TRUE BLOOD: New World in My View

This week’s episode of TRUE BLOOD turned the campiness up a bit, calling back scenes from “The Evil Dead” and other classic zombie movies. There was no attempt at subtly when it came to the camp this week. They went there in a big way. But when you’re dealing with a town of possessed people trying to kill one of their own, a little camp is ok. Let’s get started! Does anyone know where I put my chainsaw?

I was really glad the opening scene with Erik and Sookie was a dream. I’m really not ready for a love triangle yet, as there is too much urgency in the action and defeating Maryann and all of her zombie minions. That being said, it’s going to be very interesting how Erik will play into everything here at the end of the Maryann saga. Will he have a role? Will he be the one to defeat Maryann? Something Bill wasn’t capable of.

Jason Stackhouse might have done one the first intelligent things in his life by posing as the Horned God. It was an interesting evolution to see Jason leave Bon Temps as a weak, selfish soul and then have him return using what he learned at the Fellowship, to save his town. The chainsaw, the nail gun, the rambo’esque approach to freeing Sam were all great, but when he stood on top of that car posing as a God? Hilarious! It was a perfect nod to everyone watching that said, “We know this is ridiculous. Just roll with it. It will all be awesome in the end.” The writers know they’re being campy and kind of silly, but that has always been part of the joy of the show. It’s the mixture of the drama and the absurd that makes TRUE BLOOD unlike anything else on television.

Jessica and Hoyt are keeping Hoyt’s mama at bay, and much like myself, playing Wii is the only thing that will keep her focused and not yelling obscenities at and/or about the ones around her. I am constantly intrigued by Jessica’s coming-of-age as a vampire. Tonight Jessica was pushed to her limits by Maxine and she lashed out.  On one hand it was interesting to note that her love of Hoyt and the idea that someone was hurting him was her breaking point. On the other hand, biting your boyfriend’s mother might not be the best thing for a new relationship. Hoyt’s look of horror was terrifying. Can these twosome bounce back from this?

Who knew that it would be the Three Musketeers – Sam, Jason and Andy – that would come together to temporarily end the choas in Bon Temps. These three were great because you have sort of the spectrum of Bon Temps citizens: smart, dumb and lovable, and just a bit screwed up. It’s going to be up to them and the few “normal eyed” folks left to battle the town and take down Maryann. She’s got her army of the teddy bear button eyed  (Seriously, they all look like Teddy Ruxpin to me right now) so it’s not going to be an easy battle.

With all the chaos that was surrounding them, Jason and Andy didn’t have their wits about them enough to even begin to figure out how Sam disappeared into this air.  They stared in shock as Sam’s half naked self calmly started putting out the flares so as to no cause a fire.  Looks like this event was enough for Andy to finally put down the bottle.  He’s seen it all now.

And then there’s Sookie’s new power, or at least the possibility of one. My Dad, to give credit where it’s due, has always suspected without reading the books that Sookie has more to her than what we knew. But she didn’t even know of her new, zapping power. What does it all mean? Maryann was intrigued – “what are you?” – perhaps more than just a telepath.

Sookie and Bill working together to bring Tara back from the darkness was emotional for all.  Although I didn’t know exactly what Sookie did.  I know she was hoping to go deeper to see Tara’s thoughts, but what was her role in bringing her back? No matter. Tara’s return to the consciousness of the real world was crucial as she can now hopefully use her knowledge of Maryann’s power to help bring the rest of Bon Temps back from the evil that is inhabiting them. This is going to be vital in taking Maryann down. But now that she’s come back from the brink, will Tara be immune to Maryann’s powers?

We know Maryann is a force to be reckoned with.  An you know someone is a hard kill when her blood is so poisonous that it incapacitates a vampire.  Bill isn’t used to feeling so helpless.  He knows he needs someone more powerful than him if Maryann is to be defeated.  Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Bill leaves Sookie behind and sets off to call upon “The Queen.”

First of all, Bill walking into the Queen’s lair (Is that what I’m supposed to call it?) was the ultimate in badass. Seriously, it was on a Jack Bauer level of badass. I’m really excited to see what the Queen is like. She could be very calm like Godrick, very diplomatic, or tear up Bon Temps with everything she has. For those who didn’t know (or remember from when it was announced) Evan Rachel Wood from “The Wrestler” and “Across the Universe” will be playing the Queen through the end of this season and into the beginning of next season.

This episode was perfect for me, except I think it was way too short. Did anyone else get that? I started it 20 minutes late and it ended on time. Did anyone else experience this? Anyway, this episode brought the funny, the serious, the fantastic and the scary all into one, non-stop, near-hour of television that has me wishing the week away so we can get another episode.

So many things to discuss. Just what is Sookie’s new power? Does this power exist outside of interacting with Maryann? Will it be this power that defeats the evil?  What will The Queen’s presence in Bon Temps mean for the future of the town?  Which of the townsfolk will be forever lost in the upcoming showdown?

Philboy is a Midwesterner WHO NOW HAS AN APARTMENT!!! His can’t miss shows are “24”, “HIMYM” and “True Blood”. His thoughts for the week are, “I met the cast of ‘Glee’ and they couldn’t have been nicer.” and “Chicago is an awesome town and John Oliver is a funny, funny man.”