I had the pleasure of watching “The Residence”, a Netflix series released in March 2025. It has a number of amazing characters in it, but the star is Uzo Aduba. I never watched “Orange is the New Black”, but she brings the star power. I want to talk about it, but I want you to enjoy it first. So Here’s a big SPOILER banner.
First off, let’s talk about the structure. It’s broken into two timelines. One is the present, which starts with a Senate hearing led by the amazing former Senator Al Franken. He goes back and forth with another senator as murder witnesses present testimony.
The second timeline is flashback. We get a look back to the night of the Australian State Dinner at the White House (thus the title “The Residence”).
The story also has small vignette flashbacks that provide mostly a comic punch. It’s a scene we’ve seen previously in the show, but they flashback briefly for levity or to emphasize a clue or a point.
The setting itself is very well done. It feels like you’re in the White House as you make your way though the public and private areas. Great art on the walls, luxurious furniture, and impressive decor set the stage for murder.
Uzo plays our main detective, Cordelia Cupp, the most famous detective in the world. She has a hobby that follows her to work though, bird-watching. And every good detective needs their Watson. In this case, it’s Randall Park playing FBI agent Edwin Park. Detective Cupp is operating 10 steps ahead of Park, much like Sherlock himself does. And she seems to have a similar social disconnect. She’s unfazed by being at the White House and uncaring as to how important the people around her are. She’s there for the murder.
Our victim is the amazing Giancarlo Esposito, playing A.B. Wynter. He’s the chief usher at the White House.
Most of the suspect pool comes from people that A.B. works with as part of his daily life. There’s a number of great call-outs here, but I want to specifically mention the crazed chef, played by the delightful Mary Wiseman.
We also have some delightful characters who aren’t part of the suspect pool. Most notably, Jane Curtain plays the president’s mother-in-law who cannot get enough vodka. Jason Lee plays the president’s brother, who is an embarrassment of a man given residence at the White House to keep him out of the public eye. Paul Fitzgerald plays the President, and Barrett Foa plays the First Gentleman. Yep, you heard that right – we got our first (out) gay president in the White House. It clearly must be the future.
The season has eight meaty episodes, with a break at the halfway point that shifts us from mostly flashbacks to the present day. There’s a brief interlude that deals with Senatorial politics and rivalries while Detective Cupp is taking a break in the Amazon hunting for an elusive bird, after being told to rule that there’s nothing suspicious about A.B.’s death, a fact she doesn’t believe. Due to the politics of the situation, the Powers-That-Be decide they must discover the truth, and Cupp is recalled to the investigation.
The grand reveal itself is rather interesting too. As the suspects are gathered to walk through the events of the night, Cordelia admits she doesn’t know who the killer is, but she will once the walkthrough is complete.
I won’t give away the finale, but it’s fantastic. You’re not sure who, exactly did it until the confession. And even then a bit more reveal is needed before the full picture emerges.
I don’t know where they will take this for a sequel, but I want one! Can they have another murder at the White House? Would the same suspect pool be used? It’s hard to say, but I’m willing to forgive almost any excuse they use so I can enjoy a second season of this delightful whodunit.