True Blood lays an egg

There’s not a whole lot I have to say about the penultimate episode of True Blood. Sure, going into finales, often times you can get a filler episode or two, but I don’t necessarily think that’s the problem here. All season long, there has been a divide between the story in Bon Temps and the story in Dallas. Last week, when everyone was back in town, the show suffered for it. This week, to be honest, was more of the same.

I’m beginning to think it had less to do with the plots and more to do with the characters. As much as I may not be a big fan of Bill, I think that those that were left in Bon Temps might be more deserving of criticism. Admittedly, Sam and Tara were the only main characters in that storyline, but much as been done to completely ruin Tara, and ironically since he’s the target of the big bad, marginalize Sam.

The saving grace of this episode was the all of the subtle (and not so subtle) setup for next season:

• The Vampire Queen Sophie knows Bill too well, and knows too much about Sookie and Bon Temps for that not to be relevant
• Sookie’s cousin Hadley — half mentioned somewhere along the way — is in Sophie’s court, and Bill knows (which is going to be a point of contention with his lovely girlfriend)
• The reminder of Eric selling vampire blood through Lafayette (and probably others), and wanting to keep it from Sophie
• The continued repercussions of Eric’s relationship with both Lafayette and Sookie

There was other good stuff, too, especially with Jason and Lafayette. One’s trying to save the town, while the other is more concerned with his cousin. Jason has the right intentions, but just lives at a different speed as everyone else. I’m sure his life, as he told Terry, wasn’t easy, but I doubt his porn research was that taxing. Lafayette has been through the hell of Eric’s basement, and still hasn’t recovered.

You’ve got to wonder whats going to happen with Hoyt and Jessica. Where does their storyline go from here? Yeah, they’ll reconcile after Hoyt’s mother has diarrhea of the mouth, but how do they integrate into storylines in the future? I have doubts (hopes?) that Bon Temps won’t be the primarily setting going forward, and I wonder what will happen to the characters left in town (especially in light of this season).

Other Stuff:

• I love Sophie! I think she, like Godric, was not what people expected, but I liked that in both of them
• Jason walking into the tree was Hill. Larry. Us.
• Lafayette’s PTSD recurrence … That story here isn’t over
• Eric in a dress!
• Speaking of Jason, he can actually read?? Or did he just get the (outstanding) audiobook of World War Z?
• Lafayette’s look when Sookie says that she, too, is working for Eric
• Loved the sheriff dancing in his boxers
• Wow he was creepy with Arlene’s kids, but also:
• Holy frak, Eric can fly?
• And what was up with the egg?

Next week is NOT the season finale, but I’m sure a repeat (or marathon of repeats) will air Labor Day weekend, so don’t tune in and end up all disappointed (like I’ve been the last two weeks). As a friend of mine said, the finale that will hopefully be the final for MaryAnn airs in two weeks.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Aug 31, 2009 @ 00:22 EST5EDT