Warning: This article contains spoilers for Under the Bridge.
Summary
- The final episode of Under the Bridge dives deep into the details of Reena Virk's tragic murder and the trials that followed.
- Warren Glowatski's change of heart and decision to testify truthfully play a significant role in the outcome of Kelly Ellard's trial.
- The haunting ending scene with Reena's parents and the Biggie CD symbolizes the ongoing pain and memories of losing a child.
The ending of Under the Bridge episode 8 wraps up the miniseries while relaying important messages about life, death, and trauma. Based on the eponymous book by Rebecca Godfrey and Reena: A Father’s Story by Manjit Virk, the Hulu miniseries Under the Bridge dramatizes the true story of Reena Virk’s murder. The 14-year-old was brutally attacked by a group of her peers and then murdered by two of them.
The last episode of the haunting miniseries follows Kelly Ellard’s murder trial, giving insight into details previously hidden about the night of Reena’s murder. The jury hears the cross-examination of the rest of the Shoreline Six, highlighting the vicious nature of Kelly Ellard’s trial. Finally, Hulu’s Under the Bridge brings the story to a reasonable and dramatic conclusion, hinting at what eventually happened to the individuals involved and Reena Virk’s family.
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What Really Happened To Reena Virk On The Night Of Her Death
Reena Virk Went Through Two Attacks On The Night Of Her Death
Under the Bridge episode 8, “Mercy Alone,” finally reveals the full picture of what happened to Reena Virk on both sides of the bridge. Jo set up the attack on Reena beforehand, telling Dusty it was an initiation. When Reena got there, they chased her from Shoreline to the phone booth right by the bridge. After dragging Reena under the bridge, they started kicking and punching her until Laila shouted at everyone to stop. This was the end of the first assault, and the six teens involved in the attack.
The teens dispersed, at which point Warren and Kelly followed Reena to the other side of the bridge. According to Warren’s testimony, Kelly instructed Reena to take off her boots and jacket. She then started attacking Reena, and Warren joined in. They kicked her, punched her, and jumped on her. Unlike what Warren said during his trial, he didn’t try to stop Kelly. The two dragged Reena towards the water. Kelly then took Reena into the water and held her head underwater.
Why Warren Finally Tells The Truth About His Involvement In Reena's Murder
Warren Has A Change Of Heart Related To The Virks
Throughout Hulu’s Under the Bridge, Warren Glowatski lies about his involvement in Reena’s murder, minimizing the role he played in attacking her and dragging her toward the water. Even during his trial, he states that he doesn’t want to incriminate himself, rather than admitting to helping Kelly drag Reena’s body. This is a major change to the facts in Under the Bridge episode 7, where he at least admits to dragging Reena. However, in both the true story and the show, Glowatski isn’t forthcoming about everything that happened. He finally tells the truth, though, after meeting with Suman Virk.
The show presents this as a turning point for Warren after his Under the Bridge trial because she offers him forgiveness, allowing him to reckon with what he had done. In real life, Warren chose to tell the truth prior to meeting Suman and Manjit Virk because he realized the damage he did and felt he owed it to the Virks. His choice to willingly testify and tell the truth at Kelly Ellard’s second trial was a large contributing factor as to why the Virks agreed to meet Glowatski, according to Reena: A Father’s Story by Manjit Virk.
Why Kelly Ellard Is Only Sentenced To 5 Years In Jail (& Where She Is Today)
Kelly Ellard Went Through Three Trials In Real Life
When going in front of the judge for sentencing in Under the Bridge, Kelly Ellard is given privileged, rich treatment. The judge says that because of her good grades and family support, she should only get five years in prison. The statement outlined in Godfrey’s book furthers the idea that Kelly received special treatment. The judge noted that Ellard had a “way with the elderly and with children.” She says that Kelly had demonstrated remorse, even though she didn’t actually admit to killing Reena. The judge even noted Kelly’s love of animals as a factor as to why she should get five years.
The appeals court again overturned the ruling, but the Supreme Court of Canada reinstated the sentence.
Kelly’s legal team appealed this decision on the basis that the questioning was prejudicial to the jury. While waiting for an appeal, Kelly’s privilege was once again displayed in the fact that she was let out on house arrest because she was deemed not a danger to anyone. Then, her bail conditions were loosened again, only for her to allegedly assault a woman. The appeals court overturned the guilty verdict and ruled a second trial. The second verdict was a mistrial. Then, in the third trial, she was found guilty and sentenced to life with a minimum of seven years.
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Kelly’s team once again appealed the sentence. The appeals court again overturned the ruling, but the Supreme Court of Canada reinstated the sentence. Since then, Kelly Ellard changed her name to Kerry Marie Sim. Sim has two children, one of whom she gave birth to in prison after a conjugal visit. According to Saanich News, she was given day parole in 2017, but it was revoked in August 2021 after she lied about domestic violence committed against her. Sim regained her day parole later that year after she and the parole board created a safety plan and new restrictions.
