As the Chicago flashbacks attest, there was a time when Bill and Lorena were infatuated killers. Here they're seen propositioning a sophisticated couple with the promise of a foursome in a plush hotel room, then proceed to slaughter them in front of each other. The scene in question is perhaps True Blood's most vicious and sadistic; a coldhearted double murder that makes you reassess Bill somewhat. Has the leopard really changed its spots these days, now the existence of vampires is known? And if so, will the reappearance of Lorena reawaken old habits in him?
Sookie herself has agreed to infiltrate the Fellowship Of The Sun to search for missing ubervampire Godric, and finds herself partnered with the human lover of vampire Isabel (Valerie Cruz) -- a kindly man called Hugo (Christopher Gartin), who poses as Sookie's fiancé and gives her some advice as the human half of a mixed-species relationship. Sookie and Hugo travel to the church on the pretense of searching for the perfect wedding venue, where they meet the effervescent Sarah (Anna Camp) and Reverend Newlin (Michael McMillian). However, there's an unexpected twist when Sookie's mindreads the Newlin's and realizes they're aware of their undercover mission and plan to imprison them beneath the church.A ray of hope burns in Sarah, who is beginning to have second thoughts over her husband's spiritual mission and confides in Jason (Ryan Kwanten) that the "Soldiers Of The Sun" are being groomed for offensive, not defensive purposes. A war is brewing between humans and vampires, with Steve Newlin willing to break the uneasy co-existence that currently exists. Jason, who has spent the day building a platform intended to sacrifice a vampire (assumedly Godric), has his eyes opened by Sarah's confession, and seems likely to be the one helping Sarah rescue his sister. As demonstrated in last week's bath tub scene, the chemistry between Camp and Kwanten is palpable and their scenes together really sizzle. Camp herself is superb as the smiley, conflicted subordinate of her hubbie's anti-fang cult.
Back at Bon Temps, a broken water heater at the Stackhouse residence means Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Eggs (Mehcad Brooks) are sent into town for a spare part, only for Eggs to develop a curious sense of déjà vu on the road. Ordering Tara to pull over at a diner he recognises, they trek through the forest for a few miles until Eggs discovers an abandoned campsite that was evidently the scene of a struggle and bloodshed. It seems likely Eggs was abducted by Maryann as a backpacker and has been given false memories to keep him loyal?
The relationship between Sam (Sam Trammell) and Daphne (Ashley Jones) grows stronger, leading to the pair ditching work to shape-shift and frolic outside in the woods together in the guise of a pig and a dog (yes, my prediction that Daphne will be Maryann's mysterious hog is proven correct). That in turn leads us to the episode's big climax. Tara and Eggs return home to find Maryann (Michelle Forbes) presiding over a mass orgy outside of black-eyed "victims", her body quivering in the midst of the ritual, as dreams keep a beat and a follower places a bull-shaped mask over her head. Tara and Eggs are unable to resist joining the debauchery, as Daphne and some followers grab hold of Sam and drag him towards Maryann, assumedly as the shape-shifting victim Maryann's always coveted. Indeed, perhaps the ritual sacrifice of a "shifter" will endow Maryann will transformative powers herself, enabling her to become the bull-headed God her people worship? We've seen her hands morph into hooves already, but maybe she needs the blood of a shifter for a full body change? But if so, why not just kill shifter Daphne? Does she need a male?Some smaller subplots round out this brilliant episode: Hoyt (Jim Parrack) goes against his mother's orders to travel all the way to Dallas to surprise Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) in her hotel room, in a brief scene that once again evokes a surprising level of affection for these characters and their puppy love; Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) has developed a form of post-traumatic stress over his captivity in Fangtasia's dungeon, so isn't best pleased when he's ordered by Eric's minion Pam (Kristin Bauer) to start dealing in "V" again; and, finally, Lorena pounces on Bill on his hotel bed, overpowering him and preventing him from rushing to Sookie's rescue when he senses her distress.
"Hard-Hearted Hannah" is the halfway point of the season and Brian Buckner's script felt like we'd reached the apex of a hill in preparation for a high-speed roll down the other side. The really great thing about True Blood right now is how all of its subplots are entertaining and even the weaker ones feel like they’ll develop into something interesting (like why Lafayette's being asked to push "V" again.) It's also notable how much the supporting characters are beginning to overshadow the ostensible leads of Sookie and Bill, but in a way that doesn't feel unfortunate or unfair. I actually welcome it. It surprises me just how invested I feel in fairly minor storylines like Jessica and Hoyt's sweet romance, mainly because those actors really sell the emotions.My only concern right now is that the season appears to have shown its cards, as this episode finally expanded on the mysteries that have informed the year so far (Maryann, Daphne), or has taken away some ambiguity (the Newlin's). There are still questions that need answers and details to learn, but this episode definitely existed to spin the show into a new direction. Hopefully that means we'll get six episodes of pay-off to these six episodes of careful build-up. Is Godric in that basement with Sookie and Hugo? Will Bill escape Lorena? Will Jason rescue his sister with the help of Sarah? Will Sam be sacrificed by Maryann's clan? What happened to Eggs in the past? Where is Jessica and Hoyt's relationship headed? What is Eric up to?
All are questions I'm eager to see answered, as True Blood stakes itself in my heart as the show I'm most looking forward to every week...
26 July 2009
HBO, 10pm
written by: Brian Buckner directed by: Michael Lehmann 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), Valerie Cruz (Isabel), Dale Raoul (Maxine Fortenberry), Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur), Mariana Klaveno (Lorena), Kristin Bauer (Pam), Patricia Bethune (Jane Bodehouse), Skoti Collins (Orgy Vampire), Christopher Gartin (Hugo), Camille Langfield (Blood Hooker), Todd Lowe (Terry Bellefleur), Kim McKean (Flapper) & Mary Portser (Bonita Lou)
