True Blood 7/26/09 OPEN SPOILERS

[AuntiePam]

What's missing in this show? I think the writers are laughing at us for taking it seriously.

The show needs an adult, an authority figure of sorts -- somebody like Bobby from Supernatural, or one of Stephen King's "magical negroes", somebody who knows things!

The actress who played Lorena was awful. Bill can't menace (or sing). Jessica has apparently been tamed. Eggs finding the sacrificial rock was lame. Sarah's response to her husband's criminal behavior was to seduce Jason. Who is Lafayette supposed to sell V to, and why?

The only part I liked was Terry comforting Lafayette, but the scene was so out of the blue, it was hard to appreciate it.

And why does Eric want to prevent Bill from rescuing Sookie? So he can do it? If she's so special, why contribute to putting her in danger?

Makes no sense.

[Darkhold]

I've been watching this show because it was recommended by a friend. Here's something I've had to remember while watching it.

Nobody reacts (or acts) in a sensible manner. They don't act in a consistent manner. They only act as writer props.They are all just there to move the plot from point A to B.

It's easily the more horribly written nonsensical show I've ever seen. I've learned not to stress over the plot holes (or I'd go crazy). I honestly don't understand how this show has won awards.

[Rubystreak]

It was interesting to find out Daphne was the pig, and she was setting up Sam. I knew something was not right about that whole situation. I didn't know that shifters could change into multiple different animals. Does this mean Sam could turn into a lion or a bat or whatever? I hope so, because otherwise, how's he going to get out of that one?

Do we know how Bill and Lorena had their falling out and Bill turned good? That scene was pretty gross. Bill has really changed, and I hope we're told why.

I'm guessing Eric wants Sookie for himself, but as Auntie Pam points out, letting her die because Bill is preoccupied is counter productive. Perhaps he plans a dramatic rescue of her and Godrick in one fell swoop? What are his plans for Lafayette? Poor thing was scared half to death. I agree, that scene with Terry was great. I think Terry has PTSD and recognized the symptoms in Lafayette, and was sharing his coping techniques with his friend. It was sweet.

How did the Reverend know that Sookie was a spy?

It was rather amusing to discover that Sookie never considered that she was going to age and Bill wasn't, and that might be an impediment to their future relationship. She really is not all that bright, is she?

Yes, this show is utter trash, but it's pretty entertaining. Everything that AuntiePam says about it is true, but... yeah, still watching.

[LVBoPeep]

Hi All-

I think that Eric does want Sookie for himself and by rescuing her, he's got an in if she's hurt to offer her some blood. Plus, Bill keeps resisting the plans they have and could possible cause a problem if he thinks there is too much risk for Sookie.

I was a little disappointed when they showed Jessica pouring the Tru Blood down the sink- I thought she was going to go on her own "hunt" but instead the boyfriend showed up which was sweet but very tame. I keep expecting it to be an issue, since she is so new to being a vampire, that she would have a hard time controlling her appetite.

Was I right in thinking Sarah did not know about Sookie- there were so many thoughts going around, I thought I heard her think that showing them the vampire would scare the young couple away and she looked surprised when she realized her husband had planned all along to ambush Sookie & Hugh.

I hope Alcide shows up soon, if they do it right we will have one more Supe to drool over besides Eric and Sam (Bill is just lame IMHO).

As far as Bill "turning" good, I think you can't underestimate the control a Maker has on the vampire they made. With the ability to command the person, and everything being so new to them, there is probably a point where Bill, who seemed to be a good person before he turned, had to say "this is what I am now" and that might be why he is so enthusiatic about mainstreaming now. He mentions how lucky he thinks Jessica is to be turned when Tru Blood was available and she does not have to be a monster unless she chooses too.

[Omega Glory]

Originally Posted by Smokinjbc

Hi All-
Was I right in thinking Sarah did not know about Sookie- there were so many thoughts going around, I thought I heard her think that showing them the vampire would scare the young couple away and she looked surprised when she realized her husband had planned all along to ambush Sookie & Hugh.

