True Blood Season 3 ep 4
Jul. 12th, 2010 08:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shapinglightI don't know! Seems to me that every time I go away, no matter how quiet LJ is the rest of the week, it suddenly explodes with posting. I've been offline for only two days and I already know I shall never catch up. :(
Anyway, some thoughts on the latest ep of True Blood behind cut, with spoilers, obviously
That was definitely the creepiest episode of True Blood yet, mainly because of James Frain having a whale of a time as the obviously deranged Franklin Mott. I suppose the writing was on the wall about the character from the moment his eyes lit up when Tara started hitting the rednecks, plus that he wouldn't bite her when she offered and got that rather unpleasant look in his eyes when he said no. I had a slight hope that he would turn out to be a tough, but okay-ish in vampire terms, private eye, but no. He's nuttier than a whole lorryload of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut (to use appropriately British comparisons). The one good thing about it is that he's no nuttier, and no nastier, than all the other vampires in the show. Which I am still enjoying enormously, btw, though increasingly getting the feeling that doing so is frowned upon. :(
Elsewhere, the Jason/Andy love affair hit a rocky patch, Sam's family continued to be annoying and Jessica made a very good waitress. Her "It's not fair! I'll never be 18!" was one of the highlights of the episode, along with Eric's dream about Sookie, the Eric/Lafayette scene (sadly, I fear, nothing will happen between those two, though it should, but Lafayette is just too smart), and Eric throwing himself on the Magister's non-existent mercy for Pam's sake. Aww!
In fact, of all the vampires in this episode, only Eric and Pam came out of it with any credit. Oh, and Jessica. The rest of them were enjoyably yucky and deranged. Even Bill, who didn't exactly cover himself in glory here. Quite the opposite. :switches to Team Eric for the moment:
Have to admit that so far, where the main Sookie plot is concerned, Alcide the werewolf isn't doing a lot for me, but the werewolf plot in general - or at least how they're connected to evil vampire king Russell - is quite interesting. Looking forward to seeing where that goes, and to what happens when Sookie finally catches up with Bill. One thing's for sure, no matter how tolerant she might be of his former bloodthirsty ways, I don't see her being too impressed with what he did in this episode, no matter what his motives turn out to be.
As for the other plots - well, I think possibly there are just too many of them and it would be better to concentrate on one or two per episode instead of trying to give every character just a little bit to do every time. Also, it would be nice to have an episode where Tara wasn't being traumatised in some way, even if in this instance, I am rather enjoying the character doing the traumatising, the creepiest thing about him being that I think he means what he says. :shudder:
Anyway, some thoughts on the latest ep of True Blood behind cut, with spoilers, obviously
That was definitely the creepiest episode of True Blood yet, mainly because of James Frain having a whale of a time as the obviously deranged Franklin Mott. I suppose the writing was on the wall about the character from the moment his eyes lit up when Tara started hitting the rednecks, plus that he wouldn't bite her when she offered and got that rather unpleasant look in his eyes when he said no. I had a slight hope that he would turn out to be a tough, but okay-ish in vampire terms, private eye, but no. He's nuttier than a whole lorryload of Cadbury's Fruit and Nut (to use appropriately British comparisons). The one good thing about it is that he's no nuttier, and no nastier, than all the other vampires in the show. Which I am still enjoying enormously, btw, though increasingly getting the feeling that doing so is frowned upon. :(
Elsewhere, the Jason/Andy love affair hit a rocky patch, Sam's family continued to be annoying and Jessica made a very good waitress. Her "It's not fair! I'll never be 18!" was one of the highlights of the episode, along with Eric's dream about Sookie, the Eric/Lafayette scene (sadly, I fear, nothing will happen between those two, though it should, but Lafayette is just too smart), and Eric throwing himself on the Magister's non-existent mercy for Pam's sake. Aww!
In fact, of all the vampires in this episode, only Eric and Pam came out of it with any credit. Oh, and Jessica. The rest of them were enjoyably yucky and deranged. Even Bill, who didn't exactly cover himself in glory here. Quite the opposite. :switches to Team Eric for the moment:
Have to admit that so far, where the main Sookie plot is concerned, Alcide the werewolf isn't doing a lot for me, but the werewolf plot in general - or at least how they're connected to evil vampire king Russell - is quite interesting. Looking forward to seeing where that goes, and to what happens when Sookie finally catches up with Bill. One thing's for sure, no matter how tolerant she might be of his former bloodthirsty ways, I don't see her being too impressed with what he did in this episode, no matter what his motives turn out to be.
As for the other plots - well, I think possibly there are just too many of them and it would be better to concentrate on one or two per episode instead of trying to give every character just a little bit to do every time. Also, it would be nice to have an episode where Tara wasn't being traumatised in some way, even if in this instance, I am rather enjoying the character doing the traumatising, the creepiest thing about him being that I think he means what he says. :shudder:
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no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 07:52 pm (UTC)He's definitely operating on vampire terms, unlike Bill who learned to think in human terms - again. Plus, clearly he never watched Crush or he'd know that chaining a girl up is no way to win her heart.
the werewolf plot in general - or at least how they're connected to evil vampire king Russell - is quite interesting. Looking forward to seeing where that goes, and to what happens when Sookie finally catches up with Bill.
