You Never Expect the Spanish Inquisition

True Blood Season 4 (So Far)  Review

You know, I had high hopes for season 4. It's the season of AmnesiaEric! Of werepanther Jason! Of Witchy Witches who are weres hopped up on vampire blood.

Yeah, well.

TV Amnesia Eric seems really lame. His vulnerability is child-like, whereas book Eric was introspective, scared sometimes, and yet still very manly. And the outfit. THE OUTFIT. Dear lord. How Sookie falls in love with this version of Eric I do not know. But Eric's essential superiority complex is totally gone. In the book he was a kind of combo, but here he seems totally defanged. It's not sexy. The speech he gave to Bill tonight about how he'd gladly go to his death and he hopes Sookie and Bill find a way back to each other? Blech. I hope when he gets his memories back and realizes how totally embarrassing he is to vampires everywhere, he feels what I'm feeling right now.

Also unsexy? Rotting Pam. A Pam who sold Eric out to Bill fucking Compton. Even as king, Pam would lie through her teeth and send Bill on a wild goose chase. I am thoroughly disappointed. 

Shifters
Alcide, Debbie, Luna, Tommy, new werewolf Alpha asshole who totally is going to end up being Luna's ex and thus a pain in Sam Merlotte's ass? Not as into it as I thought I'd be. I kind of don't even want to talk about the werepanthers. What happened to Jason is horrifying. And I will never unsee the woman who cried after raping him because sex with her "brother-husband" was so much worse.

Arlene and Terry's Haunted Baby

Ok so is the baby magical? Is he haunted by Rene or by some other random ghost? If he's haunted by some other random ghost, why does the ghost know how to fuck with Arlene and Terry regarding said Rene awfulness? And how does it manage to mess with Arlene's eye and light fires and write on walls? These are the questions I have because I totally gave up on the shifter storylines and what I'm left with is the haunted baby.

Oh, but there's the witches!


Marnie/Antonia

I love the actress who is playing Marnie. She really was able to become Eddie the vampire in the first episode, and she seems to have conveyed the depth and complicated nature of loneliness and absence of faith. Her surprise and anger over being dangerous to Sookie in the palm reading scene was amazing to watch.

Alright,  so the Inquisition wasn't really based on human fears but vampire fears? Of witches who were necromancers? And so via their already entrenched operatives in the Vatican, vampires took on witches and pissed one off so bad that she is returning to take vengeance hundreds of years later?

I like it, kind of.

I mean, she's got some totally justifiable beef. That rapist vampire? Any vampire old enough could also totally be a rapist. They can glamour. I'm telling you, this mythos is leading towards old-vampires-are-probably-rapists territory. It makes too much historical sense! Anyway, I'm interested in where this is going. And I hope most of it happens at night because the daytime scenes of fantastical creatures seem very Xena: Warrior Princess to me. And that show is a favorite of mine, but not because of production values.

Brujeria

The Mexican witchcraft story is just taking off. I hope it does cool things. The pregnant lady is really freaking me out. What's she carrying?! Is it.....SATAN?!

Random Complaints

Maybe I'm in a really weird mood or something, but I was bummed on the Eric/Sookie sex scene in the woods.  Not only is that not in keeping with the frustrated shower scene in the book, but it also seems kind of...ill advised..to get completely naked in a forest full of shifters during a full moon. One of whom may be your brother. Who you were looking for and were really concerned about. At least this time she was wearing short shorts and a hoodie and had a shot gun to go traipsing through the woods instead of a sundress.


Great things about this episode (besides Marnie/Antonia):

Bill is still Bill underneath that black leather blazer. And his loooove for Sookeh trumps his new kingship. Aww, Bill. Will he ever grow a pair? I don't know if I really want him to.

No fairies! They will make their return, because it seems like the Antonia storyline is hitting the fan soon, which means the big bad will reveal itself at the end of the season, and I'm thinking it's Mab the queen of the fairies, who lives out in Joshua Tree and has a bad case of shark teeth. But they weren't in this episode. Hooray!

Jessica's growing up. She's making mistakes, but she's also trying to understand them. And she's done well for someone with such awful, awful fathers, both human and vampire.

The foreshadowing of vampire Luis' (rapist vampire) final death. I can't wait to watch that.

No HotShot scenes!

Tara had great scenes where she didn't yell. The stuff at Merlotte's was hilarious.

I feel like now they've laid the groundwork and the season can really start. Everything's going to go off in the next episode, so we'll see what we've got left to work with after next week!

True Blood Season 4 Premiere

You knew I was going to review this right? It's a celebration, bitches! True Blood season 4 has begun. The season of (hopefully) Eric Amnesia, memorable shower scenes, and intriguing manimal behavior!

