Weekly Inspiration: Grimm

2011's fall television line-up has been a real mixed bag of winners and losers for the discerning critics in my house.  There are shows that have lived up to their hype (in my humble opinion): "New Girl," "The Secret Circle"; and there have been some that have fallen decidedly flat: "Up All Night," "Once Upon a Time."  But there is one show that didn't even appear on my radar screen until someone else pointed it out to me (it should be noted this is the same friend who turned me on to "Game of Thrones," so I am doubly indebted).

"Grimm" is the story of a young cop who has just been told by his dying aunt that he is next in line to carry out his family's legacy: fighting evil-doers straight out of Grimms' Fairy Tales.  The premise sounds pretty cheesy, I'll admit.  Most people don't consider fairy tales to be particularly scary (not if they're thinking of Disney princesses and their children's story books, anyway).  But anyone who has actually read the original Grimms' Fairy Tales, or taken a class on them, like I did, knows just how utterly creepy they really are.  And it's this creepiness that "Grimm" does such an excellent job of tapping into.  The first two episodes covered "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."  That might not sound scary, but I nearly fell off of the treadmill twice during the first episode.  The fact that actual crimes are being committed in "Grimm" (even if they are being carried out by monsters) is what makes the show work.  It has a real-life sense of danger that "Once Upon a Time," the other fairy tale-inspired series to debut this fall, fails to create.

Also, David Giuntoli, who plays Nick Burkhardt, is completely adorable.

David Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby at Comic-Con

The third episode of "Grimm" airs tomorrow night.  I'm hoping it doesn't let me down (and make me look like a complete moron).  But if nothing else, I have "Grimm" to thank for the last line of my novel, which I just came up with this morning.  Let's just say it has something to do with a wolf with a penchant for girls in red cloaks.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Marine Corps!