“Maréchaussée" Threatens GRIMM

Article first published as GRIMM Review Season 4 Episode 12 Maréchaussée on Seat42F.

This week’s episode of NBC’s GRIMM is called “Maréchaussée.” For those unfamiliar with the term, as I was, it refers to the secret French police force that worked under the monarchy and who were basically bullies whose victims had no appeals process. To no one’s surprise, the Wesen royals have their own Maréchaussée, seen this week in the form of a bounty hunter (Arnold Vosloo, 24, The Mummy), who comes to town to take out a couple of false fortune tellers. Then he receives a new assignment: Nick (David Giuntoli).

I’m torn in my opinion of this episode. On one hand, the central Wesen guest star is connected to a larger story and group, and the title of the episode makes reference to that. So that makes it a mythology episode that moves along the arcs, the type of serial story I enjoy from Grimm. On the other hand, Nick, Hank (Russell Hornsby), and Wu’s (Reggie Lee) hunting of said Maréchaussée plays out very much like the police procedural crap this show has been spitting out recently, without enough variation in the main thread to set the hour apart. “Maréchaussée” toys with what once made GRIMM good without fully delivering on it.

During the investigation, it’s Wu who is now the human super-computer of knowledge and problem-solving. This serves a dual purpose, proving that Wu should have been a part of the team all along and giving him something to do in the episode, both good things. The problem is, Wu continues to get little acknowledgment from his teammates and he still feels tacked into the group, rather than a full-fledged member of it. Wu’s story starts the year so promising, and it, like this episode, fails to be what it should.

Yet, I can’t help buy enjoy “Maréchaussée.” There are some great subplots, which I’ll get to in a minute, and the case above is entertaining. Vosloo is a great guest star, if not used enough. His murder of the fortune tellers feels good because they deserve to die. Having the viewers know there’s something a little bigger going on and our heroes in the dark is engaging, as we wonder when they’ll put the pieces together. Even though the bounty hunter is killed, more will definitely be following. So, overall, while this isn’t one of the best episodes of GRIMM, it’s far from one of the worst, and certainly better than the last few.

A big development that happens this week is that Viktor (Alexis Denisof) and Adalind (Claire Coffee) come to Portland. They are hunting for Adalind’s baby, whom Renard (Sasha Roiz) sent away. It’s surprisingly only that it takes them so long to arrive, given that their focus this season is finding the infant, and now that they’re here, all sorts of delicious drama can take place.

Viktor has major political power and has plenty of people at his command. This makes him a very real threat, one Renard can’t just put off. It’s a good thing that none of the major players know where the baby actually is because that means Viktor’s interrogations can only go so far. The bad news is, once Viktor realizes the dead end, he’s going to get more dangerous and violent. And there is a way for Nick to get in touch with his mom, so the child isn’t completely safe.

Renard has a secret weapon, though, and that’s Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch). Henryetta (Garcelle Beauvais) tells Juliette this week that she can’t be cured of her Hexenbiest affliction and that she’s hella powerful. This understandably disappoints Juliette, but it also gives the good guys a very valuable ally that Viktor doesn’t know about. Juliette could be a game-changer here, especially given the bad-ass way she takes out the bounty hunter.

What’s also a game-changer is that Nick doesn’t know about Juliette because he’s the worst detective and most unobservant husband ever, and it’s going to really hurt their relationship when he finds out she’s been keeping this from him. She’s scared and ashamed, but she should turn to Nick, since Nick is the one who deals with these type of creatures. The fact that she hasn’t told him is nearly inexcusable.

Nick should forgive her, though. After all, she forgave him for keeping all his Grimm stuff a secret much longer. As wrong as it is for her to keep this to herself, indicating a very big lack of trust in their relationship, he should just consider this making them even. From here, they can either both put the past behind them and be better to one another, or they can break up. There should be no long, rocky road because they’ve already gone through that and it clearly hasn’t fixed them.

Next week looks to be a better episode, as there just doesn’t seem to be time for another case-of-the-week. Though, I won’t rule one out, since Grimm seems to be making many bad storytelling decisions as of late. We’ll see.