Yeah, it's difficult to know at this point if Bill is playing along or he's really decided to fall back on his old vampire ways. Or if he will be able to since Eric and Pam have made him a traitor.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 09:53 pm (UTC)True. I have a horrid feeling we'll find out he's done this before and is in fact a nutty vampire serial killer. Which I would certainly prefer to Tara reciprocating his sentiments in any way. :shudder: Hope they're not stupid enough to go there.
Yeah, it's difficult to know at this point if Bill is playing along or he's really decided to fall back on his old vampire ways. Or if he will be able to since Eric and Pam have made him a traitor.
Well, I know Bill is doing everything he's doing because of Sookie, so he's both playing along and falling back into his old vampire ways, because he thinks there's no alternative.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 08:26 pm (UTC)I just wish they'd go a little easier on the torture of women. Maybe only a couple per episode because it really reached a frenzied, disturbing level in this episode.
Re: Bill I'm kind of surprised by the level of questioning most people have with his choices. Strangely enough, I never thought to question them. I pretty much assume he's doing it all 'for Sookie.' The King and Lorena have threatened Sookie's safety, so he's doing whatever it takes to protect her... which I actually find interesting because, I don't think his motives will make any difference. Sookie won't understand and forgive... nor should she. To me it's totally vampire thinking. He loves Sookie, he'll protect Sookie, and if it means some dead strippers along the way, he'll do it. It bothers him some, but he'll do it. He even knows that it will cost him Sookie, but he'll do it. Which doesn't make him good at all. His motives really don't justify his actions. He's being a psychopathic monster, but his motives make sense to him. I don't see him as being all that different from Franklin in that regard... though marginally less scary... simply because we 'know' Bill better.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 10:00 pm (UTC)Yep, and they haven't really had a serious scary character in True Blood before. I agree there was far too much tying women up in this episode. Not the first time it's happened, and certainly not the first time a vampire has done something very unpleasant, but there was an awful lot of it in this one, with only Sookie's antics to counterbalance it. They should have spread it out a bit more. Then it would have been just part of the general bloodthirstiness instead of seeming like a trend.
As for Bill, I know he's doing what he's doing because of Sookie. I just wonder what his ultimate plan is re: King Russell. Does he mean what he says or is he still secretly loyal to Queen Sophie-Anne? Either way, I agree that he thinks he's lost Sookie for good and that it doesn't matter what he does any more.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 08:47 pm (UTC)Jessica and Lafayette are definitely the highlights :)
ETA: I should definitely ban the word definitely from my comment.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 10:01 pm (UTC)I hope the next episode sees an improvement. The trailer hints at it, but I suppose it could be a false dawn. :( We'll see.
Jessica and Lafayette are definitely the highlights :)
And Eric. I enjoyed him in this episode.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-13 12:18 am (UTC)And I LOOOOOOVE the bad vampires doing very bad things for a change. This is what I wanted from Spike after they tamed him. To be relentlessly evil, with a nice guy facade.
Bill punching Lorena...LMAO! She is as demented as Franklin, just got a vamp in her sights instead of a human.
And Sookie *pats her head* she is just a little to optimistic. That wolf can solve his own issues with his ho-chick. She must stop meddling.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-13 02:50 pm (UTC)It would certainly be interesting, but I personally don't expect it to happen. I think Tara will escape, though it may not be immediately. And I dunno if being made a vampire by Franklin would be so great, seeing as he is seriously off his trolley.
And I LOOOOOOVE the bad vampires doing very bad things for a change. This is what I wanted from Spike after they tamed him. To be relentlessly evil, with a nice guy facade.
I know you're a bit of an Evilista. :) Must admit, I do enjoy the vampire characters in this show a lot, and one reason for that is that I know I won't ever be drawn in to wanting a redemption story for any of them, like Spike's. The soul/no soul dichotomy on BtVS made it soul or death for Spike (or both, as it turned out, though one didn't stick). With the TB vamps, they are what they are, which as it turns out, is mostly not nice at all.
I don't care about Alcide and his problems at all so far. I also didn't see any chemistry between Anna Paquin and the actor playing Alcide, which is a problem, because I suspect we were supposed to.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-13 12:26 am (UTC)I'm firmly team Eric though I like the character Bill well enough he's too Meh with Sookie IMHO.
My fav characters are still not book centric. I adore Lafayette and enjoy Feisty Tara (cutting her major slack at the mo), Jessica is a hoot and am enjoying crazy Franklin very much. Of the book characters I am enjoying Eric and Pam very much. Alcide does nothing for me I fear and I will be happy to see him lone wolf his way away.
*hugs*
Kathleen
no subject
Date: 2010-07-13 02:54 pm (UTC)I agree. It's nice to know you would only experience regret for a good character being gone if one of them was killed, rather than being devastated the way I was when I learned that Joss planned to kill Spike in Chosen.
That said, I should be sad if Eric, Pam or Jessica died. Don't feel the same way about Bill after this week, but maybe I will again. We'll see what happens.
Alcide does nothing for me I fear and I will be happy to see him lone wolf his way away.
Me too, plus I don't see any chemistry between the actor and Anna Paquin, which doesn't help, because I know we're supposed to think she's attracted to him, and I just keep thinking, what do you want with him when you could have Eric?