By Karen Moul

Grimm’s first season was a bit of a slow burn, but recently the storyline has been heating up as Nick finds it increasingly difficult to keep his identity hidden from the people closest to him. It looks like he may have to let Juliette in on the secret in this week’s season finale.

In a recent phone conversation, stars David Giuntoli (Nick Burkhardt) and Russell Hornsby (Hank Griffin) were fairly tight-lipped, but they said the episode will definitely leave viewers wondering what’s in store for next season.

“We've got about three cliffhangers,” Giuntoli told us, “major cliffhangers that the audience will be left with at the end of the finale.

“One of the major characters may get very hurt in this episode, and the episode's called Woman in Black. And we'll be introduced to a character named the Woman in Black.”

Asked if the Woman in Black will be a long-term character, Giuntoli hedged: “I don't have a definitive answer to that, but I would imagine that yes, she would continue on to next season.”

Neither could the pair share much of what’s in store for season two, because they don’t begin shooting for another few weeks, but they did tell us what they’d like to see.

“My hope,” said Horbsy, “is that Hank finds out what's behind door number one. And if that's the case, then seeing an opportunity for the relationship to develop between the three of them - Nick, Monroe and Hank.”

Hornsby looks forward to a new dynamic if Nick is forced to blend the relationships. “As they try to solve these crimes together…there's a chance for a nice love triangle. And maybe, possibly, Monroe might settle for fighting for the affections of Miss Burkhardt. So it'll be fun.”

Giuntoli, on the other hand, is “excited for Nick to become more of a badass.” “What I really am excited for,” he admitted, “is more and better fights. There's a weapons cabinet in my trailer…and I'm real excited to get my hands on some of those weapons and really use them.”

His favorite weapon so far? “You know, there's something sexy about a crossbow, I got to say.”

The season finale of Grimm airs Friday, May 18. While we await the second season, NBC will air encore episodes of season one all summer long, beginning Tuesday, May 29 at 10:00 pm, following America's Got Talent.

NBC Conference Call
Grimm
David Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby
 
May 14, 2012

QUESTION: So what can you tell us about the finale?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Well, we've got about three cliffhangers, major cliffhangers that the audience will be left with at the end of the finale. One of the major characters may get very hurt in this episode, and the episode's called "Woman in Black." And we'll be introduced to a character named the Woman in Black. And from there, I don't know what I can say. Russ, you got anything?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Cliffhangers, it's the - yes - I mean - no, I think you hit all the buttons.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Thank you, sir.

QUESTION: [Can you] reflect on this past year and how it's been for each of you in terms of your personal career and how the show has been going for you, and the fan reaction and the network support? Just everything that's happened to you on this journey for the last year, and we'll start with David and then Russell, you can chime in with your answer.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Appreciate it, absolutely. From a standpoint of an actor, I've grown leaps and bounds. I've learned so much. You really get thrown into it, and you don't stop running until 22 episodes are done and 9 months has passed.

And I've been very fortunate to get to work alongside guys who are youthful veterans of the entertainment industry, like Russell Hornsby and then Silas Weir Mitchell. And these guys have really been great and gracious and have taught me a lot just so I lock it in every day.

And the fans have been unbelievable. I've had fans in the past, but genre TV fans are passionate fans. They kind of - they're completely active. They watch the episode, and then next thing you know, they're writing fan fiction or creating more scenarios and asking questions, and they really hold you accountable. And the whole experience has been wonderful.

QUESTION: Okay, and for Russell, how about you?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Well, for me this experience has been rather surreal, for myself. I guess I don't consider myself a veteran of television and to a certain extent, having that (unintelligible) before. But this is the first time I've been on a show that people actually watch and so getting used to the hubbub and fanfare and being [the] first time [I have been] recognized. It has been crazy.

And so I really thought that I had made it five years ago, and I realized, "Oh, no, I didn't." And so the work schedule has been very intense, like I've never experienced, just all the hours that we've had to put in, being on location, being in Portland and shooting outside in the rain and at night.

It's really taught me to - I've learned to appreciate this whole experience and what it's like as an actor learning new things about myself as an actor and as a performer, and all the stuff that I can handle. You know, I never thought I could up to this point.

