Grimm – “Into the Schwarzwald” Recap. Buried Treasure?

Season 5, Episode 12

Air Date: Friday, March 11, 2016 at 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“What´s Past is Prologue.” – Grimm

Celebrating a milestone, “Into the Schwarzwald” is Grimm’s 100^th episode and it doesn’t disappoint. With buried treasure, mystery and intrigue, and a flesh eating bite, Grimm takes fans on an adventure to remember.

In last week’s episode, “Key Move,” Nick (David Guintoli) and Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) traveled to Stuttgart, Germany in search of an 800-year-old church near the Black Forest. As they searched the woods, they made a discovery of Grimm-tastic proportions while being pursued by some unsavory characters. Continuing this story line, “Into the Schwarzwald” finds Nick and Monroe in a bit of a pickle after finding the ancient Grimm box that can only be opened with the seven keys (or a lock pick). This aspect of the story line upsets me because the significance of the seven keys has been so elaborately narrated; using a common lock pick seems anticlimactic. I digress. During their escape from their pursuers, Monroe is bitten by another Wesen creature. The bite, however, proves to be quite dangerous.

Before I delve into the unique nature of the object found in the Grimm box, and the even stranger circumstances surrounding Monroe’s bite, I want to talk about the goings-on in Portland after Andrew Dixon’s (Michael Sheets) fatal assassination in the park in “Key Move.” I knew something was off about that campaign PR chick Rachel Wood (Anne Leighton). She exudes a bad aura and I’m surprised Sean (Sasha Roiz) didn’t pick up on it sooner. I mean, he’s the captain of the Portland PD and a Zauberbiest; did none of his instincts raise a red flag when Rachel swooped in? Her nefarious dealings with the group known as “Black Claw” didn’t come as much of a surprise.

What I’m curious about is why Sean and his supposed ally/friend Meisner (Damien Puckler) aren’t sharing intel with each other. If Meisner had told Renard about the Black Claw assassin Marwan (Joshua Sawtel) in the first place, things probably wouldn’t have become so complicated. There is tension between Meisner and Renard but I don’t know why.

Eve’s (Bitsie Tulloch) role as the hired Hexenbiest proves useful but again, I feel like this robotic turn for Tulloch isn’t yielding the results I hoped for her character. Yes, she’s an uber Hexenbiest that is virtually unstoppable but this role is becoming too one dimensional and lacks depth. Are we ever going to learn how Juliette transformed into Eve? Perhaps uncovering more about how Meisner converted a malicious Juliette into this icy Hexenbiest will help me find a reason to root for her. Right now, I’m finding Eve’s exploits a bit boring.

Another plot point addressed in “Into the Schwarzwald” is the mysterious man writing letters and calling Rosalee (Bree Turner). An unwelcome visit from Tony (Joseph Kathrein) proves to be a catalyst for Adalind’s (Claire Coffee) suppressed Hexenbiest. We all know the potion Adalind took back in season four was a temporary fix to her inner Wesen, but when threatened, it seems Adalind can unleash some frighteningly amazing powers that terrify her. Now that she’s professed her love to Nick and they’ve consummated their new relationship, what will her Hexenbiest resurgence do to their fragile status? Being a Hexenbiest is more than just magic – it’s a power so tempting, it could alter the more friendly and likable woman she’s become.

Back to the artifact Nick and Monroe found in Germany and the strange bite on Monroe’s arm. After using a little ingenuity to open the box, the keys, a lock pick, and Nick’s blood (yes, his blood), the gang—including Nick, Monroe, Rosalee, Hank (Russell Hornsby), and Sgt. Wu (Reggie Lee)— finds what looks like an ordinary object inside. But this is Grimm and even the plainest of things tend to be extraordinary. The extent of the object’s uniqueness comes full circle when Monroe begins to succumb to his wound that is festering uncontrollably. Shocking doesn’t begin to describe what transpires.

Overall

The 100^th episode, “Into the Schwarzwald,” provides many answers but also opens the doors to even more questions. Who were the seven Grimm knights that hid this magnificent object and who were they hiding it from? Was Father Eickholt (Wolf Muser) from the village church a member of Black Claw or was he trying to protect secret of the Grimm knights? If Black Claw learns of the magical object Nick found, it could change this Wesen war for the worse. Will Nick’s feelings for Adalind change when he learns her powers are returning or will he accept her as she is – a Hexenbiest and mother of his child? And why does Tony come back to see Rosalee? Is it just about money or is there more to the story that Rosalee isn’t telling? And I still want to know what the heck kind of Wesen bit Monroe to cause his arm to nearly melt off.

What did you think of “Into the Schwarzwald?” Do you think Renard will be tempted by the power Black Claw promises? Will Hadrian’s Wall try to recruit Adalind? Will there be another Hexenbiest vs. Hexebiest battle between Eve and Adalind? Leave me a comment below or tweet me at @judybopp. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Tune in to the Grimm, Fridays at 9/8c, only on NBC.

For more on the show, go to the official site.

Like Grimm on Facebook.

Follow Grimm on Twitter @NBCGrimm, as well as these cast members: @russellhornsby, @mistergiuntoli, @BitsieTulloch, @sasharoiz, @MrReggieLee, @ClaireCoffee @RealBreeTurner, and @DamienPuckler.

And for Grimm fans, follow @TeamSgtWu for news, updates, and more!

Biography of the Author(Read Below)..
Latest Posts (view them )..

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.