Quirky and funny, "The Residence" is lighthearted fun

The Real Perspectives

March 20, 2025

Netflix

Who doesn't love a great murder mystery with over 132 rooms and more than 150 murder suspects? "The Residence" is the latest quirky series from Shonda Rimes' Shondaland, which premiered on Netflix on March 20 with eight episodes. The series, inspired by Kate Andersen Brower's book "The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House," follows a brilliant, eccentric detective, Cordelia Cupp, who must solve a murder at the most famous address in the world, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, during a state dinner honoring the prime minister of Australia where everyone's a suspect including hundreds of staff and guests at The White House.

Starring the hugely underrated and fantastic Uzo Aduba as Cupp, best known for "Orange is the New Black," The Residence" boasts an impressive ensemble cast with stars that include Giancarlo Esposito (Parish) as A. B. Wynter and Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat) for the latest whodunit. The series is created by Paul William Davies (Scandal and For the People) and produced by Betsy Beers.

The series stars:

• Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp

• Giancarlo Esposito as A. B. Wynter

• Susan Kelechi Watson as Jasmine Haney

• Jason Lee as Tripp Morgan

• Ken Marino as Harry Hollinger

• Edwina Findley as Sheila Cannon

• Randall Park as Edwin Park

• Molly Griggs as Lilly Schumacher

• Al Mitchell as Rollie Bridgewater

• Dan Perrault as Colin Trask

• Spencer Garrett as Wally Glick

• Bronson Pinchot as Didier Gotthard

• Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Larry Dokes

• Mary Wiseman as Marvella

• Matt Oberg as Nick Simms

• Taran Killam as St. Pierre

• Alexandra Siegel as Valentina Motta

• Ryan Farrell as Lorenzo Motta

• Barrett Foa as Elliot Morgan

• Al Franken as Aaron Filkins

• Julian McMahon as Stephen Roos

• Kylie Minogue as herself

• Jane Curtin as Nan Cox

• James Babson as Daryl Armogeda

• Eliza Coupe as Margery Bay Bix

• Izzy Diaz as Eddie Gomez

• Paul Fitzgerald as Perry Morgan, the

• Roslyn Gentle as Rachel Middlekauff

• Chris Grace as Duane Ladage

• Juliette Jeffers as Angie Huggins

• Sumalee Montano as Dana Hammond

• Brett Tucker as David Rylance

• Nathan Lovejoy as Alden Tamridge

• Julieth Restrepo as Elsyie Chayle

• Mel Rodriguez as Bruce Geller

• Rebecca Field as Emily Mackil

Netflix

In the highly entertaining series, the series takes place mostly on the night of the murder in which chief White House usher A.B. Wynter is found dead. When a suicide note is found, the presidential advisor is eager to wrap the case to avoid international scandal, but when D.C. Metro Police Chief Larry Dokes calls in his consulting detective, Cordelia Cupp, to run the investigation, it's up to Cupp to solve the real mystery.

With a plethora of suspects, anyone could be the killer where betrayals, greed, and personal ambition are at stake in this zany comedy similar to "Knives Out" starring Daniel Craig. Cupp, accompanied by her partner Edwin Park, is tasked to investigate the mystery with plenty of flashbacks featuring what actually happened and versions of events witnesses thought happened while also flash forwarding to several months with newly instated Chief Usher, Jasmine Haney, who has been called to testify about the night of Wynter's death for the Congressional committee.

The series is a wild rollercoaster and "The Residence" plays to the beats of zany eccentrics with Aduba leading the way, whose charming performance makes the series worth watching.

---

All 8 episodes of The Residence are available on Netflix.

---