UNDER THE BRIDGE Ending Explained | Episode 8 review and reaction, The Real Story Behind It!

UNDER THE BRIDGE Ending Explained | Episode 10 review and reaction, The Real Story Behind It! Diving into this compelling limited series that is based on a true story! Talking all about Kelly in court and was justice served for Reena Virk?! (Hulu)
In this new Hulu show, Reena Virk, a teenager who went to a party in 1997 and never returned home. Her disappearance sparks an investigation, which is led by a local detective named Cam Bentland . Starring: Lily Gladstone, Archie Panjabi and Riley Keough
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[@cheri7054]

Loved when Reena’s Mom and Dad listened to Reena’s music and allowed themselves to dance. That was a beautiful message.

[@MattandJessTV]

They finally understood her more; it was just heartbreaking that it came so late. -Matt

[@kriskross6934]

Rabecca Godfrey is the worst person in this show, she was the most pointless character that did nothing but justify the killers and not give Reena life that she deserved

[@MattandJessTV]

And what was the takeaway from her? In the end, she did bring more attention to Reena, but at what cost? -Matt

[@hartzaire]

I think for me I wasn’t feeling how a Bipoc girls story got lost into a white lady’s story of her trying to defend and cape for that young girls killer totally ignoring what happened and totally dismissing her life to save the person who had a hand in taking her life. Really worked my nerves.

[@MattandJessTV]

Why couldn't they have just focused more on Reena? It's not fault to the cast, but it really just feels like the show felt at times like Reena's story ws not enough when it was. -Matt

[@constancecampbell4610]

Yes, excellent point!

[@marissasabatino7538]

What a disappointing ride. This would've worked better as a Lifetime movie. But I enjoyed listening to your thoughts on this show.

[@MattandJessTV]

Thank you for watching! Wouldn't this show have been better if they just condensed the series and had a clear focus? -Matt

[@marissasabatino7538]

@@MattandJessTV I absolutely agree with you. The focus should've been on the teenagers. It should've dug deeper into their mindsets, home lives, why did they kill her, was it bc of racism or was it bc no one was willing to stand up & say this is wrong?

[@christopherrobertfarfan1673]

Words cannot explain how much I hated Kelly but that girl did an excellent job as playing such an evil character . She really made me wish horrible things on her so kudos for that

[@MattandJessTV]

She really did -- why couldn't she even get more screen time? -Matt

[@MrXabungle]

​@@MattandJessTV I just realized how Izzy G's screentime isn't as much as the main teens.

[@bonniemartell9750]

Agreed!!!

[@hollymccormack4081]

Kelly didn't live at Seven Oaks, she just hung out there because she was so attached to Josephine. They could have dug into the two of them more, but perhaps just a rich kid that wanted the adrenaline rush of being a bad kid. Plus she really seemed to be a psychopath. 😆 I was surprised that they brought up the tape with Kelly trying to pin it all on Jo, but then it never came up in the trail. I'm not surprised that she would turn on Josephine, because ultimately taking care of herself is item #1 and she was super manipulative.

[@MattandJessTV]

That was absolutely clear! Why couldn't we just learn more about Kelly? It is one of the things that frustrates me to no end about what we got. -Matt

[@andrealee8561]

I think they were more worried about checking boxes than writing a good storyline

[@MattandJessTV]

That's what it felt like sometimes. - Jess

[@debrabroido997]

I enjoyed this series overall. I thought their choices were valid in terms of what they covered. I learned how different the Canadian court system is. No pleading the 5th there. Thanks foe recommending this show.

[@MattandJessTV]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Isn't it interesting learning about a few things like that? I lived in Canada for a while, but still didn't know a ton about the court system. -Matt

[@Gemstar_70]

I, too, felt disappointed of this finale, esp when she left during Warren's examination, which I wanted to hear more of his side/confession as well as I wanted hear more of Kelly's examination. I found out Kelly beat up a couple of elderly people while she was on parole. Plus, it was a female lawyer that got the guilty 2nd degree murder conviction, which took many years, not that 1st male lawyer. They completely messed up the court and conviction story in this series.

[@MattandJessTV]

Why didn't we get more of Kelly in general? She feels like the strangest thing the show never wanted to really address. -Matt

[@Gemstar_70]

@@MattandJessTV I agreed with both your criticisms b/c I felt the exact same way while watching the finale.

