Entertainment
‘Only Murders in the Building’ Meets ‘West Wing’ in Netflix’s 8-Episode Mystery Miniseries
Comedic murder mystery series seem like an odd concept at first, but the niche genre is gaining ground. From Only Murders in the Building to The Afterparty, each series has its own twist, including the often-forgotten Netflix series, The Residence. The 2025 series combines Only Murders in the Building‘s quirky characters and humorous mystery with The West Wing‘s focus on daily life in the White House. But instead of exploring the President’s senior staff, The Residence offers an upstairs-downstairs twist with a behind-the-scenes look at the White House from the kitchens to the basement.
The series isn’t especially long, with only one season, and after its swift cancellation, there won’t be another installment. However, in just eight episodes, it slowly unravels a mysterious death that no ordinary detective could solve. With unique characters and constant surprises, The Residence does not disappoint. This hilarious, unpredictable Netflix series is the perfect binge-watch for all fans of murder mysteries.
‘The Residence’ Explores a Shocking Mystery
The Residence centers on the death of White House Chief Usher A. B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito), which occurs during a state dinner honoring the Australian Prime Minister. However, the series splits its time between the investigation and the following congressional hearing held to address the incident. When the long-serving staff member is found dead, all evidence points to a suicide, and the President’s Chief Advisor, Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino), is eager to have the detectives declare that to be the case and move on, but not everyone is as confident. This is when eccentric consulting detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) gets involved. Throughout the investigation, Detective Cupp doesn’t follow the expected method, but she is effective.
Dragging the reluctant FBI Special Agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) behind her, Cupp has Wynter’s second-in-command, Jasmine (Susan Kelechi Watson), guide her around the White House. Cupp quickly realizes there is much more to the story, declaring that Wynter’s body has been moved and that he wears a bloody shirt that isn’t his own. These oddities push her investigation forward and cast doubt on the initial theory. Cupp uncovers several strange events happening that night as she questions everyone who interacted with Wynter, from the President’s family to the pastry chef. Slowly, Cupp pieces together the complicated truth, but the investigation is routinely interrupted by flash-forwards to the congressional hearing, where the characters are as invested in the story as the audience. The mystery includes shocking twists that will keep the audience guessing until the very end.
The Characters Set ‘The Residence’ Apart
While The Residence‘s mystery is its defining feature, the series works because of its characters. Cupp collects over 100 suspects from those present that night, but only a few stand out. Ranging from a temperamental chef to the President’s screw-up brother, Cupp’s list creates a quirky group to focus on, and that is what makes the series so hilarious. Despite the gravity of the situation, these characters constantly make the audience laugh with their antics and confessions. Yet, the suspects also amplify the mystery, adding ambiguity to the series. With reasons like Harry’s desperation to wrap up the investigation, Jasmine’s interest in Wynter’s position, or Sheila Cannon’s (Edwina Findley) drunken expectation that Wynter will fire her, each seems more guilty than the last, making the mystery difficult to solve.
Each character adds to the comedy with their desperation to cover up unrelated secrets and overdramatic reactions, but none compare to Cordelia Cupp herself. Though a renowned detective, Cupp rarely explains herself, and as she sees things others miss, her moves often confuse those around her and those in the hearing. In addition to her investigative skill, Cupp’s passion for birdwatching makes her a unique hero for the series. Ultimately, The Residence isn’t long, only releasing one season before Netflix cancelled the show, but it does wrap up the mystery of Wynter’s death. While it is disappointing that fans will not see more of Cupp’s cases, this ending turns the shocking mystery into a perfect binge-watch.
The Residence is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Writers
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Paul William Davies
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