Have you ever watched a new TV series thinking that you know what it will probably be, and then find yourself completely surprised? I have. It was Grimm— literally and figuratively.
Typically I enjoy spies and action, investigative dramas, or sitcoms. When I heard about Grimm and the basic premise– a young police detective that discovers his family legacy of battling legendary creatures hidden among us– I thought it might be different and interesting. I figured it for a cutesy little series that would be good for a season or two. A few fairy tale-tinged plots based on tales by the Brothers Grimm, a magical potion or something, and that would be it.
The good news– we were looking for a replacement for our favorite TV show that was ending. The bad news– Grimm landed on Friday nights, and that was not great for me. Fridays are our standing night-together-with-friends. My husband and I decided to record it, and see what happened.
Within the first five minutes, we were hooked. It begins with a cute little co-ed jogging in the park in her little red hoodie. Yep, here we go. I expected her to run for a while, and then– as is common practice to build suspense– she would hear footsteps behind her. She would stop. The footsteps would stop. She’d run again, and so on. That’s NOT what happened. She does stop for a second, to pick up a figurine in her path, and suddenly a blur of a monster speeds across the screen and she is no more. I jumped. I probably screamed. This was not my mother’s Little Red Riding Hood. (Not my children’s either.)
I love this show. The characters are complex. They are strong, sympathetic, funny, and best of all, they don’t always do or say what you think they will. Just when you know what has to happen next, the story takes a wide turn and hooks you again. The actors are perfect and charming– even the villains. Monroe is my favorite! I love that there is a character on TV right now that is a sensitive watch repairman and musician, that helps advise the main detective on these supernatural creatures, and that also happens to be “The Big Bad Wolf.” I can’t wait for the next season to begin.
If you haven’t seen NBC’s Grimm, I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a little fun and fantasy woven with some cool historical literature. Again, this isn’t a little kid’s show– there’s some blood and gore. An occasional arm gets ripped off and other body parts fly, as well. I enjoy it because I can visit my childhood stories with a grown-up perspective.
That’s a wrap for this Toast to Cinema. Thanks for reading!