Under the Bridge

I recently read the book this series is based on after watching one episode. The book was poorly written and the victim was treated almost as an after thought. I was hoping the series would be better. However it is a somewhat fictionalized account of the book. The author did not work with the police. And the main cop character is made up. So far I would not recommend either. The characters seem so fake. Both the adults and the teenagers are mostly sad and very unlikable. Seems neither the victim or the assailants had any responsible loving adults in their lives. I will continue to watch this series but I don't feel it is worth your time.

The show should have been predominantly about Reena. Sometimes it felt like she was an afterthought and that it was "the Rebecca Godfrey show". Like it was more about Rebecca's trauma than the Virks's. As a resident of Victoria for over 35 years, this crime has stuck with me, so my one criticism is that it didn't focus on Reens enough.

That said, the acting is superb and the portrayals of Warren and Kelly are spot on, Kelly in particular. There has never been any warmth behind the eyes of Ellard. She is a psychopath and any native Victorian knows this. Make no mistake, that woman is a monster and has manipulated the Canadian justice system as much as possible. Read up on it if you're not in the know.

At the end of the day it captures what a senseless tragedy this truly is and should be shown to adolescents to understand the depths of racism, bullying and the need for acceptance.

"Under the Bridge" is a tragic story with no happy ending, so the creators make a good decision to cast the series with a potpourri of acting talent to lure us in, and it works. First, Lily Gladstone, a shining star on the heels of her Oscar nomination. Next, Riley Keough who is lucky to have inherited the talented genes of her grandfather Elvis. Then Javon Walton or Ashtray from "Euphoria" who is now all grown up and can really flex his dramatic acting chops, while channeling a young Ryan Philippe. And the show is lucky to have cast Archie Panjabi, a veteran British actress typically in detective roles, but here she plays the role of the mother so delicately. And this is my first time ever seeing Vritika Gupta, so talented as she does a complex portrayal of Reena. Lastly, let's give credit to Izzy G who surprises me at the end.

I started this show for Lily, Riley, and Archie, and while I'm only in episode 4, it's hard for me to want to continue because the content is really hard to watch. The acting is superb. The young actresses as well as the adults are wonderful but the girls' cruelty makes it really challenging. I may continue eventually, because it is well done and I imagine the story will go in great directions. Riley is always so strong and natural. And the Indian parents are heartbreakingly kind and loving. It also feels authentically 90s. Hoping it gets a good viewership for people less triggered by this kind of story because it feels honest and real.

I hadn't heard about this horrific incident before watching the series and I haven't read the book (nor will I if the series is anything to go off). The overall filming and performances in this series are really good and I think it's important to raise awareness of stories like this in memory of those lost, in this case Reena.

The pacing is okay - it dragged out for more episodes than necessary. My biggest annoyance with this series, is Rebecca. I've read that for a start she wasn't actually involved with the police, so this fictionalised aspect seems like an unnecessary perspective. Especially when her involvement isn't really there to serve justice for the victim but rather to stick up for and protect a perpetrator. Her character is extremely annoying and acts like a child. Why is she hanging out with kids, it's just strange and gross under the circumstances. Like I say, I haven't read the book so I don't know if she portrays herself in this way but she isn't alive now to ensure she doesn't look like a creep and in my opinion she looks like one in this series.

As a "who did it" series it is decent and worth a watch, but because it is based on something tragic that really happened I just think the inaccuracy seems disrespectful and it would have been better if it was more Reena focused than Rebecca focused.