The reviews lean towards approval of Dept. Q, with praise clustering around Matthew Goode’s grumpy detective, the supporting cast and the central mystery. Most critics find familiar crime-drama ingredients handled with enough confidence to hold attention, even when originality is in short supply. Scott Frank’s storytelling, the ensemble’s chemistry and the Edinburgh setting draw favourable notices, while the stronger reviews value the attention given to character alongside the investigation.
Reservations centre on length: several critics find the series overstretched, with a sluggish middle, surplus storylines or too much competing for attention. The spread runs from warm approval to qualified interest, with performances attracting the clearest disagreement. Den of Geek finds the lead abrasive despite praising the cast and humour. NME is a more pronounced dissenter on the acting, finding stiff performances and wooden dialogue that make the characters difficult to care about, though it still acknowledges enough intrigue to sustain attention.