MovieChat Forums > Bron/Broen (2011) Discussion > A very problematic scene in season 3 (sp...

A very problematic scene in season 3 (spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by roland9d
13 replies | jump to latest

I think Bridge is a fantastic show, pretty much a fan. This was another great season.

However, I have one big problem with the killer in S3, or rather a particular scene. Here goes:

We are truly introduced to Emil at the very beginning of episode 6 after some brief appearances in episodes 1 and 5. If you can, please check it out. He's at work in the gallery, and overhears a police statement on TV revealing the details of recent murders. Now, watch his reaction: he seems geniunely surprised, confused even: he looks like a person who had a light bulp go on over his head. He immediately walks to the gallery, where the artworks are, and he seems to be making a connection (again, while looking surprised). Then he goes to Saga and Henrik and tells them about it.

Now, I don't have a problem with Emil going and revealing that the murder scenes are inspired by works of art, or in other words the killer revealing his insipiration to the police knowingly. The part I find extremely problematic is we, the viewer, are introduced to Emil looking like just some guy who happened to make that connection. Because later on we find out that while Emil is a deeply troubled person, he's actually very sane and carefully planned each murder. At the very least he doesn't seem to have a multiple pesonality disorder or something similar. So, why is Emil looking so confused when he hears those details? Why does he look at those artwork looking he like he made the connection just there and then? Because in hindsight, it looks like he's trying to fool someone, but in this case it's merely us the viewer. In short, the scene doesn't make any sense. I would rather not have seen it. Exclude that and it all falls into place, but add that one scene and for me it all becomes very problematic.

[–] zeppo1841 9 years ago

I have one big problem with the killer in S3, or rather a particular scene.

I agree. That scene was one of the reasons why I speculated that Emil was likely a "red herring", even after
the E9 reveal.

[–] roland9d 9 years ago

^ Same here. I also thought that in E10 we would see Emil was actully being forced to do what he was doing in E9, or something along those lines. And I was disappointed it was not the case.

[–] djinni999 9 years ago

You hit the nail on the head. my thoughts exactly. simply awful writing. usually because writers make stuff up as they go along. in this case, they probably forgot about it or thought the viewer would ignore it.

there were quite a few such implausabilities, other things that just didn't make all that much sense.
for example the mercedes c200 with a specific licence plate was responsible for the black swede's death. nothing came of it. it wasn't central to the plot but there should have been SOME closure at least. just poor writing IMHO.

also the whole part about the code was just way too tedious. babylonian numerical system for fkkk's sake? if you want to taint the police or somehow you want them to actually find out this information just tell them! why assume that they'll find a tiny burn mark and then magically read branded symbols from burnt and mutilated tissue? they didn't even discover it during the autopsy, Lillian did accidentally while wetting Hans' lips.
it is fun when you have such clues drive the plot but utterly stupid when you think about it.

i could go on but what's the point.

still a pretty decent plot; suspenseful enough to forgive many inadequacies.

[–] rmkeltz78 9 years ago

The thing with Emil's reaction in his early appearance I could go either way on, maybe they intended to have him seem genuinely disturbed, notice I said seem, because he is obviously very mentally disturbed and he sees the news about it in a public place, so why not show a little emotion like a normal person should. Even when he later tells the cops they seem to be linked to the works of art, he comes across as genuine, which could further speak to his madness.

As for the drug dealer getting gunned down and no closure. Once they established that he was not part of the serial killings he was likely dumped off to another detective and his case was handled by him/her. It may or may not have been resolved by other detective, but Henrik's focus was the murders being committed by Emil, he gave his statement, there was no reason for the cops to think otherwise...move it along.

The code was a macguffin, they needed something to tie the murders together just a little more because they had no real connection once they ruled out the radio show. Yes Emil and Anika were connected to each of the victims (except the priest's) but aside from the very flimsy connection they put to Emil because he was downsized by Freddie there would have been no way to make the jump to the foster kids as suspects...basically I think would have taken several more episodes without the code, I think they could have eventually done enough cross referencing to tie it to Emil, but it would have been boring and tedious to watch. Like you said, it's fun to have the clues to drive the plot, but it doesn't make sense; at the same time, without the clues, their evidence would become even more circumstantial

[–] aecceity 9 years ago

Emil wanted the fact that his killings were inspired by his father's (Freddie) art to be known. I think the scene you are refering to revealed that he was either A) surprised that the police hadn't already made the connection or B) only then realized/planned that he needed to inform the police in order to catch his father's attention which is what he wanted all along.

I do understand why you felt the scene was unnecessary and even distracting and I kind of agree. However, I think even the best shows uses moments like that to throw the viewer off the tracks at a certain moment even if it doesn't make 100 % sense in retrospect.

[–] Spielburger 9 years ago

Emil wanted the fact that his killings were inspired by his father's (Freddie) art to be known. I think the scene you are refering to revealed that he was either A) surprised that the police hadn't already made the connection or B) only then realized/planned that he needed to inform the police in order to catch his father's attention which is what he wanted all along.

This is effectively confirmed in Episode 10.
While being interviewed, Emil says: "My work. I was trying to get his [Freddie's] attention. But no one understood. You guys didn't either, so I had to help you.".

--
"So I've got bullets, but no gun. That's quite Zen."

[–] theOverlord 9 years ago

This scene could be interpreted differently.

When he is looking at the paintings, he might as well be thinking "is the resemblence obvious enough that I can come forward without making myself a suspect"? That might be what he is pondering in the scene, even though we the viewers are meant to think otherwise.

[–] Ingeborgen 9 years ago

Where is he in episode 1? And 5?

I can't be bothered to have a sig any-more.

[–] theOverlord 9 years ago

In episode 1 he appears when Henrik is picking up some random woman at the museum. He starts this big speech about an artist but is interupted by Henrik.

In episode 5 he has no speaking lines, but is seen in the crowd watching Freddie's big speech.

[–] Ingeborgen 9 years ago

That is so cool!

I can't be bothered to have a sig any-more.

[–] gorbals406 9 years ago

Along the same lines, I could not figure out where Emil had taken such a hideous beating. I think I missed completely who did it to him.

[–] purple66 9 years ago

I came here to post the same thing. After he came forward about the connection I was actually thinking it might be him but then remembered about the scene you described and instantly put any suspicion away lol

[–] By-TorX-1 9 years ago

Compared with the truly epic machinations of Jens, and the sinister activities of the group in season 2, Emil and his murders were a bit of a let-down. Aside from the coincidence of Hendrik bumping into him at the museum before the crimes, his motive was pretty confused and, ultimately, a bit of an Emo-whinge. Sure, his upbringing wasn't great, but nor was it the hell-on-Earth that would seemingly inspire such a campaign of terror.

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