The Residence: The Residence (all episodes) First Watch
March 23, 2025 5:51 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe
The White House Chief Usher is murdered during a state dinner with the Australians.
8 episodes on Netflix, all dropped at once, thus we must do an all episode thread. More to come later.
8 episodes on Netflix, all dropped at once, thus we must do an all episode thread. More to come later.
Episode 3:
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:18 PM on March 23
The Case For The Pastry Chef, who found the body and removed a knife, and got pool chalk on his back. I'm going to note The Afterparty vibes here as well.
"You're just cold, Swiss! A killer! You've got something on your back."
I dunno how I feel about the sketchy cartoons at the start of every episode. Not in love.
Lol, burnt chimney. "It's a chimney."
"Your feet are licorice. Your head is gummy." This is a sweet moment, until....
That's not the worst thing she said to the director of the FBI."
"Not like that. It was a sleep retreat."
"I really don't like sad things." "You investigate murder."
I feel like we had to have an excuse to put Christmas at the White House in here.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year, but you feel HORRIBLE."
"I do think some people would like to see some Christmas decorations?"
To understand the house: us vs. them.
"I mean, she'd like, MAKE. DESSERT."
"It wasn't dessert!"
"Did I tell my boss I found him stabbed in a gingerbread house?"
"YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY MY KANGAROOS!"
"It looks like a kangaroo Rocky dancing on shit."
"He's mad because Wynter wouldn't let him serve a volcano inside of a 200-year-old house that once burned down." This seems legit to me.
I'm still trying to figure out Cordelia's side part in her hair. How does one part it around 1/4 of the way over on the head?
"You're just cold, Swiss! A killer! You've got something on your back."
I dunno how I feel about the sketchy cartoons at the start of every episode. Not in love.
Lol, burnt chimney. "It's a chimney."
"Your feet are licorice. Your head is gummy." This is a sweet moment, until....
That's not the worst thing she said to the director of the FBI."
"Not like that. It was a sleep retreat."
"I really don't like sad things." "You investigate murder."
I feel like we had to have an excuse to put Christmas at the White House in here.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year, but you feel HORRIBLE."
"I do think some people would like to see some Christmas decorations?"
To understand the house: us vs. them.
"I mean, she'd like, MAKE. DESSERT."
"It wasn't dessert!"
"Did I tell my boss I found him stabbed in a gingerbread house?"
"YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY MY KANGAROOS!"
"It looks like a kangaroo Rocky dancing on shit."
"He's mad because Wynter wouldn't let him serve a volcano inside of a 200-year-old house that once burned down." This seems legit to me.
I'm still trying to figure out Cordelia's side part in her hair. How does one part it around 1/4 of the way over on the head?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:18 PM on March 23
Episode 4:
Segue to Cordelia taking her nephew birding. I'm rather enjoying this "finding the sock" story.
Birding book for suspects, love it.
Now we're on to Sheila as a sassy, drunk, spicy suspect...er, interesting person.
More drama: room rearrangements, "NO. TENTS," 15 seating charts.
"My 14th memoir is being launched into space." "Why?" "I don't know."
"Does anyone see Hugh Jackman?" I keep wondering on this point myself.
What went on with the Abkins? Voted out? Husband die? No husband, I see. Also, who invites the former First Lady?
Sheila is fun, but this does not sound like a job for fun. Or fun people. And Edwin has a point that Sheila has a lot of stories. (And may not be the most sober witness.)
"I don't want to be in front of a congressional committee!" You know it!
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:24 PM on March 23
Segue to Cordelia taking her nephew birding. I'm rather enjoying this "finding the sock" story.
Birding book for suspects, love it.
Now we're on to Sheila as a sassy, drunk, spicy suspect...er, interesting person.
More drama: room rearrangements, "NO. TENTS," 15 seating charts.
"My 14th memoir is being launched into space." "Why?" "I don't know."
"Does anyone see Hugh Jackman?" I keep wondering on this point myself.
What went on with the Abkins? Voted out? Husband die? No husband, I see. Also, who invites the former First Lady?
