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Netflix's 85% Rotten Tomatoes Murder Mystery Series Has Its Season 2 Fate Solved

Published

7 days ago

3rd July 2025

After weeks on the Netflix Top 10, an 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a stellar ensemble led by Uzo Aduba and Giancarlo Esposito, The Residence seemed like a promising candidate for renewal. Unfortunately, the streaming giant has officially shut the door on the White House for good — The Residence has been cancelled after just one season.

Despite its unique premise, buzzy cast, and a positive critical reception, Netflix has opted not to move forward with Season 2 of The Residence. The show, which premiered March 20 and drew 6.4 million views in its debut week, quickly climbed the streamer’s English TV Top 10 list. It eventually settled into a four-week run on the chart, which is no small feat for a new property with no pre-existing franchise ties.

Based on The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower, the Shondaland-produced series offered a screwball twist on the traditional whodunnit. The official pitch said it all: “132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective. One disastrous State Dinner.” If that didn’t hook you, the performances probably did.

Aduba’s quirky investigator was the heartbeat of the show, with Esposito, Ken Marino, Jason Lee, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Mary Wiseman, and Molly Griggs rounding out a cast that delivered just the right amount of chaos. And for all its satire and slapstick, the series still managed to tell a story grounded in human folly and political absurdity — just dressed up in designer shoes and silver platters.

The Residence was created by Paul William Davies, with Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers executive producing. Directors Liza Johnson and Jaffar Mahmood split helming duties across its eight episodes, which are still available to stream on Netflix.

Why Was ‘The Residence’ Cancelled?

Netflix hasn’t provided an official reason, but the decision follows a familiar pattern: solid reviews and decent early numbers aren’t always enough when it comes to cost and long-term viewership data. With only one season under its belt and no mega-franchise status to leverage, The Residence likely became another casualty of the streamer’s increasingly risk-averse renewal decisions.

It also comes at a time when Netflix is narrowing its scripted slate, prioritizing global hits, limited series, and buzzy genre titles with sequel potential, as well as taking a stab at live sports with mixed martial arts, boxing, NFL and WWE. As stylish, sharp, and starry as The Residence was, it may not have had the kind of cultural staying power needed to secure a second term.

The Residence is streaming now on Netflix.