BLOODY GOOD
Hot Hot Hessica
Last season I remember there being some internet discussion about the role reversal in the Twilight age of having a female vampire and male human for once. Then Hoyt and Jessica broke up a few episodes later and have been sadly apart ever since. Let’s rejoice in their return! Who cares about Sookie offering herself up to Bill for the billionth time, the millisecond we got of Jessica feasting upon Hoyt was more interesting than well, everything EVERYTHING we saw in this episode. (Except the tender Eric and Pam moments, which Zoe highlights). -D

Hate-filled and Angry Sookie
Out of all the Sookie’s we’ve seen, turns out she’s the very best one. I mean, I don’t believe it for a second, but it was nice to see her dismissive “I am through with this shit” talk with Bill in the car. Bill’s desperation played nicely off of Sookie’s very justifiable bitterness and anger. I have a feeling this season is going to end with Sook’s version of “I choose me” and I can’t wait. Of course, they’ve pulled this trick on me before… -Z

Eric and Pam
In a show that seems to require that every character not just be a supernatural murderer, but also attracted to each other, I really love Pam and Eric’s relationship. It has all the hallmarks of a deep, abiding friendship with none of the bull and no forced sexual tension. Plus it highlights Bill’s utter failings as a maker, which I always like. -Z

[Yeah I like Eric and Pam a whole lot too. There aren't enough straight (albeit, occasionally gay for revenge) male/gay female friendships on TV. Are there any? More of this please! -D]

Summer’s Back
And so is Bear! I’m glad not only that America’s favorite nickname returned, but that this might not be the last of summer. And it showed us some more adorable Hoyt and Jessica (sure, this all counts as one thing) which I’m always glad for.

[I am happy this wasn't the last of Summer, or the last of her awesome nickname for Hoyt. I just wish we didn't have to encounter Maxine not to give up on the man she "loves." It was all very Passions. And I don't think this is even the first time I've negatively compared True Blood to Passions this season. If a talking doll shows up, I'm out of here -D]

[Word to that. Couldn't Summer and Jessica just become awkward and hilarious best friends? -Z]

BITES
Jesus and V
So…Jesus has gone from an adorable and principled guy to some sort of warlock with a (potential) V addiction? Great, thanks. Because what this show needed was more drug-involved characters with supernatural powers and less adorable nurses. -Z

Russell Falling for the Trap
Ok, the trap was fine, but really Russell has been around 3,000 years, you’d think he had seen through this painfully obvious ploy a little faster. But maybe I am just sad at the thought of losing my beloved Russell soon (unless Pam’s inevitable rescue also includes him.) -Z

[Yeah Russell fell for that a little too easily. Also, does anyone really think Eric is actually going to die? Anyone? I don't care if this season ends and he's still "presumed dead." Will anyone actually believe it? Besides the wayward viewers of Passions. Hey, look, another Passions reference! -D]

Merlottes, Mickens, My God Who Are They? Who Cares?
Can we write Sam and Tommy consistently from episode to episode once this season? Let me get this straight, Sam became a belligerent alcoholic OVERNIGHT? Well OK. Why? Because he happened to remember that he shot some people back in the day after his brother told him to man up? And then there’s Tommy. He’s gone from being brooding to being nefarious to being “aw Sam, I didn’t mean it, please don’t send me to bed without my dinner” in the course of three weeks. What was he doing at the end of this episode I don’t even remember? Hopefully stealing next week’s script and writing himself a new storyline. -D

[Role reversal on Tommy! While I usually don't like him. I thought his reaction to Sam this week was very much in line with his past as an abused kid. Sam was being abusive and Tommy reacted the way a lot of abused people do. It made sense to me. Less sense: what's his stealing. I think it's the Merlotte's safe? Whatever. -Z]

Uh, Sookie?
To “not be a waitress anymore” I think one first has to show up for work, like, ever. Consider this latest kidnapping your exit interview from Merlotte’s. -Z

Jason Stackhouse Night Lights
Seriously, the football storyline is back? Who thought this was a good idea to keep bringing back? Jason hates a high schooler for breaking a record? I don’t care if he’s taking V. I don’t like him on the V. I do not like him on my TV. I would not like him with green eggs and Sam. -D

[Oh my god, I hated this SO MUCH. Yeah, not a fan of Bon Temps McCoy (about as much of a fan as I am of the original McCoy) and so this was awful. Like, unless Jason murders that guy in the face, I do not care. -Z]

Communal Tara
Remember when Eggs died and then for the next week Tara sucked face (among other things) with everyone in sight? She jumped into the sack with Franklin because her heart was dead and bla bla bla. Then the poor girl got imprisoned and sexually assaulted. Then she got out. And promptly made out with Jason Stackhouse until he told her he killed her boyfriend from last week, she got bummed out, got drunk, and slept with Sam. Alan Ball has joked that next season will take place with every one in therapy. Can we at least put Tara at the front of the line? Because I don’t think that support group with Holly had the desired effect. -D

Sookie: Still a Dumbass
Sookie, if you’re going to continue to be an idiot, you’re not allowed to hang out with vampires. You see, vampires are bad people yes. But apparently, the MINUTE you assume they’re trying to kill you (again) they probably, actually have a plan to save you (again). -D

[In fairness to Sookie (WORDS I NEVER SAY) Bill and Eric are huge dicks who need to maybe try harder to tell her that they are doing good things. Like, seriously, how hard would it be to give her some information for once? Otherwise it's sort of hard to distinguish killing for helping. -Z]

More Useless Crap Please!
I’ll take as much Hoyt and Jessica as possible, but did anyone else get the impression that True Blood was mostly treading water this week? You know when Arlene’s predictable (and prolonged) Rosemary’s Baby storyline is one of the most prominent storylines in the episode, this episode ain’t going much of anywhere. And Arlene’s Rene baby drama wasn’t even half bad compared to most everything else: All the aforementioned stuff (Jason and the football hero, Sam and Tommy), plus Jason and Crystal, Summer and Maxine colluding on a front porch. Even Lafayette wasn’t doing anything interesting. That’s a baaad sign. Hey, why not spend a half hour watching a retired Bud Dearborn wax his hardwood floors? I think that make a good addition to this penultimate pinata loaded full of filler! -D

Each week Dennis and I assemble a list of our favorite (and least favorite) moments for the latest episode of True Blood.