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Dept. Q is on track for a second season. In this article, we’re sharing everything we know about it, including plot details, returning characters, and the possible release date.

The crime drama, which is exclusive to Netflix, debuted 29 May. It stars Matthew Goode as Carl Morck, a disillusioned detective in Scotland tasked with tracking down a woman who’s been missing for four years.

If that wasn’t enough, Morck has to deal with the trauma from a shooting that paralyses his partner and leaves a rookie cop dead. The series’ title comes from his newly established Department Q, an underfunded division established to sift through cold cases.

So, has Dept. Q Season 2 been greenlit, and if so, when will it be coming out? Read on for the full details.

Will There Be a Dept. Q Season 2?

No, Dept. Q has not been officially confirmed. However, it’s a near certainty. For starters, showrunner Scott Frank has gone on record as saying he wants to do more.

“I’ve got a great idea for a second season,” Frank tells Collider. “It is another cold case and also a current case, at the same time, that they’re looking into. So, I would do that.”

That suggests talks regarding the show’s future are happening behind closed doors. It’s likely Dept Q. Season 2 is currently in pre-production.

There’s also the fact Netflix submitted Dept. Q for Emmy consideration. Streamers don’t do that unless they are supremely confident in their product. While it’s up against equally prestigious shows in The Pitt, Severance, Andor, and The White Lotus, even being mentioned in the same breath is a huge badge of honor.

Finally, the show is based on a bestselling book series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. That means there are more stories to tell.

Dept. Q season 2 Release date

There is no release date yet for Dept. Q Season 2. However, all signs suggest Netflix is currently working on it in secret. So, when can we expect it to drop?

Realistically, Dept Q. Season 2 looks set to release in mid-2026 at the earliest. That leaves time to write the script and shoot in 2025, then enter into post-production in early 2026.

Netflix managed to make and release the first season in just over a year. Filming kicked off in February 2024, and the nine-episode series premiered 15 months later in May 2025.

Dept. Q Reviews

Dept Q. received hugely favourable reviews. It’s currently got a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 86% critic score.

It’s also got strong international appeal, being based on a Nordic noir series. With possible awards on the way, everything points to a second season of Dept Q.

Dept Q. Season 2 Story

Dept Q. Season 2 will likely adapt the second novel in Adler-Olsen’s series, The Absent One. It centres on an elite boarding school hiding some dark secrets, with a disturbing double murder for the detectives to unravel.