Grimm – “Tribunal” Recap. The New Normal.

Season 4, Episode 10

Air Date: Friday, January 23, 2015, 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“May the God of Vengeance now yield me His place to punish the wicked.” – Grimm

SPOILERS AHEAD

“Tribunal” picks up exactly where “Wesenrein” left off with Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) shackled, standing among a sea of cloaked figures chanting “Wesenrein” over and over. “Grandmaster” Charlie Riken (Brandon Quinn) presides over the so-called trial accusing Monroe of “violating the law” by “marrying outside of your bloodline” and “the befriending of a Grimm.” Back at the precinct, Captain Renard (Sasha Roiz) is concerned about Sgt. Wu (Reggie Lee) so he asks Nick (David Giuntoli) and Hank (Russell Hornsby) to make sure Wu can handle it when a Wesen “woges.” Meanwhile, Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) continue to review the wedding guest list to figure out who betrayed Rosalee and Monroe to the Wesenrein.

Bud to the Rescue…Well, Sort Of

Bud may be a lot of things, but coward isn’t one of them. Way to go, Bud!

So who does Nick and Hank enlist to help Wu deal with a Wesen woge? Bud (Danny Bruno), of course. Bud (Danny Bruno), of course because as Nick tells him, “… there’s nothing scary about you.” Bud is so cute when he replies, “Right. Yeah. Really? Nothing at all?” Sorry Bud. You’re not a scary “ice beaver.” You gotta love the spastic way Bud handles situations. Bud’s type of “woge” dysfunction when he can’t show Wu his true form is hilarious. Bruno does an excellent job of making Bud seem benign and inept but we’ll see what Bud’s really made of before the end of “Tribunal,” and you won’t be disappointed.

Rosalee and Juliette ask Bud to stop by and help with the guest list. But before they call him, Juliette surreptitiously inquires about Adalind (Claire Coffee) and being a Hexenbiest. This conversation is the doorway to Juliette’s story line. Back to the list, first. Rosalee and Juliette find out Officer Acker (guest star Will Rothhaar) has a sister, Suzanne (Maggie Kemper) who was at the wedding. While Rosalee and Juliette go talk to Suzanne, Bud tries to find his friend who was also at the wedding but before that happens, he is taken by the very large and burly “Big Johnson” (Cazzey Cereghino). Apparently, Bud is the unwitting star witness for the Tribunal Prosecutor (Jeb Berrier).

Bud is ordered to “testify or die,” leaving him little choice in the matter. In true Bud form, he blabbers nonsensically when asked questions but when push comes to shove, Bud shows his true colors.

Bud: “Have I helped a Grimm? Well, let me think. Yeah, I have.”

Prosecutor: “And you have no regrets for doing so?”

Bud: “The only regret I have is that I can’t help him now because boy, would he have a field day here!”

Way to go Bud!

Wu Is In

Wu isn’t fully ready but he’s in! Finally!

After Wu is fully apprised of Wesen woging, he plays bad cop when confronting Officer Acker about his involvement in Monroe’s kidnapping. Wu reveals he knows Acker was friends with Shaw (Don MacEllis) and knows about the Wesenrein. Acker woges into a “Bauerschwein” (a pig creature) but Wu is prepared, clocking Acker with a right hook. Wu’s seen much scarier Wesens than a pig. “I don’t know what you are, but you’re no Aswang.”

Nick tries to persuade Acker to confess the whereabouts of the Wesenrein. Acker gets a surprise when he woges and sees Nick is a Grimm again. When Renard walks in, Acker thinks the Captain is there to help but he’s sorely mistaken.

Renard: “Officer, this is your one chance to come clean; I suggest you take it.”

Acker: “What the hell? Are you gonna let them treat me like this?”

Renard: “Oh, I see where the problem is – you still think we’re playing by the rules.”

Acker: “I’m not talking to anybody. You get me a lawyer or you cut me loose.”

I think Renard throwing Acker across the room like a rag doll is a resounding ‘no’ but I could be mistaken. It could be ‘Hell no!’

Not Going Quietly

Monroe shows his bite is worse than his bark!

During the tribunal, Monroe manages to get himself muzzled. If you thought he was going to go without a fight, you don’t know Monroe. He manages to escape again, a brief but valiant effort that shows what Monroe is capable of when he’s backed into a corner. Not everyone who chases after him makes it back to the tribunal. After Monroe kills one of them, many members of the Wesenrein call for Monroe’s immediate death, but the Grandmaster is steadfast in his belief that “the Tribunal decides his fate.”

For television purposes, this had to happen. This plot point fuels frustration and adds tension among the Wesenrein while also providing intensity for the scene. It also spares NBC from having a swarming horde of irate fans refusing to watch Grimm if they killed Monroe on the spot.

Monroe’s heartfelt speech to the tribunal is touching. “What is right is my love for my wife and her love for me; that, you will never be able to destroy.” I need a tissue, please.

The Scooby Gang

While I loved seeing them all walk out triumphantly, they needed to step up the pace…Monroe is on Death’s doorstep!

Nick, Hank, Renard, Juliette, Rosalee, and now Wu (aka the gang) gear up to take the Wesenrein down and retrieve the other member of the gang, Monroe. Using Acker’s sister against him, Acker finally caves. With the details of where the tribunal is taking place, the gang heads out to save Monroe. When they arrive at the park, Nick, Hank, Renard, and Wu all toss their badges in the back of Renard’s SUV and pick up shotguns instead. This isn’t a time to be a cop.

In true television fashion, the gang arrives just in the nick (no pun intended) of time to save both Monroe and Bud. But the members of the Wesenrein don’t all go without a fuss. Grandmaster Riken realizes Nick is a Grimm again but that doesn’t dissuade him from launching an attack on Nick and the rest of the gang. Wu runs into Big Johnson, and let’s just say, he isn’t afraid to shoot to kill. And the impetuous Jonah (Nick Krause) meets his unfortunate demise when he crosses paths with Juliette, a new Hexenbiest courtesy of Adalind and Renard’s mother Elizabeth (Louise Lombard). Rosalee, of course, heads straight for Monroe. As the Wesenrein tribunal scatters, Monroe and Rosalee go after the Grandmaster. It’s so great to see Rosalee woge into her Fuchsbau form and attack. No one tries to kill her man and lives to tell about it!

Honeymoon Chaperones

After all is said and done, and the champagne is downed and tears shed, Monroe and Rosalee are finally able to go on their honeymoon. Needless, they get a full police escort and for good measure, Nick and Hank ride along in the limo to the airport. Are they really serious about going on the honeymoon with Monroe and Rosalee?

Overall

“Tribunal” is another exciting episode of Grimm. And while it seems Monroe and Rosalee are out of danger from the Wesenrein of Portland, that doesn’t mean other Wesenrein groups aren’t out there ready to be judge and jury. Now that Wu is in the know, seeing him doing his homework in Nick’s trailer is oddly comforting. The real danger now lies with Juliette. The brief conversation she had with Rosalee about Hexenbiests is telling but what does it mean? Will Renard have answers for Juliette when she comes knocking? By the look on his face, he’s completely taken aback when she woges. I can’t wait to see where the writers take Juliette’s Hexenbiest story arc, especially since Nick is a Grimm again.

What did you think of “Tribunal?” 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.