The McGuffin Review: True Blood -Season 2 Episode 7

Posted by Cory Johnson on 08.07.2009

Answers! We finally find out what Maryann is, the traitor is revealed, somebody dies, Sookie has a new talent, and we get another Bill/Lorena flashback.

Andy stumbles drunkenly, yelling out “PIIIIIIGGGG”. Sam is put on the chopping block, while a spellbound Tara urges him to give in because it feels so good. Maryann has her claws , and Karl has his knife out. Andy stumbles onto the orgy/ritual and not understanding what he is seeing, shoots a round into the ground. This breaks the spell long enough for Maryann to stop her trance vibrating and allows Sam to break free. He punches Daphne to gain his freedom, but Maryanne (why do I want to say “in beast mode”) chases after him. Maryann tells Sam that he is going to be the one and just as she closes in on Sam, he spots an owl and shifts, flying away to freedom. Maryann takes his flannel (and misses grunge at the same time)….as the gritty sound of “Bad Things” welcome us to True Blood “Rescue Me”.

Back at the orgy, all the spellbound scream and ignore Andy’s “Nobody moves” orders. Andy spots spellbound Terry and Arlene making out and makes the mistake of putting his hand on Terry, who immediately grabs a wristlock and promptly breaks Andy’s arm as Arlene squeals in laughter.

In their holding cell in the basement of the Fellowship of the Sun church. Hugo reveals that he really is claustrophobic and starts having a little panic attack (not the cool Tony Soprano style panic attack, just a nervous one). Sookie helps him calm down, very soothing. Sookie figures out that the Newlins knew who she was, and repeats that there must be a traitor in the vampire ranks. Hugo thinks it must be Stan, reasoning that he wants Godrick out of the way so that he can become sheriff. Sookie realizes that Bill is going to be there any minute and worries what the Fellowship could have in store for him.

Bill is not coming, because Lorena is blocking his exit back at the hotel. Bill is furious, knowing that he cannot overpower his maker. Lorena easily pushes him around, calling him sensitive, something she has always found cute. Bill’s speed is no match for Lorena’s, and it becomes clear that he is going nowhere until Lorena allows it. Lorena missed him and laments how long it has been….leading us to…..

1935 Los Angeles, where Bill sits reading “Gods and Monsters of Ancient Greece” while listening to the phonograph. Lorena is home early from the theater because she hates cheerful musicals. Lorena brought Bill a present, one of the chorus girls. Bill turns down her offer, so Lorena begins to playfully touch the girl, saying that they should find a way to cheer him up. Bill defies Lorena, stating that he will not do this anymore. The clearly glamoured girl sits there staring at Bill like a cow. Lorena temps Bill by saying that she smells like apricots. Bill leans in close to the girl’s neck, smelling her, then whispers for her to leave now. Lorena is disappointed in Bill, and looks near tears when Bill tells her that he can’t stand the sight of her. Bill accuses her of losing her humanity and stealing his. Bill will have to live with the things they have done for eternity. Lorena tells him that he will outgrow his conscious and they will get through this, while tenderly stroking his face. Bill sneers that he will never again be what she wanted him to be. Bills walks away from her in anger…and in a flash she is at the table and throws a lamp at Bill who catches it. This is going to be EPIC………but we FLASH BACK TO THE HOTEL….

Bill threatens to drive a stake through Lorena’s heart if anything has happened to Sookie. Lorena thinks that his love for Sookie is so funny it is tragic and then throws out the most heartless, mocking laugh.

Eric and Isabelle stand outside the Fellowship church. Eric laughs at the poor little boys guarding the church. Eric wonders why it has been so long since they have heard from Sookie. Isabelle tries to calm him, because she would know if Hugo was in trouble (she felt something earlier, but it passed). Eric asks Isabelle about her relationship and Isabelle enjoys how much more deeply humans feel, and how urgent everything is for them. Eric wonders about how she will feel when he ages and dies. Isabelle finds it curious, like a science project. Isabelle wonders how Bill feels about Eric’s interest in Sookie and Eric snarls that he is not interested in Sookie (lie), much less about how Bill feels (truth). Eric wonders how these fools could have overpowered and kept Godrick. Eric thinks that nothing human could have captured Godrick.

Post-coitis, Sarah cries and Jason thinks he is going to hell. Sarah doesn’t feel guilty, she is only crying because she is so happy. Jason made Sarah feel closer to God, I doubt the Lord approves. Sarah gets dressed quickly because they have to go tell Steve. Jason doesn’t think this is a good plan, because Steve has guns and the lock-in is coming up. Sarah agrees, thinking they should put God’s interests first. Jason has a huge “ohmygawd” look on his face.