[@constancecampbell4610]

I agree about Kelly and Jo. They really should have hinted at Kelly’s ability to manipulate Jo early and more than once. I was very moved by the scenes between Warren and Reena’s mom and Warren’s final testimony. Overall, though, they kind of blew it. And where did the two other kids come from?

[@MattandJessTV]

What more could they have done to make it better? I do agree with you about the Warren scenes -- he may have been the best part of the finale. -Matt

[@constancecampbell4610]

@@MattandJessTV Well, something I liked in the finale was hearing the real Rebecca’s “voice” by using what I assume were quotes from the book. I thought it beautifully helped to shift the tone and wish there could have been more of that peppered throughout. Of course, they would have had to forego making the character of Rebecca so unbelievably irresponsible. I would have enjoyed that, too. (Am I the only one who didn’t remember Reena had siblings?)

[@MVPMMA]

The two other kids have been there from the start lol

[@andrealee8561]

You can deep dive her case on true crime channels

[@cheri7054]

I know how disappointed people are but the acting from most actors made it interesting for me. My fav character was Cam. Second was Reena and her family. Both Mother and Father. I don't know their names but loved watching them. Loved the kids even though they were deplorable. The writing and length of show wasn't up to par

[@MattandJessTV]

The kids to me were my personal favorite, but couldn't they give Archie Panjabi more as Reena's mom? I would not have been mad here at all. -Matt

[@MrXabungle]

Even Reena's uncle Raj was great but kinda bummed how limited his role was.

[@cheri7054]

The whole story could be about different things. Not just Reena. I loved Cam’s story a lot. I hated Rebecca’s story

[@MattandJessTV]

Could they actually continue Cam's story elsewhere? It's really the only thing in here that feels pretty open-ended. -Matt

[@MalibuChumash]

The teen actors held their own in the show. As much as I love Lily Gladstone, I think the Cam storyline just took away from the teens and Reena. I wanted to see more of Warren and the Virks and how they came to forgive him. I just feel that we got too much of the "bigger name" actors and not enough of the teens, who had compelling stories.

[@MattandJessTV]

Did they need the bigger names to sell the show? It's all so strange since I do think Riley and Lily are fantastic, but they also were not the most compelling characters to me. -Matt

[@MalibuChumash]

Honestly, I initially watched the show for Lily and Riley. I seen the trailer and knew absolutely nothing about the backstory. I agree with your critiques. The teens were great, hopefully they get some Emmy noms. The relationship between Warren and Rebecca felt inappropriate at times. I wanted to know Reena as a person and I felt that this show didn't really delve enough into the real characters back stories.

[@christopherrobertfarfan1673]

I still enjoyed it a lot regardless. Yea I wish it would have focused more on Reena and the kids and less on Rebecca but good so non the less

[@MattandJessTV]

Could we at least see more Kelly? -Matt

[@kristenskaff1669]

Agree 100% about feeling disappointed and feeling like this turned into the Rebecca show.....Not only did I not like this generally, but this character was so unlikeable. She only seemed to care about Reena's death (and the horrific way she died) after many people repeatedly had to point it out to her. She is a cold human being....so the shows clear attempt to make her into a deep, "I'm smarter than these yahoos" character I found so icky. I agree that we needed to spend more time on the kids....however, the only way to view Kelly is as a future psychopath. When I saw the end summary that she ended up having children was frightening. I hope we don't have two future psychopaths in training.

[@MattandJessTV]

I still have a lot of frustration here at the end of the day about how certainly things were handled. Why didn't we just get a larger spotlight on Kelly? That is still the thing that the show is really missing, and I worry the focus on Rebecca really complicated that a lot and took away from the message. -Matt

[@cheri7054]

The writing in the courtroom was lacking substance. All of a sudden Kelly starts talking in a strange accent. That was weird then Kelly just all of a sudden out of the clear blue sky just kind of went ballistic just strange.

[@MattandJessTV]

Does it speak towards a part of her psychology the show didn't explore? That's why I feel frustrated. -Matt

[@MrXabungle]

She did act strange, but they seem like they combined her behavior from her trials.

