NBC may be onto something with its fairytale detective series Grimm. The drama centers on a young detective named Nick (David Giuntoli); within the first 15 minutes or so of Friday's premiere, Nick's bald, cancer-stricken aunt showed up unannounced, started yammering about the "misfortune" of their family, insisted he break up with the girlfriend he was planning to propose to, got attacked by a scythe-swinging monster, and gave him a weird necklace he's now supposed to guard with this life. Then she fell into a coma, leaving our hero with only a few basic facts: fairytales are real, his parents didn't die in a car crash, and he's is one of the last remaining "Grimms"—people who can detect the very real and very dangerous fairytale creatures living in our midst. Thanks for the vague pointers, Auntie! Good thing she left him a trailer full of literature on the subject.
Nick's job as a homicide detective quickly morphed into a series of man—er, creature—hunts, as he started to realize he'll now be tasked with maintaining the balance between humanity and the fairytale monsters who threaten it. It's unclear whether these creatures are on the verge of becoming stronger or more dangerous, but that seems to be the general message. Basically, Nick's got a lot of work to do.
I'm digging how the show incorporates fairytales into real life without completely disrupting the boundaries of reality, which the pilot did by introducing the bad guys as evil fairytale characters who disguise themselves as human. According to Grimm, the mythological minority look and act like us, even though they can pose a real threat—as evidenced by the grisly murder that opened the series premiere. It's only when Nick sees flashes of their scary monster faces that he can expose them for who they really are. I'm on board with that conviction, because it doesn't seem entirely unrealistic—if fairytale creatures have been secretly living amongst us for thousands of years without ANYBODY noticing, then they must really good at hiding. And what better hiding place than right alongside us, pretending to be us?
Grimm's first episode was everything a pilot for a fairytale detective procedural should be. Though many procedural pilots spend too much time on character introduction and too little time on the action inherent in the case-of-the-week formula, Grimm managed to intertwine the two without sacrificing momentum. Aunt Marie's visit set up some of the longer arcs—basically, that Nick (and viewers) will need to learn more about who he is and the responsibilities that come with being a Grimm—but her coma and the pressing nature of the Big Bad Wolf case ensured we didn't get too bogged down by exposition. Before Nick could spend too much time searching his aunt's trailer for answers, we were distracted by the Big Bad Wolf's pursuit of his second victim, Baby Red Riding Hoodie. That story set-up, when the postman began to trail after the little girl, was perfectly placed to distract us from Nick's longer story arc for pretty much the rest of the episode, leaving us intrigued to learn more.
And once you consider the excellent production values and impressive shot set-ups, Grimm gave us quite an entertaining debut. I really love the show's look so far, and the overhead shot of the abducted girl in the mailbag on the floor of the Big Bad Wolf's house was particularly rad. Even the less-than-premium CGI was pretty good.
I also think Grimm's pilot nailed the suspense factor. There was enough tension to warrant the action, and enough action to warrant the tension (I particularly loved seeing Eddie jump out his window to attack Nick). The sound editing helped with this, too: In the opening scene, when Red Riding Hoodie got sacked, the off-screen growls and the sound of tearing flesh were enough to make me lose my appetite for a week. I suspect Grimm's sound mixers simply got together in post-production and were like, "Okay, let's prove to everyone in the first 45 seconds that we are NOT EFFING AROUND."
Of course, the episode wasn't without its flaws. Anytime a show wants to kick things off by blasting a Eurythmics song, it's fine by me. But I was a little turned off that the iPod was still playing "Sweet Dreams" when the detectives arrived at Red Riding Hoodie's crime scene. I seriously doubt the girl was running to a single song on repeat. And while I get that at the end of the episode, the song was supposed to reveal the "true" bad guy, the device was a bit of stretch for me. I was similarly bothered by the fact that nobody in the police department made the connection between kidnapping victims wearing red before Nick noticed (or was told by Eddie?). Those minor snafus ate away at my suspension of disbelief, but since this was a pilot episode, I'm willing to let them slide.
