The McGuffin Review of True Blood: Season 2 - Episode 4

Posted by Cory Johnson on 07.17.2009

Sookie, Bill and Jessica-Texas style! Plus Maryann throws Jessica a birthday party and Eric has a new plan....

Jason creeps back into the dorms at Leadership camp to find everyone dead and bleeding. A masked figure jumps him from behind and threatens to kill him, but it turns out to be Luke and the other wacky Fellowship of the Sun young boys playing tricks. Luke asks Jason about his lip and Jason asks him how his nose is……just before decking him. Jason screams that vampires are not a joke, and that there is a war coming. The dirty guitar strains of “Bad Things” welcome us to episode 4, “Shake and Fingerpop”

Hoyt is apologizing to vampire Bill profusely. Bill orders him out, Sookie tells Bill to calm down. Sookie and Bill squabble about manners. Jessica cries with her fangs out, but Hoyt makes her smile before he leaves. Jessica tells Bill that Hoyt is the only good thing that has happened to her since Bill turned her. Jessica has really horrible fake fangs. Bill warns Sookie that they cannot be girlfriends, and Sookie finishes the sentence with, “she’s a vampire”. Sookie wants Jessica to come with them to Dallas. Bill gets all old timer, lamenting on how when he was made, they had to live as outlaws. Bill admits that is jealous of Jessica and her opportunities. Bill relents and arranges for Jessica to go with them. Sookie moons that this is their first trip together.

Daphne and Sam circle each other in the water (do people really swim in murky Louisiana lakes, sounds like gator baiting), debating the merits of small town vs. big city. Daphne invites Sam to join her for pancakes, but Sam is not hungry. Daphne pulls out the word opaque. Sam notices the huge claw marks in Daphne’s back when she gets out of the water.

Tara tells Maryann (who can’t stop dancing) that she is going to move in with Sookie. Maryann gives her an Oprah-style hug and tells Tara to go “flourish and never say no to yourself”. Maryann has just a little touch of evil in her gaze as Tara walks away.

Jason and other leadership maroons attempt to debate if Lazarus, Jesus, or Cain was the first vampire. Great exchange demonstrating the level they are working on follows:

Luke: One thing is for certain, God will make sure that evil gets punished.
Jason: Oh yeah? Then explain Europe to me.

Outside, Steve is waiting for Jason in a jeep with a paintball gun. He asks Jason to come with him and Jason cautiously does the one cheek sneak into the jeep.

Sookie gives Tara a picture of the two of them and gran for her birthday. Tara cries, and then chides Sookie for letting Bill use her, because the sex cannot be that good. Sookie disagrees with the sex comment and informs Tara that she made the decision to help the vamps and save Lafayette. Tara did not know that Lafayette was back or that he was ok.

At the morgue, the coroner informs Sheriff Bud that Miss Jeanette was killed by an animal, but her heart was cut out with a hunting knife. Andy busts in and asks the other deputy if, when Tara had her car accident, if she reported seeing a pig. When Andy reports seeing that same pig-in a dollhouse no less, Sheriff Bud calls him on being drunk and makes him turn in his badge.

The sound of Tara pounding and yelling at his door wakes Lafayette up. Tara bawls Lafayette out for finding out that he was back from Sookie and for not treating his gunshot wound. Lafayette makes her leave, telling her that he can’t babysit her tonight. Tara warns him that she will be pissed if he dies.

Terry freaks out about not having all the ingredients for jailhouse chili and tells Sookie that Sam is leaving. So Sookie has to immediately bring this issue to Sam. Sam tells her that he has serious issues to deal with, and making her feel better is not his priority right now. Sookie has her own issues to deal with and awkwardly asks for time off. Sam doesn’t know if he will still be there when she gets back.

Jason shoots vampire targets while Steve drives. Steve is going to get Jason wood bullets instead of silver, as wood bullets are like staking a vampire. Steve wishes he knew what it looked like when vampires die as Jason explains what that particular experience is like.

Tara cries while watching TV. Something is lurking outside the window. Tara tries to look out the window, but doesn’t see anything. She stupidly goes outside and finds Maryann, Eggs, and a huge birthday cake. Everyone jumps as they yell surprise. Maryann informs Tara that she invited all her friends. Tara wonders what friends before Maryann whisks her off again.

Sarah is cooking ribs in her apron as Jason tries to listen to Steve and not ogle her. Sarah seems to be flirting with Jason, or else he is imagining it. Sarah thinks that Jason is a true soldier of God. Steve asks Jason to join the “Soldiers of the Sun”, a paramilitary branch of the Fellowship of the Sun.

Sam cuts Andy off. Andy is the only one in Merlotte’s. Arlene wants to know if they can close early and go to Maryann’s/Tara’s party. Tara’s mom leaves her birthday gift with Sam.

