Review: The Bridge ‘Maria of the Desert’ – Damn Gringos

The Bridge has a border problem. That is, what happens south of the border (or involves characters from south of the border) is a lot more interesting then what’s happening in America, where widows find wallets in their guest bedrooms from one-night stands, and the world’s most awkward homicide detective stares at an internet video feed to find a missing person. Once again, Marco’s world proves to be much more intriguing than Sonya’s world – an imbalance that peaks through every crack and crevice of ‘Maria of the Desert’.

I like that the show’s going for little self-contained stories that are supposed to broaden the scope and deliver its message; it’s just that larger scope and overall message aren’t really saying anything at this point. It’s basically “THE US IGNORES MEXICO” and “MEXICO IS TOTALLY FUCKED”, with a serial killer story line tossed in that gets more ridiculous by the day. Seriously: this guy is able to hack computers, set up live Internet feeds, call the police, kidnap a federal officer, decapitate him, hide both halves of his body, knock out Marco, decide NOT TO KILL HIM (“I have a family” he tells him; he could’ve just said “I’m Mexican: we’re on the same team, bro!”), and escape. And that’s just in a 72-hour period; he’s not even murdering people and shutting down entire electrical systems!

When ‘Maria of the Desert’ is focusing on that (or Maria of the desert), it’s a much more interesting show. Marco’s completely on edge throughout the episode, obviously pissed at what he did with Charlotte, while struggling to deal with all the bullshit from the government. When Fausto Galvan (an all-knowing, all-seeing presumed cartel member) delivers the $1 million ransom the feds are dragging their feet on (or “holding their cocks”, to quote Senor Galvan), it’s because he can’t get his drugs or whores through the border – a thoroughly fascinating way for the cartel to sink their hooks into Marco and an American investigation at the same time… though I do wonder to what ends. If the cartel is just a presence that threatens Marco’s family in every episode, they aren’t going to remain an intriguing organization for long.

But those moments are easily the strongest in ‘Maria of the Desert’; the only entertaining non-Marco scene involved Hank showing his fatherly side around the wooden, I-do-not-emote Sonya, who doesn’t understand why a girl dying alone makes her think of her sister, who also died alone. It’s not a great scene for Sonya’s character (unfortunately, not many are), but it gives Hank this big honkin’ Texas bear side I really enjoyed seeing (“and did you have a happy thought like I said you should?”). Like it or not, he’s made it his job to protect her – and sometimes, that means he has to explain some simple human emotions to the poor woman (who apparently has visited her sister’s killer? weird).

I keep waiting for The Bridge to take my breathe away and establish itself as a great drama: but if that’s going to happen, it will be at the end of the season. Just look at scenes with Charlotte and her stepdaughter, or Linder and the weird redneck Jon Gries is playing; these stories just don’t have enough context or depth to connect them to the larger narrative (Charlotte’s does a bit: she allows Tina to open the tunnel, which allows Fausto to travel through), and just feels vague for the sake of having some mystery. Steven Linder isn’t the killer: terrific – but why the hell are we watching him, except to listen to that awesome southern accent that sounds like it was soaked in cornbread and molasses for a decade? I see the pieces: The Bridge just needs to shine a little bit of light on how they connect, and move away from this omniscient serial killer crap… and quickly.

Grade: C+

Other thoughts/observations:

– the other problem with this show: things are too obvious. Sonya’s staring at the live feed; we know she’ll find the answer. Marco doesn’t have a gun; we know he’s going to get beat up. Charlotte shows up to give Marco his wallet; we know she’s going to make up some story and look like a fool when she gives it to the secretary (which is just a stupid idea, regardless of who you are). Gedman gets put on the case and looks uncomfortable; he was set up to be killed because he…. had sex with a Mexican girl? Not really sure why he got his head cut off.

– Daniel, describing the FBI: “they’re good at insertion.”

– don’t start with the herrings, The Bridge. I’m warning you.

– getting tired of seeing those iPhone headphones a half dozen times in every episode.

– Hank doesn’t wear a seatbelt; livin’ at the mercy of the road, motherfuckers.

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