I have to say, I LOVE the way the show is deviating from the books. I mean, Sookie needs some reality checks, but there was some great stuff in this episode.


Story lines I'm excited about:

Tara (nka Toni) the lesbian cage fighter! You know, I gotta say, Tara really does stuff when she sets her mind to it. She was like, I'm going to go away from here and get a whole new personality (but keep my cell number). And she did it. She's totally my new tv girlfriend.

Mohawk Lafayette
Can I just say that Lafayette is my moral anchor here? Because it's true. He knows there's a part of him that has scary power, and he's right to be cautious. This witch coven seems more interesting than the one in book 4. I wonder if there will be any similarities.

Cop Jason
I like a grown up version of Jason. Here's hoping his time in the freezer is short!

Arlene's homicidal infant
Who wouldn't love this kid?

Towel Catching Eric

I think we all know where this is going. And I think we all agree it should go there.

King Bill.

Dude, major major twist. Would that book Bill become something as awesome as this.  Mad props Alan Ball.


Now that we know why I'm going to stay tuned, let's admit to some stuff I wasn't delighted by.

Fairies. Sigh.

Portia Bellefleur
Boring.

Sookie just can't wear jeans and a t-shirt can she?

Hotshot - ugh.

Hoyt and Jessica
Do they have to do the madonna/whore thing here? Really?

Here's hoping the rest of the season has me happily criticizing!

True Blood Season 3 In Review

Well folks, it's another season gone. I can't believe we've just finished season 3 of True Blood. I thought it would take forever to get to season 4, aka book 4, aka Dead to the World, one of my favorites in the series. But lets get to the review, shall we? I have spoken on the pros and cons of the season so far a while back, but it's nice to see it all in retrospect.

Spoilers ahead!

Rather than one over-arching problem (like Maryanne last season), we had a more intimate look at the characters' personal issues. Most of them revolved around Russell Edgington's sudden case of the crazies after 3000 years, but really they placed themselves in Russell's way as a result of their own ridiculous issues.

The A Plot

Bill Loses His Shine

Bill got kidnapped by crazy vampire -blood-drinking werewolves and taken to Mississippi, where he was held captive by vampire King Russell Edgington. And by held captive, I mean "gets to wear tuxes and hang out in a mansion and eats delicious blood-based cuisine." It's a gilded cage, the Edgington manse. His capture catapults Sookie into motion, trying to find him any which way she can. She goes to Eric for help, who hooks her up with a hot werewolf named Alcide with contacts in Mississippi. She learns (very very slowly) that Bill hasn't been completely up front with her and that she's a fairy. And she's pretty miffed about both. In that sorta kinda way. Lorena meets the pointy end of sharp stick after realizing she's truly unlovable.

As a result of Bill's kidnapping, we find out about Eric's viking past. Originally interested in securing Sookie for himself (he has some silly Sookie fantasies) and getting rid of Bill, he goes to Russell only to realize that his entire family was killed by Russell's werewolves. This propels him into a plan for vengeance that leads to an ultimate sacrifice: a really bad sunburn.

I have to say, this plot line ended well, in the way that it didn't end completely but we feel some kind of closure. Talbot got insinkerator'd, so he's not resurrecting any time soon. Russell is in a vat of hardening concrete, which I think will probably hold him for 3 months tops, not the 100 years Eric and Bill predicted. I mean, I'm not an idiot True Blood. I've seen Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. If Han Solo can make it, Russell can totally make it. I also know that if you don't decapitate a vampire and see his or her goop explode all over the room, that sucker is still a liability.

Anyway, Bill and Sookie are broken up again. No really, they're really for real broken up. Probably forever. Maybe. Eric outed Bill's vampire plans to capture Sookie for Queen Sophie Ann, firmly putting himself in the "vampires aren't really first, I'm first" category. That dastardly Bill; and we thought he was such a gentleman!

TV Eric Rulez

In the past few seasons, Eric has actually struck me as better than the book Eric. Book Eric is too sweet and protective of Sookie to be the ferocious guy his reputation insists he is. I like that True Blood showed that dual nature he must have to be able to care for a human and maintain a leadership role among bloodthirsty creatures.

Sookie Screams a lot and then Goes into the Starlight

Sookie got a little bit stronger in the last episode, able to take charge and not be a victim, but honey, I waited much too long for this girl to come to her senses....and then after rescinding all vampires from ever being in her house, she invites Bill in. AGAIN. Like, hang out on the porch, you live in nowheresville. Christ! You don't have to invite in everyone that knocks. You know who aren't good at teaching someone how to be fierce and powerful? Flighty, flowy, sunlight drenched fairies. They better butch up these fairies next season or I'm gonna have a problem. 

