Nick Burkhardt is a Portland detective who discovers he's a Grimm, a descendant of hunters who can see supernatural creatures called Wesen. His goal is to protect humanity from these creatures and maintain balance. This season, Nick grapples with the loss of loved ones and the escalating threat of Black Claw, a radical Wesen organization aiming for global dominance. He's aided by his partner Hank Griffin, his girlfriend Adalind Schade (a Hexenbiest with her own powers), and his Grimm friends Monroe and Rosalee.

The core conflict revolves around Black Claw's rise to power, led by Conrad Bonaparte, and their attempts to destabilize human society. Key turning points include the shocking return of Juliette as Eve, a powerful and emotionless Hexenbiest working with the resistance group Hadrian's Wall. Nick also becomes a father to baby Kelly with Adalind, and later, his friend Wu begins a terrifying transformation into a Lycanthrope. The season culminates in a brutal confrontation with Black Claw, leading to significant losses and a fragile peace.

The season ends with Meisner's death during an attack on Hadrian's Wall, and Conrad Bonaparte is killed by Captain Renard, influenced by Diana's powers. However, the immediate threat of Black Claw is neutralized, leaving Nick and Renard in a tense standoff.

Season 5 of Grimm covers episodes 1-22. Here's everything that happened:

Season 5, Episode 1: The Grimm Identity - Following Juliette's death and his mother's decapitation, Nick Burkhardt awakens to find Trubel kidnapped and his home meticulously cleaned of all evidence. Driven by grief, Nick confronts FBI Agent Chavez, whom he suspects is responsible. After kidnapping Chavez, Nick learns she is part of a secret organization. They are ambushed at a warehouse, resulting in Agent Chavez's fatal wounding. Before dying, Chavez warns Nick of an impending "war" and gives him Trubel's rook chess piece. Meanwhile, Adalind gives birth to Nick's son, Kelly, at the hospital, where Nick later joins them.

Season 5, Episode 2: Clear and Wesen Danger - Nick Burkhardt grapples with new fatherhood to baby Kelly with Adalind Schade while investigating the brutal murder of CEO Beau Childs. Detective Hank Griffin and his new partner, Pogue, pursue suspect Paul Wemlinger, a Wesen who escapes U.S. Marshals before his death by Wu. The team then discovers Betty Frame, Wemlinger's accomplice, who woges, utters "Occultatum Libera!", and commits suicide by jumping from her apartment window. Monroe and Rosalee investigate the meaning of the phrase and a mysterious four-line symbol. The episode concludes with Meisner in a shadowy holding cell, having fought an unseen entity.

Season 5, Episode 3: Lost Boys - Nick and Adalind relocate to a secure, converted paint factory with baby Kelly. Rosalee is kidnapped by orphaned Wesen children seeking a mother, prompting Nick, Hank, and Monroe to rescue her after a previous victim's death. The children are then taken to a Wesen shelter, where Warden Hooke recruits them into the "Occultatum Libera" organization. Separately, Meisner releases Trubel from a cell, stating, "It's time".

Season 5, Episode 4: Maiden Quest - Detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate an assassination attempt on nightclub owner Frankie Adkins, uncovering a Weten Ogen tradition called Maagd Zoektocht. Mob boss Daniel Troyer orchestrates this "Maiden Quest" for his daughter Emily's hand, requiring suitors to kill Frankie. After two suitors are mysteriously slain, it's revealed that Emily Troyer herself is the mysterious Wesen protecting Frankie, despising the archaic ritual. Daniel confesses the quest was a test of Emily's strength to lead his empire. The episode concludes with Trubel, injured and presumed dead, arriving at Nick's new loft and collapsing into his arms.

Season 5, Episode 5: The Rat King - Nick Burkhardt rushes a severely wounded Trubel to the hospital, discovering her multiple fake IDs and a weaponized motorcycle. Simultaneously, Nick and Hank Griffin investigate the murder of two Klaustreich, leading them to a junkyard where Reinigen form the legendary Riesen-Ratte to seek revenge. Meanwhile, a Wesen nurse attempts to abduct Trubel from the hospital, but Meisner rescues Trubel, revealing his involvement with the Resistance. The Rat King is ultimately defeated by electrocution, and Nick brings Trubel back to his apartment, safe.

Season 5, Episode 6: Wesen Nacht - Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate a coordinated Wesen gang's vandalism, murder, and the kidnapping of Monroe and Rosalee's friend, Xavier Arivaca. Trubel reveals she's been working for Hadrian's Wall, a secret organization fighting a global Wesen uprising known as Black Claw. After Xavier's coerced cooperation leads the team into an ambush at a warehouse, Nick is overwhelmed by attackers. Suddenly, a mysterious woman with white hair, revealed to be Juliette's shocking return as Eve, uses telekinetic powers to save Nick before fleeing the scene, leaving Nick stunned in the warehouse.

