Grimm "The Taming of the Wu" Review

Taming Wu seems as challenging as taming Black Claw. Taming Wu’s probably easier. Black Claw returned to the forefront, along with Meisner and Trubel. Diana’s safehouse, an isolated house somewhere in Oregon, was infiltrated, and her protectors brutally murdered. Conrad Bonaparte, an elite member of the organization, emerged as a replacement for Lucien. Grimm habitually replaces evil figureheads every seven episodes. Bonaparte follows a long line of dull evil figureheads. He acted as a walking and talking threat for Adalind. Either she join Black Claw or she loses her children forever.

Nick and Adalind shared their honest feelings after she revealed her hexenbiest secret. Nick emphasized why he wouldn’t hurt or abandon her: he didn’t want Kelly to grow up without his mother, as Nick did. The episode ended with Adalind’s choice to leave Nick, with Kelly, and join with Black Claw. Her note had a hidden message (“I’m doing this to protect you”), but the shot of Nick standing alone showed all that was needed to convey how it affected him. The show's been moving towards this plot development at a glacial pace, but the writers wanted the audience to think she'd go bad again. The twist is that she did it for the greater good. Possibly.

Black Claw could’ve kept her against her will, but Renard’s presence offset the group’s aggressive tactics. Maybe that scene hinted that Renard has an ulterior motive; however, it’s speculation. Renard’s been portrayed as a pawn, and nothing more.

Bonaparte asked Renard to convert Nick to Black Claw’s side because Nick belongs to the wesen world. Perhaps the writers have finally decided to make Nick choose between the two worlds he works in, or it’ll be an opportunity for Nick to reaffirm his intentions to make the world a place where wesen and humans can cohabit—or it’s a thoughtless way to add stakes to the last three episodes. The Black Claw plot has become messier since a somewhat clear beginning at the beginning of season five.

Other Black Claw pieces fell. Zuri is indeed working Hank for the group, which solidifies Hank as the Xander Harris of Grimm.

Diana’s voice haunted Adalind—and Eve—throughout the episode. Diana nearly destroyed a building during her demand for her mother to remain with them. Juliette’s connection with Adalind crossed the magic wires, giving Eve a bead on the situation. It acts as an easy way to bring Eve and Nick closer, or build the trust between them for the inevitable scene when Eve says, “I was Juliette the whole time!” She could be the key to taking Black Claw down. Can Black Claw stop a hexenbiest and her powerful daughter?

Wu was not tamed. His condition confused Rosalee and Monroe, who are the only ones that could help him. The Lycanthrope infected him, turning him into a Neanderthal, not a wolf. He killed a member of Black Claw, frightened a nurse, and ate a burger and fries. Grimm subplots really do develop slowly.

Other Thoughts:

-Grimm’s next new episode is May 13—an odd time for NBC to skip a week. It appears the last two episodes will air on one night in a two-hour block, which NBC will misleadingly promote as an explosive two hour season finale.

-NBC ordered a minimum of 13 episodes for Grimm’s sixth season, with an option for more episode orders. The move seems to guarantee a mid-season premiere in 2017 for the Grimm gang. Maybe season six will be the end of the show.

-I liked the episode. It shifted the narrative towards end. The stand-alone episodes weren’t bad. Grimm usually ends a season really well, even if it’s been largely incoherent.

-Brenna Kouf wrote the episode. Terrence O’Hara directed.