And that whimper is me, trying to figure out what happened to True Blood in the second half of the season. While we saw arguably the best “big bad” that Bon Temps have ever seen this year, the season as a whole, and the finale in particular, just fell flat for me. I’m still a fan, which isn’t an easy thing to say after this finale.
Russell Edgington, the King of Mississippi, and frankly, the scariest thing I’ve seen on True Blood, was just dumped into concrete and buried alive? It is not exactly the most original way to get rid of a vampire, is it? I think he is a character that needs some actual resolution, and not just basically press the pause button on his storyline. Kill the guy, and make Eric have to live with the repercussions that the Authority “promised” wouldn’t come about. At least this means that we’ll probably see Russell in the future.
Sookie needs to make up her damn mind already. I’m on record for not exactly being a big Bill & Sookie fan (I pretty much think that Bill is one of the most boring vampires we’ve seen on television ever), but I think I’d be a much happier fan if we’d move away from this wishy-washy back and forth. Don’t get me wrong — she’s a much more interesting fit with Eric, or even probably Alcide, but one or the other (or the other) please, at some point?
I’ve said before that the tragedy of True Blood was killing off Godric after only a couple of episodes last season. I like that they’ve found a way, several times, to bring him back, but I’m not sure about what his appearance here meant. Godric had an Obi-Wan quality in trying to guide Eric to a better path. That decision, though, will come back to haunt the viking-vampire (and by haunt, I mean try to kill) when Russell makes his eventual return. The bigger question here, though, is what was this apparition of Godric? Has he transcended the true death? Is Eric going cuckoo for CoCoa Puffs? Or did we catch a glimpse at another odd manifestation of Sookie’s powers?
Poor Jason Stackhouse. Not only is he the poster boy for storylines that go nowhere (I’m looking at you, stupid-rivalry-with-high-school-quarterback story), but he also lost his girl, got arrested, and probably will be charged with two murders (two bodies? Phil got shot, but who else died?). Hot Shot is a place I’d prefer never to see again on True Blood. I hope Crystal is back next season, just because I thought the relationship, as odd as it was, worked. Somehow, she managed to be the most normal girl he’s ever been with.
Why does it feel like every week, Hoyt and Jessica are increasingly becoming my favorite part of True Blood. And no, I don’t find it hypocritical that I hate some of the secondary and tertiary storylines and still appreciate Jessica, Hoyt, Terry, and Arlene. It isn’t like a huge amount of screen time has been devoted to these four, but they make the most of every moment.
So in the end, Sookie leaves with the Fae, Tara just leaves (though, unfortunately, probably not for good), Russell is buried in silver and concrete, Jason is in jail, Lafayette is filling out his Hogwarts application, Jessica and Hoyt find a new place to live, Alcide drives into the sunset, Arlene is still pregnant, Sam pulls the trigger, and Bill faces off with a Queen (not named Lafayette). And the audience waits and waits for nine months to roll off of the calendar.
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Sep 13, 2010 @ 13:16 EST5EDT
I don’t know about “True Blood”. I watched the first season, enjoyed it just fine. but somehow it seemed that was enough for me and I had no desire for any more. From what I’ve caught from random reviews and recaps like this one, I’ve not felt the desire to revisit it. Perhaps after the first season (small-town girl falls in love with a vampire named “Bill” along with murder mystery) all the other plotlines of vampire politics and werewolves and shapeshifters and fairies (!) and Tara mad all the time just went too far over the top for me to want to follow. Maybe when season 2 appears where I saw season 1 I’ll pick it up again, but no promises.
I saw season 1 and it was fun. I saw about 5-6 episodes from season 2 and they seemed to have completely lost their way. It became a normal soup, which it really shouldn’t be like that. I can’t believe Alan bell is writing this crap. At first I thought his talent was wasted on it, but it’s become clear he just can’t get into it as much as, the wonderful, Six Feet Under.
Lafayette filling out his Hogwarts application made me laugh out loud..
I have to say though that I am in the process of reading the books and I think the show is much more entertaining than the books. The books are simple- definitely not as much going on. I think the show given its premise is supposed to be fun and unbelievable due to the number of supernaturals in one little town. An hour of mindless entertainment..
That’s an interesting perspective, b/c I came to the books first and couldn’t even tolerate more than a handful of episodes of the show. I love the books (well, they tend to lose their way a bit as the series goes on) and I can’t stand how they portray Sookie’s character in the show … so not my sassy Sookie! I didn’t find anything about the show to be fun, but I find the books infinitely fun. Perhaps it’s just what you know first.
*POST AUTHOR*
Probably. I tried reading the books when I was on that long “vacation” last year, but couldn’t get through the first one.
I’m with Ivey, I couldn’t finish the first book. I’m tempted to skip it & go with the second since my friend says that its a damn good series of books.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks :) I like to get a funny one in every once in a while.
One of my favorite lines of the night was Sam’s…when Terry was blubbering and said, “you know what I mean?” and Sam just looked at him and said, “No, I really don’t, but I’m happy for you!” He delivered that baby really well.
Anyone who thinks cutting their hair is a life altering moment is an idiot. And I hope said idiot never comes back.
The backwoods trash that comes with Crystal is enough to make me never want to see her again, although I’m sure she’ll come back, trash in tow.
I really enjoyed the banter for the first 10 minutes between Eric, Russell and Sookie. If the show had kept that pace for the entire hour it would have been great. Otherwise, I was just underwhelmed. There’s a lot of that going on this year.
*POST AUTHOR*
I missed that. I was probably fighting to stay awake because Sam was onscreen.
GI Jane and Evey from V for Vendetta take issue with your second statement.
I kept waiting for the theme from Deliverance to start playing.
Underwhelmed is the watchword.
I’m very disapointed of these season. I was really waiting for a great finally to caught me back (and i mean, back with the story of the books), the fourth book is the best, and i was really hoping to see that storyline in the next season… but really i have no idea where are they going. I get the fact that they can’t follow the books exacly, but the first season (was the best) got the main storyline almost intact, just keep hoping that they will bring that back in the future.
PS: Hope Tara never returns :)
I’m disappointed with Sam’s story because I actually root for him in the novels (and I think he’s the best influence on Sookie). They’ve destroyed his character (and Tara’s) in the show. Tara…in an effort to flesh out a completely minor character in the series they made her unbearable.
Lafayette used to be one of the best parts of the show. This season he bears a striking family resemblance to Tara — in that I can’t wait until this storyline is over. And I was so excited initially when I heard about him getting a boyfriend!
Not enough Pam in the finale.
Add me to the group like Alex 99, that were able to enjoy the first season of “True Blood” and then dropped it after watching parts of 2 of the later episodes. The comments and reviews I have seen by real viewers, not Hollywod critics, makes me think we made the right decision. I’m still mad that the network cancelled “Moonlight”, that was the vampire show that I enjoyed every show and thought had the most potential to be a “Modern day” hit. I even watched all the reruns on SciFy.
Sarah Newlin is busy dating an older Creative Director at some ad agency called Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. :)
*POST AUTHOR*
Oh, please, say it isn’t so … I’ve avoided watching that show, which was a challenge w/ Christina Hendricks … But now Anna Camp, too?