Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

S01.E08: The Mystery of the Yellow Room

AnimeMania

By AnimeMania
in The Residence

Recommended Posts

Zaffy

Zaffy

(edited)

Absolutely satisfying end.
The murderer was the worst person of all and I am glad Cordelia got her.

Every actor was great, but Giancarlo Esposito was amazing. 
Dedicated to Andre Braugher, who was supposed to play Wynter, but.... :(

Overall a very entertaining series. Very well acted, directed and written.
Maybe 1 episode too long, but still I was never bored.

Series MPV: I am between the calligrapher who had lost his mojo and Patrick Doumbe's crazy eyes!

I wouldn't mind to see Cordelia Cap in our screens again. Make it happen please!

Edited by Zaffy
  • Like 17
peridot

peridot

The beginning with Wynter and the painter was really good.  I'm glad they showed some of who he was and why his murder was so terrible.  He was so exhausted by his job and the crazy, endless night. 

When Cordelia imagined him in front of her and explained his thought process, I choked up a bit.

I was disgusted at how the people around him treated him after he died.  I hope they get charged with something for it.

The murderer was completely heartless.

  • Like 5
Black Knight

Black Knight

(edited)

I binged the whole series. Other than the odd choice to spend so much time on a long unbroken sequence of the love story between Elsyie and Bruno, which brought the show's momentum to a screeching halt just before the finale, it was all great. I really hope there's another Cordelia Cupp case.

I had thought it was odd in an earlier episode when Lilly made a whole thing about not wanting to drag Elsyie into it before finally naming her, but then there was an "everyone loves Elsyie" bit and other stuff happened and I forgot all about it. But it was weird and I'm glad that ended up having an explanation - Lilly was the real murderer!

For a while I personally had Jasmine down as the murderer and I thought the choice of Elsyie's son reading Murder of Roger Ackroyd was a clue in that direction. But after her motive was outed to Cordelia in a way that meant, if Jasmine was the murderer, Cordelia wouldn't have done anything to solve the case, it was just handed to her, I knew it wasn't Jasmine. I'm glad it ended up being Lilly since she was an awful person. I would also have been okay with it being Harry, since he was terrible too, but I knew it couldn't be him as he wouldn't have brought Cordelia back. I didn't really want to see any of the others go down for the murder.

Edited by Black Knight
  • Like 3
ribboninthesky1

ribboninthesky1

Overall, I was entertained, although I felt like the season could have been 6 episodes, maybe 7.  This one was an hour and a half, and I felt it. 

The pacing and humor started off great. There were times I was laughing so hard, I couldn't breathe.  But episode 6 felt a bit wobbly, save for the Mr. Doumbe intro.  Episode 7 felt like filler, and the Episode 8 reveal felt a bit dragged out.  I am glad that Wynter got justice. I suspected the whole "us vs them" spiel from Jasmine in an earlier episode would come into play in an unexpected way and it did.     

I don't know when this was filmed, but the social commentary about the rich buying their way into and having contempt for the White House, sowing malicious destruction from within, while pretending to care, was scarily prescient. 

Uzo Aduba seemed to be channeling Whoopi Goldberg in the trailer for this when I first saw it, and that impression remained til the end.  Still, I liked Cordelia.  And Uzo did a great job with the dialogue, especially the birding commentary. The cast overall was fantastic.  No small parts.   

  • Like 13
  • Love 1
twoods

twoods

Great series and very satisfying ending since the person I hated the most was the murderer. I feel sad that Wynter gave up his life and was pretty much disregarded by everyone in the house after he worked his ass off. Cordelia did a great tribute to him and his sacrifice.

Hope they do a second season with another murder in the Whitr House. Loved all the quirky characters.

  • Like 4
OlderThanDirt

OlderThanDirt

Talk about ripped from the headlines. There was even a reference to Greenland. 

When did Wynter put the journal in the library? He wasn't done for the night.

And I'm glad the murderer wasn't the most recognizable actor. I hate it when a recognized name is playing such a minor role so you know they will turn out to be the killer.

  • Like 4
Black Knight

Black Knight

14 hours ago, twoods said:

I feel sad that Wynter gave up his life and was pretty much disregarded by everyone in the house after he worked his ass off. Cordelia did a great tribute to him and his sacrifice.

Wynter certainly didn't deserve to be murdered. But I'm glad the show wrote him in a nuanced way as the decent but flawed man he was. He was often cold and lacked the human touch, so it's not surprising that people disregarded him, because he had shown them he had no regard for them. His successor Jasmine will be an improvement.

