Photo credit: www.thewrap.com
Note: This article reveals key details about “The Residence” Episode 8.
In the gripping narrative of “The Residence,” detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) embarks on a complex investigation into the murder of White House chief usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito). The series unfolds as Cordelia meticulously follows a labyrinth of clues that initially masked the truth behind this high-profile death.
In the premiere episode, Cordelia quickly dismisses the possibility of suicide after discovering A.B.’s wrists were cut without a murder weapon in sight. Her intuition leads her to conclude that the body was moved to the Game Room post-mortem. Throughout the series, Cordelia collaborates with FBI agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) to interview various White House staff and guests, while a Senate Committee simultaneously investigates the controversial circumstances surrounding A.B.’s death.
By the eighth episode, Cordelia presents her findings to the Senate Committee, detailing how she enlisted prime suspects to aid in her investigation. Ultimately, the murderer turned out to be closer than anyone anticipated, with the truth shrouded in unexpected complexity.
Who killed A.B. Wynter and why?
Through carefully piecing together the evidence and enlisting the help of staff and even the President’s family for one last walkthrough of the White House, Cordelia uncovers that Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs), the President’s social secretary, is responsible for A.B.’s murder.
Interviews with Lilly reveal a contentious relationship between her and A.B. He thrived on the structure and traditions of White House operations, whereas Lilly sought to innovate, often with detrimental results. Their conflict escalated during a state dinner, largely due to Lilly’s failure to secure a performer for the evening, forcing A.B. to call in Kylie Minogue among a series of other missteps.
During a heated confrontation in A.B.’s office, he reveals he is documenting her questionable practices as social chair, including deceitful dealings and financial misconduct. His intention to report her misdeeds to the President and First Gentleman (Barrett Foa) left Lilly fearing for her job. The argument culminated with Lilly taking a page from A.B.’s log, which would later be manipulated to look like a suicide note.
How and where was he killed?
The chaos of the murder night is further illustrated by previous tensions between A.B. and maid Elsyie (Julieth Restrepo), as well as engineer Bruce Geller (Mel Rodriguez), who had unreciprocated feelings for Elsyie. The quarrel with Elsyie grows in the yellow oval room, which Cordelia eventually deduces is the murder scene. After deciding on murder, Lilly stealthily retrieves plant fertilizer to concoct a poison and finds herself in a precarious situation when she overhears A.B. and Elsyie arguing.
Lilly’s attempt to poison A.B. fails as he detects something amiss and stops drinking in time. However, in a desperate move, Lilly throws a vase at him in an effort to cover her tracks but misses. Ultimately, A.B. is killed when she strikes him with a large clock hidden in a secret compartment that she later seals off.
Left in disarray, Lilly places the “suicide note” in A.B.’s pocket. Unbeknownst to her, Bruce stumbles upon the scene, mistakenly believing Elsyie was responsible, and attempts to move the body. As the investigation starts, Lilly nearly succeeds in framing Bruce and Elsyie for her heinous act.
How did A.B. end up in the game room?
Following the murder, Bruce inconveniently drags A.B.’s body from the yellow oval room to a vacant guest room, inadvertently leaving a partygoer, Tripp (Jason Lee), shocked upon awakening beside the corpse. In a frenzy, Tripp moves the body to the Game Room, believing he is helping cover up the mess. He further complicates matters by taking a note linked to A.B. and using Didier’s (Bronson Pinchot) knife to stage the scene as a suicide.
Didier later discovers his knife near the body, cleans it, and returns it to avoid involvement, unwittingly setting the stage for a scene that Nan Cox (Jane Curtin) uncovers while waiting for a drink, thus igniting the investigation.
Is this the end for Cordelia Cupp?
Ultimately, after unraveling the mystery, Cordelia prepares to leave the country for a birdwatching adventure. Before she departs, Edwin gifts her a present with the stipulation that she should not open it until she’s on the plane. A brief detour leads her back to the White House, where she learns that the first couple is returning post-investigation. In a poignant moment, her first informant, Nan, recalls having suspected the killer all along, suggesting a simpler resolution might have been possible.
The narrative concludes with Cordelia taking a reflective glance at the Game Room, hinting at her deep connection to the case. While a second season has not yet been confirmed, creator Paul William Davies has expressed interest in revisiting Cordelia for future mysteries, suggesting that her story within the White House remains open for exploration.
“The Residence” is now available for streaming on Netflix.
Source
www.thewrap.com