Grimm’s top Wesen: Blutbad

The Grimm universe is filled with fairytale-inspired monsters galore. Here, we pick our favourite six...

Wesen (pronunciation: VAY-zin, Grimm: VES-sin) is a collective term used in Grimm to describe the creatures based on the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, as well as legend and folklore. They are only visible to Grimms and other Wesen. Wesen are liminal which means they can appear human until they ‘woge’ into their Wesen being.

In this top six, let’s take a closer look at Grimm’s best Wesen, starting with the big bad wolf…

Blutbad

“The wolf thought to himself, what a tender young creature. What a nice plump mouthful…”

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Blutbad (plural: Blutbaden; pronunciation: BLOOT-baat, BLOOT-baad in Grimm; Germ. Blut “blood” + Bad “bath”) is a wolf-like Wesen.

Characteristics

Physically, when Blutbaden woge, their eyes burn red, their fingernails extend into long curving claws and their teeth become pointed. Female Blutbaden tend to have much less facial hair and less pronounced facial features than their male counterparts, but in exchange, are more fierce-looking.

Blutbaden are incredibly strong, and their bite can be deadly, as they generally kill their prey by biting the neck or throat.

Their sense of smell is also incredible, enabling them to identify the presence and even the type of other Wesen through scent alone.

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Behaviour

Blutbaden tend to adopt solitary existences, as nearly all the Blutbad we’ve seen so far has lived secluded from one other. In fact, like actual wolves they mark their territory. However, they are also very loyal, especially towards family, and they almost never kill their own kind.

They show unquestionable loyalty to those who earn their trust (even Grimms like Nick Burkhardt), and are willing to show their utmost ferocity towards anyone they deem a threat to their own, making them great allies and formidable enemies.

In a nod to the tale of The Three Little Pigs, Blutbaden have historically hunted and killed Bauerschwein for fun. But when word got out that Bauerschwein were poisoning Blutbaden in A Dish Best Served Cold an entire pack of immediately assembled in an effort to get the perpetrator to confess.

Also Blutbaden have historically been enemies of Grimms – Nick’s ancestors even designed a twin crossbow called a Doppelarmbrust for shooting and poisoning Blutbaden to death – so the friendship between Nick and Monroe is unique.

Some Blutbaden live a reformed lifestyle, rejecting their animal impulses. These are known as Wieder Blutbaden.

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Our favourite Blutbad: Monroe

Monroe is a Wieder Blutbaden, meaning he has eschewed his old life of hunting and killing in favour of a more peaceful existence, mostly involving veganism and Pilates.

Monroe attracts Nick’s attention when a college student is savagely attacked and killed in the woods. Luckily Monroe is a nice guy who plays the cello, has an extensive collection of knitwear and a penchant for gourmet coffee. Starting in episode one, Monroe becomes Nick’s go-to guy for information on the Wesen world, and soon becomes a trusted member of Nick’s circle of friends.

Monroe also brings the comedy, often based on his role as exasperated sidekick to Nick. For example he tells Nick: “Oh I get it. So little Timmy’s stuck in a well, and you need Lassie to come find him? Boy, you really know how to butter a guy up for a favour.”

We’ve seen Monroe’s character develop of three seasons – most notably with his relationship with Fuchsbau Rosalee Calvert. He goes from living a solitary existence as a clockmaker, to helping Rosalee at the Spice Shop, aiding Nick on his adventures and being one part of Portland’s cutest couple.

As seen in

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Monroe was first seen in the Pilot (series 1, episode 1), but has appeared is just about every episode of Grimm as Nick’s unlikely friend and confidante.

Grimm season 3 currently airs on Wednesdays at 9pm on WATCH in the UK (Sky TV 109 & Virgin TV 124).

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