I got pretty into Grimm during its first season, and have saved up this season to watch during the summer (don’t spoil me). And I’ve been thinking of how that show treats the friendship between Nick and his non-human friend Monroe. 

I don’t ship them but it’s clear that they need each other… Monroe has come to depend on the companionship Nick offers, having been lonely before; and Nick respects his friend’s insight and knowledge, and also the fact that his friend knows what it’s like to be trapped between two worlds. It’s clear that they trust each other, rely on each other, and respect each other. And this takes place in the context of them having separate needs and wants and pursuits, and I loved how they opened up Monroe’s world and showed us his life outside of his friendship with Nick… but at the same time, they also brought him more into Nick’s world by building his relationship with Nick’s girlfriend and Nick’s partner. Monroe is a different species, and that lends itself to humor – but in the main, that hasn’t been played for laughs at the character’s expense (Silas Weir Mitchell’s lovely, warm performance as Monroe has helped very much).

So I’ve been thinking a lot about how Grimm’s PTB have crafted that friendship so well (and of course that might not last!), and with real regard for both characters. And now I’m thinking about fallen!Cas, and really hoping that Carver et al might take a leaf out of Grimm’s book and fill him out as a character, showing us his journey, instead of treating him as comic relief or a plot device. I just wish I could be confident that they will.