TV Review ~ The Residence

**Note: At the time of this review, I have seen the seven episodes of The Residence that were provided in advance. The final episode was not provided.  I do not know what happens and there will be no spoilers of any kind in this review.**

The new golden age of the quirky detective is officially in full swing. Audiences have always shown a soft spot for sharp-witted sleuths who stumble into high-stakes mysteries, but the past few years have seen a remarkable resurgence of the warhorse genre. From Kenneth Branagh’s sophisticated reboot of Agatha Christie’s Poirot to Benoit Blanc’s charming southern-fried deductions in the Knives Out franchise, there’s something deliciously satisfying about witnessing eccentric detectives untwist tangled webs of murder, blackmail, and general old-fashioned naughtiness. Early in 2024, Hulu’s attempt to get in on the fun didn’t go well, and Death and Other Details sank like a stone. Now comes The Residence on Netflix, a White House-set murder mystery promising screwball antics, political intrigue, and over a hundred suspects—all within the confines of the world’s most famous address.

Created by Paul William Davies and inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s bestselling non-fiction book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House, this eight-episode series from producer Shonda Rhimes transports viewers to the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of America’s most famous address. When a body turns up during a State Dinner given for the Australian Prime Minister, the White House becomes an elaborate crime scene. Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba, Miss Virginia), a consultant with the Metropolitan Police Department, is called in by her superior (a terrific Isiah Whitlock Jr., Lightyear) to investigate, only to find herself navigating the 157 staff members who keep the presidential residence running and overly sticky red tape.

As the night drags on and the clues dry up, tensions rise, and secrets come to the surface. Though she’d rather be checking off the 93 birds found on the famous list compiled by Teddy Roosevelt, Cupp’s extraordinarily particular style will come in handy as she pieces together a mystery that involves everyone from the executive pastry chef to Kylie Minogue. Yes, the Kylie Minogue.

The success of a show like this hinges on its detective, and Aduba is the undeniable highlight of the series. Like her multi-Emmy-winning turn on Orange Is the New Black (one of the first streaming shows on Netflix), the writing plays directly to her strengths in handling whip-smart, razor-sharp dialogue that allows her to be humorously droll and intimidatingly intense. Delivering the dialogue written by Davies that is so rapid-fire it occasionally feels like an unproduced Aaron Sorkin script, it nevertheless suits her character’s no-nonsense agenda. Though she isn’t as flamboyantly strange as fellow detectives Monk or Sherlock, her oddities (hobbies, food) are more unpredictable—and that creates a character you are eager to sit down and sit back with.

The sprawling supporting cast proves to be hit-or-miss, however. Giancarlo Esposito’s (The Electric State) Chief Usher and Susan Kelechi Watson’s (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) Assistant Usher are astute with delivering expository information, which doesn’t always allow their natural talent to shine through. You can barely stop Edwina Findley’s gossiping butler from outshining her scene partners, though. More interested in chit-chatting than working, Findley’s a sharp-tongued breath of much-needed pure comic relief.

Meanwhile, Randall Park’s (Totally Killer) fussy FBI agent feels superfluous to the plot, primarily existing to create obstacles for Cordelia. However, certain performers are fully caricatures, such as Ken Marino’s (Candy Cane Lane) obnoxious presidential advisor and the dual chef characters played by Mary Wiseman and Bronson Pinchot (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F), who push beyond comedic into distractingly volatile territory. And then there’s Minogue, playing herself in a delightful cameo that adds a jolt of unexpected fun.

Where The Residence struggles is in its pacing. Eight episodes isn’t unusual for a mystery series, but around episode five, the show starts showing fatigue. Aduba’s energy seems to surge in episode seven, as though it were filmed after a substantial break, injecting fresh zing into the investigation just when binging viewers might be growing restless. The show’s loose approach to its detective’s methodology is also sure to raise a few eyebrows from armchair sleuths. Cupp conducts numerous interviews in a timeline that becomes increasingly unclear. She sometimes questions suspects over information she shouldn’t (and couldn’t) logically have yet. This discontinuity winds up making it difficult for viewers to track her process or, and this is a crucial element for any successful whodunit, play along with solving the mystery themselves.

That said, the series does have a few clever tricks up its sleeve. Each episode is named after a classic murder mystery film as an affectionate nod to the genre’s history, and each begins with an animated sequence that subtly foreshadows what’s to come without spoiling the mystery. These thoughtful touches to reward attentive viewers add a level of playfulness that the show occasionally lacks elsewhere.

Despite some uneven moments, The Residence remains highly watchable and hugely binge-able. I’m not sure how many people want to think about Washington, D.C., at this moment, but the White House setting provides a fresh backdrop for a murder mystery, and thankfully, the series strikes a refreshingly apolitical tone. Though Senate-based scenes offer gentle nods to recognizable political figures (and former Senator Al Franken plays a version of himself), the focus remains squarely on the mystery rather than making partisan commentary.

For viewers awaiting Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third film featuring Daniel Craig’s smooth private detective later this year, The Residence offers a satisfying bridge. I’ve already heard that Netflix is so confident in the show that they are already eyeing a second season, and frankly, the show’s format makes it an easy sell. Like the best detectives in literature and movies, Cordelia Cupp can be dropped into just about any high-profile setting with murder and make it work. If they iron out the structural kinks and let Aduba lean further into her offbeat strengths, the next case could be even spikier.