The B Plot(s)

Tara's Origin Story or How I Make Sense of this Tragic Woman

Tara was mourning Eggs this season and ended up getting involved with a bad vampire named Franklin Mott,  who continues the Torture Tara sideshow that has gone on since she was born. As good as the actor was, her rape and torment was played for laughs, and his psychotic fantasy of their "love" was not given the darkness it deserved. Her anger afterward seemed justified, but she spends so much time angry (even her depression is angry) that it didn't have the same impact. I did like, however, that she's the smart one who figured out how to escape her captor and flee the mansion.

If I was Sookie's friend, I probably would have left her ass for wanting to go back to rescue Bill. It was nice to see her take a step forward and realize that she needed to be a different person, rather than just heading for self-destruction. She cut off her hair and got the hell out of town. In my fantasy, she becomes a vampire slayer. Not like an "every one of those things should die" kind, but a protector of humanity from the bad ones.  I kind of wish this was her superhero origin story. Superheroes need to go through some effed up stuff to get to the point where they go nuts and wear costumes patrolling the streets. That's the level of stuff Tara's had to go through.

Who Cares About Jason? You? Anyone? *crickets*

Jason decided he wanted to be a cop this season, but doesn't want to do any of the actual work involved in getting there (as per usual). So he blackmails Andy into giving him a job at the station, which results in him meeting a werepanther named Crystal from Hotshot. Hotshot is an inbred redneck community that loves to make crystal meth. Do you think Crystal's dad bestowed her name upon her in honor of the family business? He blunders his way into saving the town from destruction, but really, it's Crystal whose choices freed those people. I don't think Jason will ever see that. You know what, though? I don't care about this story. I haven't all season. I actually felt like it took precious time away from Eric and Pam. We hardly got any Pam!

The Fall of Sam Merlotte

Sam meets his biological family and they are all a-holes who take advantage of him and his hospitality. He learns that he's become a bit of a pushover since moving to Bon Temps. Once upon a time, he was a thief, and an accidental murderer, and he was into putting gel in his hair. He was fierce and unafraid to threaten people while being naked. These days, he just gets drunk and berates customers and his friends. After slowly convincing Tommy to see himself and others like human beings, he decides to treat him like dirt. This results in Tommy stealing his money, Sam chasing after him, and in the only real cliffhanger of the season, Sam shoots at Tommy. Did he kill his own brother? Is Sam really a bad person and he's been pretending to be nice? I....also don't care about this story. I liked that Sookie had one person in her life that was genuine and good. Her abandonment of Merlotte's and his fall from grace doesn't sit well with me. Can he come back from this? Hmph.

I Would Totally Hang Out with Jessica Hanby

Jessica was lost without Bill, who taught her nothing about survival or about what to do if he were to go away for the weekend. She had broken up with Hoyt last season and spent the season hating what she has become. After trying to clean up the mess she caused by draining a trucker, she gets a job at Merlotte's and is actually very good at her job. Eventually, she and Hoyt reunite and it looks like he rented a house for them to live in together.  I heart this girl. I want to take her out for a girls night of dancing and help her with her problems. I'd have to wear 7-inch heels and lose 80 pounds to walk into a club next to her, though, so maybe I'm not the right gal for the job. She needs a best girl friend. And NOT SOOKIE, for the love of god.

Lala + Jesus

Lafayette continues to live (which I LOVE) and is amazing. We learn about his mom's schizophrenia, he gets a cute boyfriend who is a witch, and manages to have some moments of joy. He goes on a V trip with said boyfriend that really teaches the lesson that you shouldn't take hallucinogens if you've got a bungalow decorated in varieties of freaky figurines. Just a tip. And now it seems he has some measure of clairvoyance. But not the "bad feeling" or "dark aura" kind that you would want to have. No instead he gets the "frightening visions" form of the affliction. Great job universe! That has to be the most disturbing power ever. Whatever, I'm just glad he's still alive. He's one of the best characters that has ever been on television.


Arlene and Terry get serious, she finds out she's pregnant with Rene's baby (time sure goes slowly in Bon Temps) and freaks out about carrying serial murderer DNA into the world. This leads her to attempt a mystical witchy herb tea abortion that doesn't work. Don't you hate when that happens?



The Fall and Rise and Possibly Fall of Sophie Ann

Sophie Ann wore some fierce outfits this season, and was a delight even though she didn't play that large of an on-screen role. She started to lose her grip on her queendom by peddling V, attracting the attention of the Authority and Edgington, which resulted in her time in the cage (above) and a forced marriage to Russell. She lucks out with Russell going to sleep with the pylons. At the end of the season, she's back on top.

