Tina Kakadelis
The following recap contains spoilers for Under the Bridge S1E7, “Three and Seven” (written by Todd Crittenden and directed by Dinh Thai)
“Three and Seven” is the penultimate episode of Under the Bridge, and it picks up four months after the events of “In Water, They Sink As the Same.” Much of this episode takes place in and around the courtroom as the teenagers involved in the murder of Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) are facing judgment. Of those accused, Kelly (Izzy G) and Warren (Javon “Wanna” Walton) are the ones who have been charged with the heaviest of crimes—second degree murder.
In the time between the murder and the trial, the news media has taken to sensationalizing the events. It’s a pattern we’re all too familiar with: tragedy happens, the media descends to create a frenzy, the trial ends, and everyone leaves except those directly affected by the tragedy. Reporters breeze in to get the story, unconcerned with the very real lives that are involved, and the story of a tragedy becomes fodder. Under the Bridge, in a way, is no different. The series is based on true events, and while it takes several creative liberties with some of the characters, it is digging up past trauma for entertainment.
There’s a very fine line to walk when it comes to shows like this. How do you tell this story while paying respect to those who suffered the most? It’s a question that Rebecca (Riley Keough) wrestles with in “Three and Seven.” She has a book deal now and looming pressure to turn in a manuscript. In telling the story of Reena Virk, most of her book is going to be focused on Warren. It’s a decision that confounds and disappoints Reena’s parents, Suman (Archie Panjabi) and Manjit (Ezra Faroque Khan).
“For someone wanting to write a book about my daughter, you sure don’t know a lot,” Suman tells Rebecca. Despite reaching out to Reena’s teachers, Rebecca isn’t able to put together a description of who Reena was. Dusty (Aiyana Goodfellow) was probably Reena’s closest friend, and she had a hand in her death. This absence of being able to put together a clear image of Reena speaks to the immense feelings of isolation and loneliness she experienced while she was alive. It also speaks to Suman’s belief that none of Reena’s peers saw her as human, that kids joined in the beating because they saw her as less than, as a place for them to take out their own frustrations.
As Under the Bridge pivots to courtroom drama, an emphasis is placed on the concept of truth. In theory, there is true and false. Things that happened and things that didn’t. In the court of law, there is the burden of proof, where evidence must be produced in order to find a defendant guilty. The problem the lawyers are facing is that teenagers don’t operate within the confines of truth. They run on gossip and emotion, caring more about themselves than the truth. Warren and Dusty are haunted by nightmares from the night of Reena’s murder. Dusty tells Warren that the only way she was able to get those dreams to stop was to admit to the truth.
While Dusty and Warren feel some guilt and shame for their part in Reena’s death, Kelly finds all of this to be a nuisance. She’s flippant with her lawyer, whines to her parents, and doesn’t have a care in the world, despite the impending trial. To Kelly, the truth is whatever she wants it to be. She sheds crocodile tears about being “just a little girl” when faced with the consequences of her actions, and gleefully skips out of the juvenile prison she’s being held in when her lie about being bullied works. “Three and Seven” doesn’t show Kelly on the stand yet, but it’s clear that she believes she’s above all this. That Reena was simply a footnote in her Mafia daydream. It’s no wonder Kelly feels like this, as no one in her life believes she needs to be held accountable for her actions. Kids will be kids.
The treatment Kelly receives is in direct opposition to Dusty, Warren, and Jo (Chloe Guidry). As Jo watches the way Kelly uses their friendship for her own gain and leaves Jo in the dust, Jo begins to realize that she was always alone in this. For all their talk about loyalty, Kelly would be loyal to herself first. Rebecca believes that “people can do horrible things and that doesn’t make them inherently evil.” It’s the thesis of her book about Warren and such a thorny moral question. On the one hand, it’s easy to say that one moment in a person’s life does not define their nature. On the other, the one moment in question resulted in the death of another person.
Cam (Lily Gladstone) tells Rebecca that she has to stop classifying Warren’s actions as a “mistake.” Rebecca responds with, “You don’t think people can do things they wish they didn’t do?” Perhaps that’s the real answer to the overarching question of “inherent evil” in Under the Bridge. Regret, shame, and meaningful attempts at amends are the difference between a mistake and outright evil. Some of the characters (Warren, Dusty, and potentially Jo) are working toward recognizing that what’s done is done and that the way to justice is through honesty. The same cannot be said for Kelly.
As we await the final episode of Under the Bridge, there are a few questions that need to be answered. Even after all this time, we don’t know the truth about what happened on the night of Reena’s murder. We have various pieces, but no complete look at the events of that evening. Kelly’s sentencing is also to be decided. With Warren receiving life without parole, it seems likely that Kelly will receive a similar sentencing. The question of Cam and Rebecca’s relationship also hangs in the air. Will they go years without speaking? Will Cam follow Rebecca to New York or finally make it to Vancouver? What about her heritage? Only time will tell.
