GRIMM — “The Taming of the Wu” Episode 519 — Pictured: Reggie Lee as Sergeant Wu — (Photo by: Scott Green/NBC)
Things just keep getting more ‘interesting’ on Grimm (NBC, Fridays, 9/8C). If it’s not Captain Renard running for mayor – backed by Black Claw, it’s Wu turning into some kind of wolfman; if it’s not Black Claw kidnapping children, it’s Adalind finally having ‘the talk’ with Nick.
With the show’s fifth season tearing through its final few episodes, the stakes are becoming higher with every passing moment.
This week, a new player appears – Conrad Bonaparte (Shaun Toub), a figure of some authority with Black Claw – and he has an ultimatum for Adalind (Claire Coffee). He seems like a middle-aged man, but he projects malevolence like the sun radiates heat.
Diana (Hannah R. Lloyd) plays into the episode in a couple of ways – one not quite what we might have expected, but both involving Adalind and Renard (Sasha Roiz).
Meanwhile Wu (Reggie Lee) has an episode in an unfortunate place before finding himself under surveillance – which leads to some shattering conclusions, thanks to some timely assistance from Rosalee (Bree Turner) and Monroe (Silas Warner Mitchell).
GRIMM — “The Taming of the Wu” Episode 519 — Pictured: (l-r) Silas Weir Mitchell as Monroe, Bree Turner as Rosalee Calvert, Reggie Lee as Sergeant Wu — (Photo by: Scott Green/NBC)
Trubel (Jacqueline Toboni) is back, just to top off an episode that’s chock full of peculiarity (even for Grimm) – but even her return can’t match Eve’s (Bitsie Tulloch) unexpected moment of weirdness.
The Taming of the Wu also leaves Nick (David Giuntoli) in a tough situation, but it seems that Hank (Russell Hornsby) might be the one character for whom things are going swimmingly – he seems to have really hit it off with his former physiotherapist, Zuri (Sharon Leal).
Written by Brenna Kouf and directed by Terrence O’Hara, this is an episode that pretty much has to movie like a bat out of hell just to get everything in. All things considered, The Taming of the Wu sets up a lot of critical situations and – despite the frenetic pacing – doesn’t feel like bursts of exposition juxtaposed with out there violence. Other than maybe juggling a few balls too many, this is good stuff.
With only three episodes to go this season, Grimm is ramping up the action, deepening the stakes and giving the Grimm Gang lots of moments to shine.
Final Grade: A-