From the Start, the Mystery Was Set in Stone
Netflix's latest White House murder mystery, The Residence, has been keeping viewers guessing until the very last episode. But guess what? Creator Paul William Davies had it all figured out from the beginning. That’s right, folks. Paul knew exactly who the killer was, how it happened, and how it would all unfold before he even started writing the first episode.
When asked about the process, Paul told Netflix ahead of the show’s premiere on March 20, “I did know [who the killer was] from the start. I knew everything—how it happened, who did it, and how it would all unfold. But I left myself room to explore the characters more deeply and discover their voices along the way. There were definitely some surprises for me while writing it. I made a few tweaks here and there, but nothing too major. The plot was so precise, and it was crucial for me to make sure everything made sense.”
A Balance Between Mystery and Comedy
Now, here’s the thing: while the series focuses on the murder of one of the White House employees (RIP A.B. Wynter), it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Instead, it leans into a comedic vibe that keeps things light and entertaining. It’s like a mix of drama, humor, and a touch of romance.
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Paul explained, “It’s funny, it’s suspenseful, it’s clever, and it’s totally farcical in places. At the same time, it’s genuinely emotional and romantic in others. The things I love the most are the ones that do more than one thing. If you know me, you know my favorite movie is Charade. It’s because it does so much and does it all so well. It’s funny, it’s romantic, and it has an incredibly tight, coherent plot. It’s genuinely suspenseful and witty. That’s exactly what I aimed for with The Residence.”
A Star-Studded Cast to Bring It All to Life
And who better to bring this quirky, suspenseful, and humorous story to life than a star-studded cast? Fans of Orange Is the New Black will be thrilled to see Uzo Aduba take the lead as Detective Cordelia Cupp. She’s joined by a lineup of familiar faces, including Giancarlo Esposito, Jane Curtin, Jason Lee, and even singer Kylie Minogue. It’s like a who’s who of talent in one room!
Netflix’s official description of The Residence sums it up perfectly: “132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective. One disastrous State Dinner. The Residence is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion.”
The Iconic Look of Detective Cordelia Cupp
With 157 suspects, Paul had his work cut out for him when it came to crafting the perfect detective to solve the case. The Scandal producer drew inspiration from some of the greatest detectives in history, like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, and Hercule Poirot. He wanted Cordelia to have an iconic look that would make her instantly recognizable.
“The great detectives—Holmes, Marple, Poirot—all have an iconic look. You can identify them immediately, and I really wanted that for Cordelia. To be instantly recognizable,” Paul said, referencing The Residence’s main protagonist, Cordelia.
Paul and costume designer Lyn Paolo played around with several looks before settling on the one that felt just right. “We felt passionately about it. It became indelible. And then we asked, ‘Does she wear this all the time? What are the rules here?’ And we decided, ‘OK, look, she doesn’t wear it all the time, when she’s birding and so forth.’ But we loved the idea that she had different versions of her superhero outfit, and that’s why we see it in different colors and patterns. But it’s always absolutely, unmistakably Cordelia.”
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