Beginning with a bang and ending in a whimper, this week’s True Blood turned out to be one of the more delicate, nuanced episodes of the season, and if that’s not your official SPOILER ALERT, I don’t know what is.
Taking up where we left off last week, a be-bombed Luke blew up himself and the vampire’s lair. There were a number of deaths, both human and vampire, and as Nan Flanagan, the TV talking-head for the American Vampire League said privately to her vampires, this public explosion is “a P.R. mess.”
But this “mess” was not without its deep Blood pleasures. Eric shielded Sookie from flying debris, probably saving her life. In return, he lay wounded, and Sookie felt obliged to help him in his request for her to remove shards of silver shrapnel stuck in his body. “It’s too gross; it’s too… you!” protested Sookie, disgusted. But she did it anyway, chomping and sucking until Bill came upon them and told Sookie she’d been suckered by Eric, that the silver bullets would have pushed themselves out, and that “this means you’re connected; he’ll be able to sense your emotions.”
For his part, Eric just lay back and smiled, saying, “She was superb.” The metaphor for receiving a sexual favor from Sookie was all too clear. “You big, lying a-hole!” squawked Sookie. It was funny, but also ominous. “Don’t be surprised if you feel some attraction to him,” said Bill, adding, “sexual.” As if we didn’t know that. (Sometimes Bill is so inactive and so stating-the-obvious, he becomes less appealing as the series’ key vampire. But this also requires a more subtle range of acting, and adds to the complexity of vampire-human relations.)
There were, of course, other subplots. The Jessica-Hoyt affair continues to be comic relief, complete with an awkward dinner between the couple and Hoyt’s hoity-toity mother.
But the bigger subplot was Maryann’s increasing power over Tara and Eggs, her striding into the jail and demanding to see Sam, and setting free the rest of the pleasure-addled citizen-prisoners. Sam escaped – he was a fly on the wall (er, table) when Maryann went to Tara’s house. Maryann has pretty much given up trying to hide her pleasure-principle powers, her let’s-party mood replaced by impatience and cruelty, as when she tried to lure Tara’s sober mom to relapse with a nice, chilled bottle of vodka.
Ultimately, the episode moved True Blood’s narrative ahead most forcefully in revealing to us just how much hitherto unknown influence Nan Flanagan holds in the vampire world. She was able to relieve no less than Godric of his status and power within these ranks. In the midst of this dead-serious stuff, Blood still had time for an excellent joke. Eric tells Nan, “You don’t have that kind of power.” Sneers Nan, “Hey, I’m on TV – try me.”
Yes, TV exerts a great and terrible power, doesn’t it, making us helplessly in thrall to True Blood. There was a beautiful moment when Eric cries as Godric explains he must die to atone for his sins. The love between the two men was palpable: “There are centuries of faith and love between us,” said Godric, trying to comfort an agonized Eric.
In the closing moments, a now-chastened, eager-to-atone Godric went up on a roof to see the killing sunrise. Sookie, ever the forgiving Christian, tried to comfort him, but Godric’s different faith surpassed even hers in welcoming either final death or a soul brought to ultimate justice: “I’m full of joy… I want to burn!” Godric cried in final ecstasy.
The mixture of Christian and pagan faith; same-sex and hetero-sex love; and Sookie in a red gingham dress looking like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz… it was another genre-bending, mind-expanding edition of True Blood.
Am I right? Wrong?
Tonight was another great episode. I was stuck on this show from the VERY beginning. I am so mad that their are only three episodes left. It feels like the season just began. Now I have to wait another year and some change for the new season. HBO takes the longest breaks.
Oh, quit your whining. One of the major reasons True Blood works so well is because of the 13 episode production schedule. It’s a summer show, get over it!
I agree, the time it takes to make good programming is worth the wait. I just love this program. I stop everything to sit and watch it on Sunday and I watch each episode a couple times after it initially airs, because I catch things that I didn’t catch during the first airing. I caught myself crying when Godric burned and when Eric was crying for his maker before he burned, it really touched me. My husband was laughing at me – just wait until he is on the edge of his seat during the superbowl game! Thanks for letting me air my thoughts.
Awesome! The internet police have arrived saving us from ourselves. Gosh Pete, how would the world survive without you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? Uh oh, some has an opinion I don’t agree with, time to save the world again! Ah yes, the world is a better place now and all because of me. Wow!
What 13 episodes? True Blood concludes the first Sunday in September. We’ve already seen 9 episodes and there are 3 more left.
Last time I checked 9 + 3 = 12, not 13.
Thankfully we have it for the summer. Otherwise, there would be nothing else to watch and summer would be a complete bore.
Yours must be a sad sad life
I read that True Blood concludes on Sept 13th.
yeah true blood ends on the 13th so 13 episodes…
also weird: 13 episodes dat end on the 13th of september
Nope 12 episodes. 2 week break before the season finale.
