It’s great the way nearly every episode of True Blood this season picks up right where the last one left off. Thus in the opening seconds this week, we heard Gabe’s neck make a celery-crisp snap-sound in the hands of Godric, who’d come to Sookie’s rescue.
Yet oddly enough, the increased presence of Godric in this week’s episode (oh, for heaven’s sake: SPOILER ALERT!) actually decreased some of the suspense for me. As the hour proceeded, I realized that nothing drastic was really going to occur — none of the central characters was ever in real danger — because they were in the presence of Godric, who could whirl over super-fast and save whoever needed saving. Which is not to say the hour was dull; not when a vampire says to a human, “You’re no more than a blood bag!”
Speaking of saving, Rev. Steve risked his mortal soul defying Godric. You have to hand it to Steve; he’s been cuckolded and paintballed by Jason; he saw a mighty display of power by Godric, Eric, and a passel of vampires led by a black-hatted cowboy, all right inside his own church; and he still had the nerve to proclaim to Sookie, hilariously, “The war has begun, you evil whore of Satan!”
This edition, directed by John Dahl, was primarily a Bill-Sookie-Eric-Jason affair, with a side-dish of Sam barely simmering. The only other tale of note was the extravagantly creepy Maryann subplot. At this point, Maryann is always good for creepiness, and this time out, she baked dead Daphne’s heart into a “hunter’s souffle” and served it to an unwitting Tara and Eggs. Their reaction was effectively disturbing: their ravenous eating of the dead soul’s heart led to a mixture of pleasure and pain. The couple had the hots for each other and wanted to smack the bejesus out of each other at the same time, as Maryann looked on in malicious glee.
Indeed, the theme of this episode was about power: unleashed and constrained. Bill finally freed himself from his maker, Lorena, but not before, as she so amusingly put it later, he “hit me with a 52-inch plasma television…such shenanigans.” Bill’s arrival at Sookie’s side came a little too late for an angry Sookie, who had to be grateful to Eric for arriving before Bill to try and rescue her. And it was a great episode for Eric, wasn’t it? Alexander Skarsgard is excellent at playing barely restrained contempt for any kind of order or command, whether it’s coming from someone he doesn’t respect (Sookie, Steve) or worships (Godric).
And hands down the funniest moment of the season occurred when Jason took Bill aside to apologize and give the moody vampire a big hug. “Was that OK for you?” asked Jason, as Bill looked even more pale than usual, this time with embarrassment at this public display of male affection.
The joke was a fine one for a series populated most copiously with handsome male stars. And tonally, it was a perfect contrast to the night’s cliff-hanger: Luke — idiotic, deluded, hunky Luke — showing up at the vampire shindig, his body rigged with enough time bombs to make someone in The Hurt Locker start sweating nervously.
What do you think will happen when the bombs go boom? Will they go boom, or will Godric waft over swiftly and snuff them out? And what were your favorite moments of this week’s True Blood?
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Without a doubt, the Bill/Lorena exchange. As for the cliffhanger, I’m thinking the bombs will go boom.
Yeah the bomb will definitely go boom. As long as Eric, Bill, Sookie, Jason, and Godric are ok. I’ll be ok
oh i agree totally!
The bombs will go boom! Did your heart go out for poor Hoyt and Jessica? Forever virgin! Ahh! Mary Ann just plain creeps me out now. What a great episode! I am a reader of the books and now people complain on here all the time about spoiling stuff…but let me tell you I have enjoyed both art forms equally! I am on the edge of my seat just like eveyrone else…bring on my were-friends!
I agree with you. I’ve read every book and still enjoy the series very much. I’ve even got my son watching the series and he hasn’t read the books but will eventually. What’s stopping him right now is the fact that there are 9 books so far with the 10th coming out in October. Eric has always been my favorite.
I agree as well I have read all 9 books and Eric is my favorite. I like the show but the books are definatly better
I agree also. Eric is by far my favorite. I have read all 9 books plus all the short stories. At first all the changes annoyed me, but now I’m just trying to enjoy the show for what it is. Your son should try reading the books, they are fast reads. The 10th book isn’t coming out until May 2010. The book coming out in October I’m pretty sure is the collection of all the Sookie short stories that were previously released in various anthologies.
