Coroner Review: Bridges (Season 1 Episode 8)

On Season 1, Coroner builds a wonderful foundation for Jenny. However, we’re left with too many questions at the end of this story for it to feel complete. 

While Coroner Season 1 Episode 8, “Bridges,” is a wonderful episode of television, it leaves too many small but important questions unanswered to receive my highest marks. 

Jenny is a former ER doctor with major anxiety because she fails to save her (practically estranged) husband’s life. So she becomes a coroner in Toronto and escapes to a home off the grid with her son to begin having sex with a handyman who lives in the woods. 

I’ll watch that show every week. But the better a show is the more these “minor” details matter.

We know Jenny has re-opened Dr. Ian Peterson’s cases subconsciously because she can’t solve Katie’s death for herself and she wants to right as many wrongs as she can — even if they are not hers. 

Even though Dr. Peterson is now a victim of Gerald Henry Jones, who we are meant to feel bad for, we never learn the reason why Dwayne and others have alluded to his work becoming shotty over the past 10 years. 

We have so many pieces of the puzzle, but without that one piece it’s hard to feel sympathy and admiration for the man our protagonist fires on Coroner Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot.” 

Gerald Henry Jones’ case isn’t exactly one meant to be solved. And if it is, it’s an easy case for even the casual viewer to figure out.

It’s more about connecting the dots or building the bridges (if you want to get punny) to get our biggest questions answered. But even though the scene of Gerald attacking Jenny is strangely a minor one, a big detail is omitted.

Coroner fails to tell us how Gerald gets into the building to stab Jenny in the first place. Jenny screams for security as she’s running for her life. Too bad they aren’t stationed at entrances.

If security is and Gerald gets past them, that’s pivotal for us to see. Sometimes it’s the minor missing details that are the hardest to suspend disbelief about. 

It’s quite unbelievable (in a less literal way) that Jenny accidentally caused Katie’s death when she was younger and repressed it. 

In hindsight, this isn’t the wildest assumption. It’s just never one that crossed my mind while watching previous episodes because Coroner does make a bold move by choosing to have their protagonist cause such a tragedy. 

I like Jenny too much to be too upset with her. She’s young when it happens, it’s a complete accident, and if Gordon can lie to protect his surviving daughter we can go on the healing journey with Jenny that’s coming soon. 

We also don’t know Katie well enough to feel much more than surface-level sadness about her death.

Aesthetically, Coroner‘s flashbacks are always unique and bring depth to the episodes. But we don’t even know Katie exists until a few episodes into the season and never learn much of anything about her and Jenny’s bond. 

A good episode can’t reach great without all of the storylines tugging at our heartstrings in natural ways. 

Too many of these stories just don’t have enough emotional pull. But it is a pleasure to walk alongside Jenny, Ross, and Liam on their journeys. 

Autopsy Notes: 

• Speaking of unanswered questions, it’s very difficult to understand how Detective McAvoy just happens to be in the building at the right time to kill Gerald Henry Jones as he’s attacking Jenny. 
• Ross’ adventures with edibles add a lightness to the episode, but it’s also touching to watch Ross figure out his issues with his parents while high.
• It’s so important that we keep seeing Jenny’s panic attacks on-screen.  
• So far, there are three — count them, three — queer main or supporting characters. That’s how you do representation. 
• I no longer think Ian Peterson is a jerk, but it would’ve been nice to see his relationship with Dwayne rather than hear about it after the fact.
• Did Ian know anything about what Jenny’s “running” from or is it just a guess? 
• Why is Coroner just ignoring the woman who shows up at Jenny’s Thanksgiving dinner and destroys a windshield because she thinks she’s in an exclusive relationship with Liam? 
• That said, I’m excited to watch Jenny and Liam get serious next season.

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What did you think of this episode of Coroner? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Coroner returns to The CW for Season 2 on October 7, 2020.

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