She knew. At the same time her husband started thinking about Sookie not being a Christian, Sarah was thinking that Sookie was probably an innocent who was being forced to help the vampires.

[awldune]

The implication seems to be that one of Godrick's nest is in cahoots with the Church. Someone tipped them off about Sookie and Bill's flight, and then about Sookie going to the compound.

Very weak episode for me. Really hope that the whole Maryann story will be over at the end of this season.

The character of Eggs doesn't make a ton of sense to me -- he's supposed to have been with Maryann for a long time, right? A year or two, anyway? But he is somehow innocent of her group's cult behavior. He seemed genuinely surprised to find all the people going at it in the woods, which doesn't jibe.

So Maryann has an alternate form with claws, but her horns were just a mask?

[Xan]

I love Terry. He's the only character who seems to act consistently and sanely.

[AuntiePam]

Darkhold, exactly!

Originally Posted by Smokinjbc

I was a little disappointed when they showed Jessica pouring the Tru Blood down the sink-

That scene only made sense if Bill is going to check the fridge to make sure she's drinking Tru Blood and not ordering from the menu. Bill's not gonna do that.

Why are the vamps suddenly all ashy and gray? That's some awful makeup.

I'll keep watching, but I don't know why. This is really bad storytelling.

[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

I didn't know that shifters could change into multiple different animals. Does this mean Sam could turn into a lion or a bat or whatever? I hope so, because otherwise, how's he going to get out of that one?

Sam said he can change into different animals when he "came out" to Sookie, and that the dog is his go-to animal.

Do we know how Bill and Lorena had their falling out and Bill turned good? That scene was pretty gross. Bill has really changed, and I hope we're told why.

Cursed by Gypsies?

I'm a big fan of sex and nudity, but this show has some really gross scenes. There have been three distinct scenes that have truly repulsed me:

1) Season 1, when Bill crawls out of a grave directly into Sookie's cooter. I mean, it was almost one continuous motion from buried in the ground to grabbing her leg to pulling her down to sliding up inside her. It was fucking gross. (He had buried himself to stay out of the sun, I guess.)

2) Season 2 opener, while having sex Bill feeds on Sookie's neck and then starts making out with her, (her own) blood pouring into her mouth. Ick. Wouldn't that make you involuntarily vomit?

3) This episode, where the bed was basically a hot tub of murder-victim blood. Quite an unappealing (and unsanitary!) lubricant.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

What's missing in this show? I think the writers are laughing at us for taking it seriously.

The show needs an adult, an authority figure of sorts -- somebody like Bobby from Supernatural, or one of Stephen King's "magical negroes", somebody who knows things!

The actress who played Lorena was awful. Bill can't menace (or sing). Jessica has apparently been tamed. Eggs finding the sacrificial rock was lame. Sarah's response to her husband's criminal behavior was to seduce Jason. Who is Lafayette supposed to sell V to, and why?

The only part I liked was Terry comforting Lafayette, but the scene was so out of the blue, it was hard to appreciate it.

And why does Eric want to prevent Bill from rescuing Sookie? So he can do it? If she's so special, why contribute to putting her in danger?

Makes no sense.

So in short you don't like the show?

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by Ellis Dee

Sam said he can change into different animals when he "came out" to Sookie, and that the dog is his go-to animal.

So why doesn't he just turn into a bird or a bat or a bee and just fly away when Maryann's goons grab him? Maybe he will. If so, Maryann is pretty dumb for capturing him as she did.

Cursed by Gypsies?

I'm a big fan of sex and nudity, but this show has some really gross scenes.

Maybe I'm just all queasy these days, but I totally agree with you on your list of 3 most unappetizing scenes, especially about this last episode. Maybe they are trying to emphasize how bestial the vamps are. Sookie likes it dirty and blood too, I guess. I wonder what she'd think if she knew what Bill used to be like. That's some pretty serious vileness, and there better be a fantastic and plausible reason why he would have changed so radically.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by Smokinjbc

Hi All-

I think that Eric does want Sookie for himself and by rescuing her, he's got an in if she's hurt to offer her some blood. Plus, Bill keeps resisting the plans they have and could possible cause a problem if he thinks there is too much risk for Sookie.

