True Blood season 4 ep 3

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Have just watched it and...

Spoilers behind cut



....if I haven't mentioned before how much I hate Jason's storyline, consider it mentioned again. I want him to escape and kill Crystal and the whole in-bred bunch of them, then run back to Bon Temps and have a proper story. And while he's about it, can he please kill annoying Tommy Merlotte (or whatever the character's surname is because I've forgotten it), because he's even more of a waste of space this season than last.

Those two things apart, I loved every bonkers moment of the episode, with special mention going to every scene featuring Amnesia!Eric. I loved his look of wide-eyed innocent bewilderment that didn't change even when he was ripping a fairy's throat out (good riddance, btw. And if Jason can't escape, maybe Eric can do the same to Tommy and to Crystal and co. I'm pretty sure no one will miss them). I even loved how daft he looked in Jason's old clothes. Aww!

I also loved all Pam's scenes, though was a bit surprised she made 5 out of the 2+2 that Sookie gave her, unless Eric told her where he was going before he went to confront the coven, which I doubt. Her parting words to Lafayette, Jesus and Tara were perfect Pam. Nothing better happen to her.

I still love Tara and I quite understand why she hates vampires, but I don't really get what she's doing back in the story yet. Also, if I were her girlfriend, I think I'd be getting quite annoyed by now. Glad Tara turned down Sam's offer of accommodation, but it does look like she's letting herself be sucked back into her old life for no good reason.

Elsewhere, still enjoying how the witch storyline is tying together most of the threads of the season, ie. Bill and the Authority - and did I mention I'm enjoying Suave King Bill very much? -Sookie, Eric and Pam, Lafayette and Jesus, even Hoyt and Jessica, since there's obviously something nasty and black-magic-y attached to that horrible old doll, and now by extension Terry, Arlene and the demon baby. In fact, the only characters not connected to that storyline in any way are Andy Bellefleur, Jason and Tommy, which may well be why their stories are the least interesting.

This episode did leave me feeling I'd missed something important, though. I've always enjoyed Bill's scenes with Jessica. They always came across to me as a very staid old man floundering out of his depth trying to deal with a sulky teenager and were fun for that reason. I also felt that Jessica wanted more from Bill than he was willing to give. Then, there was one scene towards the end of season 3 where Bill was nice(ish) to her, if still distant. And now it seems like they're getting on really well and are very close. I would have liked to see how that came about. :feels deprived:

No opinion either way about the return of Alcide beyond mentioning yet again that no matter how good looking the actor who plays Alcide might be, he and Anna Paquin have absolutely zero on screen chemistry. Weird.

Anyway, more soon please, especially of Amnesia!Eric.

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

if I haven't mentioned before how much I hate Jason's storyline, consider it mentioned again. I want him to escape and kill Crystal and the whole in-bred bunch of them, then run back to Bon Temps and have a proper story. And while he's about it, can he please kill annoying Tommy Merlotte (or whatever the character's surname is because I've forgotten it), because he's even more of a waste of space this season than last.

I don't think you'll get any arguments about that idea. Hopefully, Ball will finally show something to make that bunch interesting soon.

Anyway, more soon please, especially of Amnesia!Eric.
AS and AP are comic gold with this.

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Snooki!

:snorfles loudly:

[makd.livejournal.com]

Like you, I loathe the Jason storyline. In fact, whenever there's a Jason scene, I fast forward through it.

As for Tara - remember her arc last season? Stalked, kidnapped, raped, by a vampire - who then wanted to MARRY her!!! She has good reason to hate 'em.

[shapinglight]

In fact, whenever there's a Jason scene, I fast forward through it.

I'm tempted. I just keep hoping he'll turn the tables on Crystal and co somehow.

And yes I remember Tara's arc last season. That's why I said I understood why she hates vampires.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Aaah, Amnesia Eric... I think he made me an Eric fan in the books. He's so much fun.

[shapinglight]

I'm enjoying him so far. :)

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

I missed last night's episode. Woe. But I couldn't resist reading your impression of it.

I totally agree with your views on Jason's storyline; I dislike the entire thing.

no matter how good looking the actor who plays Alcide might be, he and Anna Paquin have absolutely zero on screen chemistry. Weird.

See, now this is exactly how I felt about Riley and Buffy Riley. I liked him; I loved the thought of them as a couple; it even worked for me up to a point. But ... I just didn't feel it. MB had more on-screen chemistry with AH than he ever had with SMG.

[shapinglight]

See, now this is exactly how I felt about Riley and Buffy Riley. I liked him; I loved the thought of them as a couple; it even worked for me up to a point. But ... I just didn't feel it. MB had more on-screen chemistry with AH than he ever had with SMG.

