The Observer.

Really enjoying a show ("Dept. Q") doesn't mean you won't have issues with it, plus a quick update on the first "graduation" movie, "Kicking and Screaming."

---

The Observer is a spoiler-free curated collection of television series and films.

---

“Dept. Q.” (Netflix).

As everyone here knows, it’s difficult to rush into multiple series when one (or even two) suddenly emerge to be shows you can’t stop watching. It drops everything else down to “I’ll finish it later” status and, for me, slows the discovery process.

But I found “Dept. Q” — which will very likely get picked up by Netflix for a second season, although you can never really be sure with that streamer — something that I couldn’t stop watching and thus did not. Everything else at least temporarily took a back seat — and I’m currently in the middle of watching at least five shows I love.

I actually wasn’t put off by the over-the-top misanthrope role of the lead character DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) and I had faith that his actions would be explained in detail later, which they were, thanks in large part to a terrific turn by Kelly Macdonald as Morck’s shrink.

What drew me to the series, based on the books of Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen, was the involvement of series creator Scott Frank, who took the Nordic Noir story and relocated to, of all places, Scotland, which combined with his talents was just the kind of inspired choice I lean into.

Inspired.

What followed after sampling the pilot was an immediate urge to watch more and then the story went in myriad impressive directions, notably excellent character development skills, and the one thing the series keeps getting mentioned for — extremely twisty plot turns.