Are the cold cases and very personal risks of Dept. Q of major interest to you? You sure are not alone! Fans who like gloomy detectives, complex riddles, and ethically nuanced investigations are often looking for their next fix.
Dept. Q draws its power from the tormented backgrounds of its characters and the atrocities that would NOT fade. Many other series mirror that same (or at least similar) fiery intensity and stress.
Whether you prefer psychological thrillers or cop dramas with profundity, here are five series worthy of a place on your watchlist!
Top 5 shows like Dept. Q and where to watch them
1) Marcella (2016 – 2021)
Anna Friel commands the screen as Marcella Backland, an ex-detective who returns to duty to hunt down a serial killer. And her mind may be turning against her. Created by The Bridge writer Hans Rosenfeldt, Marcella offers a distinctly Nordic-noir vibe while staying rooted in London.
The show’s nonlinear narrative and the protagonist’s blackouts keep viewers questioning what’s real and what’s repressed.
As The Guardian says, “It has always traded in bleak and vicious shocks, and there are plenty of those in this trigger-happy double bill.”
Where to Watch: Netflix
2) Luther (2010 – 2019)
Idris Elba’s DCI John Luther is not your average detective. He’s a man walking the razor’s edge between justice and obsession.
With standout performances and chilling cases, Luther doesn’t shy away from exploring the psychological cost of the job. The show’s relationship between Luther and criminal genius Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) is a masterclass in tension.
According to The Telegraph, Elba “found texture in a role which in lesser hands could have remained a cardboard cut-out – and was rewarded with a Golden Globe for his trouble.”
Where to Watch: Hulu, Prime Video
3) Scott & Bailey (2011 – 2016)
This grounded, character-driven drama focuses on DC Rachel Bailey and DC Janet Scott as they juggle emotionally fraught cases with their own lives. Created by former detective Sally Wainwright, the show is authentic yet complex.
The chemistry between leads Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp adds to the story. The Guardian called it “refreshingly unpretentious, blunt and, yes, funny.”
Where to Watch: BritBox, Roku Channel
4) Happy Valley (2014 – 2023)
Sarah Lancashire’s Catherine Cawood is one of TV’s most human portrayals of a police officer: gritty, heartbroken, and resilient. Set in West Yorkshire, Happy Valley delivers emotional crime plots while tackling grief, addiction, and family trauma.
The show won multiple BAFTAs, and The New York Times praised it as having “quietly provided a paradigm of local, human heroism.” Creator Sally Wainwright strikes again here with sharp writing and honesty.
Where to Watch: Apple TV+, Prime Video
5) Broadchurch (2013 – 2017)
Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller expose their peaceful town when a little boy is discovered dead on the beach. Broadchurch is practically carried by David Tennant and Olivia Colman‘s performances, and is excellent in its resonance.
The show examines not only crime-solving but also the effects trauma has on a community. Radio Times called it “what television dramas should be, all the time.”
Where to Watch: Prime Video
These are not simply crime dramas. Like Dept. Q, they are excavations of damaged people who are solving much more awful crimes.
