Courtesy of NBC
It’s the battle of the Hexenbiests. Place your bets!
Let’s bitch it out…
Case of the Week: Nick (David Giuntoli) and co. track a Wesen called an Excanesco named Barso (Gideon Emery) aka a human match who starts fires for the insurance money. After a fire kills a young girl and her gay boyfriend, they recruit Peter Orson (Daniel Roebuck) – an arson investigator / attempted murderer that Nick helped to put away all the way back in S1. A neon concoction, water guns and a years in the making confrontation between Orson and his firestarting nemesis bring things to a head in a predictably explosive manner. I particularly liked the addition of the super soaker to the camper after Barso has been “dealt with”.
Wesen Feuds: The case itself (shockingly) is not particularly interesting in and of itself. The real fireworks occur halfway through the episode when Nick brings Orson to the Spice Shop. There he is immediately confronted by Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and the feud between the Blutbad and the Bauerschwein (re)ignites. As yet another example of the ongoing evolution of Wesen society, Rosalee (Bree Turner) rightfully challenges Monroe’s issues with Orson, suggesting that they need to move past the inter species problems of the past. In the spirit of diplomacy (see below) Monroe ultimately comes to see the validity of Rosalee’s claim and by episode’s end he and Orson agree not to forgive each other, but to move forward nonetheless. Progress, however slow.
Battle of the Hexenbitches: Oops, Renard’s (Sasha Roiz) PI is also Viktor’s (Alexis Denisof) informant. That should be interesting when it comes out. It’s all part of Viktor’s ‘diplomatic’ approach to tracking Kelly Burkhardt and baby Diana, but it’s happening too slowly for Adalind (Claire Coffee). The impetuous blonde decides to escalate matters…by going after Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch). This sets the stage for the main event (aka what NBC rightfully advertised as the main attraction): the battle of the Hexenbiests. Some of it is fun (like Juliette’s proclivity for throwing a mass of kitchen knives), but too much of it is simply sped up choreography. Adalind’s stunned, panicky reaction, however, is a blast and the episode ends with Juliette finally revealing the truth to Nick. ‘Bout damn time! Now the real fireworks can begin.
Ugh FX: Fire and water are notoriously difficult to convincingly portray, so perhaps it’s a good thing that only the first factors into ‘Trial By Fire.’ I’m sad to say that the car fire that immolates the lawyer in his car is particularly poorly done. In fact it’s only marginally better than Barso’s self-immolation at the climax. Woof to both scenes.
Wonderful Wu: Only a glimpse of Wu (Reggie Lee) this week, but his suggestion of a bomb rather than the truth to explain Barso’s death is amusing. “Bomb is good” Nick deadpans.
Your turn: did you spend the hour in anticipation of the one minute fight scene between the girls? Did the obvious culprit in the case take away from its enjoyment? Would you like to see more children’s toys employed as weapons? Will Nick flip out about Juliette’s reveal? Sound off below.
Grimm airs Fridays at 9pm EST on NBC