Episode six of The Residence is another hilarious entry. A development in the case shifts the congressional hearing into high gear as audiences are finally acquainted with Detective Cupp in the present timeline.
Senator Margery Bay Bix’s question is answered for audiences within the first 10 minutes. Cordelia has escaped the White House, the case, and the country for a solitary birding venture in a jungle. She was forced to cut her investigation short after failing to make an arrest or name a definite suspect. While pressure from all the President’s men, including Agent Park, didn’t help her cause for an extension, Cordelia ultimately called it off to protect her mentor and confidante, Chief Larry Dokes. If the Metro Police Department were forced to take over the investigation, it would mean his early retirement.
Despite her resignation, Cupp made tremendous progress in the case. Blood found in the Lincoln Bedroom made clear Wynter had been moved. The discovery of a secret staff stairway between the second and third floors alludes to how someone could have secretly committed the crime without being detected. In addition to this revelation, there was an alleged call to remove all personnel from the second floor that evening, meaning no one was monitoring the floor’s activities. Cupp learns this call was placed at 9:22 p.m., moments before the crash outside and around the time the family dog, Shirley, was heard barking at 9:30 p.m.
The biggest reveal was the knowledge of a third uninvited guest. After being seen by multiple witnesses, Cordelia believes this man has key information about the crime. But no one knows his name or what’s become of him. Without him present, Harry Hollinger coerces Senator Filkins to end the hearings with the summation that Wynter died by suicide. However, Senator Bix refuses this outcome and stages a press conference for the “third man” to come forward and testify. Miraculously to Hollinger’s dismay, the unknown gentleman agrees to testify in exchange for immunity.
After all the pomp and circumstance, the man is revealed to be hearing aide salesman Patrick Doumbe. He testifies he mistakenly entered the State Dinner after being confused as part of the Australian diplomats’ entourage. He describes thoroughly enjoying himself until his search for the bathroom accidentally found him on the second floor. And then left undetected through the front of the White House.
Cordelia miles away from the country, has an epiphany watching this detail on a ViaSat tablet Agent Park sent her. She calls Agent Park to text message specific questions for Senator Filkins to ask Doumbe. Doumbe didn’t exit the White House’s front door because a witness already verified there was no activity on the front of the building that night. After a prolonged silence, Doumbe confesses he exited through an east basement door after seeing someone dragging A.B. Wynter’s body out of the Yellow Oval Room.
Directed by Jaffar Mahmood and written by creator Paul William Davies, episode six is a thrilling edition that builds suspense and a bait-and-switch with the Doumbe character. Timothy Hornor is incredible as “The Third Man,” a forgettable person whose mere presence that night was pivotal to the case. The writing continues to be great with boisterous comedy, specifically the callbacks or running jokes; the calligrapher being terrible at his job; and Agent Park speaking out of turn.
This episode also delivers some poignant dramatic scenes focusing on the relationships between characters and the ecosystems of D.C. Cupp’s relationship with Dokes highlights his importance to her, as she doesn’t care too much about any other man. Also, we see how the upstairs/downstairs bureaucracy extends outside the White House and into the greater D.C. personnel hierarchy. Dokes is the lowest rung on the massive departmental totem pole, meaning Cupp is viewed even lower despite her expert skills. We witness this friction as Hollinger and the other male personnel disregard her theories, question her tactics, and undermine her authority, using Park to usurp her investigation. This speaks volumes about the patriarchal rule of the land, especially in arenas historically dominated by men: law and order.
Rating: 9/10