I was a little disappointed when they showed Jessica pouring the Tru Blood down the sink- I thought she was going to go on her own "hunt" but instead the boyfriend showed up which was sweet but very tame. I keep expecting it to be an issue, since she is so new to being a vampire, that she would have a hard time controlling her appetite.

She wasn't going out to hunt, she was going to order from room service and wanted to hide it. Didn't you ever poor water in your parents vodka?

Was I right in thinking Sarah did not know about Sookie- there were so many thoughts going around, I thought I heard her think that showing them the vampire would scare the young couple away and she looked surprised when she realized her husband had planned all along to ambush Sookie & Hugh.

Yes, I think she was surprised. Obviously her husband had reliable intel.

I hope Alcide shows up soon, if they do it right we will have one more Supe to drool over besides Eric and Sam (Bill is just lame IMHO).

As far as Bill "turning" good, I think you can't underestimate the control a Maker has on the vampire they made. With the ability to command the person, and everything being so new to them, there is probably a point where Bill, who seemed to be a good person before he turned, had to say "this is what I am now" and that might be why he is so enthusiatic about mainstreaming now. He mentions how lucky he thinks Jessica is to be turned when Tru Blood was available and she does not have to be a monster unless she chooses too.

Am I the only one who thinks that Godrik is actually in control of the situation and is planning to fuck up the Fellowship in a big way?

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by mswas

So in short you don't like the show?

I like the concept and I think the characters can be interesting, but I think this season, the story has been told very poorly. I can't figure if it's because they have too much story and not enough time, or too much time and not enough story.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I like the concept and I think the characters can be interesting, but I think this season, the story has been told very poorly. I can't figure if it's because they have too much story and not enough time, or too much time and not enough story.

Funny, I am enjoying this season far more than the last. I like the action/adventure intrigue better than the small town soap opera. I think Maryann is one of the best things about the show though, and everyone else seems to hate her.

Oh, and it's blindingly obvious why Eggs doesn't know about Maryann's cult. The cult is really just her and Carlo. Eggs has been involved in the orgies with the black eyes and doesn't remember a thing. That's why he remembered being at that spot, but not why he was there. He was clearly involved in her prior human sacrifice but was magicked up.

[simster]

The one in cahoots? The one that accompanied Sookie - Hugh? Something about the way he was repeating things in his head when he met Sookie - Now, wether or not he could keep that up or not is a different question, but right then - seemed he was trying to block her (he knew why she was there).

[CrazyCatLady]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I can't figure if it's because they have too much story and not enough time, or too much time and not enough story.

I think it's probably some of both, honestly. The second book was pretty damn weak, especially the secondary storyline that happens in Bon Temps. That part is very much a case of not enough story for the time, which is why they've built up around it so much that it's become rather tedious. (Though I would argue that it's not nearly as tedious or stooopit as the version in the book.) It's probably part of the reason they're bringing in parts of the third book already.

All the storylines that have been built from the ground up for the show are cool, but there's a lot of them and that makes for a lot of ground to cover. Those parts are getting developed to the point where it's becoming too much story for the time.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by simster

The one in cahoots? The one that accompanied Sookie - Hugh? Something about the way he was repeating things in his head when he met Sookie - Now, wether or not he could keep that up or not is a different question, but right then - seemed he was trying to block her (he knew why she was there).

Or was obsessively in love with the woman he was claiming to be obsessively in love with. I thought her response to whether or not she loved him was rather tepid.

[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by Auntie Pam

I can't figure if it's because they have too much story and not enough time, or too much time and not enough story.

My assumption is that the loss of that exec sent HBO directly into the shitter, to the point where they are about on par with TNT. Er, whatever network has the Mary McCormick witness protection show. That's HBO's level. They can only dream of getting back to an AMC level; I think the Showtime level is well and truly out of reach. Given that, True Blood is pretty darn good. (Now that I think about it, I might put AMC over Showtime in pure quality, but they only have two shows. Showtime has a stable of shows.)

