Random thoughts on a fabulous episode
To begin at the beginning, Adalind is a wonderful villain. Entertaining as hell, and deliciously fun to hate. I think want her to be playing Renard for her own gain. The shower dream scene was *incredibly* creepy, as was her cheery, sunlit baking session. She needs to die ugly in the future, but for now, I'm enjoying the ride.
I need more from Renard. I've never been very taken with characters who are presented in a way that beats me over the head with how mysterious they are. I get bored with mysterious characters very quickly. I'm ready to know exactly what his angle is, how Nick and Hank fit into it, and what his background is. I want to move on to how Nick is going to deal with him, what their interaction becomes when Nick realizes Renard's King Liar on Bullshit Mountain. I think part of the problem is that I'm less interested in Renard as a character than as a puzzle piece right now. He doesn't show us anything but that controlled veneer -- he's not a person to me yet. and that's okay, but the result is that I'm tapping my toe to lift the veil on him. I want to know his game, because there isn't enough of him there as a person to connect with in the meantime.
However, I'll say this: I don't know how the showrunners are planning to live up to that "he's not all bad" promise they gave us, but I'm not sure they have a magic rabbit that big up their collective butts. I can buy that Renard might be the least of several evils, but if it looks like a ruthless and borderline sociopathic bastard and it quacks like a ruthless and borderline sociopathic bastard...
Now, the best part of this ep: Rosalee. This character is nothing shy of fabulous. She's smart, she's strong, she's sympathetic, she's got great chemistry with Nick and MOnroe, and she feels *fresh*. She feels like someone who fits, and who has something great to bring to the show. as a love interest-in-the-making for MOnroe, she works. Rosalee is exactly the kind of "old soul" personality I could believe Monroe would be attracted to. and I think she might have a different sort of wisdom to offer Nick in juggling his two lives.
What's also becoming clear is how Nick is being drawn more and more away his old life. This ep showed his support system/ally circle among the Wesen growing by leaps and bounds. He and Monroe have become real friends and partners who have a rhythm down that feels old and deep-rooted. Contrast that to the discord and stumbling that exists between him and Hank now. Rosalee has been added to the team, and she hit the ground running. Not only that, but there's an instant empathy and respect between her and Nick. Then there's also Bud the beaver and his cohorts, Nick's self-appointed fan club/personal guard. (and how fabulous is Nick's demeanor as he realizes he's somehow obtained minions?) slowly but surely, Nick is becoming more at home in the world of Grimms and Wesen than in the purely human world. I just hope he brings Juliette along with him -- she proves every week that she's up for the challenge, and Nick would be less without her.
I loved the dichotomy in this ep: the corruption and insidiousness of Hank and Adalind's connection versus the promise and purity of Monroe and Rosalee's; the juxtaposition of Renard and Nick as leaders, one isolated and conniving, the other surrounded by people who trust and are trusted (making Nick's lies of omission and half-truths to Juliette all the worse, because that isn't the kind of person he is and it's clear how much it's costing him); the good witch/bad witch duel that Rosalee and Adalind fight in absentia.
I continue to wonder if Hank will survive the season. He was at least given something interesting to do in this ep. I don't dislike him, and when they've fleshed him out this season, I've liked what they've done with his story; Russel Hornsby's good, and the Hank we got last night, in LYHD, and in GO was a character I'm interested in watching. The problem with Hank, for me, is that he often comes across as more compelling when he and Nick are separated, and that's a stumbling point. But I like the storyline they're setting up with Adalind; I'm eager to see what kind of hell that stirs up, and RH and Claire Coffee play well off each other.
Random MOnroe adoration: of course the wolf with the big brain would never be so cliche as to call something a love spell. :D (and no, I can't remember exactly what he did call it -- primitive, psychotropic something-or-other.)
More random Monroe adoration: how sweet and kickass is Monroe just absolutely shining with admiration for Rosalee when she saves Wu?
And a little more, though this is more like squeeing: Monroe wolfing out and snarling when Rosalee startles him awake is the second cutest moment in this ep.
The cutest moment is Nick absolutely in awe of Juliette's shooting prowess. :D He's floored, and he's more than a little turned on. And her little smile...NICK, TELL THAT WOMAN THE TRUTH! She loves you. she took on an ogre for you. She punched a dragon in the face. She hasn't slapped you stupid yet. Put a ring on her and worship her like the sassy redheaded queen she is!
All in all, a wonderful episode. Looking forward to everything it set in motion.