Not sure I understand your question, but LR will show everything under the folder you are viewing; all images in the child folders will show as well. If you open the arrow next to the folder and drill down, it will "zoom in" on that folder and show what is in that folder along with any images in child folders within that folder you've highlighted.
You are correct this is different than bridge, but this is the way most, if not all database DAM programs work. It's not Bridge, and it requires you to think more like a matrix than like a file system.
Dave