The 411 True Blood Review - Episode 8: 'The Fourth Man in the Fire'

Posted by Marilyn Yang on 10.28.2008

This week's episode is a much better follow up to last week's. Lots of things happen. Someone has sex, and for once it's not Jason. We see the uglier side of Amy and the better side of Tara's mom. Eric returns, and there's a surprise guest star.

This week's episode begins with a long recap, followed by Sookie running up to see if one of the bodies from the house fire last episode is Bill's. We don't know, because apparently vampire bodies are liquified bloody messes if exposed to fire. Open credits.

Sookie leaves the alleged vampire nest, and is in the kitchen trying to reach Bill. She tries to clean up the dirty footprints she's tracked in, and has a flashback of cleaning up Gran's blood off the kitchen floor. Meanwhile, Tara's mom is up early getting rid of the alcohol in the house. (She calls it "the devil's juice.") She's even cooked breakfast for Tara. Jason is in post-coital bliss with his newest V provider Amy. Amy wants to get to know Jason, and thinks he's extraordinary. Jason doesn't want her to leave. (I consider this character development for him.) Surprise, they didn't actually have sex, they just had an orgasmic experience on V together.

Cut to Sookie in the kitchen on a cleaning spree. Tara barges in still shocked that her grandma cooked breakfast. She didn't know Sookie had sex with Bill, and freaks out over the bite marks on Sookie's neck. They get into a fight (Sookie's mad at Tara for not asking how she's doing, Tara is mad at Sookie for Bill and various reasons). Tara storms off.

Jason is still hanging out with Amy, who is out of V. Jason wants to have not-sex with Amy again. This is an interesting direction for Jason to take, in my opinion. Jason doesn't want to have sex any more, so it seems like he's less of a manwhore than in all the previous episodes, but now he's a V addict. He even tells Amy about how his parents died in a flash flood, even though he admits he doesn't like talking about it. Jason also admits that he sometimes feels that if he were a better kid, he could have watched Sookie on his own. Their parents wouldn't have had to drop them off at Gran's, and wouldn't have been on the bridge when the flash flood came and swept them away. Jason tells Amy about how he got into the huge fight with Sookie after Gran died. He says he's the worse brother in the world, and Amy tries to convince him otherwise. They have a tender moment and kiss. Finally, an entire scene where Jason is being a decent human being.

Cut to Terry (the war veteran) and Sam. Remember, Terry saw Sam running buck naked across the field near the vampire nest that was torched last week. Sam denies it, saying he was working on his car. Terry guesses maybe he's seeing things again, but in the past he only hallucinated insurgents. Terry tells Sam he hates "being like this." They head inside.

It's nighttime now, and raining hard. Sookie lights a candle and makes a bouquet. She brings it to Bill's grave (the one from when it was assumed he died in the Civil War.) A hand grabs Sookie, and she struggles to get away until a voice says, "Sookie." It's Bill. Granted, I'm not surprised that he's not dead, but I am very surprised that he's climbed out of his own grave naked. Sookie realizes Bill's not dead, and they start having sex. Bill's teeth come out to bite Sookie, who says, "Not tonight." Bill bites her anyway. For lack of a better way to put this, I am disturbed.

In the next scene, Jason brings Amy to Merlotte's, and Sookie hasn't shown up for work. Amy has one of her big speeches about the circle of life. Sookie rushes in late, and Sam starts to express what I think would be his condolences for the house fire, except that Sookie gushes to Sam that Bill is alive. Sookie then tells Arlene that she looks great, and she loves Arlene even if she can be a bigot sometimes. I'm starting to think Sookie's really annoying after she has sex with Bill. Last week she goes from being a little prudish to telling the whole bar that she had sex with Bill (and it was great), and this week things are still great to Sookie even though Bill bit her again (against her wishes), and Arlene was the one who blabbed about Sookie and Bill the first time they had sex. Of all people, Sookie is telling Rene (Arlene's boyfriend) and I think one of the rednecks from last week about how Bill was alive and sleeping in his grave to stay safe, and stuff about fangbangers. She runs her mouth and ignores the food orders that are ready for so long, a new waitresses serves everything. The new waitress turns out to be Amy. Sookie isn't happy to see her. Arlene is impressed with Amy, and tells Sam he might have found Dawn's replacement. Sookie tells Jason he might have, too.

Cut to Tara, who is amazed by the cleaning laundry hanging out to dry. Her mom comes back from church with a friend. Both try to get Tara to start going back to church. Tara yells at them and uses profane language. The ladies talk about demons. Tara is still predictable in that we know she'll go ballistic on at least one person per episode. Oh, and she already yelled at Sookie earlier, too.