GRIMM airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Blu-ray Review: Bones The Complete Sixth Season

     Now out on Blu-ray and DVD is Bones The Complete Sixth Season. Year six begins with "The Mastodon in the Room," in which the team comes back together, after many months apart, to help Cam (Tamara Taylor). The absence has made Brennan (Emily Deschanel) realize that she wants to be with Booth (David Boreanaz), but in the interim, he has moved on with Hannah (Katheryn Winnick). Similarly, Daisy (Carlo Gallo) tries to reconnect with a jilted Sweets (John Francis Daley). But back together again, they all understand they are strongest together, no matter what personal woes plague them.

     The sixth season of Bones is an excellent one, with many fun highlights. In "The Maggots in the Meathead," Brennan visits the Jersey Shore to interact with Guidos, a cultural group she is very interested in. "The Body and the Bounty" finds Professor Bunsen Jude, The Science Dude (David Alan Grier), coming to the Jeffersonian to shoot an episode of his popular series. "The Bikini in the Soup" is an amusing Valentine's Day case. Many pairs of dismembered feet wash to shore in "The Feet on the Beach." Also, Angela (Michaela Conlin) and Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) welcome a child.

     But season six isn't all fun and games. "The Bullet in the Brain" brings with it the assassination of longtime foe, the Gravedigger (Deirdre Lovejoy), and kicks off Booth's hunting down of the shooter, his former friend Jacob (Arnold Vosloo). Even worse, before Booth can stop Jacob, the bad guy kills beloved squintern Vincent Nigel Murray (Ryan Cartwright), a tragedy that hits the entire team pretty hard. In the aftermath, taking comfort in Booth's arms, Brennan ends up (SHOCKER!) pregnant with his baby, a fact that will surely lead to all new chemistry between the leads in season seven.

     Among the other milestones in The Complete Sixth Season, Bones presents a backdoor pilot in "The Finder," introducing a couple of characters who will be headlining their own spinoff later this year or early next. It's a decent episode with an interesting concept. Because Bones will be doing a reduced number of episodes to accommodate Deschanel's real-life pregnancy in season seven, several Bones characters will appear in episodes of The Finder, further tying the two together. As such, this is a very important episode, in the universe of the series.

     Bones belongs on Blu-ray. With its special effects and detailed settings, HD is the best way to enjoy the series. Bones The Complete Sixth Season's Blu-ray release is in 1.78:1 widescreen high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Which means things look and sound crystal clear. I'm supposed to talk about just how good the picture quality is with any Blu-ray release, but to be honest, if you've seen one recent television show on Blu-ray, you've know exactly what this looks like. That isn't the point, though. Why would you want to watch Bones in anything but the best quality available?

     Extras are a little sparse, but the ones included are chosen well. Two episodes, "The Bikini in the Soup" and "The Daredevil in the Mold," are extended slightly. Audio commentaries are available on two other installments, "The Doctor in the Photo" and "The Blackout in the Blizzard," both heavily emotional entries for the character of Brennan. Additionally, "The Blackout in the Blizzard" has an eight plus minute behind the scenes look at the making of the hour, as the actors talk about doing a bottle episode, and the great elevator set.

     There is a twelve minute featurette on the visual effects of Bones, which will open fans' eyes to just how much goes into the show. After all, it is filmed in Los Angeles, but familiar Washington D.C. landmarks frequently appear in exterior backgrounds. On top of that, the special delves into adding sky and extras in "The Maggots in the Meathead," creating an underwater experience for "The Finder," and making a body explode in a visually stunning way. This will make you appreciate just how much technology and effort goes into each and every episode of the series.

     Plus, there's a four and a half minute gag reel. Those are always fun. And the pilot of AMC's remake of The Killing is included, presumably to entice customers to purchase that series on Blu-ray or DVD as well. If you haven't seen The Killing, it's great, and you really should check it out. Though it is a completely different series than Bones, so not sure about the wisdom of the pairing.

     Buy Bones: The Complete Sixth Season today, and don't miss the Season Seven premiere on November 3rd!

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Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Bones - The Complete Sixth Season on Blogcritics.

