Grimm – “Dyin’ on a Prayer” Recap. Giant Clay Golems and Talking Walls

Season 4, Episode 4

Air Date: Friday, November 14, 2014, 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“Oh, remember that you fashioned me from clay! Will you then bring me down to dust?” – Grimm

[warning] SPOILERS AHEAD [/warning]

Grimm isn’t always about fighting wesens; sometimes, the battles are with other supernatural entities. Such is the case in “Dyin’ on a Prayer” when a Rabbi tries to help his family by summoning an ancient creature known as a “Golem.” Meanwhile, mama Hexenbiest, Elizabeth (Louise Lomard), continues to riddle out how Adalind (Claire Coffee) made the strange potion so she can help Nick (David Giuntoli) regain his Grimm powers.

“Dyin’ on a Prayer” delves into the heavy topic of spousal and child abuse. Although Keith (Kevin Williams) is a monster as a husband and stepfather, he actually is a real monster because he’s wesen. He attacks his wife Sara (Brigid Brannagh) and his stepson David (Jakob Salvati) in a drunken rage, forcing Sara and David to run for their lives.

Death by clay

When Keith is found dead the following day, covered in clay, Nick and Hank (Russell Hornsby) must figure out if a strange wesen is responsible. Trubel (Jacqueline Toboni) seems surprised there are other dangerous creatures in the world. “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute; you’re saying there are more than just wesen?” Suffice it to say, with Nick no longer being a Grimm, Hanks suggests Trubel tag along. Is it me or does Hank seem too ok with working with Trubel? What’s up with that? I’ve heard about many viewers that haven’t warmed to Trubel yet but I think she brings a great dynamic to the show. She adds a layer of uncertainty that is great for a show like Grimm.

I’m glad Trubel tells Nick about her encounter with FBI Agent Chavez (Elizabeth Rodriguez), but running away from the situation and hiding out in the trailer is a dumb move. Thankfully Nick talks some sense into her, convincing her to come back home.

Trubel is great with David helping him find his inner strength.

Trubel may be Portland’s only Grimm right now, but she shouldn’t be giving advice to a child. David is impressionable and has experienced a terrifying trauma at the hands of his stepfather Keith and step-uncle Nathan (Don Alder). I appreciate Trubel sharing her experiences with seeing monsters with David; however, telling a young boy she’s killed a few isn’t the right message to be sending. To her credit, she is very good with him and helps him tremendously.

When Sara’s brother Ben (David Julian Hirsch), who is a Rabbi, calls Nick and Hank to confess to Keith’s murder, things get stranger. Ben tells Nick and Hank he is responsible because he “prayed” for protection over his family, specifically, his nephew David. He recited an incantation from an ancient Kabbalistic scroll to summon a “golem” but didn’t know it had worked. In order to stop the golem, they must put the “word of God” in the golem’s mouth; easier said than done. But it turns out all it takes is a little boy finding his strength to fight the monsters in his life…and save his new friend, Trubel.

At the end of “The Last Fight,” two masked men were waiting outside The Spice Shop while Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), Rosalee (Bree Turner), and Elizabeth worked on the potion. As “Dyin’ on a Prayer” begins, the two men hurl a brick through the window, startling everyone. The brick has a wesen symbol on it, which can mean several things but most importantly, it means Monroe and Rosalee are being targeted by other wesen. Whether it’s for their unique mixed wesen marriage – a Blutbad and Fuchsbau – or because of their friendship with a Grimm, Monroe and Rosalee may be in grave danger.

Thankfully, Elizabeth figures out the solution to the potion riddle, but with a caveat Nick may not want to hear. Don’t you love the look on Monroe’s face when he thinks Adalind is back in Portland and hiding in The Spice Shop?

Best line of “Dyin’ on a Prayer” is delivered by Elizabeth while still looking like Adalind, “I hope you [Monroe] don’t mind me borrowing your shirt; I felt a little sluttier as Adalind. Is that a terrible thing to say about the mother of my granddaughter?”

Speaking of Adalind, she is not having a good time in Austria. When her dungeon friend, Hofman (guest star David Ury), leads her up the tower stairs, things take a bizarre turn and the walls begin talking. The walls aren’t just talking, though; faces emerge from the blocks speaking in different languages shouting out they know where Adalind’s baby is. Is this a figment of her imagination or is she conjuring them up in her desperation? As Adalind breaks down, the walls begin crying rivers of tears flooding the stairwell, trapping Adalind under the staircase. Will she ever escape?

Murder investigations be damned…Wu wants answers about Trubel and he wants them now. Be careful, Wu.

Meanwhile, back in Portland, Captain Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz) returns to work to much applause from the precinct. But Sgt. Wu (Reggie Lee) cuts the celebration short when he talks to Renard about his suspicions regarding Trubel’s involvement in a double homicide. Wu also mentions his confusion about why Nick and Hank introduced her to him as a criminology student. Renard knows about Trubel but if Wu keeps digging into this, I fear for his safety. I don’t think Renard, Nick, or Hank would hurt him but Wu may discover secrets never meant for him to know.

In the race to find a potential cure, of sorts, for Nick getting his Grimm powers back, there is a hitch. The final ingredient involves Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch). Juliette seems happy that Nick is not a Grimm anymore but she seems blind to Nick’s inner conflict about the whole situation. The writers need to figure out what they’re going to do with Juliette. What is her purpose other than being Nick’s girlfriend? I adore Tulloch and want her character to have a meaningful role. I know she’s kind of Nick’s center but I know Juliette is capable of being so much more on Grimm than the writers are allowing her to be.

What did you think of “Dyin’ on a Prayer?” What would your walls say if they could talk? Leave me a comment below or tweet me at @judybopp. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Tune in to Grimm, Fridays at 9/8c, only on NBC.

For more on the show, go to the official site.

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Follow Grimm on Twitter @NBCGrimm, as well as these cast members: @russellhornsby, @mistergiuntoli, @BitsieTulloch, @sasharoiz, and @MrReggieLee.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.