Warning: This article contains spoilers for Under the Bridge.
Hulu’s Under the Bridge episode 5 includes numerous changes to the true story that, while small, have a strong impact on the narrative. The old adage that sometimes reality is stranger than fiction applies to the story of Under the Bridge, making it easy for the writers to build a compelling storyline using mostly truths. However, like most true crime TV shows, this miniseries uses the basic facts of the case to form the story while also dramatizing and fictionalizing aspects for a better viewing experience.
Moreover, some changes within the series get to the emotional truth, even if the writers needed to bend the factual truth to get there. Examples of this in this episode center on Dusty, Manjit Virk, and Kelly Ellard. Ultimately, Under the Bridge‘s factual changes serve the overall purpose of allowing audiences to better understand the mentality of the perpetrators and victims of the real life murder of Reena Virk.
One of the most interesting changes in Hulu‘s Under the Bridge is the fact that Kelly calls the police in order to report Warren as Reena’s killer. This is a huge deviation, and real life is a lot more shocking than what’s in the show. According to Godfrey’s novel, while Kelly didn’t come forward of her own volition, she immediately blamed Josephine when speaking to the police. She said that her best friend must have drowned Reena since she was the one who started the rumor about Kelly, twisting the truth of the situation.
Even when the police told her that nobody was saying Josephine killed Reena, she doubled down, saying that Josephine had motivation and she didn’t. Hulu’s Under the Bridge would’ve violated the curated image of Kelly on the show if they included this real detail about the investigation. In the show, Kelly Ellard is fiercely loyal to her friend and never would have blamed Josephine. She’d rather throw another friend, Warren, under the bus to save herself.
Additionally, her willingness to back her friends in Under the Bridge, never sacrificing them for her own benefit, provides an explanation of why she committed the crime at all. There is no possible explanation that could make Kelly’s actions acceptable. However, if her loyalty is removed, Kelly has no motivation to commit the crime. The idea that Kelly didn’t have an internal reason for killing Reena in real life makes it all the more tragic.
In Hulu’s Under the Bridge, Dusty decides to report Warren Glowatski as Reena’s killer before she herself can be blamed. However, the book reveals that Dusty tells the police a story that removes suspicion from herself. Dusty says that Jo invited Reena to a party over the phone and they all agreed to meet at Walmart. Dusty then asserts that Reena decided not to go to the party, left with some boys, and never showed up later. This change propelled the narrative forward while also solidifying the idea that none of these three girls would turn on each other.
Additionally, if they maintained this part of the true story, they would have needed to put more focus on smaller characters from the book. Characters like Dmitri and Maya placed Warren at the site of the attack, making him a suspect in the murder. However, they are relatively insignificant in the Hulu series. Additionally, Syreeta – renamed Samara in the TV series – implicates him in the crime. Because of this, she would need to be more central to the plot of the show.
During Under the Bridge episode 5, Josephine calls the police to tell them about Warren killing Reena. Cam later plays the recording of this confession and the others in order to get under the skin of Dusty. Like the other two who reported Warren, Jo didn’t do this in real life, according to Godfrey’s Under the Bridge. When interviewed at Seven Oaks, she mirrored Dusty’s story. Then, after she was brought into the police department, the teenager refused to make a statement about the murder, even after talking to her mother on the telephone.
When offered the option a second time, Josephine declined, saying, “Do I look like I have a tail?” This refers to the idea that people who snitch on others are rats. This approach didn’t incriminate any of her friends, which was important to Josephine. She maintains this demeanor when she refuses to testify against Kelly. The choice to not report anyone also matched up with her desire to be like John Gottii and gangs. Gang culture dictates that members don’t ever speak against one another, no matter the crime, lest they be beaten up or killed.
