Randall Park as Edwin Park, Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp and Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Larry Dokes ‘The Residence’. Photo:
Jessica Brooks/Netflix © 2024
Netflix delivers crime and comedy in its latest whodunit series, The Residence.
Executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, the murder mystery was inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s non-fiction book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House. It follows detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), who is tasked with solving the murder of White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito).
The wry, funny and relentless Cupp reluctantly teams up with FBI special agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) to search for a killer in the White House, where 157 suspects are roaming 132 rooms on the night of an Australian state dinner at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
“I loved [Cordelia’s] quirky little behaviors,” Aduba told CBS Mornings of her character in The Residence, which premiered on March 20. “She comes to cases in a way we’ve never seen a detective come to a case before.”
She continued, “Just like Cordelia Cupp is the best detective in the world, Shonda Rhimes is one of our best in the television world. It was a real honor when that call came. I almost didn’t need to read the script, it was a ‘yes’ for me right away.”
So will there be a season 2 of The Residence? Here’s everything we know so far about potential new episodes of the murder mystery series.
Warning: The Residence spoilers ahead!
Group scene from ‘The Residence’ season 1, episode 2. Erin Simkin/Netflix© 2024
In the final episode of season 1 of The Residence, the mystery of who killed White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter is finally solved.
Detective Cordelia Cupp takes her remaining suspects on a tour of the White House, pointing out clues along the way. She eventually gathers them all in the Yellow Oval Room, where she reveals that the killer first tried to poison Wynter with paraquat — a deadly herbicide.
The killer mixed paraquat in Wynter’s drink, but after one sip, he became suspicious and dumped the remainder of his beverage into a vase of roses. This explains why Cupp discovered scorched and lifeless flowers.
According to Cupp, the murderer then tried to throw a vase at Wynter but missed. As a last resort, they grabbed a large clock from the fireplace mantel and used it to deliver a lethal blow to Wynter’s head. Afterward, the guilty party escaped through a hidden passageway that was later sealed with the murder weapon inside.
The witty detective eventually identifies the killer as White House social secretary Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs), whose motive was to cover up her unprofessional conduct.
On the night of his murder, Wynter and Lilly had an argument, where the White House chief threatened to tell everyone about the social secretary’s criminal activities — money she’d misappropriated and stolen, as well as laws and ethical codes she’d violated.
Lilly concluded that her only option was to kill Wynter and make it look like a suicide, using an entry from his journal.
Paul William Davies ; Andre Braugher. Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock ; Aurora Rose/Shutterstock
Andre Braugher was originally cast as White House Chief Usher A.B. Winter and filmed several episodes of The Residence before his unexpected death. Braugher died at 61 of lung cancer on Dec. 11, 2023.
His character was eventually recast, and Giancarlo Esposito stepped into the role.
“I like to think that Andre, as a real actor’s actor, would’ve appreciated what Giancarlo did in coming in and working with all of us in the way that he did,” series creator Paul William Davies told PEOPLE in March 2025.
Davies felt it only right to honor Braugher in the series finale credits with a note that read: “In memory of Andre Braugher.”
“He lived with us throughout the entire making of this. When he was here and when he was gone, we all thought about him constantly,” he explained. “His kind of spirit was throughout the whole show.”
Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Larry Dokes and Randall Park as Edwin Park in ‘The Residence’. Jessica Brooks/Netflix © 2024
As of now, Netflix has not renewed The Residence for season 2. However, creator Davies has considered what a second installment could look like.
“I love the relationship between Cordelia and Edwin. There are lots more stories to tell about her adventures and him with her,” he told Deadline.
Davies continued, “We’ll see how people feel about the show but I certainly would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought a lot about it, and didn’t have a lot of ideas about where it could go.”
Spencer Garrett as Wally Glick, Ken Marino as Harry Hollinger and Edwina Findley in ‘The Residence’. Jessica Brooks/Netflix © 2024
While speaking to Deadline, Aduba and Park said they’d “love it” if The Residence returned for a second season.
“The characters’ dynamic is just so fun to play,” Park told the outlet of the chemistry between his character, FBI special agent Edwin Park, and Aduba’s character, detective Cordelia Cupp.
“Paul [William Davies] is so singular in his writing style and in the way he approaches these mysteries that the opportunity to maybe travel to another country and solve another case would be pretty amazing,” the actor added.
Aduba agreed with Park, saying, “Absolutely. I love playing Cordelia. She has found an amazing partner and friend in Edwin Park, and I wish nothing more for them to continue solving, exploring and journeying around the world.”
Giancarlo Esposito as A.B. Wynter and Bronson Pinchot as Didier Gotthard in ‘The Residence’. Jessica Brooks/Netflix
All eight episodes of The Residence season 1 are available to stream on Netflix.
