We wanted to take a break from the precinct and address some of the more personal questions surrounding Nick's Grimmness and its impact on his relationship with Juliette. At this point, it is especially important for us to focus on Aunt Marie's earlier warning: if Nick really loves Juliette, the best thing he could possibly do is let her go. We used the fairy tale "Nightingale" as motivation to introduce an interesting character that turns what was supposed to be a romantic weekend into a Grimm case. Considering both Hank and Monroe are in the throes of budding relationships themselves, this prospect seems even more complicated than ever.

In this episode, we were most interested in featuring some more peripheral aspects of the Grimm world, namely Wesen (creature) addiction. In doing so, we were able to introduce a new character, Rosalie (Bree Turner). We were inspired by the overall theme of witchcraft and decided to bring back our dangerously beautiful Hexenbiest (Claire Coffee). We always knew she was going to stir the pot, so to speak, and this was the perfect time for her to come back into Nick and Hank's lives.

Of all the wild fairy creatures, the most powerful and epic might be considered the dragon. Nick has faced many challenges, but how might he fare against a creature that can breathe fire? This was the inspiration for writing "Plumed Serpent," where we contrasted an unstable stalker with daddy issues with Nick and Juliette's complicated relationship. We used a Grimm case that came off like a potential affair to force Nick to make a decision between protecting his identity and his relationship with Juliette.