Dept. Q - Goode so good

[Peachy2005]

Hot tip! Dept. Q on Netflix (since yesterday). It grabbed me by the throat in the first 5 minutes and never let go. I was 5 episodes in before I could bear to pause (at 1am). Now I need to try to make the remaining episodes last a bit longer 🙃

It’s a dark cold-case police drama set in Edinburgh. Apologies if there is already a thread about it but I couldn’t find one. Matthew Goode is excellent and so is everyone else in it. Can’t recommend it enough!

I haven't watched it yet, but maybe they intended not to make Edinburgh look good? 'Gritty' dramas often really major on the less unappealing/well-known parts of where they're set.

I tried this after seeing so many recommendations, but I just couldn't get into it. The dialogue and delivery is so clunky, they all just take it in turns to deliver witticisms and cutting comments. It's unnatural and I found it unconvincing and difficult to listen to.

But I realise I'm in a minority of one! I really should try to stick with it because everybody else must be right. Maybe I was in the wrong mood when I put the first episode on.

I carried on watching because DH wanted to and we don't have anything else lined up. It's grown on me a bit over 6 episodes, they've created a complex mystery with red herrings and occasional bursts of interesting characters or humour, and now I'd quite like to know how it turns out though the kidnapping seems such a pointlessly huge effort that it's going to be tough to come up with a satisfying reveal.

Moira's still my favourite character, she's justifiably offensive. It's slow enough that I have time to wonder about Dr Irving's sessions with her own therapy supervisor..... how did those go?

I found Black Doves to be like this. I feel like a lot of recent shows are going for the Slow Horses/Killing Eve thing, but it's a hard tone to achieve convincingly.

@beguilingeyes I’d urge you to persevere with The Bear; it’s a work of genius that doesn’t really come into its own until Season 2. There are episodes that are pure, breathtaking poetry.

But I tried a couple of episodes of Severance and just 🤷‍♀️. Though all the positive publicity may eventually persuade me to try again.

Giri / Haji - another close to genius show; with one outstanding scene that was roundly mocked on MN. I believed in KM in that. Less so here, but more because of the horrible hair than any fictional breach of professional ethics.

I'm still watching, but my feelings are similar. I said, way upthread,

But the script is way too much people cracking wise than they ever do IRL, which puts me off a little.

And I half-remember the Danish films with Nikolaj Lie Kaas, they've been on UK TV.

I was likewise unimpressed with Black Doves for similar reasons. And Killing Eve, come to that!

I loved the first two series of Killing Eve, but it went downhill after that. I find Phoebe Waller Bridge irritating but she's a great writer.

Agree. A friend commented that it is hard to identify a likeable character.

@AmaryllisNightAndDay the kidnapping seems such a pointlessly huge effort

You've nailed it there! I only started feeling better about Dept Q after I'd gone on the Spoilers thread and posted a vast, ranty, multi-point epic about all the plot issues that drove me up the wall about it.

'I tried this after seeing so many recommendations, but I just couldn't get into it.'

I'm not loving it either. I've seen 3 episodes and not got much enthusiasm for continuing. The kidnap stuff is horrible

Saw this advert in Edinburgh today and thought of this thread.

Not sure why this would ever be problem. It crops up on book reviews too.

It's either well-written (book) or well-acted/directed (film) . Nothing else matters.

I liked Rose. The Shirley Henderson character seemed creepy but was very caring really. William was OK and a talented artist.

Yes! So good. Must track that down!

I’m enjoying it, but I’m finding the sarcasm and temper of the main character wearing , and a tiny bit unbelievable.

I think the thing about this show is, it's not a police procedural, it's a confection, an entertainment. You either go with that, or you don't.

His sarcasm and … instability are what makes me want to give him a hug!

Finished last night and LOVED it. Shallowly helped by main character becoming increasingly attractive every episode - such a great head of hair! I didn’t give him a second glance in Downton.

Favourite character was Akram.

Exactly.

As I commented earlier in the thread I really enjoyed it although it did flag in places .
As others have referenced , I do think a lot of police / crime dramas are picked apart because there are so many now to watch . Slow Horses is brilliant and I do think a lot of other series will not match up to this .

I agree that Killing Eve was fantastic in the first few series , was unique and I loved the fashion too . It also had Martin Rhode as her handler who was great in The Bridge . If you can deal with subtitles The Bridge is my favourite series ever . Killing Eve then lost its way and wasn’t great by the end .
The Bear , I would also really recommend . It is a slow burner and the characters don’t immediately draw you in . But it is so worth it if you can persevere , as you find out their back stories and Jamie Lee Curtis is phenomenal in it .

Likewise with Succession I also wasn’t that keen on it right until the last episode of series 1 . I just found the characters difficult to like and wasn’t really bothered about them . But it had great actors and was well written so again I kept on watching . It was worth it , you find out their backstories and understand why the characters have become who they are .
Black Doves , was a bit silly at times . Had great actors as well and I ended up liking it although I wouldn’t say it was the best of it’s kind .
Of the more recent series Criminal Record has been one of the best . Possibly still not as good as Slow Horses . It has Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo in it . On Apple TV and they are going to do a second series .

We’ve just watched it over 3 nights, and absolutely loved it.
I swear I didn’t breathe for about 20 minutes during the last episode. Unlike many others I liked the long drawn out story; often they can seem too rushed and slick.
Carl was an ill-tempered, arrogant arse, and fabulous with it - he made me laugh so many times. And don’t get me started on enigmatic Akram …
I’m obviously not as sensitive as many of you as I couldn’t give a flying fuck about the swearing- I hear it every day at work (and home 🤣).
Can’t wait for another series.

It's on ITVX

I thought this was the best perfect of Matthew Goode’s career. He must have been delighted to receive such a meaty script for a change.

Absolutely loved the entire series, especially Akram. The last episode was so tense. Enjoyed Moira as the only Scottish person pronouncing Carl in the correct Scottish way 😆