One horrifying moment that gives a glimpse into the mentality of Kelly Ellard is the drawing found in her locker where a cigarette is stubbed out on Reena’s forehead. While this has a strong narrative impact, it is false. Godfrey’s book reveals that only one disturbing drawing was found in Kelly’s locker – that of a police officer being shot to death by a bank. This violent drawing is also shown in Hulu’s Under the Bridge in addition to the fake drawing of Reena.
Additionally, a second drawing by Kelly is found in Maya’s locker of a man smoking cannabis, though there’s nothing remarkably scary about this one. The two real drawings might be uncomfortable and upsetting, but they’re relatively unremarkable for the teen. As such, the addition of the Reena drawing helps elevate the severity of the situation. There’s something extra haunting about the drawing of Reena. The drawing and the rumors spread to the teens prove that the character ruminated over the attack and murder.
Moreover, the fabrication hints at real facts about Kelly, even if it’s factually inaccurate. According to Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey, the teenager had a tendency toward violence and outbursts, causing her to get referred to a new school and counseling. She also seemed to take joy in being violent and vicious, as shown in her mention of loving punching people and the murder of Reena. Rather than killing Reena in an impersonal way, she drowned her while putting a foot on her neck. The drawing added to Under the Bridge just re-emphasizes how sinister and violent she could be.
In Under the Bridge, the teenagers create a full plan to go to Mexico, planning out the ferry they will take and how they will get the money for the trip. This gives the show some sort of action outside the police investigation. While this is loosely based on the true story, it’s also a factual inaccuracy. After the police went to see Josephine in the book, she and Kelly talked about what they’d do if things got worse, coming up with the idea of going to Mexico. They romanticized this prospect, despite the impracticality. However, the book states:
Based on this passage, it’s clear that the idea of Kelly, Josephine, and Dusty having a specific plan about how and when they’d leave was created to serve the narrative. Moreover, they probably never tried to obtain the money if they didn’t figure anything out. Instead, the true story is proof of the youthful hubris these teens possessed in believing they could evade the law and escape to a different country without any issues.
One of the most emotional parts of Under the Bridge episode 5 is when Dusty begs her sister, Dahlia, to take her back. She offers to cook, clean, and watch the kids. However, her sister brings up that Dusty put a knife to her niece’s throat. Ultimately, her sister seems to have zero concern or love for Dusty, even calling the police to have her removed from the home. This scene is based on real incidents. Dusty had previously lived with her sister and threatened her niece with a knife. However, the scene fails to include important nuances in their relationship.
According to Godfrey’s book, Dahlia loved and believed in Dusty. She never wanted to send Dusty away, only doing so after the incident with her daughter to protect her kids. Despite this, her sister held no animosity for the incident. She still believed that her sister was good-hearted and could be saved. Dahlia even told Dusty she could come back to live with her if she could change her ways and “grow a brain.” Based on these facts, the portrayal of Dahlia in Hulu’s Under the Bridge seems inaccurate or at least skewed from the older sister’s personality and compassion.
A heartbreaking moment in Under the Bridge occurs when Reena goes back to her house to get a jacket. At the end of Under the Bridge episode 4, Reena’s dad is arrested because she accused him of sexual assault. In Episode 5, she and her father talk through the door about the fact that he doesn’t trust her anymore. While this captures the core of Manjit’s emotions at the time, the scene changes a fact in Manjit Virk’s book Reena: A Father’s Story.
In the chapter “Trouble and Shock,” Manjit reveals that after Reena was taken away from the house, she kept in contact with her mom through phone calls. However, Manjit refused to speak with his daughter. Her father felt too much pain from Reena’s accusation, and he didn’t want to violate the no-contact order by the court. He also repeatedly wrote how scared he was of getting into more legal trouble.
If the refusal was relayed through Suman, as it seems in the writing, this conversation from the Hulu show would’ve never happened. If Manjit relayed the message directly, the conversation from the show would’ve happened over the phone instead of through the door. In either case, the scene from Hulu’s Under the Bridge was probably created in order to show Manjit’s hurt and Reena’s regret about the accusations.