Mommy Dearest

I didn't watch Grimm when it was on originally. I'm a fan of SG-1, reruns of which I watch on Comet, which also carries Grimm, and I see a lot of ads for Grimm while I'm watching SG-1. So I finally decided to binge watch it on Prime Video. The reason.

I'm finding that I'm more interested in the ongoing background story that I am in the "monster of the week". But, y'know, a format's a format.

The reason I'm writing this review here, for this episode, is that it focuses on one of the more interesting characters, I think, Sergeant Wu, or as I call him "Sgt. Exposition", in tribute to Michael York's "Basil Exposition" character in the Austin Powers movies. He's in most of the scenes, it seems, letting us know what's developed, and making most of the jokes. A sort of "utility player".

It's been apparent to me since about the middle of season 2 that they're eventually gonna have to clue Wu in on the whole Wesen thing. (I've actually paused this episode as I write this - I'm 23 minutes in - so I don't know if they did it in this episode or not, but they're dropping hints.) The reason I had to stop and say something because I thought it was hilarious that we finally find out what Wu's first name is, and it's Drew. He's Drew Wu. OK, Andrew Wu, but that's just as good.

A hearty handshake and a pat on the back to the producers.🤔😉😊

A new danger is in town. And this time it is targeting sergeant Wu's childhood friend, Dana. Will Nick and the team be able to stop this new wesen before it gets its objective? And will Wu be able to help his friend? What about Adalind and her baby? Will she survive the birth of her baby and recover her powers?

"Mommy Dearest" is another great example of what does "Grimm" on of the most entertaining shows that use the supernatural as its reason d'etre: how it relates its lore to the characters and the characters' arc. As with other shows ("Supernatural", for example) the characters and their relationships is what keeps things fresh and interesting for the viewer.

In this case, it is Wu's arc which is very nicely developed. Wu has been always there, a supporting character with some funny lines and little screen time that, in this occasion, gets the time to shine, his story relating to the wesen-of-the-week, Nick, Hank and the others trying to stop the wesen while having to keep Wu in the dark. It does for a fascinating and gripping episode, the tension rising little by little to an amazing ending. Great episode.

I don't know why but this episode legit freaks me out . Maybe it's the clicking or the sharp tongue going into such a sensitive place as the navel. I don't know, only that it scares me so much but nevertheless it is a great episode. The husband is such at least he should have told his wife what he is . Imagine bringing into the world something like that and not having any knowledge or even being prepared

The monster of the week, the Filipino "Aswang", is a "real", past and present monster in my family. My mother-in-law, born in 1941 in the Philippines, firmly believs the Aswang, back in the day, took two of her then small children. The Aswang, also known as Wak-Wak from the sound her backwards flipped feet makes, is the most scary monster of the Filipino mythology.

The Aswang, also called Tik-Tik is a blood sucking, baby and fetus eating shape shifting vampire. Google it.

In this episode Sergeant Wu, played by the Filipino Richie Lee, goes insane from exposure to the Aswang and has to be hospitalized in a mental asylum for a short time.

Nick & Juliet, Monroe and Rosalee don't want to tell Wu the truth about the Wesen while Hank is all for telling him the truth as he was in Wu's dark situation in a previous season.

All in all a great episode as it has a real foundation in Filipino mythology and living beliefs. There may be no baby eating Wak-Wak in Portland, Oregon but in the Visayas region of the Philippines there are for sure.