Happily ever after looks a long way off in season 5 of Grimm
|||Debashine Thangevelo
WITH the TV landscape flooded with so much content, it is not uncommon to overlook a few great series along the way.
And Grimm has been one of those quiet arrivals on the box. It’s a dark, fantastical tale that gets creative with its characters loosely based on the Grimms’s fairy tales. Others are born from fables and legends.
The series was introduced through this quote: “Opening: ‘There once was a man who lived a life so strange, it had to be true. Only he could see what no one else can – the darkness inside… the real monster within… and he’s the one who must stop them. This is his calling. This is his duty. This is the life of a Grimm.”
The story enjoys a modern setting where there is a battle between humanity and mythological beings, better known as the Wesen.
In the introductory episode, homicide investigator, Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), is ignorant of his ancestry as a Grimm until the passing of his aunt. He enjoys a very close-knit relationship with his unwitting partner, Hank Griffin.
His life unravels with Nick learning more about his special abilities while battling the deadly Wesen on a daily basis.
We are currently in the fifth season.
The writers have done a superb job in slowly developing the series, introducing the characters and weaving in devilish and deadly twists.
As the storyline stands, Nick has the full support of Hank, Captain Sean Renard, Nick’s boss, who also happens to be a Zauberbiest (his mother is a Hexenbiest, a witch, but his father was a Royal); and Sergeant Drew Wu.
The narrative is beautifully interwoven to highlight many ancient battles, especially with the royal family, as well the rules that govern the Wesen and the organisation that controls them.
To make things more interesting, Nick’s best friends are Wesen: Monroe and his wife, Rosalee.
In the last season, Nick’s girlfriend Juliette, a veterinarian, was turned into a powerful Hexenbiest. This made her uncharacteristically angry and dangerous.
There is also a special child who is sought by the royals for her magical powers.
Mayhem was unleashed in the first episode of the new season. Nick was presented with his mother’s head in a box – thanks to Juliette, who is then killed by Truble.
However, before Nick can process every-thing, he is drugged and when he comes to, there is no evidence that any of this has happened. The only person who can verify his account of events is Special Agent Chavez, who ends up killed.
What is most certain is that something powerful, dark and dangerous is about to make its arrival felt in Portland.
Amid having to worry about that, Nick has become a dad and Adalind Schade seems very keen to play happy family with him.
The casting of this series works brilliantly. All the characters fit like puzzle pieces in a greater story. The writers leave plenty of room to manoeuvre with stories that always become personal. Each character is so well etched that viewers are immediately drawn to them and their dark adventures.
Similar to Supernatural and Sleepy Hollow, Grimm has proved to be a compelling TV show. It has the perfect balance of creepiness, fear and action to keep viewers on the edge of their seat.
Oh, and someone is back from the dead…
Grimm 5 airs on M-Net Edge (DStv channel 102) on Mondays at 7pm.