Under the Bridge (TV series)

Last updated

Under the Bridge
Genre
Based onUnder the Bridge
by Rebecca Godfrey
Developed by Quinn Shephard
Starring
Music by Alex Somers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJan Peter Meyboom
Cinematography
  • Checco Varese
  • C. Kim Miles
  • Minka Farthing-Kohl
Editors
  • Justin Li
  • Tyler L. Cook
  • Sabrina Pitre
  • Kye Meechan
  • Kyle Reiter
Running time35–47 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Hulu
ReleaseApril 17 (2024-04-17) –
May 29, 2024 (2024-05-29)

Under the Bridge is an American true crime drama television miniseries developed by Quinn Shephard that is based upon the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey. The series premiered on Hulu on April 17, 2024. [1]

Contents

Premise

Based on the tragic and true story of fourteen-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta), who went to a party with friends but never came home. The show delves into the secret world of the young girls accused of the murder and reveals shocking facts about the improbable killer via the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone).

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date  [4]
1"Looking Glass" Geeta Vasant Patel Quinn Shephard April 17, 2024 (2024-04-17)
In 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk of Saanich, British Columbia rebels against her strict Indian-Canadian family, who are also Jehovah's Witnesses. She seeks friendship from a clique of fellow teen girls, who idolize gangsters and call themselves the CMC, for “Crips Mafia Cartel.” After the ringleader Josephine Bell ostracizes Reena, she steals Josephine’s phone book and uses it to spread insulting rumors about Josephine. In retaliation, the CMC assaults Reena under a bridge. Reena’s family reports her missing. However, she has run away before and only Officer Cam Bentland takes the situation seriously. Meanwhile, Rebecca Godfrey returns to British Columbia, after ten years in New York City. She plans to write a book about troubled girls in the area, and goes to the Seven Oaks Youth Home, where she meets Josephine and other CMC girls. She gives them her phone number for possible future interviews. Cam leads a police search and they find Reena’s underwear in the Gorge Waterway. The police bring in the CMC for questioning concerning a possible homicide. Josephine calls Rebecca, who comes to the precinct and pretends to be her guardian.
2"The John Gotti of Seven Oaks"Kevin PhillipsAshley CardiffApril 17, 2024 (2024-04-17)
The police discover, via surveillance footage, that Reena survived the assault and is now assumed alive. They release all the teens from police custody. Josephine and Rebecca make a deal for Josephine to take her to the bridge and explain what happened. Cam visits Rebecca to ask what she knows, but Rebecca reveals no information. In flashbacks, Reena clashes with her strict mother Suman, and shoplifts with Josephine. In the present, Josephine and another CMC girl, Dusty Pace, take Rebecca to the bridge. Josephine claims that, after the initial assault, she followed Reena and pushed her over the bridge’s railing. Dusty and Rebecca are horrified. Down river, Reena’s body is discovered in the Portage Inlet. Cam questions Dusty, who confesses what Josephine said about pushing Reena. Manjit, Reena’s father, learns that a criminal record of his has been expunged. Josephine takes Rebecca to a party, where the television announces that Reena’s body has been found. Josephine appears to be shocked by the news.
3"Blood Oath" Catherine Hardwicke Jihan CrowtherApril 24, 2024 (2024-04-24)
Rebecca tells Cam that Josephine took credit for killing Reena. Cam counters that Josephine has an alibi because she had signed into Seven Oaks by the midnight curfew, about the time Reena was killed. Rebecca confronts Josephine, who insists Reena is only dead because she planned it. A vigil is held at Reena’s school, where Rebecca meets Reena’s uncle, Raj. Rebecca and Cam go out for drinks, dance, and have sex. During a flashback, Reena continues to rebel, and Manjit invites her friends to dinner to make peace. In the present, Cam discovers Manjit’s expunged criminal record and gets Rebecca to ask Raj about it. Samara Bailey suspects that her boyfriend, Warren Glowatski, had something to do with Reena’s murder. He plays her the song “187 He Wrote” by Spice 1, which includes the lyrics “me say the murder the murder he wrote,” as an indirect confession. Josephine is surprised to find Reena’s muddy Steve Madden boots in her closet. CMC member Kelly Ellard says she “did it” for Josephine.
4"Beautiful British Columbia" Nimisha Mukerji Stuti MalhotraMay 1, 2024 (2024-05-01)

Two timelines intercut during the episode. The first set of flashbacks begins with Reena's grandparents moving to Canada in 1951, where Suman is born. They are victims of xenophobia, but the family finds acceptance among the Jehovah’s Witnesses. When Suman is a young adult, she meets Manjit while he is visiting from India. Though they are both Punjabis, Suman’s parents don’t approve since Manjit is a Sikh and might be using Suman to get permanent residency. Despite this, he declares his love, converts, and they marry.

