Bad Luck (Grimm)

The episode was viewed by 4.78 million people, earning a 1.1/4 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale, ranking second on its timeslot and sixth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind 20/20, Dateline NBC, Last Man Standing, an NCAA game and Shark Tank.[1] This was a 2% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 4.86 million viewers with a 1.1/4.[2] This means that 1.1 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 4 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. With DVR factoring in, the episode was watched by 7.38 million viewers and had a 2.1 ratings share in the 18-49 demographics.[3]

"Bad Luck" received positive reviews. Les Chappell from The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" rating and wrote, "'Bad Luck,' the show's return after a month-long hiatus, is an episode that is representative of the groove that Grimm has found itself in. The episode is largely a monster-of-the-week affair, in this case establishing the barbaric tradition that the left feet of a rabbit-like Wesen called Villeharra are considered potent symbols of luck and fertility. A hunter is doing good business marketing to desperate couples looking to conceive, farming a Villeharra family whenever he gets a new client. For an episode that's got an innately silly idea behind it, there's some genuinely good horror beats it gets — particularly early on, when the combination of axe-wielding murderer and teenager in letter jacket recreates the slasher movie beats and does so without being campy."[4]

Kathleen Wiedel from TV Fanatic, gave a 2.3 star rating out of 5, stating: "Just when things were going so well, the writer pulled an episode like this out of their hats. Many fans, myself included, have been very excited by the Juliette storyline, with her finally gaining fantastic new abilities that would allow her to not be a victim in every other episode. On Grimm Season 4 Episode 14, however, it was like they took all those wonderful possibilities and threw them out the window."[5]

MaryAnn Sleasman from TV.com, wrote, "Grimm has never really taken the stance that being a Wesen is totally awesome, but just in case there was ever any doubt, 'Bad Luck' made it clear that Wesen life isn't exactly easy. If it's not the Wesen Council scaring your average Wesen straight, then it's other Wesen hunting their peers or upholding ancient blood feuds, and then, of course, there are the Royals. Not all Wesen are so obviously powerful as a Blutbad or as terrifying as a Hexenbiest; some Wesen are more easily preyed upon, and it's these Wesen, our Baurschwein and our bunny rabbits, that Grimm turns to when it wants to illustrate the injustices of Wesen society."[6]

Christine Horton of Den of Geek wrote, "Grimm returned from yet another mid-season sabbatical to deal with the fallout of Nick's discovery that his girlfriend is a right witch."[7]