And again, the fans have been crazy. I mean in a good way. Like they've said, genre fans are just nuts about their shows that they've loved and they follow them. And they're very interactive and very smart.

So I'm really curious to see what the next season is going to bring as far as the show's concerned, but also from a fan perspective.

QUESTION: Okay, and speaking of next season, what would you like to see happen with each of your characters? And we'll start again with David.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I'm excited for Nick to become more of a badass, so to speak. Throughout Season 1, he's [gone] from a very passive observer of what was taking place to a real kind of go-getter where he tried to work the politics of what Wesen were against him and who was for him and who was going after his loved ones, who was his friend. And I think that certain events will make him a little more aggressive.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: My hope is that Hank finds out what's behind door number one. And if that's the case, then just seeing an opportunity for the relationship to develop between the three of them - Nick, Monroe and Hank - as they try to solve these crimes together. And the drama that could possibly ensue between the three of them.

I did a little joke today that there's a chance for a nice love triangle And maybe, possibly, Monroe might settle for, fighting for the affections of Miss Burkhardt. So it'll be fun.

QUESTION: And is the Woman in Black character going to continue on to next season, or is it just this one episode?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I don't have a definitive answer to that, but I would imagine that yes, she would continue on to next season.

SCIFI VISION: Nick's been keeping so much to himself for months and months [to] the point of jeopardizing his relationships. And where do you think his head is going into this final episode?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, things have really come to a head, haven't they for Nick? Now Hank has seen someone completely change before his very eyes. I think he might be in a serious state of denial and also firmly aware that a paradigm is about to shift, and he's going to have to let someone in or else he's just going to lose his mind.

SCIFI VISION: I'm psyched to see him maybe let Juliette in. I'm hoping maybe we'll get to see a little more of her in this next episode and next season. Is there a chance for a larger role for her?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Oh, sure, and Bitsie Tulloch is such a wonderful actress. And I think the writers are excited to include her in a more active way as the episodes go on.

SCIFI VISION: What's with Hank? He's been a slow on the uptake. You think he's in denial or is it that he just really doesn't get it?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: In denial about in regards to what?

SCIFI VISION: Well, he's seen so many weird things.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Well, I think he's sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know?

I've been using the analogy of when crime hit in the early '80s, there was uptick in robberies and whatnot. And I think a lot of police officers were wondering, "Well, what's going on? Why is the crime rate going up?" Robberies and breaking and entering and stuff like that. And then they realized that, you know, it took them like six months to a year later to realize that crack had hit the street.

So I don't think he's so much in denial as he's just waiting for another shoe to drop. I think having been on the force these 10, 15 years, he knows that something else is going to happen. You know what I mean? And he is taking note of the fact that the city has gotten a little weirder, the crimes have gotten a little weird and suspiciously different, but he just hasn't been able to put his finger on it yet. And so, being the cop that he is, he knows that there's something going on behind this, and he just has to wait for the other shoe to drop.

QUESTION: I want to talk about character growth. So starting with David, how have you planned or played Nick's growth through the season?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: You know, the writers do most of that work for us. We have some great writers, so I'm very thankful for that. I think my arc generally speaking in those terms went from constant befuddlement to - he has this whole new role was thrown on him, and he didn't know what to do with it at first. And he kind of was in denial at first, and he wanted business to go back to usual at first. And ultimately there's no changing what has happened. So he kind of accepted it.

He still obviously doesn't know quite how to fuse his normal day-to-day life and his new night job, I suppose you could say, but he definitely is an active player in this world now. And he uses the tools that he's been given and some of his abilities he's been given to A) try to get the bad guy and B) try to work to the greater Wesen system.

QUESTION: I know that you've got fantastic writers, and I know that they do a lot of this. I guess I'm not sure with series television, but you know how actors usually when they go into a project, they create a character life for themselves? So I was wondering what you had done as a character life for progression, not necessarily what the writers did.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Well, going into this season, I always thought Nick Burkhardt was a guy who was very happy with a girlfriend - a live-in girlfriend. He wanted to get married. He had a not-so-stable childhood, because he was being raised by his Aunt Marie, and there was a lot of moving around for reasons you didn't really understand at that point.

