Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest — "The Twelve Tortoises (Part II)"

Host: Adam Gidwitz
Date: October 9, 2025
Episode Level: Grimmer

Episode Overview

In this thrilling "Grimmer"-level episode, Adam Gidwitz continues his retelling of the obscure fairy tale “The Twelve Tortoises” to a group of insightful and witty kids. The story picks up with Caroline—a resilient young heroine—on the run from the murderous innkeeper's wife, and it quickly escalates through magical dreams, shocking animal transformations, and tests of courage, love, and endurance. The classroom group actively unpacks the twists, injects humor, and digs into the odd logic and deeper meanings behind the classic fairy tale tropes, making for an engaging and unpredictable storytelling session.

Key Discussion Points & Story Developments

1. Setting Up the Danger

[01:28–04:09]

• Adam reminds listeners that original Grimm tales are “weird and sometimes gross and often scary,” and warns that this episode is “Grimmer.”
• Caroline, the episode’s heroine, is in peril: the innkeeper's wife is plotting to chop her up and cook her into stew for hogs.
• Notable exchange:
  • Caroline (03:26): "Why is this story called the thirteen Tortoises? It says nothing about the tortoises."
  • Adam (03:32): "This story is called the 12 tortoises and we have not met a single tortoise. Not 12, not even 1 yet."

2. The Blue Swan’s Prophecy in a Dream

[04:13–04:39]

• Caroline dreams of a blue swan, who instructs her:
  • Adam quoting the swan (04:39): "...cut off its head, then make your way at once to the top of Glass Mountain. Your brother will be waiting for you there."

3. Escape & Strange Transformations

[05:00–08:14]

• The innkeeper awakens unexpectedly, distracting his wife and giving Caroline the chance to escape out back.
• Caroline finds a massive hog, and following the dream, uses an axe to decapitate it. Shockingly, it’s not the hog but the innkeeper’s wife whose head is cut off!
  • Adam (06:41): “Who can explain what happened?...What is going on?”
  • Caroline (08:08): “I think the innkeeper's wife was the hog.”
  • Adam (08:11): “Somehow the innkeeper's wife was a hog.”

4. Flight to Glass Mountain

[09:23–09:49]

• Fleeing into the night, Caroline persuades a wagon driver to take her to the fabled and dangerous Glass Mountain, the lair of fire-breathing giants.
• Caroline (09:44): “I'll take my chances.”

5. Giants, Fire, and the Mysterious Cave

[12:31–13:28]

• Caroline arrives at Glass Mountain amid trembling ground. Giants threaten her, so she hides in a glass cave.
• Caroline (13:12): “Are coming, and they’re going to see Caroline.”
• Inside the cave is a glowing blue chamber and a gathering of 13 swans.

6. Trials of Courage, Love, and Disgust

[14:15–22:49]

a. Three Deadly Trials

[14:40–17:46]

• The blue swan tells Caroline she must face three deadly trials to find her brother.
• Caroline (14:54, exasperated): "Yes.”
• Caroline’s first trial is to endure the giant’s fire; thinking of her love for her brother, she survives unharmed.
  • Adam (17:46): "So her brother—her love for her brother protects her."

b. The Snake’s Embrace

[17:46–18:24]

• Next, an enormous snake tries to crush her, but Caroline imagines the squeeze as her parents' hug. She survives this, too.

c. The 12 Tortoises Reveal

[19:04–23:04]

• Finally (to everyone’s relief):
  • Caroline (19:04): “Finally.”
• Twelve giant, dirty tortoises lumber in. At first, it's unclear what to do, until Caroline jokes:
  • Caroline (19:54): “A hug? A kiss? Yeah.”
• Hugging and kissing each tortoise transforms them: first her parents, then several strangers, and finally, her brother Elias.
  • Adam (22:31): "She wrapped her arms around the wrinkly neck [...] The creature began to glow [...] and at last, before her stood Elias."
  • Caroline (22:50): "Yay."

7. The Family Reunited—Explanations and Emotional Closure

[23:04–24:54]

• Caroline’s family explains:
  • They were turned into swans and then tortoises by the blue swan after giving her away to keep her safe.
• Caroline confronts her parents for abandoning her.
  • Caroline (24:28): "You said, 'no matter what, we’ll take care of each other.' But you gave us away to the innkeeper’s wife. Why?"
  • Mother (24:44): "We hoped that if we gave you away, you would live. We were taking care of you as best as we could."
• The family acknowledges having all saved and cared for each other.

8. Insightful and Humorous Kid Commentary

Throughout

• The children’s commentary brings levity and modern sensibility to the tale:
  • Caroline (15:13): "Her parents literally sold their children for free. And they're broke, too. So like, I might have had it.”
  • Caroline (22:11): "Please be the brother. I can't handle this kissy stranger thing."
  • Adam (21:03): "I have a question. What is it with the stories so far this year where it's like you just have to keep kissing reptiles and amphibians or something?"

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Adam (01:28): "On a scale of Grim, Grimmer and Grimmest, this episode is Grimmer. Before they get better, things will get worse and bloodier for our brave hero."
• Caroline (03:26): “Why is this story called the thirteen Tortoises? It says nothing about tortoises.”
• Adam (06:41): “What an interesting theory.”
• Caroline (08:28): “I think this is Hoga Yaga.”
• Adam (14:55): "It's like these trials never end, right? Poor Caroline."
• Caroline (19:04): “Finally,” when the tortoises appear—fulfilling the story’s title.
• Caroline (22:50): “Yay,” as her brother finally reappears.
• Caroline (24:28): “You said, 'no matter what, we’ll take care of each other.' But you gave us away to the innkeeper’s wife. Why? Why would you do that?”
• Mother (24:44): “We were taking care of you as best as we could.”
• Adam (25:21): "And they lived happily ever after. The end."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:28–03:45]: Introduction, episode rating, and setup
• [03:26–04:09]: Kids question the title and lack of tortoises
• [04:13–05:09]: Blue swan’s dream message
• [06:41–08:14]: The innkeeper’s wife’s fate revealed
• [09:23–09:49]: Caroline escapes to Glass Mountain
• [12:31–13:28]: Arrival at Glass Mountain, introduction of giants
• [14:32–17:46]: The first and second trials (fire, snake)
• [19:04–22:49]: The appearance and transformation of the tortoises
• [23:04–24:54]: Family reunion and closure
• [25:21–25:52]: Story wrap-up and children's final reflections

Tone and Style

• Adam is simultaneously suspenseful, wry, and warm, encouraging questions and modern, critical thinking.
• The children are unfiltered, honest, irreverent, and empathetic, oscillating between humor and outrage at the story’s darkness. Their comments both highlight and poke holes in the logic and emotional arc of the fairy tale.

Final Thoughts

“The Twelve Tortoises (Part II)” delivers a classic Grimm tale with signature twists, magical transformations, and the raw, relatable reactions of its young audience. The episode stands out for balancing macabre fairy tale elements with insightful commentary and unexpected humor, all capped by an emotionally resonant message of family, endurance, and mutual care.

For more fairy-tale weirdness, humor, and lively feedback from real kids, keep following Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest!