The McGuffin Review: True Blood - Season 2 Episode 5

Posted by Cory Johnson on 07.31.2009

What was Bill like as a vampire in 1926 Chicago? Eric has a great plan to get Sookie and Sam is in for the shock of his life.

At the hotel bar, Eric tries to feed on a blood hooker, but he just can’t get into it. Eric dismisses the girl when Lorena arrives. Eric started to think that Lorena wasn’t going to accept his invitation and Lorena calls him a terrible liar for a vampire…on that non-note, we start the beautiful gritty strains of “Bad Things” and welcome to McGuffin Review of True Blood “Hard-Hearted Hannah”.

Bill and Sookie’s kissing is interrupted by Isabelle and her human boyfriend Hugo. Isabelle offers to send Hugo with Sookie to infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun. Isabelle is making this offer because Godrick is her sheriff and she doesn’t want Bill to take all the risk. Isabelle makes a good point that Sookie would be less conspicuous with a man by her side. Sookie agrees.

Lorena wants to know what Eric wants. Eric wants Sookie and Bill is in the way. Lorena coyly wonders why she would still want Bill after over 70 years. Eric claims that he is still loyal to Godrick and he has not seen his maker in a longer spell of time. Lorena wishes that she would have turned Eric instead of Bill if he is truly that loyal…but Eric isn’t his type. While she says this, she stares at the bar’s piano man.

The camera pans in then out to reveal Bill sitting at the piano in a tuxedo in 1926 Chicago. Lorena slides up to him, smiles and then wanders through the party to find the hosts. Lorena, speaking with a decidedly French accent, compliments the hostess on her necklace. Lorena introduces herself as Faviana Olivier, and compliments the couple on being such open-minded Americans. Lorena asks the host couple if they would like to get together after the other guests leave (her exact words were “f@#k prohibition together”, but you just have to see her mouth form the words to get the full impact). The couple agrees as Bill finishes his song. Lorena nods at the couple, identifying their marks. Bill looks creepy and menacing, almost hard to recognize.

On the pool table at Merlotte’s, Sam (two balls in the side pocket) asks Daphne about the scratches on her back. Daphne doesn’t know what happened, just that she got slashed and none of the doctors could figure it out. Sam calls Daphne the most amazing person he has ever met (a little thick there Sam…sheesh). Daphne wonders why Sam doesn’t tell people about what he is, and tries to persuade Sam to experience and share life with the important people in his life, because he is just that special. Sam asks where Daphne came from before rolling her over.

At the old Stackhouse place, Tara is trying to call someone to get a part for the broken water heater. Maryann is upset that she had to take a cold shower and she is incredibly premenstrual about it. Tara is going to have to drive for two hours, which does not please Maryann. Eggs and Tara con and plead Maryann into letting Eggs go with Tara.

Jason and Luke meet the Newlins and get their assignment to build a platform with a cross. Jason asks if they are being punished for something. In a very subtle moment, while Jason is asking about being punished, Sarah rubs her fingers suggestively along a large wooden beam on the blueprint. Sarah reminds them that Jesus was a carpenter and they should be grateful for this job and get to it. Steve informs them that this platform is for a “Meet the Sun” ceremony, where they chain a vampire to a cross and watch the sun rise. Sarah tried to get Steve to stop filling them in, but Steve kept dismissing her and talking anyway.

Hugo gives Sookie an engagement ring to complete the ruse, and asks her to let him do most of the talking. Sookie surprisingly agrees, saying it would be easier for her to listen that way. Sookie asks Hugo if he fights with Isabelle and he thinks they fight all the time. Sookie takes comfort in the feeling that, even though Bill and she are fighting, they are both fighting for the relationship. Hugo says that his major fights with Isabelle are over her turning him. Sookie has never thought of that, and Hugo wonders what will happen in 50 years when he is old and sick and Isabelle is still perfect…how could she possibly love him. Sookie suddenly interrupts, thinking they should get going.

On the road, Eggs suddenly starts drifting off, suddenly remembering a red barn that he has never been to before coming on. Sure enough, there is an old red barn just around the turn. Of course, this means that Tara and Eggs have to turn off so Eggs can wander, while Tara follows yelling “Egggggsssss”.

Arlene tells Terry that she has a surprise for him after work. Daphne forgot Hoyt’s mom’s iced tea. Andy grills Lafayette about his disappearance and his lack of pizzazz. Lafayette claims that he was on a gay cruise, and Andy calls bullshit. Andy threatens to lock Lafayette and accuses him of killing Miss Jeanette. When Andy threatens lockup, Lafayette crumples to the floor and starts to shake. As Andy keeps talking, we see why-Lafayette sees Eric speaking in Andy’s voice! Terry pushes Andy off, and reminds him that when they used to play as kids, he always made his arrests with dignity. Terry reminds Andy that he is not a cop anymore. Andy apologizes to Lafayette and leaves. Terry holds Lafayette and with provides him some guided imagery to work through his flashback-telling Lafayette to imagine a golden glowing ball radiating warmth and safety.