Back at Merlotte's, Arlene's babysitter has fallen through. Terry likes kids, but Arlene is reluctant to have him babysit without a "lady friend" with him. Terry hasn't had a lady friend since he's come back from Iraq. Things feel a little awkward as Arlene tells Terry he can talk to her, and Terry tells Arlene he likes her company and her clavicles. Amy and Sookie are cleaning tables. Sookie is amazed that Amy makes jewelry. Sookie tells Amy that Jason is a dog and will soon leave her for the next girl, and Amy defends Jason. Anyone who has read any of the True Blood reviews (besides this one) knows that I am not a fan of Jason, but Amy does a pretty good job sticking up for him. Sookie agrees to babysit Arlene's kids. Sam is pouring Tru Blood down the sink. Jason's friend who tried Tru Blood an episode or two ago is eating, and tells Tara she looks nice. Tara swears at him. Sam tells Tara to see him in his office, where instead of firing Tara, he starts making out with her. Because she "gets it."

Bill and Sookie are cuddling in bed. Arlene and Rene arrive to drop off the kids. Surprisingly, Rene is okay with Bill being there. Arlene is not, and leaves silver bracelets on her kids.

Tara and Sam are in bed. They get into a fight because Sam mentions that Tara sometimes grunts during sex. Tara yells at Sam and leaves.

Sookie and Bill are babysitting. Bill is good with kids. The kids don't seem bothered at all by the fact that Bill's a vampire. Meanwhile Rene and Arlene are driving back to pick up the kids, and get a flat tire. Really it's a set up, and Rene proposes to Arlene. It's cute. I also like how Arlene asks why he didn't propose at the Red Lobster.

Back at Sookie's, everyone is happy. Apparently Rene will be Arlene's fifth husband. Sookie agrees to be a bridesmaid. Rene suggests maybe Bill and Sookie will be next to get married. There's an awkward silence, and Rene adds, "When it's legal."

The next morning Sookie has a nightmare about Bill cooking her breakfast, and then spontaneously combusting after being exposed to sunlight. She wakes up.

Next, Mike the funeral home director learns that his apprentice Neil died in the house fire. Andy and Bud question Sam about the night the nest of vampires caused trouble at Merlotte's. Sam asks if they have any leads on Maudette, Dawn, and Gran's murders. Andy unconvincingly says they're working on some leads. He and Bud leave to eat a burger at the bar. Andy comes back and asks if Sam's spent time in the woods lately. Sam confesses he comes from a family of naturists/nudists, and runs through the forrest naked once a year in honor of his family.

Lafayette and Tara discuss Tara's mom's exorcism. He makes one of several references to Tara's personal demon. Sam finds out Sookie is taking Vitamin B12, and gets pissed. (Bill recommends she takes it after the first time he has sex with and bites her. I'm not sure how Sam would put two and two together.) Jason and Amy are getting ready to leave, and Amy really needs V.

Bill comes home and uses vampire speed to rush up the stairs after hearing music in the bathroom. He finds Eric (the oldest vampire) naked in his tub. Eric asks Bill, "Do you really think you could keep her to yourself?"

Cut to Jason and Amy. They're following Lafayette around for his V source. Amy knows way too much about how to follow someone. Where's Lafayette going? Lafayette's V source is named Eddie, a gay vampire played by Stephen Root (aka Milton, from Office Space.) They exchange V for sex.

Bill and Sookie pull up to Fangtasia. Sookie's not happy about it. They have to be there as long as Eric wants them. Sookie tells Bill about her nightmare. Bill explains that the sun would weaken him, but he wouldn't burst into flames. At least, not right away.

Tara goes to the trailer of the woman who did her mom's exorcism.

Andy is on the phone with a nudist colony, which has no record of Sam's family.

Back at Fangtasia, it turns out Eric has summoned Sookie for her telepathic abilities. He suspects the accountant has been embezzling. Sookie agrees to help Eric if he promises to turn in the guilty one directly to the police. She actually says, "I'll do anything you want," which I think is a bad choice of words. She clears Bruce the accountant of any wrongdoing.

Lafayette leaves Eddie's. Amy and Jason pull up into Eddie's driveway. Jason gets Eddie to open the door, and Amy throws a bunch of silver all over Eddie to incapacitate him. They kidnap Eddie and throw him in the back of the truck.

Sookie is reading the mind of the last human being questioned at Fangtasia. And the big surprise ending is.... The embezzler is not a human, it's the bartender/vampire Longshadow. He leaps of the bar and is about to sink his teeth into Sookie. End credits.

The 411: This episode met my expectations after the disappointment of last week's "Burning House of Love." There does seem to be a pattern of slower episode followed by faster-paced episode. I'm actually happy with the development of Jason as more than comic relief or an excuse for gratuitous nudity and sex. (Eggplant penis, anyone?) I originally thought I'd like Tara a lot, but her character can only do "angry" and "yell." I'm getting pretty weary of her plotline, since there are still plenty of other characters with interesting stories and a lot less fake twang. On that note, there are way too many details to cover with all the supporting characters on the show, so in the future expect less details.

Final Score:  7.5   [ Good ]