The Mystery of the Yellow Room

First off, for someone who doesn't pick apart murder mysteries down to its smallest details, entertaining series. Took a really long time to ramp up and I almost quit after three episodes, but the payoff is there. And a lot of laughs along the way. Someone who is really into mysteries might have a different opinion, but as a layperson, I enjoyed it.

One thing that was on my mind most of this series was how non-political this series seemed to be. We're all used to the intrigue of The West Wing and 24 and a million other contemporary series set in the White House. Most of the way, up until the last half hour of the finale, this was presented as a murder mystery that just happened to be set in the White House. Even any resemblance to modern politics comes off as a silly caricature that comes off as window dressing, not central to the main plot. On the surface, the murder is wrapped in a series of personal and professional rivalries, anything that has to do with world events is entirely coincidental. Or so it seems.

You have to watch the series in its entirety to appreciate that there is a message that the writers wanted to get across, but it's there. The victim and the killer are stand-ins for really obvious Presidential figures, one who respected and revered traditions and another who takes joy in tearing all of them down. Everyone else is caught in the middle, a portrait of the different parts that make up America, made to distrust and scheme against each other.

If it was this obvious from the beginning, I suspect the audience would have thinned out a lot quicker. Anyone who thought the final "whodunnit" monologue was long and drawn out should understand that they needed to bury that message deep to keep people invested until the end.

Now, I, for one, and tired of shows and films with heavy political messages. The Newsroom and Don't Look Up were so thick and dripping with preachy messages that neither of them are worth second viewings. The Residence isn't flawless (not crazy about the dumb FBI sidekick having a substantive purpose only in the end), but the execution of the final delivery is perfect because the audience today has been conditioned to turn off to any explicit preaching.

Generally, a fun watch. Cynical and yet optimistic in equal parts. I've watched it twice and might keep it in the background as noise a third time.

First off, I would like to clarify that when I heard this show was in development I was excited.

I love a murder mystery, especially in a single location. I really enjoyed the episodes leading up to the finale. However, with a running time of 87 minutes and virtually all of it being a "who did it" monologue, I just wanted the episode to end.

Additionally, I felt the "evidence" presented in the reveal did not add up to me (I am vague to NOT reveal any spoilers). Of course, I could have missed something or not understand as much as I thought I did, but the "reasons" to the reveal took me out of it.

It was a poor payoff and a poor delivery for an otherwise excellent show.

At 90 minutes, Ep 8 feels more like a feature-length coda than a finale... and for the most part, it works.

The murder is solved, the motives finally come into focus, and The Residence closes with control, emotion, and a few well-earned gut punches.

Uzo Aduba is magnetic to the very end. Cordelia's final confrontation is everything it should be: precise, unshowy, and quietly devastating. The resolution avoids soapiness in favour of something more human: grief, guilt, and quiet consequences.

But yes, it's a bit bloated. The middle stretch - where Cordelia bumbles around looking for her next angle - drags for about 10 minutes longer than ideal. The tension sags slightly, and the show risks losing momentum before pulling it back for a strong final act.

Mel Rodriguez and Julieth Restrepo close their arcs with quiet dignity. Susan Kelechi Watson delivers some of her best work - controlled but raw. Randall Park, Jason Lee, and Ken Marino all get clean exits, with just enough shading to hint at deeper damage.

Visually, the finale remains classy: dim corridors, hushed rooms, and perfectly composed restraint. The emotional payoff arrives not with fireworks, but with a long exhale.

Verdict: 8/10. A thoughtful, well-performed finale that overstays its welcome just a touch, but still lands with grace and lasting impact.

Finally it is all over and the reveal is left to a feature length episode.

Well I thought it was already a couple of episodes too many before we got here.

Detective Cordelia Cupp finally appears at the hearing and she has the answers regarding the murder of Chief Usher A B Wynter.

Cobblers, you say. There is 90 minutes to go and it will be dragged out.

Well it does drag as the episode tries to set up the janitor and maid, Bruce and Elysie as the likely culprits.

Chairman Senator Filkins and the rest of the congressional committee seem spellbound as Cordelia Cupp weaves her magic.

Ploughing through some inconsistent testimonies and how much the White House has been altered since she started her original investigation.

An important clue that something was being hidden by someone.

I just thought this would had been a better series if this was shorter and sharper.

Starting with a thing that could make the show better: it could have been shorter. And as I understand every single scene was important for the whole series, but some scenes were a bit unnecessary I felt...

Now for my ranting on how amazing it was:

I loved so much the jumping between the past, present and further past. It was so intelligent and not so hard to catch which timeline is which.

White house model and transitions between scenes that used the model were amazing. Such a creative idea and made it nice to watch. I felt that it is a little inside sight of detective's thinking.

And I loved the color palette of the series. I only realised it after a while but it was so nice to watch just for the aesthetics...

And making the detective obsessed with birds! I loved it!!

Overall it's a must see :))