Seriously, True Blood and Hung? While Showtime is coming up with shows like Nurse Jackie? Speaking of which, anyone notice how Showtime casting seems to require poaching at least one actor from an HBO series?

Dexter -- Dexter was a main character on Six Feet Under
Californication -- The agent and his wife are Charlotte's husband from Sex and the City and wife from Lucky Louie
Nurse Jackie -- Carmelo Soprano, of course.
United States of Tara -- The husband was one of Carrie's boyfriends on Sex and the City. (Furniture maker?)
Weeds -- Nancy and her BIL were on that AIDS miniseries. (Angels...something?) Okay, that one's weak but still.
Inside the NFL -- Instead of taking the talent they took the whole damn show.
Tracey Ullman -- This time they took both the show and the talent.

I'll bet there's a pitch meeting going on right now for an on-the-lam buddy comedy starring the actors who played Titus Pullo and Dan Dorrity, who end up in a love triangle with Melissa George. (Laura from In Treatment.)

[mswas]

Are you honestly saying that Showtime is better than HBO? Like with a straight face and everything? HBO is truly the pinnacle of Television, Showtime is a distant second. Showtime has Dexter, the Tudors and what else? Weeds is horrifyingly painful to watch pretty much. Nurse Jackie is good, but it's not mindblowing. It's kind of hamfisted really. Hung is kind of on a lower level precisely because it seems like it belongs on Showtime. A show that's supposed to be a comedy but really has a lot of potential to be really depressing like Nurse Jackie and Weeds. United States of Tara has a similar problem. Californication's first season was great, it ended on a great note. I haven't watched further because well it could only go downhill from there. You know it's going to do what Weeds did and just delve into more and more depravity and become just depressing and not very funny at all.

Dexter and the Tudors are the only things Showtime has that can compete with HBO for quality.

I don't know what people are expecting from True Blood, it delivers on precisely what it promises.

[MaxTheVool]

I thought Jessica opened up the bottles of True Blood and poured them down the sink simply to waste $90 because she was in a snit.

I'm definitely enjoying things, although I feel like they're being dragged out way more than necessary. Did it really need to take 3 episodes to go from "Sookie will be going to Texas to infiltrate the church" to "Sookie finally gets to the church, and then wham, cliffhanger, see you next week suckers"?

[overlyverbose]

I haven't seen any of the season 2 shows - just season 1 on Netflix - but I've read all the books. Even though it sounds like it's going to get even raunchier, I'm glad to hear that Bill gets a little badder. He's awfully tepid in the first season. Actually, most of the "main" vampire characters seem a little lukewarm to me. I think I must have seen too many vampire action flicks. Does everyone get a little more animated or are all the vampires pretty "Meh" through the whole show?

[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by MaxTheVool

I thought Jessica opened up the bottles of True Blood and poured them down the sink simply to waste $90 because she was in a snit.

I had that same thought about pouring out the bottles, Max.

Originally Posted by mswas

Are you honestly saying that Showtime is better than HBO? Like with a straight face and everything?

Yes, and I have been saying this here in the Cafe for a couple years now. HBO WAS truly the pinnacle of Television, with Deadwood and The Sopranos and Rome and The Wire and Six Feet Under and Extras. Showtime WAS a distant second when they were bascially the gay network. But that's all in the past now. Let's compare active shows:

Big Love is much better than United States of Tara
Curb Your Enthusiasm is decent
Secret Diary of a Call Girl is better than Hung
Dexter is far superior to True Blood
Weeds is better than Entourage
Californication is way better than Eastbound & Down

Cancelled shows from recent years:

John from Cincinnatti was the death knell
Tell Me You Love Me kinda sucked
Lucky Louie would have gotten laughed out of Showtime's offices
In Treatment was the last dying breath of HBO's former greatness


David Milch almost single-handedly killed HBO. I made a post about this sometime last year; I'll see if I can dig it up. In short, there was this HBO executive who had a hand in dozens of great HBO classics, from Larry Sanders to Deadwood. Then she gave Milch John From Cincinnatti, which got her fired. Ever since then their original series have been circling the drain. At the same time, Showtime really came into its own, shedding the "gay network" image and putting on some quality shows with broader appeal. (Their original tentpole shows were Queer As Folk and The L Word.)

