Comedy brings relief to murder mysteries like ‘The Residence’

By Danielle Cherry 

Every good murder mystery needs a location, and what better location than the White House? “The Residence” is filled with murder weapons, rooms and suspects galore. But what do you do when an already packed house is even more packed because of an Australian state dinner? The only rational option is to find the best detective in the country; no, not Sherlock Holmes, but Ms. Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba).

Cupp is a professional birdwatcher who does detective work on the side. Her demeanor is quirky, her remarks making the people around her uneasy. Brilliant by all accounts, Cupp is thrown headfirst into the murder of the Chief Usher: A.B. Wynter.

Logically, Cupp shuts down the whole White House, stopping thousands of people from leaving so that each person can be meticulously questioned. This fills the show with interview upon interview.  

The first episode sets the standard for the show’s pace, working through suspects and murder weapons of every size and shape. The audience gets to walk through each moment of Cupp’s discoveries, having their own chance to piece together the story. 

The cast of characters makes the show relatable and hysterical. Every single guest is lovable in a strange way, making it hard to pick one from the lineup who is capable of murder. Each character comes with their flaws and mistakes, being able to reach a diverse audience who can see themselves in various aspects of the characters.

The show is a unique blend of comedy and mystery. The characters themselves are larger than life, making snide comments about the investigation that is taking place. Some people felt too fake, but more often than not, I found myself sympathizing with whoever was being stared down by Cupp. 

The story grapples with a us-versus-them mentality, playing into the inner workings of staffing in the White House. Each of the suspects comes with their view of their coworkers as they sell stories of scandal and shame to save their own skins. 

Cupp observes what people’s tendencies are when their jobs are on the line, seeing past the dramatic retellings of other coworkers’ flaws, instead seeing the facts as they are. 

Of all the characters, Cupp is the coldest, since she had little relation with the other characters. Because of this, it was hard to care about her as she was unfeeling towards those around her. 

“The Residence” diverges from a linear storyline, instead piecing together moments the way that Cupp discovers them. Previous scenes are replayed in new contexts, even if they are just snippets. This reminds the viewer of what has already happened and its significance in a new discovery. 

Writing about 11 different suspects, keeping their stories straight, and lining them all up to make sense in one cohesive murder is exceptionally hard. Each episode is expertly crafted to tell the story of the murder in just a 24-hour time span. The genius of the whole show is that nothing is left undone. I expected a couple of plot holes, especially from a Netflix show, but everything is neat and tidy. 

What really sets this show apart from other murder mysteries is how unserious it is. We are dealing with murder, but the stance of the characters, including those closest to A.B. Wynter, is dismal over the inconvenience of it all. 

I found myself laughing at unexpected comments and quips from side characters. Cupp sticks out like a sore thumb, both in appearance, stance and humor. Everyone around her is in agreement in their dislike of her, creating funny side conversations and awkward moments. 

Along with humor, the show uses a variety of filming techniques to make the investigation more understandable. Visual effects like a split screen show everything that happened to Wynter, while dramatic aerial shots piece together scenes that unfold like a puzzle. Jaw-dropping, high-end blockbuster movie-level filming is used in “The Residence,” sliding easily into a high-value production. 

“The Residence” is a must-watch for fans of murder mysteries. It feels like a real-life Clue game, just on a much bigger scale and on television. Although jokes are geared towards more of a mature audience, everything about this show is comedic. I can not shut up about this show, so someone else needs to watch it to see its intelligently crafted genius. Maybe that person could be you. 

“The Residence” is currently available on Netflix. 

Danielle Cherry is a freshman Communications major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves a good cup of coffee.

Images courtesy of Netflix