By Peter de Kuster

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Introduction: Entering the Shadows – The Call of the Unsolved

There are stories that begin with a bang—explosions of action, declarations of love, or the arrival of a hero in shining armor. But some stories begin quietly, almost unnoticed, in the shadows. They begin with a whisper, a question, or a file gathering dust in a forgotten basement. Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes is such a story. It opens not with triumph, but with loss; not with hope, but with the heavy weight of regret. And yet, it is precisely in these shadows that the seeds of transformation are sown.

As a storyteller and guide on the Hero’s Journey, I have always been drawn to tales that do not shy away from the darkness. These are the stories that invite us to look inward, to confront the unresolved mysteries in our own lives, and to ask ourselves: What have I left unfinished? What wounds have I buried? What legends am I still writing?

The Allure of the Cold Case

In every city, there are rooms where the unsolved gather. Files stacked high, photographs yellowed with age, names written in fading ink. These are the cold cases—the lost causes. They are the stories that society has given up on, the questions that no longer seem to matter. But for those who have loved and lost, for those whose lives have been shattered by violence or neglect, these stories never truly end.

Department Q is set in such a room. It is a literal basement in the Copenhagen police headquarters, but it is also a metaphorical space—a place where pain, injustice, and hope linger long after the world has moved on. It is here that we meet Carl Mørck, a detective whose own life has become a kind of cold case, and Assad, his unlikely partner, who brings with him the possibility of redemption.

The Power of the Unfinished

Why are we so drawn to unsolved mysteries? Why do we return, again and again, to the stories that refuse to be put to rest? Perhaps it is because we sense, on some deep level, that our own lives are full of unfinished business. We all have regrets, unanswered questions, and dreams deferred. We all carry wounds that have not healed and hopes that have not yet found their voice.

The cold case, then, is not just a crime to be solved—it is a symbol of the human condition. It is the part of us that longs for closure, for justice, for meaning. It is the part of us that refuses to give up, even when the world tells us to move on.

Carl Mørck: The Wounded Hero

At the heart of Department Q is Carl Mørck, a man whose life has been defined by loss. Once a rising star in the police force, Carl is now haunted by a failed operation that left his partner paralyzed and a suspect dead. The guilt is crushing, and Carl retreats into himself, becoming distant and cynical. He is a man who has stopped believing—in himself, in others, in the possibility of change.

Carl’s assignment to Department Q is not a promotion; it is an exile. He is sent to the basement, out of sight and out of mind. It is a punishment, but also a strange kind of mercy. In the quiet of the archives, Carl is forced to confront not only the unsolved crimes of others but the unsolved mysteries of his own heart.

Assad: The Unexpected Guide

Every hero’s journey needs a guide, and for Carl, that guide comes in the form of Assad. Where Carl is bitter, Assad is hopeful. Where Carl is closed off, Assad is open. Where Carl sees only futility, Assad sees possibility. Assad is an outsider in many ways—an immigrant, a man of faith, a newcomer to the Danish police. But it is precisely his outsider status that allows him to see what others cannot.

Assad’s presence in Department Q is a gift. He brings with him not only a keen mind and a compassionate heart but also a willingness to believe that lost causes can be found, that wounds can heal, and that even the darkest stories can have a new chapter. Through Assad, Carl is reminded that he is not alone, that partnership is possible, and that hope is not as foolish as it seems.

The Keeper of Lost Causes: A Story of Redemption

The first season of Department Q is titled The Keeper of Lost Causes, and the title is apt. It is a story about the people and the cases that the world has forgotten. It is about the search for justice in a world that often seems indifferent. But more than that, it is about the possibility of redemption—for the victims, for the detectives, and for all of us who have ever felt lost.

Redemption, in this story, is not easy. It is not a matter of solving a case and moving on. It is a long, painful process of facing the truth, accepting responsibility, and choosing to act even when the outcome is uncertain. It is about finding the courage to care, to hope, and to keep searching, even when the odds are against you.

The Atmosphere of Shadows

Department Q is steeped in atmosphere. The cinematography is stark and moody, with rain-soaked streets, dimly lit offices, and a palette of grays and blues that evoke a sense of melancholy and unease. The music is subtle, the dialogue spare. There are no car chases or shootouts—just the slow, methodical work of piecing together a puzzle that others have abandoned.

This atmosphere is not just for show. It is an essential part of the story, reflecting the inner landscapes of the characters. The shadows on the screen mirror the shadows in Carl’s soul, the darkness of the basement echoing the darkness of his grief. But within these shadows, there are also moments of light—glimpses of connection, flashes of humor, and the quiet persistence of those who refuse to give up.

A Story for Our Time

Why does Department Q resonate so deeply with viewers around the world? Perhaps it is because we live in an age of uncertainty, where old certainties have crumbled and new challenges seem insurmountable. We are surrounded by unfinished stories—political conflicts, social injustices, personal losses. We are all, in some sense, keepers of lost causes.

In such a world, the story of Carl and Assad offers both comfort and challenge. It reminds us that even in the darkest places, there is work to be done. It invites us to become seekers of truth, healers of wounds, and writers of new legends. It asks us to look at the cold cases in our own lives and to ask: What have I left unfinished? What am I willing to fight for? What story do I want to tell?

The Hero’s Journey: A Map for Transformation

As a guide on the Hero’s Journey, I see in Department Q a perfect map for transformation. Carl’s journey from despair to hope, from isolation to partnership, from apathy to action, mirrors the journey that each of us must take if we are to live fully and authentically.

The Hero’s Journey is not a straight line; it is a cycle. It begins with a call—a challenge, a loss, a question. It moves through stages of resistance, mentorship, ordeal, and revelation. It ends not with a return to the old life, but with a new understanding, a new sense of purpose, and a new willingness to engage with the world.

Carl’s journey is our journey. His struggles are our struggles. His victories, however small, are victories for all of us who have ever faced the darkness and chosen to keep searching for the light.

You Are the Storyteller

This, ultimately, is the invitation of Department Q: to become the storyteller of your own life. You are not just a character in someone else’s drama; you are the author, the hero, the keeper of your own lost causes. The legends you create are yours to write—or not.

Will you answer the call to adventure? Will you confront the cold cases in your own story? Will you seek the truth, even when it is painful? Will you believe, as Assad does, that hope is never foolish and that every lost cause deserves a keeper?