Pilot Review: Grimm

Grimm (NBC)
Premiered October 28 at 9pm

This show is premiering right around the same time as “Once Upon a Time,” so comparisons will be inevitable, but I would like to note that they are truly separate shows. While the other boasted a light, fantasy-oriented tone, this show is much darker, and as a result, slightly less engaging. It makes perfect sense that the first episode would center around something familiar like Red Riding Hood, and Tim Bagley from “Monk” did a superb job of playing the wolf postman as a subdued and decently frightening figure. What doesn’t track as well is the format of the show, which finds a decently uninformed Detective Nick Burkhardt operating as an actual police investigator tracking down these mysterious and villainous creatures. While varations of this setup have been used in the past, it’s hard to negotiate the two worlds in which this show lives, one which includes the law and procedure, and the other which involves fantastical and evil beings posing as humans. That’s perhaps supposed to be the intrigue of the show, but it fails to deliver on that premise. Series star David Giuntoli, in his first regular series role, isn’t a compelling lead, and unless Kate Burton is going to stick around to have street fights in the middle of the night, this show is going to be seriously lacking in worthwhile star power. Reggie Lee is stuck in the same role he seems always to be given, just as distracting and unnecessary as that he held on “No Ordinary Family.” Silas Weir Mitchell should be somewhat entertaining as a friendly wolf, providing the show with much of its comic relief. I’m most intrigued by Claire Coffee’s part as the mystery monster keeping a close eye on Nick. As someone not particularly obsessed with fairy tales, I don’t see much here to hold my attention for even another episode.

How will it work as a series? There are many fairy tales to be told, and this show can just go ahead and invent some when it finds itself coming up dry. Nick should learn more and more each episode about this world and its rules, which will also serve to educate the audience as they navigate through what might best be termed a supernatural procedural.
How long will it last? The pilot got off to an extraordinary start, nearly doubling the numbers of lead-in “Chuck” and holding its own against the seventh game of the World Series. If this wasn’t just due to the Halloween timing, this should could be a certifiable hit, something which NBC definitely won’t want to let get away.

Pilot grade: C