How The Residence, Alcohol, and a Fight Saved my Weekend

Netflix, but no chill. We were too broke to go out, we were tired and angry at each other. 'What do you want to watch?' 'Whatever.' Scrolling up and down and left and right, for forty minutes. That was the start of our Friday night. We landed on The Residence by accident. A light, funny, murder mystery miniseries. The trailer looked like background noise, something we could ignore while continuing to ignore each other.

By the end of the night, we were having fun and coming up with impossible theories about the murder. Also, we were both shitfaced. I can't even remember what the fight was about (maybe that's part of the problem?), but what I do remember is that The Residence somehow helped.

If you find yourself in an argument with your significant other this weekend, and you also feel like getting drunk and binge watching a show, have I got the perfect combo for you.

Since I can't remember much about this murder mystery, there won't be any spoilers. Also, that would be kind of pointless, I think.

The Residence is a comedy mystery show about a murder (or was it?) at the White House. The best detective in the world, Cordelia Cupp, must find out who killed Chief Usher, AB Wynter, during a state dinner for the Australian Prime Minister. It won't be easy, as there were hundreds of guests and staff present that night, and everyone seemed to have a reason to kill the guy.

It's silly, but the mystery itself is pretty smart and engaging. Half-way through the first episode I was locked in, so I decided to pour myself a gin and tonic (becaue I'm boring). My girlfriend got mad at me because I didn't make her one. So I did, and that would end up being a great idea.

Tension Builds up Inside the House

After the first round of drinks, I started thinking, "Should I start an argument?" I know she was thinking the same thing, maybe more nuanced, but still. I could see it in her eyes. We live in a one-bedroom apartment, there's nowhere you can go to get away from the other person. The geography of our house promotes conflict.

I have no idea how real the show is in terms of geography of the White House, but everything feels authentic. The White House itself is a character, it's a physical and emotional presence. One of the best aspects of the mystery is the care for the spatial aspect of the building.

From the opening scene, we are introduced to the layout, the flow of people, where each person is supposed to be. A few episodes in and you know the place, you've walked the halls with Cordelia Cupp a hundred times. Everything is grounded.

On the emotional side, there's a great scene where the Assistant Usher explains the relationship between the staff, the president's family, and the outside world. The White House is its own ecosystem with love, grudges, fights. Sounds familiar.

You Want to Blame Someone

The show pulls you in and forces you to watch another episode. It's addictive: you keep watching for the next clue, you want Cupp to go back to the one character you're suspicious about, you wonder when they'll finally pull on that loose thread from three episodes ago.

That's mostly accomplished by the structure. Basically, the show follows three main timelines:

• The Congressional Hearing, where suspects and everyone involved in the case narrates what happened on the night of the murder.
• The state dinner, the night of the murder; there are many, many, many things going on at the White House on that night.
• And, finally, the flashbacks that reveal how each suspect had a grudge against AB.

The Residence is not a hard story to follow, but alcohol makes it a bit more complicated than it should. It adds to the mystery. Also, there are some red herrings here and there, and my drunk mind couldn't comprehend that.

Each episode focuses on a different suspect and their relationship to AB. Flashbacks show us their grudges and how everyone else at the White House perceived them. At the same time, the episode continues with the investigation as Detective Cupp finds more clues, backtracks, and interrogates the suspects.

Truth be told, I would've been absolutely lost if my girlfriend hadn't been there explaining things to me. I couldn't figure out when things were happening, and I was starting to confuse characters. Somehow, my ineptitude created a bridge between us. If she didn't want to be constantly interrupted by my slowness, she would have to talk to me and explain what was going on.

Cheaper than Therapy and Easier than Solving the Actual Problem

After a while, the show pulled us both in. We didn't say a word during the first episode. Then, half-way through the second one, I said, without thinking, "It was the pastry chef." She was not having it. "How could he have done it? Why would they solve the mystery in episode 2 of 8? We haven't even met all the suspects yet."

In retrospect, all good points, but I was already tipsy by then, so my deductive skills were not too sharp. But just like that, we were speaking to each other again. After a few shots of tequila, we were actually solving a murder together.

The Residence made us drunk enough to forget why we were mad in the first place, which did the trick. It fosters interaction in a weird way. Half the fun of coming up with a theory is sharing it with someone and have them pick it apart. And then you do that to them. It's like a way of playfully attacking each other without getting into a real fight.

A Great Drinking Game

Running gags, one after another. Along with the mystery, this is the soul of the show. At first, we were just drinking when something funny happened. As the show kept going, we came up with a system.

Take 1 Sip When:

• Cordelia Cupp talks about birds or spots one
• A badly-drawn name card by the calligrapher appears
• The Secret Service guy says something dumb
• Someone threatens AB Wynter
• The Senators get into an argument during the hearings

Take 2 Sips When:

• AB Wynter is a hardass to someone on the staff
• Someone explains Cupp doesn't have 'suspects'
• The suicide note gets a dramatic mention

Take a Shot When:

• There’s a twist that actually surprises you
• Hugh Jackman is mentioned
• Cupp stays silent and lets a suspect dig their own grave

Final Episode Challenge:

• Before the final episode, write down your top suspect. If you're wrong, you take 3 shots.

Who Did It?

Of course, the final episode is the one where Cupp does a masterful recapitulation of events. She goes room by room, clue by clue, and suspect by suspect. Every time she speaks, your guess changes. It all builds up to a final reveal...

Unfortunately, I was way too wasted by the end. I know I watched it, but the next morning I couldn't remember who the killer was. I remember laughing. I remember shouting at the screen. Just a vague, general feeling of a great time.

This weekend, if you find yourself fighting with your partner, don’t go to therapy. Watch The Residence. Play the drinking game. Solve the murder. Forget who did it. Forget the fight.