Synopsis: Alexander Skarsgard got naked (albeit all too briefly).
Other stuff happened.
Almost forgot to mention: Alexander Skarsgard got naked (albeit all too briefly).
And I’ll take silver from him anytime.
And wrap up Mary Ann already. She has gotten absolutely positively “speed through it on Tivo” boring and is causing Tara (one of my favorite characters/actresses on the show) to be wasted.
Silver suicide bombers aren’t terribly effective, are they?
Godric went pretty quickly from trying to create a sort of peace between humans and vampires to giving up and killing himself.
Fuck, Godric killed himself! How terrible was that? He was my favorite new character and I’d really hoped to see him pop up now and then for future seasons. I loved his relationship with Eric, how he carried himself, the fact that he was so young when I was expecting someone who was at least in his late thirties when he was made into a vampire. Even his tattoos were cool. I kept hoping that Sookie would talk him out of it or something. I’ve got the most awful feeling right now, damn.
Anyway, very enjoyable episode for me, mostly thanks to Godric. I love that Sam is finally shifting into more practical animals than the damn dog (why doesn’t he go to the Museum of Natural History or watch Jurassic Park so he can turn into a dinosaur?) and the fact that he’s going to Andy Bellefleur, of all people, for help.
I still love Jessica and her relationship with Hoyt, but every time they’re alone I get the terrible feeling that she’s about to get killed. I hope she remains a regular.
I agree that Mary Ann has to go. They’ve stretched her story far enough, so I’m hoping they wrap it up in the three episodes left this season. Tara’s turned kind of useless too, but I thought the same about Jason last season and I’ve actually grown to like him. I wonder if vampires are powerful enough to kill Mary Ann? According to Daphne, all “supernaturals” are immune to Mary Ann’s black eye power, but could she survive a vampire ripping her to shreds?
With the exception of maybe two episodes, I think this season has been stronger than last season and they’re moving, for the most part, in the right direction. I’ve never read any of the books but I’d like to see some of the other supernatural creatures, like werewolves, introduced in future story arcs.
I was very disappointed with Godric killing himself, even though that final scene had a poetic quality to it. There is nothing noble or atoning about commiting suicide. If he really wanted to make amends, he should have made them by living and trying to make the world a better place. Killing yourself off because you’re bored is just a coward’s way out, whether you’re a vampire or not. I liked the character before. Now I don’t know anymore.
I don’t think Godric killed himself because he was bored. I think he killed himself because he realized that he’d spent the better part of two millenia being a monster and a crime against nature. He tried to atone for his crimes but only succeeding in making things worse, because he didn’t think like a human or a vampire anymore. I can only imagine the ennui and depression one might feel in that situation. I agree that it was a waste, and felt very sorry for Eric, who obviously felt sincere love for him, but Godric’s suicide was his choice to make. He illustrates the downside of living forever.
Totally agree with the OP about the scene with Sookie and Eric in bed-- HOT. I wasn’t sure what the deal was with that dream. Did Eric cause her to have it? Did Lorena? Or was it all a product of her unconscious?
Seems like the vamps and Maryann are headed for their showdown, at last. I loved Lafayette as the ass kicking cousin looking out for Tara.
Good for Hoyt for standing up to his mama, even though she did speak the truth-- Jessica cannot give him children. Still, an awful thing for her to say.
Loved the Newlins bickering on national TV.
I can’t agree with that kind of reasoning. Perhaps saying that he was tired of (un)life is a better way of putting it instead of saying he was bored, but it still come down to the same thing in the end. I’m with Eric when he says that vampires are in that world whether they belong there or not. They are there whether Godric likes it or not, or thinks they should be. Him killing himself doesn’t remove all vampires from the world, but rather it just means there’s one less decent vampire in the world to fight the good fight. If there is ever going to be a future for a world with humans and vampires co-existing, the world needs more people like Godric not less.
Godric giving himself to the Fellowship in the first place was even dumber, as being killed by them would just potentially spark a human-vampire war. At least he admitted that in the end. I can’t imagine that’s the legacy he would want to leave.
What it comes down to is that dying is not an atonement. Being removed from this world won’t bring back the people he’s killed. Of course it’s not going to be easy to do good, but it never is. We’re not told how long ago his change of mind came, but I got the impression it was a recent thing. If he had 2000 years to commit evil and really wanted to make amends for it, he owed the world more than a few years or decades of trying to make it a better place. Just accepting that he can’t understand humans or vampires is simply giving up on the world.
Bullet-sucking scene, plus bonus naked Eric dream? Awww yeah!
