Recap 311 True Blood: “Fresh Blood”

Eric: “You know I love you more when you’re cold and heartless.”

So Eric did have a plan. Unfortunately, it involves sacrificing himself in order to take out Russell, revenge his family, and incidentally, save the world from a vampire Hitler. You know, I’ve never been one of those fans who says that if a certain character dies, I’m not watching any more. But if Eric dies the true death in the True Blood season finale, my departure is a distinct possibility.

I’m going to proceed under the assumption that Eric will survive somehow, and that Russell will not. Hey, maybe Sookie will save Eric after Bill manages to save her. Or maybe Eric will burn less quickly than Russell. Didn’t Godric say that he was so old he would go quickly? And yes, I adore Russell and I’d love it if he hung around being deadly and megalomaniacal and really funny forever, but the Big Bad usually dies in the season finale. It’s in the job description.

Eric bids Pam farewell

I loved seeing Eric experience the sun for the first time in a thousand years. I also liked that Eric enlisted Bill in his plan, and that Eric and Bill both kept trying to impress upon Russell that Sookie was the world’s one and only fairy blood dispenser. Eric’s brave farewell to Pam, and her tears as she watched him walk into the sunlight — just lovely. Eric and Pam have become the reasons I watch True Blood, and I mean that.

Where is all this witch stuff going? Did the V release something evil in Jesus? (When Lafayette suddenly saw him wearing that mask, I jumped out of my chair.) Is Holly as pure in intent as she seems? I was getting flashes of Miss Jeanette during that scene in the woods. The thing with Arlene’s baby is weirding me out, too. Are we dealing with a Rosemary’s Baby situation in the making? I hate evil baby plots, by the way.

Sam is taking “no more Mister Nice Guy” to heart, and clearly doesn’t realize how much people love him. I did feel bad for Tommy, who just lost his first real parent. And Tara’s reaction to both Andy Bellefleur’s confession and Sam’s tirade was unexpected. I like Sam and Tara as a couple and I think they could be good for each other, but is that really where the story is going? It’s hard to tell where Tara’s head is at these days; she’s just been through too much trauma.

I’ve had little interest in Crystal so far, but forced to breed with her half brother? Poor thing. But she just doesn’t feel like good news for Jason. Jason doesn’t choose his girlfriends wisely, anyway. And I’m starting to wonder if Hoyt is making a mistake as well. I’ve been all yay Hoyt and Jessica, but letting her bite him might be a serious mistake, considering her control issues. One little lesson with Pam isn’t going to do that much.

I really should have enjoyed the Bill/Sookie fantasy in the car about a normal life in the ‘burbs, but I think I’m just too tired of them as a couple. Enough already. Do I need to repeat my mantra about banging my head against the wall if Bill and Sookie are still a couple at the end of the season?

Bits and pieces:

— Pam was using silver spray, a vampire form of pepper spray. Sookie should stock up.

— Eric’s ring tone for Pam is “Ain’t We Got Fun.”

— Ginger was back again and screaming. I like Ginger. She’s a hoot.

— Arlene got a scene where she was covered with blood, just like everyone else in the cast.

— Holly used salt in her ritual. Salt is used a lot for protection on my other favorite show, Supernatural.

— Yvetta stole all of Eric’s money. Tommy stole all of the Sam’s money. Maybe Tommy and Yvetta should get together somewhere, way out of town, pool their money, and catch a plane for Rio or something.

Kitch and Jason face off

— What’s with the Kitch stuff? It’s probably going to be about the coach giving the kids V. Maybe busting a criminal like that will get Jason on the force? (This particular plot reminds me of the creature from the black lagoon take-off on Buffy called “Go Fish.” Once, twice, three times a fish guy.)

— So Maxine was behind Summer seducing Hoyt. Not a surprise. And that was just part one of their Evil Plan. I hope part two doesn’t involve staking Jessica.

— “Suckers suck. Die, fangers!” Graffiti spraypainted on Fangtasia.

— Before the episode, HBO aired “In Memoriam”, a montage showing all of the characters that have died up until this point. Very Academy Awards-like, except for the spraying fountains of blood and slomo flying body parts. Truly funny, even though it ended sadly with Gran and Godric.

Quotes:

Bill: “I am older and stronger. You are no match for me.”
Pam: “This is not just about your relationship, you infatuated tween.”
Point goes to Pam.

Eric: “Apparently, you wanted my father’s crown for your vast collection of meaningless shit.”

Eric: “You would be invulnerable. If I’m wrong? Kill me tomorrow.” Very Scheherezade. It worked, too.

Arlene: “I’ve got the body of a tired teenager.”

Russell: “Your country is dying to be conquered.”
Sookie: “You don’t know much about America.”

Jason: “I saw a boy there once. He was making awful noises and chewing on something dead.”
Crystal: “That’s my double cousin Buford. He ain’t right, but he never hurt nobody.”

I hate getting a cliffhanger right before a two-week break, don’t you? Three out of four infatuated tweens, and let’s try to hang in there until the finale on September 12,

Billie Doux
who hangs out at BillieDoux.com

By the way, I’m loving each and every comment and thanks to everyone and I know it’s hard to resist, but PLEASE — no book spoilers in the comments, or I’ll have to delete them. Thanks!