Hoyt and Jessica kiss and snuggle. In a sweet moment, Hoyt and Jessica are relieved to admit to each other that they are both virgins. Jessica had a pact with a friend to see who would lose their virginity first, but her friend wound up pregnant before Jessica got her first kiss. Hoyt was waiting for the right one. Hoyt reassures her that he isn’t a bisexual gay. They pledge to be each other’s first. Jessica takes off her robe and Hoyt gets a little worried that she means RIGHT NOW, but Jessica just wants to cuddle. She warns him not to worry if she looks a little, um, dead. These two are great.

Stan and Isabelle argue about strategy. Stan tests Eric, and Eric snaps on him, grabbing him by the throat and accusing him of murdering Godrick for his title. Stan calls it a lie, and Eric threatens to find the truth and show no mercy. Eric sheds a blood tear while talking about what he would have lost if Godrick is dead.

Eggs and Tara wake up on the couch, not remembering how they got there. Eggs blames the weed, Tara thinks they should stop smoking then. Eggs reassures her that just because she got so baked she can’t remember anything, she isn’t her mom. Tara compares Eggs to Sookie, because it is like both of them are in her head. Eggs cooly states that he just gets her and Tara eats it up.

Steve offers Sookie and Hugo water. Sookie tells them that they are playing with their lives. Steve apologizes for things getting out of control. Steve wants a few answers and then he will let them go. Hugo cracks, spilling that she is Sookie STACKHOUSE and they were sent to find Godrick. Steve didn’t hear a word after “Stackhouse” and starts slowly putting Sookie and Jason together. Steve and Gabe leave. Sookie yells at Hugo and tells him to shut the fuck up. Sookie projects her thoughts to Barry, asking him to go to Bill and tell him that the Fellowship has Godrick and Sookie is in a life or death situation. She begs Barry not to ignore her.

Bill tries to convince Lorena that they need to rest. Lorena has a small drop of blood coming from her nose, Bill is bleeding behind his ear. Lorena thinks that Bill will rush into the sunlight and kill himself trying to save Sookie. Bill, defending himself, says that he is not suicidal. Lorena reminds him that she knows what he is capable of. Bill is worried that “the bleeds” have begun (I’m guessing because the sun is out and they haven’t rested), and they are getting weaker. Bill wonders what the endgame is, because this cannot go on forever. Lorena warns him that she is very patient. Bill tries to reach for the phone, but Lorena is too quick for him. Bill begs her to let him call Eric, so that he can go save Sookie. Lorena crushes the phone and drops the bombshell on Bill that Eric sent her, and he wants Sookie for himself. Bill looks like he has been shot.

Jason is walking with his bags, when Steve and Gabe pull up and yank him into the SUV.

Andy, now with new broken arm cast, tries to explain to the Sheriff what he saw at Maryann’s ceremony. The Sheriff is just a little skeptical.

Maryann walks into the house, holding a dead rabbit for stew, alarming Eggs and Tara. Tara wonders what happened while they were gone and Maryann says that she had a few friends over for drinks. Tara calls Maryann weird when she walks out.

Steve interrogates Jason, while Gabe holds Jason with a knife to his throat. Jason keeps apologizing to Steve until Steve starts talking about him working for the wrong side and Jason realizes that he has no idea what Steve is talking about. Steve thinks that Jason is just lying to him, when Jason really has no idea about Sookie or what Steve has going on and thinks that this is just a simple misunderstanding over Jason doing the humpty-hump with Sarah. Steve wants Jason to say a prayer (for him now) because he is going to hell……today.

At the lake, Daphne soaks her feet, when Sam walks onto the dock holding her at gunpoint. Daphne used to be just like Sam-stupid, scared, and full of shame…until she met Maryann, who set her free. Sam is just an ant compared to Maryann, and Maryann wants him because he got away from her once. Daphne explains that when people get those big, black eyes, Maryann is driving them like remote control airplanes. Maryann cannot control shifters, or any other super naturals, but she cannot get inside them. Sam asks what Maryann is and Daphne replies that she is god, dum-dum (no word on if Gadzoo inhabits Maryann’s bull mask).

Hugo has to use the bathroom and he is freaking out. Sookie tries to calm him down, but when she grabs his hand, she sees Hugo calling the Fellowship, telling them that Sookie is coming and he will be with her! Hugo is the traitor!

Daphne amends her statement, saying that Maryann is as close to god as they will ever get. Daphne rattles off the list of names that Maryann has been called: Kali, Lilith, Isis, Gaia, before revealing that she is a maenad-a handmaidens of Dionysis-the horn god (could it be maybe…..SATAN). Daphne explains that Maryann channels and controls people’s lust, anger, excess, and violence and she is immortal. Sam refuses to just let her kill him. Daphne tries to persuade Sam to just go to her, because maybe she will let him live. Sam wants Daphne to stay away from him and storms off.

