FYeahNickBurkhardt (Tumblr Backup)

I think Nick profiles Leo in those few seconds. He profiles him enough to realize he won’t be able to resist a Grimm in the ring.

I love how Hank is the one who investigates Taymor and finds the evidence against him. Nick is off Grimming while Hank does the real detective work.

The sheer brutality of the Lowen Games is on another level. They kidnap people, imprison them, force them to fight or die, and starve them into cannibalism.

This part of s1 is an important turning point for Nick and Monroe too. Just before this Monroe has been trusted with the trailer and saved Hank’s life. Now Nick is treating Monroe more carefully. And when Monroe is in danger he risks his life to save him.

Speaking of the show’s themes. The maushertz bookie seems really timid and subservient toward Monroe, but turns around and sells him out.

I dunno if I’ve ever said this before but normally, I absolutely loathe arena/gladiator episodes. Most sci-fi and fantasy shows have at least one and they’re my least favorite episodes of almost every series. Except Grimm. For whatever reason, I absolutely love this episode despite it basically being an arena ep.

Monroe: This place is like…the National Archives. Or the freakin’ Smithsonian of Grimm-ology. Just the sheer historical value of everything in here is..is…

Juliette, 4 years later:

It’s so weird to rewatch this and remember just how LITTLE we knew about Sean. Like…there were all those little hints. “Your highness,” etc. The level of badassness and the level of fear he could inspire in people was far above his supposed pay grade. But like…we knew SO LITTLE ultimately. And additional pieces of the picture were revealed so gradually over the seasons that it’s hard to know when the picture really came together except that it’s jarring to watch season one and remember how little we knew.

So does anyone think Sean was ever really planning to be a doctor? Maybe before he and his mom had to run for their lives? Or do you think that’s just a handy excuse in case anyone ever wonders why the fuck a police captain knows so much Latin?

(I lean toward the first because TBH “I was raised Catholic” is a much better and simpler explanation than “I thought I was going to be a doctor” for being able to read Latin with any level of fluency.)

This episode is one of the few times the show really looks at the justice system with anything resembling a critical eye. The villain? White guy working as a parole officer, abusing his power and exploiting those he’s supposed to be helping. The victims? Young men of color on parole.

IIRC they don’t really ever do something like this again until seasons 5, when Black Claw starts to infiltrate local government and law enforcement. Which is a pity because this show could literally have done that ALL the TIME given the subject matter and major themes.