In the second set of flashbacks, Josephine, Kelly, and Dusty come to dinner at Reena’s house. Manjit attempts to talk to Josephine about her broken family, which enrages her. After the girls leave, two things are missing: Reena’s bird, Smooch, and Suman’s heirloom earrings. The next day, Reena tells the girls she isn’t allowed to hang out with them anymore. In turn, Josephine convinces Reena to lie about her homelife so she can live at Seven Oaks. Smooch returns home. Manjit is arrested after Reena accuses him of beating and sexually molesting her.
5"When the Heat Comes Down"Quinn ShephardTom HanadaMay 8, 2024 (2024-05-08)
Kelly reveals that she killed Reena to Josephine and Dusty. Reena’s funeral is held, and Cam speaks to the media in an attempt to scare witnesses into coming forward. Rebecca offers to help Cam by pretending to be an ally to the CMC. The police find violent drawings in Kelly’s school locker. The girls take Rebecca to a local gang of boys (who think of themselves as Crips). To prove she’s not a cop, Rebecca takes LSD with Warren. While high, she tells him that her brother, Gabe, drowned in the ocean. Warren confesses that he witnessed Kelly killing Reena. Josephine, Kelly, and Dusty call the police to report that Warren acted alone. Dusty wants to make amends with her older sister, but she is rejected. Cam tries to get Dusty to talk, but she insists the killer is Warren. When Kelly brags about standing on Reena's neck, Dusty attacks her. Josephine and Kelly worry Dusty may eventually crack under the pressure. In flashbacks, Reena’s lies lead her parents to no longer trust her.
6"In Water, They Sink as the Same"Quinn ShephardQuinn Shephard & Samir MehtaMay 15, 2024 (2024-05-15)
When Rebecca was 13 years old, she was cruel to Gabe just before he fell into the ocean and drowned. In the present, Rebecca tells Cam that Warren witnessed Reena’s murder. Cam informs her that Warren has been accused of the murder and there is a warrant for his arrest. Rebecca tries to hide Warren in her parents' house, but he eventually leaves. In a flashback, Reena’s lies are uncovered at Seven Oaks, so she is sent to live with her grandparents. She decides to steal Josephine’s phone book in retaliation for convincing her to lie about being abused. In the present, Josephine and Kelly plan to kill Dusty, but Josephine has a change of heart and saves Dusty before a train hits her. Cam and her father, Chief of Police Roy Bentland, question Samara, who reveals Warren told her that both he and Kelly dragged Reena into the water. The police arrest the CMC, including Warren. Rebecca tries to excuse his crimes, and Cam accuses her of treating the murder as simply material for her book.
7"Three and Seven"Dinh ThaiTodd CrittendenMay 22, 2024 (2024-05-22)
The CMC teens, who were involved in the first assault against Reena, are sentenced to a year in a juvenile detention center. Kelly and Warren will stand trial for murder. Samara has moved and will not return as a witness. Dusty’s faces perjuring herself if she testifies. Therefore, Cam puts her career on the line to keep Dusty off the stand. Rebecca meets with Manjit and Suman to learn about who Reena was as a person. However, Rebecca can’t let go of her sympathies for Warren. At his trial, Warren admits to having participated in the first assault. He also testifies that he neither intervened nor participated when Kelly killed Reena. The judge believes Warren bears more responsibility than he claims and finds him guilty of second-degree murder. Warren is sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. After Kelly provokes another girl into hitting her, she claims her life is at risk while incarcerated. As a result, she is allowed to return home until her trial.
8"Mercy Alone"Kevin PhillipsSamir MehtaMay 29, 2024 (2024-05-29)
Kelly’s trial gets underway. CMC members Dusty, Laila, and Maya testify against her, but Josephine refuses to do so. Rebecca encourages Warren to testify. He meets with Suman, who explains that her faith encourages mercy, and she forgives him. Warren testifies, admitting that he and Kelly beat up Reena before Kelly drowned her. Kelly takes the stand and vehemently denies killing Reena. She is found guilty and given the minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment. Rebecca worries that Gabe’s death was a suicide. Cam insists that it wasn’t Rebecca’s fault. She returns to New York to publish her book. Cam learns that she was part of the Adopt Indian Métis Program and was forcibly taken from her birth family. She seeks them out to reconnect. Suman and Manjit sit in Reena’s room and sense her presence. The epilogue explains that the Virks became anti-bullying activists. Suman died in 2018. Rebecca died in 2022. Warren was released on parole in 2010. Kelly appealed her case and was given a life sentence. She confessed to murdering Reena in 2016. Shortly afterwards, she was granted day parole.