This dress, with the scarlet lining on the inside? Amazing:

Our real cliffhanger this season happens when Bill lures her to his house to kill her (to save Sookie from her clutches, aww..he wuvs her still). But, in true Bill fashion, he fucks it up. You never tell the lure that they are caught and then explain why and how you are going to kill them. That gives them time to come up with a battle plan! Anyway, I forget why I was supposed to worry about things between Bill and Sophie Ann because I was distracted by the lameness that was the flying across the room at each other.  It reminded me of Rocky. It didn't make me wonder what is going to happen to Bill. Bill, you make bad decisions. Almost all of the decisions you've made in the past 3 years were bad. Take a step back, reassess, OK? Maybe start working on a vampire database or something. Geez.


Au revoire season 3! I love you for bringing Russell into our lives.

True Blood Season 3 Review (So Far)

True Blood Season 3 is in full swing and I am feeling feelings y'all!

Good ones and bad.

Synopsis so far: Bill has been kidnapped by werewolves and taken to the neighboring territory of  Mississippi, headed (vampire-wise) by King Russel Edgington. He wanted Bill so he could stage a takeover of Louisiana. It appears that Bill is on a special mission for Queen Sophie Anne and he wants to know what it is, so he has him taken in the middle of his proposal dinner to Sookie. Bad timing! Russell apparently has werewolves that work for him and do his bidding in exchange for sips of his extra old and vintagey vampire blood. He only chooses the most redneck werewolves, though, so at least we know he has a screening process.

Since Bill is all kinds of missing, Sookie tries to track him down, figuring out through Jessica (who still rules) that he was taken by werewolves hopped up on V. This leads to her getting Eric involved and eventually going to Jackson, Mississippi with Eric's business associate Alcide, a werewolf who promises to protect her and give her some werewolf contacts.

Shit hits the fan, though, because when Bill is taken to Russell's mansion, he finds Lorena there, all up in this scenario. Russell's "official consort" boyfriend Talbot, who worked all night on a dinner of blood soup, with blood sorbet for dessert, was supremely pissed when Bill set Lorena on fire, destroying a rug. He queens it up big time in every scene, and even though he's awful, I love him.  Anyway, stupid Lorena lives through his fire bombing.

Meanwhile, Eric has been selling V for Sophie Ann in an effort to make money for the failing queendom of Louisiana and totally gets caught by the Magister, who dickishly takes Pam hostage as punishment! In a pinch, Eric blames Bill for the V sales and goes to Mississippi to bring him back to the Magister in exchange for Pam.

At Russell's manse, he finds he has to act all sorts of gay to charm both Talbot and Russell into giving over Bill, getting back at Sophie Ann for selling him out to the Magister, and reclaiming his human-life era Viking crown that was taken by Russell after he murdered his whole Viking family! So Eric is a super multi-tasker this season. He also has time for secret fantasies about Sookie being into him and knowing things about him and touching his hair. He's crushing hard and fighting it big time. Oldest guy story ever told. 

Meanwhile in Tara's sad corner of the universe, she is so depressed over Eggs' death that she goes to bed with a vampire who totally stalks her life! He is in psycho love with her and wants to make her his vampire bride, so he tortures her for days and she has to play along to survive. In a show with Sookie Stackhouse, how can you possibly be labeled the Queen of Bad Decisions?

Franklin Mott  (Tara's vamp) is apparently a spy for Russell who finds out that Bill has been researching Sookie for Sophie Ann. Bill, it turns out, has a special skill, besides brooding. Who knew? He procures things. And since Russell is obsessed with having special souvenirs, he wants a Sookie. So he manages to get her by luring Bill and paying Mott to find out about the situation.  She does the big light thing that she did to Maryanne in response to being abducted, but still gets taken to the mansion anyway.

Everyone's at the mansion, snug as bugs in rugs for the day, when Tara manages to break free of Franklin, break Sookie out, and rescue Bill. This results in several amazing things:

Tara takes a mace and bludgeons Franklin Mott! Even though every vampire movie/tv show/book ever says that decapitation is best. And having the option of several axes over the mace. DUM.

Sookie kills Lorena!

Bill drains Sookie in a starving vampire rage blackout!

Alcide seems to shut the door on his redneck ex, Debbie Pelt! Or does he?!

Other things happened, but basically, at the end of "Hit the Ground" we're left with a barely surviving Sookie, a free Pam (Russell hates the Magister, and loves his cane, so he separated our Magister from his head. Bye Bye Magister), and also there's a BIG SECRET ABOUT SOOKIE. That I totally know.

Some things about this season:

Thing 1: Bill Compton is the Worst Dad Ever. AGAIN.

