Summer Catch Up: True Blood

Editor’s Note: Here’s a double dose of Billie Doux’s summer True Blood reviews. Make sure to check out her site www.billiedoux.com for her most recent True Blood commentary.

TROUBLE:
BILLIE DOUX
I gotta say, my favorite part of this season so far is lunatic vampire Franklin Mott and his obsession with Tara. It’s not like this sort of thing is funny in real life, because it most certainly is not, but Franklin manages to be totally creepy and freaking hilarious at the same time. As was Tara finally figuring out that she could manipulate him, only to have it backfire on her. The supertexting had me laughing like a loon. So did Talbot treating Tara like a house cat. One of the things I love about True Blood is that you just don’t see stuff like this on television.

It’s no secret that I’m an Eric fan, and yes, I’m happy that his character is front and center this season. But this week’s developments had me going, what? The wolf stuff goes back over a thousand years? Was Russell controlling a pack of wolves that long ago? Okay, it does explain why Eric and Godric were hunting Russell back in the forties. And Eric as a human was a drinker and carouser? That scene was almost exactly like a similar one in Angel. And Eric was a king? Actually, I’m okay with that, since he looks and acts like one. But without going book spoilery or giving details, the massive differences in Eric’s backstory are really bugging me.

Anyway, moving right along. I’m not going to speculate on what Sookie’s magic purple force is because I’ve read the books, and sometimes Alan Ball goes with the book stuff and sometimes he doesn’t. But Russell seems to suspect. Bill has been unsuccessful in keeping Sookie safe from Russell. Fortunately, Eric is already in the mansion and jonesing for thousand-year-old payback. Revenge is a dish best served cold, as the Klingon proverb goes.

Alcide told Sookie, “Pack isn’t a democracy. Most weres don’t have much sense. You saw. They’re all teeth and fight and sex.” That explains why Alcide can’t see through a toxic woman like Debbie Pelt — no sense. Maybe that’s why I’m just not into the weres, even with Alcide’s indisputable hotness. He’s just not my type. Eric is my type. They’re polar opposites, in more ways than one.

I’ve figured out what’s bugging me about this season. There’s too much going on. Too many plot threads, too many characters, and with so many to cover, the ones I find really intriguing and fun aren’t getting enough screen time. Like Jessica, for example. One brief scene of her glamoring people to stiff Arlene on the tip was hilarious and so very Jessica, but that’s all we got. Plus a brief hint that Hoyt is over and Tommy Mickens might be in Jessica’s future. Tommy thinks Jessica is too hot for Hoyt. He’s probably right, but I like Hoyt. Can a vamp date a shifter? It seems like mixing species or something, like a cow dating a rabbit.

And speaking of Tommy, what has Joe Lee been doing to him? I thought at first it was physical or sexual abuse, but that doesn’t fit. I can’t remember where I read it, but someone theorized that Joe Lee has been entering Tommy in dog fights. That makes sense, and would explain all of Tommy’s terrible scars. How horrible. Actually, it’s horrible when it’s just dogs, too. Maybe Sam was lucky, after all

I GOT A RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES

Tell me what you are.”
Sookie: “I’m a waitress.”
Russell: “Yes, and I am Marie of Romania.”

When I begin a review, I usually start with the prevailing theme of the episode. This one was such a violent jumble that all I could think of was half-naked men and a whole lot of blood. And did you notice that all of the violence was inflicted by women? Not what I would consider a valid feminist theme, but it was a nice change of pace.

Again, I have to give gold acting stars to Stephen Moyer. I’m definitely not a fan of torture scenes, and since it was an integral part of the third book, I knew it was coming. But instead of the usual torture scene cliches, Bill kept Lorena off balance by showing compassion for the human being she once was. It wasn’t exactly charitable; I’m sure he was trying to get her to kill him. But again, instead of a one note performance of vicious unreasoning evil, Lorena reacted with tears. She was horribly upset and confused. It was effective and even sad, seeing two vampires who once loved each other come to this point. Surprisingly well done.

And how appropriate that Lorena tortured Bill in the slave quarters, since it said a lot about their relationship. Completely different from Eric’s relationships with both his maker and his progeny. Is Russell Lorena’s maker? They’ve never said, have they? Did I miss it?

As Lorena was tearing into Bill, Tara was tearing into Franklin. When she went for the spiky medieval mace thing, I kept thinking, no, Tara! Grab the axe and chop off his head! Even though I really didn’t want her to kill Franklin, and I somehow doubt that he’s dead. And he’s not going to be happy with Tara after this. I mean, he shaved for her and everything.

Sookie’s conversation with Russell was interesting, but lacked a conclusion. At least she held her own, even in the face of possible torture. (That tough girl theme again.) We did learn that Russell is three thousand years old and clearly, he hasn’t lost his voie de vivre. And we know his ultimate agenda now. Like Lex Luthor, he wants to kill a lot of people and take over the world, make it like it used to be in the good old days before overpopulation, pollution and climate change. Good luck with that, Russell. I don’t think the American Vampire League will approve. Or then again, maybe it would.

It’s hard to tell how Eric feels about anything or anyone, with some obvious exceptions. He loved Godric. He loves Pam. (Only Eric knows what he thinks of Bill.) I believe Eric cares for Sookie, and only acted like she meant nothing to him so that he wouldn’t give Russell a hostage. And of course, he wants revenge on Russell. So it seems unlikely that Eric just changed loyalties and turned gay all of a sudden. Gee, could it possibly be a ploy? Russell appears to be falling for Eric’s seductive wiles, but who wouldn’t? How far is Eric going to take this? I can imagine that a vamp as old, cold and smart as Eric isn’t going to flinch at seducing a man he despises to get what he wants.

Jason’s new love affair ended abruptly when he took flowers to Crystal’s door and discovered she already had a fiance. Jason should move on, although I doubt that he will. While they were having splendor in the grass, Jason observed that Crystal was really warm. Weres run hot. Aha. And what was the point of Jason beating up that kid who reminds him of himself a few years ago? Okay, I might have answered my own question there.

You know what? I’m not interested in Jason and Crystal. Moving right along.

More dueling redheads! Jessica showed compassion toward Arlene, who can’t seem to help being prejudiced against the undead. And just when I thought Jessica was evolving, she bit that nasty woman in the ladies’ room. At least she didn’t kill this one, so good for Jessica. I just wish she were getting more screen time this season.

We were right about Tommy and the dog fighting, although I didn’t see Mama coming. The fact that it’s a really sick family business makes sense, though. Poor Mama. Joe Lee has got to go down