(Season Two, Episode Eight)
Over the course of the first half of the season, True Blood has slowly diverged into two separate stories: one based in Dallas, and one in Bon Temps. While everyone (including myself) has been talking about how well the show has been doing, tonight’s episode put a very fine point on how one of these stories is significantly more interesting than the other.
Put simply, I’ve completely lost any interest in the Bon Temps storyline. The only thing that Maryann has brought to our favorite little Louisiana hamlet is a confusing, sleep inducing storyline. Sam in jail, Andy gone crazy, and Tara … well, Tara is a castrated version of the character we got to know last season.
In contrast, the goings on in Dallas, both at the Church and Godric’s hive, are a completely different story (literally and figuratively). Between the politics of the vampire world — which look to be completely rocked by Godric’s stance on human relations, and, frankly, rocked by Luke the suicide bomber — it’s a much more interesting storyline. Jason has completely changed his outlook, and his apology to Bill was a big step. And the hug was, well, cute. Lorena has served her purpose and will hopefully be moving on, at least for now, but she provided some nice conflict tonight.
The divide between the two was exemplified, in my eyes, by a series of scenes later in the episode. One, when Maryann forced the physical altercation between Eggs and Tara, and then moments later the line, “There’s no excuse for domestic violence” was spoken in Dallas, completely unrelated to the previous scene. I’m not sure that it wasn’t a piece of dramatic irony, but I’m also not sure that it was. It was just funny that they follow-up the only scene on the show I’ve ever been uncomfortable watching by reminding me why I didn’t like it.
Don’t get me wrong … there’s still a lot more that I love about this show than not, but that which I don’t like is quickly becoming fodder for the fast forward button.
Other stuff:
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Aug 10, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
And…agreed again. CJCubs and I were chatting last night about how the worlds will ever come back together. I can’t imagine it. I can try, but that town has become such a clusterfuck that they are going to have a really hard time making me like any of them ever again (Sam and the poor bastard sherrify guy excluded).
Meanwhile, there’s the vamp storyline which is just off the hook incredibly good. I really do wish that it was the focus of the show. The previews for next week look like it will be very little vamp, lots of Maryann & friends. I can only hope that it means the end of the storyline for them in near.
Jessica’s hymen was confusing… Ok, so she tears it once she’s a vampire and it will heal, that makes sense. But, should such a minor pain really bother a vampire? I liked what they tried to do, but it doesn’t really make sense that she’d be affected by the pain.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think its the emotional component more than just the physical.
I’m loving the vampire plot line. I was pleasantly surprised to see Godric’s character. I wonder if that’s going to induce a change in Eric’s perspectives.
In regards to the cliffhanger, I’m afraid Godric will sacrifice himself or something whilst trying to diffuse the bomb, move it outside, or something.
I agree, we have a tale of two stories here and I for one am sick of Maryann and her totally out-of-control behavior. The whole “Dr. Hannibal Lecter” scenes were too much for me to watch. I had to turn my head more than once to get through that….and then to be treated with the physical abuse of Eggs/Tara…YUK!
Thank goodness for the comic relief of Jason. He never fails to deliver his simple-minded one liners.
Sookie…Sookie…Sookie. I never know whether to love you or laugh at you. The one thing in the show vs the book is Sookie’s character. The show just doesn’t make me want to love her. She is ok, but not nearly as endearing as in the books.
Also, the pasty white makeup on Bill. Why does he look like a vampire that rolled in his Mamma’s biscuit dough and the other vampire just look pale? Seems a bit more attention to one of the primary character’s makeup is in order here!
Oh well, I’m still hooked. My gripes are few, but my loyalty is constant =)
Was I the only one who thought Steve Newlin in his white suit looked like (and even sounded a little like) Jason Lee’s character Azreal from “Dogma?” All he needed were devil horns to pop out from his scull.