Not only did he not visibly worry once out loud about Jessica (which is exactly like last season), but he never taught her anything about being a vampire, including the depth of the sire/child bond. And yet he had time for a lecture on recycling. Bill, no pun intended, sucks in general, but you'd think he'd be better at handling a newbie vamp what with him being over a century old. Just sayin'. He also manages to play almost every angle of his capture poorly. For someone so old, and on a secret mission to procure Sookie for the queen, he's really bad at lying.

Thing 2: Alcide Herveaux, Were-Abs

I didn't really like Alcide in the books, and I know that I was supposed to (at least in the beginning). He had really dumb werewolf qualities, like being all 'master race' about being a wolf, wanting to marry only a wolf bride so he can have wolf babies, getting erections after killing other wolves...you know, dumz, right?  But in the show, well, see the picture above. Nice. Also, he is bummed on the werewolf rules and doesn't want to procreate with another wolf. Kind of a departure from the jerk in the books. We'll see how it goes.

Thing 3: Gay Eric Northman
Yay for Gay Eric, who has a special smile just for his gay times! Its hilarious.  He's in a really tough situation this season, so I can't wait to see how he comes out of it in the end. His brutality is somewhat balanced by his fascination with Sookie, but this Eric isn't the book Eric. Book Eric seemed to care about Sookie, making sure to follow her to Jackson and keep an eye on her, focusing his time on rescuing Bill (even though he knew it was in his best interest to let him rot) because Sookie felt the need to rescue him. Also, book Eric has a funnier nature. Though calling the Hotshot folks "brother-cousins" earns him major points for this season.


Thing 4: The Mickens'

These people are proof that just because you're related, doesn't mean you need to ever have contact with them. They make their kid shift into a pit bull so he can win dog fights. Wow. I don't get it, can't you shift into all sorts of things that would allow you to finagle money and free stuff? Anyway, Sam has to deal with his bio-family in a big way this season, and since Sookie is off galavanting around Mississippi, he has no one in his corner.  I hope that changes. At least he seems to have his brother Tommy.



Thing 5: Lafayette Loves Jesus

I'm still pulling for L+J, even though it seems like they have hit a rough patch. Their one date was magical. It ended with Lafayette saying, "Tell yo mamma two faggots kicked yo ass." Sweet.


Thing 6: Talbot Plus Russel Forever (or at least until their inevitable end and or ends this season)
I love this relationship. 

Thing 7: Goodbye Lorena

 She wore the best outfits on the whole show. And, she clearly had a backstory that gave her psycho behavior some context (despicable as it was). l was hoping the show would do cool things with her, but maybe we can still see some flashbacks?

Thing 8: Goodbye Book Sookie

Just for the record, the Sookie in the show is a total moron. I get naivete in the first season, given her sheltered and chaste upbringing, but it's season 3. She's seen a vampire staked in front of her, a maenad out of control, a vampire suicide by sunrise and killed a serial killer with a shovel. What gives?! In the book she staked Lorena without help, she managed to silently extract Bill from Russell's mansion, and she had a more sobered approach to Bill's betrayal with Lorena. She knew that he was an ass for giving her up, but she felt that he shouldn't die for his connection to her, and so set out to rescue him anyway.  This Sookie yells and screams and pleads and cries and seems to be kind of an asshole sometimes. And she wears clothing that is inappropriate for being chased, chasing someone, or being stealthy. I'm not as in her corner as I was in the books, especially book 3, Club Dead, one of the best of the series in my opinion. Breathy Sookie in the show needs to get a pair. Maybe by the end of the season, we'll see that.

Thing 9: Jason Stackhouse Continues to Steal Minutes from Important Storylines

Sorry, I love the actor, and his Jason gives me all kinds of giggles, but I don't care about him, his ridiculous plan to be a cop, nor his attempt to save Crystal from Hotshot because he's such a better catch. 


Finally, Thing 10: Jessica Continues to Rule

I loved Jessica and Pam's discussion on how to get rid of a dead body. Even though she's been totally abandoned, she's managed to do much more than anyone else in this whole show. She was proactive about getting rid of said body by asking good questions, trying to rent a chainsaw instead of buying, she got a job, keeps up the Compton house, pines over Hoyt but doesn't kill him or anyone he likes, and barely even eats people because she's trying to be good. She's all Lestat about only eating evil-doers, too. She only eats a really nasty, bitchy customer. It's fitting punishment for someone who has the audacity to show up in public to eat in curlers and proceeds to stay past closing.

In closing, True Blood Season 3 has so far kept me interested, but it has changed the core values and qualities of some of the characters from the books so much, that I feel a bit disconnected from all of them, leaving me without someone with whom I can really identify.

