True Blood season 3 - ep8
Aug. 9th, 2010 04:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shapinglightWell, that was very entertaining.
Spoilers behind cut, obviously.
I'd be hard put to find anything I didn't like in this episode. Even the Jason/Crystal story is beginning to intrigue me just a little, and I'm thrilled to see the last of Ma and Pa Mickens (for the moment, anyway), and beginning to enjoy Sam's relationship with Tommy.
However, I could do without Debbie Pelt. She's pointless and annoying, and I honestly cannot for the life of me think what Alcide could ever have seen in her - not that I find him very interesting either. Shan't miss him if he disappears for a few episodes.
But apart from the crashing bore that is Debbie, the episode was packed with the usual mix of terrific stuff and stuff that makes you go, huh?
In the first category is everything to do with King Russell, Eric and Talbot - though poor Talbot! I shall miss him, and Eric is one cold bastard to kill him like that - and after being so convincing in the kissing scene. I knew we could rely upon Alexander Skarsgard to give it his all there, rather more convincingly than the actors playing Lafayette and Jesus, though of course I much prefer that relationship and love the characters together, even though there is obviously more to Jesus than meets the eye.
I suspect that the m/m sex scenes may well have worked out this way (ie. Lafayette/Jesus fade to black, Eric/Talbot a lot more graphic as far as it went), because of the comfort zone of the actors involved, but I could well be wrong. Just never thought I'd see True Blood shrink from showing any kind of sex scene so looking for an explanation.
I also loved the Bill/Jessica scenes. I've enjoyed them together right from season 1, first because it made me laugh that Bill was such a hopeless parent and Jessica such a typical sulky teenager, but now because her reaching out to Bill for guidance and companionship and him finally accepting her was poignant and sweet. I'm just disappointed that, having made sure Sookie was safe, Bill didn't then go looking for Jessica, who could have been torn apart by the werewolves, just as Russell said, for all he knew. As it happened, she didn't need rescuing, but Bill didn't know that. Bad Bill!
However - and this is one of those moments that make you go, huh? - after all the hoohah! at the beginning of the episode, I do think Bill and Sookie got back together way too quickly. Also, was that sex scene at the end, where Sookie was pretty much holding Bill down supposed to show that Sookie's big fight with Debbie had 'destroyed her light' or whatever it was the fairies (?) were trying to warn her about in the previous episode, or was it supposed to balance out the forcible blood-drinking scene? I'm not sure.
Then there's my favourite character, Tara. I thought Rutina Wesley was terrific in this episode - first trying to hold it together in her scenes with Lafayette and Sookie, then finally breaking down in Sam's arms when the flashbacks became too much for her. And it's really squicky that she's stuck having sex dreams about Mr Franklin Fruit-and-Nutcase Mott after what he did to her, just because she drank his blood. At the moment, I think her story's been handled quite well and quite realistically (for a show about vampires) this season while allowing her to get some of her old fire back. I'll suspend final judgement on it for now.
Nice cameos for Arlene and Terry (I've missed him), Hoyt, and the late but unlamented Rene. And who else thinks there has to be something weird about the new waitress at Merlotte's? Very odd indeed.
Great episode that advanced the plot pretty well. Though the season is still divided into a number of discrete plots featuring the various characters, I feel now that it's beginning to come together quite well without having any of the longeurs of the Maryanne plot. Plus, there's still hope for the Eric/Sookie 'shippers, who may be feeling a bit fed up after Bill and Sookie got back together so quickly. At least Eric's attempt to warn Sookie via Hadley shows that he didn't mean what he said about not caring about her.
Unintentionally silly moment: okay, so I don't usually mind the OTT blood tears in True Blood. They are daft, but that suits the show IMO. However, when Bill started crying in the opening scene in the hospital, he looked like a rather hideous vampire clown. Yuck! That can't have been deliberate, can it?
Spoilers behind cut, obviously.
I'd be hard put to find anything I didn't like in this episode. Even the Jason/Crystal story is beginning to intrigue me just a little, and I'm thrilled to see the last of Ma and Pa Mickens (for the moment, anyway), and beginning to enjoy Sam's relationship with Tommy.
However, I could do without Debbie Pelt. She's pointless and annoying, and I honestly cannot for the life of me think what Alcide could ever have seen in her - not that I find him very interesting either. Shan't miss him if he disappears for a few episodes.
But apart from the crashing bore that is Debbie, the episode was packed with the usual mix of terrific stuff and stuff that makes you go, huh?
