There are few shows that have been able to intermingle the brutal truths of today’s world with the timeless age-old conundrums of folklore quite like Grimm. Ran on NBC from 2011-2017, the series charts the course of Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), a Portland homicide detective who learns he is connected to an elite line of criminal profilers known as Grimms, charged with guarding the delicate equilibrium between humanity and the mythological creatures of the world.
Recasting the Myths of the Past in a Modern Light
Grimm is inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales, but takes them in a new direction with a dark, violent and moody take on old classics. Rather than rehash these stories the show takes inspiration and uses them as a frame work to delve into the many layers of human nature —good vs. evil, light and darkness—all amidst a supernatural backdrop. In this world, every creature referred to as a Wesen has its own folklore and sometimes morals which nudges viewers to believe that the line between monster and magic might be a bit fuzzier than we let on.
The Wesen—ranging from Blutbaden (wolf-like beings) to Hexenbiests (witch-like creatures)—added depth to the show’s supernatural world, making each episode a fresh dive into mythology.
Rich Characterization in a Layered Story
Nick Burkhardt: This supernatural series centers around Nick Burkhardt, a successful homicide detective who discovers he’s a Grimm. As Nick explores his strange new world, he also grows, fights and comes to understand what it means to be both human and something more. Along the way, his travels are made colorful by an eclectic cast of characters.
Monroe: a reformed Blutbad, he is a source of wisdom, warmth and humor, showing that those with monstrous origins can be redeemed and have a human side!
Hank Griffin: Nick’s friendly and slightly more down-to-earth police partner who struggles to believe everything happening in front of him.
Other Wesen Figures: All contribute their unique lore and shades of gray in terms of morality, challenging Nick — and viewers – to wade through murky waters of what is right and wrong.
Together, these cast members form a storytelling thread that’s just as emotionally rich as it is heart-thumping, calling on viewers to embrace characters with myth-soaked personalities.
Mixing Genres: Cop Drama Meets Dark Fantasy
One of the things that has set the series apart is that it isn’t afraid to mix it up, genre-wise. The series presents itself as a police procedural with Nick solving cases in Portland, but frequently subverts expectations by blending the supernatural with more conventional police work. A bizarre series of murders and mysterious events make the investigation more than a foray into a past when folklore was not merely a dusty remnant but a force alive and kicking in the world.
The well-hour-glassing of the procedural and the fantastical adds intracacies to the storytelling. Not a single case Nick grapples is mere murder and mayhem — but a symbolic connection to ongoing, ever-deeper mythic forces and old enmities, a reflection of the struggles common to every human being.
It’s not the first time this season that themes of duality, destiny and the supernatural take center stage.
Grimm is, at heart, a reflection on the duality of life. The show raises powerful questions of fate and free will, drawing parallels between the myths of yore and modern predicaments. Showcasing Wesen as complex beings — who can be both monstrous and still perform acts of genuine kindness — the series asks viewers to consider the gray area when it comes to the concept of good versus bad.
Instead of providing easy answers, Grimm revels in the ambiguity. It challenges us to peek beneath the jigsaw pieces of legends, to probe beneath the outward wrappings of understanding our own inner demons and denizens, and to realize that the threshold of myth and reality is just as fleeting and ephemeral as the creatures that wander its sunless plains.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
While Grimm ended its six-year run in 2017, it still has a significant and undeniable place in the pop culture-sphere. The show didn’t just cut out its own place in the world of supernatural drama, but also sparked conversations about how to retell folklore in a shifting, modern world. This ground-breaking mix of genres has been influential on subsequent TV work and fiction, allowing for insightful new tales that bridge myth and contemporary reality.
More than anything, however, Grimm inspired the audience to think, to look for the greater wisdom lurking behind those old familiar stories. It forced us to wonder (and is there any greater way to be forced to wonder?) in what ways the myths of our shared history echo the fears, the hopes, the gnarls and glitter of today, in a tale that is both as old as time and as current as tomorrow.
Beyond the Screen: The Timeless Power of Myth
The power of Grimm does not stem only from its inventive storytelling or its vibrant characters, but also from its ability to reach an elemental aspect of the human mind, the delight in myth and the thrill of mystery. As we trudge down our own paths of modern complications, the series serves as a reminder that beneath the surface of the mundane is a world teeming with strangeness and shadow, beckoning to be explored.
When we think about Grimm, we should also think about how other media outlets are tapping into folklore to weave complex narratives that resonate in today’s world. How do you think contemporary retellings of ancient myths might still help us question our own ideas about what is moral, and what is identity? Here are a few untrodden intersections between the magical and the prosaic, ready for exploration in literature, film and beyond.