Hugo tries to defend himself, saying that he was addicted to Isabelle and she was just using her until he came to the Fellowship. Sookie does not believe that is not what she has with Bill. Sookie points out that Hugo should be free if he was such a true believer and Hugo starts yelling for Gabe (who’s kinda busy killing Jason right now). Sookie tells Hugo that he is nothing but a fang-banger in their eyes.

Sarah greets people at the lock-in. Steve tells her that they need to talk in private about Jason. Sarah nervously agrees.

Jason manages to get into a fair fight and goes ape on Gabe when he starts talking trash about Sookie. Gabe is no match for Jason’s rage (apparently his hate made him powerful). Jason kicks Gabe hard in the nuts before taking his knife and leaving.

Lafayette tells a customer on the phone that he is back in business and he has some amazing stuff.

Tara and Eggs kiss over the bar at Merlotte’s, when an anxious Arlene arrives asking about Sam. Arlene grabs Tara and tells her that she might have raped Terry in a blackout. Tara seems really curious about the blackout.

Lafayette spies Eggs and goes completely ga ga. Eggs introduces himself and Lafayette calls him “Tara’s Eggs”. Tara doesn’t think that sounds right and wonders why they don’t call him Ben. Lafayette wonders why they don’t call him Dict (see his real name is Benedict…..never mind). Lafayette calls Eggs Satan in a Sunday hat. Andy staggers into the bar, calling out Terry. He calls Tara a devil worshipper, and tells the whole bar that they are devil zombies. Andy vows to stop them as Sam staggers out from the back of the bar. Arlene tells him that he looks like he just saw a ghost.

Hoyt spreads rose petals all over the room as Jessica wakes up. He also bought blood-scented candles. Jessica calls it perfect. Jessica asks him to take off his pants.

Jason runs down the road, chased by a Jeep. He stops when he hears Sarah. Jason starts explaining that Steve and Gabe have gone crazy and Sarah pulls out a gun and shoots Jason!

Daphne waits for Maryann on the dock. Maryann thanks Daphne for her service and a black-eyed Eggs steps forward and stabs Daphne! Daphne smiles as dies looking at Maryann.

Gabe returns and proceeds to beat the crap out of “fang-banger” Hugo. Gabe grabs Sookie by the throat and threatens to show her what she has been missing.

Sookie’s screams panic Bill, who makes a desperate attempt for the door, but Lorena breaks a leg off a chair and catches him at the door, threatening to end him. They flash back to LA, and Lorena accuses Bill of throwing away everything she has given him. Bill asks her to let him go, but Lorena made him and he belongs to her. Bill has spent decades trying to love her, done things he never believed himself capable of to try to prove that he loved her, but he cannot and will not ever love her. Men have died just to spend one night with Lorena, and she wonders what more she can give. Bill asks for choices, for her to let him go. Lorena warns him that he will be alone, and Bill tells her that she is one who is afraid of that, not him. Bill calls her the saddest, loneliest creature he has ever known. Lorena pushes Bill down, shattering a chair. Bill picks up a fragment, and Lorena cannot believe that he hates her this much. Bill pleads with her to let him go, then tells her that she will not have to. Bill pulls open his robe and starts to push the home-made stake into his heart. Lorena tells him to stop, and with bloody tears in her eyes, releases him.

Back in the present, Bill find himself in a similar fate, but this time it is Lorena holding the stake to his heart. Bill wants to know what she has to gain by this. Lorena tells him that he is making a fool of himself with that girl, and that someday Bill will see that what Lorena is doing is an act of love. Just then, Barry knocks on the door. Lorena clamps her hand over Bill’s mouth and tells Barry that she will deliver his message to Bill. Barry tells her that Sookie is being held in the basement of the Fellowship church, the sheriff is there, and Sookie is in trouble. Eric overhears everything and flies out of his room. Barry projects to Sookie that this is the last time he is doing her a favor….before someone pulls him into a room.

Gabe slaps Sookie and tears her clothes off, asking her to scream for him. Suddenly Gabe is yanked off her, Sookie turns around to find…GODRICK.

Analysis
The episode featured plenty of twists, turns and most importantly answers.

Maryann is a maenad, but somehow that is not exactly satisfying, probably because I have never heard of one before tonight. It might have made more sense to keep her undefined or as some kind of witch. Despite that, it is good to have a label on her powers and origins. I’m not sure how the killer weed factors into everything, or what exactly she wants to do to Sam, but it feels like a conclusion is coming.

