Under the Bridge Finale (Episode 8) Recap and Ending Explained: On the night of November 14th, 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk was murdered under the Craigflower Bridge in the small town of Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The investigation behind the brutal death and the identity of her killers are explored in Rebecca Godfrey’s 2004 true crime book, “Under the Bridge.” Quinn Shephard has created an eight-part Hulu limited series based on the book. While the series finale (episode 8), “Mercy Alone,” shows Reena Virk’s murder trial and the punishment the perpetrators received, it also leaves us with burning questions that aren’t easy to answer.
In the previous “Under the Bridge” episode “Three and Seven,” we witnessed the grueling testimony of Warren G (Javon Walton) at the court, half describing how Kelly Ellard (Izzy G) killed Reena Virk. We also saw the distressing and unwavering support of author Rebecca (Riley Keough) for Warren, who initially promises that she wants to bring justice to Reena’s murder. Kelly receives temporary respite as she will stay at home till the end of her trial and sentencing. It also left us with uncertainty as we wondered whether the disparity in the class status of Reena’s killers – Kelly and Warren – would result in Warren becoming a scapegoat.
In “Under the Bridge” finale (episode 8), “Mercy Alone,” our concerns about Kelly’s trial are put to rest. You might know the trial’s outcome if you have already read about the Reena Virk case. But it’s cathartic to see the callous Kelly getting her comeuppance. The finale also hints at the chosen life path of police officer Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone) and author Rebecca after the end of the trial. Now, let’s explore in detail what happened in the “Under the Bridge” finale, “Mercy Alone.” Spoilers Ahead.
Under the Bridge Finale (Episode 8) “Mercy Alone” Recap:
The chain of events that led to Reena’s attack
“Under the Bridge” episode 8 opens on November 14, 1997, when Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) visits Seven Oaks to see her friend Dusty (Aiyana Goodfellow). While watching it the first time (in episode 1), we didn’t know why Reena was there, and now it’s clear the girl went there with a plan. Once Dusty, Kelly, and Josephine (Chloe Guidry) leave for the party at Conner Fields’ place, Reena takes Josephine’s secret notebook/journal. Reena’s prank calls to Josephine’s contacts also include a call to Connor Fields, who repeats what Reena told him to Josephine.
When Josephine calls Kelly about this, the killer girl details a plan on how to harm and murder Reena in the presence of her mom, who is oblivious to it as if it’s regular teenage banter. This call is crucial to intensify Josephine’s rage, which leads to the initial incident under the bridge. After the phone call, Josephine questions Dusty’s involvement in Reena’s prank. Dusty says she has no knowledge of how Reena got Josephine’s notebook. Subsequently, Josephine slashes her and Dusty’s palms for the blood oath. Josephine also says they will initiate Reena into CMC later in the night (but it won’t be anything like the ‘friendly’ beating Warren received to join the boys’ gang).
What does Cam come across in the file at Seven Oaks?
In the present, Rebecca Godfrey is writing her book, which speaks of the ‘darkness that lives within us.’ She receives a collect call from Warren Glowatski. Warren talks of the group therapy he is attending inside the prison. He is scared of talking in detail about what happened on the night of the murder. When Warren asks why Rebecca never really asked him about that night, the author says she was scared talking about it. Warren hopes Rebecca will be present at the therapy (usually attended by a non-judgmental family member) to hear him speak about it. However, a teary-eyed Rebecca wants to distance herself from these events, as she has decided to return to New York.
Meanwhile, Cam Bentland comes to Seven Oaks to see that the place is being closed. She inquires about a file of people who had stayed at Seven Oaks. In the file, Cam sees her adoption details, and there’s a discrepancy in Roy’s account of adopting Cam. Cam also grabs some of the belongings from the girls’ room. She arrives at the detention center to see Josephine and others watching the media coverage of Kelly’s trial. Cam hands over some of Josephine’s stuff. Then, a police recording of Kelly Ellard speaking about Josephine is played.
Will Warren testify against Kelly?
