Netflix’s new whodunit series The Residence gives fans a large number of potential suspects to ponder over regarding head White House usher A.B. Wynter’s murder. As Cordelia Cupp works to figure out who’s behind the crime, here’s who tops the list of suspects after the first three episodes of Shonda Rhimes’ murder mystery.
The Residence’s Most Obvious Suspect – Didier Gotthard
If anyone seemed to want A.B. (Giancarlo Esposito) dead, it’s chef Didier Gotthard, played by Bronson Pinchot. Fans saw Didier and A.B. clash twice regarding the chef’s work for White House events.
At the end of episode 2 of The Residence, Cordelia (Uzo Aduba) and Edwin Park (Randall Park) noticed that Didier was acting suspicious. Cordelia also noticed that he had a blue chalk stain on the back of his white uniform. In what appeared to be a flashback, fans saw Didier in the room with A.B.’s body where he accidentally knocked some blue pool chalk to the ground with his back and it left a mark.
In the following episode, Didier was seen frantically cleaning blood from one of his kitchen knives before attempting to dispose of the weapon in an incinerator. Viewers then learned more about A.B. and Didier’s past. Didier became furious when A.B. was forced to move the gingerbread replica of the White House he had worked on for months from the State Dining Room, where it had been displayed every Christmas for the last 50 years. The two men also got into an argument when A.B. chose to remove the decorative kangaroos off the top of the desserts he made for the State Dinner where the Australian Prime Minister was the guest. Plus, to make matters worse for Didier, the gingerbread replica he made of A.B. was found with a miniature knife in its back.
Regardless, things are not looking great for Didier, but could all of these things be a red herring to throw viewers off? Cordelia seems to think Didier is innocent, but that doesn’t rule him out completely just yet.
Is The Residence’s Lily Schumacher Killing With Kindness?
White House Social Secretary Lily Schumacher (Molly Griggs) is all smiles to (almost) everyone’s face, but that might be because her entire job revolves around making the administration look good. However, throughout the first three episodes of The Residence, Lily seems to annoy more people than impress them.
In flashbacks, Lily is seen butting heads with A.B. on numerous occasions and her push for more modern parties (I.V. drips at the Christmas party, a “wellness” room and more) had A.B. twitching from irritation. Plus, Lily did not like getting pushback from the head usher who wanted to maintain a classic look similar to the ones the White House had in the past, and since he began working there.
Lily’s seeming dislike for A.B. and her constant contact with a slew of other employees make her one fans should definitely keep an eye on in the future.
Harry Hollinger Wants to Wrap Up the Investigation a Little Too Quickly
From the moment A.B.’s body was found in the first episode of The Residence, Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino), one of the president’s oldest friends and closest advisors, has dug in his heels against Cordelia’s investigation. Harry has attempted to undermine and discredit Cordelia at every turn, and it seems as though he doesn’t want the death being looked at too closely. In fact, he wanted to write A.B.’s death off as a suicide despite the obvious clues that he was murdered.
Harry doesn’t seem interested in getting to the bottom of the case and seemingly just wants to make it all go away instead. Could Harry’s push to fast track the case hint that he has something more sinister to hide?
The Residence is currently streaming on Netflix.