BLOODY GOOD
Talbot
I’ve made no secret of my love of Russell, though Dennis disagrees, but a big part of that love is due to his hilarious, wonderful marriage to Talbot. I mean, a few hundred years of having the same fights about the drapes wears on anyone, but Russell and Talbot managed to strike a good balance between pissy old married couple and people who genuinely care about each other. Sure, Eric was temptation, but that holds for most everyone in the True Blood universe, Alas, as part of his revenge Talbot had to go. Fare thee well, Talbs. I’ll miss your blood ice cream most of all. -Z
Shirtless, Naked Fan Service
Each week I think this show can’t get gayer and each week it proves me wrong. And let this be evidence to anyone who thinks that being too explicit about homosexuality (especially male homosexuality) will lose you viewers–I don’t know a single True Blood fan who isn’t lapping this up–myself included. While Lafayette and Jesus manage to bring the sweet, it’s Eric’s ad Talbot’s deadly tryst that was something to write home about this week. -Z
Shit’s Coming Together
I know, I know, there are four more episodes. But with Talbot’s death, it seems like whatever Eric’s plan to get back his shiny, shiny crown is (Kill Russell, Wear crown, Look melancholy at Fangtasia while wearing crown?) coming together. I’m sure it will take a bit, but unlike last years constant, dull orgies it’s nice to see a season-long arc that’s engaging, instead of just full of engaging people. -Z
Eric: A Terrible Stripper
Eric’s dour, expressionless face as he “took off his clothes” for Talbot cracked me up. You’d think a guy who worked for hard for this seduction–a guy who owns a strip club–would know a thing or two about selling it with a smile (or even just a smeyes), but I guess not. -Z
Continuity!
Hello Jason’s Fellowship of the Sun gear! It’s nice of you to remember that your plot existed. -Z
Rene!
One of my favorite characters in season one was Bon Temps’ ragin’ (fake) cajun, so it was a bummer that he turned out to be a serial killer, and then a killed off serial killer at that! So it was nice for him to show up in Arlene’s dream (with cajun accent still in tact). As long as Arlene’s Rosemary’s Baby subplot doesn’t take up too much time each week, and gives us further glimpses of of Rene, I’m a-OK with that, cher. –D
Stackhouse Family Reunion
With Gran and Uncle Bartlett offed in season 1, there aren’t many Stackhouses left, so it’s nice to see Hadley (who we saw glimpses of last season and last week) finally get to come to Bon Temps, find out her Gran had died, and have a revealing scene with Sookie. –D
Bill and Jessica in The Matrix
Bill went all Morpehus to the Neo that is his baby vampire Jessica, and trained her to do some fancy, fast, gravity-defying fighting which was fun (that sentence needed more f’s). Also, this lead to one of the episode’s MANY quotables, where Jessica says “no way” and Bill says “way.” It’s the funniest thing Bill’s done since he discovered the Wii in season 2. Speaking of this episode’s copious quotes… -D
The Humor!
I’ve lamented that, save from Jason, there hasn’t been enough comic relief this season, and while this episode moved the plot along at a breakneck pace (yay!) it also had some good lines along the way. Tara told Alcide to “flirt some sense” into Sookie! Hoyt, towering over a snarling Tommy called him “little buddy” (seriously, as Sookie standing next to Alcide or Russell standing next to Eric reminded me, the height differences on this show are quite staggering). Lafayette’s mom’s salty but hilarious quote about what sort of characters are on TV! Talbot telling Eric “I’m bored, take off your clothes” (sometimes this appears to be the motto for the show’s writers, not that anyone’s complaining!). Hell, even Debbie had a funny little Big Bad Wolf reference before busting down Sookies door. You know it’s a good week when even Debbie makes the good list (did she do something different, less white trashier to her hair this week?). -D
More RIPs
I like that this show apparnetly introduced so many characters so that it had more people to kill in any given episode. Cooter, Lorena, and the Magister died last week, and this week it’s poor Talbot’s turn. Still there could be worse ways to die than getting (double entendre alert!) staked by Eric Northman. -D
BITES
Crystal Clearly Boring
Jason’s back to spending time with Crystal. Um, we already have Sookie, do we really need another damn damsel in distress on this show? I’m a bit familiar with Crystal’s backstory in the books, I’d just wish they’d GET THERE already. -D
(UGH. Crystal’s entire plot could just be a text screen reading METH METH METHY METH METH METH WHITE TRASH STEREOTYPES METH. It’s at least be faster. -Z)
[Get it? Her name is Crystal and she cooks meth!? Screw you, Crystal. -D]
Bill and Sookie ReReReReRe-United
Sookie tells Bill they can never be together. He pouts bloodily. She looks through the lamest effing photo album of their coupling (seriously, if even your relationship specific photo album is boring, that’s probably a sign). Then he saves her for the 91st time from near death, and then they do it on a floor. Wash. Blood Rinse. Repeat. Ain’t love grand? –D
(I grew so, so hopeful for a second, only to have it whisked away. I kind even enjoy that their relationship is taking a dark turn, because the show has enough of that. And I’ve had enough of Bill and Sookie. Also, why would you even make a photo album that has one photo!? -Z)
Tara and Sookie’s Friendship
For a show that is theoretically about human relationships, True Blood can be really bad about friendship. Sookie and Tara never seemed like that great of friends. Good acquaintances, maybe, but not best friend. Frankly, Sookie seems to focus everything on her and so it’s no surprise that Tara’s many and real issues get lost in that. For a brief moment I thought that was changing this week, only to have it end with another fight and storm out. Pfft. -Z
Everyone’s PTSD
It seems like there are few people in Bon Temps who don’t have traumatic baggage to deal with and, frankly, it’s starting to get a little unrealistic (ok, it continues to be unrealistic) that no one is seeking out so good old fashioned therapy. Maybe next season one can show up and help everyone deal with their violent, dark lives. It’s sorely needed. -Z
Alcide and Sookie’s Non-Moment
Ok, I’ll admit–after a few nice moments last week, I was hoping Tara and Alcide would become a thing. Instead we get fairly forced, boring flirting with Sookie. The Bill/Eric/Sookie love triangle works because, well, Sookie hs chemistry with Eric. Adding Alcide in not only doesn’t make sense, it falls flat. He’s a nice guy saddled with a pointless plotline and one liners at a woman he doesn’t seem to like that much. Pass. Let’s get Tara her sexual healing instead. -Z
[I didn't necessarily notice the show planting seeds of a Tara/Alcide romance, but I'll sure as hell welcome one. You're right, Sookie has enough suitors as it is, and meanwhile Tara has one that's dead and another that was oh yeah, crazy, then dead. --D]
Stereotype City
Bringing back Lafayette’s mom just reminded me that out of the three black women on this show, two are crazy and one has sever emotional trauma. Plus one is an alcoholic. I get that the show is hardly realistic or gentle with anyone, but can we get some less stereotypical people of color in Bon Temps!? Or more than 5? -Z
Each week Dennis and I assemble a list of our favorite (and least favorite) moments for the latest episode of True Blood.