True Blood Review

The latest True Blood episode, "Frenzy" wasn't what I expected, but it bears mentioning that Eric looked like the above photo in this episode, and thus it was worthwhile viewing for me. I'm not even into blond nordic types, but Skarsgard is really making me rethink that policy. In this episode, Maryanne's chaos continues as she further prepares her offerings for the "god who comes." Which involves much drama for Sookie, Lafayette, Tara, Jason, and Andy. Meanwhile, Bill goes off on the most hilarious search for information about Maenads at Queen Sophie's manse. Bill, dear, you have Wii. Don't you know about Google?

Anyway, awesome things in this episode?

#1 Eric, as previously mentioned. He is creepy and funny as he hungers for Arlene's kids, which he refers to as "humans in miniature."

He flies from Shreveport to New Orleans via his vampire powers of flight, and his hair is a hilarious mess when he lands. His fussing with it just before meeting the Queen was hysterical. As was his discussion with Bill.

He turns Bill's argument about Eric manipulating Sookie with his blood back on him, reminding us all that Bill too gave her his blood. A lot of it. On the first night they met. So eat that "true love." His priceless question "Has she mentioned me at all?" rules almost harder than his fantasy scene in ladies clothing earlier in the episode. We may not get the pink spandex from the book, so this stuff will have to do.

#2 Sophie Ann Leclerq, Queen of Louisiana is such an old vampire that she has no concept of time. Or maybe she's just a big ol' narcissist, because she makes Bill wait and play yahtzee and sample a guy's blood all in her fantastic "day room" that has a fake sky, fake windows with views to a fake beach, and a fake sun.

And although she's not the Sophie-Ann I pictured from the books, she does rule in the show for making Bill participate in the farce of sunglasses, trunks, and probably even suntan lotion. Also, we get to see a vampire eating from the much-discussed femoral artery, aka the sexy artery. Anyway, finally she gives Bill the information on how to kill a Maenad, putting the creatures into an interesting perspective. Once the most powerful and scary thing on the show, Maryanne might need to take a step back because Sophie-Ann is so over her recipes for success. Mad props to Sophie Ann for reading an ancient copy of Vogue and wearing a beaded dress that highlights her pasty white skin. See, Evan Rachel Wood, dating Marilyn Manson was good for something after all!



#3 Pam.

Any scene with Pam in it is awesome, but in this episode they outdid themselves. She's wearing a head to toe red sequined pant suit. I kind of want to see Pam help fight Maryanne, just so she can get retribution for her dear departed shoes.

The not so hot aspects of this episode:

#1 Sookie. The whole Tara situation and how Sookie handled it. I swear, this show is killing Sookie for me. She's not the character from the books to me at all. Now, book Sookie doesn't always save herself or kick ass, but she does have a tenacity and stubbornness that I don't see in doe-eyed Anna Paquin. But that could be a measure of the character being in such early stages of supernatural-fighting experiences.

Whatevs, you don't have to be a genius to figure out that letting Tara go would equal erasing the hard work of bringing her mind back. Any fool could have told her waiting for Bill makes sense because he could glamour Eggs while Sookie goes into his head and brings him back. Like, duh. And so what happens? Tara goes back to Maryanne and gets turned back into a follower almost instantly.

Also, does Sookie own pants? Is it possible that she consider borrowing some or something before going into the maenad house with intent to kill? I swear, pants are better for killing and rescuing. I guess these are things you might need to learn the hard way, but geez.

#2 Sam should consider increasing his number of "imprints" for emergency situations. Even though Maryanne can make him shift into whatever he wants, he could have at least avoided the trashing of his bar had he just went to the zoo and checked out the bear pen.


Oh, and the most awesome thing in the whole entire episode, which I forgot until right now, is the sign on the door at Fangtasia during daytime hours. Instead of "Sorry, We're Closed" it says "Sorry, We're Dead."

I want one.

True Blood Review!

So you know I like True Blood, right? I mean, do you even know me at all? This season has been really just a treat. The first season was good, and it was interesting to see the transition from the world of the books to the world of the HBO series. I had some problems the first season, in dealing with that transition. I was unhappy with some of the differences, and I missed some of the book scenes that didn't make it. But season one was all about introducing characters I'd been reading about for 8 books, so it makes sense that I felt connected to that story and bummed whenever Jason Stackhouse's manslut story took center stage sometimes. After a season, I feel more comfortable with the directions, no matter how different, the show is taking. But the Sookie story is the most difficult one I negotiate. She seemed so strong and upright in the books, and in the show I find her naive and petulant more often than strong.