[mswas]

Heh you and I have very different tastes. I thought Secret Diary of a Call Girl was tedious.

Dexter IS better than True Blood I'll give you that, but I still love True Blood.
Weeds is not even worthy of licking Entourage's boots.
Californication is pointless nihilism and I never saw Eastbound and Down.
Curb your Enthusiasm Straight up sucks, so did Extras. Six Feet Under was uninteresting I never got far into it.
Never watched John from Cincinnatti or Lucky Louie. In Treatment admittedly is kind of boring.
United States of Tara is good but I expect it to swallow the big suck like Weeds did.
Big Love is consistently good.

Dexter and The Tudors are the only great shows that Showtime has IMO. US of Tara is good, Nurse Jackie is Good and Weeds WAS awesome until they decided to make it horribly depressing. I expect US of Tara and Nurse Jackie to go the same route. They've already set it up to do that.

[Gangster Octopus]

Originally Posted by mswas

Curb your Enthusiasm Straight up sucks, so did Extras.

You, sir or madam, are no longer on my Christmas Card list. Harrumph!

True Blood is incredibly uneven. Some parts are really interesting, and some just flat out idiotic. And I am getting a bit tired of the MaryAnn storyline because it is TAKING FOREVER to establish what she wants.

I actually appreciate the Jessica storyline maybe the most, to be honest. her character is at an awkward nexus of learning to be a vampire and a woman at the same time.

[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by mswas

Dexter IS better than True Blood I'll give you that, but I still love True Blood.
Weeds is not even worthy of licking Entourage's boots.
Californication is pointless nihilism and I never saw Eastbound and Down.
Curb your Enthusiasm Straight up sucks, so did Extras. Six Feet Under was uninteresting I never got far into it.
Never watched John from Cincinnatti or Lucky Louie. In Treatment admittedly is kind of boring.
United States of Tara is good but I expect it to swallow the big suck like Weeds did.
Big Love is consistently good.

Go through this list of yours with a scorecard and you'll have a hard time justifying your claim that "HBO is truly the pinnacle of Television, Showtime is a distant second."

I've searched high and low for a post I made detailing the rise of Showtime and the fall of HBO. It was chock full of links to articles about that executive getting fired because of John From Cincinnatti at the same time a dynamic executive joined Showtime with the intention to replace HBO as the class of original programming. Auntie Pam might remember it; as I recall it basically killed a very short thread. But I found it fascinating.

The closest I could find was this post from last year.

[mswas]

Ok, they are pretty much on par, I'll give you that. For me though, Big Love, Entourage and True Blood which are shows I look forward to beat out Dexter and the Tudors the only shows I really look forward to on Showtime. Oh yea, lets add No. 1 Lady's Detective Agency in the win column for HBO, so Showtime isn't a DISTANT second, it only has half as many shows that I really look forward to as HBO. US of Tara and Nurse Jackie are the filler shows I watch when shows like Burn Notice, Lie to Me, Kings or the Philanthropist or the others I mentioned above are not on.

[mswas]

In your post you mention Brothers, I think you mean Brotherhood, that was a highlight for Showtime as was Sleeper Cell.

[Ellis Dee]

Originally Posted by Gangster Octopus

I actually appreciate the Jessica storyline maybe the most, to be honest. her character is at an awkward nexus of learning to be a vampire and a woman at the same time.

I couldn't possibly agree with you more. Her storyline is far more interesting than everything else on the show.

I've also just realized that Lafayette was a goodly amount of the show's charm last season, so having him (figuratively) castrated isn't helping matters any. And before it gets mentioned, I don't care that he's supposed to be dead.

