THE RESIDENCE

The Residence is a fun screwball comedy take on the whodunit that relies heavily on its talented comedic cast, with every aspect of the series revolving around the remarkable performance of Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp that ensures pure entertainment from start to finish.

Ever since Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express in 2017, there has been a resurgence in the whodunit mystery subgenre. It’s a simple formula: an ensemble cast of suspects, a revered and eccentric detective, a well developed script full of great dialogue exchanges, numerous twists, turns and red herrings, all leading up to the reveal of who the killer is. From the Knives Out series, to Agatha Christie adaptations, and the short lived series The Afterparty, there has been no shortage of great whodunit mysteries for viewers to devour recently. The latest entry in the subgenre, hailing from legendary television producer Shonda Rhimes, responsible for beloved shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Bridgerton and How to Get Away with Murder, is The Residence, which is a worthy addition to the genre set within the chaos of the White House that has the potential to spark a new series of mysteries to solve thanks to its intrepid sleuth: Cordelia Cupp. Even with an overload in the first few episodes of characters, plot points and moving pieces to keep track of, by the time it reaches the middle of the season the writing finds it stride and delivers one laugh out loud, puzzling mystery for viewers to crack. And with a great cast featuring wonderful comedic performers like Ken Marino, Edwina Findley, Randall Park, and the legendary Jane Curtin, as well as versatile performers who never fail to impress like Susan Kelechi Watson, Giancarlo Esposito and Brett Tucker, with a captivating lead performance from Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp, crafting one unforgettable detective to lead the audience through the many clues, it ensures that The Residence delivers the hilarious, captivating and at times shocking energy of the whodunit subgenre in spades.

It is no secret that politics are deadly, but that phrase takes on new meaning in the latest Netflix series. Inspired by The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower, the latest Netflix series sees a murder occurring during a State Dinner. With 157 suspects, multiple potential motives for the murder, political agendas that want to keep the entire ordeal a secret, and the differing views of the politicians, State Dinner guests and the staff who have worked at the White House for multiple administrations, it’s the perfect environment for a whodunit to unfold in. Showrunner Paul William Davies has all the right elements at his disposal to create an addictive whodunit mystery, while putting a twist on it with the story playing out in two timelines: one on the night of the murder as detective Cordelia Cupp interviews the 157 suspects, trying to find out who has the motive, the opportunity and the biggest gain from the murder; and the other set long after that night during a congressional hearing trying to uncover what actually happened during the investigation. It’s a smart spin on the genre’s tried and proven story structure, adding an extra layer of complication as it is clear that in the future that there is still an element of the mystery to solve and introducing new characters to the mix, which only ups the stakes and deepens the mystery.

After the setup in the first two episodes, each episode focuses on an individual suspect as Cordelia pieces together what happened at the State Dinner. Details and clues are slowly revealed, both in apparent manners to purposefully lead viewers in one direction, as well as very discreetly dropping key pieces of information with seemingly harmless statements that end up being a far larger piece of the puzzle. As much as the show is driven by its narrative, the comedy is woven wonderfully into the screenplay that keeps a levity to the whodunit plot line that pokes fun at the genre, politicians and government agencies, ensuring that viewers will be chuckling along while watching Cordelia get closer and closer to the identity of the killer. It all comes together wonderfully in the season finale, a supersized episode that allows Cordelia to walk both the potential suspects and viewers into how she identified the murderer in a highly entertaining and dramatic manner that matches the screwball tone of the entire season, delivering an exciting and smart conclusion to the mystery. And once she makes her big reveal, audiences will be eagerly awaiting their next Cordelia Cupp mystery to solve.

The entire show hinges on Aduba’s performance as Cordelia Cupp, and Aduba is captivating throughout. From the second she appears on screen, she embodies Cordelia and all of her quirks, transforming into this legendary detective with a high intellect and love of birds. Never for a second slipping out of character, it’s impossible not to both be puzzled by where Cordelia is heading with her investigation and enjoying her unique perspective that makes her the only individual able to crack the case. It’s a terrific performance from Aduba that is certain to join the ranks of infamous detectives like Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Benoit Blanc and Sherlock Holmes.

Bringing to life the eccentric suspects and employees of the White House is an exemplary supporting cast. Susan Kelechi Watson is wonderful as White House Assistant Usher Jasmine, helping to guide Cordelia through all the politics of the White House’s residents and guests; while Giancarlo Esposito is steadfast and commanding with a silent and stoic performance as A. B. Wynter, the White House Chief Usher. Edwina Findley, Ken Marino, Randall Park, Molly Griggs, Jason Lee, Brett Tucker, Dan Perrault and Mary Wiseman never miss a comedic beat in their supporting roles, each creating a character that becomes a pivotal part of the murder mystery, with Kylie Minogue having a great moments portraying as herself as a guest at the State Dinner. Barret Foa adds a good sense of mystery as the First Gentleman Elliot Morgan, who always seems like he is more involved in the inner happenings of the White House than he lets on, while Al Franken and Eliza Coupe are great fun as the two senators running the Congressional Hearing. But leave it to original Saturday Night Live star and comedy legend Jane Curtin to consistently steal the scene and create outrageous laughter every second she is on screen as Nan Cox, the mother of the First Gentleman, becoming a powerhouse pairing with Aduba in every moment they share together.

Following in the footsteps of great whodunits that came before it, The Residence captures everything that audiences love about these mysteries with lots of laughter, red herrings and clues to create one bingeable series. With executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers at the helm, never for a second is the series short of talent thanks to its excellent ensemble cast, while no stone is left unturned to ensure that The Residence continues the standard of great productions from Shondaland. Even though it takes its time to develop its rhythm, once it does, there is no shortage of entertainment, laughter or thrills in The Residence thanks to its expertly woven mystery, talented supporting cast featuring notable performances from Jane Curtin, Edwina Findley, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, but it is the spectacular lead performance of Uzo Aduba as the eccentric Cordelia Cupp that makes this series one captivating whodunit from start to finish.