Actually, in October they are coming out with a complete compiltion of all of the books so far, while a tenth one is coming out in May, 2010. Sadly. Hahaha
i love both the show and the books are fantastic — i almost prefer the books though for more details that are left out or changed in the show — i cant wait for the werewolves to come into play as well as more interesting creatures show up
Yep…agree on all points. I really enjoyed some of the changes from the books Mr. Ball did last night. Like Luke coming in with the timebomb (it happened differently in the books, but it will have the same result I imagine) …how exciting! But I really LOVED how I can see that AB is developing Eric more into the Eric us book readers know and love. The line about “Don’t use words I don’t understand” was SO ERIC!. Eric is a big sweetie deep down and Alan Ball is starting to show that more and more with every episode. Get ready Bill fans…you are going to have a new love soon!
are you guys serious? those books are some of the most poorly written, cheesy things i’ve ever laid eyes on. appealing characters and exciting immortals does not a good story make. the author still needs at least a little talent. the show trumps the books any day, as i’m sure any of it’s writers could have done a much better job with the books than their mediocre (at best) author.
OH heck no!! I love the books so far but dislike all the liberties they have taken with the show down to how they have certain characters survive or how weak they make Sookie out to be – I much prefer the books over the show any day.
I agree, the books are really poorly written. The show is so much better than the books, AB did a good job.
Have you even read the books??
I cannot agree more. Charlane Harris makes Stephenie Meyer look like frackin’ Tolstoy.
These books are very well written. And more than that the character development and consistent world she created is what gives Alan Ball so much to work with. It’s not supposed to be literary writing and it’s a blast to read. Charlaine harris writes fun and engaging books.
Could not agree more! I just bought the first book out of curiousity since I loved the show so much, and I am having a hard time overlooking how poorly written the book is. It’s good material, but a very choppy read. I hate to say it, but it almost reminds me of how poorly the Twilight series is written… Thank goodness Alan Ball saw the potential in the story and didn’t stick strickly to the books.
I agree that the books are mediocre. I bought the first three and read them. I thought they were awful.
Absolutely. I read the first book because I loved the series so much and thank goodness that I did it in that order. I’d never have watched this amazing show had I read that craptastic novel first. Perhaps they get better but the first one was so bad I have no intention of subjecting myself to more to find out.
The books are written from the perspective of a 20-something, southern, uneducated barmaid. The descriptions and the sarcasm…are fantastic because they’re in character.
I read all 9 books this weekend (I was bored) and I was shocked, yet pleased by some of the changes made with the show. Eric’s maker in the books is not Godric…and Godric in the books is no pacifist. Jason is a jerk. Tara non-existent. The maenad nothing but a subplot. It’s nice to see the differences – but I can appreciate them for two separate (but wonderful entities).
My moment in this week’s True Blood had to be Eric trying to be southern and goofy. Cracked me up to no end and my hat’s off to Alexander Skarsgaard.
I thought the first book was tough to swallow, but after that, I don’t know if they got better, or I was just so invested in the characters…can’t wait for the new one! So if the first one was tough, stick it out…I think it’s worth it!
Couldn’t disagree with you more. I’ve read pretty much everything Charlaine Harris has written and I love it all for different reasons. The books are fun and engaging. The characters are interesting and focused…I love both the show and the books, but given a choice, the books would come first.
Thank you agent227 and gunnergrrl for pointing out the obvious. I can stomach a lot (Heck, I made it through all of Twilight for *s sake) but I simply cannot get beyond a single paragraph in the books. I tried different books and different pages, I even fast forwarded to Eric/Sookie sex scenes and my best reaction is helpless laughter. Kudos to Alan Ball for reading all of them and catalyzing the potential beyond the horrific writing!
I love Hoyt and Jessica. I feel so sad for her, but Hoyt loves her all the same!
The bomb does go boom (see preview for next week). I think Eric will save Sookie in the seconds before the bomb goes off.
Conceivably, couldn’t Bill bury all the vampires and they would eventually heal?
i think Godric will save the day maybe with his own life or….the bombs won’t go off. My fave parts were Sookie and Lorena fighting-and Sookie not backing down and Jessica’s hymen keeps growing back – and that whole scene.
LOVED when Eric tried to impersonate a member of the Fellowship of the Sun. It was great to see Alexander Skarsgard break out of his typical character.
That was freaking hilarious.
He was great, it looked like he was doing Jim Carey from Ace Ventura. We rewound the DVR 3 times just to watch him walk across the floor to them!!
