Grimm – “Skin Deep” Review. Wrinkle Cream Fail.

Season 5, Episode 15

Air Date: Friday, April 1, 2016 at 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.” – Grimm

So moral of the story – don’t trust cute photographers with Aussie accents? (Jonathan Patrick Moore as Malcolm Caulfield)

The last three episodes of Grimm have been very Wesen-centric. “Skin Deep” introduces us to an ancient Egyptian Wesen that steals youth from its victims. At first glance, I thought this might be a “Dorian Gray” type of scenario but it’s vastly different than I originally suspected. The Wesen known as “Musasat Alsh-Shabab” suck the beauty from its victims and the so-called ‘essence’ or “Yanbue” extracted is this highly addictive white goop (that looks like something else that starts with the letter ‘j’ and rhymes with ‘fizz.’ Gross.

While the moral of the story is all about vanity and the price you pay for the proverbial “fountain of youth,” I’m a bit disappointed we aren’t progressing further along with the main story arcs that include the other keys, that magic healing wand, and of course, Adalind’s (Claire Coffee) Hexenbiest powers returning.

GRIMM -- "Skin Deep" Episode 515 -- Pictured: Bitsie Tulloch as Juliette Silverton -- (Photo by: Scott Green/NBC)

Eve goes to extreme measures to gain intel on Black Claw.

What does strike me as interesting is Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) and the lengths she’s prepared to go in figuring out how much Sean (Sasha Roiz) knew about Andrew Nixon’s (Michael Sheets) assassination, and if he was involved either directly or indirectly. Did Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) take a trip to Hogwarts to study magic, find the sorting hat, and come back to brew up some Polyjuice Potion? That’s exactly what I was thinking the entire time she’s concocting her potion. Oddly enough, it’s the very same potion Adalind used in season three to temporarily become Juliette (Tulloch). And we all know what happened after that. Now Juliette is Eve, the robot Hexenbiest, and her mission is, should she choose to accept it, to find out all she can about the intrepid group known as “Black Claw” by any means necessary. I’m not sure what Eve’s game plan is but if she doesn’t soften up her mechanical emotions, I don’t think she’ll be able to fool anyone. The partial transformation at the end of “Skin Deep” is a tad jarring, but I guess I’ll take a shirtless Sean any way I can get it. Shallow? Yes; yes it is.

Why is it always you four? (in my best Professor McGonagal voice)

Why is it always you four? (in my best Professor McGonagall voice)

Meanwhile, Nick (David Giuntoli), Hank (Russell Hornsby), and Sgt. Wu (Reggie Lee) investigate a series of disturbing deaths. Several elderly citizens are found dead but these people aren’t really 90 years old. The ever perceptive Sgt. Wu realizes this isn’t an ordinary case, as usual lately, leading their investigation to a young photographer named Malcolm (Jonathan Patrick Moore), who each victim recently had contact with.

The freakiest thing about “Skin Deep” is good old Dr. Forbes (Patrick Fabian) and his obsession with youth and being young again. After repeated warnings to not use the “Yanbue,” which he continually ignores, the side effects prove to be monstrous, literally.

Overall

While I enjoyed watching “Skin Deep,” I couldn’t help wishing more screen time had been dedicated to the other main plot points addressed earlier this season. I know we have quite a few more episodes to go but three back-to-back filler episodes, so to speak, are starting to become a bit mundane. The Wesens we’ve met recently are quite intriguing, no doubt about it, but I want to know more about the keys and the whereabouts of the other two keys. I’d love to know more about how Eve became Eve. Meisner (Damien Puckler) had a hand in her transformation from Hexen-Bitch to Hexen-Bot. And this whole Black Claw business is starting to get boring. I need to know there is something sinister afoot. Please don’t get me started on Sean’s new political aspirations. And what about the recently slain Wesen Council; only one member survived. Will we ever see Alexander (Spencer Conway) again?

What did you think of “Skin Deep?” What’s in your wrinkle cream? 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.

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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.