American mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart once said, “The mystery story is two stories in one: the story of what happened and the story of what appeared to happen.” This is very much the case for all mysteries — but throw in chaos with an unreliable ensemble of characters as things go haywire, and you have the recipe for Netflix‘s new whodunit series The Residence.
Throughout The Residence‘s eight episodes — from Shondaland and former Scandal writer-producer Paul William Davies — Uzo Aduba and Randall Park are the detective duo attempting to differentiate between what appeared to have happened and the underlying truths. Together, they aim to find the culprit of a murder that occurred during the White House State Dinner. Aduba leads the ensemble cast as Cordelia Cupp, a consulting detective for the Metropolitan Police Department enlisted to help with solving the murder of White House chief usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito). FBI Special Agent Edwin Park (portrayed by Park) is assigned to work alongside Cupp.
The duo embody a Sherlock-Watson archetype as they navigate trying to solve a case among the seemingly untrustworthy staff and state dinner guests — which even include superstar Kylie Minogue in a guest role — who cause the case to go into disarray, leading viewers down a labyrinth of mysteries.
“There’s so many cases in this one case, because every character has their secrets,” Park tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Even if they were not responsible for the murder of A.B. Wynter, what really shined in this show was discovering that no one’s hands were clean,” Aduba adds of the frenzied group of suspects.
While attempting to solve the case, the duo must learn how to partner despite Park’s never-ending skepticism of Cupp’s methods and Cupp’s commitment to stay true to herself, even if that means having brief intermissions for birding. “There aren’t a lot of people that Cordelia feels like she needs in the world but if she had to pick one, boy would it be Edwin Park,” Aduba tells THR.
“Our personal dynamic is so different from the dynamic of the characters,” Parks adds. “It was not challenging, but a little bit surprising to be on set and laughing with Uzo and singing songs, and then to go in front of the camera and have her just berate me (laughs).”
Below, Aduba and Park chat with THR about introducing their detective duo for mystery lovers, how Cordelia Cupp and her iconic look are reminiscent to past storytelling of detectives and where they could see their characters solving a mystery next (should the show get another season).
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In true Shondaland series fashion, we have a female heroine leading the charge with Cordelia Cupp. Uzo, can you talk about creating this character — who you wanted her to be and how you wanted to set her apart from previous Shondaland protagonists?
UZO ADUBA Creating the character started first with the writing. I just could tell that she processed information really, really quickly, because she would just have these really long phrases. She seemed like somebody who cycled through her thought patterns very quickly, which then told me a lot about who she is in the room with all these huge figures. She’s the smartest one there. She’s excellent at her job, and loves her job. That really rang true to me and how she uses a lot of her birding skills in her detective. I knew I felt connected to her through the script and through her costume when we went through those fittings and finally found that jacket, from our incredible costume designer Lyn Paolo. It felt reminiscent to past storytelling of detectives, but also had this modern flair. The jacket was her superhero cape. It all came together for me in that moment. I understood she was coming into a world where [how] she looked was going to look completely different from everybody else living in it. But I also felt like that was emblematic of who she is. No matter where she is, she’s never fit in. And that seemed like something she leans into.
RANDALL PARK Her costume was unique. I remember being obsessed with her shoes. I have never seen shoes like that.
Whether through books or on screen, audiences have been introduced to many detective duos. Now here’s Cordelia and Edwin, who perhaps have an awkward love/hate dynamic. How did you find their dynamic, and what each of your characters would bring to the show and the mystery? Did you have any favorite mysteries or duos that inspired you?
PARK A big part of Edwin Park was his good intentions and ability to learn. I felt like it was very reflective of the actual personal dynamic for us on set. I would just sit there, marveling at Uzo’s performance and learning from it. Our personal dynamic is so different from the dynamic of the characters, especially at the beginning of the show. It was not challenging, but a little bit surprising to be on set and laughing with Uzo and singing songs, and then to go in front of the camera and have her just berate me (laughs). It was a little jarring, but because there was so much trust and respect between us, it wasn’t as hard as it could have been.
ADUBA Randall has such an incredibly generous spirit. Naturally, he’s just such an uplifter. You’re an elevator, Randall Park.
PARK Aww.
ADUBA He brings that willingness to help and to try to Edwin in such an incredible way, despite Cordelia always pushing back. But what a catharsis and a reward at the end to be able to watch that relationship finally fuse into something that is loving and supportive. There aren’t a lot of people that Cordelia feels like she needs in the world but if she had to pick one, boy would it be Edwin Park.
Who would come first for Cordelia, Edwin or the birds?
ADUBA Oh, let’s not lose ourselves (laughs).
PARK Yeah, yeah! [Laughter]
From left: Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Larry Dokes, Dan Perrault as Colin Trask, Spencer Garrett as Wally Glick, Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp, Randall Park as Edwin Park, Andrew Friedman as Irv Samuelson, Ken Marino as Harry Hollinger, Molly Griggs as Lilly Schumacher.
Erin Simkin/Netflix
This show is centered on a murder that happens at the White House. Going into the show, did you know how the mystery ended right off the bat and who the culprit was? Or were you trying to figure it out as you read each script?
ADUBA We did know [how the mystery ends] fairly early. But for the short stretch where we didn’t know, I was curious. I was genuinely curious. I didn’t go into the job knowing. So I was genuinely curious what was going to be the end of the story. But once we did know —
PARK I was surprised.
ADUBA Same!
So you’re satisfied with the ending?
PARK Oh, yeah! I am.
In the show, there are a lot of red herrings and moments where audiences are taken in so many directions. Plus in a whodunit, everyone should typically feel like a suspect. Was there a moment that shocked you the most or a favorite suspect to explore?
PARK They were all so different!
ADUBA I was going to say everybody’s so different. Even if they were not responsible for the murder of A.B. Wynter, what really shined in this show was discovering that no one’s hands were clean. There were a lot of people who were indirectly complicit [until] the discovery. They played a role in some way for it not being clear who did it. I think watching the poor choices some of the staff play out was just exciting.
PARK There’s so many cases in this one case, because every character has their secrets. Cordelia is not just solving the main case, she’s also peeling away these people’s secret motives.
Do you envision additional seasons with new mysteries for Cordelia and Edwin to solve? What other settings do you dream of building a mystery in?
PARK Oh, my gosh. All the great cities of the world.
ADUBA The Seychelles feels like great place. You hear that Netflix? (Laughs) We should be finding our way to a beach.
PARK Or just go so out of left field and do one in Bakersfield (laughs).
ADUBA A restaurant?
PARK A diner in Bakersfield.
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The Residence is now streaming on Netflix. Read THR’s non-spoiler interview with showrunner Paul William Davies.
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