Review: ‘The Residence’ Season 1, Episode 4 “The Last of Sheila”

Episode four of Netflix’s The Residence continues Cordelia Cupp’s investigation into who killed White House Chief Usher, A.B Wynter. “The Last of Sheila” focuses on Butler Sheila Cannon whose cigarette butt and cedar tree leaf planted her in the Game Room that night.

Before the episode dives into the comedic mystery ahead, we flashback to learn more about Cordelia. She’s birding with her nephew on vacation. The seamless scene shows the origin of Cordelia’s personality, methodology, and how her brain operates. When her nephew becomes impatient, Cordelia tells him how she found his mother’s lost strawberry sock when they were children. Here we learn Cupp’s obsessive, single-minded, and uncompromising tactics were born out of a promise she made her sister to find something dear to her. Later, her nephew comes to understand the meaning of Cordelia’s ways.

Back in the present day, Agent Park testifies at the congressional hearing. To this point, four people and A.B. Wynter were on Cupp’s interesting people list. And she was about to add one more: Shelia Cannon. They interviewed the butler to find out why she was on the 3rd floor and in the Game Room that evening. Sheila’s story changed multiple times, each with comedic effect. Ultimately, Cupp discovers Wynter removed Cannon from working the State Dinner because she was schmoozing with former First Lady Adkins, a big no-no for WH staff.  Nervous that Wynter would fire her, Shelia anxiously drank all the vodka she was set to deliver Nan in the Game Room. Her second attempt at the delivery was blocked by Haney the moment A.B.’s body was found.

Shelia sat with the former First Lady because seats remained empty through the evening. Social Secretary Lilly Schumacher and her muse, St. Pierre, were finalizing the seating chart as the evening went on, angering all the staff.

Later, Cupp receives notice that medial examiner Ann Dodge concluded her preliminary findings on Wynter’s cause of death. She hypothesized AB died of blunt-force trauma to the head at least 20 minutes before his body was found, which meant his body was moved to the Game Room. The slits on his wrist occurred after his death and the accidental poisoning. Next, Cupp discovers a room untouched in the North East corner. It had been blocked off due to renovations, but this was a lie.

Despite the fake signs of construction, Cupp follows the scent of fresh paint to the wall where she discovers a red substance, perhaps blood, hidden underneath the thin coat. Suddenly, Secret Service Director Tusk interrupts the scene to relay that someone from across the street wants to talk to Cupp.

This episode is another hilarious entry in the superbly written and acted series. While everyone holds their own, Edwina Findley’s performance as Shelia Cannon shines. She can easily maneuver being the funniest person in the room. After catching audiences with her mega-watt smile and personality, she evokes that strength into vulnerability and emotion. The chemistry between her, Udoza, and Park is electric in their scenes together. Learning more about Cupp outside of her profession was also a pleasant touch. Her having a family and people she cares for helped shape the viewers’ eye toward her character, establishing why she’s so good at what she does. Her obsessive focus on finding things is rooted in aiding those in grief; perhaps healing her own.

Rating: 9/10