NBC's Grimm - Episode 3.14 Mommy Dearest
A horrible new predator creeps into Portland with its sight set on a young expectant couple who are close friends of Sgt. Wu; Nick and Hank must figure out how to deal with Wu as the investigation escalates; and Adalind prepares for a special delivery while her enemies are hot on her trail.
Grimm gives Reggie Lee the most to do he's ever done on the show during "Mommy Dearest." He's incredibly close to the case-of-the-week as well as questioning the supernatural forces that are occurring in Portland. At this point in the series, he is the only character unaware of the main premise. The show has taken a creative leap every time it lets a new character in on the big secret that Nick is a Grimm and there's this whole Wesen world. Since learning about what's really happening on the show, both Hank and Juliette have been much more active and useful characters.And Lee is an actor more capable than what this role has often called on him to do. This episode only really scratches the surface of his skills. He's asked to be a huge part of the investigating drive of this episode. Questioning whether or not the attack on his friend is that of an Aswang or someone making it seem like that. It's also driving him a little bit crazy in the process. He comes face-to-face with it and then winds up in some psychiatric hospital.
It's an interesting way to push character development for the least developed character on the show. It messes up the typical structure. And yet, it's also basically the same story the show did with Hank leading up to his learning of the Wesen world. And that would have been fine if they really upped the parallels between the two stories. That aspect is touched on here. Nick, Monroe and Rosalee don't want to tell Wu the truth but Hank argues that he needs to be prepared for what he's up against. I just didn't think the show pushed that as much as it could have.
And that ending just really confused me. Does it mean that this is it for poor Wu? We learn his name only for him to go crazy and just be sent off never to be heard from again. Or is this show planning on doubling-down on Wu during the last part of this season and is saving up the grand reveal until the season finale?
Some more thoughts:
- "Mommy Dearest" was written by Brenna Kouf and directed by Norberto Barba.
- Adalind: "Don't let this thing kill me." Like all mothers say during childbirth.
- At least we got to learn what Wu's first name actually is. It's Drew! Drew Wu. Hehe, it rhymes.
- I'm still really waiting for the stuff in Vienna to start better connecting to the stuff happening in Portland. Adalind gives birth to her supernatural baby, which is supposedly a big deal for later on this year.
