Overview
Grimm is an American fantasy police procedural that premiered on NBC on October 28, 2011. Created by Stephen Carpenter, David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf, the series ran for six seasons and developed a dedicated audience for its mixture of procedural crime stories and supernatural folklore. Filmed largely in Portland, Oregon, the show blends contemporary police work with mythic elements drawn from fairy tales.
Premise and main characters
The central figure is Nick Burkhardt, a homicide detective who discovers he is a "Grimm," a guardian able to perceive and combat creatures called Wesen—beings that can take human form and possess animalistic traits. Nick must balance standard police duties with investigations into Wesen activity and larger conspiracies involving royal families, magic users, and secret societies.
- David Giuntoli as Nick Burkhardt
- Supporting roles include allies and adversaries such as fellow detectives, a reformed Wesen ally, and recurring supernatural figures
Production and broadcast
Grimm used an episodic format early on, with many episodes presenting a self-contained case tied to a particular Wesen or folktale. Over time it incorporated longer serialized arcs and character-driven storylines. The show combined location shooting, practical effects, and makeup for creature designs, establishing a distinct visual palette and tone.
Themes, style and legacy
Grimm is notable for adapting familiar fairy-tale motifs into an urban fantasy setting and exploring themes of identity, heritage and moral ambiguity. It helped popularize genre blends on network television and inspired fan communities, conventions and official tie-in material. While balancing daytime procedural elements with darker supernatural plots, the series remains recognized for its inventive creature lore and character dynamics.