David Giuntoli stars in "Grimm"

Fairy tales have long been harnessed by TV networks and movie industries with great success. From Cinderella to Snow White, each story has been refashioned time and again for modern audiences. There is a reason why these fairy tales remain so popular -- whether they target a young or more mature audience, they are rooted in both mystery and nostalgia.

Although newcomers to NBC's "Grimm" may think that its twist lies within the dark subject matter of the series, that darkness is actually more in line with the original stories than the majority of adaptations. Contrary to popular belief, the tales were not written by the Brothers Grimm, but collected by them from educated, middle-class women who retained them, thanks to oral tradition, and were never meant for children. They often involved topics such as murder, torture, sex and betrayal; all elements that are embodied in the fantasy crime drama. The newest episode in the series, "Good to the Bone," airs Friday, April 22, on NBC.

The show stars David Giuntoli ("13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," 2016) as Nick Burkhardt, a homicide detective who, along with his partner, Hank (Russell Hornsby, "Lincoln Heights"), investigates murders connected to beings called Wesen, the real creatures that inspired the tales recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Nick has an advantage over his fellow detectives -- he's a Grimm, a being who can spot Wesen and is meant to destroy them; but he's not the single-minded killer of Grimms past. In fact, his closest friend is a reformed Blutbad (German for "blood bath"), a wolf-like creature named Monroe, played by Silas Weir Mitchell ("Prison Break").

Although the series garnered mixed reviews in its first season, it has been steadily progressing in popularity as the storyline fills out. Last season, audiences were treated to an emotional ending that saw the destruction of Nick's beloved trailer, the death of Nick's mother and the apparent death of his fiancée, Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch, "The Artist," 2011). He also formed a surprising new relationship with former Hexenbiest and nemesis Adalind (Claire Coffee, "General Hospital"). These dramatic changes left viewers with many questions about where the series might go next.

Now in its fifth season, the show is still going strong, and Nick, Hank, Monroe and the others are gearing up for their biggest fight yet.

"Watching [the show] grow has been really a pleasure," Giuntoli said in an interview with Blastr. "And each season it changes. In season 5, not only is Nick at his darkest, most bloodthirsty place, but I would say there's been a reboot. We learn about whole new organizations in our government that are completely behind the scenes, covert organizations. We have new characters, new sets. ... So that's kind of been a surprise."

Russell Hornsby in a scene from "Grimm"

This season has seen the introduction of new characters and subplots, the most notable being the return of Juliette -- but she's no longer the woman Nick loved: she's transformed into a mysterious Hexenbiest named Eve. Despite Eve's return, Nick and Adalind's relationship continues to grow as they are now tasked with raising their child together.

The mysteries surrounding the shady Wesen group that call themselves Black Claw, who are hellbent on bringing the world under Wesen rule, have been even more fleshed out this season as new discoveries have been made. Along with his brothers in blue -- Hank, Sgt. Wu (Reggie Lee, "Prison Break") and Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz, "Warehouse 13") -- Nick is forced to partner up with familiar but shady characters in order to thwart the sinister Wesens' plans to destroy the world as they know it.

It's been a season full of twists and turns, and the exciting plotlines and beautiful cinematography are achieved, in part, by co-creators Stephen Carpenter ("The Man," 2005), David Greenwalt ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Jim Kouf ("Angel"). These three are no strangers to supernatural or crime dramas. Both Greenwalt and Kouf serve as executive producers for the show, along with Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner, whose company, Hazy Mills Productions, is responsible for producing the series in conjunction with Universal Media Studios. The show is filmed in and around the Portland, Oregon, area, selected for its natural, fantastical esthetic. Surrounded by lush forests, the area provides an incredible and whimsical setting for even the darkest of stories.

Greenwalt and Rouf do well in their modernization of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales, infusing them with social and political commentary that make the show more relatable to its audience despite the supernatural elements. It is truly a hearkening back to the original stories; albeit, with a more puzzling and thrilling essence. The character growth alone has been a compelling enough reason to continue watching the series, but throw in a seasoned cast, reputable writers and top-notch producers, and you have a recipe for a one-of-a-kind hit show.

Let the Wesens of the world cast a spell on you in the next episode of "Grimm," airing Friday, April 22, on NBC.