In the first category is everything to do with King Russell, Eric and Talbot - though poor Talbot! I shall miss him, and Eric is one cold bastard to kill him like that - and after being so convincing in the kissing scene. I knew we could rely upon Alexander Skarsgard to give it his all there, rather more convincingly than the actors playing Lafayette and Jesus, though of course I much prefer that relationship and love the characters together, even though there is obviously more to Jesus than meets the eye.
I suspect that the m/m sex scenes may well have worked out this way (ie. Lafayette/Jesus fade to black, Eric/Talbot a lot more graphic as far as it went), because of the comfort zone of the actors involved, but I could well be wrong. Just never thought I'd see True Blood shrink from showing any kind of sex scene so looking for an explanation.
I also loved the Bill/Jessica scenes. I've enjoyed them together right from season 1, first because it made me laugh that Bill was such a hopeless parent and Jessica such a typical sulky teenager, but now because her reaching out to Bill for guidance and companionship and him finally accepting her was poignant and sweet. I'm just disappointed that, having made sure Sookie was safe, Bill didn't then go looking for Jessica, who could have been torn apart by the werewolves, just as Russell said, for all he knew. As it happened, she didn't need rescuing, but Bill didn't know that. Bad Bill!
However - and this is one of those moments that make you go, huh? - after all the hoohah! at the beginning of the episode, I do think Bill and Sookie got back together way too quickly. Also, was that sex scene at the end, where Sookie was pretty much holding Bill down supposed to show that Sookie's big fight with Debbie had 'destroyed her light' or whatever it was the fairies (?) were trying to warn her about in the previous episode, or was it supposed to balance out the forcible blood-drinking scene? I'm not sure.
Then there's my favourite character, Tara. I thought Rutina Wesley was terrific in this episode - first trying to hold it together in her scenes with Lafayette and Sookie, then finally breaking down in Sam's arms when the flashbacks became too much for her. And it's really squicky that she's stuck having sex dreams about Mr Franklin Fruit-and-Nutcase Mott after what he did to her, just because she drank his blood. At the moment, I think her story's been handled quite well and quite realistically (for a show about vampires) this season while allowing her to get some of her old fire back. I'll suspend final judgement on it for now.
Nice cameos for Arlene and Terry (I've missed him), Hoyt, and the late but unlamented Rene. And who else thinks there has to be something weird about the new waitress at Merlotte's? Very odd indeed.
Great episode that advanced the plot pretty well. Though the season is still divided into a number of discrete plots featuring the various characters, I feel now that it's beginning to come together quite well without having any of the longeurs of the Maryanne plot. Plus, there's still hope for the Eric/Sookie 'shippers, who may be feeling a bit fed up after Bill and Sookie got back together so quickly. At least Eric's attempt to warn Sookie via Hadley shows that he didn't mean what he said about not caring about her.
Unintentionally silly moment: okay, so I don't usually mind the OTT blood tears in True Blood. They are daft, but that suits the show IMO. However, when Bill started crying in the opening scene in the hospital, he looked like a rather hideous vampire clown. Yuck! That can't have been deliberate, can it?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 03:48 pm (UTC)One of the recaps by EW or TV Guide or something was speculating about her and in the process it sort of teased a memory I had from trying (and trying and trying) to slog through Book for of the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries, and I think there may be a connection between the character and a character in Book IV. So that waitress may be heralding the next stage of story.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 03:57 pm (UTC)Ah. If so, that's fairly typical of the show so far. Maryanne was introduced in such a way in season 1.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 04:17 pm (UTC)I figured something was up when Russell mentioned Talbot being safe and then I really figures something bad was going to happen when Eric asked for privacy. Eric? The guy who was walking around erect in front of Sookie a few episodes ago. And sure enough, RIP Talbot.
Sookie was pretty much holding Bill down supposed to show that Sookie's big fight with Debbie had 'destroyed her light' or whatever it was the fairies (?) were trying to warn her about in the previous episode, or was it supposed to balance out the forcible blood-drinking scene?
I'm thinking V and just plain adrenaline from smacking the crap out of Debbie.
And it's really squicky that she's stuck having sex dreams about Mr Franklin Fruit-and-Nutcase Mott after what he did to her, just because she drank his blood
There still seems to be a connection between those two...
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 04:17 pm (UTC)"looks shifty" Yes, it certainly does.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 04:41 pm (UTC)Don't stop doing it, btw. I enjoy it.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 04:43 pm (UTC):( Poor Talbot! He was a very enjoyable character.