Anyway, so if you have been watching this season, Maryanne (who is the maenad Callisto in the books) has been taking Bon Temps by storm, summoning up, or maybe harnessing the lust, drunkeness, and chaos in the hearts of its citizens. When she's not busy hosting orgies and professing her love for following your bliss or whatever, she puts on a bull head and goes off cutting people up with her monster hands. Yeah, it's been that kind of season.

She has finagled her way into poor Tara's life, and Sookie's house While she's having orgies in Sookie's backyard (I've been expecting the ghost of Gran to appear any moment), Sookie herself has been in Dallas, helping find a wayward vampire. Jason, who bummed me out last season by taking up valuable screen time, has also been on his own adventure, with the Fellowship of the Sun, the anti-vampire church/terrorist group. Sometimes, when I encounter people in the real world who are hateful right-wingers or zealots or terrorists or reminiscent of Manson family members, I refer to the as FOTS.

Anyway, last night's episode was grand. I hope you've been watching, because the following will mostly make sense only to those who know what's been going on. I have really enjoyed the season, but it really went off in episode 9. Here's my review. Spoilers ahoy!

A Plot: Dallas Vamps
In the previous episode, true believer and FOTS member Luke had arrived at Godric's mansion as a suicide bomber strapped with a bomb complete with silver bullets and tiny wooden stakes. This episode starts with his explosion all over the inside of the mansion. Many vamps and humans were killed, including Stan! Stan Davis in the books was a nerd. Or at least he affected a nerdy persona, complete with fake glasses held together with tape, like you'd see in central casting for nerds circa 1950. Anyway, True Blood's version of Stan was an unintentionally hilarious Midnight Cowboy type of guy, with a slow draaaaaaawl and a cowboy hat. I do believe he almost said "yee haw" in every scene. It was right there, on the tip of his tongue, I swear. Poor Stan still lives in the books, if I'm not mistaken, but not on TV. He decorates the walls of the Dallas Sheriff's mansion.

Just like in Living Dead in Dallas, Eric uses this opportunity to fool Sookie into getting some of his blood in her system. Only in the book, the scene plays out a little differently. In the books, Bill goes off to fight the FOTS attackers, leaving Sookie by herself and not even checking to see if she was OK. In the show, Bill's first words are "Sookie!?" in that way that Bill has of saying her name. When he finds her, pinned to the floor by Eric, who has shielded her from the blast, Eric orders him to chase down the attackers. A minor change, but one that totally changes Bill for me.

TV Bill never lets Sookie down. His love for her is his number one thing. He's like the Bella of True Blood. Get a hobby, Bill! Don't let Sookie be your whole life. Or death. Or whatever. TV Bill doesn't even own property like book Bill. Anyway, Eric convinces Sookie to suck the silver bullets out of his chest and neck, which was just as awesome as it was in the book. His manipulative nature is replicated well, but it was important in the book that he took advantage of a moment when Bill was not the best boyfriend, which made Sookie look at him differently. She was still insulted by being manipulated, but she also thought his protection of her while Bill was out killing FOTS guys was important. TV Bill didn't even kill the one FOTS guy he hunted! His right hook to Eric's eye was a brave and chivalrous move, but even that was about Sookie's honor. Bah.

Sookie's Eric dream ruled. That is all.



Godric's suicide by sunlight, and Eric's tearful goodbye was very moving, but I find it interesting that they left out book Godric's penchant for child molestation and child murder. It would have made his self-hatred more resonant, I think. But it also would have dulled the looooove that Eric had for him in the eyes of the viewer. Their love was so beautiful, even though his tattoos were not.

B Plot: Maryanne is Batshit Crazy

Clearly, Maryanne is obsessed with Sam. Can't wait to find out why. Is it just that he wasn't into having sex with her when he was a scared 16 year old? Is it that he doesn't want to be vibrated to death? Who knows. She's e-v-i-l. And I bet Sookie is gonna be pissed when she sees how at home she's made herself in Gran's kitchen.

Lafayette's protective qualities come out when it looks like Tara's been hit by Eggs, and he is down to fight when it's necessary, which is such a good quality for his character. It's a credit to the actor, Nelsan Ellis, that even though he is angry and ready to fight, there is a visible layer of sadness and fear that plagues him since his time in Fangtasia's basement of horrors from earlier in the season. Even in the book the maenad was unstoppable, and then only by tribute and the deaths of a very few orgy-loving Bon Tempians would she go away. I'm scared for the next episode.

Oh, and Sam turns into a housefly in order to escape jail so he doesn't get trapped by Maryanne. then he hangs out at Sookie's watching Tara, Eggs and Maryanne play cards. And finally, when he knocks on Andy Bellefleur's hotel room door and asks to be let in, totally naked, Andy asks him in. Besides Lafayette, these are the last two sane people in the town! Only a few episodes left and this does not bode well.

