Netflix’s Crime Thriller Series From The Queen’s Gambit Creator Deserves Your Attention

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In 2020, Scott Frank, who is both a writer and director and a co-creator, impressed viewers with the Netflix version of Walter Tevis’ novel “The Queen’s Gambit.” Now, another show from Frank has premiered its first season on Netflix, and it’s just as impressive as his previous big success.

Revising the book series penned by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, “Department Q” narrates the story of Scottish detective Carl Morck, portrayed by Matthew Goode. After a shooting incident that left one officer paralyzed and another dead, Carl is undergoing therapy for his injuries when he is assigned to lead a newly created department. Known as Department Q, this team has a pile of cold cases and minimal funding at their disposal. With the assistance of former Syrian policeman Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov), Carl delves into cases previously believed unsolvable.

In its May 2025 premiere, ‘Department Q’ received a stunning approval rating of 87% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 90% from audiences. Over nine episodes, this gripping crime drama promises to outshine ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ for police procedural enthusiasts. With its impressive quality, ‘Department Q’ stands tall among Netflix’s best crime dramas, making it a must-watch for fans of series like ‘Mindhunter’. Frank’s collaboration with Netflix has proven to be a hit, and many viewers eagerly anticipate that the first season of ‘Department Q’ is merely the start.

Netflix viewers want more Dept. Q

Fans of the show “Dept. Q,” fearing Netflix might cancel another one of its popular shows, anxiously waited for news following the end of the first season. Instead, they received positive indications that “Dept. Q” could be an exception to Netflix’s trend and run for multiple seasons. In June 2025, shortly after the series premiere, Netflix even submitted “Dept. Q” for Emmy awards consideration. Although this doesn’t guarantee a second season, it is unusual for Netflix to put forward shows they don’t plan on continuing, hinting that “Dept. Q” might just become one of their long-running fan favorites.

For enthusiasts of “Dept. Q”, here’s some exciting news: Series creator Scott Frank has completed work on the first season and is already brainstorming ideas for Season 2. Since the series is adapted from a book series, which serves as a roadmap, Frank intends to leverage this advantage. He shared with Collider, “The second book in the series is quite compelling, so I have an excellent concept for a second season. It involves another chilling cold case that intertwines with a current investigation they’re pursuing.” If “Dept. Q” gets renewed, Frank hints at possibly extending it to six episodes instead of nine, which might not be what fans hope for but the prospect of more “Dept. Q” is certainly promising.

Don’t sleep on Monsieur Spade

If you’ve finished reading the series “Dept. Q” and yearn for another similar mystery, here’s some exciting news! Following the completion of “The Queen’s Gambit,” but before his latest Netflix project, Scott Frank collaborated with AMC to introduce another gripping crime drama called “Monsieur Spade.” With a 77% critical rating and a 67% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while it may not rival “Dept. Q,” it’s certainly worth your attention!

Monsieur Spade” is a series that unfolds 20 years subsequent to the events detailed in Dashiell Hammett’s novel, “The Maltese Falcon.” This story served as inspiration for one of the most iconic mystery films ever produced. Thankfully, viewing the 1941 movie adaptation or reading the original book isn’t necessary to understand the plot of this AMC television show.

The main character, Sam Spade (played by Clive Owen), who is currently enjoying retirement in southern France, finds his peaceful life disrupted when a group of nuns are brutally murdered near his residence. Despite his attempts to stay away from investigations, he gets dragged back into the fray as this case has significant repercussions for the entire town. Though Sam is an experienced detective, he’s not quite ready for where this final case will take him.

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2025-07-13 19:30