Sookie (Anna Paquin) is adjusting to her "stepmother" role to rebellious vampire Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll), although I'm getting more of a sisterly vibe given their age-gap. Jessica appears to have been toned down from the little hellraiser she appeared to be, and confides in Sookie that she's feeling homesick (her parents are on TV, believing their daughter's been kidnapped) and wants Sookie to drive her home so she can be close to them. I knew we'd get to this storyline sooner or later, but I'm still a little confused about why the vampire subculture insists newly-bitten vamps sever all ties to their former, human life. In a world where the existence of vampires is accepted, why do the vamps have to keep these transformations a secret? If vamps want to be regular citizens, it doesn't make a lot of sense that newcomers to their race have to relinquish their former identities.
Elsewhere, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) travels to a Light Of Day retreat aboard a bus of likeminded, brainwashed anti-vampire Christians. He quickly becomes a star pupil, winning a "capture the flag" game for his team, and later impressing Reverend Newlin (Michael McMillian) and his wife Sarah (Anna Camp) during a role-playing scenario that ends with him snapping an flagpole into a makeshift stake after Sarah pretends to be a vampire. Right now, Jason's spellbound by a sense of acceptance and respect from these people, but there are signs that he's unsure about the Children Of Light's philosophy. It's an interesting storyline that should develop well (especially now his roommate Luke is jealous of Jason's "golden boy" status), even if I'm not convinced Jason would find this Christian community an immediately appealing lifestyle -- with its Christian pop gigs and silver membership rings. Mind you, Jason's always been written as a beefcake with no muscle between his ears.Back in Bon Temps, we get more development with Maryann (Michelle Forbes), who arrives at Merlotte's and immediately unsettles Sam (Sam Trammell). Her mood appears to infect those around her, as she starts dancing with patrons and her upbeat temperament spreads like wildfire. Even Andy (Chris Bauer), a staunch party-pooper, gets caught up in the impromptu shindig. So, it would appear that Maryann can either influence people's behaviour or just has a very infectious disposition. Her power requires plenty of fuel, too, as her multiples food orders from her table attest -- not to mention that abundance of fruit back at her mansion. She also proves she can force shape-shifter Sam to transform into his canine form by quivering her body, and Sookie hears her thinking in an incomprehensible language when she meets her for the first time.
Over at Eric's (Alexander Skarsgård), we discover that Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is being held in a dungeon below the vampire sheriff's business. It's still not really clear why Eric kidnapped him, but it feels likely he's just the unfortunate victim of Eric replenishing his pantry with fresh food. Anyway, Lafayette proves resourceful in escaping from the dungeon using a metal hip-joint he digs out of a dismembered leg to jimmy his chain, but he doesn't get far after he's shot by a waitress tasked with keeping him imprisoned while the vamps sleep. Later, in desperation over his situation, Lafayette suggests to Eric that he be made a vampire, promising that he'd be a fine addition to the Fangtasia staff...
In small subplots: Tara (Rutina Wesley) grows closer to Eggs (Mehcad Eggs), even after he comes clean about his nefarious past as a drug-dealer and armed robber, before being asked to move in with Sookie; and Bill goes shopping for more appropriate clothes for his "daughter" Jessica, where he's approached by Eric and asked to let mind-reading Sookie help investigate into a prominent vampire's disappearance.Overall, "Keep This Party Going" didn't hook me into this new season, as too much is being kept vague right now, intentionally or otherwise. Right now, I'm enjoying the Jessica storyline because it's interesting to see the after-effects of a sassy teenager being made a vampire against their will, the Jason storyline is an amusing pastiche of religious retreats, and I'm eager to see exactly what Maryann's doing in Bon Temps and how far her powers extend. Is she grooming Eggs and Tara for something, or is Eggs already complicit in whatever she has planned for the unlucky barmaid? Does Sam understand what Maryann's all about from personal experience, or does he just know she's bad news?
21 June 2009
HBO, 9pm
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), Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette), Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler), Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman), Mehcad Brooks (Eggs) & Michael McMillian (Rev. Steve Newlin)
