Netflix has introduced a captivating murder mystery series that has captivated viewers, but concerns are mounting that it might face the same fate as the platform’s past series, Mindhunter.
Developed by Paul William Davies, The Residence is inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s book, The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House. This intriguing series is brought to life by Shondaland, the production company founded by renowned producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes.
The cast features acclaimed actors such as Giancarlo Esposito from Breaking Bad and Uzo Aduba from Orange is the New Black, along with talents like Molly Griggs, Ken Marino, and Randall Park.
The plot unfolds within the White House, offering a glimpse into its behind-the-scenes world, with ‘132 rooms’, ‘one disastrous State Dinner’, ‘157 suspects’, ‘1 dead body’, and ‘1 wildly eccentric detective’. It’s a recipe for a riveting storyline.
Despite the show’s immediate popularity, fans are worried it might end up like Mindhunter, another of Netflix’s crime dramas that was ultimately canceled despite its success.
Mindhunter, launched in 2017, was a hit among crime enthusiasts, but it did not secure a third season. The series, developed by Joe Penhall and executive produced by Charlize Theron, David Fincher, and Penhall, boasted a stellar Rotten Tomatoes rating of 97% and a 95% audience score.
Unfortunately, the cost of producing the show proved prohibitive. David Fincher, who directed numerous episodes, explained to Empire in 2020 that the expenses of the second season were too high to justify a third season.
Fincher stated: “Listen, for the viewership that it had, it was an expensive show. We talked about ‘Finish [Fincher’s Netflix film] Mank and then see how you feel,’ but I honestly don’t think we’re going to be able to do it for less than I did season two. And on some level, you have to be realistic about dollars have to equal eyeballs.”
After viewing The Residence, a Twitter user commented: “The Residence looks so good. I think Netflix is going to cancel it.”
While the comment might seem contradictory, it reflects the pattern of popular crime dramas on Netflix being axed prematurely.
Although Mindhunter’s future seems sealed, there’s hope that The Residence won’t meet the same end.
The Residence premiered on March 20 and has already garnered a flood of reviews.
One Twitter user praised the show: “Amazing performance, delicious who done it!”
Another added: “I was seated.”
A third viewer suggested: “Hear me out: I need “The Residence” on @netflix to become a long-running anthology series where Cordelia gets hired to solve investigations of murders in different countries’ Presidential Residencies.”
Netflix, what do you think?