Season 5, Episode 7: Eve of Destruction - Nick Burkhardt grapples with the shocking return of Juliette, now an emotionless Hexenbiest named Eve, who was transformed by Hadrian's Wall. As the Wesen uprising, known as Black Claw, escalates, Rosalee and Monroe learn the group is assassinating the Wesen Council. Xavier, a Black Claw informant, is assassinated in police custody by a hitman. Eve later telekinetically kills a Black Claw organizer at a restaurant, leaving Nick to confront the remaining bodyguards and explain the chaotic scene to arriving police, while she departs.

Season 5, Episode 8: A Reptile Dysfunction - Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate a tourist's death at Diamond Lake, where a "monster" is rumored to reside. They discover Logan Cobb, a Wasser Zahne, is working with Luisant-Pecheur brothers Wayne and Oliver Dunbar to stage attacks for profit. Meanwhile, Trubel takes Nick to a secret Hadrian's Wall facility, where Meisner and Eve reveal the global Wesen uprising by Black Claw. Trubel kills Logan Cobb during a sting operation. Wayne Dunbar is shot by civilians and dies attempting to escape into the lake, while Oliver Dunbar is arrested, providing Nick and Hank a cover story for the sheriff.

Season 5, Episode 9: Star-Crossed - Detectives Nick Burkhardt, Hank Griffin, and Wu investigate a series of ritualistic Wesen crucifixions of homeless men across Portland, linked to an ancient Fuilcré ritual intended to end a severe drought. Monroe goes undercover at a Black Claw recruitment meeting, discovering a connection to the killings. Meanwhile, Eve, Trubel, and Meisner at Hadrian's Wall interrogate a Black Claw operative, with Eve using her Hexenbiest abilities to seal his senses. With Adalind Schade's help, Nick deduces the murders align with the Big Dipper constellation. The team races to the Huntington Graveyard, preventing the seventh sacrifice by shooting the Fuilcré killer, Duncan. As Nick and Hank drive away, the drought ends with the onset of rain.

Season 5, Episode 10: Map of the Seven Knights - Monroe's uncle, Felix Dietrich, a book dealer from Germany, discovers ancient Grimm diaries in Prague, but Black Claw agents kill Andrea Stroh, who found them, and later murder Felix in Portland. Enraged by his uncle's death, Monroe violently retaliates, killing the two Anubis Wesen responsible. Nick, Monroe, and the team examine the collected Grimm books, which contain family trees. Monroe then discovers a secret compartment in a chest, revealing three more keys. Combining these with Nick's existing keys, they form five pieces of the Map of the Seven Knights, pointing to the Schwarzwald in Germany.

Season 5, Episode 11: Key Move - Nick Burkhardt and Monroe travel to the Black Forest in Germany, using false passports, to locate a hidden treasure from the Grimm Knights. They initially misinterpret their map but eventually find an "X" marking a spot in the forest. While digging, the ground collapses, and Nick and Monroe fall into a cavern. Meanwhile, in Portland, Black Claw assassin Marwan Hanano assassinates mayoral candidate Andrew Dixon at a public rally, sending the city into disarray.

Season 5, Episode 12: Into the Schwarzwald - Nick and Monroe navigate ancient catacombs in Germany, ultimately discovering a seven-locked bronze chest containing a mysterious wooden stick. Back in Portland, mayoral candidate Andrew Dixon is assassinated by Marwan, a Black Claw operative. Eve intervenes, securing Marwan's phone, while Adalind's Hexenbiest powers unexpectedly return when confronting Rosalee's ex, Tony. Upon returning to Portland, the group opens the chest, and the stick miraculously heals Monroe's infected arm. Meanwhile, Black Claw, through Lucien Petrovitch and Rachel Wood, offers Renard the mayoral candidacy.

Season 5, Episode 13: Silence of the Slams - Luchador Goyo obtains a powerful mask from Wesen mask-maker Benito, using it to kill El Mayordomo. The mask then fuses to Goyo, driving him mad, causing him to attack and kill Benito. Nick, Hank, Monroe, and Rosalee perform a ritual to remove the mask, leaving Goyo mentally unstable in a hospital. Renard calls Adalind about Diana.

Season 5, Episode 14: Lycanthropia - Detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate a brutal attack in the woods, discovering a rare Blutbad disease called Lycanthropia. Initially suspecting Doyle Baske, they soon realize his mother, Eliza Baske, is the afflicted Wesen. Confronting her in the forest, Nick and Wu are forced to kill Eliza Baske when she attacks Wu. Later, Wu discovers a scratch on his leg at home, hinting at a new, unsettling development.

