Grimm – “Eve of Destruction” Review. Who’s That Girl?

Season 5, Episode 7

Air Date: Friday, January 29, 2016 at 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“I have been bent and broken, but, I hope, into a better shape.” – Grimm

After more than a month hiatus, Grimm returns with an all new episode “Eve of Destruction.” Originally titled “The Return,” and also set to air last week on January 22, Grimm writers and producers seem to have taken their time with the reintroduction of Bitsie Tulloch back into the series. I never believed Juliette (Tulloch) had died but what transpired in “Wesen Nacht,” coupled with her full reemergence in “Eve of Destruction,” sets the stage for an all too intriguing episode.

Who’s that girl? Because it sure as heck ain’t Juliette anymore. (Bitsie Tulloch as Eve)

What I find so interesting about the so-called new Juliette, now known as “Eve,” is that while she looks the same, she is definitely not the sweet veterinarian we met in season one. That Juliette is gone and this revised version is more deadly and cold than than ever before. Tulloch does a great job of making your skin crawl as Eve looks across the table at former boyfriend Nick (David Giuntoli). There is an icy callousness in her demeanor, and despite telling Nick she “remembers everything” about the night she almost killed him in the season four finale, “Cry Havoc,” she says it with such a disturbing nonchalant attitude. The fact that Juliette/Eve set up Nick’s mother Kelly (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), resulting in her tragic demise, seemed to be matter of fact. Eve doesn’t care how upset Nick becomes because she’s in that restaurant to do one thing – take care of business involving the Wesen group known as “Black Claw.” Meeting with Nick is just a courtesy because the organization she she has been, in essence, programmed to work for needs Nick on their side to help wipe out the members of Black Claw.

Throughout “Eve of Destruction,” there are flashbacks to the night Trubel (Jacqueline Toboni) shot Juliette with a cross-bow and the subsequent aftermath detailing what happened when the late Agent Chavez (Elizabeth Rodriguez) and her team took Juliette’s lifeless body. Juliette died but somehow, someway, is now alive. What’s even more curious is Meisner’s (Damien Puckler) involvement in Juliette’s resurrection into the killing machine known as Eve. Meisner is strong and has unbelievable reflexes. I’m anxious to find out what the writers have come up with for his backstory.

It was going to happen sooner or later… (l-r) David Giuntoli as Nick Burkhardt, Claire Coffee as Adalind Schade

As much as I protested, inevitably, I knew it would happen. While I’m still not onboard the Nick and Adalind (Claire Coffee) train, I kind of see how it could work. Being a Grimm is not normal and Nick trying to have a normal life with Juliette prior to her being transformed into a Hexenbiest was never going to pan out. Adalind and Nick have history. She is the first Wesen he ever saw back in season one. He took her powers away; she took his powers away; they have a child together, making the circle complete. Talk about a dysfunctional family. I can’t wait to hear the story when baby Kelly asks his parents, “How did you two meet?” Then again, baby Kelly may soon have powers of his own (he is half Hexenbiest) and already knows the answers to his parents’ previous encounters.

Observations

The uprising is much more complext than our Scooby Gang imagined. Pictured: (l-r) Robert Clendenin as Xavier, Bree Turner as Rosalee Calvert, Silas Weir Mitchell as Monroe, Russell Hornsby as Hank Griffin, Sasha Roiz as Captain Renard

During “Eve of Destruction,” Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) decide to reach out to the Wesen Council regarding the Wesen-on-Wesen crimes happening in Portland. As suspected, the Council knows what’s going on and Alexander (Spencer Conway) tells Rosalee it is not an isolated incident. With any uprising, there are bound to be betrayers in the fold; apparently, the Council isn’t off limits when it comes to double agents in their midst. With the Council all but wiped out, save one, what will happen with the Black Claw uprising?

I have a sneaking suspicion the mayoral candidate Andrew Nixon (Michael Sheets) has something to with the Black Claw chapter in Portland. Not sure, but I have a gut feeling he’s not a good guy.

Meisner puts Nick to the ultimate test. The meeting with Juliette/Eve isn’t simply meant for Nick to find closure; it is to see if he can rise to the challenge. The only problem I foresee for Meisner and Nick is that they may be in love with the same woman – Adalind. Meisner reminiscing about when he helped Adalind deliver her firstborn in Austria comes flooding back into his mind. I can’t wait to see how this plays out.

Overall

“Eve of Destruction” is an exciting episode filled with action, drama, and intrigue. With Alexander being the last surviving member of the Wesen Council, I hope he escaped to safety because our pals in Portland are going to need all the help they can get. “Eve of Destruction” explores many story lines but the ones I’m most interested in are Eve’s evolution, how Meisner tamed the wicked Hexenbiest, and Meisner’s back story – is he Wesen or not? If not, what is he because he certainly isn’t human?

What did you think of “Eve of Destruction?” What do you think of the new Juliette aka Eve? Leave me a comment below or tweet me at @judybopp. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Tune into 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.