Seriously, I liked the ambiguity of the dream. Could be just a dream. Could be just a dream, but Eric might have an inkling what she dreamed about. Could be a shared experience either caused by Eric or simply a side effect of the blood sharing. Could be Lorena’s actually involved, or merely symbolizing Sookie’s conscience (if Lorena represents your conscience, that must be pretty chilling!)
Count me in on loving the Newlins on TV: him with the big ol’ paintball bruise, and her: " . . . I hate your hair." 
This week, I’m finally back on board with the Maryann story. This is where it should have been about four episodes into the arc. Tara and even Eggs are questioning WTF is happening to them. Lafayette reacting to the bruises. Lafayette teaming up with Tara’s mom, who does seem to have turned over a new leaf. I still hated her until this week, when she let Tara pummel her, saying, “I’ll never hit you again!”
I also loved Michelle Forbes’s performance - when she talked about the crazy/ecstatics it gave more insight into her identity and motivations than has been provided most of the season, and it had infinitely more style than Daphne’s villain-monologue infodump. Note also she debunked Daphne’s idea that she herself is God or many goddesses, or whatnot. She’s serving a “god who’s coming,” she’s not a deity herself. Thank goodness.
Also, the return of Sookie and the vamps seems it will be the beginning of a war for Bon Temps, which should be interesting. I wonder if Hoyt and Jessica will be in it with the Goodies. I’m still loving them. Yay Hoyt for telling off his mom!
Looking forward to the last three eps!
Even having read the books, I found myself a little disappointed that Godric handed himself over to the Fellowship in the first place. I think I understand why, but at the same time, it seems like the whole thing had more personal meaning the way they did it at the end of the episode rather than in front of a bunch of fanatics. I’m glad it ended the way it did, but it seemed like handing himself over to the Fellowship was kind of…I don’t know. Selling himself short? Cowardly?
Anyway, I agree that the Maryann story line has to go. It’s getting really old. I think part of it has to do with the way she was set up in the first place. Whether she rips people’s hearts out or not, the way she was set up for some reason made her more eye-roll worthy than frightening. Part of it has to do with the special effects - the dancing was a bit annoying to begin with, so that seemed to ruin things early. But another part of it was perhaps the actress herself and the poor translation of her character from book to screen. In the book, her character was absolutely crazy and seemed to lose herself in the chaos and gore she created. The actress in the series doesn’t seem to particularly revel in it - she almost seems to be babysitting some vaguely annoying but otherwise maleable children.
Also, it bothers me how easily the whole town succumbs to her. You know, black eyes and all. I think she would be more frightening if there were more people conscious enough of what she was or knew what was happening to them as it was happening.
I’m glad they kept Lafayette alive in the series. He’s a bit of a foil, but I think it’s a necessary one. And I really liked what I saw of him in the books.
Good episode but sad. I was really hoping Godric would stick around. The scene between him and Eric was heart breaking. I too was hoping Sookie could talk him down. I almost expected her to give him a big ol hug.
The bit with her being grossed out by sucking out the silver was hilarious. Her dream was intriguing and we saw a potentially different side to Eric. I loved her expression of doubts to Godric about whether she could manage to stand to be around Eric enough to look after him. The scene between her and Jason was heartwarming if a little bit patronizing on her part.
I’m ashamed to admit I was surprised by the whole fly thing. I should have gotten right away that it would be a way for Sam to escape, but for some reason I thought it was something creepy MaryAnn was doing when it first showed up.
I hated Jessica end of last season and beginning of this one, but now I love her.
Looks like next week they’ll be back in Bon Temp and have to deal with MaryAnn. Hopefully they have to deal with not just her but whatever she is worshipping…
That’s the thing about suicide: it doesn’t matter if you disagree with Godric’s reasoning. He didn’t want to live anymore, and he was powerful enough that no one could stop him from giving up. In theory, he could have done more good by sticking around, but if you’re in a century long depression, how motivated are you to change the world? I can also relate to his feeling of futility, that no amount of effort on his part was going to redeem his own wrongs nor reconcile vampires and humans. He was tired of the whole thing. It would be a great loss if he were functioning as his best self, but it seems obvious that he wasn’t, and wasn’t ever going to.
Exactly. Godric gave up on the world. Maybe that was weak, or maybe it was a recognition of the futility of his situation.
I thought for sure in the scene at the bar with Hoyt and Jessica and Hoyt’s mom, that Hoyt’s mom was going to whip a stake out of her purse and go for Jessica. Not that she would have succeeded necessarily, I just totally thought she was going to try.
It’s about time Lafayette (or someone, anyone!) staged an intervention for Tara. Good lord.
Please tell me that I’m not the only person that thought that Sookie had way, way, way more chemistry with her brother than with practically any other character on the show, especially Bill? That scene was weird for me.
I loved the scene of Hoyt talking to her about her prejudices.
“You hate Methodists…”
I have my reasons!
