Intriguingly, it's Juliette that had a bit of an expanded role in "Organ Grinder", particularly relating to Nick's gesture toward Gracie and Hanson. It's been thrown around the blogosphere that the veterinarian would be slowly stepping into Nick's world and allowing her to bring her personal touch to getting information was just enough of a step to feel important but not too much of a step to feel overwhelming. She showed a very natural ability to empathize with people, connecting with Gracie in a way that Nick hadn't been able to; combine that with her ability to crack a joke and break out medical knowledge and I could see her being a terrific partner for Nick and Monroe in the future. The fun of it, though, will be watching her journey from outlier girlfriend to valuable asset in Nick's hunting, especially since it'd be another person to fight Monroe for Nick's attention. Plus, though we'd be able to see the world that has become second nature to Nick (and us) through new eyes, which could be a neat way to see just how Juliette stacks up in terms of psyche and ability to adapt to new situations.
As much as I liked the moments for Nick, Monroe, and Juliette, "Organ Grinder" had its share of faults. The ending conversation between Renard and Mysterious Ear-sending Man that hinted at someone/a group of someone's coming for Nick felt a little like an empty threat. We've had the same song-and-dance before (the woman in "Beeware" warning Nick that "he's coming" before dying) that didn't exactly pan out, so as much as I want to believe that our hero may be in danger, I'll have to see it to believe it. A big bad, even a recurring big bad, would do Grimm a world of good in terms of storytelling and focus, but I'd rather they just pulled the trigger if they're going to do it rather than settling for multiple false starts. Additionally, I feel weird for saying this, but I wanted more time at the "organ farm"; I know that a show with Grimm's structure can't really luxuriate for too long, but it was such a striking, dark set-up that it was a shame that we only got a minute of it before the bust. The puka shell/bread crumb allusion to Hansel & Gretel was, indeed, clever, but it cut short what could have been a truly gruesome, captivating discovery for Nick and Hank.
"Organ Grinder" may not have been my favorite Grimm episode to date, but it did a lot right and was a nice rebound from the previous few installments. Delightfully dark and not afraid to revel in it, the episode was arguably Grimm's most visceral, which makes all the character development/payoff stand out that much more. At the same time that homeless children were being harvested for their organs by new age-y monkey/bird hybrids called geier, we finally got Juliette participation, playful bickering between Monroe/Nick, and Nick's emotional state becoming a little more open. Thus, "Organ Grinder" is sort of in the show's sweet spot, juggling two vastly different tones/turns of events and managing to make the case-of-the-week the catalyst for the character development we saw. Grimm's cases may be hit-or-miss, but "Organ Grinder" delivered a solid ground-rule double at a pretty crucial time.
Thoughts, Quotes, & Observations:
-"He didn't look like a Hallie to me."
-"Our exotic animals are you."
-"There's a place that I've heard of. Not that I've ever been there or anything."
-"I think it's pronounced 'capitalism'."
-How bad ass were some of the images in "Organ Grinder"? The shot of the blade coming for Kevin, the Jeepers Creepers-ish make-up on the body in the river, and the rows of hospital beds with defenseless kids were all nice touches.
-Raise your hand if you had the doctor being in on it from the beginning. (For the record, I didn't, but I knew something was up with all the focus on Tom's sandwich.)
-Am I the only one that wants to know more about the medical examiner? She's been in several episodes, but if you offered me a million dollars to give her name or any personal details, I couldn't do it.
-Monroe's favorite color is red, for those of you wondering.
-Did anybody notice the two teenage boys (one mohawked, one in red flannel) in and around the clinic? I kept looking for them to be more included in the action.
-When Nick and Hank got into the trailer and discovered the organs, the plastic hanging in the doorway put me in mind of Dexter.
-In case you didn't recognize him, Hanson was played by Daryl Sabarra from Spy Kids.
-If you've yet to read Nightfly's interview with Grimm creators David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf, check it out here.
-Next week on Grimm: Nick and Hank investigate an oft-married woman whose husbands end up dead, while Nick's presence in the creature world is putting a target on his back. Can he keep himself (and Juliette) safe?