Production

Development

In September 2022, Hulu gave the series an 8-episode order, with Samir Mehta and Liz Tigelaar set to executive produce, with Quinn Shephard adapting the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey. [5]

Casting

In December 2022, Riley Keough, Izzy G, Chloe Guidry, Ezra Faroque Khan, Archie Panjabi, Vritika Gupta, Javon Walton, Aiyana Goodfellow and Lily Gladstone joined the cast of the series, in series regular capacity. [6] [7] [8] [9]

Filming

Principal photography took place in Vancouver, BC from December 2022 to May 2023. [10] [11]

Reception

Audience viewership

According to Whip Media's TV Time, Under the Bridge was the ninth most streamed original television series across all platforms in the United States during the week of April 21, [12] and the seventh during the week of April 28, 2024. [13] The streaming aggregator JustWatch reported the show was the fourth most streamed television series across all platforms in the United States between April 22–28, 2024. [14]

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 84% approval rating with an average rating of 7.4/10, based on 49 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Unraveling a brutal mystery with a sensitive touch, Under the Bridge occasionally glosses over its most interesting elements but excels as an exploration of cruelty." [15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 70 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [16]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Gotham TV Awards June 4, 2024 Breakthrough Limited SeriesUnder the BridgeNominated [17]
Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series Lily Gladstone Nominated
Astra TV Awards August 18, 2024 Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Lily Gladstone Pending [18]
Riley Keough Pending
Primetime Emmy Awards September 15, 2024 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Lily Gladstone Nominated [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Rice, Lynette (February 9, 2024). "Hulu Reveals Premiere Dates For 'Under The Bridge,' 'The Contestant' & 'Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "See Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough in Hulu's Crime Drama 'Under the Bridge'". ELLE. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ Ortiz, Andi (July 25, 2024). "'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Casts Daniel Diemer as Tyson the Cyclops". TheWrap. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Shows A-Z – Under the Bridge on Hulu". The Futon Critic . Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  5. ↑ Rice, Lynette (September 27, 2022). "Hulu Orders Eight-Episode Limited Series 'Under The Bridge'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (December 1, 2022). "Riley Keough To Headline & EP 'Under The Bridge' Hulu Limited Series, Will Play Author Rebecca Godfrey". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ Otterson, Joe (December 7, 2022). "'Under the Bridge' Hulu Series With Riley Keough Casts Chloe Guidry, Izzy G, Ezra Faroque Khan (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (December 8, 2022). "Archie Panjabi Joins 'Under the Bridge'; Vritika Gupta, Javon Walton & Aiyana Goodfellow Also Cast In Hulu Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ Petski, Denise (December 12, 2022). "Lily Gladstone Joins 'Under The Bridge' Hulu Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Anderson, Sarah (December 8, 2022). "Hulu begins filming series about tragic murder of Canadian teen Reena Virk". Daily Hive . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  11. ↑ Coyne, Todd (December 14, 2022). "Murder of Victoria teen Reena Virk subject of new television series". CTV News . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Prange, Stephanie (April 23, 2024). "Prime Video's 'Fallout' Again Tops Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Originals Chart". Media Play News . Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  13. ↑ Prange, Stephanie (May 1, 2024). "Prime Video's 'Fallout' Again Tops Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Originals Chart". Media Play News . Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  14. ↑ Gruenwedel, Erik (April 29, 2024). "JustWatch: 'Late Night With the Devil,' 'Fallout' Top Weekly Streaming Through April 28". Media Play News . Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Under the Bridge: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Under the Bridge: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  17. ↑ Davis, Clayton (May 14, 2024). "Baby Reindeer, Shogun, X-Men '97 and Black Twitter Doc Lead Inaugural Gotham TV Awards Nominations". Variety . Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Erik (July 9, 2024). "HCA Astra TV Awards Nominations: 'The Bear', 'Hacks', 'The Morning Show', 'Baby Reindeer' Lead Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  19. ↑ "76th Emmy Awards Complete Nominations List" (PDF). Television Academy. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
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