Dept. Q Season 2: New Cast, New Case, and the Mystery of Who Shot the Detectives

Welcome Back to the Basement

Netflix’s darkly comic detective drama Dept. Q is officially back in production for a second season, and while we’re still twiddling our thumbs waiting for a release date, the news is enough to get any crime fiction fan giddy. Production kicked off in Edinburgh on June 25, and with it comes a slew of new faces joining Matthew Goode’s grumpy DCI Carl Morck and his ragtag team of misfits.

If Season 1 taught us anything, it’s that cold cases don’t stay cold for long when Morck is involved — and neither do personal vendettas. With the finale leaving us dangling over the question of who shot Morck and his partner DS James Hardy, Season 2 promises to deliver both closure and a fresh, bone-chilling mystery.

When Can We Expect Season 2 to Drop?

As of now, no premiere date has been announced. But with production already underway in the Scottish capital, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see more of that moody Edinburgh scenery — and Goode’s signature sneer — sometime in the coming months. Season 1 premiered in May 2025, so a late 2025 or early 2026 arrival feels plausible.

A Case Straight Out of a Bestseller

Yes, Dept. Q is based on the wildly popular Danish Nordic noir book series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. The first season adapted the debut novel, and Season 2 will dive into the second book, The Absent One. If you thought the first case was twisted, just wait. The story follows Morck and his team as they reopen a 20-year-old murder file — a case that was supposedly solved when a privileged boarding school student confessed. But nothing is that tidy in Dept. Q’s world. The investigation leads to a homeless woman named Kimmie (played by the phenomenal Aisling Franciosi), who has secrets that the very rich and powerful would kill to keep buried.

The Cast Shake-Up: Who’s In, Who’s Out

Of course, the heart of Dept. Q is the ensemble, and Season 2 is beefing up the roster with some serious talent. Let’s break it down.

Returning Favorites

Matthew Goode is back as the grumpy, brilliant DCI Carl Morck. Alongside him, Alexej Manvelov reprises his role as the enigmatic Akram Salim, Leah Byrne returns as the sharp DC Rose Dickson, and Jamie Sives is back as DS James Hardy — albeit still on crutches after being shot in Season 1. Mark Bonnar, Kate Dickie, Aaron McVeigh, and Sanjeev Kohli are also returning to round out the department.

New Blood

The newcomers are a who’s-who of British and international talent. Aisling Franciosi, known for her haunting performance in The Nightingale, will play the elusive Kimmie. Greg Wise, Nicholas Rowe, Tony Curran, Hamish Clark, Alex Ferns, Ross Anderson, Rebecca Root, Isla Johnston, and Amy Brenneman all join the cast. That’s a lot of firepower for a single season.

Recap: How Did Season 1 End?

If you need a refresher, here’s the short version: Morck’s team cracked the case of Merritt (Chloe Pirrie), a woman kidnapped by a mother‑son duo blaming her for the death of the other son. In the aftermath, Merritt survived and thanked the team — but she never got to see Morck, who passed her in the hallway unknowingly. Meanwhile, Morck played dirty with corrupt bureaucrat Stephen Burns to secure more funding, a badge for Akram, and a new car. The department is ready for more cold cases — once they fix the stairs so Hardy can get down to the basement with his crutches.

The Lingering Mystery: Who Shot Morck and Hardy?

Throughout Season 1, both Morck and Hardy were shot at a crime scene. Hardy spent months recovering, while Morck couldn’t ID the shooter in a lineup — he only remembered the eyes. In the final moments, Detective Superintendent Moira Jacobson handed Hardy a file on the shooting. That thread is still dangling, and Season 2 will likely pick it up.

What’s in Store for Season 2?

Based on The Absent One, the new season will tackle a crime that reaches into the highest echelons of Scottish society. Executive producer Rob Bullock described it as “a story for our times: rich and powerful people who believe they are above the law.” And who better to take them down than a detective who doesn’t care about political correctness?

Netflix’s Manda Levin added: “The story of Season 2 is as darkly delicious as you’d expect, and Carl and his glorious gang will have their work cut out pinning down the perpetrators.”

The show’s logline sums it up perfectly: “DCI Carl Morck heads up the maverick Dept. Q from the basement of an Edinburgh police station, charged with cases previously deemed unsolvable. This darkly humorous, propulsive show delivers all the pleasures of a procedural, but takes us into the complex mysteries not just of the cases but of the detectives themselves.”

Why We’re Excited

Dept. Q is a rare gem: a procedural that’s as funny as it is tense, with a lead character who’s equal parts Sherlock and Oscar the Grouch. Matthew Goode has found the role of a lifetime, and the supporting cast is stacked. The source material — Adler-Olsen’s books — only gets better as the series goes on, so buckle up for a wild ride.

And if the show resolves the shooting mystery while introducing Kimmie’s story? We’ll be glued to our screens.

Disclaimer - All celebrity-related content, information, and images on this website are based on publicly available online sources and AI-generated insights/data. Information such as biography, age, career, personal details, and images may change without notice over time. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of any information or imagery displayed on this website. This content is provided for general informational purposes only.