C Plot: Hoyt Loves Jessica

Can we hear it for Hoyt, who dresses down his mom (finally)? And for his approach to Jessica's delicate situation in which because she was made a vampire before losing her virginity, her hymen grows back after each time she has sex. Talk about your bad days. It's proof that I watch/read too much of this stuff, because my first thought was "I bet she can have it removed surgically with silver and it wouldn't grow back." Maybe it's time I had a vampire intervention. Seriously, though, how bad is Bill at being a maker. He hasn't once thought of Jessica since he sent her home. No call, not even a begrudging text when it was clear that Dallas vamps had been lit up like Christmas trees. Bill is the worst dad.

Final Call:
A+ episode
TV Bill is hotter than book Bill, but also needs maybe to have hobbies other than Wii golf.
TV Sookie's wardrobe is horrible, and yet miraculously better than book Sookie's.

Next Year

Next year I'm going to SD Comic Con. It's a reality. I'm saving right now. Ok, I have nothing to save right now, but I will! I didn't have the cash or the info that you have to buy tickets months in advance. Whatevs. I'm missing awesome things this year. Johnny Depp at the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland panel, the True Blood panel (ps, they are selling a real blood orange soda drink in True Blood bottles, for real at HBO), a panel with Eliza Dushku and other ladies about women superheroes. Sigh. Anyway, I thought this picture from yesterday was funny:


Why does she always pose like that? It's like she constantly needs to pee. I feel for her and her obvious discomfort at all things publicity related. Kristen Stewart is currently filming the Runaways movie and she plays Joan Jett, so her hair is what it is for a reason. But why the matching outfits on the guys? And have you ever tied your medium t-shirt like that? By the way, the guy who plays Jacob really bulked up. Mad props to him for begging to keep the role.

Veteranos

Premiere of True Blood S.2

I could write an entry about it, but it wouldn't be as cool as this:

I09 Review of True Blood - Pros and Cons

If you aren't watching, well, why the hell aren't you watching?!

Dead Boys

Yet another True Blood season 2 promo. Similar to the first, but this time with double the Eric, who looks pretty good without the wig. I'm totally digging the Bob Dylan song that goes with it. He and Nick Cave should open a strip club together called the Shady Lady and take turns doing live music.



Also a little teaser that HBO put together where the actors talk about the upcoming season

True Blood Season 2 Promo Video

Promo video for the new season of True Blood. Excellent Bob Dylan song.

Salon Pop & Barber Shop

I am the type of gal who decides to get a haircut and then makes an appointment for the next day. So even though I had a great time at the last salon (you may remember my post about it), having to wait a week or more for an appointment was bumming me out. Also, it was weird being the only person in the salon (other than the woman sweeping up) who was not white. I loved the stylist, but the environment not so much.

I remember that my previous stylist Mona told me that Salon Pop in Long Beach is a good place to go, so I called 'em up and got an appointment for the next day with Beth, who is just awesome. That was a few months ago. I thought that if I still have a great experience on my second appointment, I'm gonna talk these people up on the blog.

I had a great time. First of all, Beth's dad is a professor, so we could kind of talk shop. She's super smart and sweet. Second of all, the place is decorated in a funky mod/pop/vintagey way that is really actually quite relaxing.


Old dresser/vanities are used as the stations. A bunch of art is on the walls, and people are very friendly. Thirdly, last night when I went in for my appointment, I realized that Beth and the shop have a serious True Blood connection!

One of the artists affiliated with the shop (her art is hanging on the walls there) did the paintings of vampires that are used on the Fangtasia location (aka Alex's Bar). And Beth knows the gal who did some location scouting for True Blood last season. This got a couple of other stylists into our conversation. Apparently they are all hooked on the show. We spent some time chatting about the show, the books, and how fun it would be to be extras in Fangtasia.

I got an amazing hair cut. And the shop is totally on top of this economic recession. They have a flyer all about how to get a hair cut that will grow out decent so you don't have to get cuts so much, and what products to use so that you don't screw up your color between sessions. When I thought I was going to get an IOU for a paycheck a few months ago, I had mentioned it to Beth in passing and she said to make sure to come in anyway because she could work something out with me if I was living on IOUs. I don't know what she would have done, but it's awesome that she thought about it. And to top it all off, when I paid and left, it was dark out, so the guy who was working the register (I think he's a barber as well) walked out the front door and made sure I got in my car. Dude!?

Anyway, they have a religious following on Yelp, but take it from me, the place is damn cool and I am pretty sure a great salon 6 blocks away is going to be my salon for a while.

Now...if I could only get involved in this business of becoming an extra....