Honestly, if you’ve spent any time scrolling through Netflix lately, you’ve probably seen Matthew Goode’s grumpy, beautiful face staring back at you from the thumbnail of Dept. Q. It’s that gritty, rain-soaked Edinburgh vibe that just screams "binge-watch me on a Sunday." But if you’re like most people trying to plan your weekend, you’re probably asking exactly how many episodes of Department Q you need to commit to before you start.
Here is the short answer: The first season of Dept. Q consists of nine episodes.
They all dropped at once on May 29, 2025. It’s not one of those massive 22-episode network slogs from the early 2000s, but it’s also beefier than the "prestige" six-episode limited series we see so much of now. It hits that sweet spot. You can finish it in a dedicated weekend, or, if you’re like me and have zero self-control, one very long, very caffeinated night.
Why the Episode Count Matters for the Story
Most crime procedurals give you a "case of the week." You know the drill. Body found at 2:00 PM, suspect arrested by 2:50 PM, roll credits. Dept. Q doesn't really play that game. Because Scott Frank—the guy who did The Queen’s Gambit—is running the show, the nine-episode structure is used to breathe.
The series is based on Jussi Adler-Olsen’s novels, specifically starting with The Keeper of Lost Causes (or Mercy depending on where you bought the book). Instead of rushing through the plot, these nine episodes let us actually sit with DCI Carl Morck in that depressing basement. You get to see the slow-burn formation of "Team Doolally," as they call themselves.
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It’s about quality over quantity.
If they had done twelve episodes, it probably would have dragged. If they had done six, we wouldn't have gotten those weird, wonderful character moments between Carl and Akram (played by Alexej Manvelov). The show needs that extra time because it’s trying to do two things at once: solve a decades-old disappearance involving Merritt Lingard and establish a new home for "waifs and strays" in the Edinburgh police force.
Breaking Down the Season 1 Schedule
Netflix released the whole thing as a box set. No waiting week-to-week. No cliffhangers that leave you screaming at the TV for seven days.
- Episode 1-3: The Setup. We meet Carl, see the fallout of the shooting that paralyzed his partner, and watch him get "exiled" to the basement.
- Episode 4-6: The Grind. This is where the cold case actually starts to get heat. We see the team—Rose, Akram, and Carl—actually starting to function like a unit.
- Episode 7-9: The Payoff. Things get intense. The mystery of what happened to Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie) comes to a head.
It’s a tight loop. Some fans on Reddit have argued that the middle section drags a tiny bit, but most agree that the nine-episode run feels "sturdy." It’s a very Scott Frank way of storytelling—meticulous and a bit moody.
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Will There Be More?
Since you're looking up how many episodes of Department Q there are, you’re likely already worried about the "Post-Series Depression" that hits when the credits roll on episode nine. Good news. Netflix officially renewed the show for a second season in August 2025.
The word on the street—and by "street," I mean industry trades like Deadline—is that cameras are set to start rolling in early 2026. Scott Frank has already hinted that the next batch of episodes will likely adapt the second book, The Absent One.
Expectations? Probably another eight or nine episodes.
The production team seems to like this format. It allows them to treat each season like a very long movie rather than a serialized TV show. Matthew Goode has even joked about wanting his character to have a more "Syrian Bourne" vibe in the next season, which suggests the scope might even get a bit bigger.
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The "Other" Department Q
If you finish the nine episodes on Netflix and you’re still hungry for more, you might get confused by the Danish movies. See, before Netflix moved the story to Scotland, there was a series of five Danish films starring Nikolaj Lie Kaas.
- The Keeper of Lost Causes (2013)
- The Absent One (2014)
- A Conspiracy of Faith (2016)
- The Purity of Vengeance (2018)
- The Marco Effect (2021)
These aren't "episodes" in the TV sense, but they cover the same ground. Just a heads-up: the Netflix version takes some big swings and changes a lot of character backstories. For example, in the books, Rose is more of a quirky receptionist, but in the show, Leah Byrne plays her with a much deeper, more tragic edge.
What to Do Now
If you haven't started yet, just clear your schedule for about nine hours. If you’ve already finished and you’re waiting for Season 2, your best bet is to dive into the Jussi Adler-Olsen books. They give you a lot more of that "basement" atmosphere that the show captures so well.
The series is currently sitting pretty on Netflix, and with the renewal confirmed, now is the perfect time to catch up. Don't worry about the "cold case" tag—this show moves way faster than the title suggests.
Start with Episode 1 tonight. By the time you hit Episode 9, you’ll probably be googling when Season 2 starts just like everyone else. Just remember: it's nine episodes for now. Savor them.