I get chemistry in a couple of their scenes, especially early on when we don't yet know he's a soldier. But the sex scenes - nah, sadly, not hot at all. Sookie/Alcide would be the same, I expect.

[candleanfeather.livejournal.com]

Seems like True Blood is more and more on crack but in a fun way. Hope I'll be able to see seasons 2 and 3. I liked the first one very much.

[shapinglight]

I find it very enjoyable, but it is pretty daft. That said, I don't think it claims to be anything else, and it does manage to slip some critiques of certain aspects of modern life into the midst of the daftness.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Hee, I like your review more than mine.

Agreed on all of the above.

I loved his look of wide-eyed innocent bewilderment that didn't change even when he was ripping a fairy's throat out (good riddance, btw. And if Jason can't escape, maybe Eric can do the same to Tommy and to Crystal and co. I'm pretty sure no one will miss them).

Hee. Yes. Be one way that we could tie those two plot lines to the rest of the story. Right now the whole were/shifter plot thread is hanging out there by itself. Although Jason and Sam's stories often do hang out there by themselves.

I agree with the critics who state Skarsgard is aiming for that Emmy. He's brilliant. That wide-eyed innocent look...he really looks like someone who has lost his memory.

Eric and Sookie are just hilarious. That last scene had me laughing for a bit. (Probably helped that I'm not crazy about Claudine.)

I still love Tara and I quite understand why she hates vampires, but I don't really get what she's doing back in the story yet.

Not quite sure why she's sticking around either. Unless it is to ensure that Lafayette is okay - which makes sense.

[shapinglight]

Hee. Yes. Be one way that we could tie those two plot lines to the rest of the story. Right now the whole were/shifter plot thread is hanging out there by itself. Although Jason and Sam's stories often do hang out there by themselves.

Well, not in season 2, which was the best constructed so far, but certainly last season nothing they did seemed to have anything to do with anyone else. I really like Jason. He's a total sweetie. And he's completely wasted on Crystal. Come back, Jason!

That wide-eyed innocent look...he really looks like someone who has lost his memory.

He does. It's really charming, even when he's trying to bite Sookie or killing fairies. :)

Not quite sure why she's sticking around either. Unless it is to ensure that Lafayette is okay - which makes sense.

Yes, it is the only thing that makes sense, and I do understand it since he's the only relative she has who is worth bothering with.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Well, not in season 2, which was the best constructed so far, but certainly last season nothing they did seemed to have anything to do with anyone else. I really like Jason. He's a total sweetie. And he's completely wasted on Crystal. Come back, Jason!

True. Oddly S2 was the best constructed season. The only weakness was the Maenad bit - but all the threads and themes pulled together well. S3 on the other hand was the weakest season and the most convoluted. The King Russell bit worked, nothing else really did.

And agreed on Jason - I adore Jason. So does not deserve Crystal. Was sort of hoping he and Tara would get back together...but guessing not.
(He does turn into a werepanther in the books and does get involved with Crystal, but it's a lot less icky, although makes far less sense. So I was waiting for this storyline - couldn't imagine Ball skipping over the werepanthers...). Will state the Jason storyline is scary and gross reminding me a great deal of some Southern Gothic horror flicks that I've avoided (Cabin in the Woods, the Wrong Turn, Deliverance, Southern Comfort amongst others. I have an odd love/hate relationship with horror. It sparks my curiousity, but most of the stuff I can't watch without getting nightmares because my imagination runs away with me.)

He does. It's really charming, even when he's trying to bite Sookie or killing fairies. :)

LOL! And really who can blame him...fairies and Sookie must be the vampire equivalent of chocolat or nectar of the gods or something along those lines. I mean - not only does their blood taste amazing, but it allows the vamp to wander around in daylight.

Yes, it is the only thing that makes sense, and I do understand it since he's the only relative she has who is worth bothering with.

That's what I've decided. It's why she goes to Fangtasia and takes on Pam, and it's why she's not leaving town - she's worried about Lafayette. He's not only the only relative she has worth bothering over, but he's also the only person who has ever helped her in a significant way outside of Jason and Gran (Sookie and Jason's grandmother). I love Lafayette and Tara.
Not sure what to make of Jesus - the jury is still out on him. But I am convinced the one with the power in that coven isn't Marnie, it's Lafayette.

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The only weakness was the Maenad bit - but all the threads and themes pulled together well.

The Maenad story did go on a bit, but at least it involved all the characters in the end, so even though Bill, Sookie, Eric and Jason had their own interlocking stories, they were back on Bon Temps in time to be involved too. That worked well. I agree season 3 was ultimately a mess because of all the different, non-intersecting storylines. I do hope that won't happen again.

But I am convinced the one with the power in that coven isn't Marnie, it's Lafayette.