[Gangster Octopus]

HBO miniseries pretty much kick everyone's ass, thoug.

Band of Brothers (greatest miniseries ever? Probably second to Roots)
John Adams
Generation Kill
Angels in America
The Corner
From the Earth to the Moon

[simster]

Originally Posted by mswas

Or was obsessively in love with the woman he was claiming to be obsessively in love with. I thought her response to whether or not she loved him was rather tepid.

Which goes into his bitching about not being turned by her - which fuels his anger/resentment issues - he wants to be a vampire, she won't turn him, and since he is hers, no one else can either.

My money's on him - cliche and all. The only other possible twist has already been mentioned, that the Vamps are in it to start the war.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by Gangster Octopus

HBO miniseries pretty much kick everyone's ass, thoug.

Band of Brothers (greatest miniseries ever? Probably second to Roots)
John Adams
Generation Kill
Angels in America
The Corner
From the Earth to the Moon

Agreed. I never saw Band of Brothers all the way through, I should. Generation Kill and John Adams were awesome! I want to see 'The Corner'.

[Ellis Dee]

Yeah, HBO miniseries are fantastic, as are most of their documentaries. Showtime's got nothing on those fronts.

Band of Brothers is one of the greatest things I've ever seen.

[salinqmind]

I was disappointed we didn't see 21st century Godric this week. (I thought last week's Eric/Godric storyline was just mindblowing.) This week's episode, though moving the story along, was kind of 'meh' in comparison, though the 1920's costumes and the music were quite enjoyable. The poor Jean Harlow lady and her sugar daddy! Oh, and I hope that preacher dies the most horrible death!

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by Ellis Dee

I've searched high and low for a post I made detailing the rise of Showtime and the fall of HBO. It was chock full of links to articles about that executive getting fired because of John From Cincinnatti at the same time a dynamic executive joined Showtime with the intention to replace HBO as the class of original programming. Auntie Pam might remember it; as I recall it basically killed a very short thread. But I found it fascinating.

I've been looking too but haven't found it yet. I did find your pithy post on John from Cincinnati, which made me laugh all over again.

It's just so remarkably bad in every conceivable way. I can imagine the pitch meeting:

David Milch: "I have an idea for a show about the fucking second coming set in fucking modern times."
HBO Executive: "I don't know how that will play to our liberal audience."
DM: "They'll fucking love it. In my show, Jesus is a fucking retard."
HBOE: "I love it! The only thing is, my nephew has a hard-on about surfing, so I promised him the next new show would have lots of surfing."
DM: "No fucking problem, I'll fucking write it as The Retarded Jesus Saves a Bunch of Worthless Surfing Losers. That'll really fucking piss off all those fucking whiny, annoying fucking Deadwood fanboys. God fucking damn I fucking hate those fuckers."

While praising HBO, don't forget the great and powerful Oz. DirecTV's been running it on channel 101, as well as Deadwood.

And while we're speaking (ill) of David Milch, I haven't heard any buzz on his new series for HBO, the cop show set in the 70's.

[TBG]

Would you people mind terribly taking the HBO vs Showtime hijack to another thread, please? It's made it kinda hard to wade through this thread to actually read comments on this episode.

Originally Posted by Gangster Octopus

And I am getting a bit tired of the MaryAnn storyline because it is TAKING FOREVER to establish what she wants.

I agree completely. This episode fortunately seemed to FINALLY move things along, a little. At least, now we know who "that pig" was.

Spoilers for next week preview: (because I know some people don't watch them or want to know)

SPOILER:

Way to take any suspense out of dog-boy's fate there, showing scenes for him later on in daytime not in any apparent danger. I don't usually mind seeing previews, but I really wish I'd skipped this one

[mswas]

TBG: Agreed on the preview, that annoyed the crap out of me too.

[Morbo]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

So why doesn't he just turn into a bird or a bat or a bee and just fly away when Maryann's goons grab him? Maybe he will. If so, Maryann is pretty dumb for capturing him as she did.

