A Reptile Dysfunction

The episode was viewed by 4.59 million people, earning a 0.9/3 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale, ranking third on its timeslot and tenth for the night in the 18-49 demographics, behind Dr. Ken, Dateline NBC, Super Bowl’s Greatest Halftime Shows, 20/20, Last Man Standing, Undercover Boss, and Shark Tank.[1] This was a 16% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 3.81 million viewers with a 0.8/3.[2] This means that 0.9 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 3 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. With DVR factoring in, the episode was watched by 6.80 million viewers and had a 1.7 ratings share in the 18-49 demographics.[3]

"A Reptile Dysfunction" received positive reviews. Les Chappell from The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" rating and wrote, "While that argument can easily be made for both Nick's team and the show as a whole, the first Wesen of the week episode of 2016 forms an effective counterpoint. 'A Reptile Dysfunction' is an example of the format executed well enough that it justifies the format's continued existence, proving the value of a breath of fresh air—or a gulp of fresh water, such as it is—to a season-long story. Grimm benefits from getting out from its end times dogma, reminding the team and the viewers that even though there's one big threat out there it doesn't have to be the only threat they deal with."[4]

Kathleen Wiedel from TV Fanatic, gave a 3.8 star rating out of 5, stating: "Not a lot happened on the Black Claw front, other than Nick's tour of HW's secret base, leaving the bulk of the episode over to the Wasser Zähne and the two Luisant-Pêcheur brothers. So, if you enjoy Case of the Week episodes, this was probably a nice one for you."[5]

Lindi Smith from EW wrote, "Before we dig into this week's episode of Grimm, can we just take a second to appreciate the title of this episode? You know the writers had a good laugh over that one. Good job, writers."[6]

MaryAnn Sleasman from TV.com, wrote, "I'm not going to say that Grimm has jumped the shark with this latest expansion of WTF world-building, but I'm definitely laughing and I can't stop and I'm not taking this show seriously anymore. I can't. Serious Grimm had a good run, but the transformation into quirky comic book theatrics and silliness is complete. And that's okay. There's a place for rubber masks, iffy CGI, and loads and loads of cheese. Batcrap craziness has always been Grimm's bread and butter, even when the series decided to try on the 'grown-up' pants and dabble in deep and meaningful symbolism and real-world parallels. Grimm still seems to think of itself as some kind of fantastical mirror to the real world and I guess in a way it still is. Sometimes I don't know what the hell is happening in real life, just like I haven't been able to make heads or tails or fangs or claws of what's going on in Grimm's Portland this season."[7]

Christine Horton of Den of Geek wrote, "So while more information about Black Claw's monstrous activities comes to light, the show clutches onto the comfort blanket that is a Wesen-of-the-Week story, which while mildly entertaining, served as little more than a distraction from the darker and much more interesting events that are unfolding from the Wesen Uprising."[8]