For over a decade, Supernatural captivated audiences with its gripping mixture of folklore, horror, and unforgettable sibling banter. As one of the crucial in style exhibits of the late 2000s and 2010s, it constructed a fiercely loyal fanbase that caught with it by way of 15 seasons of demon hunts, apocalyptic showdowns, and emotional goodbyes. When it wrapped up in 2020, it left a serious void within the TV panorama, and in followers’ hearts.
Loads of exhibits have since tried to fill the hole. From darkish procedurals to mystical monster hunts, quite a lot of collection have worn the supernatural style like a well-fitted coat. Nevertheless, Supernatural wasn’t just about ghosts and ghouls – it was the combination of emotionally layered storytelling, quick-witted dialogue, and long-term myth-building that made it a once-in-a-generation type of present.
Fortunately, there’s one underrated gem that could be the subsequent smartest thing. It ran throughout Supernatural’s heyday, carries a stellar 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and delivers the identical mixture of thrills, lore, and emotional funding. That present is NBC’s Grimm, and it needs to be thought-about a must-watch for all Supernatural fans.
Grimm Is The Good Substitute For Supernatural Followers Wanting For Extra
Grimm Delivers The Proper Stability Of Darkish Fantasy, Compelling Characters, And Addictive Thriller
If Supernatural left you wanting extra darkish mythology, weekly monsters, and emotionally grounded heroes, Grimm needs to be subsequent in your checklist. Premiering in 2011 and running for six seasons, Grimm blends procedural crime drama with supernatural fantasy in a manner that hits most of the similar satisfying beats as Supernatural.
The collection follows Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli), a murder detective who discovers he’s descended from a line of hunters referred to as “Grimms” – people with the facility to see creatures generally known as Wesen hiding in plain sight. These Wesen vary from terrifying to tragic, and plenty of are impressed by previous European folklore.
As Nick juggles his double life, he turns into half protector, half hunter, and finally a key determine in a brewing warfare between historic factions. And identical to Supernatural’s emotional spine – Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) – Grimm builds its basis on sturdy relationships.
Nick’s evolving dynamics along with his accomplice Hank (Russell Hornsby), ally Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), and love curiosity Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch) present a grounding emotional core that elevates the present past easy creature-hunting.
What makes Grimm really feel like such a natural follow-up to Supernatural is how confidently it blends darkness and coronary heart. The collection isn’t afraid to discover the horrors lurking underneath the floor of recent society, however it additionally by no means loses sight of its characters. It is good, suspenseful, and sometimes surprisingly emotional – the very traits that made Supernatural so beloved.
What Grimm & Supernatural Have In Widespread
Grimm Shares Supernatural’s Greatest Qualities, From Monster Lore To Deep Character Arcs
At its coronary heart, Grimm is cut from the same cloth as Supernatural. Each exhibits constructed fanbases by taking fantasy and legend severely whereas nonetheless having enjoyable with their respective universes. In the event you’re the type of viewer who beloved Supernatural’s steadiness of high-stakes mythology and weekly monster confrontations, Grimm provides an identical rhythm.
The “monster of the week” format thrives in each collection. In Supernatural, the Winchester brothers take down all the pieces from shapeshifters to gods. In Grimm, Nick faces off towards numerous Wesen – every with their very own origins, cultures, and secrets and techniques. Like essentially the most memorable Supernatural episodes, Grimm typically makes use of its creature plots as metaphors for actual human points.
Each exhibits additionally shine because of their long-form storytelling. Supernatural’s layered arcs about heaven, hell, and household are echoed in Grimm’s slow-burning battle between Wesen factions, the mysterious Royal Homes, and Nick’s evolving place on this hidden world. The lore builds step by step, rewarding viewers who keep it up throughout seasons.
One other main energy they share? Character growth. Very similar to how Supernatural made viewers spend money on the emotional progress of Sam, Dean, and Castiel (Misha Collins), Grimm slowly deepens its characters throughout a number of seasons. Relationships shift, alliances type and break, and the non-public stakes solely develop heavier. Monroe, specifically, stands out as Grimm’s model of a fan-favorite sidekick – equal elements comedian reduction and emotional anchor, very similar to Castiel or Crowley (Mark Sheppard).
Even the tone feels acquainted. Each exhibits mix horror, fantasy, and procedural construction with moments of levity and human heat. The writing by no means takes itself too severely, even when the mythology will get deep. If Supernatural’s appeal got here from its means to steadiness scares with coronary heart, Grimm learned from the same playbook.
What Units Grimm Aside From The Lengthy-Working CW Sequence
Grimm Takes A Darker, Extra Grounded Method That Makes It Distinct From Supernatural
Whereas Grimm and Supernatural share loads of similarities, followers ought to know that Grimm additionally carves its personal identification. Essentially the most noticeable distinction is in tone and presentation. The place Supernatural leaned into genre-bending episodes and apocalyptic stakes, Grimm keeps its world more grounded, specializing in its distinctive folklore and police-procedural roots.
Grimm’s setting in Portland, Oregon provides a moody, misty backdrop that enhances its gritty, urban-fantasy really feel. The present typically feels extra like a detective thriller with supernatural parts than a full-on fantasy epic. This permits Grimm to discover themes like identification, duality, and hidden histories by way of a barely extra restrained lens than Supernatural’s high-concept battles between heaven and hell.
The visible model is one other key distinction. Grimm makes use of sensible results and delicate CGI to bring its Wesen to life, giving the present a extra textured, eerie ambiance. Whereas Supernatural often dipped into stylized or surreal aesthetics, Grimm maintains a constant visible palette that displays its darker, extra mature vibe.
Narratively, Grimm avoids the near-constant world-ending threats that outlined a lot of Supernatural’s later seasons. As an alternative, it builds rigidity by way of political intrigue, hidden alliances, and the hazard of secrecy unraveling Nick’s life. The stakes really feel extra private and fewer cosmic, which could be a refreshing change of tempo.
This is not to say one strategy is best than the opposite – simply totally different. For followers of Supernatural who loved the brotherly bond and epic scale, Grimm may really feel extra low-key however no much less intense. It’s a grounded supernatural thriller that slowly ramps up in complexity, with simply as a lot payoff. In the event you’re prepared for a present that honors the spirit of Supernatural with out copying it, Grimm is the one.
The place To Stream Grimm
Grimm Is At the moment Accessible To Stream In Full On Each Prime Video And Peacock
For Supernatural followers able to dive into the world of Wesen and Grimms, Grimm is extremely accessible. On the time of writing, all six seasons of the collection can be found to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock. That’s 123 episodes of high-quality darkish fantasy simply ready to be binge-watched.
Whether or not you wish to expertise it from the start or decide it up after a couple of episodes, each platforms make it straightforward. Peacock provides free streaming with adverts on choose tiers, whereas Amazon Prime supplies an ad-free expertise for Prime members. The complete collection can also be accessible for digital buy if you wish to personal it outright.
And for longtime Supernatural followers who crave that mix of mythology and thriller, watching Grimm in full is a rewarding expertise. It’s the type of present that builds with each season – identical to the Winchesters’ journey – providing twists, emotional stakes, and a world you received’t wish to depart.