IIRC he mentioned last season after he "came out" to Sookie that it is really difficult for him to turn into a bird. My guess is that Andy will somehow stop it.

[salinqmind]

I thought last night Eric looked kind of seedy, like his mustache is growing through his awful white pancake makeup or something. He's always been so cool and sleek and handsome; maybe he's losing his cool over his current troubles? (but he's been around for 1000 years!)

(and I adored Carnivale and would have loved a few more seasons )

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by simster

My money's on him - cliche and all. The only other possible twist has already been mentioned, that the Vamps are in it to start the war.

Your money's on Hugo as the spy? I like the way you think -- that'd be really twisty. What's his motivation? Isabel isn't someone I'd want to cross. (Har! A pun!)

I like the notion of Eric setting it all in motion, maybe even arranging Godric's capture.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

Your money's on Hugo as the spy? I like the way you think -- that'd be really twisty. What's his motivation? Isabel isn't someone I'd want to cross. (Har! A pun!)

I like the notion of Eric setting it all in motion, maybe even arranging Godric's capture.

I think the Vampire that wanted to go to war is the spy. Why wouldn't he be? He and the Reverend share a common goal.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

Do we know how Bill and Lorena had their falling out and Bill turned good? That scene was pretty gross. Bill has really changed, and I hope we're told why.

Maybe it had something to do with the "Great Revelation" mentioned last week, which presumably means the "coming out" of the vampire world.
Before that happened, wouldn't predation and generaly vile behavior be the only avenue of survival for a vampire?

How did the Reverend know that Sookie was a spy?

At the very end Sarah(?) Newland says, "I'm sorry..." to Sookie. I thought she was apologizing for having been involved in trapping her--but she could just as well have been apologizing for her husband's behavior.

[bramma23]

I think True Blood has been very uneven this season.

Early on, Jason truly felt that he had a calling and then he began to have dreams and was conflicted about it. Now those concerns are entirely gone. He's just worried about his pseudo relationship with the Reverend's wife.

Bill and Sookie are getting annoying particularly the way Bill rolls over whenever Sookie gives the same empowerment speech every week.

Sam is an idiot for not thinking something was up with Daphne.

The Maryanne storyline has barely progressed in three weeks other than that we have had progressively more and more orgies. Wouldn't exactly call that plot advancement.

All that being said, it still has some great actors doing great work, even if the writing isn't as strong as last season.

Since when is In Treament cancelled and since when is it boring?

[saramamalana]

Can someone clarify the sacrificial rock business? I didn't understand what it was when Eggs and Tara found it, and why he felt drawn to it and then why they were both upset. Very confused.

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus

Maybe it had something to do with the "Great Revelation" mentioned last week, which presumably means the "coming out" of the vampire world. Before that happened, wouldn't predation and generaly vile behavior be the only avenue of survival for a vampire?

Is background information like this given in the novels? Otherwise, I'd have to speculate that you could charm/glamor humans into voluntarily allowing themselves to be fed from. Apparently it's pleasurable if you're consenting. It's also conceivable that people, without force or glamor, would become the vampire's entourage of willing blood donors. I imagine a vampire could provide a cooperative human with a lot of advantages and perqs, esp. in more primitive times. This is all speculation on my part, but I don't think vicious serial murder is the only way a vampire could sustain himself. They have a lot of ways of getting what they want without resorting to such crude and wasteful methods.

[MsWhatsit]

Along similar lines, that 1920s murder scene really struck me because in the books, Harris very clearly mentions on several occasions that vampires simply would not let blood go to waste. If there is a murder victim who has not been drained completely of blood, then vampires didn't do it. With that in mind -- and I know the TV show has diverged a lot from the books, but still -- it surprised me to see Bill and Lorena just letting all of that blood spurt out onto the sheets, going to waste.