So he was happy to have his house, his girl, his job. He knew he was a good profiler. It was kind of a special instinct he had, but he didn't really understand why. And he wanted a not-so-crazy adult life, because he had a crazy childhood.

And the inciting incident in the pilot was, of course, I start seeing things, and I think I'm losing my mind, and I desperately want to keep my world from unraveling. And that's the goal of Nick Burkhardt. And he grows throughout the season and just has to deal with his new reality.

QUESTION: Russell, I'm not sure if you maybe have answered this with the last caller, because I had wanted to talk about character growth in terms of the fact that Hank is seeing a lot of weird things and yet you have to pretend that you don't see them or whatever or you have to have your own reality for that. And I just was wondering if you could speak to that in terms of how you play the character growing.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Well, first off, I have to ground a character in a reality. There is a fantastical element. There is a fairytale element to this show. I don't exist in that element, although the show exists around me. I mean that element exists around me. So I have to approach that everything is real, and that's what I do.

So basically I have to approach everything from the standpoint that this is all confusing me. This confuses my character, and this is strange. You know what I mean? And it's as if you walked outside today and you saw somebody change and transform into a monster, you would go crazy.

And that's how I approach it, as if this is real. I don't know that he's a Grimm. I don't know there is this parallel alternate universe or alternate world where people turn into creatures or creatures turn into people. So I just approach it very honestly and very much rooted in reality, and I think I feel like I'm sort of the leveling force on the show, on the procedural side. And that's what I try to do. I don't try to get ahead of it. I don't try to think outside of my realm. Hank is just a police officer, fighting crime.

QUESTION: Thank you. And I want to say I would love to see the three of you guys working together rather than separate. I think that would be very...

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, it'd be very fun.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: It would be, yes. It would be a lot of fun. I think as the writers are mapping out the journey of the characters of the show, when you're looking at a story that arcs over 22 episodes, and one hopes 5 seasons, I think you have to pace it out, and you have to take your time. And I think it's good for - the show is good for the audience to take the journey. You know what I mean? If we just take the journey and allow things to unfold, there's a lot more to enjoy.

QUESTION: The relationship between Captain Renard and both of your characters, and particularly with Nick, he's obviously somebody connected in this hierarchy, and he's almost protecting him. Do you guys have your own theories and do you see something maybe coming next season between Renard and especially Nick coming up as far as their relationship?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Well, I think as Nick is concerned, speaking for Nick, he doesn't really have an eye on Renard at this point. I think Renard's got the goods on him, and he does not have the goods on Renard. And then David speaking, I think we're going to be learning a lot more about Renard's family, what he comes from, and what his purpose is. Yes, why is he protecting me? Why does he want a Grimm close to him, other than it's good to have an eye on the Grimm.

But I think that we and the audience will learn a lot more. Other than that, I don't know the specifics.

QUESTION: And for Russell, what was it like to do the whole arc with the love potion story? That must have been some fun acting for you.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Yes, it was a lot of fun, in a midsummer night's dream, if you will. And working alongside Claire Coffee, who plays Adalind, was a lot of fun. And just taking a whole different vent to the character, taking the character on a different arc and journey was fun, and just being in love with love. It was a good time.

And also we saw a more playful and vulnerable side of Hank that I think audiences didn't know Hank had. So that's always great.

QUESTION: In the last episode we saw Nick lying to Hank about monsters in the woods and things like that, and I was wondering once Hank finds out the truth, how do you think that will affect your friendship?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Well, I don't know. That's interesting. It depends on how the writers write it. But I think - at first I'm sure that, if and when he finds out, he'll be in denial because that just doesn't happen. That's stuff you read about in books and watch in movies. You know what I mean? So from Hank's point of view that can't happen. And so I'm sure that there'll be a time where he's in denial and thinks that Nick is crazy, thinks the world is nuts and possibly thinks that Hank's going crazy, like I have to be dreaming, like some psychedelic sort of something have been ingested. Who knows?

But yes, it's going to be a lot of fun.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, and I think my character, Nick, is very worried about this very thing. And I know that he's keeping an eye on Hank, making sure that he's not going to lose his mind over this, and if he starts to, then he'll intervene.