Anubis plane as the overhead announcement welcomes them to Dallas, “the most vampire-friendly destination in the state of Texas”….too many jokes to make. Sookie disembarks, while a forklift shifts Bill and Jessica in their caskets to the limo. The limo driver (Dean Norris-Hank from the equally great Breaking Bad) wonders why the plane was late, it was scheduled to arrive before sundown. He tries to get Sookie to get into the limo. Sookie hears him think “just get in the limo you stupid bitch”. When he tries to grab her, Bill snaps out of the coffin and has him by the throat in an instant. Jessica flops over her coffin, yelling and screaming for instructions on getting out of the coffin.

Maryann and Sam spar at Tara’s party. Sam tells Maryann to turn him right there, warning her that she will reveal herself as well. Maryann laughs at Sam, mocking him as just not being an alpha. Tara and Eggs dance as Tara wonders who all these people are. Maryann watches Tara and Eggs dance. Maryann throws Tara’s mom’s present in the bushes and dances herself outside.

Bill glamous Leon (the limo driver) and then asks Jessica if she would like to try. Bill coaches her to let everything go and let herself be dead and pull his mind into hers. Jessica reassures Leon that everything is going to be ok. Sookie tells Bill that he was very sweet with her. Bill thinks that Leon was sent by that church, but Sookie defends them. Bill darkly reminds her that churches have done much, much worse (one or six little crusades and they NEVER let you live it down).

Jason announces that he is going to be a Soldier of the Sun to the other members of the leadership conference. Luke laughs, saying that Jason is something for Sarah to play with. Jason gets indignant and defends Sarah and his accomplishments.

At the hotel, Sookie has to ask for a bed, as Eric forgot to book Sookie a bed. Bill asks for an adjoining room for his……progeny Jessica. Sookie thinks Bill should call her his ward, like Bruce Wayne (isn’t Robin constantly dying though? Is there even a live Robin left? Nobody gives a crap about Nightwing-yeah, I said it). Left alone, Jessica glamours Leon into giving her his cell phone. Jessica tells Leon that all his worst fears are going to come true unless he screams. Leon screams and Jessica laughs a wonderfully evil but sweet little girl I-just-did-that laugh.

Maryann starts chanting in an older tongue that someone out there can identify. The wind picks up, and Eggs leads Tara upstairs. They get undressed in silhouette (DAMNIT).

Lafayette is startled to find Eric at his window. Eric offers Lafayette his 1,000 year old blood to heal his infected leg. Lafayette is too smart to believe that Eric would do this because he likes him. Eric gets brutally honest and tells Lafayette that he is interested in him because he means something to Sookie. And what Sookie finds meaningful, Eric finds curious.

Bill tries to reassure Leon and bring him back. Sookie suggests that Bill put his hand on Leon’s shoulder, because sometimes touching helps Sookie hear people’s thoughts better. Bill does and Leon immediately talks, saying that he was hired anonymously by the Fellowship of the Sun to abduct Sookie. Leon does not know where Godrick is, and Bill glamours him into believing that they never arrived on the flight.

Lafayette drinks from Eric. Bill calls Eric, and Eric immediately scolds him for not calling the minute they arrived. Bill offers the old, “hey, we were ambushed by the Fellowship of the Sun” routine and Eric goes, duh. Bill is angry that Eric didn’t warn him. Eric coldly states that he is Bill’s sheriff, and if he has a problem, he can take it up with the magistrate….or the queen. Lafayette starts break dancing. Eric tells Lafayette that he must fly.

At the Newlins, Jason tries to get ready for bed, only to be interrupted by Sarah, in white lingerie and a silky white robe. Sarah reassures Jason that he is only sleeping here because they ran out of room for all the soldiers. Jason promises Sarah that he will try not to disappoint her.

Sookie and Bill make out on the bed, when Eric knocks at their door. Sookie is very disappointed. Eric tells Bill to meet him in the bar. Once there, Bill asks Eric why he cares so much about Godrick. Eric says that Godrick is the most powerful vampire in the new world and if Godrick can be taken, none of them are safe. Eric believes that the Texas vampires will start attacking humans for revenge if Godrick cannot be returned.

Bill: Open aggression against humans? THAT’S INSANE!
Eric: That’s Texas

Sam and Daphne feed each other in Sookie’s kitchen, and then they start to kiss. Daphne wanted to kiss Sam since he arrives. Sam wonders if this is a good idea, and tells Daphne that he has to tell her something. Daphne leans into his ear and whispers “I know what you are”. She leads Sam by the hand upstairs or outside.

Judging by Egg’s backside, he and Tara are having sex. Maryann starts to vibrate and various party guests suddenly feel compelled to bury their faces in food, pig style. Then their eyes turn black, just black holes in their heads. Fights break out, couples make love, a girl eats dirt, and Maryann’s hands turn into three fingers with minotaur claws.

