NBC Introduces the Aswang to the US

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POSSIBLE SPOILER!!!
I have been following NBC’s weekly supernatural cop drama Grimm since it first aired a few years ago. I’ve even gotten a few friends watching along, too. But, being a Filipino, the episode “Mommy Dearest” has me addicted to the show even more.

Watch on Hulu here "Mommy Dearest".
NBC’s Grimm site “Mommy Dearest”.
 
After watching the first 10 minutes of the episode, a thought came to mind, “Aswang!”

If you’re not familiar with this creature, read my previous post "Aswang: Filipino Folklore".
 
 
After watching the episode and the following episode, it’s evident that Drew Wu, AKA Sergeant Wu will no longer be a peripheral character. His trauma of being attacked by an actual aswang has left scars and started an underlying arc: Is Wu in or out? We know he’ll be part of the “in” group. Only the writers of the show know at this point when or if that happens.
 
Reggie Lee grew up in Quezon City and plays Sergeant. Wu has submitted four creatures from Filipino mythical cosmology for potential “Wesen”.
 
But, like any show or Hollywood retelling, I do have some criticisms because there are some inconsistencies with what I know of the aswang.
 
First of all, Grimm makes it look like aswangs only take their first unborn grandchild. I thought that the aswang was an equal-opportunity ghoul. This leads into the next “deviation”. The first aswang we meet is the husband of the victim – He’s a man! I’ve always heard that aswang were female. The overall look is ghoulish, yes, but as I know that aswang are predominantly female, I was expecting a more feminine yet ghoulish look to the creature. And, maybe that’s why when the creature appeared, it didn’t click immediately until it began making it’s attack.
 
Despite my critique, I’m eager to find out what creature from Filipino mythology will have a story in Portland, OR, and how the writers will present it to US audiences.
 
Sources:
 
 
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