Parents' Guide to

The Bridge

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Canadian cop drama looks at the politics of police work.

TV CBS Drama 2010
The Bridge Poster Image

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What's the Story?

THE BRIDGE follows officer Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) as he fights crime on both sides of a bridge that connects the wealthy and the poor in his jurisdiction. While he protects and serves the public, he also fights for the rights of his fellow officers as division union representative. In between patrolling the streets with his partner Tommy Dunn (Paul Popowich), he cultivates the support of commanding officers like Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor (Frank Cassini) and Chief of Police Ed Wycoff (Michael Murphy). But being a union leader isn't easy, especially when Leo has to deal with issues like brutality and corruption among the ranks, not to mention the politics of the upper brass. Luckily he has attorney Abby St. James (Ona Grauer) on his side.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This Canadian police drama, which is loosely based on the life of former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell, mixes typical crime stories with the behind-the-scenes drama of police unions and administrative leadership. It also highlights some of the logistical and political issues that police officers have to deal with on a daily basis.

As is typical with most Canadian police dramas, the series isn't as gritty as many of its American counterparts. But there's still some strong content, including lots of drug activity. Some viewers may find the continual talk about the abuses of management -- as well as the depictions of police corruption - uncomfortable. But overall, the show offers fans of cop dramas solid entertainment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what, if anything, makes this Canadian show different from U.S. police/crime dramas. How does the amount of violence compare?

  • How does the media contribute to the way that people view police officers in real life? How do you think that police dramas impact the way that people view police officers in their communities? What about the kinds of things we see on police-themed reality shows?

TV Details

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