Oh definitely. None of their spells worked until he joined the circle.

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

I've finally caught up on True Blood now that I'm back home. And I agree with you on all counts. Jason needs a storyline where he does more than stay chained to a bed and whine. And I really hope Tara gets something more important to do. But amnesia!Eric = love.

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I hope Tara gets something to do to that doesn't involve her being horribly physically/emotionally abused, which has been her fate so far.

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

Exactly! The season began so well, with her fighting so well and in a nice relationship.

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Mmm, I dunno. I agree the loving relationship seemed very positive. Not so sure about the fighting, because she's always had this trouble with violence. It was her violence that drew Franklin Mott to her in the first place. That said, the cage fighting is a very controlled kind of violence, so maybe they were trying to show she had those impulses under better control. So I suppose we'll see in coming episodes.

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

You have a point. I took the fighting as showing she was strong and in control, instead of being the victim all the time.

[shapinglight]

Well, it could be that's what Alan Ball meant us to think. I suppose we'll find out in time.

[hello-spikey.livejournal.com]

SQUEE!

Okay, Okay, I shouldn't even be reading this post because I'm only on episode 4 of season 3, but I'm so excited to hear about Amnesia!Eric because that was TOTES my favorite part of the books and I loved it so much that I was afraid they wouldn't do it in the series!

... all the rest of what you said has me holding my hands over my ears and humming...

[shapinglight]

Okay, Okay, I shouldn't even be reading this post because I'm only on episode 4 of season 3, but I'm so excited to hear about Amnesia!Eric because that was TOTES my favorite part of the books and I loved it so much that I was afraid they wouldn't do it in the series!

:) I shan't say any more but it's all good so far.

[laisserais]

PAM! ERIC! Eric ripping the throat out of a fairy! These are all good things and the reasons I continue to tune in.

I have a kind of large bone to pick, though, with show: Why are BOTH Lafayette and Tara: 1)gay nao 2)vmapire-trauma survivors and 3)the only black characters?

If there were maybe two things in common, it wouldn't be a big deal, but now they're like the SAME person WTH. Why can't they each maintain their own story lines? Why aren't there any other people dealing with vampire PTSD? Why aren't there any other major characters of color?

Show is not exactly brain surgery, I know, but come on! This is TERRIBLE storytelling.

That aside, I am enjoying the over-the-top ridiculousness.

[shapinglight]

PAM! ERIC! Eric ripping the throat out of a fairy! These are all good things and the reasons I continue to tune in.

I love some of the non-vampire characters but the vampire storylines are always the best ones, particularly the ones that revolve around Eric.

If there were maybe two things in common, it wouldn't be a big deal, but now they're like the SAME person WTH. Why can't they each maintain their own story lines? Why aren't there any other people dealing with vampire PTSD? Why aren't there any other major characters of color?

I wish I knew. Why aren't there some African American vampires, for instance? I agree that all this doubling up (if I can use that expression) is a very false economy. We'll see, I suppose, how Tara's story goes for the remainder of the season. I'm relatively happy with Lafayette's. It's hers that is problematic.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

After this episode I'm right there with you on Jason's storyline. I hate it! It's just...not nice. :(

Amnesia!Eric is wonderful! AS is playing him to perfection. There isn't a thing I don't like about that storyline. Snooki! Lol!

Yep, Tommy Micken is just as annoying this season as he was last - and I so wish they'd give Sam something better to do. I love Sam and feel he's been woefully underused.

I love that Tara's a bit more kickass this season, but agree that she's not quite fitting into the storyline just yet. I still love Lafayette and Jesus has grown on me a bit since last season. And I'm enjoying the witch storyline immensely.

Can't wait until next week to see more of Amnesia!Eric! I loved him in the books (which are pure fluff, btw, and I've yet to get past book 6 - the show is superior by far), but he's even better in the show - and I put that down to the awesomeness that is Alexander Skarsgard. Great stuff! :)

[shapinglight]

After this episode I'm right there with you on Jason's storyline. I hate it! It's just...not nice. :(

No, it's not, is it? Poor wee Jason! He deserves better than skanky Crystal.

Yep, Tommy Micken is just as annoying this season as he was last

Plus he was wearing his stupid hat in this episode. I can't believe he actually thought Sam would want in on his proposed scam, especially after their conversation last week.

Can't wait until next week to see more of Amnesia!Eric! I loved him in the books (which are pure fluff, btw, and I've yet to get past book 6 - the show is superior by far), but he's even better in the show - and I put that down to the awesomeness that is Alexander Skarsgard. Great stuff! :)

I agree. I'm happily imagining him killing Crystal and co and then saying sorry again while looking all innocent and bewildered.