Grimm

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Fairy tale-inspired show has more blood than happy endings.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this aptly titled series is inspired by popular Grimm's fairy tales, but you shouldn't expect many happy endings when it comes to the characters' lives. There is nothing light about the content, from human faces that morph into monsters' to the fright, suspense, and bloody violence that's an integral part of this police/supernatural drama, so it's a definite no-go for kids. There's also some light language ("hell," "ass," "pissy," and the like), and some of the stories touch on drug use, both for medicinal purposes and as a result of addiction.

  • Although the world is revealed to be full of dangerous people -- and creatures -- the main character is tasked with making it safer. There's also some cooperation between species, which shows the better side of both humanity and the mythological creatures. The stories demonstrate how literature and folk tales can be interpreted differently by different people.
  • The main character comes from a long line of heroes who rid the world of evil that others can't see. There are plenty of villains, too, but "good guys" and "bad guys" are typically well-defined. One "bad guy" (a man/wolf) has reformed his ways and now assists the hero in his work, and sometimes their work introduces them to other creatures who are willing to lend a hand.
  • Fantasy violence, with some blood (including glimpses of parts of dismembered bodies and characters biting and scratching each other) and sudden, scary surprises. Frequent fights and weapon use (including guns, knives, and more). Death and murder are common. Children can be in peril.
  • Not applicable.
  • Occasional language like "hell," "ass," and "pissy."
  • Mention of common brands like iPod, iPhone, etc.
  • A character mentions that he takes a regimen of prescription drugs to control his animal instincts. In one story, creatures get high by inhaling the vapors of a drug called "jay," and they turn to violence, theft, and murder to feed their addiction.

What's the story?

 

In GRIMM, police detective Nick Burkhardt's (David Giuntoli) life is turned upside down when he begins seeing strange things that defy explanation and seem to be invisible to everyone else around him. It's only when his ailing aunt (Kate Burton) reveals to him that he's the latest descendant from an ancient line of Grimms -- people who are tasked with keeping the peace between supernatural creatures and the human world -- that his visions make sense. Besides coming to terms with this new world of Hexenbiests, Blutbaden, and Lausenschlange, Nick also must keep his identity a secret from everyone around him, including his girlfriend, Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch), and his partner on the force, Hank (Russell Hornsby). Fortunately he's flanked by a reformed werewolf named Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), who helps him navigate the workings of this hidden society.


Is it any good?

 

Whether they're witches or werewolves or vampires, the entertainment world sure loves its trends, and one of those is popular fairy tales served up fresh with a modern twist. But unlike family-friendlier spins like Once Upon a Time, Grimm takes a decidedly grittier approach and so appeals to a slightly older and more mature audience. In fact, maturity is a necessity when dealing with this show, which matches the hazy, gray backdrop of Portland, Oregon, with dark doings and sinister, mythological creatures who morph in and out of human facades with seamless effect.

Don't let the fact that these stories are based on fairy tales fool you. There are no sweet dreams to be had at the close of these chapters, so kids and sensitive tweens should steer clear. Of course, some adults will find the idea of applying fairy tales to a police procedural a bit absurd, but in some mystical way, the concept works in this enticing drama that's great for thrill-seeking teens and adults who can handle the violent content.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the popularity of movies and TV series inspired by centuries-old fairy tales. How does this series compare to others? What is it about these stories that continues to hold our attention? Are the original stories recognizable in this show?

  • Look into the real-life Grimm's tales, and you'll discover a surprising level of violence. How do more modern adaptations of these stories (think Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel) compare to the originals? Why are stories altered through multiple retellings? How do these changes reflect the time in which they're told rather than the time during which they were written?

  • What role does violence play in this series? How do the writers blend the fantasy violence of the Grimm stories into real-world crimes and other violent acts? Does it work? Is the violence too explicit in any way? Do you think that this show would appeal to a greater audience if violence wasn't an issue?


This review was written by Kari Croop
Teen, 18 years old
November 5, 2011
 
Decent Show!!!!
With all these police procedural's out there, this adds a new creative twist to it, which makes it much more enjoyable and sticks out from the rest. No sexual things i can think of (other than couples kissing, and a guy with no shirt on. Nothing bad.). It can get a little iffy sometimes, because for the younger viewers, they might be frightened by the creatures(they can get scary-looking and can show up at unexpected times that might make you jump). As for violence, It's a cop show, so there are deaths involved. guns and showed. The creatures are particularly...err....vicious. they attack humans and in the last episode, one of the creatures ripped a guys arm off on screen. I was NOT expecting that. lol. but Its still a really good show! I recommend you watching this!!!

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Teen, 14 years old
October 28, 2011
 
Monsters and loss rev up this mature and suspensful cop show.
Fairy tales. And how kids say there 'for babies', but when they add a lot of sex and violence, it gets a lot of teen appeal. And every show is worried about getting canceled so they make it as intense as possible trying to attract viewers. And that is not surprising according to new brain research. It sais that the preteen and teen brain is looking for a good ardrenaline rush. That will apply because this has a lot of violence and peril.

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Adult
November 1, 2011
 
good but
i watched the first show of this and thought it was great but the more sencitive folks should just stick with once upon a time

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Teen, 13 years old
December 11, 2011
 
great tv show!
its the best its violent and a little scary but good if u like fantasy

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Adult
January 30, 2012
 
Grimm is a Really Good TV Show.
Grimm is a very good NBC TV Show is Really Good! And its RATED: TV-14-DLSV (D=INTENSELY SUGGESTIVE DIALOGUE), (L=STRONG COARSE LANGUAGE), (S=INTENSE SEXUAL SITUATIONS) and (V=INTENSE VIOLENCE). I think. Well at least I know that Grimm is RATED: TV-14. A little gory but not extreme and some Sexual Content in some Episodes and bearly any Mild Language or Suggestive Dialogue. Its very good though. Im gonna see more Episodes.

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Parent
March 22, 2012
 
Some episodes sex is very much applicable
There are at least 2 episodes with some very inappropriate sexual behavior for kids. In the episode with the three bears, a girl and her boyfriend break into someone's house and hook up in the bed. In the episode with the spider-woman, a woman is being sexually assaulted.

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Adult
January 26, 2012
 
Why I love Grimm
I really like this show, the characters are well written and interesting in a way that makes you want to know more about them. But most importantly, this show does one thing that most sci fi fantasy shows ignore. They don't make the mistake of defining the creatures by their species. Even the non-humans are treated as people with their own distinct personalities and behavior that goes beyond their species, they are defined by their own choices, by who they are, not just by what they are. Nick treats all of the creatures as people first, instead of judging them by what they are. He's a genuintely nice guy and a good cop. He lacks the cocky arrogance that's becoming far too common in male leads and is a good role model for young boys to follow.

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Parent
May 14, 2012
 
.

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Kid, 12 years old
May 2, 2012
 
Very good show for people with a strong stomach
I love watching Grimm. The only thing is that in some (or to be honest, most) episodes there are some things that with make your stomach roll. But it is very interesting and every time an episode ends, I can't wait for the other. There are some scenes were adults get into bed with others, implying sex, but they do not show it. Thankfully, sometimes they hide when the victims are being attacked... but they also sometimes show the remains. Be careful when watching this. You should know what things are appropriate for your kids. if you are a bit over-protective about what your kids watch, this is NOT the show for them.

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Kid, 10 years old
March 20, 2012
 
ultra scary

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This review was written by Kari Croop
This review was written by Kari Croop
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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