A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Positive Messages
very little
The characters live in a morally complex and dangerous world where a serial killer is on the loose and death is an everyday occurrence. And although the two main characters must work together for a common cause, the overall tone drives home their differences.
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Positive Role Models
very little
Although Sonya challenges a lot of negative female stereotypes and is one of the few television characters with autism, her behavior isn't always socially acceptable. That said, she's by the book to a fault. By contrast, her male counterpart is lax with the rules but is sensitive to others' needs and emotions. He is also trying to fight against entrenched corruption within his city, though he doesn't always make the best choices in his personal life.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Visuals are gross (a bisected corpse, a dead body that's been drained of blood, a body tied to a post stabbed by multiple knives, etc.). One episode includes a scene in a medical examiners' office where bodies are in the process of being autopsied and are cut open with internal organs and bones visible. Violence against women is a major part of the plot.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Simulated sex, at times with bare buttocks visible, but no other sensitive parts.
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Language
a lot
Unbleeped swearing (mostly "s--t") along with audible words like "bitch," "p---y," "balls," etc.
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See AlsoKid reviews for Ruby BridgesThe Story of Ruby Bridges: A Biography Book for New Readers Book ReviewRuby BridgesOld [2021] [PG-13] – 5.6.5Get started
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Part of the plot involves the illegal drug trade. Some characters drink socially and use illegal drugs.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Bridge centers on a series of grizzly killings that are dark and occasionally shocking, which nets some disturbing visuals and blood. Both violence against women and the illegal drug trade are important to the plot, and there's simulated sex with bare buttocks visible (but no other sensitive parts). You'll hear unbleeped swearing, too (mostly "s--t"), and see characters drinking and using drugs. The main character also has Asperger syndrome, a disorder that affects her life and work in a variety of ways.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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The BridgeOfficial trailer
The Bridge
Community Reviews
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- Parents say (2)
- Kids say (1)
age 17+
Based on 2 parent reviews
Jacquelin F. Adult
December 3, 2023
age 18+
They should be ashamed to put this on tv
Extremely violent. Shows the absolute worst of humanity. No entertainment quality. No one should watch it.
viper_wings Adult
April 18, 2015
age 15+
A absolute No No --- Watch original instead
Every good script from Europe is rewritten for the USA Stop that The original is by all means ,also in this case , superior . Also it is very very good for USA viewers to watch European series . The world is much bigger than the USA
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See all 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
When a disturbed serial killer places the lifeless body of a Texas judge dead center on THE BRIDGE that connects the cities of El Paso, Texas, and Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico -- formally known as the Bridge of the Americas -- a pair of detectives with vastly different styles must work together to solve the crime. But American Det. Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger), a rigid rule-follower with Asperger syndrome, has trouble meshing with Mexican Det. Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir), whose comparatively fluid approach puts her out of her comfort zone.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):
Americans love a good crime drama, and The Bridge -- adapted from a Danish/Swedish series of the same name -- is definitely good enough to hook them. (In fact, the first big plot twist is so unbelievably twisted that we can't give it away here in good conscience, except to say that it takes the concept of 50-50 to a whole new level.) That said, Diane Kruger's Sonya Cross could be a tougher sell, not just because of her autistic quirks but also because her inconsistent accent takes away from her character's credibility.
The show's slow-moving story could be a turnoff for some viewers who prefer faster pacing, and The Bridge probably won't attract too many teens. But thanks to deft work from Homeland writer Meredith Stiehm, there's plenty of payoff if you stick with it to see how the seemingly unconnected story lines shake out in the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about autism spectrum disorders like Asperger syndrome and how they're portrayed in the media. How does Sonya compare to other autistic characters you've seen in movies, television, books, etc.? Do you know anyone with autism? How accurately does The Bridge reflect the realities of living with the condition?
In terms of violent content, how do the visuals here compare to other crimes shows you've seen? How realistic is it to think that crimes like those seen on The Bridge could occur in real life? What's the show's overall take on crime and the effectiveness of law enforcement?
The Bridge was inspired by the Danish/Swedish television series Bron. Using the internet to learn more about the original series, compare it to the U.S. version to see which details were changed to suit American audiences and which details stayed the same. Why might the producers of the American series have decided to make the changes they did? How do those changes affect the final product?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 10, 2013
- Cast: Annabeth Gish, Demian Bichir, Diane Kruger
- Network: FX
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 1, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
The Bridge
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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