"Devil May Cry," "The Residence," and "The Electric State": Brief and Not-So-Brief Opinions: Part 15

The Residence (Netflix), Devil May Cry (Netflix), and The Electric State (Netflix).

…

The 'brief and not-so-brief opinions' articles are my outlet to rant about or appreciate movies, shows and their elements. I will express my thoughts while watching and after or only after watching, it depends. I will not be rating. These are not spoiler-free for the most part, and no research will be made for or about them (unless it's out of curiosity or accidental, which would be mentioned). They are in no particular order of recent watching as well. However, the opinions are based on the order in which the movie or series is viewed (for the most part). This wouldn't be as structured or detailed, and there would be no set number of picks per article. It would be just as things go. It is intended to be casual. So think…conversations about movie plots, characters, topics, or something like that.

If you like this, you can read more of my articles from my account or subscribe to me to stay updated when each is published. Feel free to comment with your opinions as well.

…

The Residence (2025)

The Residence is a comedic and suspenseful political murder mystery consisting of eight episodes. Hit series veteran Shonda Rhimes returns to Netflix and The White House with an exploration into the death of White House Chief Usher, A.B. Wynter. Cordelia Cupp accepts a favour from Police Chief Dokes to become the outsourced 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. 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. 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 rather than dismissing him - emphasizing that being labelled as "obsessive, single-minded, difficult," as his mother put it, is not the only way to exist. This is simply her nature, and he embraced that about her, which was heartwarming.

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. 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. A.B. was portrayed as an overworked, traditional, and undervalued employee, and his treatment before and after his death made a lasting impact on me. Nevertheless, I was relieved that A.B. had at least one supporter. The teasing about Hugh Jackman, striking cinematography, great performances, sharp comedic timing, and more make The Residence a thoroughly entertaining series.

The Electric State (2025)

Michelle embarks on a quest to find the last surviving member of her family with the goal of freeing her brother, Christopher, from a mega-corporation's grip. She is assisted by his subconscious residing in a Cosmo robot, along with Keats and Herman, who join her after she catches a ride with them to evade the police and others during their mission to save Christopher and the world from the technological war. With two fake deaths and an interesting (yet simultaneously uninteresting) progression of events, Netflix adapts the 2018 novel by Simon Stålenhag to create the 2025 The Electric State film. Despite the substantial budget, the movie had a certain lack of quality. The opening scene with Christopher taking the test felt overly simplistic, particularly when he encounters a Corporal who questions him about his shirt and his pro-robot stance, which seemed out of place and poorly executed. This feeling about the actors' performances surfaced multiple times; at moments, I found the voice actors more compelling than those physically present. The scene where Herman carries them on his shoulder while Michelle and Keats converse struck me as the most authentic.

With a villain suffering from mother issues and typical wealthy selfishness, the vile power of the rich is depicted in Ethan Skate's exploitation of Christopher's intellect by preserving his comatose body to utilize the brain to power Skate's company, Sentre. However, I wish they highlighted his intelligence more. We were only informed that he was exceptionally bright and completed a test quickly, similar to Albert Einstein, whose brain was preserved in a conspiracy theory that also served as a foreshadowing element in the film. This portrayal felt unrealistic and hard to believe. If there had been a few scenes showcasing his abilities, it would have added to the credibility, similar to the 21 film, where his skills were revealed in both spontaneous and planned scenarios. This strategy is reminiscent of the series Suits, where Mike's photographic memory is demonstrated simply and clearly, showcasing his abilities and leaving no doubt about his talent for the viewers. It would have been much better in this movie than just being told about his intelligence repeatedly. I feel the film might have gained a stronger emotional pull if Chris had died, especially considering the turmoil Michelle went through and the journey it involved. Despite the heartfelt idea that Chris returns as Cosmo, it all seemed like an unnecessary sacrifice, especially since this method was something she had mentioned before making peace with his death.

Devil May Cry (2025)

Dante makes his comeback in a new revival of Devil May Cry, succeeding the 2007 12-episode anime inspired by the Japanese video game series created by Hideki Kamiya. This new installment by Adi Shankar invites the franchise's dedicated fans to explore its revisions and consistencies as Dante is urged by the White Rabbit and members of the government organization Dark Realm Command (DARKCOM) to awaken his dormant abilities and give up his family heirloom. Following the murder of his mother and brother, and an absent father, Dante discovers more about his family's history and his father's sacrifice to the demon realm. He learns how this sacrifice impacted the Makians after his father's betrayal of the tyrant leader Mundus, forcing them to "live with the fallout of his betrayal" while keeping the gates secure to protect humans. Sparda, a fellow demon, betrayed his own people and left for the human realm. Dante grapples with the conflicting perceptions of his father as he confronts his identity, navigating the information from his late mother while dealing with feelings of guilt for not saving her or his brother, Vergil.

I believe Vergil's frustration over Dante's departure is somewhat understandable. Despite being children, he witnessed the attack unfold. Although he may not have been capable of much, he would likely have valued Dante's effort to help, much like Mary's attempts for her mother, especially given their earlier tendency to argue. While I wish he weren't upset, he is aware that Dante survived and took no action, contrasting with Dante's instinct to search for him once he realized Vergil was alive. This could reflect Dante's desire to alleviate his guilt or a genuine wish to reconnect with his brother. I'm curious about how their backstory will be explored in the granted second season. Hoon Lee delivers an outstanding performance as the White Rabbit. He portrays a character rich in complexity, but I hated his return as a rage-driven monster. Despite grappling with her own challenges, Mary dismisses everyone's hardships as mere sob stories, and her hostile demeanour with her hatred of demons pair with her constant swearing. Baines is deeply disappointing and repugnant as he manipulates Christianity to suit his needs. Devil May Cry encompasses multiple themes alongside a significant body count, all presented within a well-crafted narrative, an engaging soundtrack, and stunning animation, creating an enjoyable and well-received 8-episode series on Netflix.

If you enjoyed this and would like more of my articles, you can:

• Check through the Geeks category on my profile or the "Brief and not-so-brief opinions" list on my Medium account
• Subscribe to my account and/or subscribe to my mailing list
• Visit my Linktree and/or my X (Twitter) account