Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest – "The Crabman’s Daughter (Adam’s Secrets Version)"

Host: Adam Gidwitz
Date: September 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special "Adam’s Secrets" edition of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, bestselling author and storyteller Adam Gidwitz retells “The Crabman’s Daughter,” adapted from a bizarre old fairy tale attributed to Franz Ksaver von Schönwerth. Gidwitz, joined by a lively group of child listeners, explores themes of rebellion, gender roles, community, and transformation—all delivered in the show’s trademark blend of wit, interactivity, and just the right amount of spookiness. A “director’s cut” segment at the end gives listeners behind-the-scenes insights into the creation and adaptation of this unique tale.

Spookiness Level: Grimmer (as rated by Adam Gidwitz)

Story Breakdown & Key Themes

1. Setting the Scene [03:45–06:25]

• Small Fishing Village: On the shore of a large lake, the men fish and the women and daughters handle chores. Special emphasis on the “crabman” and his rebellious daughter.

• Introduction of the Crabman: A hardworking, gruff widower, eking out a living by catching crabs.

  • “He was in fact, kind of crabby.” – Adam Gidwitz [05:13]

• The Daughter’s Independence: She shuns traditional roles, prefers running wild, playing pranks, and dreams of swimming in the forbidden lake.

2. Challenging Authority & Traditions [06:25–08:33]

• Forbidden Waters: Swimming in the lake is strictly prohibited due to legends about a monster that drowns swimmers.

• Skeptical Daughter: She dismisses the monster myth, yearning to swim despite the taboo.

• Sexism in Fairy Tales:

  • Crabman urges daughter into domestic roles and marriage. The kids react sharply:
    • “This guy is horribly sexist.” – Child Listener [08:05]
    • “She’s this free spirit and she doesn’t want to go cooking and sewing and marrying someone who will always want to spend time with her.” – Child Listener [08:16]

3. The Midnight Swim [08:38–12:09]

• Defying the Ban: The daughter rallies the village girls for a midnight swim.

• Swimming Revelations: All discover an innate talent for swimming; the daughter glimpses strange, twinkling eyes beneath the water—foreshadowing the lake’s secret.

• Real-World Comparison:

  • “That is very unfair. What if they don’t know how to swim? …for us it's boring swim lessons and hard.” – Child Listener [11:47]
  • Group agrees: Don’t try this in real life; never swim unsupervised! [12:18]

4. Consequences & Sacrifice [12:35–17:27]

• Tribute Day Catastrophe: The day after the midnight swim, no fish are caught—unprecedented for the village.

• The King Arrives: With no tribute, he demands a daughter as a wife. The crabman’s daughter is chosen.

  • “You have your tribute.” – The crabman's daughter, after emerging with giant crabs [18:43]

• Rebellion and Outrage:

  • “Girls are not toys. They are living beings. You can’t just take one and claim them—we are women, and we are terrifying. So be afraid.” – Child Listener [19:58]
  • Much laughter and solidarity among the kids, openly critiquing outdated gender dynamics.

5. The Forced Wedding and Transformation [23:37–28:15]

• Mass Wedding: Kings from afar come to marry village daughters.

• Horrific Transformation: During the ceremony, daughters sprout scales and gills, revealing their new mermaid identities.

  • “They’re getting gills.” – Child Listener [25:04]
  • “These fish women must be killed. Roasted like fish.” – King [25:23, 25:32]

• Sea Monster’s Rescue: A giant mermaid emerges, extinguishes the pyre, and offers a watery bridge into her jaws, saving the girls.

• Speculation and Imagination:

  • “They just got eaten. It’s a secret base.” – Child Listener [28:19, 28:20]

6. Epilogue: New Lives, Reversal of Power [28:31–30:47]

• Kings’ Defeat: Humiliated and terrified, the kings flee and never return.
• Mermaid Reunion: Daughters, now mermaids, help their families from the lake, bringing prosperity and joy to the entire village.
  • “From then on, the fishermen of the little town by the large lake would go out every day and they would bring their wives too, and their daughters would throw them fish...and they lived happily ever after.” – Adam Gidwitz [30:02–30:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gender Roles:

  • “She doesn’t want to be a wife. Yeah, did you just hear her? … I’d rather marry one of those dead crabs!” – Child Listener [17:27]

• On Feminism:

  • “Girls are not toys. … We are women, and we are terrifying. So be afraid.” – Child Listener [19:58]

• On Adaptation Creativity:

  • “That’s one of the just coolest things that’s happened on one of these episodes. Cause it was not at all planned. They just felt this stuff.” – Adam Gidwitz [36:54]

• On the Story's Weirdness:

  • “A giant mermaid comes out of the water and they all walk into her jaws, which is just the most von Schönwerth thing I’ve ever heard in my life.” – Adam Gidwitz [31:10]

Director’s Cut & Behind the Scenes [31:36–37:12]

Adam reflects on why this is one of his favorite episodes:

• Original Tale vs. Adaptation:

  • Original story called “The Jaws of the Merman.” Changed to mermaid for a feminist twist, inspired by both his co-writer (Ali Horne) and the strong reactions of the child listeners.

• Pandemic Production:

  • Episodes were recorded over Zoom with kids from across the US and even Canada—distinct voices added richness.
  • Special appreciation for the girl who “brought back crawdad remains from the river,” and the spontaneous feminist responses.
  • “They just became enraged and they wanted to fight…When one of the girls shouts ‘we are women and we are terrifying,’ I was like, oh my gosh. That’s one of the coolest things that’s happened...” [36:58]

Highlights by Timestamp

• 03:45–06:25: Introduction of setting, characters, and taboo
• 08:38–12:09: Girl-power midnight swim, subverting village rules
• 15:15–17:27: The king’s ultimatum; daughter’s dilemma
• 19:45–21:09: The kings’ arrival, attempted forced marriages, daughters' resistance
• 25:04–28:15: Spectacular transformation and dramatic rescue by the mermaid
• 30:02–30:47: Uplifting epilogue—mermaids, family unity
• 31:36–37:12: Adam’s heartfelt “director's cut”: adaptation decisions, kid input, and what makes this story special

Tone, Style, and Takeaways

• Lively & Interactive: Full of spontaneous kid commentary, laughter, and dialogue.
• Empowering & Subversive: The story is an unexpected anthem for independence and defiance against oppression, with the children quick to call out injustice and celebrate the heroine’s courage.
• Classic “Grimmer” Vibe: Weird, dark, funny, and ultimately triumphant—true to the original Grimm spirit, with a modern edge.

Final Thoughts

The Crabman’s Daughter stands out as an episode where tradition is both honored and thoroughly upended. It’s an invitation for listeners (young and old) to embrace curiosity, champion equality, and recognize the strange and wonderful power of both classic tales and collective storytelling.

“We are women, and we are terrifying. So be afraid.” — Child Listener [19:58]