Another Black woman runs the White House in Shonda Rhimes' new Netflix series, "The Residence."

Hit series veteran Shonda Rhimes returns to Netflix and The White House with The Residence, an eight-episode exploration into the death of White House Chief Usher, A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito). A spoiler warning is in effect! Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) acts in favour of Police Chief Dokes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) by becoming the out-sourced detective tasked with uncovering A.B.'s cause of death in an effort to mitigate the damage to the new presidency's already poor reputation. President Perry Morgan (Paul Fitzgerald) and his husband, Elliot (Barrett Foa), are the first gay couple in the White House I've encountered, and they appear incompetent as well. I found myself questioning whether this reflects poorly on representation or if it's a positive step towards normalcy, suggesting that they and Black women can be less than perfect, as many believe. Nonetheless, they demonstrate no clear strengths throughout the series; there is a noticeable lack of respect towards this president, with people making disrespectful remarks only to add "respectfully' afterward. This is further highlighted by Elliot's mother, Ms. Cox (Jane Curtin), who visibly reacts with disgust every time they discuss her son's husband. I enjoyed Cordelia's connection with Ms. Cox, grounded in shared views and compatible personalities.

Cordelia's eccentricity stems from her passion for bird watching, a beloved hobby of hers that significantly contributes to the investigation, as she uses her patience and the birds she has observed to characterize the suspects. Her reputation consistently preceded her, and she confirmed it whenever possible. I admired how she quickly displayed her skills to the doubtful and disrespectful male-dominated audience, particularly after initially being seen as peculiar, both earlier and in the trailer. Like Senator Bix (Eliza Coupe), I was proud of her. She effectively solved the case and displayed her skill even in her absence, proving the skeptics wrong. She stands out as another black woman from Shondaland who understands her value and embodies it, much like Olivia Pope from Scandal and Queen Charlotte from Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Moreover, she is another powerful black woman from Shondaland who had influence over the White House, as demonstrated by how everyone fell under her control during the investigation, reminiscent of Olivia's ability to save, dismantle, and rebuild the White House.

I wished she had been kinder to FBI agent Edwin Park (Randall Park). I understood her sentiment that being unwantedly observed hindered her progress, which shed light on her behaviour toward Edwin. This is particularly relevant since he was trying to prove himself yet faced setbacks, such as betraying her when questioned about their progress. It made me wonder whether her lack of direct suspicion stemmed solely from her process of evaluating everything or from a lack of trust in him; it could be a combination of both. Nonetheless, I appreciated the respectful nod at the end. I appreciated that she trusted Vusi Nhlapho (Jeremiah Felder), engaged in discussions with him, and honoured her commitment. Their interaction felt natural and respectful, regardless of his age. However, I was unhappy that she disclosed Foreign Minister Rylance's (Brett Tucker) secret, which he sought to keep hidden in order to protect his reputation, despite no one truly caring after the reveal.

The backstory surprised me the most. I found it fascinating to learn about her background and the defining moment that influenced her career, values, and behaviour, all stemming from her quest to find her sister's other sock from a cherished pair. Many murder mysteries do not take the time to illustrate how the detective characters are shaped, even as they delve into others' lives and elements of the story. I especially appreciated that she engaged in a conversation with her nephew, Ansel (Ca'Ron Jaden Coleman), rather than dismissing him - emphasizing that being labelled as "obsessive, single-minded, difficult," as his mother, Aimee (Ito Aghayere) put it, is not the only way to exist. This is simply her nature, and he embraced that about her, which was heartwarming.

Cordelia resolves the murder mystery several months after it took place to prevent issues from complaints about an extended investigation. While walking with the suspects and recalling their narratives, she figures out the perpetrator. This twist is intriguing, as it deviates from the usual method of explaining the crime and its culprit once the suspects are gathered. I wasn't particularly shocked to discover that Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs) was the killer, especially considering the rapid renovations and Cordelia's comment as she passed her before Lilly unleashed her outrageous tale.

It was truly disheartening to witness the significant team effort that led to the tragic events of the night and A.B.'s untimely death. While I found little empathy for Esposito's flawed Leo character, in Kaleidoscope, A.B. was portrayed as an overworked, traditional, and undervalued employee who didn't deserve such treatment. A.B.'s treatment before and after his death made a lasting impact on me, revealing a pitiful and disrespectful approach in every step taken. Nevertheless, I was relieved that A.B. had at least one supporter in Angie Huggins (Juliette Jeffers), a fellow co-worker. The ongoing teasing about Hugh Jackman, combined with perspectives on murder mysteries, striking cinematography, outstanding performances, sharp comedic timing, and other elements, contribute to the thoroughly entertaining series known as The Residence.

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