GRIMM — “Eve of Destruction” Episode 507 — Pictured: (l-r) Robert Clendenin as Xavier, Bree Turner as Rosalee Calvert, Silas Weir Mitchell as Monroe, Sasha Roiz as Captain Renard, Russell Hornsby as Hank Griffin — (Photo by: Scott Green/NBC)
Grimm (NBC, Fridays, 9/8C) returns tonight with a revelation: Nick wasn’t seeing things in the fall finale – Juliette is alive! Sort of…
As Nick tries to sort out his feelings – about Juliette’s return, about Adalind – the Black Claw goes on the offensive in an even bigger way and no one is safe.
Eve of Destruction opens immediately after a white-wigged Juliette saved Nick (David Giuntoli), Hank (Russell Hornsby), Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), Renard (Sasha Roiz) and Wu (Reggie Lee). While Nick speeds off to find out if Trubel (Jacqueline Toboni) knows what’s going on with Juliette, the others head to the spice shop, where Rosalie (Bree Turner) has taken the traitorous Xavier (Robert Clendenin).
At home, Nick breaks the news about Juliette to Trubel and Adalind (Claire Coffee) – who says Meisner (Damien Puckler) might know where she is. Nick uses the late FBI Agent Chavez’s phone to call but is rebuffed.
Meanwhile, Xavier tries to convince the others that he had no choice – there’s a revolution going on and any Wesen who refuse to join will be killed.
Rosalie calls the Wesen Council to tell them what she’s learned, but they already know about the Black Claw and are about to take measures…
GRIMM — “Eve of Destruction” Episode 507 — Pictured: (l-r) Russell Hornsby as Hank Griffin, David Giiuntoli as Nick Burkhardt — (Photo by: Scott Green/NBC)
And finally, Nick is given an opportunity to meet with Juliette.
Writer Thomas Ian Griffith and director John Behring combine to produce an episode that ratchet up the tension by revealing exactly what the stakes are – and they are incredibly high. Nick and his friends have never faced a threat on this level before – we’re talking global!
Even though there are scenes that transmit necessary exposition, none of them feel like a pause for the breath, or a moderation of pacing. Every second builds the tension and every second is absolutely essential to the story.
While the cast perform to their usual level of excellence, special kudos must go to Bitsie Tulloch who makes Juliette’s transformation into Eve completely believable and utterly terrifying. Eve is the weapon that Chavez’s group, Hadrian’s Wall, have created to use against the Black Claw, so terrifying is good.
By the end of Eve of Destruction, we know that the whole world is at risk and that things will be getting worse before they get better (if they get better…).
Final Grade: A-