[@ghostface1889]

apparently she actually did that accent irl

[@christopherrobertfarfan1673]

Ok I cried at the end especially the last scene with her mom putting on the biggie cd :/

[@MattandJessTV]

That did feel like a nice moment of closure for the family, something that was 100% needed. -Matt

[@CC12203]

As I finished the series, I felt the same way - what was the focus/point of this? I completely agree with you guys. They tried to do too much and kept giving us little tidbits about people/plot lines that were never explored enough. Overall I was left with a blah feeling about the whole thing.

[@MattandJessTV]

Yeah, and it's a shame since there was so much potential. Could more episodes have solved it? -Matt

[@jenncece5858]

Now that it's over... I'm left feeling what was the point? If I'm being honest, despite the amazing effort put in by the young actors, there was not a single character who felt like there was anything more to them than the one personality trait they were supposed to be playing, most of which was hardcore bully/murder energy. Of the everyone, Warren and Dusty felt like there was some internal conflict, which their actors hit out of the park. Josephine and Reena were given SO little to work with that the came off completely flat (as characters). Kelly... Our main killer... Does anyone even know what got her in Seven Oaks in the first place???? Does anyone understand her any better by the end??? Rebecca... ugh.... Truly, the only character who felt like they had any sort of growth or any kind of journey was Cam and she wasn't even real! Looking back, I was SO excited after the first episode and from then on it has felt like each installment was written by a different person who had no idea what the actual story was about, like there was no writers' room working together. Like, what was the point of Rebecca and Cam's bathroom scene, especially since Cam isn't even real?????? I couldn't agree more about the plot points (can't really say "storyline") of Cam discovering the truth about her adoption and where she comes from.. Reena feels like a complete afterthought. What happened to her feels like a complete afterthought. An afterthought to what exactly? Who knows.. I just don't have any idea what this was supposed to be about.. EDIT TO ADD: I didn't even realize until I watched another video that Reena was only *FOURTEEN* years old, as well as some of the other kids! I thought they were all like 16, 17! Sorry for the long rant 🙃

[@MattandJessTV]

Why didn't the show just give Kelly more in terms of backstory and motive? There were great performances here, but it really felt like the show missed the mark with this big story. -Matt

[@hilarymollyvegas]

Great review guys. I read about this case after the finale because I had never heard of it before this. I wondered if the writers/producers felt the need to feature Rebecca more prominently because of her passing?! And maybe to get a bigger name involved? I felt mostly like you guys did about the show, especially since one of the characters was fictional. I definitely wanted to know more about Kelly. She seemed like a sociopath. I made a comment once which I think came across wrong. I wondered why the girl who seemingly had the most to lose would commit the crime, but it’s often those who feel like they are above the law who commit crimes. She was definitely a girl with a lot of problems and I would have liked to learn more about her. I did read that she and Josephine were friends since second grade. It wasn’t a show I disliked , but I learned more about the case with one article than I did the entire show. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@MattandJessTV]

And why couldn't they give us that? I do think in the end that is one of the bigger issues I had with the show overall -- the focus on the wrong things. -Matt

[@cheri7054]

Sad that Reena’s Mom in real life died by choking on food. So sad for the real family

[@MattandJessTV]

That's devastating -- I hadn't heard that. -Matt

[@amiedheloise]

I didn't know anything about this case and I think it's better to be blind ; so it didn't bother me to have Rebecca, the writer, at the center of the show either ; I enjoyed it very much allthough it's really hard to watch.. there is something that reminds me of Mare of East town ; I think it olds the comparaison ; also the acting of the young crew was priceless. Thank you for your reaction to this show.

[@117Derek]

First off, I cried at the end of this show. Sadness. Joy. Hope. All of those came together while reading the epilogues on how each of the characters ended up. “Under the Bridge” joins “Sugar” and “Death and Other Details” as, IMO, the Best Shows of the Year. Thanks to Matt and Jess for turning me on to “Bridge” and “Death”-neither of which I would have watched if you didn’t review. As for the finale: the best scene in the episode (maybe the series) was between Warren and Reena’s mother who visited him in jail, and they shared their stories/sorrows/hurt with each other-which led to Warren testifying against Kelly. Perfect! I also liked that Rebecca came to grips with her previous trauma, and recognized that it was causing her to cloud who Warren is and what he did. It’s a brave narrative choice for the show, and they deserve credit. Regarding how each of the “principles” turned out: I’m not surprised that Jo faired the worst: dancing in biker bars is not a good life. That Kelly (after the initial light sentence) getting re-trialed and incarcerated for many years-before getting out and having kids-feels just. And, the Virk family devoting their lives to doing good (including helping Warren get paroled, after which HE did good), is a just testament to their love of Reena. Again, I cried. UPDATE: I guess I should add that I understand Matt/Jess disappointment; but I feel that the series handled a LOT of different "angles" as best they could. Yes, more episodes, or dropping the Cam & Rebecca storylines, would have helped. But, I'm willing to accept this finish product.

