Movies

In ‘The Residence’ and ‘Ludwig,’ charming detectives are tapped to resolve a mystery

BBG News

There’s nothing funny about murder, but it’s a handy device on which to hang a comedy.

Indeed, some prefer their mysteries shrouded in a gritty, dark atmosphere. Yet, there’s another group who cherish puzzles, and they find comfort in stories filled with quirky detectives, vibrant characters, and interactive whodunits. For this group, including us, the reality is already challenging enough without introducing fabricated murderers or psychopaths to our worries. So, a dash of sweetness makes the crime-solving more palatable.

Two intriguing series, one brimming with humor and the other shrouded in mystery, debut this Thursday. “The Residence,” on Netflix, features Uzo Aduba playing a detective with an unusual hobby – bird-watching; “Ludwig,” on BritBox, presents David Mitchell as a puzzle expert masquerading as his missing twin brother, a police officer. Despite their different tones, both shows promise fun and are worth checking out.

Television

Uzo Aduba takes on the quirky role of a detective who loves bird-watching in Netflix’s fresh murder-mystery comedy. This character seems groundbreaking for the actor.

Penned by Paul William Davies, “The Residence” takes the classic Agatha Christie-style country house mystery and cranks up the volume, placing this thrilling scenario within the walls of the White House, encompassing its diverse rooms, public, private, and functional. A nod to Christie is given through a depiction of her book cover. The dollhouse-like portrayals of the layout are adorable, while the life-sized recreations leave one in awe. With its intricate upstairs-downstairs dynamics, it echoes the divide between “us” and “them”, much like a more humorous contemporary take on “Gosford Park”.

The White House’s chief usher, A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito), who ensures everything runs smoothly, was found dead in the private living quarters while a party was taking place in the ballroom below. The event was a celebration of Australia, which allowed Kylie Minogue, an Australian singer, to make a special appearance and perform. There’s also a running gag involving Hugh Jackman, who remains unseen during the party, as the character is not actually Hugh Jackman – this forms part of the joke. However, there’s a twist in the joke where it could be that it really is Hugh Jackman, making the joke even funnier.

As a movie enthusiast, finding a body that seemingly ended its life through suicide initially felt routine. Yet, any viewer with a keen eye for TV mysteries would quickly spot inconsistencies. Consequently, officials from the FBI, the Park Police, and local police forces were summoned to the scene. The chief (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) arrived with Detective Cornelia Cupp (Aduba), known as “the world’s greatest.” Upon seeing the multitude of investigators present, she quipped, “Wow, it’s a lot of dudes,” taking in the assembled lawmen, including FBI Special Agent Edwin Park (Randall Park), who would prove to be a skeptical ally during our joint investigation.

In this scenario, there are numerous potential suspects. Could it be Assistant Usher Jasmine Haney (Susan Kelechi Watson), growing impatient with Wynter’s job; the president’s problematic brother Tripp Morgan (Jason Lee) and inebriated mother-in-law Nan Cox (Jane Curtin); his loud advisor Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino); or First Gentleman Elliot Morgan (Barrett Foa)? Or perhaps it’s the dissatisfied Swiss pastry chef (Bronson Pinchot), the ambitious new head chef (May Wiseman), the social secretary (Molly Griffs) with her vision to “rebrand” the White House, the drunk butler (Edwina Findley), the tall butler (Al Mitchell), the gardener (Rebecca Field), or the engineer (Mel Rodriguez)? Could it be someone else from among too many possibilities to list?

The storyline unfolds based on evidence presented during a later congressional inquiry, led by a senator portrayed by Al Franken (previously an actual senator), with Eliza Coupe playing a role as a disruptive figure from the opposition. Marino’s character will allege that Franken’s character is transforming the hearing into an enigma surrounding a murder case. In response, Franken humorously references the current popularity of murder mysteries.

In this rephrased version, I’ve attempted to maintain the original tone while making it easier for readers to understand:

Some characters serve as embodiments of an attitude rather than complex individuals, but the cast appears genuinely excited and infectious in their performances. Uzo Aduba portrays a detective who is intriguing due to her enigmatic nature; she often interrogates by simply staring and saying nothing. Her character will receive more backstory or subplots eventually. Despite this, she can occasionally be found bird-watching on the White House grounds, which are said to be excellent for it. Aduba’s character is imposing, and it would be great to see her in future Cornelia Cupp adventures, as the name seems too interesting to overlook. However, the current season consists of eight episodes that, due to time constraints, may occasionally feel padded. (Cupp comments at one point, “It’s hard to keep track of everything,” suggesting empathy with the viewer.) If they were to make shorter stories, there could potentially be twice as many narratives; if they opted for a more modest two-hour length, four times as many could be produced.

In the charming series “Ludwig,” set in Cambridge, David Mitchell – recognized for his work on “Peep Show,” “Upstart Crow,” and as a witty panel show captain on “Would I Lie to You?” – portrays John Taylor, an expert puzzle inventor. This character is socially awkward, shy, lacking a social life, and seemingly detached from modern times much like Mitchell’s own persona sometimes implies. (His disdain, when shown, is particularly amusing.) The name “Ludwig” is what John uses to sign his puzzles, drawing inspiration from Beethoven’s name, but there’s no hidden or deeper significance in this connection unless it has been overlooked.

In the story, when Detective Chief Inspector James Taylor vanishes, his brother John is asked by his sister-in-law Lucy (played brilliantly by Anna Maxwell Martin) to step in and pretend to be James, so they can look for clues in his office. However, instead of just searching, John gets roped into an actual investigation due to his unique ability to perceive things abstractly and solve problems. The real challenge for John, and what provides the humor in the series, is pretending to be a relatively normal person – even though he’s been classified as being just two points above genius, he admits that this doesn’t help him with casual conversations. He refers to a medical examiner’s report as a “how-did-they-die test,” struggles to park cars correctly, and has limited experience dealing with everyday human interactions because he spends most of his time inside his house.

The six-part series intertwines self-contained mysteries with an overarching narrative about the location of James, which Lucy becomes involved in. This production maintains a dynamic pace that keeps it engaging in the short run and captivating in the long. It’s predictable that John, initially uncertain about himself, will grow more confident as the story progresses and develop stronger bonds with his fellow investigators, particularly Detective Inspector Russell Carter (played by Dipo Ola). Additionally, moving in with Lucy and her teenage nephew Henry (portrayed by Dylan Hughes) promises a deeper understanding of family life for John.

In this production, Mitchell stands out as the primary source of humor, yet he alone makes “Ludwig” a comedy worth watching. However, there’s a deeper layer of drama, accentuated by Beethoven melodies in the background, that envelops Mitchell and is central to John’s introspection about his past and present. Every mystery has its unique emotional intensity, but even those with simple motives like a game of Clue can become somber as hidden truths unfold and tragic figures are apprehended. “Ludwig” skillfully balances its dramatic highs and lows, delivering both its darker and lighter scenes with equal impact.

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2025-03-20 10:31

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