Another thing, and this is my personal speculation only, but it seems like it would be a much more sustainable feeding model (so to speak) for a pre-revelation vampire to glamor someone, take just enough blood to feed without seriously harming the human, and then moving on. Vampire glamors an explanation for the neck wound into the human's mind, and then moves on, no one the wiser. As opposed to, say, leaving a trail of bloody mutilated corpses behind in your travels.

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by MsWhatsit

Another thing, and this is my personal speculation only, but it seems like it would be a much more sustainable feeding model (so to speak) for a pre-revelation vampire to glamor someone, take just enough blood to feed without seriously harming the human, and then moving on. Vampire glamors an explanation for the neck wound into the human's mind, and then moves on, no one the wiser. As opposed to, say, leaving a trail of bloody mutilated corpses behind in your travels.

If you have to be careful not to reveal that vampire exist, certainly glamoring people and/or recruiting a willing herd of devoted blood donors would be a much more effective way of maintaining your cover than leaving a trail of mutilated, bitten, bloodless bodies in your wake. I haven't read the books or anything, I'm just imagining what would be the most effective ways to feed on blood without getting caught or blowing your cover.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by saramamalana

Can someone clarify the sacrificial rock business? I didn't understand what it was when Eggs and Tara found it, and why he felt drawn to it and then why they were both upset. Very confused.

I have no clue. I think that scene was just a setup so we'd be anxious about the orgy -- so we'd know it wasn't just an ordinary orgy, that there was going to be a sacrifice. It wasn't necessary though. That fancy knife was enough, and MaryAnn with the bull's head, etc.

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by saramamalana

Can someone clarify the sacrificial rock business? I didn't understand what it was when Eggs and Tara found it, and why he felt drawn to it and then why they were both upset. Very confused.

I'm thinking maybe that was where the voodoo/excorcist lady got her heart cut out. And, as others said, Eggs had probably been there along with a bunch of others during the sacrifice, but he was in that black-eyed orgiastic trance that MaryAnn creates and so he doesn't clearly remember it
.

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

It was interesting to find out Daphne was the pig, and she was setting up Sam.

I called it in last week's thread! Everyone else was assuming MaryAnn's male assistant was the pig.

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

So why doesn't he just turn into a bird or a bat or a bee and just fly away when Maryann's goons grab him?

MaryAnn did say in an earlier episode that she could force him to transform if she wanted to--she threatened to 'out' him in front of his friends by making him change. Presumably, she can also prevent him from transforming when she's near.


The thing that annoyed me the most about the episode was this: the instant Sookie figured out that the pastor and his wife knew who she was and why she was there, she should have grabbed her partner and marched right the hell out of there. There was nothing to be gained by maintaining the charade. She made a halfhearted attempt to say that they needed to go, but then she let herself and her companion be led into another room where they could be more easily trapped. Completely moronic. She really is stupid.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by saramamalana

Can someone clarify the sacrificial rock business? I didn't understand what it was when Eggs and Tara found it, and why he felt drawn to it and then why they were both upset. Very confused.

He had been to one of her sacrificial orgies in the past, and participated, but not been aware because he was in an ecstatic trance.

[mswas]

Originally Posted by MsWhatsit

Along similar lines, that 1920s murder scene really struck me because in the books, Harris very clearly mentions on several occasions that vampires simply would not let blood go to waste. If there is a murder victim who has not been drained completely of blood, then vampires didn't do it. With that in mind -- and I know the TV show has diverged a lot from the books, but still -- it surprised me to see Bill and Lorena just letting all of that blood spurt out onto the sheets, going to waste.

Haha my wife and I were talking about all that wasted blood. Why they broke the dude's neck without draining him made no sense.

Another thing, and this is my personal speculation only, but it seems like it would be a much more sustainable feeding model (so to speak) for a pre-revelation vampire to glamor someone, take just enough blood to feed without seriously harming the human, and then moving on. Vampire glamors an explanation for the neck wound into the human's mind, and then moves on, no one the wiser. As opposed to, say, leaving a trail of bloody mutilated corpses behind in your travels.

It takes all kinds. There probably were vampires who worked like that.