Television

True Blood – I Will Rise Up

In the aftermath of the suicide bomber Eric takes advantage of Sookie’s good nature. Unfortunately this creates an unnatural attraction between them. Maryanne is on the edge of losing it and is now after Sam full bore. Godric comes to a decision.

A busy episode with three main storylines and then about six other minor storylines in addition.

On the major side we now have the Eric/Sookie/Bill, the Tara/Eggs/Maryanne/Sam, and the Godric storylines. On the minor side we have the Momma/Hoyt/Jessica, Lafayette/Tara/Lettie Mae storyline, Sookie and Jason, Merlotte’s and the intrigue there, Bon Temps and whats going to happen when the vampires return, and finally how the national press is going to spin the Dallas business.

Personally I was fine with the Bill and Sookie relationship. Things are complicated and crazy enough for me already. It was pretty obvious that Eric was going to bull his way into Sookie’s life so I expected this to happen sooner or later. We’ll see how it affects the dynamics.

The Maryanne plot line has run its course and is really dead as a door nail. They really need to bring this sucker to a close. Obviously Maryanne only has power if its given over to her by the individual. See the fact that Sam, Lafayette, and Andy Bellefleur seem to be immune to the mojo. Also the Sheriff did not really succumb until he was beyond tired.

It was sad to see Godric go but in the end it seems he got his humanity back. He and Bill seem to be the only vampire characters that really seem to understand that. I wonder what effect his demise will really have on the overall state of vampire/human relationships. I find it stunningly simple to see through Luke’s suicide bomber bit. What groups worldwide resort to suicide bombings? In this case it is the Fellowship of the Sun. What kind of people resort to this? What parallels can we draw from this?

I wonder what is going to happen with Hoyt and Jessica once Bill gets back? Hoyt’s mother is a really spiteful person. As Hoyt said to her, she is full of hate!

Lafayette is still a great character and I wish he was more involved in the overall story. I’m not sure what can be done for Tara as long as Maryanne is in control. One thing for the portrayal of the Lafayette character is he can be a tough dude when he needs to be. I wonder what Jason will be up to next? He and Sookie have a good talk and I wonder what they can really do to help each other keep the world at bay and stay sane. Sookie’s in really deep now and Jason is like a scrambled egg. It should be fun to see though.

Merlotte’s and Bon Temp’s is in trouble as long as Maryanne is still around. How will the vampires deal with this when they arrive back in Louisiana. I have a feeling it is going to be messy.

I gave this a nine as I dropped a half point each for the Maryanne storyline still being alive and kicking and the direction I knew the Sookie storyline was going. Overall this is still really special television. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Timebomb

Great twists to this story as Godric, Eric, and Sookie take care of things. Jason seems to be straightened out. The Order has been slowed down for the time being based on Godric’s leadership. We have a number of surprises and a surprise ending.

I really enjoyed this episode for the most part as it was somewhat a return to normalcy if True Blood can have that.

The whole ordeal at the Fellowship of the Sun Order was sort of surreal. Reverend Steve sort of got his comeuppance but you knew from the way Luke acted he was going to be trouble in the end. I just didn’t expect that much. Talk about Jihad! I’ll leave any other thoughts on this till next week for those of you who haven’t seen the episode.

Poor Jessica and Hoyt. I really like this couple. I think she’s going to have to get use to that problem she has if they are going to work things out. I must admit though she can’t seem to catch a break and she does seem to be trying hard to be good.

Sam’s in trouble but really Tara’s in more I think. People are starting to realize they’ve been blacking out. You wonder is dumping Daphne’s body in Sam’s freezer really the best Maryanne can do. For being as powerful as she is she really has no foresight. She seems to spend more time fooling around then taking care of business which may be her downfall in the end! What’s with the heart stew?

Boy Sookie is really something. She stands up to everyone. First it’s for the humans against Eric after he promised not to hurt anyone. The it was against Reverend Steve about Eric being chained up on the table. Boy does Steve have a bad attitude by the way. Then she stands up against one of Godric’s seconds. Finally she has a cat fight with Bill’s maker. Talk about getting yourself in trouble! Godric stepping in really saved the day in this case. I loved the description of getting whacked in the head with a 52″ plasma screen TV!

