Any show that has the Shondaland stamp gets viewers excited. Over the years, Shonda Rhimes has proven her Midas touch with “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Private Practice”, “The Fixer”, “Station 19”, "How to Get Away with Murder", and, of course, “Bridgerton”, among other offerings.
She significantly boosted the careers of strong female leads like Kerry Washington and Viola Davis. Honestly, she truly has a knack for casting actors against type and showcasing them in unexpected roles.
We’ve seen this play out with Mireille Enos in “The Catch”, and now with Uzo Aduba (real name Uzoamaka Nwanneka "Uzo" Aduba) in the mystery comedy drama, “The Residence”.
In the latter eight-part offering, which is based on Kate Andersen Brower’s novel “The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House”, Aduba is cast as Cordelia Cupp, a consultant with the Metropolitan Police Department.
An eccentric detective with a rustic wardrobe due to her being an avid birder, Cordelia is brought to the White House by Larry Dokes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), the Chief of Police at the MPD, when the body of chief usher A. B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) is found.
With high-profile guests mingling at dinner to honour Stephen Roos (Julian McMahon), the Prime Minister of Australia, Cordelia goes through the crime scene, lists suspects and the building itself with a fine tooth comb.
Meanwhile, Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino), the president’s chief advisor, pushes for a quick solution based on an alleged suicide note.
Also, he doesn’t want to have an international incident on his watch.
However, Cordelia, who is partnered with a vexed FBI Special Agent Edwin Park (Randall Park), isn’t fooled by the evidence and the varied accounts from the possible suspects.
Her investigation leads to a long list of disgruntled suspects, from Marvella (Mary Wiseman), the quick-tempered executive chef; Didier Gotthard (Bronson Pinchot), the competitive executive pastry chef; Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs), the President's snobbish social secretary; Jasmine Haney (Susan Kelechi Watson), the assistant usher; the President’s rabble-rouser brother Tripp Morgan (Jason Lee), engineer Bruce Geller (Mel Rodriguez); housekeeper Elsyie Chayle (Julieth Restrepo), head butler Rollie Bridgewater (Al Mitchell ), and butler Sheila Cannon (Edwina Findley).
Cordelia's keen observations unravel the night's events, including an unexpected tryst between two parties, a long-standing feud between the executive chef and pastry chef (both of whom resented Wynter's insistence on tradition), and Tripp's bitterness over not being invited to the soiree.
The investigation intensifies the existing tensions among the high-ranking guests, as each tries to exert their influence to get the case closed.
While Cordelia goes through the usual suspects, she also notices one or two that attempt to fly under the radar.
Each episode is skillfully helmed by a different director, introducing a red herring that adds to the suspense and intrigue of the overarching narrative.
Aduba, who will forever be remembered as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren in “Orange in the New Black”, is a marvel to watch.
Her sleuthing style harks back to iconic TV and film detectives like Adrian Monk (“Monk”), Benoit Blanc (“Knives Are Out”), Hercule Poirot (“Murder on the Orient Express”) and Jessica Fletcher (“Murder, She Wrote”).
Quick-witted and observant, she exudes a serene, Buddha-like calmness.
The ensemble cast, featuring Kylie Minogue as herself and Jane Curtin as Nan Cox, the alcoholic, homophobic mother-in-law of the President of the United States, deliver nuanced performances.
"The Residence" is a must-see for fans of captivating whodunits.
Rating: 4/5 - a standout series with exceptional qualities.
Below are recommendations for similar series:
The Flight Attendant
Helmed by Kaley Cuoco as Cassandra Bowden, an alcoholic flight attendant with a penchant for finding trouble. In season one, she finds herself waking up next to a dead man in Bangkok and is forced to uncover the real murderer.
In the second installment, showing on Showmax, she is recruited as an agent by the CIA. However, an assignment goes pear-shaped in Berlin when a target is assassinated, which sends her down another dangerous rabbit hole.
A Murder at the End of the World
In this Disney+ series, Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), a Gen Z amateur sleuth and tech-savvy hacker, finds herself invited with eight other guests by a reclusive billionaire.
However, when one of the other guests (a friend of Darby’s) dies under mysterious circumstances, she is forced to use her skills to unmask the killer before they strike again.