the Experienced Fans of the Genre Will Like

Dept. Q is a solid, well-crafted TV series that the fans of Slow Horses, who got tired of looking for other original detective shows, will definitely like.

The first season concludes the main investigation and paves the way for new stories. Given the rave reviews, Netflix will certainly develop this universe further – Jussi Adler-Olsen has written many more books, and Scott Frank knows exactly how to adapt them.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Dept. Q'?

The Guardian critic Lucy Mangan gave Dept. Q four out of five stars, saying:

“It is all fantastically well, and rigorously, done. The pacing has a leisurely confidence that some may find a touch slow, but allows for a character-first approach, creating a richness that amply rewards initial patience.”

• Dept. Q has 84% from critics and 94% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.3/10.