I love the ‘don’t use words we don’t understand’ scene with Eric and Sookie.
Godric is absolutely awesome! I’m afraid he got killed by the bomb. With someone as powerful, good and wise as Godric, how can anything bad happen. So the screenwriters will kill him and create a vampire civil war. I’d like to see Godric again though. He’s awesome. The screenwriters had the good sense to keep Lafayette.
I too think that Godric is absolutely awesome! He may not be destroyed by the bomb. Yet there is a rumor that he will claim responsiblity for the vampire casualties, and self destruct. I certainly hope that he will stay around as a regular.
His danish website says he’s only in 3 episodes. And his character is a huge departure from the books so I have no idea what will happen. I kind of like that.
I think there’s been some hinting that Godric won’t be hanging around. He keeps refusing blood, saying he doesn’t need as much anymore (yet Eric keeps noticing Godric is paler than usual). I can see him pulling the redemptive card and “meeting the sun”.
The reason Godric doesn’t need much blood is because the older a vampire gets, the less he/she needs to sustain “life.” Godric is around 2000 years old and thus doesn’t have to feed like a newly turned vamp. It isn’t that he plans to wither away. But, he needs to sacrifice himself somehow…
I agree. In my imagination, Godric dies when he embraces Luke to save the rest of the nest. The bomb explodes and Godric takes all the silver shavings. And so finally war begins.
Agreed that Godric is going to die. He was too much of a pacifist to allow what’s been previewed as the “human/vamp war” for the second half of the season. It’s the most logical way to get to that point.
I agree – then with him gone, the new sheriff in the area can be someone evil. My vote, judging from the previews of the next episode, will be Lorena (how she was sitting in that gold dress in a big chair all exalted and smiley).
There is no question Godric will sacrifice himself to save the others… he was great!
Favorite part was Sooky & Lorena’s fight.
Totally loved the girl fight between Sookie & Lorena! Sookie’s got some spunk!
Love Eric, can’t wait to see him & Sookie together. Turns out Alexander is Stellan Skarsgaard’s son – i’m hot for them both LOL
He is the eldest son. when stellan was younger, he was the skinny version of alex.
he won’t get together with Sookie.
The producer said that the show will focus on Bill and Sookie and ALWAYS will.
BUT… Eric’s still good to look at.
On the contrary… if you saw the comic con panel, AB said he was going to STAY with the story line from the book in regards to the love triangle. I’m not sure if you’ve read the books, if you haven’t then you should know they in fact do get together. cheers…
Alan Ball said in the latest issue of EW that a “new relationship will be born in season 3″ with Eric and Sookie!!!
Well, my tv is telling me different b/c it definitely looks as though Eric/Sookie is going to happen. Perhaps Alan Ball is just full of crap when he says B/S is “the heart of the show” and doesn’t want people to know how closely some of his storylines will follow the books. The triangle is just too big of a plot point to ignore.
someones in denial…Even Alan Ball learned that he couldnt ignore the eric/sookie storyline. You should read the books and come into the light and join team eric!
Too bad, just like in the books, Bill is a huge yawn. Could his character be anymore boring?! If Sookie wants silence, she could hook up with a Pet Rock and have better conversation. Ugh. Maybe they’ll change their minds and bring in an altogether new (and interesting) character.
I am so in Team Eric’s camp! And I really hope that AB sticks to the love triangle from the books. Mess with anything else but leave that alone. I love both the books and the show but I need some S/E loving! Bill is such a bore!
I think you’re missing it. Alan Ball said the show will focus on Sookie and Bill. Not the Sookie and Bill relationship. That’s because Bill keeps the vampire story involved and Sookie keeps everyone in Merlotte. The story can still be about Sookie and Bill even while Sookie and Eric get together.
Sorry meant everyone in Bon Temps is kept around by Sookie. The damn town is at Merlotte’s too much.
I think Godric does die because he was making too much sense for peace.
“someone he doesn’t respect (Sookie, Steve)” What are you talking about? Eric does respect Sookie…that is the whole point. He is interested in her because he respects her and that is something he has never done…respect a human. Are you even watching this show? I wish we could get someone on EW doing a real review.
Go cry in a corner.
The reviews are getting a little better, although he still doesn’t seem to have a clue.
Daemons and TV Fodder recaps are better written and more livley.
