Despite the fact that this was the ante-penultimate episode of True Blood this season, it really didn’t feel like much happened. The goings on with Eric and Sookie, and her kidnapping, were fairly important. However, when I took stock at the end of the episode, it was the only thing of real relevance (i.e. the main storylines) that took place. Even Sookie finding out what her origin is was lost in the shuffle. That shuffle, as it were, focused on several of the secondary storylines, some of which shined, while others fell flat (or, just expose that there wasn’t really a B storyline this year).
Did you catch how Eric is still concerned about Sophie-Anne’s plans for Sookie? Considering how much I like the Queen, the idea that she might not be completely out of the picture is good news. Between Hadley and her son being on the run, and Sookie, Sophie-Anne still has a game to play. The whole story better not be about vampires wanting to day walk, though. True Blood is better than falling into that particular cliché trap.
I’m still a bit curious on how the math works that Arlene’s baby is Rene’s. I mean, exactly how long was that second season? While the stuff with MaryAnn seemed to last forever, I would have thought the timeline would be different than it actually is.
The stuff with Jesus and Lafayette was interesting to watch, but, ultimately, I wasn’t pulled into what was going on like I would have thought. Other than letting us know that there really is some power between these two (though I doubt it is much), there wasn’t much point to it. I think they could have shown us another way (and by other way, I mean not using that much time to impart the same information several times).
So Sam has a backstory, eh? He was a thief, and shot some people (who were those two actors, anyways?). I still don’t care about him. They’ve done nothing in the better part of three seasons to give me a half decent damn about who Sam is or what happens to him. Or Tara, for that matter. Her and Jason’s kiss may have been interesting last year, but now, it just seems tacked on.
Regular readers of this column know how much I love Hoyt and Jessica, and they now seem to be on the road to recovery. Bernad … I mean Summer has been kicked to the curb, and she saved him (Love how she tossed Tommy, in dog form, into the forest) by sharing her blood. Fairy tales do come true, eh?
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Aug 23, 2010 @ 00:52 EST5EDT
True Blood is too good to fall into a cliché trap? Since when? I thought the point of this show was to fall into cliché traps. All the story-lines are paint by numbers urban fantasy/vampire romance. It’s super cheese cliché pie topped with horrible acting and that’s why I love it.
Keep diving headfirst into clichés True Blood!
Definitely a “put the pieces into place” type episode. You’re right about the minor character’s not having much of a story, as anything involving the meth-dealing shifters isn’t really interesting me right now, but hopefully that’ll change with Crystal revealing herself.
I think the whole day-walking thing will help Eric solve his Russell problem. It’ll come down to a choice as to whether or not to drain Sookie to get revenge on Russell.
Right on the money, Ivey. And you caught my three favorite quotes of the episode – Lame, dimension of trash, blah blah.
There are many characters they can let go unless they bring them into the main stories. Sam, for one, has brought his own storyline into the fray, and it’s boring. Outside the fact that we have nary a human in Bon Temps, it seems to be teeming with murderers. Even nice guy Sam is a cold blooded killer for cash. Disappointing. So much for puppy dog eyes.
Jason gets a pass just because he’s entertaining. That said WTF is up with everyone bending down and reveling in vampire goo?? Seriously? Is that the new favorite special effect on set or what? Two weeks in a row is just overkill.
Tara – ick. I haven’t liked her since … well, she’s never been likable. They need a hell of a lot of back story for me to believe that she and Sookie have been friends all their lives, because they seem about as far apart as best friends can be. They seem to have nothing in common.
Very happy Jessica and Hoyt are working things out, but little brother will no doubt make trouble. Trash. The whole season seems to be themed with trash folk. Outside the vampire stories, trash is theme, right down to the werewolves.
Finally – Eric must know something we don’t for him to be worried about Sophie Ann. Isn’t she still in a giant cage in wedded bliss to Russell? Russell cannot possibly last much longer than next season – that vamp is right off the bend. Just plain crazy.
I was hoping Sam would get into the mix with the main group a little more this year. I mean, they’re going up against werewolves and werepanthers, wouldn’t a shifter fit into that dynamic more than he has? Especially considering how Sam looks down at them
The female actor was Arielle Kebbel, i don’t know who played the male. The stand in for Russel looked so familiar but I couldn’t place him as Navid. He looked different from his 90210 character or even his guest stint on Covert Affairs.
So is Crystal & Co. shifters like Sam? Also I missed where Bill actually called them fairies. I thought he said something else. Oh look, the file is still in my Recycle Bin, I’ll have to go back & rewatch that part.