Sheila is fun, but this does not sound like a job for fun. Or fun people. And Edwin has a point that Sheila has a lot of stories. (And may not be the most sober witness.)
"I don't want to be in front of a congressional committee!" You know it!
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:24 PM on March 23
Episode 5:
Vusi is like Cordelia's soul child, I think.
BLASPHEMY! NAN DOESN'T LIKE BIRDS!!!!!!
"I would say he was disappointed by his presence." What a way to express dislike politely.
"All you have to do is not be a crazy fucking asshole." "No deal."
"Is this the same rash you didn't have yesterday?"
I have so much pity for AB having to stand there while a dude yells in his face about his poop.
"Isn't it ok not to be great at something? At anything?" Okay, I'm starting to feel bad for Tripp.
"I win because I'm a complete fucking loser!"
Protocol is Not Listening To Anything Around Here.
I called it: CORDELIA'S NOT HERE.
And...I'm gonna work on going to bed. Let's see if anyone else catches this show.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:26 PM on March 23
Vusi is like Cordelia's soul child, I think.
BLASPHEMY! NAN DOESN'T LIKE BIRDS!!!!!!
"I would say he was disappointed by his presence." What a way to express dislike politely.
"All you have to do is not be a crazy fucking asshole." "No deal."
"Is this the same rash you didn't have yesterday?"
I have so much pity for AB having to stand there while a dude yells in his face about his poop.
"Isn't it ok not to be great at something? At anything?" Okay, I'm starting to feel bad for Tripp.
"I win because I'm a complete fucking loser!"
Protocol is Not Listening To Anything Around Here.
I called it: CORDELIA'S NOT HERE.
And...I'm gonna work on going to bed. Let's see if anyone else catches this show.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:26 PM on March 23
Let me know if it works:
I am very impressed with your implementationion of thespoilers details tag!
Post instructions somewhere? I for one would appreciate =)
posted by porpoise at 12:42 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
I am very impressed with your implementationion of the
Post instructions somewhere? I for one would appreciate =)
posted by porpoise at 12:42 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
Aduba is fantastic in this. This show is so much fun. Twist and turns and good-natured humor abound! Are these all just red herrings? Are none of these red herrings? It has all the fun, sass and camp of Clue, which is probably why I love it.
posted by archimago at 7:05 AM on March 24
posted by archimago at 7:05 AM on March 24
The "details tag" link are the instructions I followed. Keyed < details > then said things, then eventually did < / details > to end it. :)
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:58 AM on March 24
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:58 AM on March 24
I did not expect a love story in episode seven, especially one so sweet.
posted by seasparrow at 10:45 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
posted by seasparrow at 10:45 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
I really enjoyed this show, except for the birds. They name-dropped Kenn Kaufman but they sure didn't hire him, or anyone, as a birding advisor! I know I'm a pedantic birder, but come on, people.
posted by gingerbeer at 1:31 AM on March 26 [1 favorite]
posted by gingerbeer at 1:31 AM on March 26 [1 favorite]
I really wanted the murderer to be the person it turned out to be. That is all.
posted by cooker girl at 7:07 AM on March 27 [2 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 7:07 AM on March 27 [2 favorites]
I'm still stuck on the bird thing. I appreciated the birding as metaphor parts. But for me the lack of accuracy about the birds it completely undermined the story. One by and large doesn't bird at night and one certainly isn't spotting a Song Sparrow at night. Nor is a "falcon" flying around at night. Any why not be specific and say (and cast) a Peregrine Falcon?
posted by gingerbeer at 9:24 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]
posted by gingerbeer at 9:24 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]
Ha! Is the birding stuff all wrong?? I just recommend it to a pal who likes cosy mysteries and birds. Oops.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 3:55 PM on March 27
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 3:55 PM on March 27
Also, after all those red herrings, I was amused to discover that the show is actually a metaphor for the ways the Christian Right has sought to infiltrate and subvert American government.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 3:57 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 3:57 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]
One of my BFFs is an avid birder and he didn't have a problem with the TV-ification of birding on the show.
posted by cooker girl at 4:25 PM on March 27
posted by cooker girl at 4:25 PM on March 27
Al Franken sliding into a comfortable role!