I agree, the author of this article is missing one of the main themes of the entire show….very disappointing
Cookie thank goodness someone said exactly what I was thinking. Eric respects Sookie. I can’t relate to his feelings for Godrick because the books are different, but I hope he keeps building that relationship between Eric and Sookie. Plus did you see Bill try to get Sookie to leave the church but she wont until she lets Eric free.
I just wonder why Ken Tucker hates Psych so much. That definitely deminishes anything he writes a few notches.
Completely agree. Sometimes I wonder if Ken Tucker is even watching the same show. He and AB seem to be drinking the same Bill kool-aid.
Whats the deal with AB’s fascination with Bill and Sookie. I know he isn’t following the books completely but she grows up so much by going through the love and heartache of her relationship with Bill and keeping her exclusively with Bill keeps her to one sided and little girlish. It would be fun to watch her develope feelings for Eric, feelings based on life experience….not to mention Quinn and Alcie. Maybe someone should spike his Bill Kool-aid!!
“You have to hand it to Steve; he’s been cuckolded and paintballed by Jason; he saw a mighty display of power by Godric, Eric, and a passel of vampires led by a black-hatted cowboy, all right inside his own church; and he still had the nerve to proclaim to Sookie, hilariously, “The war has begun, you evil whore of Satan!”– Seriously? I don’t think Tucker watches this show, the “Evil Whore of Satan” comment came BEFORE the Dallas Vamps arrived, BEFORE he knew Jason had hooked up with Sarah, BEFORE he was shot with the paintballs- PLEASE EW- have someone who actually likes and watches this show do the recap!
I thought this was kind of a slow episode, unlike last week’s which was full-packed. I liked the episode but can’t say that it’s my favorite so far. Favorite scene: Bill and Lorena. Disturbing scene: Maryann cooking the heart, Tara and Eggs eating it and then the violence between them.
would you give all the people who signed up and reallly wanted your books would you give it to them for free….plzzzzzzzzz
Loved the huge helping of Eric we got in this episode. I love how understated Skarsgaard plays him, so that just the slightest facial titch or vocal inflection carries so much power. Jason finally getting some sense and using his brain a little bit was refreshing, it was fun to seem him hanging out with all the vampires as well, and I suspect Eric won’t let him off the hook for taking V that easy. I disagree with Eric not respecting Sookie. It’s obvious he does, he just doesn’t know how to deal with respecting her because she is human. Godric was great, his line about being older than Jesus was great and Steve’s reaction was equally great. Glad that they focused mostly on the vampires this week, its the best plot line this season.
I agree with you about Eric respecting Sookie. He’s not used to respecting any human or basically anything weaker than he is. He just doesnt know how to deal with it yet
Can’t agree more- Godric had some great lines- plus he’s a real cutie! pale but cute!
Wow troll much?
Am I the only male that watches this show?
No lol your not. I watch it too. I hope they do not kill of Godric, he is to badass in a reserved kind of way. Although I read an artilce some where that said that the guy who plays Godric was only cast for 3 episodes. I will be very disappointed if they kill him!!!
No, my husband and I both love this show. It’s the only show he insists on watching live. No DVR for True Blood.
my husband and i love this show. i started watching it, and he would peek over my shoulder. now he sits down with me and we watch it together. he loves it!
Yep, us too. My husband would come in and out in Season One, ask too many questions and then finally commit to watching the entire hour with me! I’ve read the books, so we always have a run down afterward “Did that happen in the book? What happens next? Who is that? Are they good or evil?” it’s great family fun! ha
Nope…my husband didn’t understand the fuss about it at first he thought it was something along the lines of Twilight and he just started watching this season with me and enjoys it as well. He tried to ignore it but….
My husband has started to anticipate it, HBO will love this, as much as he did The Sopranos.
Still can’t get him to watch Big Love though.
I love all the characters so far and just am enjoying the ride. My daughter was really freaked out by the heart casserole.
i love the series and i understand how u could think of it like twilight i the first season but it comletely changes and i sooo cant wait for sunday even tho i hav 2 wait til monday or tues 2 actually c it…im frm the uk so we r actually only on the 1st season here
No, My 6′4” baseball playing roommate is addicted. He tried to resist and still makes comments about Bill’s acting and accent but each week he is on the couch and waiting for the show to start.
Nope- my husband is just as addicted to this show as I am!