If it's not already obvious, I'm looking forward to the rest of this series. I'm glad Nick's aunt is still in the game, what with her eyes finally opening at the end, and that there's evil lurking in the police department (this wouldn't be a detective show without a couple of corrupt cops, right?). Nick hasn't even scratched the surface of what he's dealing with here. And though I'm wondering how long Grimm can go before it runs out of iconic fairytale lore to geek out about, I'm hoping that the 200+ tales in the Brothers Grimm canon will inspire at least a full season's worth of episodes. As long as the show's Friday-night timeslot doesn't prematurely sentence it to cancellation, this thing has real potential.
What did you think of the premiere?
what are the details like the artist and name of the song in the begining.....it is stuck in my head!!!
I think it has potential to grow if given enough room to breathe. There are so many sit coms and drama with police and undercovers that this will carry it's weight in the field of enjoyable. The only negative feed back I have to offer is the amount of commercials bombarding the viewers, taking away the intenisity of the show.
Everyone is entitled to thier opinions but when It comes to the whole Grimm vs. Supernatural debate going on it's kinda like can't a person like them both? I've watched Supernatural since the Pilot and I still Love it But I really like Grimm to. Supernatural is about two brothers hunting demons and monsters, and Grimm is similar in many ways but Unlike Grimm, Supernatural is not based off Fairy Tales. I think that Grimm can hold it's own against Supernatural, Its only the first season, it needs time to grow as a show just as most new shows do. I think it can improve for sure but it is still a good show so far.
This is a REALLY great show. I hope it stays on tv.
Awwesomw show. One of the few I really liked.
It was actually pretty enjoyable, though I watch it on hulu.
What bonvoightski2 said. :) Grimm is ok, but definitely not spn level.
the pilot was only a bit above OK but fun. since unfortunately it has been only fair with obvious probs. the look of the show is bright,sunny,with a happily ever after that leaves out the grimm in a big way... even the characters save the "good wolf" who has been a great actor ready for something more are flat. esp the girlfriend or is she his wife? don't even know for sure. not good...it is in comp with fringe and super,no way just no way...
The series seems to be off to a good start. There still needs to be some impetus for him to keep hunting monsters-the "I can see them" angle just isn't compelling enough.The setups are well done, but again-Grimm just doesn't seem 'invested' in the hunt. His Aunt was attacked on her deathbed because she was a Grimm; but he gets to clock out & go home every night. It needs to become more personal, which makes me suspect that the gorgeous redhead/veterinarian/fiancee is living on borrowed time [sigh].
Its sort of his job. The reason the Grimms can see the monsters is that throughout the years they have been tasked with killing the ones that prey on humans. So no he doesn't need any extra reason. Any more then Buffy needed to kill vampires other then being the slayer. thats sort of what he is. A slayer of bad creatures and keeper of the peace. Thats what a Grimm is.
just watch supernatural instead, much better show!
If you like dumb good looking jocks who like to kill. But I am hoping thiw will be what I hoped for Supernatural. More humor, and less meanness.
I gave it a second episode, I am still far from impressed. I just saw someone write "Supernatural is more original in its 133rd episode than Grimm was in its first" and I have to agree. Grimm is like Supernatural's too serious little brother following in his big brother's footsteps. Actually, one of the reasons I don't like Grimm is because it takes itself far too seriously, and does not have anything like the quirky humor Supernatural has.
As a sort of G vs. E addict, I think Grimm is great.
It is filling the void left by Supernatural (which jumped the shark awhile back). By way of comparison, it is nowhere near as gory, doesn't take itself oh so seriously and is clever and quirky in its own right. I love the big (not) bad wolf - dude cracks me up. All of the characters are growing on me in their own way.
This is exactly the kind of thing I love when I just want to unwind.
