Following the finale ofScandalin 2018, the new Shondaland show,The Residence, is finally taking audiences back to the White House with a completely new story.The Residencecenters on a White House state dinner gone wrong when the White House Chief Usher is found dead.The Residence’s castis led by Uzo Aduba as the talented and witty detective Cordelia Cupp who is called in to find the killer. Immediately following its premiere,The Residencehas received a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, showing that it could become Shondaland’s next hit.
It is unsurprising thatThe Residencehas already been met with praise, given just how successful Shonda Rhimes' career has been for several decades now. Many ofShondaland’s TV showshave been met with critical praise and millions of fans. Indeed,Grey’s Anatomyis still going strong after 20 years andBridgertoncontinues to grow in popularity with each new season.The Residence’s positive reviewsshow that the producer has not missed a beat as audience interests have evolved, marking it as the highest-rated Shondaland series sinceScandalitself.
The Residence Brings Shondaland Back To The White House After Scandal’s Ending
The Shows Share More Than Just Their Setting
LikeScandal, The Residenceallows Shondaland fans to return to the gripping political setting of the White House, but with a murder mystery twist. However, they have more than just their setting in common. In addition to Shonda Rhimes serving as a producer forThe Residence(she was also the creator and writer for Scandal in addition to producing),the two Washington, DC-centered shows are connected by Paul William Davies. Davies was a writer forScandaland is credited as the creator and an executive producer ofThe Residence.
Beyond those involved and the setting,ScandalandThe Residenceboth benefit from interesting and complex relationships between the characters that are only uncovered after deeper digging. The shows both highlight the intricacies of life in the White House and just how many people are involved in running things smoothly. What’s more, much likeScandal’s frequent and shocking reveals about the lives of its characters throughout its seven seasons,The Residencehighlights the idea that there is much more to people than meets the eye, and that can be dangerous.
The Residence Is Much More Comedic Than Scandal
There Are Some Notable Differences Too
WhileThe Residencehas a lot of really great aspects in common withScandal, there are also some pretty notable differences too. First and foremost,The Residenceis a murder mystery that is more along the lines ofKnives Out, whereScandalleans more in the direction of a true political drama. WhileScandalcertainly had its fair share of deaths,The Residencetruly frames the murder as a whodunit with a lot of comedic moments. The series' eight-episode format serves as the perfect way to unravel the case, with a great pace and a satisfying ending.
The Residence Season 1 Ending Explained: Why THAT Character Killed AB Wynter
The Residence season 1 followed Detective Cordelia Cupp through a whodunit set at the White House. After 8 episodes, the true killer was revealed.
The Residencereally benefits from the added comedy included in its murder mystery, taking after some of the best recent additions to the genre while still remaining unique in its own ways. Though the series does have some notable differences from its Shondaland predecessor, the two pair well together thanks to the consistently great writing quality and style featured in both. In short,The Residenceis the perfect new show for fans ofScandalwho are willing to branch out to a more comedic take on life (and death) in the White House.
The Residence
Cast
Based on the novel by Kate Andersen Brower, The Residence is a drama-mystery series created by Paul William Davies. The series follows a detective named Cordelia Cupp, who is brought in to solve a strange murder that occurs during a White House state dinner, causing the staff to begin to question one another as to who could have committed the crime.