I haven't been hate-watching this the same way I watched Scandal (to the contrary — it's very entertaining) but I immediately noticed that Cordelia Cupp sounds a lot like Olivia Pope and chalked that up to Shondaland being Shondaland. At least people aren't addressing each other by their full names all the time.
posted by emelenjr at 11:00 AM on March 28
I haven't been hate-watching this the same way I watched Scandal (to the contrary — it's very entertaining) but I immediately noticed that Cordelia Cupp sounds a lot like Olivia Pope and chalked that up to Shondaland being Shondaland. At least people aren't addressing each other by their full names all the time.
posted by emelenjr at 11:00 AM on March 28
Episode 6:
"Nemesis bird." Cordelia has bugged off to go watch birds.
Hello, Hugh's feet! Sadly, not real Hugh.
Anyone else having the feeling that Al Franken will run for office again after this show, because he might as fucking well? I hate that he groped women and didn't apologize (I was a fan of his before that) and got snitty about it and acted like every other guy, but now...might as well.
"I'm not going to have you talk that way about tinned fish."
This is the point where I'm rolling my eyes. Suicide, my arse.
Whodis?
"Now is the time to show some emotion." JESUS H CHRIST WHAT IS THIS SHIT.
"You have no recollection of your background?"
There's a doxie!
I'm amazed Cordelia can sit comfortably in a split like that?
"I'm at work." CHOO CHOOOOOOOOOOO
"You were mean to me!"
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:06 PM on March 28
"Nemesis bird." Cordelia has bugged off to go watch birds.
Hello, Hugh's feet! Sadly, not real Hugh.
Anyone else having the feeling that Al Franken will run for office again after this show, because he might as fucking well? I hate that he groped women and didn't apologize (I was a fan of his before that) and got snitty about it and acted like every other guy, but now...might as well.
"I'm not going to have you talk that way about tinned fish."
This is the point where I'm rolling my eyes. Suicide, my arse.
Whodis?
"Now is the time to show some emotion." JESUS H CHRIST WHAT IS THIS SHIT.
"You have no recollection of your background?"
There's a doxie!
I'm amazed Cordelia can sit comfortably in a split like that?
"I'm at work." CHOO CHOOOOOOOOOOO
"You were mean to me!"
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:06 PM on March 28
Episode 7:
Do I even remember this maid? Am I supposed to?
I think Cordelia got her revenge on Edwin by making tons of phone calls on a satphone.
"I say this with all the love in the world, Larry, but WHO GIVES A SHIT?!"
Pot, kettle, Harry. And man, this guy with a beard is THROWING ME OFF SO BAD. It's like Ken Marino went Amish.
Is there an auditory version of eidetic/photographic memory?
So Morgan has LBJ's shower.
Larry, are you a fan of Lily's or something? ... "Actually, it's all in this Vanity Fair."
Miss Marple of birds, I swear.
This seems like a hella awkward work situation if you think your coworker murdered your boss.
I read the remark about a love story in episode seven and have been totally baffled for 3/4 of the episode.
THEY HAVE LITERALLY COUNTED THE DAYS
There is more to this cranky seeming engineer than I expected.
"I really don't want to die before going to Rome" is even making ME sniffle.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:11 PM on March 28
Do I even remember this maid? Am I supposed to?
I think Cordelia got her revenge on Edwin by making tons of phone calls on a satphone.
"I say this with all the love in the world, Larry, but WHO GIVES A SHIT?!"
Pot, kettle, Harry. And man, this guy with a beard is THROWING ME OFF SO BAD. It's like Ken Marino went Amish.
Is there an auditory version of eidetic/photographic memory?
So Morgan has LBJ's shower.
Larry, are you a fan of Lily's or something? ... "Actually, it's all in this Vanity Fair."
Miss Marple of birds, I swear.
This seems like a hella awkward work situation if you think your coworker murdered your boss.
I read the remark about a love story in episode seven and have been totally baffled for 3/4 of the episode.
THEY HAVE LITERALLY COUNTED THE DAYS
There is more to this cranky seeming engineer than I expected.
