Episode TItle: 'Last Grimm Standing'
Writer: Naren Shankar & Sarah Goldfinger
Director: Michael Watkins
Story:
When an older couple is killed in their own cabin by what appears to be some sort of animal, Nick (David Giuntoli) and Hank (Russell Hornsby) are called to the scene. They find horse tracks and drag marks in the ground outside the cabin. Nick also finds what looks like a piece of saddle.
The detectives learn that a bloody print from the cabin belongs to Dimitri Skontos, a parolee and nephew of a boxing gym owner. Dmitri's parole officer, Leo Taymor (BJ Britt) tells the detectives that Dmitri failed to check in with him recently, however the parole officer doesn't seem concerned. At the boxing gym, Dimitri's uncle says he's been gone for a weeks but isn't capable of committing murder. Nick approaches Dimitri's training partner and sees him turn into a Wesen. The boxer takes the detectives to Dimitri's last known whereabouts, a trail in the woods. Nick notices horse manure on the trail. He then gets a call that Dimitri's car has been found.
The detectives examines Dimitri's car, stripped and left next to an abandoned warehouse. Nick sees a man run off when he spots him. Inside the building, they find blood and strange symbols painted on the wall and an area that looks like an arena. There's also a morning star hanging on the wall and a strap that looks like the piece Nick found in the woods.
Meanwhile, the boxer from the gym is captured by men on horse when he runs along the trail in the woods.
Back at the precinct, Nick and Hank tell Renard (Sasha Roiz) about their strange findings in the warehouse. In a packing garage, Leo Taymor is corned by a car. Renard gets out and tells Taymor he gave him a list of people and that Dimitri was not on it. Taymore says that Dimitri is exceptional and that there's too much money involved to shut it down. He tells an angry Renard that they are in this together.
In the trailer, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) tells Nick about gladiator Lowen. Nick asks if he has any connections to their underground fight club and Monroe reluctantly admits to knowing a guy who knows a guy. Meanwhile, the boxer from the gym is killed in one of the Lowens' cage fights.
Monroe gets an address from a Wesen bookmaker. At the precinct, Renard tells the detectives that the boxer is missing and his car was found in the same place as Dimitri's. Hank goes to Taymor's house to talk to him while Nick goes back to the warehouse. While on the phone with Nick, a car with a horse trailer approaches Monroe. He's quickly knocked out and taken away. Nick stops Monroe's car and drags the driver out, demanding to know where Monroe's been taken.
After being taken to a remote location, Monroe is thrown into the cage next to Dimitri's. He helps remove a nail from Dimitri's hand. Taymor then throws pieces of human flesh into the cages for the men to eat. When Monroe says he won't fight, Taymor's henchman electrifies the cage with a cattle prodder, frightening Monroe.
Monroe and Dimitri are then thrown into the arena together to battle it out. Nick soon arrives and holds Taymor at gunpoint but he tells Nick that if he kills him, he too will be killed by the men around him. Nick volunteers to switch places with Monroe and Taymor delights at the idea.
Meanwhile, Renard tells a priest in a confessional that a fellow parishioner needs his wrath. The priest agrees to take action.
In the cage, Monroe tells Nick he'll have to dig deep and pull up the history of his ancestors in order to survive. He also tells Nick that Dimitri's hand is injured. Nick and Dimitri furiously trade blows. Nick gets the better of him as Hank arrives with back-up. However, Taymor is able to escape.
At home, Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch) looks at the engagement ring she found in Nick's sock drawer. When he calls to say he's on his way, she sounds despondent after giving up on their anniversary dinner.
Elsewhere, Renard tells Taymor he's going to pay for what he's done. As he walks away, Taymor is ravaged by a Wesen.
Breakdown:
"Last Grimm Standing" was one frustrating affair. That's because "Grimm" is a show that wants and needs to grow as its mythology deepens, yet it remains stagnant.
Let's get the complaints about Hank out of the way, first. I've said it before and i'll continue with the broken record act again. When is the detective going to start wondering why all these bizarre, gruesome murders keep occurring in his neck of the woods? And what's with this dude, Monroe's involvement? There's just no way Nick can keep up this "secret identity" act much longer, at least around Hank.
It looks like Juliette will be the first to find out about Nick's "Grimm-ness." It's a much easier story to tell and maintain but I'm not much interested in their relationship. With so much potential, it's disappointing to see this storyline go the "over-worked and distracted boyfriend/husband who misses the special occasion" route.
However, the most frustrating part of this episode was the anti-climactic climax. Monroe tells Nick to "dig deep" and rely on his ancestors and heritage to take on Dimitri. Here we had an opportunity to find out exactly what Nick can do and what it means to be a Grimm, aside from seeing the supermarket checkout girl turn into a Lausenschlange when you hand her a fistful of coupons.
Unfortunately, we learned nothing more of Nick's powers, aside from the fact that he can parry with a sword and shield. What could have been a major revelatory moment for Nick was nothing more than a gladiatorial fight scene.
Each week, our knowledge of the Wesen world expands while Nick and his Grimm roots remains a mystery. Until "Grimm" invests more on that end, I'm not sure I'll be investing more in "Grimm."
Crave Online Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
