The Residence (2025) review—A murder mystery with a side of sass

What do you get when you combine an extravagant state dinner, just a boatload of elite drama, and one dead chief usher? Enter The Residence—Netflix’s newest murder mystery extravaganza, which is just the right amount of intrigue, chaos, and sass.

Brought to us by the drama connoisseurs at Shondaland, The Residence sets its mystery in the most famous house in America. With 132 rooms, 157 suspects, and one delightfully kooky detective (played by the wonderful Uzo Aduba), the series takes the whodunit formula and gives it a juicy, scandalous twist.

The Plot: Dinner party with deadly consequences

Imagine: A glamorous state dinner is going on. The chandeliers are sparkling, the wine is pouring, and the White House staff is ensuring all runs like a well-oiled political machine. But then—bam! A.B. Wynter, the White House chief usher, is dead. All of a sudden, the cutlery is not the only thing sharp in the room.

Enter Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), a woman with a keen intellect, a sharper wit, and a talent for puncturing alibis. With a guest list of politicians, celebrities, and the ever-suspecting White House staff, Cupp’s got some work ahead of her. Everyone’s got a secret. Everyone’s got a motive. And Cupp? She’s just about to mix it all up like she’s hosting her own cooking show.

Episode Titles: A Love Letter to Mystery Nerds

One of the things that makes The Residence more interesting is their episode titles. Each one is named after a legendary mystery film or novel, so aficionados of the genre will enjoy a little Easter egg hunt of their own for varieties of films.

"The Fall of the House of Usher" – Edgar Allan Poe's reference A gothic style? Yes, yes, and yes.
"Dial M for Murder" – This piece reminds me a lot of what Hitchcock would do.
"Knives Out" – Wealthy people that are out of touch and cruel to others sounds like a great vintage mystery.
"The Last of Sheila" – A plot that includes betrayal, mind games, and hidden agendas? Absolutely.
"The Trouble with Harry" – SPOILER alert: The trouble is that he’s dead.
"The Third Man" – Is there a better combination than noir infused by a spy story? We doubt that.
"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" – Get involved in the story with Sherlock Holmes.
"The Mystery of the Yellow Room" – Only one variation of the locked-room mystery is that it will continually be an exciting genre.

Actually, these titles also predict what’s going to happen in each episode. You can think of it like this: it’s a book club from the true crime genre, but without the reading.

Why Uzo Aduba is this show’s M.V.P.

Now, about Uzo Aduba, because damn, does she own this role. Detective Cordelia Cupp is a whirlwind of eccentric charm, sharp observations, and a knack for slicing through nonsense like a hot knife through butter. Cupp is not your everyday brooding detective—she’s here to solve murders and pepper it with some snark.

Every great mystery requires a lead detective that makes you want to reach for the popcorn, and Aduba is it. She’s quirky but never caricatural, smart but never smug, and the sort of detective you’d actually want on your side—assuming you’re not the killer.

Aesthetics & vibes: Haunted White House

The Residence is a visual treat. The White House looks as grand as ever—crystal chandeliers, gold-trimmed everything, and plate settings that would make those plates from IKEA look very sad. But the cinematography doesn’t only luxuriate in the luxuries—it also heightens the spooky, even claustrophobic aspects of living in a house with history (and now a murder) in the walls.

Dimly lit corridors? Check. Dramatic looks over the dinner table? Oh, absolutely. It’s all very Clue, except with a budget (hooray) and killer costumes (double hooray).

Bottom line: An addictive murder mystery

I'd definitely give this a 9/10 ⭐ for the absolutely insane performances.

If Knives Out, Only Murders in the Building, and Scandal had a love child, it’d be The Residence. It’s got intrigue, it’s got dark humor, and it’s got enough twists to make a pretzel envious. And with Uzo Aduba at the helm, a fantastic supporting cast, and a mystery that doesn’t stop giving, this is the kind of show that makes you say, “Just one more episode” until you look up and it’s suddenly 3 A.M.