by Faith-Ashleigh Wong

Do you believe in vampires?  What about cannibalism?  What about vampires who practise cannibalism?  The "Wesen of the week" is a vulture-like creature called Geier and they are in the business of both...in a manner of speaking.

A body washed ashore pale as a ghost and with a puncture wound to the neck already doesn't sound like your regular homicide case but I doubt the Portland Police Department were expecting to uncover a black market of the sadistic kind.  Quoting Hank, "this town is just getting weirder".

The detectives learn that the victim, eighteen-year-old Stephen, lived on the street before recently scoring a job.  That was the last time siblings Gracie and Hansen (also living on the street) saw and heard from him.  He was also treated for a spider bite five weeks ago at the nearby clinic. 

Just as Nick and Hank are considering either a comeback in satanic cults or a suspicious case of migrant labour, they are called to the scene of a vehicle accident.  The case takes a sinister turn when they discover that the civilian (not medical) vehicle was in the process of transporting human organs and pints of blood. 

Moments before his death, Nick glimpses the driver's inner Wesen.  After a quick study session in his aunt's trailer, he checks in with his silent detective partner, Monroe to learn more about Geier.  We learn that Geier are like herbalists except instead of harvesting medicinal herbs they harvest human organs.  Gall bladder is particularly valuable because apparently they act like "Wesen Viagra".

I really enjoy the scenes between Nick and Monroe.  They've really formed a great camaraderie but as Monroe points out, it's only ever Grimm business and nothing else.  I liked how he asks Nick what his favourite colour is and when Nick finally asks he's all embarrassed about it.  The best part of this scene though has got to be when the conversation veers off to human testicles – awkward!

Did anyone else notice a marked difference in Nick, specifically how much more comfortable he has become as a Grimm?  When he visits an obscure Wesen apothecary to score the "catch of the day", he confronts the Fuchsbau (sly fox-like creatures who are prone to cheating and shady transactions) shopkeeper with a confidence we have not yet seen so far.  He gets the information he needs in the same manner when he corners the nurse at the clinic later in the episode.  It looks like the Grimm training wheels are well and truly off.

Cannibalism capitalism aside (good one, Seargent Wu!), there is clearly a shift happening within the Wesen community.  Word has spread that there is a new Grimm on the prowl.  The more Nick learns the Grimm ropes and successfully hunts down the supernatural forces, the more he is throwing things out of balance and upsetting the status quo.  Last week, the Reapers sent a brutal message to Monroe.  This week it is Captain Renard who receives a warning – control Nick or get rid of him.       

I feel with each episode the supernatural world is unravelling bit by bit and all the pieces of the puzzle are slowly but surely falling into place.  At the episode close, I am left with many questions.  Will the Captain protect Nick or heed to the Reapers and take him out?  Will Monroe eventually agree to reveal himself to Juliette so that Nick can explain to her his other identity?  And if this happens, how will Juliette react?