The Residence — Netflix review.

Netflix’s promo for the residence.

I have to first point out how stellar Uzo Aduba’s perfomance in the residence. She was fantastic in Orange is the new black as well .She carried the responsibility of being number one on the call sheet well and proved why she’s the lead. Portraying Cordelia Cupp and all her idiosyncrasies, while still showcasing her brilliance and intellect. This was amazing to see, seeing a black woman be the ‘Adrian Monk’ in a detective series felt so liberating. The references to other detective series — Benoit Blanc and co. was also a cool inside joke from the writers’ room.

That aside, let’s get into the pros and cons of the show.

• Pro no.1 - Cordelia Cupp’s ornithophilia, her being obsessed with birds and using bird analogies were pretty consistent with her character and showcased her neurodivergence which is in part what gives her a special gift of remembrance and observation.
• Pro no.2 — A black woman being the boss in a historic building, and holding everyone hostage as she investigates the murder of Mr. Wynter.
• Pro no.3 — The comedic feel of the writing. Having ‘Hugh Jackman’ be constantly referenced on the show was hilarious. So was the addition of certain actors who elevated the humour of such a sombre setting.
• Pro. no. 4 — The different trails left by different suspects and their relationship to the deceased & their overall dynamic made for interesting Tv.
• Con no. 1 — The show was too slow paced in some parts, with some parts coming across as just filler. Some episodes ran for far too long, it would have been far more concise to have six episodes instead of eight.
• Con no. 2 — The storylines were so interwoven and sometimes, plotlines heading nowhere were thrown out there to act as a smokescreen for the viewers. This made the murder plot seem stale and the build up too long for any shock value to be achieved.
• Con no.3 — The intermission taken, in between the investigation killed some of the momentum, i thought that Ms. Cordelia Cupp would solve the mystery before morning — being the world famous detective she is, which brings me to my final point.
• Con no. 4 — This should have been a movie. I can imagine a Cordelia Cupp franchise just as one exists for Benoit Blanc, in my view a whodunnit works better as a movie rather than a long winded series.

I really hope it’s picked up for a season two. For it’s first season, it was more good than bad and had a lot of things going for it. If they bolster the writing and see which other crimes fit well for Ms. Cordelia without being cliçhe, they shall be alright. Who says a show has to peak during its first season?