QUESTION: I have another question about Nick's character. On the episode where he destroys the two grimm reapers, it seemed like all of a sudden Nick had all these kind of new powers.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes.

QUESTION: So I was wondering how did you play that? What do you think about that? Does that seem crazy?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: This is how I've kind of thought of Grimms. I feel like it's a bloodline where you have some natural inclinations, some natural powers, but all these other Grimms knew that they were Grimms from the get-go. And they have been coming up with these powers, and they've been training literally and honing these skills. And he, Nick, was just told about them maybe eight months ago in the world of our story.

So, yes, he had these inclinations, but it took some honing to finally fully harness his skills. And they had me training with weapons in several of the episodes and really embracing these tools that his aunt left him in the trailer. And I think that he has surprised himself on occasion.

But, you know, even next season I think that Nick's going to be even more capable and useful.

QUESTION: Are you guys in Portland right now?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: No, we're in New York.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: We're in New York. We're at the upfront.

QUESTION: Yes. But I understand that you're going to be back here at the end of May to start work on Season 2?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: That's correct.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: That is correct.

QUESTION: That's kind of no vacation.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Correct, that is correct.

QUESTION: Why the quick turnaround?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: They have high expectations for the show. They wanted to, I think, premier the show earlier in the season than usual. And so they want to get ahead - get a jumpstart on the episodes, and I think also because of the turnaround on the show with all the CGI and the effects, there's a lot more lead time than other dramas. So they just really need to get in here and get to work as soon as possible.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Correct. And they have the Olympics this year, so they want to push some shows during the Olympics, and in order to do that, they need shows for when the Olympics ends. So that's also why this is kind of (unintelligible)...

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Oh, that's right. We got some other secret, I forgot. Yes.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Correct.

 RUSSELL HORNSBY: Yes, they just announced it this afternoon. So I was, "Oh, yes. We can't talk about that."

QUESTION: How does filming here in Portland affect the show, and how does it affect how you think about your characters and your performances?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Well, filming on location in general allows - you know, if you've ever been to camp, it's like that. It's a whole new place that started with an entirely new experience. There's an otherness to it. It's not life. It's the world of Grimm now to all of us. And I think it helps a lot in our chemistry, within the actors, because let's face it, we don't know a ton of people up there. And we hang together, and we get on together.

And as far as the show, we could not do it without Portland. I couldn't imagine taking this to a soundstage in L.A. and just the amount of moss they'd have to put up in Los Angeles. It would be impossible. It makes such a wonderful aesthetic. It makes it creepy, and it can help do the acting for you when you're out on location, and it's raining and you look like you're in a forest from the Mesozoic era. You know, it kind of brings it to life.

And living there has been a joy. I've been talking to tons of people here in New York. Everybody asks what it's like to be filming in Portland, and I'm just like, "It's one of the greatest towns in the United States." And that's not a lie. It's like a college campus for adults, and we couldn't be happier.

QUESTION: And Russell, how about you?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I go with his sentiment. It is like camp. And, you realize, you don't think the world exists outside of the show. But it's a lot of fun. I enjoy working in Portland, although I must say, I didn't realize I was like - because of the winter, and the rain and the gray, I didn't realize I was depressed until I went home for Christmas and the sun hit me. And I said, "Oh, my gosh."

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I've been (unintelligible) in my apartment for the last three months.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, and it's crazy.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: And so I had to figure things out and live my life a little differently when I came back in January.

QUESTION: Did you get one of those heat lamps to sort of pretend you were getting sonic pleasure?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I was in denial about the heat lamp. I was in denial about the - what is it, Vitamin B13 or something that you - some pill you're supposed to take, and I didn't take it. And I'm going to get all those things next year, this year for the coming winter.

QUESTION: So when you're filming around town and on locations, what are the interactions that you have with folks?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I tell you, they're generally positive interactions. People love seeing their town that they're so proud of celebrated on a network television show. I know other shows have been in town that haven't really used Portland for what it's worth. That [there is] so much visually that Portland can give a show, and we've totally used it. So people are very excited about that, and they express that. And they treat us like gold, and we return the favor.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I think we've sort of written it like a - given them a visual love letter of Portland.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: And they did appreciate it.

