Netflix’s latest series, The Residence, embraces the recent revival of the TV whodunit with a colorful cast, comical chops, and a dutiful, yet peculiar, detective. Produced by Shonda Rhimes and created by Paul William Davies, the eight-episode limited series delights in the strength of its cast and quick, witty writing.
The episode’s cold opening centers on White House Executive Pastry Chef Didier Gotthard (Bronson Pinchot). Switzerland-trained, he served at St. Mortiz’s Badrutt’s Palace before various administrations at the White House. Cupp spotted him leaving the crowded foyer as Wynter’s body was being removed.
We track his steps hours before with an astounding revelation: he discovered Wynter’s body before Nan Cox. Seeing one of his knives as the murder weapon, he grabbed it, cleaned it in the kitchen, and attempted to hide it amongst the other knives. This moment coincided with Cupp and Park’s touring the rooms with Haney. Afraid of further suspicion, Gotthard placed the knife in a pastry box and tossed it in the incinerator.
Gotthard would have skated scott-free but for two things: Butler Shelia Cannon (Edwina Findley) relays the incinerator hasn’t worked for a year, something Gotthard would not have known as he does not frequent the basement. And Gotthard’s chef smock had a blue stain on the back; chalk from the pool table that inadvertently smudged his uniform when he picked up the knife.
With this truth out in the open, Cupp learns about the White House’s two factions and a string of disagreements that placed Gotthard at odds with Wynter. Haney explains the residence staff is the White House, while the interchangeable administration and personnel are not. An us versus them mentality. This commonplace camaraderie made Gotthard and Wynter trusted allies. That changed 10 months prior when Wynter sided with the new administration’s perspective on the holiday decorations.
The coup, led by the social secretary and her influencer advisor St. Pierre (Taran Killam), elected a new wellness activation over Gotthard’s traditional display of a gingerbread White House. It was the first sign that Gotthard’s traditional style was censured for modern alternatives. Perhaps as an omen, an electrician says two days before Christmas, a gingerbread figurine of A.B. with a knife in his back was found in the abandoned display. Gotthard, despite his anger over more recent decisions, swears he had nothing to do with the murder.
While he remains a person of interest, Cupp interviews the House Gardner Emily Mackil because the call to A.B.’s office came from her greenhouse. Cupp deduces someone unfamiliar with the greenhouse made the call, clearing the gardener of wrongdoing. Cupp finds a cigarette butt underneath a cedar tree, which links to previous clues: Rylance said he saw someone smoking that evening, and a leaf from the tree was found in the Game Room. The cigarette butt with a particular shade of lipstick leads to Butler Cannon, who admits she smokes Mammoths. Now that she knows the who, Cupp must figure out the why.
This episode aptly titled after the Daniel Craig murder mystery film is a slam dunk. With writing from Davies and Johnson directing, the series continues to shine keeping audiences laughing and the mystery intact. Enough cannot be said about this outstanding cast. Killam is perfect as the aloof influencer while Pinchot brings his signature comedy to flush out his character. And Findley is a surprising draw, stealing scenes effortlessly. Again, the writing is impeccable, especially keeping the timeline of everyone’s actions aligned. Something that stands out is the quiet moments Aduba’s Cupp shares with Whitlock Jr.’s Dokes. These quiet scenes add a nice touch of humanness to Cupp; a vulnerability she doesn’t display while working. It shows the two have a close, almost familial relationship.
Rating: 9/10
