Queen’s Gambit Creator Unveils Stunning New Netflix Series That Will Leave You Speechless!

What’s it About?

Detective Carl Morck is a gifted but difficult police officer, known among his colleagues for his biting sarcasm, which has frequently landed him in trouble within the Edinburgh police force. Following a shootout that resulted in the death of a young officer and left his partner paralyzed, he finds himself relegated to the basement, the sole member of Department Q, a new unit established to tackle unsolved cases.

This department is merely a public relations maneuver intended to shift focus from the failures of a struggling and under-equipped police force, which is more than happy to see him go. More by accident than design, Carl begins to assemble a team of eager young recruits. Will his unconventional methods help him crack his first cold case: the years-old disappearance of a high-ranking official?

Need-to-Know Details

If the premise of The Forgotten Files sounds familiar, it’s because it’s based on the novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. His “Department Q” mystery series has sold over 28 million copies in the past decade. Each book revolves around a cold case that Carl and his partner Hafez el-Assad work to solve.

Previously adapted into a successful film series in Denmark (starring Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares), this new Netflix adaptation relocates the gritty action to Scotland. The Forgotten Files is a quintessentially British thriller: slow, dark, and violent when necessary (with plenty of bloodshed), yet sprinkled with dark humor at times.

Scott Frank, known for his outstanding work on The Queen’s Gambit, had only one actor in mind to portray his anti-hero: Matthew Goode. Known for roles in Downton Abbey and The Crown, the English actor is perfectly cast as a taciturn, unlikable police officer suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder:

“I’ve been working with Matthew since 2006,” Scott Frank shared with Tudum. “I wrote with him in mind. I knew he could do it and bring that undeniable intelligence he possesses, but also a strong emotional presence without being sentimental.”

The Next Broadchurch?

The Forgotten Files is akin to the series Broadchurch in its slow pace which allows for deep character development. The tone is dark and sometimes brutal, which may not be for everyone, but that’s also part of its appeal. It features a troubled hero and a family story that weaves together past and present.

The cast includes Chloe Pirrie (The Queen’s Gambit), Alexej Manvelov (Jack Ryan), Kelly MacDonald, Kate Dickie (Loki), and Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter).

The Forgotten Files is a procedural series, with each season focusing on a different investigation. The first season, consisting of nine one-hour episodes, is available on Netflix starting today.