True Blood Watch: Fresh Blood

True Blood is supposed to be a drama. You know this because it was nominated for the Best Drama Series Emmy. Yet the show is so deliciously cheesy, overdramatic, heartfelt, silly, and frustrating that I can’t help but wonder how the hell it ever got the nomination. Don’t get me wrong, True Blood is one of the best of its ilk. Tonight was a pure smorgasbord of everything the show represents.

”If this is your trying to help me…thanks for nothing.”

After all these centuries Eric has yet to learn to not piss off a woman. Unless you kill her, of course. As he sets off to fetch Russell, Sookie escapes from his sex dungeon with Yvetta’s help. Bill, ever the daring do-gooder in his own mind, arrives to help but gets tied up in a scuffle with Pam. But that’s OK as the lovely couple makes their way to freedom after a little help from Yvetta and some silver chains.

Eric had to answer for a few things with the vampire king of Mississippi. Or should it be “Vampyre King?” Somehow I think the latter spelling lends itself to the regality of the position. In any case I have to admit to admiring the way the writers expressed Russell’s hurt to Eric, “I’m having trouble switching tenses. You understand.” True Blood sometimes does have nice moments that catch you off guard. Eric, already knowing that it’s a waste of breath but willing to go through the motions, tells Russell that Talbot was in retaliation for his family. They’re now even.

Naturally Russell doesn’t see it that way, but before the two go to battle Eric is able to entice his world domination minded enemy with “day walking.” Next thing you know Eric and Russell are interrupting Bill and Sookie’s little jaunt. Along with their mind numbing and awkward driving conversations. Eric apparently is not interested in a truce with Russell, and has a plan to defeat him. After staging a fight with Bill to get away Eric explains what’s to happen. We don’t see this conversation on screen, but Bill’s willingness to go along with the drinking of Sookie’s blood by two vamps he hates leads one to believe he’s OK with the means as long as the ends are achieved.

”Please don’t let them see...”

And so Eric walks out into the daylight after drinking Sookie’s blood. Seeing this on the monitors, and having also drunk from the fairy girl, Russell follows him. But by now Eric has started to smolder, and before he can dart back inside Russell is handcuffed to the Viking whose family he had murdered. We don’t know yet if both or either will die, but Eric is determined to see justice done after so many centuries.

”Nobody cares ‘bout Eggs, ‘cept me.”

As usual there’s a lot more drama going on in Bon Temps than could even be handled by the Sookie crew. For one thing there’s Tara, who took a moment to confront Andy about Eggs’ death. The great thing here is that Andy finally had a chance to explain himself to the one person who’d want to hear it. Whether or not Tara understood what Andy had to say is another matter. Personally I’m through caring about this girl’s drama. She was a fantastic side character in season one, but has since become increasingly annoying.

Which is why it’s perfect that after Sam goes on a tirade, including berating Terry, it’s Tara that understands him. They hook up for some good time sex. Not sure if a relationship will form from this, but they’re perfect for each other. Both messed up and always getting involved in crazy drama. Perhaps together their drama inducing energies will cancel out.

”Then drink me.”

What is up with the really great guys on this show being with women who don’t quite deserve them. Now with Jessica and Hoyt it’s simply because she’s a vampire, and thus inherently evil, that precludes me to say she doesn’t really deserve him. But let’s be honest, it’s Jessica. Jessica is incredible, and if it weren’t for that pesky having to drink human blood and being a creature of the night situation she’d be nearly a perfect girlfriend.

Sorry Arlene, but you do not deserve Terry. It breaks my heart to watch this man stand by her so faithfully. Not in an “Aww how sweet and wonderful” kind of way either. Arlene turns to witchcraft for an abortion. Believes it happens as she wakes up to Terry frantically calling out to her as she lies in a pool of blood. The poor man starts crying and getting so upset. Then they go to the hospital and it turns out the baby is fine, at which point Terry does this fantastic hard and slow clap as he walks around the room in triumph. People, the baby doesn’t even belong to Terry. He cares for Arlene so much that he’s willing to do anything for her. I don’t think Arlene’s anything but misguided (certainly not evil). She’s also the luckiest woman in Bon Temps.

”I was an athlete out there. I didn’t get help from nothin’ or nobody but my team. That’s the way it’s supposed to be!”

When the hell is shit going to work out for Jason? I’m sorry but he’s been crapped on and disappointed way too much this season. For a guy who tries to have some honor and integrity, even if he’s a bit dim, he never comes out on top. He confronts the highschool jock that’s about to take his passing record away about using “V” to get an edge. The kid informs Jason that the coach, his parents, and his principal all know and don’t care.

Maybe things will be better now that he knows Crystal is a werepanther, and has gone to her to let her know he’s OK. Really, the only problem with Crystal is the whole dealing meth thing.

So we only have one more episode to go. This week moved everyone into place for a grand finale. There hasn’t been much cohesion between the storyline’s this year as everyone is off doing their own thing. It’ll be interesting to see how things work out as friends and family start to learn what’s going on with each other.