Carol Bridger

Carol Bridger
A photograph of Carol Bridger from Nathan Bridger's album (DSV: "Knight of Shadows").
Name	{{{name}}}
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Introduced	To Be or Not to Be
Death	Sometime between 2012—2018 CE
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Children	1; Robert Bridger, son
Marital Status	Married, Nathan Bridger
Family Tree	View
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Portrayed by	Brenda Siemer Scheider
Additional Information
Carol Bridger in the separate continuity
Carol Bridger in the primary continuity
[[Image:|200px|Carol Bridger]]

Carol Bridger (d. 2012―2018 CE) is the wife of Nathan Bridger, and mother to their only son, Robert Bridger.

Following Robert's reported death while in combat in 2012 CE, Nathan promises her that he'll have nothing more to do with the military, leaving behind seaQuest DSV 4600 in the nascent stages of construction and his career in Nor-Pac. Sometime thereafter, they relocate Bridger's Island in the Caribbean, leading a sequestered life before her death. Haunted by his promise, Nathan continues to inhabit their island in solitude until he is recruited by the then-nascent successor to Nor-Pac, the United Earth/Oceans Organization, in 2018 CE (DSV: "To Be or Not to Be").

William Noyce notes that Bridger is responsible for Nathan's affection for dolphins, which lead to Nathan's foray into man-to-dolphin communication with Darwin, a dolphin he rescued and rehabilitated from a lagoon near Caicos Key (DSV: "To Be or Not to Be", "The Devil's Window").

Bridger Remembered

Nathan keeps a photo in his pocket book, which he brings aboard seaQuest DSV 4600. He uses the photo in the holographic projector in his quarters (DSV: "To Be or Not to Be"), which Lucas Wolenczak later upgrades to include an approximation of her voice as a gift, the surprise being inconveniently timed (DSV: "Higher Power").

Nathan also keeps a keepsake album with other photos of his wife, placing a different photo of her in the projector's imaging port as he talks to "her" about the events of the R.M.S. King George's discovery (DSV: "Knight of Shadows").

Nathan keeps photos of his wife at his Florida cottage, while ruminating over his feelings for Wendy Smith (DSV: "Vapors").

In 2032 CE, Wolenczak happens upon a shoe box with family photos, including those of Carol Bridger, in the remains of the Bridgers' bungalow, while attempting to search for Nathan upon their return to Earth. Much to Nathan's (and Wolenczak's) surprise, the Bridger's only son apparently faked his own death for reasons unknown, as Nathan discovers that Robert had a child, Michael Bridger (2032: "Brave New World").

Notes

The reason and date of death are never firmly divulged. Two differing drafts of the series' premiere "To Be or Not to Be" offer limited insights, with the first draft mentioning that she (then named "Barbara Bridger") died in 2015 CE, versus May 2017 in the third draft.

The third draft also notes that she and Nathan Bridger were married for 27 years, although this fact isn't mentioned in the final aired version.