Department Q Ending Explained: Who Kidnapped Merritt and What’s Next for Carl?
New York: Netflix’s Department Q has quickly become a fan-favorite crime thriller, blending the gritty charm of Scandinavian noir with razor-sharp British storytelling. The six-episode series follows Carl Morck, a brash but brilliant detective, as he takes over the new cold case unit in Edinburgh—Department Q. But it’s not just the chilling cases that have viewers talking. It’s the emotionally raw finale that left audiences stunned.
As the final episode unfolds, the mystery of Merritt Lingard’s disappearance finally unravels. With all the pressure bearing down, Carl, Akram, and their unlikely team must push through personal and professional trauma to solve a case rooted in decades of abuse and psychological manipulation. But justice doesn’t come easy.
Who Kidnapped Merritt Lingard?
The investigation takes a sharp turn when Carl and Akram trace Merritt’s kidnapping to a reclusive estate where she is being held in a hyperbaric chamber, used as a torture device. The perpetrators? Ailsa Jennings, a twisted former psychologist, and her deeply disturbed son Lyle.
Ailsa had a history of brainwashing vulnerable women under the guise of therapy. Merritt, unfortunately, became her latest victim. Lyle, driven by delusion and obsession, played the role of physical captor, while Ailsa managed the psychological imprisonment. Their goal wasn’t just cruelty—it was total control.
Carl’s Injury and Akram’s Heroic Moment
During the rescue operation, Carl gets shot in the shoulder while shielding Akram. What follows is a tense standoff where Akram shows immense bravery. He fights Lyle and ultimately kills him in self-defense, saving Merritt’s life and proving himself as more than just an intern.
This moment is a turning point for Akram—until now, he’s battled racial profiling and being underestimated. Here, he becomes the hero of the story.
Ailsa’s Death and Merritt’s Return
After Lyle is neutralized, the police arrive. Ailsa, knowing she’s caught, dies by suicide before being arrested, offering no redemption or closure.
Merritt is finally rescued. The series closes with a quiet but powerful moment—she and Carl pass each other at police HQ but don’t speak. There’s no dramatic reunion, only a subtle nod to survival and resilience.
Later, Merritt is shown reuniting with her brother William, attempting to rebuild her life after years in captivity.
What Happens to Carl Morck?
Carl leverages secret files on police corruption, particularly targeting his former boss Stephen Burns, to negotiate greater autonomy and funding for Department Q. Despite internal politics and personal trauma, Carl is determined to make this misfit unit a force for justice.
The last scene shows Carl back in the basement office, joined by a recovering DS Hardy, now clean and ready to work. It’s a quiet yet hopeful close, signaling that this cold case was just the beginning.
Will There Be a Season 2 of Department Q?
While Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed Season 2, the ending sets it up perfectly. The unit is intact, Carl’s leadership is respected (finally), and the team’s chemistry has just begun to click. Fans are also curious to see deeper dives into Akram’s backstory and Carl’s unresolved trauma.
If the reception is anything to go by, Netflix will be under pressure to bring back the cold-case-solving squad.
A Gritty Start, a Gripping Finish
Department Q doesn’t just deliver a standard detective drama—it explores justice through the lens of trauma, race, class, and memory. Carl may be rough around the edges, but he’s exactly the kind of flawed hero today’s streaming audiences root for. The final episode’s emotional payoff—Akram’s heroism, Merritt’s survival, Carl’s return—makes it one of the best crime show finales this year.