Introducing WWOW: What I Watched Over the Weekend 🍿
Welcome to the very first edition of What I Watched Over the Weekend—or WWOW for short! Each week, I’ll be diving into a movie or TV show I checked out over the weekend and giving you the lowdown. Think of it as your one-stop shop for quick reviews, fun recaps, and honest recommendations (with trigger warnings included so you know what to expect). Whether I’m watching a brand-new box-office hit or a hidden gem from the past, nothing’s off-limits. Comedy, horror, drama, animation, classics, weird indie stuff—I’m watching it all so you can sort the “must-sees” from the “must-skips.”
So, grab your popcorn and let’s get into Week 1 of WWOW, The Residence: A Murder Most Fowl.
Fast Forward⏩
Previously On…The Residence: A Summary 🦅
Add a White House state dinner, a chief usher, and a few birds, and what do you get? Apparently, a dead body and a flock of suspects, according to Netflix’s new show, The Residence.
The Residence is a murder mystery that takes flight during a White House state dinner meant to mend American and Australian relations. After Chief Usher A.B. Wynter is found dead on the third floor, chaos erupts—and only the hawk-eyed, world-renowned detective Cordelia Cupp can deduce the killer’s identity.
If you’re looking for an addictive drama that balances edge-of-your-seat suspense with well-timed comedic flair, then The Residence might be your perfect weekend watch. It brings a lot to the table, including the occasional Australian accent, a delicious spread of White House gossip for anyone feeling peckish for juicy details, some kitchen chaos worthy of The Bear, and a running joke involving Hugh Jackman. Part Only Murders in the Building and part Downton Abbey, The Residence is wholly bingeable.
Rapid Rewind 🔁
- Murder-mystery centered around the White House 🔪🧑💼
- Suspenseful but funny 😱🤣
- Similar to Only Murders in the Building with the drama of an American Downtown Abbey 🏢 ✨
Viewer Discretion Advised: Trigger Warnings 🚫
The first thing interested viewers of The Residence should realize is that the show is rated MA. Violence-wise, there are depictions of the dead body, and murder is frequently discussed. The show is not gory, but sensitive viewers should be prepared for images of some of the corpse’s injuries (including slit wrists) and a bloody knife. Furthermore, there are high-tension fights and discussions about violence.
The Residence also has a tendency for explicit language and references to intimacy. For more information on what to expect, I highly recommend checking out Common Sense’s Media’s take on the rating.
What You Need To Look Out For 👀
- Explicit language 🔇
- Murder and violence 🔪
- References to intimacy 👩❤️🧑
The WWOW Factor: Whether to Watch or Skip ⭐️
It’s official: The Residence will be our first ever production to receive the WWOW Factor! If you’re wondering what in the world that is, the WWOW Factor is my sticker of approval, basically saying that it’s worth the watch. With great characters, plot, and cinematic devices, The Residence passes with flying colors.
Cordelia Cupp, played by Uzo Aduba known for her role in Orange is the New Black, is the perfect refresh on the intelligent but quirky detective. Although this personality tends to be overdone (think Elsbeth), Cupp is far from trite. She is witty, commanding, layered, and a little offbeat. Produced under Shondaland, The Residence is another example of Shonda Rhimes’ ability to spotlight diverse voices (having also done Bridgerton and Grey’s Anatomy). Uzo Aduba brings both gravitas and quiet humor to Cupp’s role, bringing justice to Rhimes’ goal of diversifying television by showcasing Black women with a wide range of body types, personalities, and roles.
Cordelia Cupp, though, is not the only superstar in the show. The Residence has a flock of amazing extras and side stories. Looking for a sweet romance between the maid and the engineer who turn eerily Bonnie and Clyde? Check. Interested in a feud between a Swiss pâtissier and a Portland food truck chef? Check. Hungry for any combination of scenarios with surprisingly lovable, charmingly hateable, or just laugh-out-loud funny characters? Definitely check.
If you fall in love with these characters and the story like I did, you’ll be overjoyed to know The Residence has plenty of watch time. There are eight episodes in total, but each is close to an hour long (about 50 minutes), with the final two both being satisfyingly over the 60-minute mark.
This may seem daunting, but the show helps ease the breaking up of the episodes with expertly woven recaps. These are necessary, after all, considering the full cast list of dozens of need-to-know side characters. With cleverly placed flashbacks and visual cues, I was always extremely grateful for its ability to remind me of details without feeling repetitive.
Genuinely engaging, creep-up-on-you funny, and deftly layered, The Residence is dripping in WWOW factor. With a cast that soars, writing that lands like a perfectly timed wingbeat, and a mystery that keeps you perched on the edge of your seat, it’s a binge-worthy flight worth taking. And yes—there’s a twist waiting at the end that’s totally worth the ride.
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