[@MattandJessTV]

I do think there were some great moments throughout, and I did love the first two episodes. I just feel like there's more that could have been done -- why not show more of Kelly's past and why she was like this? Was the omission the point? We're glad you are watching and enjoying so many of these shows with us! Sugar was my favorite of the ones you mentioned, and I really hope we do get another season. -Matt

[@117Derek]

@@MattandJessTV I feel bad when I disagree with you/Jess-because you provide this forum for us to discuss good tv, and always have good points. Subject Change: I’m really enjoying “Dark Matter” which is half way done. AND, you two made the right decision in NOT reviewing S2 of “Beacon 23.” I suffered thru it, and hate myself for wasting my time.

[@andrealee8561]

I'm wondering if some of the storyline changed due to Rebecca death

[@MattandJessTV]

I'm not sure, since she died so early on in the process -- but did she want Rebecca to be presented in such a complicated way? It is interesting. -Matt

[@cheri7054]

Who's watching the This Was Us podcast?? It's making me love and watch the show all over again

[@MattandJessTV]

I'm glad! I do really miss the Pearsons. -Matt

[@cheri7054]

Cam’s story interested me and I’m glad that aspect was in. It was too rushed and confusing. There should have been 3 more episodes to explain things better

[@MattandJessTV]

Or, could at least a part of it been addressed a few weeks ago? -Matt

[@cheri7054]

@@MattandJessTV The story should have had more episodes

[@Glo419]

I still need to know more about Kelly Ellard. Why was she at Seven Oakes? She has parents who love her, was she too much to handle? Has she always been a bully & problem child? I want to know about her now too. I can only assume she's still serving time. I felt the same way about Rebecca as both of you. It was too odd for me. Like I missed an episode or two.

[@MattandJessTV]

I believe she is on a modified version of day parole, but she is not fully out. I do wish they at least allowed us to understand more what was on her mind! -Matt

[@whoami1654]

It seems to me she was an overly privileged and spoiled kid. To witness her speak the way she did when her mum was in the room and her.mum did nothing to correct her or challenge her behaviour.

[@wd1598]

It was “based on a true story” not a documentary.

[@hannahm7373]

I agree that there did not seem to be a point in the Cam' storyline. I think that would be a great series in itself, but I did not see how it belonged in this particular story. I do think that they needed to spend more time on the girls, particularly with Kelly. We saw some reasons why Reena was attracted to the girls in the group home, but why was Kelly? And why would she have actually committed murder? Lots of people get jealous but they don't go around killing people. It would have been a better story if they had focused on Kelly and her family rather than Cam's relationship with her family. Again, that story is really interesting; it's just not really part of this story. But, overall, I'm glad I watched it.

[@MattandJessTV]

I am glad I did too, mostly in terms of learning about the true story. Lily Gladstone is great, but didn't Cam almost deserve a totally different story? It's interesting. -Matt

[@ambrose274]

Rebecca gave me "teacher that sleeps with students" vibes. I really expected her and Warren G to hook up....I think Warren expected it too.

[@MattandJessTV]

There were a few times I briefly wondered if it was going there as well. - Jess

[@darlenesee2561]

I actually really thought it was a good show. Well written, nuanced, obviously a very difficult story to tell. And Lily Gladstone xoxoxo

[@MattandJessTV]

Oh, she's amazing! Do you think they could actually tell more story with Cam elsewhere? I just think the show had a lot of peaks and valleys. -Matt

[@Lfig]

I’m curious as to whether or not either of you have read the book. I have not myself but from what I’m reading it seems that I may be more about the kids, what they did, and their own stories than it was about Reena, so it would make sense that the series does more of that too. I think what the series was also trying to do was show how Rebecca became so emotionally invested in their investigation for her book out of her own guilt and trauma from what she experienced as a teen herself. That was likely fictionalized but I think the point was to drive it back to her and how she came up with the idea for the book in the first place. I think that was the actual goal of the series but I do agree that the individual stories of all the kids, including Reena herself, would’ve made for a much more interesting, well put together series that would’ve given for a better understanding of what happened and what could’ve driven a group of teenagers to do something so horrendous. It almost seems unfathomable that something like this could happen at the hands of someone so young. You think adults do this sort of thing. I just think that that wasn’t the intent but rather how someone went about discovering all of it.

