The Bridge - Analysis

The Bridge

Genre conventions

The typical narrative of crime-drama television shows are normally centred around a detective who is given the responsibility of solving a crime, usually a murder. Over the course of the episode, clues will gradually be revealed which contribute to solving the crime or finding the killer. Some television shows reveal the killer by the end of the episode whilst others may reveal them at the end of a set of episodes or even the end of the series. The subtle clues allow for the audience to try and solve the crime before it is revealed. The lead characters have a back story and often parts of the episodes will flashback to a moment in the character's life which will affect the storyline. It's also very common for every episode to end on a cliffhanger to keep the audience engaged. 

Along with narrative, there are also codes of crime-drama which are used in television shows that make it easy for the audience to identify the genre. For example, action sequences such as car chases, fighting, shootouts and other actions affiliated with violence. These types of scenes will usually happen when before the resolution and when the killer is revealed. The end/ resolution of the television show will have the killer confront the lead character and reveal vital and missing information.   

The opening scenes of crime-drama episodes will be through 'establishing camera shots' which sets the scene for the episode and series. Settings of the genre will have a dark and gritty look and include a setting of an isolated and empty place. Other camera shots include 'over-the-shoulder' shots which are used for conversations or confrontations. Many television shows of the genre include sound effects which fluctuate from quiet to loud to build up suspense. For example, when a scene's sound effects slowly change from quiet to loud, it is likely that something will happen and makes the audience ready for something happening. 

Saga

The lead character, Saga, plays as the lead investigator who works with a Danish police officer to solve the murder of a gender campaigner. The episode ends with the two investigating a building which leaves the Danish officer injured after a trap was set. 

Saga is not represented as a stereotypical woman as she has doesn't have many characteristics and since she's autistic, she can't emphasise with other people's feelings whereas stereotypically, women are usually seen as empathetic and understanding which would be useful for detectives. Saga is a unique character as she's represented as a strong leading character despite having autism and this might be found to be relatable by the audience and their own identity. 

Saga and the female Danish officer both subvert female gender stereotypes as they show they're strong and independent, and are represented differently to minor female characters. 

Narrative

The Bridge follows a multi-strand plot and there are various subplots that intervene with the main storyline. This is done to engage the audience as focusing primarily on solving the main crime may cause the audience to become uninterested. The episode followed a restricted narrative as the only information revealed to the audience is the same to Saga as the whole episode follows her character as she learns new information. This keeps the audience active in knowing the same as Saga as well as the audience making their own guesses to answers before they are revealed. 

Many subplots have opened up by the end of the first episode which makes the lead character having to solve not only the main plot, but also solving the subplots which reveal information assisting Saga to the main plot. The end of the episode ends on a cliffhanger which follows the typical genre convention of episodes ending on cliffhangers to captivate the audience in the plot and watch the next episode.