The Bridge

FX has had a streak of putting out some of the best shows currently on television and The Bridge is no exception. Like its FX drama counterparts Sons of Anarchy, The Americans and Justified, The Bridge sticks the neo-noir feel that has worked so well for FX. 

But that's not to say that it's not a unique show....

The Bridge's main focus is that of a serial killer who is dismembering female victims and leaving them on opposite sides of the border and the two detectives, one Mexican and one American,  trying to put the pieces together...literally. Making it even more sadistic, the killer mixes and matches upper and lower halves of his victim, making it look like one victim initially. 

Unlike other serial killer shows, such as The Killing, we meet the perpetrator in the first episode and get a grisly insight into his frightening world. Meeting the killer in the first episode may suck out all the mystery, but it forces the viewer to pay attention to everything else that's actually going on, rather than just trying to theorize who the killer is for an hour every episode. It works a lot like Silence of the Lambs (coincidentally Buffalo Bill is in the show), and just like we got a look into the dark life of Jame Gumb, we are slowly getting looks into The Bridge's psychopath. This leaves the show to explore the why, rather than the who, which in turn is a lot more effective. Sadly, there aren't any moths in this show. 

Another strength is Demián Bichir, who plays the Marco Ruiz, our main protagonist on the Mexican side. In only the first episode, Bichir already proves himself worthy to be a fan favorite and his portrayal of Ruiz is as authentic gets. Just like other FX 'good guys', he's not perfect, but he's not dirty either. 

While Bichir's character and performance soars, Kruger's character is already annoying and easily the weakest area of the show. The show is written by the creators of Homeland, and like Showtime's little darling, the female lead has psychological issues. But trade severe anxiety for Asbergers, and you have the more annoying version of Carrie Mathison in Sonya Cross. 

I'm all for strong female characters, Game of Thrones has a dozen, but why write another female lead who has a disorder that not only severely weakens her job but ostracizes her as well? Obviously there's nothing wrong or unrealistic about a female in a powerful position who happens to have a certain disorder, but it's presented in such a way that it actually weakens Kruger's character instead of empowering it. Basically, they are already making her look crazy and unstable. Kruger also doesn't have near the charisma that Claire Danes does to cover up this writing flaw. 

The theme music by Ryan Bingham's is superb and sets the tone for a show that will not only become one of FX's best shows, but a paradigm for all serial killer shows from here on out.