You think Supernatural takes itself "oh so seriously"? Seriously??? The show with the suicidal teddy bear who blew his brainstuffing out, the stoned orgy-loving angel, the slow-dancing alien? The trickster who trapped the boys in sitcoms, medical soap operas and Japanese gameshows and turned Sam into a Knightrider/Impala? The fourth-wall-destroying meta craziness of Supernatural fan conventions on the show and Sam and Dean traveling to an alternate universe where they are Jensen and Jared playing Sam and Dean? With episode titles like "Season 7, Time for a Wedding!", "Shut Up, Dr. Phil", "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters" and "Crissangel is a Douchebag"? I could go on and on, but I think I've made my point. You must be watching Supernatural in a mirror universe, dude. And Grimm too for that matter, it didn't look clever and quirky to me.
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I didn't see Supernatural as being humorous or quirky. Campy. Sure. But the teddy bear show was really mostly about how people neglect children so that children go into their own world, and always find evil there. And about how Dean was abused by their dad and turned into a soldier. And there is ALWAY religious stuff in Supernatural. Grimm is about fairy tale monsters from the Brothers Grimm living beside us, some are bad, and some are fine. In Supernatural EVERYTHING is religious, and EVERYTHING thats not a living human is evil. Its like being stuck with your crazy religious aunt. In what world is that light hearted? I just get tired of the terrible things that Dean and Sam do, like kill innocent people because a demon possessed their body. Or kill people because they might be a danger later on. I guess its very difficult for me to like or root for "heroes" like that. And its certainly a downer.moreless
Supernatural used to be as you described. The last two seasons have been VERY spotty. Quick question: the brothers pull up to a scenic rest area and crack two beers, lean against Metallicar and discuss there feelings for five minutes. Which episode is it? [answer: frickin' ALL of them].
'there' should be "their". Sorry.
^^^This reply is too funny!!
Loved it! I hope that it has what it takes to go the distance!!!!! Any show about supernatural baddies being taken on by the un-supernatural goodies is always fine by me!!!
Love this show! Keep it coming. I think the mix of the police procedural and the supernatural provide the right blend to keep me tuning in. Keep the Aunt and Eddie! We need some continuity.
Don't like Supernatural anymore but I really like Grimm. Hope it lasts - most shows I enjoy seem to get cancelled!
I'm COMPLETELY crazy about this show. I loved it from start to finish. That scene where Nick goes with Eddie to track down the other wolf, and Eddie's driving with his head out the window... CLASSIC. Okay, fine, I know he was trying to pick up on the scent, but come on, dogs always stick their heads out car windows if they can. Awesome. I want more.
Hey, all you people who have suddenly discovered you like Grimm! Why have you not been watching Supernatural these past 6 years? It's the much better original. Seriously, watch the Supernatural pilot and compare the two. In Supernatural, the characters are much more compelling, and the scares are genuine and, well, scarier. I think the scene in the pilot when Sam is driving the Impala is the scariest in TV history.
Supernatural is waay too religious for my taste. I like this because it has a much cooler idea about monsters rather then the typical demons and vampires like Supernatural. I didn't really like that whole human beings become demons if they aren't religious enough thing. Nor the whole Lucifer thing. They are very different shows.
Really, go watch it! If you like Grimm, you will love Supernatural!
I like Supernatural, Fringe then Grimm in that order. I dvr SN and Hulu Grimm bur watch Supernatural at 9pm since Nothing airs at nine anymore [in my time zone]. Also like Once Upon, Dexter, X Files, AHS on FX. Why must Neilsen make us choose and they never consider dvr/Hulu for True ratings knowing people work all week and can't record everything at once.
For sure if people like Grimm they will love Supernatural. But if you love Supernatural, it's hard to like Grimm because it's a pale copy. When Nick finds the waepons and books in his aunt's trailer, I was like Did they raid the Impala's trunk and Bobby's library for their props? I'd already seen it all before on Supernatural, and done better.
In that case Supernatural stole it from Buffy. She had a weapon closet too. And she came first. These shows are totally different. I doubt that the whole weapons chest is even originally from Buffy. Its probably appeared before that even.
