Enter the dragon
Said the dragon, 'Many knights have left their lives here, I shall soon have an end for you, too,' and he breathed fire out of seven jaws.
When Nick investigates two brothers who tried to steal copper from an abandoned warehouse and were burned alive for their trouble. His investigations lead him to Ariel, a firedancer and Dämonfeuer... better known as a dragon.
Ariel has need of a warrior for a specific purpose, and she decides Nick will do nicely. She abducts Juliette to lure Nick into a confrontation straight out of legend.
This episode provides examples of:
- The Cameo: Daniel Baldwin appears as the arson investigator.
- Chekhov's Skill: Monroe's interest in model trains comes in handy when he and Nick need to get down the train line fast (it would take hours to walk).
- Come Alone: Ariel tells Nick to not bring any cops. So Nick gets around that by bringing Monroe.
- Dad the Veteran: Ariel's father Fred served in Operation Desert Storm. His father served in Vietnam.
- Death by Materialism: The two thieves die at the beginning because one of them insists on stealing copper even though someone's already there and could kill them for not wanting to share.
- Defiant Captive: Juliette punches Ariel rather than act like a Damsel in Distress.Ariel: Time for you to scream.
Juliette: Time for you to scream. [Punches her] - Despair Event Horizon: Fred Eberhart crossed it hard when his wife died; Ariel regards it as losing both parents.
- Facial Horror: Fred Eberhart's most recognizable trait is his half-burned face.
- Fairytale Motifs: The Princess and Dragon trope is deliberately invoked by the antagonist, who considers being killed by a Grimm to be a way for her father to die with dignity.Ariel: Isn't [Juliette] perfect?
Fred: Who comes for her?
Ariel: Someone worthy of you. - Ironic Name: Ariel's first name is best known from The Little Mermaid (1989). Dragons and mermaids could not be more different.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Nick kills Fred Eberhart by skewering him with a copper pipe.
- Karmic Death: Fred Eberhart is stabbed with a copper pipe, one of the various pieces he hoarded.
- Meaningful Name: "Eberhart" sounds like "Ember Heart."
- Military Brat: Ariel's family has served in the military for at least three generations.
- Mundane Utility: The Eberhart family use their flame-based powers in fire-orientated jobs; Fred was a welder, Ariel is a firedancer, and her grandfather and great-grandfather were flamethrower operators in World War II (her great-grandfather) and The Vietnam War (her grandfather).
- Wild Goose Chase: Ariel sends Nick and Hank to her house so she can talk, but she's already gone to Nick's house to kidnap Juliette.