"I really don't want to die before going to Rome" is even making ME sniffle.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:11 PM on March 28
Episode 8:
Oh man, this episode is making me want to cry between the dead parents when he was 11 too.
"My sister made it for me."
"Well, now it's kind of a murder weapon."
"What is a clock clock?"
"I don't want to get in trouble."
"It's ok. We're the police."
I want to read AB's journal.
"He thought Marvella really shouldn't be around all those knives."
"And you thought you'd just figure it out along the way?" Miss Marple Birds again.
"Dude, turns out I can fucking PAINT!"
"And that's like, ALL I DID. I had absolutely nothing to do with any of this!"
Um, at this point it's dragging on (40 min in).
"I need to call my dad."
"You really hate this place." I love this. And AB loved it.
This is getting kinda beautiful.
I enjoyed it!
Well, they're clearly going to want to make a sequel of this, but how? Can't always have a murder in the White House. Maybe Buckingham Palace?
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:37 PM on March 28
Oh man, this episode is making me want to cry between the dead parents when he was 11 too.
"My sister made it for me."
"Well, now it's kind of a murder weapon."
"What is a clock clock?"
"I don't want to get in trouble."
"It's ok. We're the police."
I want to read AB's journal.
"He thought Marvella really shouldn't be around all those knives."
"And you thought you'd just figure it out along the way?" Miss Marple Birds again.
"Dude, turns out I can fucking PAINT!"
"And that's like, ALL I DID. I had absolutely nothing to do with any of this!"
Um, at this point it's dragging on (40 min in).
"I need to call my dad."
"You really hate this place." I love this. And AB loved it.
This is getting kinda beautiful.
I enjoyed it!
Well, they're clearly going to want to make a sequel of this, but how? Can't always have a murder in the White House. Maybe Buckingham Palace?
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:37 PM on March 28
One by and large doesn't bird at night and one certainly isn't spotting a Song Sparrow at night. Nor is a "falcon" flying around at night.
I am barely a novice birder, and this bothered me! If they wanted to have night birding dialogue, there are nocturnal birds to choose from! Teddy Roosevelt's list has two species of owl on it.
Aside from that, this is fun and cozy, and I'm not finished yet, but I am enjoying it.
posted by gladly at 9:48 AM on March 30
I am barely a novice birder, and this bothered me! If they wanted to have night birding dialogue, there are nocturnal birds to choose from! Teddy Roosevelt's list has two species of owl on it.
Aside from that, this is fun and cozy, and I'm not finished yet, but I am enjoying it.
posted by gladly at 9:48 AM on March 30
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Episode 1:
Current politics: the president is gay and married to a man, his mother-in-law hates him, and there's some kind of awkwardness going on with the Australians.
Badly faked suicide.
Senator Al Franken (again) is throwing me off. Also making me think that seriously, the guy might as well run for office again IRL. Senator Dix is giving me icky deja vu to real life. Harry is....a lot. Did not recognize Bronson Pinchot.
The dollhouse display of the Residence is very cool. Show looks gorgeous. I have to say, as someone who read the book this was based off of, this is...just wow.
"You're wearing the dead guy's shirt and vice versa" startled me!
Episode 2:
Where is Cordelia during this testimony? Missing? (Birdwatching in Papua New Guinea?)
Silent interrogation technique works wonders.
"Shit bothered me."
"I'm good with you asking the questions."
Keep it classy with that finger drawing, Harry.
THERE'S THREE GEORGE MCCUTCHEONS?!?! OMG I'd be SO annoyed.
Barely recognized Jason Lee except for his voice and being a jerk on camera...okay, yeah, it's him.
That is a dead on impression of Mr Morgan.
Hugh Jackman is....barely shown? Are we sure it's him?
Cordelia's "detecting is like bird watching" reminds me of Miss Marple also having A Method ("I've lived in a small town my whole life and I've seen EVERYTHING"). Cool, new detecting gimmick. "She was hunting." Also, presumably asexual heroine so some people are gonna like that.
WILDLY varying impressions of AB from everyone.
"I am going to be dead by the end of the night." Ominous.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:23 PM on March 23 [2 favorites]