The new Hulu series Under the Bridge is infuriating. That’s not to say the series is not well done or crafted—in fact, far from it. This is bold storytelling that challenges the viewer to rethink their misconceptions. The result is appointment-viewing television that, by the end of the series, showcases some uncommonly powerful performances.
No, it’s infuriating because of what transpires from “actual” events. It’s tragic and horrific, and words cannot adequately describe the atrocities that occurred in the small, picturesque seaside town in British Columbia, Alberta, Canada. Under the Bridge is where the key players wish the story stayed, never seeing the light of day.
Under the Bridge follows the heartbreaking story of Reena Virk (newcomer Vritika Gupta), a 14-year-old high school student in Saanich. Born in a proud East Indian and devout Jehovah’s Witness family, Reena is rebelling against her tight-knit community. Reena is being raised by her parents (Archie Panjabi and Ezra Faroque Khan) and Uncle Raj (Anoop Desai).
Hulu’s Under the Bridge Season 1 Review and Synopsis
Reena’s family is concerned about her falling into the wrong crowd. That includes Josephine (Chloe Guidry), her best friend Kelly (Izzy G), and Josephine’s roommate, Dusty (Aiyana Goodfellow). Josephine has delusions of grandeur. She wants to create an all-girl gang and make a name for herself, so John Gotti will put her on staff in New York. (I’m not joking; this is real.).
Reena doesn’t return home after leaving a family dinner over her parents’ objects. Reena’s father and uncle go to the police, but they are met with resistance. However, Officer Cam Bentland (Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone) investigates, with no one else on the force caring about a missing brown-skinned girl.
Her investigation leads to video footage of Reena wandering off in the dark, and she is now officially missing. Adding to the intrigue of the case is Rebecca (a phenomenal Riley Keough), a writer visiting home and an old friend of Cam. She wants to write a book about the troubled girls of Saanich. The case triggers a joint tragedy from their past that has been dormant for years.
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Under the Bridge is Undeniably Powerful and Infuriating
Under the Bridge is based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey, in which Keough’s character is based. The source material covers the tragic murder of Reeka. The series wisely leaves that offscreen. In total, seven teenage girls and one were accused of her murder. Reena Virk, a fourteen-year-old girl, went to join friends at a party and never returned home. In total, seven teenage girls and a boy were accused of the savage murder of an Indo-Canadian teenager.
A significant difference in the source material is that Reeka’s parents take a back seat to the fictional connection between Rebecca and Cam, a composite character. However, this is one of the few times we can approve such a creative license. That’s because the writers use Rebecca and Cam’s biases in investigating the murder. Rebecca sees something in one of the accused, her brother, who died as a teenager.
Cam relates to each accused girl because she grew up in the same orphanage. This practical tool stirs up a visceral reaction in the audience, ultimately creating the same feeling for everyone else involved. The feeling is that there are no easy answers, and the sobering reality is that macro-level institutions view the ones who fall at the crossroads of intersectionality, revealing the unfair lines where some feel oppression and others experience privilege.
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Is Hulu’s Under the Bridge Worth Watching?
This is powerful storytelling that leaves the viewer troubled with devastating effects. The troubled past of the lead characters adds more significant depth. It takes the audience on a temporary ride that is galling, as they don’t put the family of Reena ahead of their own needs. Yet, when the dust settles, you experience the family’s anger and lack of closure, making the series more formidable. The result has the power of a wrecking ball and leaves an indelible mark.
In fact, that is one of the issues you may have. Besides, the writers did not adequately establish the reason for the children’s attackers’ own trauma (besides the abandonment Sam feels, which is still a stretch). At this point, asking the audience to care about them lacks reasoning for empathy and even compassion. However, Under the Bridge is worth watching for that very reason.
The incident is not sugar-coated or condoned. The writers challenge you to look at the gray area of good versus evil. Also, in a society that turns its back on some and not others, perhaps that’s the point. Creators Samir Mehta and Liz Tigelaar may want you to experience the negativity that happened in the first place.
As if to say that when you turn a blind eye to those in need, you must live with the results.
You can stream the new series Under the Bridge only on Hulu.
8/10
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