Season 5, Episode 15: Skin Deep - Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate the mysterious deaths of young women who rapidly age decades overnight. Their investigation uncovers Malcolm Caulfield, a Musasat Alsh-Shabab Wesen who extracts youth, and Dr. Forbes, who sells the stolen essence as an anti-aging cream. Rosalee Calvert goes undercover at Forbes' clinic, leading to a violent confrontation where Dr. Forbes, driven insane by his own product, fatally stabs Malcolm. Elsewhere, Eve utilizes a magic hat to transform into Captain Renard, aiming to infiltrate his Black Claw connections.

Season 5, Episode 16: The Believer - Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate a security guard's death at evangelical preacher Dwight Eleazar's tent revival. Eleazar, a Furis Rubian Wesen, woges to appear possessed. His ex-wife, Joan Vark, and her cult brutally attempt an exorcism, leading to Dwight Eleazar's death and their arrest. Meanwhile, Eve, disguised as Captain Renard, infiltrates Black Claw via Rachel Wood. At the spice shop, Monroe, Rosalee, and Nick decipher the healing stick's cloth, revealing "Miraculum" and "Perikulosum".

Season 5, Episode 17: Inugami - Portland homicide detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin investigate the decapitation of Brian Johnson, whose head is found under a bridge. They discover Brian and his friend Roger witnessed Kuma Akagi woge before his accidental death, leading to a lenient sentence for Brian. Kuma's family lawyer, Takeshi, is revealed as an Inugami, a Wesen bound by honor to avenge the Akagi family. Nick and Hank apprehend Takeshi, saving Roger's life from the ritualistic vengeance. Meanwhile, Eve warns Adalind about her returning Hexenbiest powers and threatens her if she harms Nick, while Renard is reunited with an aged Diana at his home.

Season 5, Episode 18: Good to the Bone - Nick and Hank investigate a Barbatus Ossifrage Wesen, Charlie, who liquefies victims' bones to feed his elderly parents. Rosalee creates a "Parfum de la Mort" to lure Charlie, using Monroe as bait. However, a woging Wu, injured after chasing a dog, becomes Charlie's new target. Nick and Hank intervene, and Charlie is killed by a truck. Meanwhile, Renard drugs Adalind, reuniting her with Diana in an abandoned building, leaving Adalind conflicted.

Season 5, Episode 19: The Taming of the Wu - Detective Wu, recovering from a concussion, experiences involuntary woges and vivid dreams, revealing his lycanthropic transformation from a previous bite. Confronting Black Claw operative Theo Delano, Wu woges and brutally kills him. At the spice shop, Rosalee confirms Wu's condition, triggered by stress. Meanwhile, Conrad Bonaparte threatens Adalind, forcing her to choose between Nick and her children's safety. Adalind ultimately leaves Nick and Kelly, departing with a note explaining her decision to protect her children, leaving Nick alone in their loft.

Season 5, Episode 20: Bad Night - Nick Burkhardt is enraged after Adalind Schade leaves with baby Kelly, forced by Black Claw to reunite with Sean Renard to protect their children. Renard uses Adalind, Kelly, and Diana in his mayoral campaign, culminating in his victory speech where he presents them as his family on stage. Meanwhile, Hank Griffin discovers his girlfriend Zuri's betrayal with Black Claw, leading to her capture and interrogation by Eve at Hadrian's Wall. Sergeant Wu struggles to control his Lycanthrope transformation, eventually managing to woge and revert. Nick, watching Renard's televised triumph, vows to kill Renard as his family stands beside the newly elected mayor.

Season 5, Episode 21: Beginning of the End - Part One - Black Claw orchestrates a strategic move, framing Hank Griffin for murder at his home, while Hadrian's Wall is simultaneously attacked, resulting in Meisner's death at the hands of Conrad Bonaparte. Rosalee Calvert reveals her pregnancy to Monroe, a rare moment of joy amidst the chaos. Nick Burkhardt confronts Captain Sean Renard at the precinct, leading to Nick's arrest by Black Claw-controlled Wesen officers. The episode concludes with Nick brought to the North Precinct, surrounded by woged Wesen, face-to-face with Bonaparte.

Season 5, Episode 22: Beginning of the End - Part Two - Black Claw's attacks escalate, leading to the destruction of Hadrian's Wall and the death of Meisner at Bonaparte's hands. Nick, Hank, Wu, Trubel, Monroe, and Rosalee fight back, with Rosalee revealing her pregnancy to Monroe amidst the chaos. Diana, using her powers, forces Renard to fatally stab Conrad Bonaparte in Nick's loft, ending the Black Claw leader's reign. The episode concludes with Nick and Renard staring at each other in the loft, the immediate threat neutralized.