In the police interview, Kelly calls Josephine ‘twisted,’ ‘demented’ and that it was her idea to kill Reena Virk. Josephine protests the insinuation, saying she never thought Kelly would really kill Reena. At the same time, Josephine maintains her ridiculous blood oath thing and refuses to testify against Kelly. Meanwhile, at the trial, Kelly remains indifferent to the proceedings as prosecutor Stan Lowe (Terry Chen) speaks about Kelly’s ruthless crime. Kelly’s attorney, Adrian (Brian Markinson), in his opening statement, condemns the trial by the media. He implores the jury to be impartial and give his client a fair trial.
Sheriff Roy (Matt Craven) sees author Rebecca in the back of the courtroom, taking notes. He wants Cam to talk to Rebecca about making Warren testify against Kelly. But Cam asks Roy to speak to her himself. When Roy approaches Rebecca, the author says she won’t discuss the case with Warren. Furthermore, Rebecca emphasizes she is only there to observe, not get involved. The narrative jumps back to the dark events on November 14th, under the bridge. Reena Virk is forcefully taken from the phone booth to under the Craigflower bridge, where a group of girls teases Reena.
How did Josephine initiate the attack on Reena Virk?
Reena kind of apologizes to Josephine for what she did. But Reena also says they are sick of the privileged white girl behavior of Josephine. When Josephine asks who’s ‘we,’ Reena looks at Dusty. A cornered Dusty, however, doesn’t come to her friend Reena’s aid. Then, Josephine initiates the beating, and Dusty also joins the group of prejudiced girls. Two of the girls – Maya and Laila – involved in Reena’s beating are then called to testify. They say Kelly called them to help with beating up a girl who messed with Josephine.
Dusty testifies that initially, she thought Reena’s beating was an initiation procedure into the gang. Dusty isn’t sure if that’s truly the idea behind beating up Reena, but Dusty was also afraid that if she spoke against it, she, too, will become a target. Maya says Kelly was the most aggressive in that bunch and enjoyed watching it. Dusty testifies Kelly herself told her she killed Reena, particularly when Josephine found Reena’s shoes in Kelly’s closet. In the cross-examination, Kelly’s lawyer vilifies Maya as a marijuana user with an impaired memory.
What does Rebecca leave in front of the Virk’s home?
Laila is dismissed as a girl with a crush on Warren. So she is testifiyng against Kelly. For Dusty, the defense attorney brings up the girl’s anger issues. While Dusty doesn’t answer the defense lawyer’s accusations, she says they were all a part of this. Later that night, Cam and Sheriff Roy go for a drink, where Cam confronts her adoptive dad about his lies. It seems Cam didn’t come from an abusive household that didn’t want her. As a baby, Cam was forcefully taken away from her family by a government program and put up for adoption. Now, Cam even hates wearing the police uniform, the same uniform that took native children from their families.
At the Virk household, Manjit (Ezra Faroque Khan) tries to console a devastated Suman (Archie Panjabi). He speaks of temporarily going back to India with their other two younger children. Manjit thinks they can’t stay here anymore. But Suman replies that it’s not the place, and they can’t keep running away. Later, we see Rebecca leaving some papers in front of the Virk household. Suman takes the papers and calls after Rebecca. Rebecca says these are her chapters on Reena. Moreover, the author says she hasn’t done her part in writing about Reena but assures that she will encourage Warren to testify against Kelly.
Who visits Warren at the correctional facility?
Later, Rebecca meets Warren at the correctional facility. Warren thinks Rebecca is there to say goodbye before leaving for New York. But Rebecca says somebody called her to meet with Warren. Warren is shocked to see Reena’s mom, Suman, waiting to talk with him. Rebecca says whether he wants to speak with Suman is his choice, but Warren chooses to see her. In a moving scene, Suman describes the ways Warren and Kelly’s actions have poisoned her life. Eventually, Suman believes the only way out of her dark thoughts is to have mercy and at least forgive Warren. Warren is also moved to tears when Suman says if someone had shown him kindness, her daughter would have lived.
We see Warren testifying in Kelly’s trial; now, he gives a detailed account of what happened that night. Warren says he and Kelly followed Reena across the bridge after the initial beating. Kelly first asked Reena to take off her shoes and then started beating her. Warren says he also joined Kelly even when Reena was down. For Warren, it was a means to get out all of his anger. Then Warren and Kelly dragged an unconscious Reena to the water. When Kelly put Reena’s head under the water, Warren just stood beside her. Furthermore, the boy mentions that he never told Kelly to stop when she was drowning Reena.
