By Ellie Thompkins, Second Year English and Philosophy
This gripping Netflix series created by Paul William Davies, and loosely inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s nonfiction book of the same name, captures the chaos that erupts when Chief Usher A. B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) is found dead during an Australian state dinner at the White House. What ensues is the perfect combination of chaotic drama, political commentary, and whimsy.
The first episode immediately introduces Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) as the best detective in the world and thus the only person capable of demystifying the circumstances of A. B.’s death. Her perceptive, unconventional style causes everyone she encounters to appear uneasy and suspicious; the detective’s intense stare comically prompts confessions without a word being spoken. We are compelled to follow Cupp’s train of thought throughout the series of interviews that she conducts with various White House staff and guests (including Kylie Minogue!) Her strange methods are constantly questioned and teased, particularly by FBI agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) assigned to assist her, but she explains that her eccentricities are what make her the best detective in the world. A particularly whimsical detail of Cordelia’s characterisation is her love of birdwatching; she regularly breaks away from the chaos to spy birds with her trusty binoculars, and her impeccable attention-to-detail is a trait that she proudly shares with birds.
As Cupp’s interviews progress, suspicion shifts from the chefs (Mary Wiseman and Bronson Pinchot) to butler Sheila (Edwina Findley) to advisor Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino) and a potential ‘third man’ (Timothy Hornor). Everyone is a suspect in the closed environment of the White House, which Cupp herself points out is similar to the case in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. There are also playful allusions to modern whodunnits, with one character name-dropping Benoit Blanc (the peculiar lead detective in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out). These fleeting references draw us into the world of the series and highlight the adoption of classic murder mystery tropes without unoriginality.
Alongside the development of Cupp’s suspicions, perspective shifts to months after the Australian state dinner when a public congressional meeting takes place to investigate the full circumstances of A. B.’s death. Flitting between these time frames furthers our apprehension about the development of Cupp’s work as A. B. Wynter’s death was originally ruled a suicide, casting doubt over whether justice will be served at all. The laziness of this initial resolution creates a veiled criticism of corrupt American civic institutions. This is reinforced when Chairman Aaron Filkins (Al Franken) shamelessly attempts to strike a deal with Senator Margery Bay Bix (Eliza Coupe) – a particularly vocal senator representing Colorado – to stop her dramatic interjections and ultimately shut down the hearing quietly. This draws a clear parallel with the real-world American political system and therefore demonstrates a witty attack of corrupt institutions that blatantly obstruct justice.
In the penultimate episode, we are introduced to housekeeper Elsyie Chayle (Julieth Restrepo) who is described by staff members as the perfect worker and friend. Her flustered reaction upon bumping into Hugh Jackman during the state dinner makes her instantly relatable and endearing. As the episode unfolds, detective Cupp becomes aware of the touching love affair that has blossomed between Elsyie and engineer Bruce. However, this tender storyline is cut short when their roles in the events of A. B.’s death suddenly make them prime suspects in Cupp’s investigation. They each believe the other to be the murderer and silently agree to protect one another until this episode. But the information that they provide turns out to be a red herring...
In true murder mystery style, we are left waiting for the grand reveal of ‘whodunnit’ until the last moments of the final episode. Having elaborately explained the method and weapon used to kill A. B., Cordelia Cupp dramatically exposes Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs) – the White House social secretary – as the murderer. Despite Lilly’s impressive performance during her last-ditch attempt to frame Elsyie and Bruce, she ultimately cannot escape Cupp’s intense scrutiny. Cupp explains that Lilly was motivated by a deep-seated hatred for the White House and all that it represents, and by A. B.’s threat to expose her misappropriation of White House funding. Lilly does not appear to feel any remorse; she seems more distressed at having been caught as she is escorted out of the yellow room.
Before watching The Residence, I was apprehensive that it would be a tacky imitation of the tropes of other popular murder mysteries. Although there are nods to other whodunnits, the combination of a political backdrop, quirky lead detective, constant cliffhangers, and an appearance from Kylie Minogue creates a uniquely captivating murder mystery series. If Cordelia Cupp returns to our screens, I will be watching eagerly – binoculars at the ready – to see how her razor-sharp, bird-like instincts enable her to tackle the next mystery.
What did you think of The Residence?