  • Like 4
possibilities

possibilities

I love Uzo Adubo. I would like to see Cordelia Cupp again. If they had not called it "The Residence" they could easily move her to new cases in other places. I hope they do make another season.

I suspected Jasmine, but was glad she wasn't the culprit.

I weep for the loss of Andre Braugher. No shade to Giancarlo Esposito, who did a great job. I just miss Braugher and feel sad whenever I think about him being gone. 

  • Like 4
  • Hugs 1
  • Sad 1
  • Love 2
chaifan

chaifan

I couldn't even let a day pass after watching Ep. 7 before I gave in and turned on Ep. 8.  This is one of those shows I wish they released only one episode a week, as I think it allows things to simmer a bit.  I wasn't expecting an hour & a half final episode, but I'm glad they gave it the time they did.  I'll disagree with others that thought this could be 6 or 7 episodes.  I loved the pacing of the entire show.  

I loved how the two senators were best buds by the end of the hearing.  The Colorado Senator coming to sit next to Franken at the end, and comparing their lists was great.

I did not know that Andre Brauer was supposed to play Wynter.  I wonder if they would have had to have someone else playing Bruce, though.  Brauer is a much larger guy than Esposito, and I don't know if I could buy Bruce carrying Brauer up a flight of stairs on his own.  

I'm sure this was fully written, and likely fully shot before the 2024 elections, but damn, the social/political commentary with Lily was dead on.   (Rich people steal money.  Say it isn't so!)

I was expecting the curator to be involved, especially once Cordelia was noticing the paintings had been switched around.  I was wondering if there was art theft going on, replacing originals with forgeries.  

I really do hope another Cordelia Cupp mystery is in the works.  Not at the White House, but with her ties to the DC police chief it could easily stay in DC.  Maybe a murder in the Capitol?  oooh, they could have it take place during the State of the Union, and kill off the Designated Survivor!  Or, if they want to keep with The Residence theme, maybe she's visiting London and there's a murder in Buckingham Palace.  

A few loose ends I wish they tied up...

What the hell was wrong with the calligrapher?  Given Wynter's pursuit of perfection, it was just weird that he let those place cards go out as they were.  I expected a tie in somehow.

I wish we'd seen the boy from across the street getting his White House tour - maybe in one of the flashbacks when Lily was redecorating the White House.

Who did Cordelia arrange immunity for before everyone was gathered in the East Room?  She said something about arranging immunity, right?  Or did I mishear something?

 

  • Like 7
  • Useful 1
lovett1979

lovett1979

20 hours ago, possibilities said:

I love Uzo Adubo. I would like to see Cordelia Cupp again. If they had not called it "The Residence" they could easily move her to new cases in other places. I hope they do make another season.

She's definitely the highlight of the whole thing. I absolutely think they can make more seasons. Think about Knives Out. That title was specific to that case. But then they made Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and are making more, I think. @chaifan had some good ideas for new cases, and I'd add my thought of maybe something happening at Camp David and the President calls for Cordelia to solve it, under the radar.

  • Like 3
  • Useful 1
DearEvette

DearEvette

I couldn't help it. I binged it over two nights. 

This was delightful. Grade of 'A'. No Notes!

I was truly flummoxed over the murderer.  I didn't have a top three but I thought it might have either been Jasmine, or Elliot (they just made him seem so slippery).

I am thrilled it was Lilly.  I hated her.  So it was fun to see how it tied up with her.  I loved the flashback explanations and reminders of the all the little breadcrumbs.  I also  loved Cordelia Cupp's version of "I suppose you're wondering why I gathered you together here today."  Her whole intro speech and assuring them she'd discover who did it by the end the night was great. And her ending eulogy about Wynter was a lovely bookend.

Pretty much everything Cordelia and Uzo Aduba was just fantastic.

The casting was wonderful.  All off the staff looked like they could be long time staffers.  But I especially liked Bronson Pinchot, Susan Kelechi Watson, Edwina Findley (Sheila), and Randall Park the most. And I enjoyed Al Franken and Eliza Coup's energy. 

Sheila's episode as the stand-out for me and the actress stole every scene she was in.

I LOVED the cross-cuts.  They were clever and well placed we finally saw why the 'laughing guy with the hair' got fired, what a great pay off.  Just three quick 2 second scenes and he was that memorable.

