Grimm season 3 episode 17 review: Synchronicity

In Synchronicity, Grimm delivers what is arguably the best episode of the season. Here's Christine's review...

This review contains spoilers.

3.17 Synchronicity

Well, it’s taken until episode seventeen, but this week Grimm finally delivered the episode we’ve been waiting for.

In arguably the best episode yet of season three, Synchronicity pulls the plot out of the holding pattern it’s been stuck in, propelling it forward at a pace we’ve barely seen lately. We were treated to a kick-ass fight, a thrilling escape, treachery and the sound of many pennies dropping among the main characters.

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Forgoing the usual ‘Wesen of the week’ plotline, this week was all about Adalind’s escape with the royal baby, and what happens after she is delivered back to Portland.

First things first, I do hope Meisner becomes a series regular. The martial arts skills he demonstrated with his fight with the Verrat at the beginning of the episode were truly impressive, and he has proved himself to be an intriguing character and a loyal, yet deadly, accomplice to Adalind. Indeed, Adalind is genuinely upset when it’s time to say goodbye to the assassin, as she thanks him for saving her life. I think there’s potential here. (I think ‘Madalind’ would give Monrosalee a run for their money. Just putting it out there…)

The big reveal though, is in whom the Resistance sends to help Adalind and the baby escape – in the worst kept secret ever, it’s none other than Kelly Burkhardt! She turns up, true to form, having just offed a van full of Verrat. Despite some flashbacks to Nick’s youth, Momma Burkhardt actually seems to have adopted more of a ‘hurt now, ask questions later’ attitude than before, if that’s possible. As she tells the plane’s pilot: “I don’t trust anyone I’m not close enough to kill.”

If Kelly is one tough mother, than the new chink in Adalind’s armour is her new baby. The old Adalind was narcissistic, vain and wholly self-interested, brokering a deal to sell her child in return for her powers. The new mother, however, now says she would die rather than give her child up. It’s actually a welcome sight to see Adalind looking exhausted, and a little vulnerable. While we still know she’s not to be messed with – for instance it would be very bad if she were to discover her rescuer was actually responsible for the death of her mother – but she’s not the pantomime villain of previous seasons.

The real fun in the episode was in her arrival back in Portland though. Where does Kelly bring Adalind? Why only to Nick’s house of course thus (thankfully interrupting his proposal of marriage to Juliette over spaghetti, yawn.)

And so it kicks off! It was great fun to see everyone’s reaction to the situation; aside from Kelly murdering her mother (which Kelly had actually forgotten about because she obviously kicks ass first, takes names later), Adalind has put Juliette into a coma, and tried to kill Nick’s Aunt Marie. So after the initial shock, it’s fair to say there was some tension in the room.

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Juliette tried to act tough, uttering the line of the episode: “That was a hell of a coma you put me in, bitch!” It actually would have been scarier if Bud had said it, but it did raise a laugh, though probably for the wrong reasons.

So then everyone was brought up to speed with events, including villainous Viktor’s hunt for the child. However, Adalind is a survivor, and fearing Nick and Juliette’s need for revenge more than Viktor at that point, she takes off – straight to Sean Renard, and the gooiest baby daddy moment you’re likely to see from a tough guy like the captain.

Incidentally, the title of the episode, Synchronicity, refers to the concept of ‘meaningful coincidence’, as first described by the psychologist Carl Jung. Grimm’s resident psychologist / vet Juliette quotes it, explaining that it may be no coincidence that Kelly brought Adalind to them.

So here’s where things get interesting. Can Nick convince Adalind and Renard they must work together to keep the child safe, or will we see a division between the former allies now Adalind is back? Marie tells Nick that Renard is too self-interested and has “too many strings” to trust him – to which Nick agrees, but rightly answers that it’s best for both of them to know what the other is up to. He also argues for a “more tactical” approach to the situation than Kelly’s traditional methods.

The other plot point this week that received less attention – well, there was a lot going on – was that Nick discovered how Wesen see Grimms when they woge. Apparently Nick’s eyes turn blacker than black, and they can see their true characters reflected in them. This explains some of the Wesen reactions Nick has dealt with in the past. This all comes about because Nick is worried about being Monroe’s best man, due to the potential for carnage over wedding cake when the Wesen guests recognise his Grimmness.

Monroe comes up with the answer though – Nick just has to wear sunglasses! Nick is going to look too cool for school with his Ray-Bans on during the speeches.

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We also see Rosalee trying on her grandmother’s wedding gown, but it may be kinder not to comment on that. Suffice to say, she’s very pleased with it.

It now remains to be seen if a (partially reformed) Hexenbiest, a Zauerbiest and two Grimms can put the past – and their own prejudices – aside to ally against Price Viktor. Just as importantly though, we need to see whether Grimm can maintain this fast pace and continue to drive the plot forward, cranking up the action into the home stretch of season three.

Read Christine’s review of the previous episode, The Show Must Go On, here.

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