Hoyt enters the bar, upset that his mom cancelled his phone because Jessica should not be calling him at all hours of the night. Hoyt, worried that Jessica is going to think that he is one of these guys who never texts back, warns his mom not to force his hand and then drops the bomb that Jessica is a vampire. Take THAT mom.

Sam can’t work, because he keeps seeing Daphne on the pool table. Daphne fakes a protest. Sam threatens to fire her if she doesn’t go outside and take her clothes off. Daphne slips off her apron and heads outside.

Luke tries to think of a vampire slaying song that works to “Little Bunny Foo-Foo.” Jason wonders how Luke has managed to be abstanate for two years. Luke classifies adultery as the same category as bestiality and incest. Jason tries to imagine himself as abstinent.

Hoyt and Sookie are greeted by Sarah. Sookie immediately takes over the conversation in a disgusting fake conversation. Sookie tells Hoyt that she sometimes gets nervous and talks a lot. Inside Sookie explains to Steve that their former pastor was a vampire sympathizer. Sookie hears Steve thinking about the platform’s progress and wanting to see that vampire in the basement pay. Sookie tries to bash vampires, calling them bloodthirsty killers.

Bill drags the man in the bedroom where Lorena is holding the wife. Bill compliments them on having a lovely home, and Lorena chillingly says that Bill and she will love living in it. Lorena holds the man, forcing him to watch Bill feed on his wife. Bill bites her over and over, spreading her blood all over while her husband screams…until Lorena snaps his neck. After Bill is done feeding, he and Lorena share savage bloody kisses. Bill takes the necklace off the wife and gives it to Lorena. They make love in the wife’s blood. In the present, Lorena is dreaming/remembering all this while slowly stroking the necklace that Bill gave her.

Eggs leads Tara to strange site with discarded clothes all over the place and stones. They stare at a blood stained rock (looks like a perfect decapitation stone) and Eggs breaks down, knowing that he knows this place and that something horrible happened here.

Steve warns Sookie and Hugo that sometimes the beauty of the church can be overwhelming and then they lead them into a beautiful sunlight-drenched church. Sookie hears Steve think that she is no Christian, Sarah beg Steve not to bring Sookie into this because he knows the vampires made her do this, and then Steve wonder if he can hear her thoughts right now. When Sookie tries to hint to Hugo that they should leave, Steve introduces Gabe, saying that he is going to join them for the rest of the tour.

A pig and a dog wander in front of Andy’s car. Andy is stunned to see the pig again and cocks his gun and chases after them until he trips. Shortly after, Sam and Daphne get dressed and laugh. Sam thinks that Andy recognized her, but Daphne starts kissing him and then drops to her knees-no word on if she shifted.

Lafayette is surprised to find Pam waiting for him. Lafayette asks if she is real. Lafayette wonders why they didn’t just glamour him and Pam explains that he wouldn’t remember that he owed them. Pam gives Lafayette a huge bottle of V and tells him that he is back in business. Lafayette tries to protest, but looses.

Steve wants to show Sookie and Hugo his father’s tomb in the basement. Sarah wonders if this is necessary. Sookie is visibly afraid and Hugo explains that they are claustrophobic. Sarah tries to subtly disagree, but Steve isn’t listening. Sookie and Hugo try to leave, but Steve and Gabe grab them and force them downstairs. Sookie starts to scream and Bill immediately wakes up in the hotel to FIND LORENA WAITING, asking if something is happening to his human. Lorena hops on top of Bill, holding him down. Sookie keeps screaming as Steve forces her down the stairs, Steve is sure that Sookie is on V and call her a (rhymes with “sucking sprunt”) in a very pastor-like way. Sarah watches in horror. Lorena holds a struggling Bill down, telling him that he cannot overpower her, she kisses him. Sarah apologizes as they finally drag Sookie away.

Sookie’s house is trashed, clothes are everywhere. They wander into the back yard to see a mass orgy taking place, with Maryann shimmering in the middle. Karl is dressed like a priest and there is a bull mask made out of gold. Everyone has those soulless, black hole eyes and their sex sounds are animalistic. Tara and Eggs look at each other in horror. Maryann notices them, stops shimmering for a second, smiles at them and begins to do her shimmery dance again.

Jessica bolts upright and….checks her phone, disappointed not to see a text from Hoyt. She glances at the other room and opens two bottles of Tru Blood and pours them down the sink. Hoyt knocks at the door, saying he came as fast as he could and explaining about his phone. Jessica is, “so happy she could cry, but I won’t because it is really gross when I do.” She pulls Hoyt into the room, kissing him madly.