Jason came through in the end. You sort of knew that was going to happen once he found out Sookie was there. He really was very upset about being deceived. Anything The Fellowship knew about Jason before hand was common knowledge and Jason had supposedly repented so I’m not sure why Steve went off the deep end about Jason’s past as he was not aware of his wife’s infidelity. The only explanation is Steve is crazy!

Godric has turned out to be really something as well. He’s turned into a pacifist. Not a bad thing but I would watch out if I were him. Some of his followers don’t seemed to be convinced. Based on his age though I don’t really think he probably needs to worry. He does seem to have evolved and you can understand his thought process. I liked his line about being older than Jesus Christ but he would have liked to know him.

A great episode and full of wonderful stories. The acting was stellar as always and the writers seem to be getting back on track. A very enjoyable time. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Release Me

It seems that everyone is double crossing everyone else. Daphne, Maryann, Reverend Steve, Sarah, Eric, Hugo, did I miss anyone? Bill is trapped by his maker and Godric finally shows himself. Only Hoyt and Jessica seem to be acting civilized.

OK, before I get shot for heresy hear me out. This is truly a great show with tremendous possibilities. It is definitely one of the five best shows currently on television. I believe it has gotten off track in the last few episodes. Where last season it strayed with a few serialized stories this year it has gone over the edge with some really far out stuff. This episode has the same energy and breathed that all of the previous episodes have had but like the last one this show seems to have lost its way.

I can see how someone might think this is great television but its not really that clever. There has been a central theme to the last few episodes. Basically don’t trust anyone else period. Look at Sam and Daphne, Isabel and Hugo, Eric and Bill, Maryann and Tara, Maryann and Daphne, Rev. Steve and Sarah, Sarah and Jason, and I can go on and on. So everyone is betraying everyone else. As I stated, it’s just not that clever. Write a story and have everyone turn on everyone else.

The only two couples that still can trust one another are Sookie and Bill and Hoyt and Jessica but we will have to wait till next week to see how those relationships continue. Eric has totally screwed Bill and maybe ruined his and Sookie’s relationship with this maneuver. Which of course was his original goal as he wants Sookie for himself. We finally find out what or who Maryann is. From the mythology basically she is the fallen ones minion who really shouldn’t have that kind of power over just anyone but they have taken this to the extreme which seems to be a specialty of sorts for this show. It’s interesting that good ole’ Andy Bellefleur might be the hero in the end of this story. I really thought they had been clever with the Maryann character but I think they lost it on this story as well.

It turns out the Fellowship of the Sun is just a hate group (big surprise) and has no affiliation with God or any other religious order. It is basically a front for starting a race war. Not that the vampires are turning out to be any better, but at least they have the excuse that they are vampires. The situation with Jason is a perfect example of how little the Fellowship really knows. They didn’t know that Sookie Stackhouse was Jason Stackhouse’s sister when they are both from Bon Temps?

It should be interesting to see how everyone comes out of all this. Hopefully there will be some semblance of solid storyline soon instead of this all over the place buckshot type approach. Maybe that’s the problem. Too many minor story lines within the three or four major ones. I know I’ll be watching. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Hard-Hearted Hannah

Sookie and Isabel’s human companion Hugo try to infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun. Sam finds out the real truth about Daphne and her relationship with Maryann. Ginger orders Lafayette to sell V per Eric’s orders. Bill’s maker arrives in Dallas.

Things are getting dicey in Bon Temps and Dallas. Maryann is going thru with some sort of ritual involving pretty much the whole town while Sookie is trying to infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun.

As I stated after last weeks episode I had a bad feeling about Daphne. She did show up shortly after Maryann and those scratches mean something. Poor Sam is wrapped up in something I’m afraid is really bad news. You just got the feeling when you saw Daphne as the pig finally. Daphne’s not the same as Sam. Eggs seems like a pawn in Maryann’s game as well and Tara seems not to be able to fight Maryann’s power either.

Lafayette’s situation could be either deteriorating or he could make a remarkable comeback. On one hand he is the shell of a person he once was but on the other hand the vampires have something in store for him. As he said, they could have glamored him but they chose not to and kept him aware of what is going on. Now selling V at their request?

