07-04-2025
I Cried When I Saw This Scene In Netflix' ‘The Residence'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Uzo Aduba attends Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of "The ... More Residence" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on March 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor Netflix)
The show is described as 'a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world's most famous mansion.' As a Shondaland production, I knew before even starting the show that body positivity was guaranteed, and that Shonda Rhimes would likely shatter yet another plus-size representation ceiling. What I didn't know was the who and the how.
Let me take a moment to tell you that spoilers are coming.
The Residence welcomes the viewer into several intricately interwoven stories. The show gave us Detective Cordelia Cupp, played by Uzo Aduba, for whom we will all be eternally grateful. It gave us a steamy outdoor over-the-clothes sexy scene between Marvella the cook, played by Mary Wiseman, and the Australian Foreign Minister, played by Brett Tucker.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Actor Mel Rodriguez attends the FOX Fall Party at Catch LA on ... More September 25, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
The love between Bruce and Elsyie is forbidden, as they are colleagues working under a tyrannical boss, A.B. Wynter, played by Giancarlo Esposito. They exchange gifts and glances, but their affections culminate in the seventh episode during a close-up scene that moved me to tears. In the scene, Elsyie locks eyes with Bruce, and her hand reaches up gently and lovingly to caress his face. They share a sweet first kiss, not passionate but full of affection.
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH: Mel Rodriguez and January Jones in the "Dead Man Walking" episode of THE ... More LAST MAN ON EARTH airing Sunday, Oct. 11 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (Photo by FOX Image Collection via Getty Images)
The Residence isn't the first time Rodriguez has played a romantic interest. His performance alongside January Jones on The Last Man on Earth was groundbreaking, but it didn't bring up the emotion for me that his characterization of Bruce did. This is due, in part, to the end-of-the-world setting of the show, rendering his romantic desirability as a sort of gag.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Julieth Restrepo attends Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of "The ... More Residence" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on March 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor Netflix)
Often actors in big bodies are rendered as asexual or undesirable, perverse or hyper-sexualized. Their role is typically one of villainy or comic relief. Rarely do audiences get the opportunity to see humanity and complexity for plus-size people on-screen. Typically it is only thin characters who get to experience the full breadth of human experience. A thin character can be anything – demure, aggressive, mysterious, or awkward. No matter what, we are meant to relate to them.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: (L-R) Ken Marino, Susan Kelechi Watson, Eliza Coupe, Al ... More Mitchell, Betsy Beers, Edwina Findley, Uzo Aduba, Julieth Restrepo, Dan Perrault, Paul William Davies, Bronson Pinchot, Al Franken, Shonda Rhimes, Mel Rodriguez, Giancarlo Esposito, Randall Park, Jason Lee, Mary Wiseman, Nne Ebong, VP, Overall Deals, Original Series, Netflix, Peter Friedlander, VP, Head of UCAN Scripted Series, Netflix, Emily Levitan, Director, Scripted Series, Netflix and Andrew McQuinn, Director, Scripted Series, Netflix attend Netflix's Los Angeles premiere of "The Residence" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on March 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor Netflix)
The romance between Bruce and Elysie upended that paradigm, offering a refreshing and hopeful way to see ourselves and our world. As plus-size actresses have made more strides in recent years thanks to body positivity and fat activism, it was exciting to see Mel Rodriguez steal the show.
