In the new limited series on Netflix, The Residence, there’s a moment when a character exclaims, “People enjoy a murder mystery! They find them entertaining!” and quickly concedes, “And it truly is fun.”
“Fun” is indeed the essence of this comedic thriller, crafted by Paul William Davies and produced by Shonda Rhimes. The show blends the narrative styles of Davies and Rhimes’ work on Scandal with classic murder mystery themes, drawing inspiration from works like Miss Marple and the Benoit Blanc/Knives Out trilogy. The Residence proudly displays its influences, with episodes titled after renowned film mysteries like The Third Man and Dial M for Murder. Our resourceful detective utilizes the iconic “I have one more question” line reminiscent of Columbo, and one suspect even brandishes a candlestick at a crucial moment.
At the center of the story is Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), a consulting detective who dresses in tweed and is passionate about birds. She notably states that she has “a reputation for solving unsolvable crimes.” The setting of the series is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. When the head usher of the White House, A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito), is found dead during a state dinner with Australian leaders, the D.C. police chief (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) reluctantly calls in Cupp, despite the strong objections from presidential advisor Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino), who wishes to keep the murder investigation away from the president (Paul Fitzgerald).
The stakes are high, with a host of suspects each having various motives and levels of power. Among them are Hollinger, the moody pastry chef Didier Gotthard (Bronson Pinchot), the president’s troublesome brother Tripp (Jason Lee), and Wynter’s previous assistant Jasmine Haney (Susan Kelechi Watson). Notably, Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue appears as herself, while there’s a recurring joke about another famous Australian guest who is always positioned away from the camera. Furthermore, former comedian turned senator Al Franken plays himself, involved in a later hearing alongside a political adversary (Eliza Coupe) attempting to unravel the events from that chaotic night.
The series creatively employs a framing device to play with time, showcasing Cupp and Edwin Park (Randall Park), a reluctant FBI agent who assists as Watson to Cupp’s Sherlock. Witness interviews unfold sporadically throughout the night, sometimes making it challenging to track the sequence of events. However, the captivating performances—particularly Aduba’s deadpan delivery along with the comedic flair from actors like Marino and Jane Curtin (as the president’s irritable mother-in-law)—keep the narrative engaging. The inclusion of genuine emotional moments, mainly from Esposito (who is frequently featured in flashbacks), adds depth to the series without overshadowing its light-heartedness.
While the plot might occasionally become complex, the finale delivers a gratifying resolution, effectively tying together the culprits and their motivations with the overarching themes regarding the various, often conflicting, reasons individuals choose to work in such a prestigious environment. Though the show includes timely humor reflecting current socio-political issues, The Residence presents a somewhat fantastical take on life at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., depicting a fictional president married to a man (Barrett Foa), and revealing instances wherein characters genuinely care about issues beyond their own self-interests. It ultimately mirrors the very essence of a delightful murder mystery—entertaining and quite welcome in today’s climate.
All eight episodes of The Residence are streaming now on Netflix. I’ve watched the complete series.