Maryann is one dangerous being. I have to admit that I am not really driven to discover her true nature. This storyline has sort of worn out its welcome. I can see just so many orgies and weird dancing about before it gets to be old hat. They need to reveal the point to all this. Hopefully with the cliff hanger this week that seems to be their plan. This part is reason for half of the points loss that gave this episode an eight. Back in Dallas we finally see the Reverend’s true colors and why Sarah has been acting the way she has. Not that I believed any better of him before but his hatred is finally coming to the surface and overcoming his emotions. Jason and Luke’s discussion was enlightening. What do you think Jason is going to do when he finds out Sookie is trapped in the church basement? Eric’s motives are getting clearer and clearer. Personally I don’t like the direction of this piece of the story either or the part where Sookie is trapped by the Reverend. I sort of get a Perils of Pauline sort of feeling. The heroin gets captured and must once again be saved by her hero who must overcome many obstacles to get to her. If Eric saves her it will not work out and I have a sneaking suspicion that is what Eric has planned. This is the other points deduction for me on this episode that ended up giving it an eight overall.

As for Bill, Marina is back at the behest of Eric and she is pushing her ultimate authority over Bill as his maker. We all know what Bill really thinks of her as he has told us in prior episodes. So how long with she be really able to control him?

Hoyt and Jessica together at last. I am fine with this connection but we’ll see if it ends badly or not. Jessica is not a practiced vampire and with Bill preoccupied there could be trouble.

An interesting episode of a show I love. The only problem is I don’t like the direction of a few of the plot lines as they are getting sort of blurry. Not enough positives and too many negatives. I hope they turn this around next week. I have to give this episode an eight based on those observations. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Never Let Me Go

With Bill, Sookie, Jessica, and Eric in Dallas looking for the Texas area sheriff strange things are happening back home. Maryann and Eggs invite themselves to stay with Tara. Daphne reveals herself to Sam as a shape shifter.

Another entertaining episode with some setup and development for future episodes. The biggest news being Daphne, but the plan to get the Texas Sheriff back sounds a little daft.

So Daphne is a Shape Shifter and she makes the cutest little doe. What’s with those scratches on her back though and is there some kind of relationship between her and Maryann. Somehow I just have that feeling personally. She showed up shortly after Maryann did. So did the beast that attacked Sookie. No we haven’t forgot about that. It seems that Sam has gone whole hog for Daphne and I don’t think he’ll be leaving like he was planning any time soon.

As far as Merlotte’s goes, Lafayette showed up to ask for his job back. Of course he’s not going to say a word about where he’s been after what he went through. Everyone else seems pretty off after all the positive and negative emotions Maryann has been throwing around. One still wonders exactly what she is? A Witch, Emotion Eater, Succubus, etc… Jason’s got himself in pretty deep in more ways than one. In the bathtub with the preachers wife? Of course we all saw that coming but it’s almost as if the Reverend is pushing her to him. I wonder what Jason will do if and when Sookie shows up at the compound? Will anyone else recognize her?

We find out about Eric’s origins. He was a Viking or of Nordic heritage. Not a big surprise with his looks and name. He did seem to know all along that Sookie was going to have to infiltrate the Church. Bill will be going crazy about that as it is going on. Jessica actually seems a little homesick for Hoyt.

Finally it’s a vamp hotel. What was so ominous about the little scene at the end? Are we suppose to be concerned for Sookie with Bill there or is it Jessica we need to worry about more. It should be fun to see. I just remember some of the cliff hangers being duds in the first season.

I thought this episode was a little slow in materializing. By the time half the episode was over not much had really happened. We really found out about Daphne, we now know Maryann is not going to let Tara go, Sookie is in danger in Dallas, and Jason’s situation with the Church. Still it was very entertaining and well worth an 8.5. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Let’s Take a Trip Together

Bill, Sookie, and Jessica are off to Dallas where the Church of the Light tries to abduct Sookie. Maryann throws an orgy for Tara’s Birthday and she gets together with Eggs. Daphne and Sam seem to have hit it off and she knows what he is.

