I truly believe a star has been born in the Netflix TV-MA rated series “The Residence” starring Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp a consultant with the Metropolitan Police Department. Yes, she’s that remarkable and steals every scene she’s in. To some up her demeaner, she’s highly intuitive, brilliant and unconventional. Yes, a perfect combination for an engaging detective character.
“The Residence” is based on the book written by Kate Anderson Brower “The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House.“ Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp and co-star Randal Park as an FBI Special Agent try to solve the death of the Chief butler, (Giancarlo Esposito) who dies during a state White House dinner. The entertainment for the evening is provided by Kylie Minogue the ‘Pop Princess‘ of Australia as she plays herself.
Yes, it’s the United States White House which actually has enough screen-time to be a ‘character‘ in this who-dunnit, comedy-drama 8 Episode series. The engaging cast of suspects and characters, such as Susan Kelechi Watson, Lilly Schumacher, and Ken Marino, are also co-stars. I enjoyed this Clue-themed series located in the White House, as we acquire a bird’s eye view of the 132 rooms and the complicated staff that it takes to manage the ultra-mansion. The mixture of humor is excellent, as the lightheartedness of the show rings loud and clear. Cordelia Cupp is an intelligent and very intuitive character who is, oh, so much fun to watch.
The Residence can be described as a whacky Clue-like mystery, or Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out“ set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion. Fans of “Only Murders in the Building,“ will be instantly captivated by the murder mystery and fascinated with the characters, all starting with the quirky Cordelia Cupp. The whole series plays like Agatha Christie mixed with White Lotus humor. It’s satire at its best, with unique characters, each with their own quirks and secrets, that offer a little something for everyone.
Sarah Knight Adamson© April 25, 2025