“You hate Catholics…”
Only the priests… and the nuns.
“You hate black people!”
That’s a secret between me and you!
“You hate checkered curtains…”
Who wouldn’t!
Reminds me of ‘conversations’ I’ve had with my own relatives (none of which are EVER going to include the line “you have a point, that is wrong” or anything remotely synonymous.
Especially when they lay back on the bed together. I love my sister but I have to admit that lying down with her, especially when I’m wearing nothing but a bathrobe, would ick me out in the extreme and I can only see it happening if we both have cholera.
I’m always amazed at how non-Americans do much better southern accents than American actors. Most of the accents on TRUE BLOOD I actually know.
Ryan Kwanten- Australian- dumb redneck accent- convincing.
Stephen Moyer- English- old aristocratic southern accent [with a slight touch of Elvis when he says “Sookie”]- convincing.
Anna Paquin- Canadian born/New Zealand raised- working class modern southern- convincing.
Alexander Skarsgård- Swedish- did a convincing southern accent last week when he approached the Fellowship members in disguise.
Yet if you tried to get American actors to do convincing southern accents you get this generic patois that doesn’t matter if the character lives in a trailer park or a mansion, in the country or the city, in 1780 or 2009, is gay or straight or a surgeon or homeless or ‘whatever’ exactly.
Anthony Hopkins and Julie Andrews are the only two famous Brit actors I’ve ever heard flop at doing American accents. Neither barely even tries.
Also have to give kudos to Nelsan Ellis (Illinois born, Birmingham AL raised) who plays Lafayette. His “I may be gay but I can eff you up as needed” is perfect- reminds me of a couple of people I’ve known who can go from “would make Liberace say ‘oh butch it up a little bitch!’” to “would make R. Lee Ermey say 'Sir, yes sir!” in nothing flat, though in interviews he speaks absolutely nothing like that. (No idea if he’s gay in real life.)
Bringing it back to topic though, imagine how great Julie Andrews in her 60s heyday would have been as Mary Ann. That might actually make her character interesting.
You are not the only person who thought that. She seemed sort of coy in that flirty way some Southern women have about them and I thought they were going to throw down a lip-lock any second.
I thought I was just reacting to my intense dislike for Bill. I don’t find the actor attractive, I don’t think Bill and Sookie have much chemistry (oddly, seeing as how they are a couple IRL), and I just really keep wishing someone would stake Bill so Sookie can be pwned by Eric.
Again, I am projecting my own issues on to this show. :: swoons over Eric again ::
I agree, even when they were acting like comfortable, friendly lovers in Sookie’s dream, there was a lot more heat with Eric than there has been with Bill. I’m wondering if they will have Bill do something sufficiently jerky to cause Sookie to break up with him and be available. At this point, it would be fun to introduce some of the other potential love interests that appear in the books.
It certainly does seem that they’re setting up an Eric romance. They went to great lengths to have Sookie see his soft, cuddly, teddy-bear core, with the dream conversation and with his clear love for Godric and his pain over the suicide. I also liked that he contrasted himself and Sookie - he’s tough outside and sweet inside, while she’s cheerful and unassuming outside, but capable of coldly killing to protect herself and her loved ones. Anyone else looking forward to seeing Sookie utter the immortal line (book spoiler, slightly)Well, I killed *her *ass.
Let me be the first to call it. I bet Sookie is going to be immune to the whole Maryanne / ecstatic / black eyes thing. Glamour doesn’t work on her. I bet this won’t either.
This also implies that Sookie may be instrumental in Maryanne’s destruction, or whatever.
J.
Sookie is seriously going to cut a bitch over what they have been doing to Gran’s house in her absence.
I haven’t read the series, so does anybody know whether Sookie is a ‘supe’/can she be blackeyed by Mary Ann?
A friend who has read the series said that in the books Godric is a pedophile who still has urges and was a particularly vicious vampire for most of his existence who for whatever reasons in recent years has been tremendously haunted by remorse. His suicide is largely because he just can’t take it anymore
This makes it a bit more understandable.
I had to go to the doctor today, because I over-rolled my eyes whenever the MaryAnne storyline came on.
Some book series spoilers in this post, so skip it if you don’t want to see them.
In the books, there was no “Marianne” character per se. There was something similar, but it was a much more minor storyline, and the Marianne in the TV show is pretty much her own thing. That said, there was an instance in the books when Sookie thought that she and Bill had got into an argument because the Marianne-like creature had caused the angry feelings within both of them. But it was never confirmed whether this was actually the case. There was nothing in the books like the people with their eyes turning black, being mind-controlled by Marianne, etc.
My personal guess is that Sookie will turn out to be immune, just like Andy Bellefleur – and why is HE immune, anyway?