Netflix's Department Q fans must watch director's other hit shows
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Scott Frank's latest Scottish thriller, Dept. Q, is the newest drama gripping Netflix viewers - but it's not the director's first rodeo.
Launched by the streaming giant today (May 29th), the series is an adaptation of novels bearing the same name by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. Originally set in Denmark, Frank has relocated the narrative to Edinburgh, where top-notch detective Carl Mrock takes charge of a fresh cold case unit.
Downton Abbey star Matthew Goode heads up the cast as the flawed yet gifted officer, with Frank co-writing and directing most of the nine-episode series.
Now that the series is ready for binge-watching, fans will be on the hunt for similar shows - and what better place to start than the director's other riveting dramas?
The Queen's Gambit
(Image: Netflix)
If Frank's name rings a bell, you might have seen it in the credits of the 2020 smash hit, The Queen's Gambit. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker penned and directed the drama, which features Anya Taylor-Joy as chess whizz Beth Harmon.
After uncovering her talent, the orphaned chess maestro sets her sights on becoming the world's best player. However, her ascent to fame is swiftly marred by solitude and substance misuse, reports the Daily Record.
Alongside addressing the perils of obsession, the drama also explores gender inequality in male-dominated fields.
Despite the limited series focusing on a unique sport, it enthralled diverse audiences, and bagged an impressive 96 per cent Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley is among the fans of The Queen's Gambit, confessing to Tatler in 2021 that she became 'obsessed' with chess after watching the series.
The Queen's Gambit scooped eleven Primetime Emmy Awards, including the prestigious Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series accolade. It also bagged two Golden Globe Awards for Best Limited Series and a Best Actress in a Limited Series gong for Taylor-Joy.
The Queen's Gambit is streaming now on Netflix now.
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Godless
(Image: Netflix)
Another successful series directed by Frank, Godless is an American Western thriller set in the 1880s. The plot centres around former protégé Roy Goode, who is fleeing from a notorious gang he betrayed.
Its star-studded cast includes Jack O'Connell (Sinners) as the lead character, alongside Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Maze Runner).
Like The Queen's Gambit, Godless received high praise on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics giving it a certified fresh rating of 83 per cent and casual viewers awarding it an 85 per cent score.
Godless and Dept. Q are streaming now on Netflix
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