Outside of the murder mystery, one of the things I enjoyed so much was just how much the story was about the people who worked there, the running of the house, the philosophy of the work and the workers, and how much of the Residence we got to see.  And even though the contrast between Lilly and Wynter seemed to be analogy of the difference between the spoiled, rich, powerful people who steal and hurt  regular people and just don't care vs. the people who just want to work and make the they system work for everyone, the show managed to be pretty apolitical.

I hope we get another season. 

  • Like 6
  • Useful 1
rejnel

rejnel

(edited)

Loved it. Got way too hooked.

Quote

What the hell was wrong with the calligrapher?  

Yes, needed some payoff.

Quote

I wish we'd seen the boy from across the street getting his White House tour - maybe in one of the flashbacks when Lily was redecorating the White House.

Absolutely! I thought that was where Cordelia was headed when she stopped at the White House en route to the airport. Jane Curtin's character had no emotional resonance and was a pointless final beat. I wanted to see the boy again, and see Cordelia reconnect with him. 

Loved the long wrap-up and the moral notes struck.

ETA: curious that Taran Killam's character wasn't at the final gathering, though that might have drawn too much attention to Lily. As it was, even with a few lingering shots of her, she didn't feel super present as a suspect, more like a perpetual background presence. The "BLINK" moment really got me. 

Speaking of Randall Park: Randall Park! So good!

And I think this was my favorite Ken Marino role--I love his usual buffoonery, but it was cool to see him as someone with some heft. 

Edited by rejnel
Adding a couple more thoughts.
  • Like 2
shapeshifter

shapeshifter

On 3/25/2025 at 11:40 PM, ribboninthesky1 said:

Uzo Aduba seemed to be channeling Whoopi Goldberg in the trailer for this when I first saw it, and that impression remained til the end.  Still, I liked Cordelia.  And Uzo did a great job with the dialogue, especially the birding commentary. The cast overall was fantastic.  No small parts.   

Yes.
I appreciated all the subtle channeling of other political commentators and figures too. Al Franken as Senator Aaron Filkins kind of hung a lantern on it.

 

On 3/29/2025 at 12:26 AM, twoods said:

Hope they do a second season with another murder in the Whitr House. Loved all the quirky characters.

On 3/29/2025 at 6:56 PM, possibilities said:

I love Uzo Adubo. I would like to see Cordelia Cupp again. If they had not called it "The Residence" they could easily move her to new cases in other places. I hope they do make another season.

On 3/30/2025 at 12:30 PM, chaifan said:

Or, if they want to keep with The Residence theme, maybe she's visiting London and there's a murder in Buckingham Palace.  

Or, if a "Residence" in Britain or Australia or Canada becomes politically off-the-table IRL: Moscow?
j/k
sort of.

 

On 3/30/2025 at 12:30 PM, chaifan said:

This is one of those shows I wish they released only one episode a week, as I think it allows things to simmer a bit. 

For me, all shows are "one of those shows."
Bingeing makes me miss stuff.
But this show did an excellent — perhaps unprecedented? — job of recapping in each episode in an organic way

 

On 3/30/2025 at 12:30 PM, chaifan said:

I loved how the two senators were best buds by the end of the hearing.  The Colorado Senator coming to sit next to Franken at the end, and comparing their lists was great.

It was a refreshingly post-partisan.

 

On 3/29/2025 at 12:49 PM, OlderThanDirt said:

Talk about ripped from the headlines. There was even a reference to Greenland. 

When was this written?

  • Like 1
MisterGlass

MisterGlass

I enjoyed the show but I think I'm a little milder on it than some are.  It was a fun premise with unapologetic references to cozy crime fiction.  I do think outside Cordelia the characters were thin.  The show relied on the personalities and charm of its actors to add life to the proceedings.  The cast did that well, and it was a stacked list of character actors, but it needed to be.  I think it also needed the jumps in time and the recap inserts to keep it lively.  It was a bit long for the story it had to tell.

Ken Marino was wonderfully punchable, and Giancarlo Esposito was excellent.  The tribute to Andre Braugher was kind.

I half hoped they would pull off a 10 second cameo of the real Hugh Jackman in the final episode.

On 4/2/2025 at 7:43 PM, rejnel said:
Quote

What the hell was wrong with the calligrapher?  

Yes, needed some payoff.

This.  I thought sure he'd witnessed something or was in on it.

  • Like 4
LuvMyShows

LuvMyShows

(edited)
On 4/2/2025 at 8:43 PM, rejnel said:

I thought that was where Cordelia was headed when she stopped at the White House en route to the airport. Jane Curtin's character had no emotional resonance and was a pointless final beat.

