Round Two: The Bridge

The Bridge: Season 1, Episode 2 “Calaca” (B+)

In its second episode, this show demonstrates that it’s definitely worth watching by digging deep into its characters and presenting multiple supporting threads to enhance the main drama. Charlotte discovering that the padlocked door led to a tunnel that goes to Mexico was pretty startling, almost as much as the fact that her reaction was to order it bordered up rather than to look into how it was being used. Returning the money given to her showed just how much she isn’t interested in being told what to do, which is going to make her an even more formidable character when she inevitably gets curious and wants in. The latest crew of Mexicans attempting to illegally cross the border had a far from pleasant journey, and seeing them all dead after being baited with poisoned water was very disturbing, though not quite as much as the unknown fate of the one dissenting voice who doesn’t appear to have gotten away clean. The way the two protagonists’ home lives contrast is fascinating, as Sonya bluntly picks up a stranger in a bar and then kicks him out in the middle of the night and Marco returns home to his caring wife, played by Catalina Sandino Moreno, who almost a decade ago broke out with an Oscar-nominated turn in a film about crossing the border, “Maria Full of Grace.” I’m continually impressed also with the relationship between Sonya and Hank, and I’m definitely ready to sit down and watch this show every week.