Read the books in the meantime – they’re different, but you won’t be disappointed…
Seeing someone ass powerful as Eric in agony was so heart wrenching! I recorded it on my cam phone and have yet to watch it without crying! One of the most amazing scenes ever! Luv Eric Luv Godrik and now Luv Sookie!
I loved the closing scene. Phenomenal acting, setting and music. I was definitely moved.
I used to find Sookie so annoying in the beginning Sookie has since grown on me not only in character but also her look! The scene last night with Sookie and Eric was hot on many levels! They looked so beautiful together nude almost angelic! What a hot couple!
the bed/sex scene between sookie and eric was excellent! cant wait for more sookie-eric action!
That was the best scene of the series so far in my opinion!
Love this episode! I wonder since Eric can sense Sookie’s emotions now, if he had the same “dream” she had? Loved the looks they kept giving each other during the meeting .
Hands down, THE best scene in the series so far. I loved how honest and open they were with each other in the dream. Foreshadowing of things to come? I’m thinking yes.
that was mind-blowing. firstly, eric is the best thing on this show, and so hot. he totally reminded me of Gale Harold’s Brian Kinney with his confident nonchalance and utterly perfusing sexiness. i’m rooting for him.
I think Lorena was invading Sookie’s dream somehow.
Sean- what a great call- I loved Brian Kinney- I actually haven’t loved this Eric as compared to the Eric of the books- and when I try to explain why I can’t seem to verbalize, but that is it- I want even more Brian Kinney from him!
HOT HOT. Need to see more of Eric naked.
Not to spoil things for you but there should be — I read the series and there’s a whole book about them! But that’s not saying much because the HBO series has taken a wild turn away from the book, and I’m still waiting for it to get back on track!
i hope it never gets “back on track” alan ball is doing a suberb job of taking a fun book series and turning it into a magnifent drama. the character development has gone so far beyond the books.
And the acting last night was Emmy-worthy!!
Did you SEE his body??? And the way they teased us by almost showing his bare a-ss
I agree the scene between Sookie and Eric was awesome – much sexier than the ones between Bill and Sookie. Hope the plot thickens between E and S..I think she’s marrying the wrong guy..
I absolutely LOVED everything about this episode… it just doesnt ever seem to get boring, and always has something up its sleeve to shock you… it was amazing and I am just mad I have to wait until next week to see what happens!!!!
I agree! I have all the HBO’s and I watch TB @ least 5 to 6 times in repeats and never get enough! Eric! Eric! Eric!
most incredible show in the history of entertainment
Ummm… if you said second best after Lost, I would agree!
i agree with psac but true blood is a close second!!!
Frak Lost.
After Lost and Buffy. But its a healthy 3rd
As much as I love these characters, Sookie & Bill HARDLY compare to the tragic romance of Buffy and Angel/Angelus
One of the best episodes of the season. Only gripe I have is that the blue flame special effect on Godric looked a little Cheesy…
I agree, a little corny with the special effects. I would have liked to see more Godric this season but oh well. And I think Sookie and Eric are H-O-T!! Bill is such a wet blanket.
I agree! What the hell is that fluttering effect about seriously!
You’re complaining about a seconds-long special effect on Godric? Really? What about the looks-like-it’s-from-the-60s fluttering effect they keep using on Mary Ann? That’s quite possibly the worst effect we’ve ever seen on the show.
LOL, I totally agree!
absolutely true the shudder is pathetic…
but the quick switch to black eyes is great!
lol They used that in the original Star Trek
No the worst “effect” ever on this show is that awful picture they’ve shown of Gram, Sookie, and Tara. Photoshop doesn’t even begin to describe the level of cheese that picture has. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have paid the actress who plays Gram to come back, and take a picture w/ 2 little girls. It looks like a cartoon illustration the quality is so cheap!!!!
I was wonderingwhy they tried to make it look all beautiful but when Bill was caught in the sunlight he burned to a crisp instead of into flames
Fire consumed Godric in about 10 seconds because of his age.
Vampires that are old burn faster than young ones. That’s the reason Bill took more time to burn, and actually did not die because of his age. On the other hand Godric (a 2000 year old Vamp) died right away!
Incredible episode… It was almost to much to digest at one setting. The character Godric will go down in the annals of vampire history, for embracing humanity’s most basic presmise of life— We live- we die… One of the most touching scenes filmed between two species- a vampire and human… If this show does not win every award, then we now the fix is in against HBO… The ending bordered on the sublime…. How rare to achieve that through fictious televison.
Haven’t recent commercials on HBO said this past year alone their shows/documentaries were nominated for 90 Emmy awards? I’m sure this episode/scene (as well as Alexander Skarsgard, Allan Hyde, and Anna Paquin) will be nominated, and probably win, Emmys.
You are right on. A subtle, yet crucial episode that moved the series forward by leaps and bounds. You did, however, forget to mention Sookie’s titillating dream sequence involving a naked Eric. After that little piece of hotness, even though I’m already a die-hard fan I’m hooked all over again! Team Eric all the way!
