
Outlander star unrecognisable in chart-topping Scottish Netflix series
Netflix's brand new crime drama has proven to be a hit, and Outlander fans might remember one of its stars.
Outlander enthusiasts may have noticed a familiar face in Netflix's latest series, Department Q. The crime drama has quickly become popular with Netflix viewers, swiftly rising to the top of the UK chart.
Penned and directed by The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank, Department Q features Matthew Goode in the lead role as DCI Carl Morck, a bold yet brilliant detective heading up a new cold-case unit in Edinburgh.
The programme is based on Afdeling Q, a collection of ten Danish Nordic noir crime novels penned by author Jussi Adler-Olsen. Department Q boasts a star-studded cast, including Kelly Macdonald, Mark Bonnar and Chloe Pirrie.
Alec Newman also joins the cast as Paul Evans, introduced as an enthusiastic climber, reports the Express.
Although he appears unrecognisable in his latest role, Outlander fans might recall him as Joseph Wemyss from the Starz romance drama. Joseph is the father of Lizzie Wemyss, portrayed by Caitlin O'Ryan.
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Alec's other roles include Edward Crowther in Protection, Niven Guthrie in Shetland and Michael Byrne in Waterloo Road.
Meanwhile, viewers are likely to recognise leading actor Matthew Goode from his previous roles in shows such as Downton Abbey, The Crown and A Discovery of Witches. Renowned actress Kate Dickie, known for her role as Lysa Arryn in the HBO series Game of Thrones, also makes an appearance.
Alexej Manvelov, who plays Akram in the show, expressed his excitement about working alongside such a talented cast.
"It was just amazing," he told Reach in an exclusive interview. "I'm from Sweden and there's a bit of a different style in Sweden where we're a bit more process-oriented.
"But just to come in and work on this high of a level of craft of acting. It was amazing and the ensemble is just...
"I mean I've been a fan of Kate Dickie's for ages, since Red Road," he admitted, referring to his co-star who plays DCS Moira. "So just to have a scene with her, I was like 'Oh my god'."
The official Netflix synopsis for Department Q reads: "DCI Carl Morck is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague. His razor-sharp sarcasm has made him no friends in Edinburgh Police.
"After a shooting that leaves a young PC dead, and his partner paralysed, he finds himself exiled to the basement and the sole member of Dept. Q; a newly formed cold case unit.
"The department is a PR stunt, there to distract the public from the failures of an under-resourced, failing police force that is glad to see the back of him.
"But more by accident than design, Carl starts to build a gang of waifs and strays who have everything to prove.
"So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat up, Carl is back doing what he does best - rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer."
All episodes of Department Q are available to stream now, exclusively on Netflix.
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