Jason walks into the church and tells Sarah that they are done with the platform. Jason notices that Sarah is crying. Sarah explains that Steve is not the man he thought she was; Jason tells her that he regrets what the two of them did. When Jason calls Steve a great man, Sarah explains that Jason and the others are being trained to start a war. Sarah tries to kiss Jason again, but he pulls away. Sarah tells Jason that she was meant to be with Jason, and that she is not married in her heart anymore. When Jason protests again, Sarah tells him that God is commanding her to do this and THAT suddenly makes this ok and believable. Jason’s abstinence lasted almost 20 minutes.

Daphne leads Sam close to the party, but Sam stops when he hears the drums as all they ever lead to is hippies and cults. Two people grab Sam and drag him to the orgy, where Tara and Eggs are both black eyed and having sex doggie-style. Daphne tells Sam that this is the end of the road and puts the bull mask on Maryann who begins to chant. They push Sam towards a rock and a large sword.

Analysis
The greatest part of this episode was the flashback to Bill and Lorena’s life some 50 years after she turned him into a vampire. Bill did a fantastic job of showing what he was-bloodthirsty, above human, and savage cruel. They were smart enough to leave the mystery about what forced the break up.

Lorena is everything a female vampire should be-smart, cunning, powerful, a complete tease, and incredibly seductive. Lorena completely dominated her conversation with Eric, something that has not been seen on the show this far. It will be interesting to see what exactly she wants with Bill, as well as more of her back story.

Sookie was basically there this week to play damsel in distress, but as always, managed to steal a couple of scenes, especially her conversation with Hugo about becoming a vampire because she managed to master this look of inspiration, like the idea had truly never occurred to her before. That is why Anna Paquin is possibly the best actress on TV this year.

Jessica makes the most of whatever screen time she is given and her interaction at the end of the episode with Hoyt was priceless-funny, teenage awkward and totally genuine. They are careful not to over-expose her character because she does not have enough depth yet, but the storyline with Hoyt is a great start.

Daphne being a part of Maryann’s plan was a mild surprise, but her scenes with Sam were well done and they felt like a very natural couple for a while. Sam continues to be the loveable loser who never quite wins. Maryann herself came closer to revealing her grand plan, assuming she has one. How Sam, Daphne, and Tara fit into her plans needs to be explained soon or it will drag like the Fellowship angle.

Tara and Eggs, on the other hand, do not feel like a real couple at all. That may be by design, as their relationship has been at least partially forced by Maryann, but they just do not have great chemistry and they are opposite at least two couples that ooze chemistry.

The Newlin’s and Jason continue to inch to a conclusion, but Steve admitting in his thoughts that the church may have Godrick is the first sign of them posing a real threat yet. How Jason and Sarah will play out should be interesting, but Sarah herself is rapidly turning into a parody as most of her dialogue was too comical and over the top.

Things I Wonder
So is Lorena older than Eric?
Lorena-even hotter with a French accent?
About time Sam asked about the claw marks on Daphne, huh?
Daphne’s speech to Sam sounded a little like Maryann didn’t it?
Maryann snapping over the shower was a little weird, wasn’t it?
Why does Maryann need to have people all around her having sex?
Andy and the pig are kinda ironic and funny, isn’t it?
Why didn’t Sookie get out right after she heard Steve think about Godrick?
What was with Eggs having a memory of that sacrificial site?
Did Maryann break the water heater? If she didn’t, why didn’t she come up with a spell to fix it?
Who are the vampires trying to draw out by putting Lafayette back into the V business?
What is Eric’s design on Sookie and could his plan really be to have Bill fall back in line with Lorena (that seems a little uninspired for Eric)?
Anyone else hearing “I Am the Bullgod”? No?
You have to wonder what Terry has been through to have those kinds of trauma skills, don’t you?
Do you hate the previews for next week where they spoil half of the endings of this week’s episode?
Was that the weakest opening to a True Blood episode yet?
The eyes on those spell-bound orgy people are definitely freaky, aren’t they?
Why would someone as powerful as Maryann bide her time?
Isabelle has to be one of the traitors, doesn’t she?
Hugo just didn’t have a place, did he?
Jason never really had a chance at abstinence, did he?
Didn’t Jessica hear Bill struggle with Lorena?
What does Maryann want?

Thanks for reading. As always, feedback, comments, and emails are much appreciated. In other cable news, PENN AND TELLER’S BS about lie detectors was great, WEEDS continues to be a shell of its former self, NURSE JACKIE has potential but needs a little heart to make the viewer care about the characters, and HUNG is starting to find some traction, but it needs to decide on a direction and figure out if it is going to be shocking or just keep teasing the shock. I will be back next week with the next episode of TRUE BLOOD, until then this is Cory. Keep watching.

The 411: A good episode that started to uncoil a few of the dangling plotlines while providing a great glimpse of Bill and Lorena in the past. The pacing of this episode was incredibly quick and did take away from some of the performances. While they were trying to advance every character's storyline, it did not leave much time to actually showcase the character's themselves, reducing most of the characters to extended cameos. Still any episode that features savage vampire Bill and the incredibly sexy Lorena works.

Final Score:  7.7   [ Good ]