Bones Handles Two Major Arcs Awesomely

     This week's episode of Bones, "The Bullet in the Brain", was one of the best they've ever made. For longtime viewers, the infamous Gravedigger (Deirdre Lovejoy), a serial killer who once buried Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) alive, made her fourth and final appearance. Her screen time in her final episodes was brief (she was gone before the opening credits), but more than memorable. In fact, she not only had a profound effect on some of the cast, but also kicked off a brand new ongoing arc that will play out this winter and spring.

     The most effected by the whole incident, in which the Gravedigger's head was graphically blown off, was probably Sweets (John Francis Daley), who was shaken inside and out. His suit was a mess from the splatter, but the biggest problem was what the Gravedigger had said to him before she was killed. Sweets replayed those words over and over again to himself, though, as a trained mental health professional, he should have known it was a bad idea. Her words seeped into his brain and took root, shaking his confidence in himself and his abilities. Thankfully, Ms. Julian (Patricia Belcher) was able to get him out of his funk.

     It makes me wonder, though, how much of the effect she had was multiplied by her sudden death. Did the traumatic experience of standing a few feet from her during the assassination make Sweets more vulnerable? Brennan and Booth (David Boreanaz) have criticized him on plenty of occasions, especially when he first joined the team, though that has lightened up over time. He had to have had a thick skin then to not be wounded. Now, after his talents have proved invaluable over and over again, he was so deeply moved. There was obviously more going on in his head than just some mean comments. I was worrying he might do something drastic, but am so happy it didn't come to that.

     I mentioned Ms. Julian above, and she is one character I can never get enough of. I hope this new arc provides her with plenty of episodes to be in. But another character I love is Max (Ryan O'Neal), Brennen's father. Initially a suspect, until it became apparent just how skilled the assassin was, Max rushed to town to reassure Brennan of his innocence. He was first introduced as such a scoundrel, I'm always touched at how he has evolved into a decent dad. His stint in jail helped that, and now a visit from him is welcome. Though he was on the suspect list, I doubt any of the main characters really considered him the most likely to have done it.

     This was a spectacular Booth episode, as this whole arc apparently will be. We know some things about Booth's past, but his expert sniper skills were driven home when a very short list was made of everyone that could have made the kill, and he was on it. I'm relieved that the writers saw fit to put Booth near the Gravedigger, so that he wasn't seriously suspected for the entire episode. However, some of Booth's past remains a mystery, and while surely the entire team will be involved in hunting the killer, Jacob (Arnold Vosloo, The Mummy, 24), who escaped, this is clearly a showdown between Jacob and Booth. They have a complicated past, as Jacob is someone Booth clearly admires, and Booth resisted even considering him in the crime for awhile. It's nice to see Boreanaz keep getting material worthy of his time and talent, as Bones has so often provided him.

     Another interesting story going on was Angela's (Michaela Conlin) disgust with Hodgins's reaction to the assassination. Hodgins, who was almost killed by the Gravedigger, was genuinely happy that she died. He explored those emotions with both Angela and Sweets. It was a look at another side of the issue, that of a victim who feels justice has been served, and that sometimes murder is acceptable. In a society where the morality of the death penalty is debated, it was a poignant, relevant line of inquiry.

     While I'm writing about the show, I'd like to mention that I am fascinated by just how well adjusted Brennan has become by this seventh season. She has admitted her romantic feelings for Booth, though he is currently involved with someone else. She allows herself to trust her father. She is starting to be able to relate to her friends. Her social skills have improved markedly, as evidenced by how quickly she bonded with new friend Hannah (Katheryn Winnick). She is so much more of a person than the odd bird we first met. The other main characters have grown, too, but as Brennan is the title character, and half of the central heart of the show (along with Booth), her maturation cannot be understated. Seeing how she's gotten better brings pleasure and satisfaction to me as a fan of her and of the show.

     The series also stars Tamara Taylor, who, despite a very limited presence this week, is a very valuable part of the series.

     The rest of this season of Bones will surely have cases of the week, which is the main format of the series, but also a really exciting story as Booth and Jacob face off. Be sure to tune in Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on FOX. That's right after American Idol, in case you're curious, which has given it a welcome ratings boost.

Article first published as TV Review: Bones Handles Two Major Arcs Awesomely on Blogcritics.

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