Mark CMG
Creative Mountain Games
So, there are a couple new shows with similar source material. Which show is going to be worth our time . . . Grimm or Once Upon a Time?
Grimm or Once Upon a Time
- Thread starter Mark CMG
- Start date
Once Upon a Time.
Grimm has been done to death and is really nothing new. Once Upon a Time is at least a somewhat original (at least to TV) concept that is already light-years ahead of Grimm in writing and acting (based on viewing one episode of each which admittedly isn't conclusive but the signs are definitely there).
Honestly, I don't think Grimm will even finish its first season before being cut. Irrespective of my own bias against such an unoriginal, uncreative and lackluster rehash, I just don't see it grabbing any particular demographic. There's nothing about the lead or any of the co-stars or their characters that is compelling enough to snatch up even a niche audience. I mean, something like Supernatural at least has two studly leads who portray kick-ass characters for the female demographic, but the lead in this is just another good-looking white male Hollywood actor with nothing really outstanding or interesting about him or his character. There are no hot babes either, unless you're into creepy, undead chicks.
Once Upon A Time at least has an element of piqued curiosity about it that makes you want to see what happens, irrespective of eye-candy or good or bad writing/acting. Grimm doesn't even have that going for it.
Grimm has been done to death and is really nothing new. Once Upon a Time is at least a somewhat original (at least to TV) concept that is already light-years ahead of Grimm in writing and acting (based on viewing one episode of each which admittedly isn't conclusive but the signs are definitely there).
Honestly, I don't think Grimm will even finish its first season before being cut. Irrespective of my own bias against such an unoriginal, uncreative and lackluster rehash, I just don't see it grabbing any particular demographic. There's nothing about the lead or any of the co-stars or their characters that is compelling enough to snatch up even a niche audience. I mean, something like Supernatural at least has two studly leads who portray kick-ass characters for the female demographic, but the lead in this is just another good-looking white male Hollywood actor with nothing really outstanding or interesting about him or his character. There are no hot babes either, unless you're into creepy, undead chicks.
Once Upon A Time at least has an element of piqued curiosity about it that makes you want to see what happens, irrespective of eye-candy or good or bad writing/acting. Grimm doesn't even have that going for it.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
I haven't seen Once Upon a Time yet. Two more or less nitpicky things t hat make me worry Grimm might not deliver good stories in the long run:
1) Their research seemed to be lacking. Even assuming we call Werwolves "Blutblad" in German, the plural should be "Blutbläder" (Blutbladen or rather Blut bladen sounds like a verb). As I said, nitpicky, but if they didn't spend the effort there, where else will they not spend it.
2) I don't get why humming the victim's iPod song convinces a police man to shoot down a suspect whose house you just broken into. I was hoping for something more... clever. Maybe the cop/Grimm showing the werewolf something red and putting him off his game, or something like that.
1) Their research seemed to be lacking. Even assuming we call Werwolves "Blutblad" in German, the plural should be "Blutbläder" (Blutbladen or rather Blut bladen sounds like a verb). As I said, nitpicky, but if they didn't spend the effort there, where else will they not spend it.
2) I don't get why humming the victim's iPod song convinces a police man to shoot down a suspect whose house you just broken into. I was hoping for something more... clever. Maybe the cop/Grimm showing the werewolf something red and putting him off his game, or something like that.
Villano
First Post
I don't think they claimed Blutbad was German for werewolf, just that that's what werewolves are really called. Sort of like, "We're called Lycans, not werewolves!"
Anyway, of the two, I enjoyed Grimm more. I liked it enough to program it on my DVR.
As for Once Upon A Time, I was looking forward to it, but I only watched half of the episode. Everything seemed a little forced. The kid shows up and she takes his word for it that he's her son and drives him home. And then she gets in a crash trying to avoid a wolf and wakes in the drunk tank?
That's when I turned it off. I thought that was just too stupid. Even if they did explain why a cop would assume that a person in a car accident was drunk and why he didn't take that unconscious person to a hospital, the fact that the woman didn't raise a stink over it bothered me. I think the normal reaction of that person would be, "I was in a car accident and you threw me in jail?! What the @#$%!&* is wrong with you?!"
Maybe it's just me, but one of my nitpicks is that I can suspend disbelief, but I hate when characters act in a stupid way just to move the story along.
And yet, you liked Grimm.
Villano
First Post
Yes, because I didn't think anything that happened was as stupid as the car accident/drunk tank thing.
Mark CMG
Creative Mountain Games
I suspect that wasn't a problem with research but rather a deliberate choice where the shows writers determined that having "bladder" (sp) as part of the name of what was meant to be fierce killers might jar American audiences out of the moment.
That was a bit thin.
I only have so much once-upon-a-television time.
GrayLinnorm
Explorer
After seeing both shows, I can honestly say Once Upon a Time. It may be the best show in an otherwise sorry lot.
It didn't.
Humming the song convinced him to break in - 'cause, you know, you figure mailmen who live out in the woods and do their own needlepoint and who apparently normally listen to classical music on their stereos probably aren't just *randomly* also fans of the Eurythmics.
The shooting was because the guy cut the lights, assaulted them in the dark, and then tried to run.
The shooting was because the guy cut the lights, assaulted them in the dark, and then tried to run.
Or, that's my take on it anyway.
I usually give shows a few episodes to decide if they are really worth it. Only a few grab on one episode along (Firefly, I'm looking at you). Both Grimm and Once Upon a Time were good enough to get me to watch a couple more episodes before I decide.
Oh, and for the Discordians and conspiracy fans out there, did you catch this? "There are 23 predators withing a 5 mile radius...." Would that they made it that interesting...
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