I'm thinking V and just plain adrenaline from smacking the crap out of Debbie.
Could well be. You don't think Sookie and Bill are back together already, then?
There still seems to be a connection between those two...
Heh! You're doing it again. Poor Tara!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 05:20 pm (UTC)Whoa... That last ten minutes sure was filled with intense, twisty-turney, plot advancing stuff! All of a sudden, so much happened at the same time! Took me a while to recover...
Eric finally gave Russell the first real blow! Oh, I will miss Talbot. :( Can't wait to see how things escalate from this! And yeah, the "happy reunion" of Sookie and Bill happened awfully fast. But somehow I feel it won't/can't possibly be as easy as it seems right now. I'm sure there will be more to this.
All in all, I liked this episode a lot. There was just one thing missing. I would've liked to see how Pam's doing!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 06:03 pm (UTC)I think it was. And (I know, I'm weird!) I found it rather poignant. I loved Stephen Moyer in this episode, as I loved the Bill/Jessica scenes.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 06:03 pm (UTC)I quite liked it too, especially the bits about Jessica and Eric. Eric was especially fun when he caught the crown and later on with Talbot. Can't wait for him and Russel to truly face off, that's goign to be very interesting.
I was wondering about the Jesus/Lafayette sexscene too, but maybe that's going to come soon. Will be very interesting to find out what he is and potentially what Lafayette is.
I'm sure Mott will be back to make trouble for Tara and she wont take it too well if Sookie and Bill stay on.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 08:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 09:51 pm (UTC)Darker Bill sounds interesting, though. Is he more like he was in the episodes where he was pretending to work for Russell?
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 09:55 pm (UTC)Thank you. I enjoy writing them. And I do love the show in all its daft OTT glory.
This episode was gripping sure enough. I think Eric may well be in big trouble unless he makes a very quick exit indeed. Lucky for him that he can fly, I suppose.
I shall miss Talbot too. Eric's acting like someone out of a Norse saga here. You don't just get revenge on the person who done you wrong. You kill his whole family.
But somehow I feel it won't/can't possibly be as easy as it seems right now. I'm sure there will be more to this.
I hope so. It's not that I don't like them as a couple, but I think splitting them up for a while could be a good thing - allow them to concentrate on their relationships with other characters.
There was just one thing missing. I would've liked to see how Pam's doing!
Me too! She's been absent from far too many episodes - as have former Sheriff Dearborn and Kenya.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 09:57 pm (UTC)Oh, I did too. I so want a Bill/Jessica icon, but I haven't seen any yet.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 10:00 pm (UTC)Oh yes! Wonderful.
Eric was especially fun when he caught the crown and later on with Talbot. Can't wait for him and Russel to truly face off, that's goign to be very interesting.
I agree. I think Russell will probably wipe the floor with him, unless Eric's made a very quick getaway.
As for Jesus/Lafayette, that might well be the closest we get to an actual sex scene. We'll see. I liked Lafayette's mother in this ep too, but that actress (whose name I've forgotten) is always very good.
I'm sure Mott will be back to make trouble for Tara and she wont take it too well if Sookie and Bill stay on.
No, she won't. And with good reason.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 10:28 am (UTC)Also, is there going to be another break in transmission soon? That article you linked to about the final ep said it would be broadcast on September 12th, but unless there are 13 eps this time instead of 12, that leaves one Sunday between now and then without a new ep.
Miffed about the Sept 12th date. I'm away that whole week and won't have the chance to d/l the ep before I go. :(
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 10:52 am (UTC)The next break will be Labor Day weekend because, of course, no one watches television on holiday weekends "rolls eyes". So that means that Sunday, September 5 will probably be a day of re-runs.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 10:57 am (UTC)Doubly miffed now. No new ep when I'm around to watch it, and the final ep when I'm not and can't. Grrr!
Has a replacement for Ball been lined up? I would have thought losing his creative vision could be a very bad thing for the series, and with three seasons (potentially) left to run. Is it possible that someone could be brought in who sees things very differently and turns everything on its head?
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 11:00 am (UTC)We'll just have to wait and see what happens. It could be BtVS all over again or maybe AB is a lot smarter than Joss.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 11:13 am (UTC)Well, I mostly like seasons 6&7 of BtVS (except for the AR and the botched soul quest gotcha), but I will readily agree they were a bit incoherent at times. Mind you, True Blood isn't amazingly well-structured with Ball in charge.
We'll see. It's HBO. Hopefully, they'll find someone competent.