The Real Meaning Of Suman & Manjit Virk's Biggie CD Scene
The Loss Of Reena Haunts Suman And Manjit Virk
The last scene in Under the Bridge is Reena Virk’s parents, Suman and Manjit Virk, finding a Biggie CD that Reena loved before her death. Rather than throwing it away, they play “Kick in the Door” by Biggie, a song that’s repeated in the Under the Bridge soundtrack. They start to smile and dance a little bit until the CD starts skipping and stops. All the while, the ghost of Reena Virk is watching them from the doorway. This scene relays two main messages.
Firstly, their smiling and dancing, even if just wiggling their shoulders, indicates that Reena’s parents were finally able to appreciate even the parts of her that they didn’t understand. They’d once questioned why she even liked the music. Now, they could use it to connect with the memory of her. However, the scene also points to the impact of the trauma they faced. Even when they had a positive memory of their daughter, it was followed by the realization that she was gone. Their faces reflect the deep and unending pain of losing a child.
Was Rebecca Godfrey's Book Actually Justice For Reena?
Rebecca Godfrey's Book Tries But Fails To Tell Reena's Full Story
During the montage of everyone’s life after the trials, Rebecca Godfrey sees a man in front of her holding up a newspaper with her author's headshot with the question, “Justice for Reena?” Especially after the ending of Under the Bridge episode 7, Rebecca Godfrey’s intention for writing the book becomes extremely concerning. She seems more worried about painting Warren as an innocent party than representing Reena’s story honestly. The truth is complicated due to the age, brain development, and background of the perpetrators. Both the extenuating circ*mstances and the horrendous violent actions can be true without negating one another.
The reason Hulu’s Under the Bridge paints a full picture of Reena is the fact that they used Manjit Virk’s book Reena: A Father’s Story to show a multifaceted picture of the teen.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that Rebecca admits to her downfall in the Under the Bridge finale, the real book is far from justice for Reena Virk. It’s not as bad as what’s initially seen in the show, but the book still emphasizes the Shoreline Six, Warren Glowatski, and Kelly Ellard over Reena. Godfrey only seems to have a loose understanding of who Reena was prior to her attack and murder. Her identity was often contingent on her relationship to others in Godfrey’s book. Moreover, Warren isn’t painted as a complex individual but as a victim who doesn’t deserve criticism.
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The reason Hulu’s Under the Bridge paints a full picture of Reena is the fact that they used Manjit Virk’s book Reena: A Father’s Story to show a multifaceted picture of the teen. There’s much more nuance to Reena’s actions and decisions, whether good or bad. Reena’s desperation for approval and experience with bullying is much more prominent in the Hulu series. Moreover, the writers of the show did a better job of balancing the nuances of Warren Glowatski, showing him as both a victim of circ*mstances and an active perpetrator of violence and murder.
Cam's Real Backstory & Adoption Program Explained
Cam's Adoption Was A Part Of The AIM Program
Under the Bridge episode 8 finally reveals why Cam was in Seven Oaks and her true backstory. Cam was taken from her home and put up for adoption as a part of the Adopt Indian and Metis (AIM) program. This is a horrible part of Canadian history, which involved the government taking First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children away from their families. Children like Cam would be placed in foster care until white Canadian families could adopt them, though the creator of the program denies that this was the intention (via CBC).
The children removed from their homes were denied contact with their families, communities, or heritage.
According to Active History, the children would be advertised in newspapers, on the TV, and on the radio. This is why Cam found a newspaper clipping related to her adoption. Like Cam experienced, the children removed from their homes were denied contact with their families, communities, or heritage. Even back in 1971, the Metis society called the program racist, but it has gained even more criticism in recent years. Cam decides that she is going to reconnect with her birth family at the end of Under the Bridge.
The Real Meaning Of Hulu's Under The Bridge Ending
Life Keeps Moving Forward No Matter What
The ending of Under the Bridge relays the fact that life continues to move forward regardless of the tragedies that occur. The vicious violence of teenagers halted Reena Virk’s life, but her parents, her attackers, and her community had to find a way forward. There’s no way to stop time, as shown when the CD stops and her parents are left in painful silence. Still, even though she’s gone, Reena’s memory lives on with her loved ones, her community, and now every viewer who has watched Hulu’s Under the Bridge.
Sources:Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey, Reena: A Father's Story by Manjit Virk, Saanich News, CBC, and Active History
Under the Bridge (2024)
TV-MA
Crime
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
- Cast
- Riley Keough , Izzy G , Chloe Guidry , Ezra Faroque Khan , Archie Panjabi , Vritika Gupta , Javon Walton , Aiyana Goodfellow , Lily Gladstone , Anoop Desai
- Release Date
- April 17, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Showrunner
- Samir Mehta , Liz Tigelaar
- Main Genre
- Biography