QUESTION: On a scheduling question, you guys are going to be sharing the Friday night slot with Whitney and Community. That's a change. How do you think that's going to work in terms of flow of the programs and the audiences that they attract?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Well, listen, Grimm is always going to be a break in flow a bit, because it's such a unique thing. Though I think it's a really great pairing especially Community is our real lead-in. And it has a very vocal cult following, and Grimm has a very vocal cult following. I don't know if they're the same cult, but I think it'd be kind cool to see these fans get into a new show.

QUESTION: When I talk to people who have done so much on television, I always want to know what are some of your favorite things to watch on television?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: I'm a big fan of Mad Men, and shows like that and Luther. I just like a lot of things, I just like a lot of the cable dramas, Breaking Bad and, you know, I can't remember. There's so many. But those are the ones that sort of jump out at me.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, I have not yet gotten into Luther, though I know I should. I just watched two seasons of Downton Abbey, and that was just brilliant, (unintelligible) stuff. And right now, this is not very original of me, but I started with the American Office pilot about a month ago. And I'm on Netflix about four seasons into it episode for episode. So I've been watching that a lot.

QUESTION: Anything crazy on either of your DVRs that you'll admit to watching?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: The new show Girls is pretty cool. I'm pretty into that that HBO show.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: And what's that one - well, it's on my DVR. I like to watch it sometimes, but my wife is a big fan of The Amazing Race, and we've kind of gotten into that. We travel a lot together, and so we've been lost in (unintelligible) cities quite a few times. And my wife will say, "This is an amazing race moment." So we go, "Come on, let's put our thinking caps together. Let's go." How are we going to get out of here? How are we going to find our way back to the hotel or back to the airport? So we make a game out of being lost.

QUESTION: You mentioned, David, that you were hoping that next season Nick would be a little more badass. I've noticed that there's been a progression in his character. He seems to be a little more powerful, a little stronger. Do you think they might put a supernatural element in his capabilities next season?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I think one of the cool things about Nick is that he doesn't necessarily [have] supernatural powers. I would be surprised if that happened. What I really am excited for is more and better fights and getting to use some of these - I mean, there's a weapons cabinet in my trailer, not my trailer in Hollywood, my trailer that Aunt Marie gave me in Portland. And I'm real excited to get my hands on some of those weapons and really use them.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite, one that you've used so far?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: You know, there's something sexy about a crossbow, I got to say.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Oh, my man. I was right there with you.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, man.

QUESTION: So I take it, Russell, you want to use a crossbow too? You're hoping Hank will get a chance to check out the weapons closet.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Hey, all in good time. No, that crossbow was sexy. He was sexy using it. I'd, you know, I'm - I'll leave it up to him.

QUESTION: Is there a Wesen that's actually freaked you out when you first saw them, because they are kind of pretty terrifying when you get a glimpse of it for the first time?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Yes, the real - I mean weapons in that they could bludgeon a person to death. Like when there's a metal ball with spikes on a chain. It's not like a fake metal ball with spikes on a chain. It's like the real thing. So, you take them out. You wield them around a little bit, and they have definite girth to them. You've got to be careful, kids.

QUESTION: And how about creature-wise? Any creatures that coming out of the makeup trailer, you're going, "That's pretty gruesome. That's pretty scary."

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Some of the death scenes, some of the corpses have really made - like I had visceral responses to. Other than that I usually know the guy in the makeup, so I'm just like, "Hey, it's that guy." But some of the death scenes, I remember there were rats at one point pouring out of a guy's chest and mouth. And I couldn't even - it made me really uneasy.

QUESTION: Well, how about you, Russell? I know you've seen some of those death scenes too. Anything that you had to be taken aback, lose your lunch or anything?

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Yes, well, see the thing is, I get grossed very easily. So I actually close my eyes when they're in front of me. That whole rat sequence that happened, that disgusted me to no end.

I'm really, actually in real life, scared of rats. So I just appreciate the artistry of all the creatures, both from CGI and the practical. I just think our department and team has done a fabulous job with all the creatures and just creatively as well - done great.