Grimm tales emerge amid the dark gloom

What if said creatures were real, and what if there was a family named Grimm whose descendants could actually see these critters? That's the core premise of "Grimm." A Portland homicide detective, Nick Burckhardt (David Giuntoli), learns he's one such Grimm, and like all Grimms, must keep balance between the human world and the mythological one populated by these animorphs -- or else.

His partner, Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby), doesn't yet know of his powers, but his new pal and informant, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), does.

A dark gloom prevails here, while mystery and a bit of mayhem seem to lurk just off-screen. Fans of "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" (or even "Angel") will see uncanny parallels with "Grimm" -- you can almost think of Grimms as Slayers -- while special effects and make-up especially evoke those long-ago WB Network triumphs.

Some will gripe that "Grimm" is a rip-off while the more generously inclined will say it's an "homage." But what else would you expect of the show's executive producer David Greenwalt -- who was also one of "Buffy's" longtime showrunners? A remake of "Happy Days?"