Is Les Dossiers Oubliés the rightful heir to Sherlock? Our review on Teknomers.

If you found the character of Sherlock particularly unpleasant, brace yourself for Carl Morck—his insufferable younger brother who is just as annoying. Simply put, everyone loathes this arrogant cop. Tasked by his police chief to lead a newly established unit dedicated to  cold cases , Morck finds himself relegated to a dilapidated basement, where he pairs up with two unlikely coworkers to continue his ultimate skills: annoying people enough to extract crucial information for his investigations.

Welcome to Department Q, Netflix’s latest crime drama set to make waves upon its release on May 29, 2025. It features three components synonymous with success: Scott Frank, the showrunner of The Queen’s Gambit, actor Matthew Goode (A Discovery of Witches), and plots brimming with twists. Does the final recipe truly work to potentially succeed legendary series like Sherlock or Slow Horses? Here’s our opinion, guaranteed spoiler-free.

Carl Morck: Sherlock’s Little Brother and Dr. House?

From its opening minutes, Department Q immediately captured our attention. Without revealing too much, it starts with a startling video archive sequence shot in a handheld style. While the first episode sets the stage for character and plot development, it still offers significant tantalizing hints, particularly through Matthew Goode’s performance as the lead.

The British actor delivers an unexpected performance as Carl Morck, this cynical, egocentric anti-hero. Despite his many flaws, Goode somehow endows Morck with a welcome humanity, reminiscent of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock or Hugh Laurie’s House.

Interestingly, all three characters share a superficial misanthropy, an apparent lack of social grace, and an underlying superiority complex masking deep vulnerabilities. Carl Morck is the potential heir to this legacy, complete with new additions such as a love for soccer, a serious penchant for alcohol, and an unwanted stepson to raise. Unfortunately, the comparisons fall short.

A Bingo of Overused Characters

Department Q, based on the best-selling book series by Jussi Adler-Olsen, borrows heavily from various shows, including Slow Horses, yet never quite matches their brilliance. To be sure, the opening theme is surprisingly upbeat, considering the series’ darker themes, and the characters are quite engaging, making you want to follow their journey amidst their trials.

However, the storytelling struggles to keep pace. After a masterful conclusion to episode one, we anticipated a plot that would shake up the conventions of typical police series with a twist turning everything on its head.

In contrast, Department Q embraces all the archetypes of the genre, featuring a repugnant cop dealing with PTSD, an ambitious young woman, a taciturn teammate, an eccentric roommate, a rebellious teenager, and an authoritarian boss…

Even Carl Morck, portrayed as the supposed genius of the group, ultimately saves little for his colleagues, who end up being the sharpest tools in the shed by comparison. More creativity from Scott Frank, the showrunner of The Queen’s Gambit, would have been welcome as the production feels fairly tame, both in form and narrative.

For Fans of Matthew Goode and Beautiful Scottish Landscapes

The Netflix series also suffers from two problematic syndromes for any worthy crime investigation: pacing issues and countless false leads. Undoubtedly, we all love getting lost in the convoluted maze of a complex criminal case, crafting new theories with each episode, especially when the narrative unfolds in breathtaking Scottish landscapes.

However, as the 9 episodes progress, we find ourselves increasingly lost in convoluted storylines and a friendly cast whose names we can barely remember, culminating in an almost ridiculous finale in some regards. It’s clear the plot could have been condensed into six episodes without the endless stretching and incoherent twists merely for shock value.

Despite its tendency to ramble, Department Q remains an ideal form of entertainment for a long, rainy weekend. Fans of Matthew Goode, quirky English humor, and teamwork will surely find satisfaction here. However, for those who appreciate well-crafted investigations and the thrill of an unpredictable ending, you might be better off scheduling another binge-viewing session of Sherlock or Slow Horses.