Grimm (Up to and Including Episode 10)

While taking a break from Supernatural, Mark and I have returned to watching Grimm.  Is this a good idea?  Should you check it out??  Who shot J.R.???  Stay tuned to find out!

Sorry, after watching a network TV show, you tend to slide into cliches.  Grimm is a supernatural police procedural that isn't very concerned with procedure.  The episodes open with quotes that indicate the monster of the week.  All in all, it's a pretty straightforward set up.  The show has a lot of potential but suffers from some weaknesses that may be solved with time, as long as the show is given the chance to flourish.  The show runs on Friday nights, which isn't exactly the best night to be on.  Personally speaking, it is incredibly rare that I watch any shows on Friday night when they run.  On demand is my friend.

Perhaps the biggest problem Grimm has is that it is a network television show.  While this is great because it means the show is being made and aired, it is a detriment for many reasons.  At times, I feel as if the show is trying to be accessible to the slowest among us.  This isn't always a bad trait, but when you are used to watching shows like Game of Thrones, which expects you to use your brain to put two and two together, it is obvious when the show makers are focusing on small details overmuch.  In the tenth episode, there is a scene where someone is dropping an item repeatedly on the ground.  Showing it once got the message across, but it was shown three or four times.  Once again, it is good to be accessible to as many people as possible to help the show survive, but it is important to not come across as too simplistic.

Unfortunately, the dialogue is clunky at times, which also reflects poorly upon the show as a whole.  The dialogue isn't bad, but there are often bad jokes.  The viewer is also treated to the silly line.  For example, in one episode, the detectives are discussing a case.  A body has been found largely drained of blood.  A short time later, a vehicle is found containing organs and the like.  One of the cops, after they have mentioned both incidents, points out that they should look for a connection.  Granted, they're underestimating the audience, but it takes one out of the show when the dialogue makes a showing like that.

The problems I have mentioned thus far are present in many shows I have watched in the past and come to enjoy.  As the show progresses, it may find its voice and find its audience.  Accomplishing those two tasks will allow them to repair the few problems I see with the show.  I am a huge fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series, but have you tried to re-watch the first season?  It is very, very difficult.  Why?  Because many shows get better with some age.  I hope Grimm is given this chance because the show actually has some potential.

The acting is okay, but it is fun to watch Silas Weir Mitchell, who plays the equivalent of a wise side-kick, interact with the main character.  This relationship is one of the most interesting on the show.  While the actors portraying the girlfriend and cop partner are solid, those relationships are not engaging.  The current episodes are attempting to create a more interesting dynamic between the main character, Nick, and his girlfriend, Juliette.  I appreciate the attempt, and I hope it works out.  The other option is to kill that character off to add another layer to Nick.  Either way, something needs to be done.

Let's get back to the positive, as I did not intend to further discuss the show's weaknesses.  I know I have seemed very negative regarding Grimm, but the show is actually quite interesting.  By taking monsters you may have a passing knowledge of and expanding upon them, stories are created that are unique.  There are just enough familiar monsters mixed in with the ones you have never heard of to keep you interested but not bored.  It helps the audience feel like they may be able to figure out what is going on before they're told.  Opening the story with a quote about breadcrumbs is a pretty good indicator of a Hansel and Gretel based story, but how are they going to make it fit in the modern world?  What changes have to be made to keep it believable?

Frankly, there are so many shows on TV that are clones of each other that it is nice to see something a bit different.  Grimm takes the police show and adds some flair...and some blood...and sometimes body parts.  While the show isn't perfect, it's worth a shot.  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.