Rating summary
Movie | | 3.5 |
Video | | 4.5 |
Audio | | 4.5 |
Extras | | 2.5 |
Overall | | 3.5 |
Grimm: Season Six Blu-ray Movie Review
A Grimm reminder that everything ends.
Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 6, 2017
For 'Grimm' refreshers, or for newcomers just entering
the 'Grimm' universe, please click through the links below before moving forward with this review.
It seems like TV shows are winding up canceled or brought to the end of their runs left and right these days. Indeed, plenty of them are closing up
shop, but when one considers the sheer
volume of television out there, odds are that there will always be a handful of favorites either on the way out or recently brought to an end. Joining
that list
is
Grimm, NBC's popular Creature Feature show that ran for six relatively strong seasons, offering fans a healthy balance of "nasty of the
week" with a fairly consistent streak of advancing core, series-arcing character and plot lines along the way. Though hardly destined for the TV Hall
of
Fame,
the show nevertheless offered mostly dependable entertainment, standing as enough of a standout in an era of multiple choices to be remembered
fondly by
those who found themselves drawn into its monster-fantasy world of Portland, Oregon, that was something of a portal for all things weird.
Official Synopsis:
Now that the nefarious forces of Black Claw have been silenced, Nick (David Giuntoli) faces an all too familiar foe in Captain
Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz). Having gained a seat of power as the mayor-elect of Portland, Renard is poised to bring rise to his own brand of law and
order. Nick must take a stand to protect his city and those closest to him, especially his child with Adalind (Claire Coffee). It will take the full force
of Nick and his allies to find a way to bring peace. Meanwhile, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) grapple with bringing a child
into a new and tumultuous world, and Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) faces unsettling identity issues as her former self lurks below the surface.
It may be the final season, but it's no less
Grimm. The season demonstrates a command of its characters and universe that's impressive
even considering a six-season run; there's no loss for depth and characterization along the way, adhering to formula but expanding the concept
and world towards an endpoint that suits the show very well. What happens is expected yet it's not, and with the opportunity to actually preplan
the end rather
than either rush it with word of cancellation or simply leave the story hanging, it seems close to best-case scenario for all involved, be it audience
wants, story needs, or character maneuverings. The season, only 13 episodes strong here, offers a nice balance between exploring the mythology
that's always been at the heart of the show while offering plenty of big and fast-moving action alongside enough mystery, monsters, and mayhem
to satisfy the most ardent
Grimm fan. As for the end, it's a bit of a wild ride. There's a lot to digest, particularly as the show builds up to
the final episode and in the way it resolves itself in the final minutes. It works well and ends with a simple, touching word of thanks to the series'
legion of global fans.
The following episodes comprise season six. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging. Some spoilers follow.
Disc One:
- Fugitive: Nick is forced into hiding after Captain Renard pins multiple Black Claw deaths on him, making him a wanted man.
- Trust Me Knot: Hank and Wu find a way to stall Renard, while Eve and Trubel search for answers about the mysterious healing stick.
- Oh Captain, My Captain: Nick and the gang turn to drastic measures to prevent Captain Renard from becoming mayor of Portland.
- El Cuegle: Nick, Hank and Wu search for a Wesen suspect after a baby goes missing, while Renard has a surprising run-in with an old
friend.
- The Seven Year Itch: Nick, Hank and Wu investigate a bizarre murder in a local park, while Monroe and Rosalee get some surprising
news.
Disc Two:
- Breakfast in Bed: Nick, Hank and Wu investigate a local hotel after a guest claims to be haunted by a sleep-stealing creature.
- Blind Love: Monroe's birthday weekend goes awry when a Cupiditas casts a love spell on the gang.
- The Son Also Rises: Hank and Wu investigate a series of deadly attacks on a team of scientists, leading them to a new kind of
monster.
- Tree People: Nick, Hank and Wu search the woods for a tree-like creature, while Captain Renard seeks insight into Diana's drawings.
Disc Three:
- Blood Magic: The gang investigates a Wesen who euthanizes other Wesen.