And I think this was my favorite Ken Marino role--I love his usual buffoonery, but it was cool to see him as someone with some heft. 

The ending with Jane Curtin really let the air out of my sails of enthusiasm, although I did enjoy it. The first few episodes were slow to gel with me, but once I got into it, I began to enjoy it a lot more.

What was up with Ken Marino's fake beard? IIRC, they never explained why he had supposedly grown it, so it wasn't necessary plot-wise. And every time they showed him with it, I fixated on it to the point of distraction from everything else that was going on!

Edited by LuvMyShows
LuvMyShows

LuvMyShows

Had a couple other thoughts...

Most of who they cast was just perfect for the part. However, I thought the chef was miscast. She seemed just flat-out crazy, and not alpha-dog crazy. IIRC, there was no explanation about why she was able to get away with that behavior, and she didn't exude egomaniacal genius, which would have at least helped explain it.

I also thought the scene with the kid across the street from the White House was misplayed. I think several of us were confused about who the kid was, because IIRC there were no introductions. She just walked in and immediately spoke as if she knew the kid, which is what made it seem like it was her nephew who we had already met. Plus I found it very implausible that both parents would have slept through all that, without giving us any explanation why.

And finally, apparently the door connecting the Yellow Room and the Treaty Room was used by quite a few people, so I think someone would have noticed that it had been sealed, and would have said something.

DearEvette

DearEvette

On 4/23/2025 at 11:13 PM, LuvMyShows said:

And finally, apparently the door connecting the Yellow Room and the Treaty Room was used by quite a few people, so I think someone would have noticed that it had been sealed, and would have said something.

I think by that time enough time had passed and so much renovation had happened with  things being moved around and everyone just handwaving Lily's supposed inept organization and overall chaos,that people just assumed it was not worth mentioning? 

  • Like 1
CatWarmer

CatWarmer

I enjoyed most of this series and was hoping that it would end up as Lily. I think the film editor should get an Emmy for the perfect cuts throughout.  But the last episode was far too long of a denouement for my liking. And the detective got much more dramatic than she had been most of the time.  I'm guessing that the extended reveal is a parody of shows where the  detective gives a lengthy exposition of how they figured out the murderer. Although in this case, she didn't until near the end.  At any rate, too much talk and not enough show in the finale for me.

 

But I'm glad I watched it and loved the characters.  And the secrets of the White House! When our son was about eight or so (decades ago), we did one the tours arranged via our Congressional Representative.  We got to the Blue Room and our son says, "Blue is my favorite color."  The docent says to him, come on under the rope and seats him on one the couches.  He then proceeds to describe everything  - above the young gentleman is a painting of so and so, and across from the young gentleman is such and such.  We were thrilled but our son was petrified to move for fear of disrupting something.  Too bad photos were not allowed.

shapeshifter

shapeshifter

On 4/23/2025 at 11:13 PM, LuvMyShows said:

Most of who they cast was just perfect for the part. However, I thought the chef was miscast. She seemed just flat-out crazy, and not alpha-dog crazy. IIRC, there was no explanation about why she was able to get away with that behavior, and she didn't exude egomaniacal genius, which would have at least helped explain it.

I just assumed her food was divine, so her craziness was excused. Like a caricature of Gordon Ramsey. 
But her meals were being thwarted by Lilly and Lilly's guru bf, so maybe that's why she seems "just flat-out crazy" — which helped keep her in the running as the murderer.

  • Like 1
tennisgurl

tennisgurl

I would love to see more Cordelia Cupp mysteries, I really enjoyed that season. I love cozy mysteries with quicky detectives and big dysfunctional ensembles of suspects, and I am really glad that the killer turned out to be the worst person we have met. I was worried that the killer would be Jasmine or even the dorky secret service agent, due to the reference to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, but I am glad that it was Lilly. In retrospect it does make a lot of sense. 

I am glad that Cupp took time to memorialize Wynter, he wasn't a perfect person or boss, but he was a good person who was trying to do what he could in a job he loved. It was a nice touch that when she was talking about him you could see that several of the cast were getting emotional, especially the staff. 

I really enjoyed learning more about the innerworkings of the White House and its staff, the many traditions and rules and how much work is going on behind the scenes, I love when we get to explore the lives of people who have important but underseen jobs. 

Uzo Aduba is so good, I could watch her talk birds and murder all day.

  • Like 2
  • Applause 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...