Grimm Guide

"Forgive me for the evil I have done you; my mother drove me to it; it was done against
my will." - Donkey Cabbages

"Love Sick" is loosely based on a Grimm tale called "Donkey Cabbages" or "The Donkey
Cabbage." In the story, a huntsman goes out into the world and comes across a castle
where an old witch lives with her beautiful daughter. He quickly falls in love with the
young witch, who deceives him and abuses his love to steal his fortune. (He then ends
up stranded in a magic cabbage field and turns into a donkey, but that portion of the
story proves irrelevant to the episode.) Hank clearly parallels the huntsman, and Adalind
is the witch's daughter. With her sexual prowess and her love potion, Adalind intends to
manipulate Hank's affections to get what she needs.

The young witch in the story is driven to do these things by her mother. Much like the
witch in the tale, Adalind's true motivation for her evil deeds is her mother's approval.
When she ultimately fails at her mission, Adalind's mother tosses her aside, claiming she
is just a pretty girl now with no true value.

"Sing my precious little golden bird, sing! I have hung my golden slipper around your neck." - The Nightingale

This episode is based on "The Nightingale," a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. In the tale, the Emperor of China learns that one of the most beautiful things in his empire is the song of the nightingale. When he orders a nightingale brought to him, the Emperor is so delighted with the bird's song that he keeps the nightingale in captivity. When the Emperor is given a bejeweled mechanical bird, he loses interest in the real nightingale, who returns to the forest. The mechanical bird eventually breaks down due to overuse, and the Emperor is taken deathly ill a few years later. The real nightingale learns of the Emperor's condition and returns to the palace, and Death is so moved by the nightingale's song that he departs and the emperor recovers.

Like the nightingale, the Seltenvogel is a beautiful and rare creature that's kept captive because of its value. But instead of song, the Seltenvogel provides a different asset: they are known most famously for producing an Unbezahlbar once in their lifetime, which resembles a large golden egg.

German: Rare Bird

With arresting features like a multi-colored head and beak and glittering golden eyes, Seltenvogels are so rare in the Wesen community that they're thought to be extinct in most circles. A frail, bird-like creature, Seltenvogel were highly valued in ancient times and usually kept prisoner. They are known most famously for producing an Unbezahlbar once in their lifetime, which resembles a large golden egg. The egg must physically be delivered from the throat, which is a delicate and dangerous task.