- Where the Wild Things Were: Eve uses magic to travel through the mirror to the Other Place, and Nick follows to find her. After Nick
leaves, the gang shows Renard the Tunnel in exchange for information that may help save Eve and Nick.
- Zerstörer Shrugged: Nick and Eve escape the Other Place, but the skull monster follows them back to destroy Earth.
- The End: Nick and co. fight the monster from the Other Place in an epic final battle for the fate of humanity that could claim the lives
of everyone Nick loves.
Grimm: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Grimm: Season Six features another standout 1080p presentation. The season was photographed digitally, and noise is a regular occurrence
throughout the 13 episodes, particularly in lower-light shots where one would expect to find it. Beyond trace aliasing and banding, though, that noise is
the only
real eyesore. Detailing is practically impressive and usually impeccable. Skin textures are insanely complex in close-up, ditto clothes, and environments
are very sharp,
whether manmade or naturally occurring. Outdoor locations particularly dazzle with complex vegetation and terrain both commonplace standouts.
Creature
effects are well defined,
too, even those in the digital rather than practical realm. Colors are well saturated, diverse, nuanced, and neutral. There's no unnatural filtering, just
a well-rounded palette that the Blu-ray presents beautifully. Black levels are very deep, sometimes bordering on crush in the deepest shadows, but
they
hold up well. Ditto skin tones. Fans should be very pleased with Universal's presentation.
Grimm: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
Grimm: Season Six's DTS-HD Master Audo 5.1 lossless soundtrack sees the show go out with a bang. It's big, aggressive, and rarely wanting
for increased definition. Musical delivery satisfies and then some, offering an intense depth and impressive width and wrap about the stage. Low end
support is impressive, but most satisfying is the clarity that remains even as the track pushes its boundaries and engulfs the listener in some seriously
deep and detailed elements. Action scenes are just as hearty, both in terms of aggressiveness and in terms of clarity of elements. Both one-off and
uniquely positioned sound effects and moving elements are equally well presented throughout the run. Dialogue is expectedly clear and detailed with
strong prioritization and firm front-center positioning.
Grimm: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Grimm: Season Six contains deleted scenes on all three discs, one featurette on disc one, and several additional extras on disc three. A UV
digital copy code is included
with purchase.
Disc One:
- Deleted Scenes (1080p, 10:02 total runtime): Scenes from Oh Captain, My Captain, El Cuegle, and The Seven
Year Itch.
- Directing Grimm: Behind the Scenes with David Giuntoli (1080p, 6:31): Grimm finally opens up to a first-time
director, who just happens to be the series' star. Most interesting is the piece's exploration of writing the character out of episode three and shooting
out of order.
Disc Two:
- Deleted Scenes (1080p, 6:44 total runtime): Scenes from Breakfast in Bed, Blind Love, and The Son Also
Rises.
Disc Three:
- Deleted Scenes (1080p, 5:07 total runtime): Scenes from Blood Magic, Where the Wild Things Were, and The
End
- Gag Reel (1080p, 12:04).
- A Grimm Farewell (1080p, 9:17): A discussion of the series' end run, building up to a set finale, cast camaraderie, favorite
moments from the series, favorite creatures, themes as they were explored in the series and in the end, hope for the series' legacy, and more.
- Wu's Views (1080p, 10:28): Actor Reggie Lee and his new camera take viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey through the final
episode.
- A Grimm Journey (1080p, 6:11): A quick run-though of series highlights.
- Grimm Guide (1080p): Text, still images, and video clips highlighting various creatures from the Grimm universe.
Grimm: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Grimm accomplished much in its six season, 123-episode run. It may not have redefined its genre, but it served up a largely entertaining
series that only improved with time and balanced its formulaic monster-of-the-week storylines with a deeper core that gradually became more detailed
and exciting as time went along. Good characters, quality acting, enjoyable visuals, and certainly a well-rounded finale make the show, and its final
season, truly must-see TV. Grimm: Season Six's Blu-ray release offers high-end video and audio. A nice little grouping of extras are included.
Recommended, and for those starting from scratch, Universal has also released a full-series collection.