What Did the Mysterious Ending of Netflix’s ‘The Residence’ Reveal?

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The Residence is Shondaland’s wildest, most chaotic creation yet — and it’s about time! Fresh on Netflix, this eight-episode murder mystery takes you behind the glittering gates of the White House, pulling back the curtain on the true drama that unfolds in America’s most iconic residence. Created by Shonda Rhimes’s right-hand man, Paul William Davies, and inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House, the show delivers a mess of secrets, scandals, and, yes, murder, all served with a side of laugh-out-loud absurdity.

The show kicks off during the Australian State Dinner — think power, politics, and a promise of Hugh Jackman and Kylie Minogue. President Perry Morgan (played by Paul Fitzgerald) invites the Australian Prime Minister and his crew to the White House, but the evening takes a dark turn. A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito), the White House’s effortlessly smooth Chief Usher, is found dead after a scream echoes through the halls. From here, the plot thickens — literally — and the audience is thrust into a whodunit that demands your full attention. And trust us, this isn’t just any old murder mystery.

Jumping forward months after A.B.’s death, Jasmine Haney (played by Susan Kelechi Watson) — newly appointed Chief Usher — finds herself testifying in front of a Congressional committee. We’ve got Al Franken playing a surprisingly snarky senator and Eliza Coupe bringing all the sass as her unhelpful colleague. As Jasmine unpacks the wild confusion surrounding the night A.B. died, we’re introduced to Cordelia Cupp (the brilliant Uzo Aduba), the world’s most eccentric detective, who’s ready to unravel this twisted mystery — whether anyone else likes it or not.

The Residence is a mix of Knives Out mystery vibes with the chaotic energy of a reality show. Expect ridiculous plot twists, off-the-wall characters (hello, Jane Curtin as a vodka-loving grandma), and a lot of birding moments (thanks to Cordelia’s passion for binoculars). The investigation, led by Cordelia, flies all over the place, delving into staff dynamics, guest lists, and even some sneaky behind-the-scenes presidential secrets. As the pieces slowly come together, you’ll either be loving the chaos or hoping for a little more clarity — but we’ll be honest, it’s mostly the former.

In the end, the killer is someone no one saw coming — Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs), the White House social secretary. The murder is revealed in Episode 8, with Cordelia leading a tour of the White House, pointing out clues that ultimately lead to Lilly’s confession. It turns out Lilly didn’t seal the door to protect Elsyie and Bruce — she did it to hide the murder weapon: a clock she used to bludgeon A.B. to death.

A.B. had been gathering dirt on Lilly, documenting every unethical act she committed while working at the White House. The final straw came when A.B. threatened to expose her to the Morgans. Lilly couldn’t afford to let that happen — she had too much to lose. Beyond the scandal, Lilly also despised A.B., who embodied everything she loathed about the White House. For her, murder wasn’t just a way to cover her tracks; it was personal. So, when she read a journal entry that could be mistaken for a suicide note, Lilly saw an opportunity to frame A.B.’s death as self-inflicted.

She poisoned him with a deadly herbicide, which she secretly took from the gardening shed, adding it to a drink she offered A.B. under the guise of reconciliation. But when A.B. realized something was off, Lilly lost it. A vase thrown in desperation didn’t phase him, so she grabbed a clock and used it to finish what she started. She then hid the clock in the passageway between the Yellow Oval Room and the Treaty Room, securing her alibi and returning to the State Dinner as though nothing had happened.

Lilly’s attempts to cover up her tracks didn’t go as smoothly as she planned. After the murder, A.B.’s body mysteriously ended up in the Game Room, thanks to a series of misunderstandings. Bruce and Elsyie, each assuming the other was the murderer, both moved the body, eventually dragging it to different rooms, hoping to throw suspicion off themselves. The chaotic scene culminates in a truly bizarre moment where Tripp Morgan (Jason Lee) drags the body to the Game Room, adds fake evidence of wrist lacerations, and attempts to stage the scene as a suicide.

In the end, Cordelia wraps the case and returns to her true passion – birdwatching. Should there be another murder (read: a season renewal from Netflix corporate), Cordelia will be back on the scene, and Uzo Aduba will be back on our screens – exactly where we want her. If you haven’t already, be sure to stream The Residence on Netflix, and prepare to be hooked from start to finish.