But the monsters being from the old fairy tales is much more to my liking then the vampires, demons, and witches that are in Supernatural and every other show. I also like that in Grimm they show the monsters as being neither good or bad, even though they are dangerous. Supernatural is just a typical evil monster show.
it's because Supernatural is on the CW. i introduced 8 friends to the show who all love it: 2 had heard of it but never watched it because they assumed it would be another CW-style "bad teen drama," and 6 had never heard of it because they never went anywhere near the CW. it's interesting to see with Grimm what kind of ratings and attention Supernatural might have gotten were it on a big network. Actually, i'm sure it would be doing better, because it is, as you say "the much better origianal."
Supernatural has about one sixth the viewers that Grimm does. Its still around only because its on the CW and its fan base is very small, but very loyal.
i loved it! i'm excited to see where this series would lead. :) on the other hand, i don't want to love it too much since it's on the same time slot as fringe. :P
This show sucked. It was boring as hell and the acting was terrible. The actors fell into telling not conveying, there was no depth to their character, they didn't understand the relationships they had with each one of the character. The storyline is BORING. Not going to watch it. I have seen more shows there were not boring at the first episode. Such as True Blood, and Dexter. Just because it is the first episode does not mean you have to make it boring. And the actors need to analyze their script more. If they had more understanding, of their character, their relationships, and found what made their. character human and lived in the moment, the show wouldn't have been so freaking. boring.
I loved this show. So different and fun! The good big bad wolf was so funny with his one liners. I do hope it sticks around. Been a while since we got something this much fun yet kind of spooky too. And to agenskinner... X files is so 90's. Welcome to the 21st century. I thought xfiles was boring boring boring. Couldn't watch it after a couple of episodes.
FYI, Grimm is made by many of the same people who made the X-Files, like Grimm creator David Greenwalt, who was exec producer on the X-Files. Every review I read said it was a callback to the X-Files. Which is why I had such high hopes for it, before they were dashed. The X-Files was the pioneer and trailblazer who opened this genre on TV, and did it to much acclaim and surprisingly high ratings, in spite of being on Fridays, like Grimm. Its ratings ran as high as 17 million, next to Grimm's paltry 6 million. And don't treat me like I'm some outdated fuddy-duddy: I was too young to watch the X-Files when it aired live, and bought the DVDs because I love the genre. I watched the X-Files in the 21st century, thank you very much, and it holds up very well. I also watch Supernatural and True Blood, which are similar shows from the 2000s, both of them also a great deal better than Grimm.moreless
Really? I would have figured Twilight Zone or maybe even The outer limits, but I don't have a clue what i'm talking about here.
It was a real let down. It can't hold a candle to the X-Files. It can't hold a matchstick.
I really enjoyed the pilot and I'm looking forward to future episodes.
I thought it failed on both fronts, character development and procedural. I thought Nick had zero personality. And I was distracted by David Giuntoli's "acting." They shouldn't have hired someone with only Reality TV experience as their lead. As for the procedural part, it could not have been more simplistic or predictable. And it wasn't even scary, they just use a lot of creepy music and lighting to make it seem scary. That opening scene was especially lame. She's jogging, she gets pushed off camera, she screams. That's it. I thought it had potential to be another Supernatural, but it was a big disappointment.
Regarding the point about the iPod... Not sure if I was the only that was bothered by it, but it seems that they are fishing for some cash from Apple, since they kept mentioning iPods and iPhones, but Nick atleast wasnt using one...
Anyway, back to the point I was trying to make... I have actually done quite a few 10 kilometer runs with one song on repeat, especially if its one that sets a nice tempo, like "Sweet Dreams". At least for me the music I carry while running isn't so much about having actual music as it is about keeping the tempo nice and steady. So I disagree with you there, not at all a long stretch on the song.
Agreed: once you get into a groove, sometimes it's best not to change it!
Also, by having the song still playing when they showed up to investigate, it made the use of it at the end of the episode even more powerful (which was an excellent use of bookends). That it started with the Eurythmics version, and ended with the much darker Marilyn Manson version was brilliant.
Amazing use of audio!!