I love how people are proclaiming this to be the best “True Blood” episode yet, but I have to disagree. I do think it was bloody fantastic, but this girl still thinks Episode 6 was the best one – the introduction of Godric was fantastic. Can’t wait to see next week!
Having read the books, I found that (flashback) episode introducing Godric frustrating, as it TOTALLY changes Eric’s background & will ultimately change what Eric tells Sookie about his human life & when he was turned. Alan Ball’s changed SO many things about Eric so the circumstances favor Bill instead… it’s a bit aggravating.
I loved Godric too! (What an excellent actor!) Godric brought a whole new aspect/emotion to the vampires – trying to teach them, but none of them hearing him.
I have to say that Godric had quickly become one of my favorite characters and I was really sad to see him go so quickly… I actually cried at the end… not just because Godric died and in such an emotional way with Eric and Sookie, but because i didn’t want to see the character go at all! I just started reading the books, so atleast I’ll get more of him there!
You actually won’t get to see that much of him in the books. Ball brought that character out of the books and gave him a MUCH larger role.
For only being in four episodes, I think Godric will leave a very lasting memory on this show. As far as the actor goes, he really took his chance and ran with it. Phenomenal job.
REally. I LOVED Godric. Dig it! A truly spiritual vampire. Almost evolved to a saint. He was Egyptian, that’s what I got at the end.
the ending was so beautiful it made me cry. godrick was a great character it is sad to see him go. he brought out a whole different side to eric that we haven’t really seen before.
Another excellent episode.
AwESOME !!!!
Sookie sucking out the silver from Eric – so wish it was me.
Sookie’s dream with Eric – love to change places with her
Jessica and Hoyt – way to go Hoyt
Mariann – if I didn’t love your clothes I would hunt you myself
LaFayette – great pick up
Sam – way to fly
Godric – thanks for making me cry – my heart goes out to you
Love the show – Love the guys
Excellent commentary. Oh yes, I would love to trade places with Sookie. I rewatched that scene many times last night!
I would venture to say that many women watched that scene several times. I love On Demand and the fact that HBO shows True Blood a thousand times a night.
Those of us who have read the books have been waiting for the Sookie/Bill/Eric triangle to emerge on screen. Loved the dream sequence. Who doesn’t want to see a hot naked Viking!
I loved the way Eric’s whole demeaner changed from cold blooded killer vampire to this sweet lover who had eyes only for Sookie..too bad they never established her with Bill in a scene like that first.
Sorry but my entire memory of the episode and everything that had come before was wiped with the preview for next week. Jason + chainsaw = WIN.
LOL I had to rewind and make sure I wasn’t seeing things. I can’t wait to find out if he uses that chainsaw on Maryanne.
I know! I am so excited to see Jason kick ass and use his Fellowship training to PROTECT his sister.
“Jason + chainsaw = WIN.” I completely agree with you EXCEPT for the fact that I hate the Maryann subplot. I find it way too over the top.
I HATE when show breaks its own rules. Silver should have taken Eric out (remember power over Bill in 1st ep?)
Play fair!
It would have taken awhile before that was to happen. Plus, it may not have been real silver. Who don’t know.
I hate to point out the obvious but Eric is centuries older than Bill. Bill is a weak toddler next to Eric. Eric can take a little bit of silver and keep on ticking.
Maggietozier – silver has the same effect on Eric. Remember the silver chains Sookie had to take off of him at the FoTS? They were both incapacitated by it. It wasn’t like Eric was riddled by them. He had like what? Two? He would have been fine.
To be fair, in the book they were just regular bullets. From the scene showing the chain around Lucas, those also looked like regular bullets.
Eric SAID they were silver bullets and he needed Sookie to suck them out. That doesn’t mean they WERE silver bullets. It is not without the realms of possiblity that Eric LIED.
Thank you! Finally someone sees it the way I do. He lied about everything to get her to drink his blood. That’s what I got out of it. So thank you Karen, now I’m not the only one who thinks that he lied about him dieing AND the bullets.
The silver incapacitates them and makes them weak but it doesn’t kill them unless they are exposed to it for a long time or in large quantities – it burns their skin and hurts them but not an immediate kill – at least that’s how it is in the books and how Bill explained it to Sookie in season 1.
I agree. Another problem for me was the fact that Mary anne didn’t use the shaking thing to capture Lafayette and mama, I have to think about what Bill said about Sookie would think of Eric “sexually” might make Sookie wake up and think that that might pertain to her interest in Bill. She had some of his blood before they “got together”
love any scene with Eric–more!
The last 5 minutes was truly one of most memorable, beautifully written and acted moments in television.
I agree — it will be remembered & talked about by TV fans for a long long time. Beautiful job Skarsgard (Eric), Hyde (Godric), and Ball.