Meta: The Nature of Grimms and Season 2 Plot Speculation
This comm only just prompted me to put down my thoughts on the nature of Grimms, their connection to the Royals, and what I theorize the future will hold in terms of Grimmology... and now that I have watched the finale, I have more thoughts. :-)
What immediately struck me about the "Luke Nick, I am your father mother" plotline is that it doesn't change my basic expectations, but sets the stage for them in a much bigger and more dramatic way than I had anticipated.
My theory about Grimms is that originally, Grimms were meant to be peacekeepers and protectors for the Wesen community, ensuring both that humans were not endangered by Wesen - and vice versa - and that weaker Wesen were not preyed on by the strong and vicious. To that end, Grimms have protective instincts, a built-in desire for justice, an excellent sense of who/what Wesen are, the powers to successfully take down even the most dangerous Wesen... the whole package.
But. Somewhere along the line, something went wrong, and now Grimms work as enforcers for the Royal Families and are regarded as indicriminate killers, bullies and thugs by the Wesen. My theory is that the Royals have somehow tricked the Grimms into working for them rather than keeping everyone, including the Royals, in line. So the Royals were not only free of their only natural check and balance, but also up one very effective instrument of power. Win-win for the Royals, solid lose for everyone else.
Regarding the plot developments to come in S2, I assumed that Nick would encounter one of the "enforcer"-type Grimms we have heard so much about; those Grimms who work for the Royal Families and kill Wesen indiscriminately.
I assumed this plot would start with Nick being tentatively glad for the chance to talk to another Grimm and gather more information. However, then (I assumed) he'd be forced to oppose him or her when it became clear they will not be dissuaded from killing any Wesen they come across... so Nick would have to kill them to protect Monroe, Rosalee and the others, and not get his information after all. No more than some tantalizing scraps, that is.
And I think it will STILL go this way, except with way more angst and soul-searching.
They'll start out with Nick suspicious of the woman's claim of being his mother, but she will have proof of some kind. Then she'll have to explain why she let him believe she was dead (for his own protection, of course). And Nick will not be happy about this aspect of it, but he will be over the moon at his mother being alive, and so will put up with her indiscriminate brutality towards Wesen for far longer than he would if she were anyone else.
But the clash is inevitable, and neither will let themselves be swayed from their convictions, although they'll go back and forth a bit. And then, in the end, Nick will have to fight his own mother to protect Monroe, Rosalee, the Eisbiber and other innocent Wesen. It would not even surprise me if he did have to kill her, in the end.
Of course he'll learn considerably more about Grimms, their connection to the Royals, and so forth before that point… and maybe start to wonder about how the Grimms came to be the enforcers for the Royals, anyway…
So, that's my theory for the major plot arch of Season 2. Anyone taking bets? *g*
Plus, it now seems that most of what I wished for S2 in the friending meme will definitely be coming true. *g* To wit:
- Hank and Juliette finding out about Nick being a Grimm, and the Wesen, and all the rest. I bet Juliette will have forgotten Nick's confession when she wakes up, but after the last eps I don't think Nick can put off telling her and Hank any longer.
- More info on the workings of the Wesen world.
- And more of Adalind, who has evidently cooked up a plan to become relevant (and useful for Renard) again in some way, whether or not it will bring her magic back.
In short, I like it. :-)
What immediately struck me about the "Luke Nick, I am your father mother" plotline is that it doesn't change my basic expectations, but sets the stage for them in a much bigger and more dramatic way than I had anticipated.
My theory about Grimms is that originally, Grimms were meant to be peacekeepers and protectors for the Wesen community, ensuring both that humans were not endangered by Wesen - and vice versa - and that weaker Wesen were not preyed on by the strong and vicious. To that end, Grimms have protective instincts, a built-in desire for justice, an excellent sense of who/what Wesen are, the powers to successfully take down even the most dangerous Wesen... the whole package.
But. Somewhere along the line, something went wrong, and now Grimms work as enforcers for the Royal Families and are regarded as indicriminate killers, bullies and thugs by the Wesen. My theory is that the Royals have somehow tricked the Grimms into working for them rather than keeping everyone, including the Royals, in line. So the Royals were not only free of their only natural check and balance, but also up one very effective instrument of power. Win-win for the Royals, solid lose for everyone else.
Regarding the plot developments to come in S2, I assumed that Nick would encounter one of the "enforcer"-type Grimms we have heard so much about; those Grimms who work for the Royal Families and kill Wesen indiscriminately.
I assumed this plot would start with Nick being tentatively glad for the chance to talk to another Grimm and gather more information. However, then (I assumed) he'd be forced to oppose him or her when it became clear they will not be dissuaded from killing any Wesen they come across... so Nick would have to kill them to protect Monroe, Rosalee and the others, and not get his information after all. No more than some tantalizing scraps, that is.
And I think it will STILL go this way, except with way more angst and soul-searching.
They'll start out with Nick suspicious of the woman's claim of being his mother, but she will have proof of some kind. Then she'll have to explain why she let him believe she was dead (for his own protection, of course). And Nick will not be happy about this aspect of it, but he will be over the moon at his mother being alive, and so will put up with her indiscriminate brutality towards Wesen for far longer than he would if she were anyone else.
But the clash is inevitable, and neither will let themselves be swayed from their convictions, although they'll go back and forth a bit. And then, in the end, Nick will have to fight his own mother to protect Monroe, Rosalee, the Eisbiber and other innocent Wesen. It would not even surprise me if he did have to kill her, in the end.
Of course he'll learn considerably more about Grimms, their connection to the Royals, and so forth before that point… and maybe start to wonder about how the Grimms came to be the enforcers for the Royals, anyway…
So, that's my theory for the major plot arch of Season 2. Anyone taking bets? *g*
Plus, it now seems that most of what I wished for S2 in the friending meme will definitely be coming true. *g* To wit:
- Hank and Juliette finding out about Nick being a Grimm, and the Wesen, and all the rest. I bet Juliette will have forgotten Nick's confession when she wakes up, but after the last eps I don't think Nick can put off telling her and Hank any longer.
- More info on the workings of the Wesen world.
- And more of Adalind, who has evidently cooked up a plan to become relevant (and useful for Renard) again in some way, whether or not it will bring her magic back.
In short, I like it. :-)