The Fellowship was regulated to a smaller role this week, and the show was better because of it. Sarah was a little over the top this week, and her character continues to drift perilously close to human parody. Steve actually seemed evil this week, instead of just stupid. He did a great job of putting the puzzle together when he was interrogating Sookie. I’m shocked at how much I enjoyed that scene.

Eric was odd in this episode, kind of moping around and whining. It seems like they cannot settle on a role for Eric-detached observed, deadly enforcer, lovesick jealous vampire, worried child (about Godrick), or master planner. The character has incredible potential just waiting to break out, but they never seem to completely pull the trigger.

The break-up between Bill and Lorena was really well done, if completely overacted. They were in 1937 Hollywood, not a Shakespearean play. Lorena needs a prominent role in this show on a weekly basis. Her jealousy of Bill’s happiness and her anger over his rejection of her seems to ooze through her character. When Lorena calls him “William”, it was like he was a small child and she was explaining how the world works. Great stuff. Mariana Klaveno is doing an amazing job with Lorena, bringing out all of her incredibly appeal and emotional desperation, often with just her eyes or her inflections. She is easily one of the best things about season two.

Speaking of good things about season, the budding relationship between Jessica and Hoyt is truly great. They are the little oasis of “normal” in this weird and winding season. They are genuinely cute and the way they fumble around each other is incredibly real.

It seems like every week there is something new to praise about Anna Paquin’s performance and this week is no exception. Usually, it’s Sookie’s innocence and belief in people that gets her into trouble, but this week it was her faith in Barry that might have saved her. Sookie got to show off some of her smarts this week, practically gloating to Hugo that the Fellowship saw him as nothing more than a fang-banger. Hearing her swear at him to shut up was shocking, and the fact that it was shows how well she has portrayed the character. The way she was screaming while Gabe was threatening to rape her was incredibly vivid. A part of me wishes that maybe the character had been raped (wait, stay with me for a second), because you know that Paquin would have done an amazing portrayal of a rape victim and all of the emotional fall out from that episode. Having said that, I think it is time to check my head.

Things I Wonder
When Merlotte’s puts out the “now hiring” sign again, don’t apply, ok?
What exactly did Steve say to Sarah about Jason?
Why didn’t Andy fall under Maryann’s spell? He couldn’t possibly be supernatural….could he (this isn’t the first time)?
How is Sam going to get out of this one? What is he hoping to accomplish with that gun?
What is it going to take for Tara to see what is going on?
Lorena-most seductive vampire ever?
Hugo wasn’t exactly what you were hoping for from the traitor, was he?
Did Eric free Godrick? Or was he already free?
How did they capture Godrick?
What exactly is Lorena going to do with Bill once Sookie is safe and all this is over?
How come Jessica and Hoyt don’t hear Bill and Lorena struggling?
Gabe is lame, right? How great was that nut shot?
Since when can Sookie project her thoughts like that?
Lorena grabbed Barry, didn’t she?
Eric was not convincing in his conversation with Isabelle, was he?
Isabelle’s view of Hugo as a “science project” was kinda chilling, wasn’t it? Like the hamsters waiting for dissection in the science lab.
Those black eyes freak anyone else out?
Sam or Tara, who kills Maryann?
Was there any point to Maryann killing Daphne?
I swear I heard the word Ba’al during the devil orgy, anyone else?
Why is Andy yelling “PIIIGGGG!” always funny?
Did Bill remind anyone else of Louie from “Interview with a Vampire”?
Is it just lust for Eric in regards to Sookie, or is it something more?
Why is Bill so difficult with Jessica, considering how he was brought up as a vampire?
Eric and Godrick were lovers, weren’t they?
Maryann can stop the self-help talk now, can’t she?
Where is Terry?
Yep, Jason is dead for sure, huh?

Thanks for reading. As always, feedback, comments and emails are much appreciated. Comments make my week and keep this column going. I know that I promised a mailbag, but the economy is forcing it to wait until next week. In other non-news, Penn and Teller's Bullshit about organic foods was worth it just for the George Lucas haircut line. Weeds is so far off the ground I don't believe it will ever come back. Nurse Jackie needs to give me more reasons to care what happens. Hung was interesting and shows signs of life. Also, if you know anyone not named Favre who plays QB, give the Vikings a call. I will be back next week with the next episode of True Blood. This is Cory, keep watching.

The 411: The reveals in this episode were good, not Earth-shattering, but a good start. The multiple little things that this episode featured (Jessica and Hoyt, Arlene's date-rape confession, Lafayette getting his groove back, and Andy's quest) were a great way to advance all of the little sub-plots they have been weaving, and when you throw in all of the Bill and Lorena plotlines as well the Fellowship finally having a solid direction and purpose, you have a really good episode...good enough to make you want to see what Godrick is going to do next.

Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]