How does Kelly’s remorseless behavior work against her in the trial?
Warren ends his testimony by saying they didn’t show any mercy to Reena that night and that he will be sorry for the rest of his life for the hurt he caused Reena and her family. After finally hearing the truth from Warren, Rebecca breaks down and leaves the courtroom. Later, the nonchalant Kelly takes the stand. She doesn’t seem the least bit remorseful while answering Prosecutor Lowe’s questions. Nevertheless, Kelly isn’t very intelligent, as she easily falls into Lowe’s trap. When the prosecutor asks if she would do anything to protect her best friend Josephine, Kelly says yes. Subsequently, when the prosecutor asks how she’d punch Reena out of her love for Josephine, Kelly demonstrates a punch, which almost makes everyone in the courtroom silent, including her own lawyer.
Prosecutor Lowe takes one of the evidence exhibits – pebbles retrieved from Reena’s lungs – in front of Kelly. The prosecutor says Kelly drowned Reena so violently that Reena sucked those pebbles while gasping for air. But Kelly maintains her lie that she was never even there. Then Kelly goes rabid as she repeats, “I did not kill Reena Virk,” and eventually breaks down. However, the horror committed by Kelly is proved beyond reasonable doubt that the jury or the courtroom observers don’t seem to show any sympathy for Kelly.
Under the Bridge Finale (Episode 8) “Mercy Alone” Ending Explained:
What happened to Kelly Ellard?
The Virks and Reena’s uncle are present in the courtroom as the jury has come up with the verdict in Kelly’s trial. The jury finds Kelly guilty of second-degree murder. But before finding any relief with the verdict, the judge gives a bizarre sentencing that reduces the judicial process into a joke. The judge gives Kelly the minimum sentence of five years and addresses Kelly by saying, “You must never again let yourself down, and you owe it to Reena Virk to live a life that’s exemplary.” I am not sure if the judge uttered this ludicrous sentencing and foolish words in Kelly’s trial. However, in real life, Kelly stood trial for second-degree murder not once but thrice. At the end of the third trial in 2005, Kelly was given a life sentence with no parole eligibility for seven years.
Cam and Rebecca come together for one final time, sharing a drink. Rebecca confesses that while initially she thought Warren reminded her of Gabe, she only later understood that Warren reminded Rebecca of herself. Rebecca believes they both were the reason behind someone’s death. Cam points out the obvious, i.e., even if Gabe killed himself, she is not the reason. Moreover, Rebecca didn’t commit any crime as Warren did. Then Cam says she is resigning from her police officer job. Cam is going on a journey to meet her birth family.
What happened to the other characters in the series?
In the epilogue of “Under the Bridge” finale, we hear Rebecca narrating passages from her book as we see Kelly, Josephine, and Dusty at the juvenile center. Cam leaves the small town to find her birth family, and Rebecca leaves for New York to finish her book. “Under the Bridge” finale, “Mercy Alone,” ends with Manjit and Suman Virk sitting at Reena’s bed in her room, listening to her daughter’s favorite song (which they earlier deemed as ‘blasphemous’). In the large mirror, the parents see their daughter, Reena, stating that Reena will always be a part of their lives.
The post-credits inform that Josephine (name is changed for the series) worked as a dancer in biker bars. Warren was granted parole in 2010, and even the Virks advocated on his behalf. Kelly eventually took responsibility for Reena’s murder in 2016 in a hearing for her day parole, and she now has two children of her own. Author Rebecca Godfrey passed away in October 2022, just before the series was set to start filming. Rebecca was involved in the series’ development. The Virks were committed to anti-bullying activism. Manjit wrote a book about Reena (which was crucial to the 4th episode), and Suman Virk passed away in 2018.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Hulu’s “Under the Bridge” is one of the better true crime series in recent times. While it takes dramatic liberties over a few aspects of the case, the series never loses itself to melodrama. One of the commendable aspects of “Under the Bridge” is the focus on the Virk family without reducing them to mere victims (elevated further by phenomenal performances from Archie Panjavi and Ezra Faroque Khan). Most importantly, the series was blessed with a great ensemble cast – from familiar faces like Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone to teenage actors like Izzy, Vritika, and Javon Walton – everyone perfectly embodied their characters.
