Grimm Season 5 Episode 12 Review: Into the Schwarzwald
Kathleen Wiedel
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Well, now we know. I think. Maybe. Do we? I'm not sure. In Grimm Season 5 Episode 12, Nick and Monroe successfully retrieved the long-hidden Crusader treasure, the culmination of a mystery that was first introduced in the very beginning of the series, Grimm Season 1 Episode 1.
But what was it that the seven Grimm knights thought was so important or dangerous or valuable that they hid in a mausoleum in the middle of the Black Forest? Apparently, a stick.
Team Grimm was just about as bemused as everyone else when they found it, as shown in this excerpt from our Grimm quotes page:
Monroe: It's a stick?!
Hank: It looks like a stick.
Wu: A really old stick.
Rosalee: It can't be just a stick.
The fact that said stick apparently has magic healing properties is definitely curious, and certainly valuable and potentially dangerous. Though I do have to express some disbelief that Nick and Monroe managed to make it through airport security with that untreated arm wound. They didn't even have time for a little first aid?
I've been bitten by a dog, and it's not something most people just shrug off. (Though I do remember thinking quite clearly, "I can't believe this dog is biting me!". Eh.) And Monroe definitely should have known better than to just leave it untreated.
Heavens, even I know that animal bites are full of dangerous bacteria and need to be disinfected and treated right away!
I did like how Nick and Monroe made their escape, first tricking the Wesen guarding the cars and then sabotaging the other vehicles before fleeing in their own. And Monroe gushing about touching history earlier on was absolutely adorable.
Back in Portland, though, there were several major developments, like the minor little reveal that Adalind's Hexen powers are apparently returning!
One thing I found intriguing about this was her statement to Rosalee that stated outright that being a 'biest is a bad influence on a person. This may go a ways to explain (somewhat, at least) why Juliette went from mild-mannered vet to psychotic revenge-monger after her transformation.
That said, being a 'biest doesn't completely excuse Adalind's past bad behavior, since we've seen perfectly reasonable (if sometimes cold-blooded) behavior from, in particular, Renard and his mother Elizabeth. Unfortunately, we don't exactly have a large sample size of 'biests to judge by!
I do find Adalind's outright fear of her powers an interesting choice in light of her ruthless determination to get said powers back in Grimm Season 2 and Grimm Season 3, and I'm curious to see where this particular development will lead. How long will it take for her to tell Nick, too?
Last major item of business: Black Claw had big plans for Renard. Kudos for those who predicted this turn of events! I suspected Black Claw had something like this in the works since the campaign manager spent so much time cozying up to Renard.
Despite the argument between Meisner and Renard over the fate of the assassin, I really don't think Renard will seriously get in bed with Black Claw.
Renard is fundamentally a law-and-order guy, and Black Claw is all about tearing down the existing order. I do, however, see this as a prime opportunity for Renard to infiltrate Black Claw.
Oh, the possibilities! Please, Grimm writers, don't let me down this time.
A few final notes before I turn the conversation over to you:
- Gee, Monroe and Nick committed so many felonies on that little jaunt to Germany, it's hilarious. False passports, looting antiquities, smuggling artifacts... How did they get that box past Customs, anyway? Just think about the apoplexy the German government would have it they knew what those two were up to!
- I hope someone let the poor EMTs know to cancel their response to the spice shop. "Oh, it's all good. We only thought out good friend had blood poisoning. He's fine!"
- Will the Blutbad priest and his Wesen posse follow Nick and Monroe back to Portland?
- Eve took down the deadly assassin with a bicyclist. It's as awesome and absurd as it sounds.
What did you think of "Into the Schwarzwald"? How do you think Renard will react to Black Claw's proposal? What will Adalind do about her returning powers? What will Team Grimm do with the Magic Healy Stick? Let us know in the comments section below!
You can always watch Grimm online if you missed this episode, or simply want to relive the adventure. Meanwhile, Grimm returns on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 9/8c on NBC with Grimm Season 5 Episode 13, "Silence of the Slams."
