The most fascinating pair are hunky dimwit Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and wholesome Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp), the hot wife of religious leader Reverend Newlin (Michael McMillian), whom Jason secretly fancies. After a few episodes of flirtatious behaviour, Sarah finally shows her hand, sneaking into Jason's bathroom and offering to bathe him, before relieving his sexual tension with a hand-job, after comparing this "reward" to Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus. It seems that she's hiding behind her faith somewhat, but Jason is clearly awakening feelings her devout husband has stifled. Meanwhile, Jason's being written as a Christ figure for the Newlins' cause, here impressing a hard-ass drill instructor who beasts the church's recruits and comes to note Jason's leadership qualities when he helps his exhausted nemesis Luke scale a fence during training.We also have the blossoming relationship between vamp Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Hoyt (Jim Parrack), even if they're separated by distance and Jessica has to make-do with a phone call from her Dallas hotel to Bon Temps. Hey, the girl doesn't even bat an eyelid when mummy's boy Hoyt decides to describe the comic-book he's reading to her, so it must be love. It's also very sweetly played by both young actors -- particularly Woll, who ensures that Jessica isn't a one-note, fanged brat, but a complex and sympathetic teenager dealing with extraordinary circumstances. Plucked from her family's bosom, rapidly developing sexually, grappling with her murderous impulses, having to from a relationship with her "surrogate father" Bill, all in addition to the normal teen growing pains.
At Bon Temps, Sam (Sam Trammell) and waitress Daphne (Ashley Jones) grow closer, helped by the fact Daphne reveals she's a shape-shifter just like him. He now has someone he can be himself with and share his secret with, and that proves to be a strong foundation as their relationship quickly develops. Sam still hasn't asked about the slash marks on her back, but I'm beginning to think that Daphne may actually be one of Maryann's (Michelle Forbes) aides and is just following orders in her pursuit of Sam -- willingly, or not. Considering the fact Daphne's a "shifter", she could be Maryann's mysterious pet pig, no?
While Sam has found a kindred spirit in Daphne, so too does Sookie with nervous bellboy Barry at the Hotel Camilla, a young man who shares her telepathic abilities but is vehemently against using his power. He even turns down Sookie's offer to help him control the whirlwind of voices cluttering his head. Unlike Sookie, Barry views his gift as an unfortunate curse and fears being utilized by vampire-kind in the same way Sookie has allowed herself to be. By the end of this episode, Barry has even decided to resign from his position just to escape Sookie's unwanted attention.
Less engrossing is the humdrum romance of Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Eggs (Mehcad Brooks), who moves into the Stackhouse residence with Maryann, both claiming that the owner of their luxury mansion has returned from overseas and they're now homeless. Tara is understandably unnerved that her new friends have invited themselves to stay in a home she herself is a guest in, so asks them to leave. Maryann later manages to change Tara's mind, by using her ability to influence peoples' moods to ensure Tara has a stressful night behind the bar at Merlotte's, thus making her realize how much more relaxed and easygoing Maryann and Eggs are. This subplot appears to confirm that Eggs isn’t a victim of Maryann's manipulations like Tara, as his behaviour seems to be that of someone cleverly influencing Tara's behaviour, too. Why else wouldn't he think it's weird to invite yourself to stay in someone else's home? To what end are Maryann and Eggs interested in Tara, I still don't know. But I hope we get some movement on this mystery soon, before I stop caring.
Finally, it's revealed that Eric's (Alexander Skarsgård) concern for missing vampire leader Godric (Allan Hyde) is because Godric is his "maker", as revealed in a fun flashback to 1000 A.D, where a mortal Eric and two fellow Vikings are attacked by said vampire. Godric, impressed by Eric after witnessing his prowess on the battlefield, offers the dying Viking the chance for immortality, before biting down on the dying warrior's jugular. In the present, Sookie decides the best way to find Godric is go undercover at the Fellowship Of The Sun and mind-read for clues to his whereabouts. Will Sookie discover that her brother's becoming one of the bigoted church's shining lights while she's there?John Dahl, most famous for directing The Last Seduction, proves himself particularly adept at handling this episode's sexier moments. The Jason/Sarah bath tub sex act, the Sam/Daphne pool table foreplay (complete with eye-rolling puns), and scenes of Sookie/Bill together in bed, all crackled with a sexual energy the show doesn't always achieved. But there was a perfect mix here, helped by the chemistry between each on-screen couple. Nancy Oliver's script was also good, even though this season feels less cohesive than last year's because the various storylines have yet to be pulled together.
19 July 2009
HBO, 10pm
written by: Nancy Oliver directed by: John Dahl starring: Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse), Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton), Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte), Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton), Anna Camp (Sarah Newlin), Michelle Forbes (Maryann), Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette), Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler), Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman), Mehcad Brooks (Eggs), Ashley Jones (Daphne), Jim Parrack (Hoyt Fortenberry), Michael McMillian (Rev. Steve Newlin), Allan Hyde (Godric), Ed Quinn (Stan) & Valerie Cruz (Isabel)
