Original Air Date: 4 November 2011
Eddie: What am I? Your personal Grimm-apedia?
The Story: The Story of the Three BearsReview: Grimm's ratings seem to be well above the predicted ones and I’m wondering if it benefits from following the much loved Chuck, though they have different audience types. I couldn't be more pleased with this rather surprising situation, as it’s the only new show from my list that hasn't received a full season pickup yet. Of course, it’s quite early for something like this, but the good ratings make me have hope in this supernatural crime procedural.
This second episode was not very far from the pilot – quality wise. There were a couple of improvements here and there, but it mostly followed the same path. My major complaint so far is regarding the special effects, which, when it came to the “bear” family (or Jägerbars), were poorly done. Of course, this isn’t a high budget movie, so that’s to be expected, but I’d like to see smother transitions from human to beast.
I was extremely excited to see Currie Graham guest star in this second episode, as I’ve grown to like him quite a bit after his recurring presence as Walter Mashburn in The Mentalist. Here, he had an entirely different role as a reformed Jägerbar whose family was still respecting ancient traditions which sometimes led to killing human beings.
The case started as a breaking and entering investigation – a young woman, who can be assimilated to Goldilocks, and her boyfriend broke into an isolated house owned by the Jägerbar family, and ate their food, drank their wine and slept in their beds. So far, right out of Southey’s story, with one exception: the bears were not friendly, but instead kidnapped people and used them in a ritual that marked the passage to adulthood. And, of course, the ritual was a bloody one. I guess I didn’t have to mention that.
The second part of the episode – when the bears got hold of the girl as well and used the couple in an old fashioned chase through the woods – was definitely more entertaining than the first half, where the events unfolded at a slower pace. But what I ultimately found interesting was the conflict between modern and conservative - to obey or not to obey the family rituals.
My favorite element of this show, so far, is the relationship between Nick and Eddie Monroe, the reformed Blutbad who finds himself Nick’s personal Grimm-apedia and an unwilling partner when it comes to the supernatural world. Monroe brings the much necessary humor to a rather dark series – even more so when you add Aunt Marie’s illness and the constant danger she’s in to the crime solving business. There’s great chemistry between Nick and Monroe, who have the makings of becoming one of TV’s great bromances if this show survives. But don’t be fooled – Eddie may practice Pilates at 6:30 in the morning, but he’s equally capable of ripping off someone’s hand with minimal effort.
This second episode also marked the death of Aunt Marie – but she didn’t die before offering another kick-ass demonstration that even a female Grimm with terminal cancer is still stronger than a man. That last scene was one of my favorites this week.
This show definitely has potential and I can't wait to see what other stories are reinvented in future episodes.Grimm 1x01: Pilot Back to Season 1
