Why ‘Grimm’ should be your first Roku Channel binge
Why ‘Grimm’ should be your first Roku Channel binge
If you like creepy cases and creature lore, this one’s for you
Recently, I’ve been looking for great shows that don’t cost a dime, and The Roku Channel has a few real gems buried in its lineup. If you just signed up or opened the app for the first time, it can be a little overwhelming figuring out where to start. My advice? Go straight for “Grimm.” It’s part crime drama, part supernatural fairy tale, and somehow manages to be both spooky and wildly fun. You get self-contained mysteries, a cool mythology that builds over time, and some surprisingly lovable characters. And the best part? All six seasons are totally free to stream on The Roku Channel. Here’s why “Grimm” is the drama you should watch first.
Top drama TV show to stream first when you sign up for Roku Channel
Why ‘Grimm’ is the must-watch drama on Roku Channel
If you want something that pulls you in fast and has plenty of episodes to sink into, “Grimm” is a perfect place to start. It ran for six seasons on NBC with over 120 episodes, and every single one is streaming for free on The Roku Channel. The show kicks off with a Portland detective named Nick Burkhardt, who finds out he’s a “Grimm,” which basically means he’s part of a long line of hunters sworn to keep mythological creatures in check. That twist alone is enough to grab your attention, but what really works here is how the show blends fairy tale folklore with modern-day crime drama. One minute you’re following a murder investigation, and the next, a suspect’s face morphs into a wolf. It’s part cop show, part supernatural thriller, and somehow the combo just works.
What makes “Grimm” even better is how easy it is to get into. Each episode starts with a standalone case (usually inspired by a twisted version of a fairy tale), so you’re not drowning in backstory right away. But if you stick around, the deeper mythology kicks in, and it gets really fun. There are secret societies, magical artifacts, royal bloodlines, and a whole underground world of shape-shifting creatures called Wesen. It’s got just enough lore to keep long-time fans engaged without overwhelming new viewers. And if you’re the kind of person who likes to test out a show before fully committing, the pilot is a solid litmus test. You’ll know within the first 15 minutes if it’s your vibe.
Another reason it’s worth your time? The characters. David Giuntoli keeps Nick grounded as the lead, but the show’s secret weapon is Silas Weir Mitchell as Monroe, a reformed wolf-creature who helps Nick navigate the Wesen world. Their odd-couple friendship gives the show a buddy-comedy energy that balances out the darker moments. And as the seasons go on, the supporting cast really levels up, from Nick’s partner Hank and the deadpan Detective Wu, to fan-favorite frenemies like Adalind and Renard. These characters grow in big, surprising ways, and the chemistry among the cast is part of what makes it so bingeable.
Plus, it’s just fun to look at. “Grimm” makes great use of its Portland setting, with foggy forests and rainy backstreets that give it that moody fairy tale feel. The creature designs (mostly practical effects) are genuinely creepy, and even the CGI morphing (while a little dated) adds a campy charm. It’s the kind of show that never takes itself too seriously, but still delivers solid scares, a few lovely moments, and some genuinely wild twists along the way. Whether you’re into supernatural mysteries, fantasy lore, or just looking for a show that knows how to entertain, “Grimm” is a no-brainer. And did I mention it’s free on The Roku Channel? Well, it is!
What’s ‘Grimm’ about?
“Grimm” is a crime drama with a fairy-tale twist. It follows Nick Burkhardt, a Portland homicide detective who finds out he’s part of a long line of “Grimms” — people who can see the true faces of mythological creatures hiding among us. These creatures, called Wesen, look totally normal until they “woge” (basically, shape-shift) into their monstrous forms. Once Nick learns what he is, every case he works starts getting weirder. One minute, he’s solving a regular homicide, and the next, he’s dealing with a suspect who turns out to be a vicious wolf-like Blutbad or a creepy rat creature hiding in human form. The show plays like a regular cop procedural, but with hidden worlds, secret histories, and a supernatural edge that gives every episode a little extra bite.
Grimm
After Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he’s descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as “Grimms,” he increasingly finds his responsibilities as a detective at odds with his new responsibilities as a Grimm.
Other must-stream drama shows on The Roku Channel
If “Grimm” doesn’t sound like the right fit, The Roku Channel has a few more drama picks that are totally worth your time.
Start with “Ransom,” a smart, globe-trotting crime drama that flew under the radar when it first aired. The show follows Eric Beaumont, a calm and calculated crisis negotiator who solves high-stakes hostage situations without ever reaching for a gun. Every episode gives you a new standoff, a new emotional pressure cooker, and a closer look at how these cases mess with the team’s personal lives. Plus, it’s grounded in real-life crisis negotiation, which makes it feel more realistic than your typical shoot-first procedural.
Next up is “Hell on Wheels,” a gritty Western that leans into revenge, politics, and frontier chaos. Set during the building of the first transcontinental railroad, it follows a former Confederate soldier hell-bent on tracking down the men who killed his wife. But instead of just being a revenge story, it builds out this whole grimy, lawless world full of shifting alliances and moral gray zones. It’s violent, dusty, and full of tension. Basically, everything you want from a modern Western.
And if you’re looking for something a little lighter but still in the mystery lane, queue up “Castle.” Nathan Fillion plays a crime novelist who worms his way into helping the NYPD after someone starts copying murders from his books. What starts as a publicity stunt turns into a full-blown partnership with detective Kate Beckett, and their banter is half the fun. The show mixes solid case-of-the-week storytelling with an ongoing will-they-won’t-they that actually pays off.
Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers a broad mix of movies, TV shows, live linear channels, and original programming. Available to all viewers — not just Roku device owners — the service features licensed content from major studios alongside Roku Originals, which include exclusive series, movies, and specials previously produced for Quibi, as well as new original projects developed specifically for the platform.