Is Grimm great yet? – Quibbling Siblings

Debbie:

This week, I’ve gotten caught up with Grimm. I continue to enjoy it, but here’s the thing: I Castle like it, not Vampire Diaries or Supernatural like it. What I mean is that it’s a fun hour, but I’m not really invested in the story arc or the character growth (since there is none). I’m not dying for the next episode yet I’m always happy to watch, coming out pretty satisfied by the end.

What’s missing? Let’s pick it apart. I know I want more character growth, especially in Nick, and I want more of Nick uncovering great mytharc stuff in Aunt Marie’s trailer. I want to know more about the motivation of the police chief, that’s for sure. I guess all of my needs may be met over time, but if there were a bit more about the mytharc in each episode, making it slightly less procedural-like, I’d probably be sucked in better.

What do you think?

Bob:

I’m enjoying it, and I’m a little surprised at how procedural it has been to date. I agree with most of what you said and I think we’ll get it eventually. Because the show is being run by Buffy/Angel alum David Greenwalt, I keep comparing Grimm to those two shows, especially their first seasons. If you look back on the first seasons of Buffy and Angel, you will find them in a similar position. Each episode was pretty much stand alone, and mythology didn’t really kick in until the end of the first seasons, and then was strengthened throughout the second and following seasons.

The good news is that the show is still good, and there’s a ton of potential. The even better news is that it’s doing fairly well in the ratings (for NBC, anyway). I’m hopeful for the future of the show.

Debbie:

You are so right with the Buffy / Angel comparison, and I did think of that … Buffy‘s season one was fairly forgettable, and if I hadn’t jumped in during season two and backtracked later, I wonder whether I would have stuck with it. Did I just say that?

Now that I think of it on a deeper level, it very much reminds me of Angel‘s beginning seasons, but there’s one big difference. Because we were starting Angel with some familiar characters who did have some mythology to them, from Buffy, I think I never really questioned it much with Angel. Without something to anchor Nick, who has just found out what he is and doesn’t know where to go with it, it’s more difficult. Nick needs a Doyle to guide him (or dare I say a Giles), someone who knows more about the whole Grimm lineage than he does. Aunt Marie’s books may not be enough for him without a living, breathing source of wisdom.

Monroe fits the bill in some ways, since his being a Blutbotten gives him an inside track. And he’s big fun, just like Doyle was. Maybe if Monroe starts researching using the trailer contents?

Bottom line is you being right again (how can this be?): the show is good and does have a lot of potential … I’m just hoping for that potential to kick in sooner than later.

Bob:

I fully expect for the reaper story to get deepened before the end of the season, including the motivations of the chief. In fact, I would be a little surprised if it doesn’t come during february sweeps. It may not end up being another Buffy or Angel, but if it can add a little bit more reward for the loyal viewer while maintaining good weekly stories, the show is going to be a keeper.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Dec 28, 2011 @ 10:00 EST5EDT