True Blood Season 4, Episode 3 “If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin’?” – Review

Alcide is Back and Eric is “Gone”:

“I know what I am, Snooki.”

Whew. After his initial monologuing, Amnesia Eric was a delightful surprise. Finding Debbie in Alcide‘s pretty new house? Horrible surprise. But more on that later…

I’ve seen/heard a few complaints that this season “isn’t as good” or “it’s gotten weird.” Let me just say – #1, We’re 3 episodes in, haters! Don’t judge a season so quickly. And #2, I just have to plain disagree. Season 4, so far, has been at least on par with previous seasons. And I’ll tell you why.

True Blood has been loved from the very beginning for its soapy-meets-campy tone. Fluffy meta moments lighten up the drippy drama of a faerie living in a vampire hierarchy. Hence, Sookie reading a Charlaine Harris novel. Look, whenever a series throws in new characters, or changes characters drastically – either temporarily or permanently – fans are always quick to turn on their favorite show. All I’m saying is give it time before you start trolling comment threads. You can’t judge a whole season until it’s over. And I don’t know about you, but I’m in no rush.

Rant over. On to the good stuff –

Eric’s newly innocent state has proven to be the most adorable thing ever. I know I said that last time about his wooing Sookie with appliances, but I mean it even more this week. Between his apologies (“sorry”) and the ever-so-sincere tone when he asked Sookie “Would you like to be mine?”- sigh.Alexander Skarsgård did an outstanding job making Eric vulnerable without being too ridiculous.

Pam was quick to panic when she learned the news, and now she’s all uber-suspicious of Bill. Is it really possible that Bill would set up Eric like that? True, he already tried once. And yes, Sookie did ask Bill for help with Eric’s home-owning situation. But Bill’s angry voicemail makes me think otherwise.

Jessica and Hoyt are having relationship issues, yes. And while it was nice to see Jess reunite with her maker, the scene felt a little awkward. Seeking relationship advice, Bill and Jessica’s talk didn’t feel “father-daughter” “brother-sister” or “best friends.” It just felt weird. Although it did garner one of my favorite quotes from the episode: “Vamp up.”

What about that doll? It freaked me out the first time we saw it on the floor of Jess & Hoyt’s new place, then seeing Hoyt holding it was a whole other level of creepy. At least Baby Mikey seems to be enjoying it.

So Tommy wants to steal from the woman who has taken him in. Charming. I liked Tommy best when he worked at Merlotte’s – he had great chemistry with Jessica and he could be involved without some contrived storyline. Now, Tommy’s character just seems lost.

Bill and Portia, huh? Like her or not, you got to respect Portia’s bluntness. Girl knows how to get to the point.

I’m not sure why, but I just can’t get into Lafayette and Jesus. I’m bored when their wiccan ways are discussed. Sure, Marnie is fascinating and I’m curious to see if the spirit will accept her sacrifice. But otherwise, eh.

Poor Jason! For real, that boy just can’t win. His entire storyline was disturbing this week. That scene with all the girls watching? Yikes. I hope Jason gets to spend an episode not tied to a bed soon.

Finally, Alcide. I was so happy to see him. He and Sookie are all cute and then who walks in, but former V-addict/Russell Edgington dog Debbie. Blindsided by that one. Clearly, Sookie wasn’t thrilled, either. Totally ruined her plans. Where will that relationship go?

Sam and Tara had a cute moment. It’s nice that they’re still friends. That’s really all I have to say on the matter.

So Eric drained Claudine, huh? I was a little confused – did Eric appear because he heard Sookie yell at Claudine or just because he smelled her or something?

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True Blood: Season 4, Episode 2 – ‘You Smell Like Dinner’ – TV Review

This week, “True Blood” is all about adjustment. We accompany Sookie as she comes to terms with all the changes in Bon Temps, although some are certainly easier to handle than others. While the season premiere offered a series of character-focused vignettes featuring the show’s protagonists in their new situations, this second episode drives forward with more of the juicy plot for which we’ve been waiting all these long months. HBO delivers the goods and then some, leaving this particular Truebie extremely satisfied.

The Players:

• Director: Scott Winant
• Writer: Brian Buckner
• Cast:Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Deborah Ann Woll

Episode Title: “You Smell Like Dinner”

Jason gets more than he bargained for while taking care of Crystal’s clan; Eric makes an interesting offer to Sookie; the origins of Bill’s new position are revealed; human/vampire relations continue to deteriorate, hitting close to home for Hoyt and Jessica; Andy lets his addiction to V cloud his judgment; Sam and Luna start something new; Arlene sees odd behavior coming from her new boy; Tara comes home to see Sookie; Bill sends Eric after a coven of dangerous witches.

The Good:

• Punk Bill: You really have to watch this episode in order to understand just how awesome this is, but imagine Bill Compton as an English punk – spiked hair, leather, and all – in a UK punk club. Yes, it happens, in a flashback to 1982. It is a wonderful scene to behold, and one pregnant with details relating to Bill’s appointment to the kingship of Louisiana. I can’t wait until the show is available on demand just so I can re-watch that scene over and over and over again…
• Tying up loose ends: Relating to the above, we finally learn of what came of Bill and Sophie Anne’s showdown, among some other cliffhangers from last season. Questions are being answered, which means, besides the obvious fact that information is being conveyed, that the show really respects its viewers and isn’t pulling a “Lost” on them.
• Pushing the plot forward: This episode did just what I expected and hoped for with moving the plot forward after the premiere established the new “True Blood” universe, one year after the events of the third season. True to the usual “True Blood” form, plenty of intrigue is introduced in the last twenty minutes of the episode, so be sure to watch every second of the last half of the hour. You won’t regret it.
• Jessica: May I say that Jessica is becoming a total bada** this season? Although I mourn her crumbling relationship with Hoyt, Jessica is really coming into her own as a strong, sexy young woman grappling with her vampiric powers. I look forward to seeing what becomes of her as the season progresses.
• Tommy and Sam: I wasn’t too interested in Sam’s subplot with his new found shifter friends, so I was thrilled when Tommy came back into the picture late into the episode. My hope is that the third episode explores just what happened between the time Sam shot Tommy and the present; there are just so many lingering questions begging to be answered.
• Line of the night: Nan Flanagan takes the cake: “Now go clean yourself up. You’re covered in queen.”

The So-So:

• Arlene’s demon baby: Last week, Tara supplied the show’s weekly dose of melodrama. This time, Arlene takes a turn with the fuss surrounding her new baby boy, whom she believes is possessed by the devil or some such thing. This subplot would be far more compelling if the baby actually did something remarkable. All he does is allegedly cause a blood vessel in Arlene’s eye to burst and make her freak out whenever the subject of the child is brought up. Furthermore, Carrie Preston, who plays Arlene on the show, may benefit from toning down her performance and express Arlene’s paranoia with a bit more subtlety.
• Jason and the panthers: I have very little interest in Jason’s story this season. Perhaps it is because Crystal’s character has seemingly done a 180 without much explanation. I don’t want to spoil the details here, but her loyalties have made an odd change that needs to be clarified.

Overall:

“True Blood” does not disappoint in its second episode of the fourth season. It has everything for which the show is beloved and a whole lot more: it’s steamy, it’s riveting, and it has a healthy dose of that Bon Temps humor to temper the drama. Don’t miss this episode! (At the very least, watch it for Punk Bill.)

Rating: 9/10

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True Blood Season 4 episode 3 Trailer