The Residence Review
Director: Jaffar Mahmood and Liza Johnson
Date Created: 2025-03-20 15:08
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The Residence Review: The Netflix American murder mystery series is created by Paul William Davies and directed by Jaffar Mahmood and Liza Johnson. It consists of 8 episodes with an impressive ensemble cast, led by Uzo Aduba playing the eccentric but sharp detective leading the case, Cordelia Cupp. The series also stars Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, Al Franken, Julian McMahon, Edwina Findley, and others.
Rather than being centred on the President, the show introduces the behind-the-scenes White House staff, who suddenly find themselves caught up in a murder investigation. But when the chief usher turns up dead on the night of a major state dinner, Detective Cupp gets involved. What ensues is a mix of mystery, comedy and a whole lot of talking.
The Residence Review
To be honest, I was torn about Netflix’s The Residence. Not only do I love a good whodunit, but the premise of a murder mystery inside the White House sounded exciting. But although there are some very strong moments in the new show, there are also some parts that are frustrating enough to make it less enjoyable than I quite expected.
So let’s begin with the good stuff. The mystery itself is compelling. The show has you guessing about who the killer is, and there are enough twists to keep you curious. The setting was unique — I liked that instead of focusing on politicians this story focused on the people who actually run the White House behind the scenes. I enjoyed that the show toggled between previous events and a courtroom setting, making the tale feel more textured.
But here’s the thing: The show has way too many characters. I know, it was genuinely difficult to know who was who. Some of them had potential, but the show is never a deep dive. Most of them are just there to fill out the space and don’t really make any impression.
If there is one reason to watch the show, it is Uzo Aduba as Detective Cordelia Cupp. She is bizarre, clever and funny, and she steals the entire show. She is kind of reminiscent of original detective figures like Sherlock Holmes, but has a strong personality of her own. She’s obsessed with birds, she doesn’t care what other people think and she has this calm but confident approach to the handling of the case.
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Uzo Aduba’s exchanges with Randall Park’s character (an FBI agent) were a joy to watch. They had a nice dynamic — he’s more sober, and she’s a bit weird but always ahead. Scenes between the two of them were among the best on the show.
But outside of those two, the rest of the characters were forgettable. Some say too much, some feel like they aren’t needed, and others are just there to confuse you about the mystery. I think it could have been so much better if the cast had been pared down, and there was more focus.
And now we have to discuss the pacing. This show loves talking. A LOT. And not in an enjoyable, breakneck way like Knives Out or Only Murders in the Building. Here, some of the dialogues run on for longer than they need to. I occasionally felt like yelling, “Get to the point already!”
The mystery is meant to be the draw, but every so often the show gets bogged down in unneeded minutiae. There are jokes and side angles that don’t advance the plot much. With patience, you may find enjoyment in it. But if fast-moving thrillers are your thing, this one could try your patience.
One thing that I found very disturbing was the aesthetic of the show. The colouring is strange — it has this greenish-grey tinge that makes everything feel desaturated. Public reaction to this practice: “I don’t understand why Netflix does this with so many shows.” For a series that has a story set inside the White House, you’d think it would look rich, grand and stylish. Instead, it seems drab and flat, and that is a loss of some of the fun.
The most important question is, was the mystery strong enough to keep you engaged? Well, kind of. The show is successful in keeping you on your toes, and there are some good twists throughout. But at no point did I get emotionally invested in the victim. Typically, in a murder mystery, you care about either who has died or the detective solving the case. Here, although Cordelia Cupp is fascinating, the murder itself doesn’t seem all that harrowing. It’s nice to have, but not exactly world-altering.
The show also attempts to weave in a social message — discussing the disparity between the powerful inside the White House and the staffers who really get things done. That’s a nice thought, but it doesn’t feel especially profound. The show references it but doesn’t do much with it.
Summing Up
The Residence series is not terrible, but it could have been so much more fun. It was good for me but not great or something out of the box that I was expecting. Uzo Aduba is great, the mystery is fun but the show is a bit cluttered and drags at times. If they had gotten rid of half the characters and tightened the story, this could have been so much better. Overall, it’s still a good watch if you are a fan of offbeat crime mystery.
2025 The Residence is now streaming on Netflix.
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