Nordic Noir comes to Scotland in "Dept. Q" & the New "Led Zep" Doc celebrates The Making of a Once-in-a-Lifetime Band

Short previews of stuff worth watching.

Jun 08, 2025

Dept. Q

If you're wondering why Dept. Q, Netflix's new 9-episode thriller, hits every Nordic Noir beat perfectly (Translation: Brooding cops in perpetually gray weather solving crimes while everyone, criminals and law enforcement alike, carry around enough emotional baggage to sink a fjord), it probably has everything to do with the show being adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen's Danish book series.

I was intrigued to watch this show for two primary reasons:

It comes from Scott Frank, the mastermind behind The Queen's Gambit, that highly addictive drama that gave us all a reason to get out of bed during the COVID-19 pandemic (to play chess, of course!). While the shows couldn't be more different, Frank has a gift for crafting flawed protagonists we can't help but root for, whether it's Detective Morck's damaged determination in Dept. Q or Beth Harmon's brilliant self-destruction in Gambit. Both characters pull you in with that perfect mix of vulnerability and strength, following redemption arcs that feel earned rather than forced.
Matthew Goode has been on my watchlist for years, but it was his turn as Henry Talbot in Downton Abbey that sealed the deal for me. Finally, a love interest for Mary Crawley who could match her wit and wasn't intimidated by her sharp edges. What really caught my attention? He actually turned down the upcoming Downton Abbey film to commit to this project instead. When an actor walks away from a guaranteed franchise payday, you know they believe in what they're making, and it shows here, too.

“I am definitely open to change, but at the same time I’m quite stubborn.” Andy Murray, Scottish Tennis Player (the same could be said for Detective Morck, Matthew Goode’s character)

Becoming Led Zeppelin

Confession: I don’t love Led Zeppelin, but I’m married to a die-hard fan of the acid rock British group from the 60s and 70s, so when I saw this one come up on the queue, I told hubby I’d watch. Besides, if I’m being honest I like “Ramble On,” and “Going to California” a whole lot and have learned to somewhat tolerate, “Stairway to Heaven” from repeat exposure. But man, don’t get me started on their first hit, “Communication Breakdown.” That song is living proof of a breakdown. I’m referring to my mental one, from having listened to it, at least twice in the 2-hour documentary. But here’s the thing. All-in-all, this doc made me appreciate the band's pure inventiveness and how these four weren't just musicians, they were sonic architects. Ok, maybe that's a bit much, but what struck me was how their story defied the typical "naive rockers get screwed by the industry" narrative. Despite their youth, they had actual business sense. Beyond playing instruments, they were producers, engineers, and pioneers who didn't just make music, they reinvented how music gets made and sold. Jimmy Page essentially became their dealmaker, teaming up with manager Peter Grant to negotiate with Atlantic Records on their own terms: complete creative control.

Fun Fact: Famed drummer of the band, The Who, Keith Moon, yet another drummer who died too young due to substance abuse, named the band as a joke. He poked fun at Jimmy Page's band and said it would "go down like a lead balloon," which later became the band's name, Led Zeppelin.