--- title: "The Residence: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-residence/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-residence" critics_score: 59 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Residence (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 59 from 11 reviews: 5 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews are mixed on The Residence, though praise repeatedly centres on Uzo Aduba’s eccentric detective and the energy of the ensemble. Most critics find something to enjoy in the performances, even when the mystery tries their patience. The more enthusiastic accounts welcome the White House setting, screwball humour and elaborate puzzle, finding that the series works when it gives its cast room to be funny. The chief complaints concern length, pacing and complication: several critics find the mystery padded, frenetic or burdened with unnecessary framing devices. The spread is wide, with the same chaotic approach producing sharply different responses. Digital Spy treats the timeline jumps and farce as strengths that sustain the guessing game; Radio Times finds the noise, characters and central pairing exhausting rather than amusing. Even some favourable reviews question the eight-episode length or note a slow opening. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2025. The critic calls it a joyful, gleeful murder mystery and a gorgeous romp that provides fantastic escapism. They single out Uzo Aduba's magnetic, funny performance as the standout element in an ensemble that shines throughout. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/20/the-residence-review-netflix-white-house-mystery-uzo-aduba) ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2025. The series is a hilarious, eclectic and often bizarre murder mystery that mostly works as an overwhelming puzzle, delivering the closest thing to a comedy from Shondaland when it amps up the humor. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/the-residence-review-netflix-1236340447/) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2025. The critic describes the bird-watching sleuth as a hoot in this White House Cluedo-style drama. They single out the premise and lead performance for praise but question stretching the screwball story over eight episodes. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-residence-review-uzo-adubas-birding-sleuth-plays-white-house-cluedo-gs5cmsrz5) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2025. The critic finds the series amusing yet exhausting overall. Aduba's eccentric performance and the ensemble's energy stand out amid an overstuffed mystery hampered by frenetic tone and pacing. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-residence-review-uzo-aduba-1236168527/) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Rating C. 20 March 2025. The critic finds the Shondaland whodunit a frivolous, well-padded mystery that imitates influences capably but treads water too often and traps its lead in a hollow character. The affable cast helps episodes go down easily, but the series struggles to shape its own story. [Read the review](https://indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-residence-review-uzo-aduba-netflix-1235104286) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2025. The critic finds it a witty screwball comedy with a wonderful lead in Uzo Aduba but criticizes it as overwrought, overly long, frenetic and full of unnecessary swearing. They single out Aduba's deadpan performance for praise while faulting the writing, direction and pacing. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-residence-netflix-review-shonda-rhimes-uzo-aduba/) ## The AV Club — Sarah Shaffi Rating C-. 20 March 2025. The critic calls the series too clever for its own good, overcomplicating a locked-room mystery with unnecessary framing devices like a Senate committee hearing and heavy bird metaphors. Uzo Aduba is magnetic as the eccentric detective, and the ensemble is strong, but the show should have stuck to the basics. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-residence-review-tv-netflix) ## Evening Standard — Adam Bloodworth Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2025. The critic deems it a tacky, murderously dull whodunnit that is bad TV built on a slapstick, unfunny premise and inane meta jokes. They single out the predictable formula ripped from Bridgerton and the stream of limp one-liners for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-residence-netflix-review-shondaland-b1217578.html) ## Radio Times — David Craig Rating 1/5. 20 March 2025. The critic finds the series gimmicky, loud and annoying as a cosy crime entry, with an over-caffeinated cast of horrible characters, no real jokes and an exhausting dynamic between leads. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-residence-review-netflix/) ## Digital Spy — Janet A Leigh Rating 5/5. 20 March 2025. The critic praises the series as a real whodunnit that keeps viewers engrossed and guessing if they lean into its chaotic, whimsical energy and farce. The quirky lead performance, layered ensemble, and pacy narrative with timeline jumps are singled out as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a64230964/the-residence-review-netflix/) ## Collider — Carly Lane Rating 8/10. 20 March 2025. The critic praises the series as a bold addition to the murder mystery genre on streaming, highlighting Uzo Aduba's standout performance as the unconventional detective Cordelia Cupp whose birding-inspired methods drive the investigation. The large ensemble and quirky tone are singled out positively, though the review notes the first episode is slow to start. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-residence-netflix-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-residence.md