The police procedural Grimm combines classic cop drama with a fantasy twist. With six seasons, it’s time to determine the series’ standout. Over its run from 2011-2017, the NBC series brought a creative monster-hunting element to the standard police show format. Following Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt after he discovers he’s descended from an elite line of criminal profilers tasked with keeping the peace between humans and mythological creatures, Grimm built a rich world pulled from classic fairytales and folklore.
As Nick navigated his responsibilities working with his partner Hank Griffin while moonlighting as a Grimm, the show introduced an expansive roster of Wesen – supernatural animal-like beings living undetected among humans – for them to face over the seasons. As fun as it’s been to watch Nick take down a new Wesen each week in this modern procedural TV show, it’s time to look back at each season to determine where Grimm truly reached its peak.
6 Grimm Season 5
Less engaging compared to other seasons
Though the overarching story arcs of Grimm season 5 brought high stakes after Nick lost his Grimm powers, the season is regarded as Grimm’s weakest due to its high volume of lackluster filler episodes. Without compelling weekly Wesen cases to supplement the ongoing plotlines, the season struggled to maintain momentum. Too many installments felt like mere time fillers rather than driving the narrative forward. Despite a strong narrative foundation with the splintering of Nick and his friends in the wake of his transformation back into a human, the uninteresting one-off episodes ultimately rendered this installment less engaging than its predecessors.
While the showrunners likely intended for these episodic tangents to add lightness and character development, the end result was a season that lacked narrative urgency. Those expecting an overarching plot progression were often left waiting as meandering subplots and inconsequential monster-of-the-week stories ate up precious runtime. Rather than complementing the central arcs, these digressions disrupted the building tension. Had the filler content tied more directly into the core narrative or related more meaningfully to the protagonists’ evolutions, the season may have achieved better pacing and coherence.
5 Grimm Season 1
Not as refined as later seasons
As the inaugural season, it’s understandable that Grimm season 1 faced some growing pains in establishing the show’s complex mythos. With both the characters and audience left piecing together the hidden world of Wesen, season 1 relied heavily on laying cryptic groundwork at the expense of dynamic storytelling. While the unclear dynamics and mysterious plotlines didn’t make for the most gripping narrative, they were necessary to set the stage for future seasons. Despite not being the highlight of the series, Grimm season 1 brought crucial elements that kept engagement high to allow the show to find its footing.
4 Grimm Season 4
An important season for plot development
Grimm season 4, nestled between the series’ creative peaks, grapples with divisive elements like Nick temporarily losing his Grimm abilities. While this development was initially frustrating, it served a narrative purpose by allowing Trubel to assume a pivotal role, evolving from an enigmatic fugitive to a close ally. The season maintains engagement through this transitional phase, with a mix of Wesen-of-the-Week episodes and a reluctance to follow through on intriguing season 3 plotlines, such as the Wesenrein arc. Positioned neither among Grimm’s best nor its worst, the fourth installment plays a crucial role in character growth and plot development.
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Laying the groundwork for necessary shifts without achieving the narrative intensity of its predecessors, the decision to sideline Nick’s powers introduces an element of vulnerability. This allows for nuanced character development and contributes to the series’ overall evolution. While the season may not reach the heights of previous creative achievement within the series, its narrative contributions and essential plot shifts make it a noteworthy and necessary chapter in the larger Grimm storyline.
3 Grimm Season 6
Delivers a satisfying conclusion
In its final season, Grimm season 6 successfully recaptures the essence that made the show endearing for the preceding five years. Elevated stakes drive the overarching narrative without the distraction of episodic diversions. The majority of episodes seamlessly contribute to the climactic series finale, weaving tightly-connected storylines within the show’s rich mythology. While the rushed pacing towards the end leads to some character resolutions feeling abrupt, the maintained momentum and focus on interconnected narratives make season 6 one of Grimm‘s stronger chapters. Although not reaching the narrative heights of its premier seasons, it encapsulates the magic that defined the show.
2 Grimm Season 2
Momentum is significantly picked up
Grimm season 2 opened with a fantastic premiere, picking up right after the game-changing reveal of Nick’s Grimm identity to Juliette. The epic season finale further upended the show’s fabric, keeping viewers on their toes. The season expanded the world and relationships, setting the stage for years to come. Introducing Nick’s ally mother and exploring Hexenbiest lore with Adalind’s transformation added additional riveting elements. These storylines not only captivated the audience, but also drove significant momentum in Nick’s character arc and his understanding of his own abilities.
Grimm also introduced dynamic new Wesen, maintaining compelling cases without the confusion of earlier episodes. The development of an engaging recurring cast, including Monroe, Rosalee, and Captain Renard, strengthened bonds that grounded later plots. Although not every episode was flawless, Grimm was evidently coming into its own during the second season. It achieved an ideal balance between weekly procedural cases and advancing central mysteries, positioning season 2 high in the ranks. The season offered consistent entertainment value, reaching series-best high points like the shocking and unforgettable “Season of the Hexenbiest” episode.
1 Grimm Season 3
More backstory and new characters
With unrelenting momentum, Grimm season 3 stands out as the show operating at peak performance, featuring 22 stellar episodes, each contributing to the overarching narrative. Bookended by the epic opening double-header, resolving the game-changing season 2 cliffhanger, and a finale that rattles the show’s foundations, season 3 manipulates and presses on the bonds between characters. It organically expands the world’s lore to new heights, introducing fan-favorite recurring players like Trubel, and diving deeper into the lives of core figures through creative episodic plots.
The season effectively balances creative episodic plots that deepen the characters’ narratives. “The Ungrateful Dead” explores the consequences of Wesen coming back to life, adding a supernatural twist to the procedural format. Meanwhile, “My Fair Wesen” brings humor and insight by delving into Wesen cultural norms, showcasing the show’s ability to blend fantasy with social commentary. The two-hour special, “Once We Were Gods,” serves as a grand culmination, threading together various plotlines into a climactic conclusion, ensuring that Grimm season 3 not only entertains, but also crafts a compelling and cohesive narrative arc.
Grimm
- Release Date
- October 28, 2011
- Cast
- David Giuntoli , Russell Hornsby , Silas Weir Mitchell
- Seasons
- 6
