Director: Anthony Hemingway
Spoilers. A gruesome and funny episode from writer Brian Buckner, who maintains the pulp grasp on True Blood that his earlier episode "Escape From Dragon House" also delivered. In something of a recurring motif, last week's climax is wrapped-up quickly -- as Fangtasia barman Longshadow (Raoul Trujillo) attacks Sookie (Anna Paquin) after she reveals he's a thief, only to be staked by Bill (Stephen Moyer), whereby he vomits a geyser of crimson blood all over Sookie and melts into a sticky puddle. How's that for a teaser?As Sookie recovers from her ordeal (resembling Carrie on Prom Night), we begin to realize the seriousness of Bill's action in killing a fellow vampire in front of human witnesses. Murder's murder, and head vamp Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) isn't going to let the matter pass uncommented on. Indeed, Bill is soon facing a vampire tribunal for his crime, much to Sookie's distress.
Elsewhere, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Amy (Lizzy Caplan) have captured Eddie (Stephen Root), the gay vampire loner who's been receiving sexual favours from Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) in return for his narcotic-like blood, and now have him locked up in Jason's basement. Amy is clearly experienced in capturing vamps and draining them of their blood to feed her V habit, although Jason hasn't fully shaken off his morals when it comes to kidnapping -- although the hallucinogenic high of V-sex with Amy is too satisfying for him to speak out. Yet.
Amy herself has effortlessly ingratiated herself with the staff at Merlotte's and her new boyfriend's sister, Sookie. I'm not sure why Sookie hasn't been able to hear Amy's thoughts and learn the truth about her, though -- she either can't (which she'd surely have commented on), or the writers are being forced to ignore Sookie's mind-reading when it comes to keeping secrets that would spoil the story. If so, I can live with it.
Cloverfield actress Lizzy Caplan has been a welcome addition to the series, and not only because she's so uninhibited and willing to do topless sex scenes. Amy is clearly a troubled young woman ("psychotic" as Eddie puts it), but her doe-eyes and spiritual kookiness neatly counterbalance her disrespect for vampires and perversity (check out the scene where she thanks Eddie for his blood, while having sex in front of him.)
I hope we come to learn why Amy's so contemptuous towards vamps, and became such a V junkie in the first place. I'm guessing there's a tragic back-story to be gleamed. And does she genuinely love Jason, or is this all part of some Machiavellian plan for the Stackhouses? Is she the Bon Temps killer, perhaps?
In a weaker subplot, Tara (Rutina Wesley) has now convinced herself she requires an exorcism to end her fear of emotional intimacy with men, but needs $800 to pay for the procedure -- a fee that Sam (Sam Trammell) is happy to pay, if she truly believes it will help.
I particularly liked the mix of horror and humour in this episode, which came across in several neat touches: the shock of the opening anime-style bloody vomit, a decapitated cat tied to a ceiling fan splashing blood on Sookie, Bill playing Wii golf, Eric trying to rustle up some business for Fangtasia while at Merlotte's, etc. And there were some well-written, serious scenes, too -- Jason and Amy on the lawn listening to the "tickled trees", and Eddie telling Jason his sad lifestory in the basement.
We're also given clarity about Sam's abilities, as it's made clear he is the mysterious dog seen watching over Sookie for most of this season. The surprise is missing from the reveal, sadly, but I'm now confused because we saw Sam and the dog together in the same scene awhile back. Does that mean he can shape-shift into an identical dog? While the disclosure of Sam's ability lacked shock-value and merely confirmed long-held suspicions, I'm very interested to hear about the exact nature of his power.
Overall, while "Plaisir D'Amour" didn't progress its plots to an enormous extent, it answered a few long-running questions and nicely set-up the last three episodes (with Bill's tribunal, Eddie's kidnapping, and Tara's exorcism sure to feature heavily.) Again, I'm still frustrated True Blood hasn't instilled a sense of trepidation that a serial-killer is at large (it's barely mentioned inbetween killings), but everything else has been expertly delivered. After nine episodes it remains funny, gory and sexy fun -- well-served by an appealing cast and sharp writing.
2 November 2008
HBO, 9/8c
Cast: Stephen Moyer (Bill), Anna Paquin (Sookie), Michael Raymond-James (Rene Lenier), Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette), Rutina Wesley (Tara), Ryan Kwanten (Jason), Sam Trammell (Sam), Stephen Root (Eddie), Caleb Moody (Royce), Patrick Gallagher (Chow), Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), Lizzy Caplan (Amy Burley), Jeremy Denzlinger (Wayne), Tara Buck (Ginger), Kristin Bauer (Pam), Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur), Adina Porter (Lettie Mae Thornton), Kanin Howell (Chuck) & Raoul Trujillo (Longshadow)