[@MattandJessTV]

I have not read it, but I know that the producers looked at some other sources to. I just really think a lot of the show really needed to just ask itself this: What was the story supposed to be? Was it about the author or Reena? I felt like they sort of went down the middle. -Matt

[@cheri7054]

Many true to life stories that have been fictionalized in the movies don’t always give you a heads up at the end as to what happens with all these characters. They did that with Rebecca, and it said at the end that she remains friends with Warren for 20 years. So I think this is why Rebecca was in the storyline at all. I didn’t like her story, but this is what I think the author was trying to get us to see.

[@MattandJessTV]

I do think it's a part of it, but why not at least give some other people more time? It just felt like the balance here was off. -Matt

[@andrealee8561]

Also nothing was done with Kelly's mother hearing what her daughter said on the phone about Reena That felt wasted

[@MattandJessTV]

Yeah, why didn't they spend a little more time on that? -Matt

[@cheri7054]

Many true to life stories that have been fictionalized in the movies don’t always give you a heads up at the end as to what happens with all these characters. They did that with Rebecca, and it said at the end that she remained friends with Warren for 20 years. So I think this is why Rebecca was in the storyline at all. I didn’t like her story, but this is what I think the author was trying to get us to see.

[@MattandJessTV]

I think you're probably right, but why couldn't we just focus on Reena? That' the part I still struggle with. -Matt

[@BadtzMarooTube]

U guys should watch this season of doctor who. Mysterious

[@MattandJessTV]

Matt is watching Doctor Who this season and has really loved it. - Jess

[@lahermosajarifa7007]

I was happy that I didn’t know about the crime to begin with. You guys called it on the show not “knowing its identity.” My final appraisal: Meh

[@MattandJessTV]

And it was off to a great start! Did it bite off more than it could chew? -Matt

[@lahermosajarifa7007]

It sure seems so.

[@komshobu2]

Still refuse to nwatch Andor? I dont get it. You watch big brother and reacher, but not the best Star Wars show in years!

[@MattandJessTV]

I actually have seen some of it, just haven't gotten around to finishing it. Probably will before season 2 starts so it's fresh. -Matt

[@hollymccormack4081]

Andor was fantastic!

[@cheri7054]

I didn’t understand why Cam was at the river somewhere and people were taking a coffin away. That couldn’t have been Reena or was it.

[@MattandJessTV]

I think the explanation around things was just a little messy. Why couldn't Cam just have a more cohesive arc? -Matt

[@kriskross6934]

I believe cam was finding her original family she was taken from. That wasn’t a coffin, it was a canoe

[@christopherrobertfarfan1673]

I think it was cams family right ?

[@cheri7054]

It wasn’t clear although I know she went to search for her family. I wish that part was more clear. Rebecca’s arc was stupid from the start. I preferred cams storyline much better. I know Cam was specially written into the story, but I liked it better​@@christopherrobertfarfan1673

[@hollymccormack4081]

She was going to meet her biological parents. They weren't bringing a coffin from the water, she was on the reservation and it was a canoe.

[@Catz0502]

I like that Jess has a pink and black chair. ❤

[@MattandJessTV]

Thank you so much! It’s really comfy! - Jess

[@xxCHEZxx]

I thought the actors of Warren and Jo were the best and they are still so young . I hate that they felt the need to include the storyline about Cam and her birth family circumstances and again say how mistreated etc that race was

[@MattandJessTV]

I do think it's a really important story, but it also needs a full series to really address it and give it the time it needs. It just didn't fit in what they had here. -Matt

[@kimpond7089]

I loved the show

[@MattandJessTV]

Did the finale give you everything you needed? -Matt