A tantalizing new murder mystery has landed on Netflix, quickly captivating audiences with its intricate plot and star-studded cast. But just days after its release, fans are already voicing concerns that it could meet the same unfortunate fate as Mindhunter.
The Residence, created by Paul William Davies and produced by Shondaland, is inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House. Starring Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito and Orange is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba, the series also features Molly Griggs, Ken Marino, and Randall Park.
Set within the backstairs of the White House, the show teases a gripping mystery: 132 rooms. One disastrous State Dinner. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective.
With such an irresistible premise, it’s no surprise the show has viewers hooked. However, fans are now fearing a repeat of Netflix’s history—specifically, the so-called Mindhunter treatment.
Despite being widely acclaimed, Mindhunter was ultimately axed after just two seasons, much to the dismay of its devoted fanbase. The crime thriller, created by Joe Penhall and executive-produced by David Fincher and Charlize Theron, earned near-perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes (97% critic rating, 95% audience score). Even Stephen King publicly praised the show.
Yet, despite its success, Netflix never greenlit a third season. Fincher later revealed that Mindhunter was simply too costly to justify its viewership numbers. Speaking to Empire in 2020, he explained:
“Listen, for the viewership that it had, it was an expensive show… You have to be realistic—dollars have to equal eyeballs.”
Now, The Residence fans are worried history could repeat itself. They’re hoping Netflix gives this 10/10 show the time it deserves—before another beloved series meets an untimely end.
The Residence hit Netflix just days ago (Netflix)
After watching The Residence, one Twitter user wrote: “The Residence looks so good. I think Netflix is going to cancel it.”
Granted, that sentence doesn’t seem to make any sense, but if you look at some of the streaming service’s other much-loved crime dramas, you’ll see what the user is trying to get at.
Well, it may be too late for Mindhunter – or is it Netflix? – but hopefully The Residence won’t follow suit.
The Residence premiered on March 20 and reviews are already flooding in.
People are raving about the show (Netflix)
One Twitter user wrote: “Amazing performance, delicious who done it!”
“I was seated,” another added.
And a third resolved: “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.”
So, how about it Netflix?