Sookie looks at orders porn on hotel TV, before a knock at the door. Jessica tells Sookie that she ordered something-a male, blood type B-negative. Sookie’s thoughts wonder what she is supposed to do about this mess, and if this guy is even legal. The bellhop ANSWERS HER THOUGHT saying he is 21! Sookie can’t believe it; he read her thoughts, just like she does. The bellhop tells himself to smile like it was a coincidence, but Sookie tells him aloud that it wasn’t a coincidence-calling him by name to let him know that she heard him. Barry the bellhop runs out of the room and Sookie chases after him.

Analysis
For this episode not to revolve around Sookie is a credit to the strength and stories of the supporting cast members that this series can still deliver without Sookie being in the spotlight the entire episode. Eric in particular stole his scenes by dropping little hints about his as well as vampire history, including the queen and the references to Godrick being the most powerful vampire in the new world. His crystal clear cut on Texas was absolutely priceless. Eric provides a great balance to Bill, as he is assured in his place and role in the world. It will be interesting to see why he is so interested in Sookie, especially in light of the reveal at the end of the episode.

The Fellowship of the Sun does not work as the big evil menacing cult organization, because they come off as incompetent idiots. While they are definitely making a point/joke with their portrayal of the cult, it is readily apparent; cults prey on the weak and often wrap themselves in religion to justify their behaviors. Everyone gets it, there is no need to keep belaboring this point, as it is grating. The only mystery left is whom is Jason going to sleep with first-Steve or Sarah.

Sookie had a much smaller role this week, but when she was featured, it seemed like they made a conscious effort to show only the weaker aspects of her personality. The fighting with Bill over Hoyt, her trying to persuade Bill that Jessica should come with them, and her last (?) conversation with Sam all showcased the whiney qualities that are only a portion of such a complex character. If not for her touching suggestion with Leon, and of course the big reveal at the end, this would be a wasted episode for Sookie. Speaking of the reveal, it has always been odd that nobody else seemed to make a big deal about Sookie’s ability to hear other people’s thoughts, so it should be great to see how they explain Barry the bellhop.

Maryann is the minotaur, which is interesting and a let-down all at the same time. At this point, it must be assumed that this is only a part of her, not the total, as she continues to cast spells that make people give into their animal instincts.

Bill is still a character finding his way in the world, strong and fierce, yet usually unwilling to actually hurt anyone. The fact that he cares about Sookie and Jessica is easily his greatest weakness, and makes him an incredibly easy mark for Eric to manipulate. His look of amazement when Sookie gave him the touch suggestion made the episode worth watching. He and Anna Paquin have developed great chemistry together, so much chemistry that it almost seems like they have been together far longer than they actually have been.

Jessica is easily the best addition to the cast this season. She helps make the show fun and does a fantastic job of conveying that sense of teenage excitement and embarrassment to almost every scene. That look of joy and challenge when she took her “room service” by the hand was simply incredible.

Things I Wonder
Wouldn’t it be great if Bill would have killed Hoyt or made Jessica feed on him? Just to shake things up.
How great was that cliffhanger? For once we know that Bill is not going to threaten someone’s life then let them live the next week.
The vampire queen sounds incredibly sexy/interesting, doesn’t it?
Does Eric literally fly?
You smiled when you saw Sookie flipping through the porn selections, didn’t you?
Anubis Airlines was a great touch, wasn’t it?
How does Maryann summon all these people?
If Sam was leaving because of Maryann, why would he go to the party he knew she was hosting?
What is Daphne’s connection to Maryann? She seems to be surviving those claw marks pretty well, no?
What did Maryann want with Miss Jeanette’s heart?
How could Daphne know what Sam is?
True Blood goes to Europe to meet some old world vampires, anyone?
Tara got back into Eggs in a hurry, didn’t she?
Are other people into the Fellowship of the Sun? Do you think they are great?
Was that Daphne drinking the Tru Blood last week?
What is Maryann’s goal here?
Who was Jessica calling on Leon’s cell phone?
How great was it when Bill described to Jessica how to glamour someone?
Great to see Lafayette back to being himself, isn't it?
What else does Eric have in mind for Lafayette?
Did Tara and Eggs have sex because they wanted to, or did they only do it because of Maryann?
Bill would love to fit in somewhere, wouldn’t he?

Thanks for reading. As always, comments and feedback, as well as email appreciated. This is Cory and I wasted a half-hour of my life watching WEEDS this week. I will be back next week with the next episode of TRUE BLOOD and open up the mailbag. Until then, keep watching.

The 411: While not the strongest episode of True Blood to date, this episode did deliver plenty of back story, partial reveals, and mythology hints. The storyline with Jason and his will-he-or-won’t-he sex life with one or both of the Newlins feels incredibly played out already. The Fellowship of the Sun has not yet proven to be anything more than irritating, because they seem to be too comical and fanatical to be a real threat. Tara's storyline didn't really go anywhere and neither did Sam, but Jessica continues to be a highlight, while Eric and Bill’s relationship is fascinating to watch. Decent episode with a fantastic cliffhanger at the end that should set the stage for a great episode next week (provided they provide some answers).

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]