Another great episode similar to the first episode of the season more than the last two but with more action. We see some things completed and some new stories start to take shape.

I am really starting to like Jessica a lot. I hope they are setting us up for a big fall there. Bill and Eric seem to be getting along better not so much because they want to but because they have too. The news about the Texas sheriff was major that a Vampire that old could be taken by humans. I liked Eric explanation for why he helped Lafayette.

Daphne has those scratches like Sookie and the dead woman did but she seems to be fine. She did not attack Sam and she seems to understand what he is. Sam saw the scratches but didn’t react that much to them. It will be interesting to see where this story goes.

Maryann is still bad news and the parties she throws are outrageous. It still is hard to figure out what or who she is. Somehow I am wondering if Daphne and the thing that is attacking people are related to her. They seemed to show up shortly after she did. Now Daphne is after Sam. Tara hooks up with Eggs despite her better sense earlier. It seems she is destined for something Maryann has planned for her.

Things are getting a little stranger with the Church people. Sarah is acting a little strange for a preachers wife especially in front of her husband with another man. They tried to kidnap Sookie and Jason is there. They say he is special. Why? Is Sarah after him or is there something more sinister afoot. What a shock at the end when Barry and Sookie could read each others minds. So there are other people like Sookie and maybe we’ll get to learn a little more in time.

A great episode with a few new story lines and a few older ones moving towards an end maybe quite nicely. Great production values and the acting is superb as always. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Scratch My Back

Sookie is attacked in the woods by some kind of creature unlike anything the humans or vampires have seen before. Sam is thinking about running from Maryann. Bill and Eric save Sookie who in turn saves Lafayette in an agreement to help Eric in Dallas.

rue Blood really hits its Season Two stride with this excellent episode. We pick up a major new plot twist and we find out what really happened to Lafayette. We also see where new characters like Daphne and Maryann are affecting the story.

The creature that attacked Sookie looked like a Wendigo or something of that type based on the silhouette we saw at a distance. Of course the results are nothing like what one would see from that type of creature. This is a creature that plants its own venom in your system paralyzing you so that it can then do its business. Based on what we saw with Daphne at the end it is more than just devouring its prey. Poor Sookie, shes really been through Hell the last six months or so.

Poor Sam, first Maryann shows up and turns his world upside down and now Daphne may just do it even more. He is such a nice guy and seems to attract weirdness in the same way Sookie does. Daphne seems to be out of it most of the time. Maybe that’s a by product of being attacked and then whatever happens to you.

Tara seems to finally got the message that something funny is going on. Someone said that she may be the most intelligent person in Bon Temps if not the most screwed up. She’s not too screwed up enough to not recognize that what was going on at Maryann’s is not normal. It will be fascinating to see in the end what Maryann really is?

Jason continues to be manipulated by forces outside his control. Just when you think he is finally thinking straight he gets pulled back in. It sort of shows you that no one side is absolutely right or wrong but everyone has their own agenda.

I really enjoyed the Jessica/Hoyt part of the show. Both of these characters are trusting people who were looking for answers. In a way Jessica seems to be looking for someone to love her for who she is and Hoyt is looking for someone to care and love him in return. Both of them really hit you as being the monogamous types looking for love.

When Bill returns I think we are expected to see them at least to the point where Jessica has bitten Hoyt, but for once we are pleasantly surprised to see that obviously she really has fallen for Hoyt as they are taking it slow. I like the Hoyt character and it is nice to see a caring trusting person in the middle of all the cynics. I just hope this does not bode poorly for him. It certainly could keep Jessica out of trouble while Bill and Sookie are away in Dallas.

Sookie saves Lafayette in her arrangement to help Eric in Dallas. I personally thought he was now a vampire. I really like his character and wonder what is in store for him next.

Finally Pam and Chow. I get a kick out of Pam in general. Eric says she’s lazy and she wears those pumps out to stomp through the woods. Of course I’m sure her feet don’t hurt but it is still funny to think about that. One of the advantages of being undead! A really great episode with many different pieces to it. Wonderful story telling. That party really turned up the heat. The new monster brings a whole new danger to the world. Acting and production were top notch. I can’t wait for two weeks from now for the next episode. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman