(S02E01) "I think I've seen enough dead bodies to last me a lifetime." - Sookie to Sam
Have I mentioned how excited I am to have True Blood back? Yeah, I think so. At least 43 times around the Web. And tonight's season two premiere did not disappoint. It was everything Stephen Moyer said it would be when I talked to him last week -- dark, sexy, mysterious and bloody good.
For those of you who need time to catch up with your Tivo, I'll keep this front part unspoiled. But I won't be giving anything away by saying that they tied seasons one and two together very nicely. Some of the questions we had from season one are answered. Some are not.
Before I go any further, I have to mention how cool it is to realize that Chris Bauer, who plays Andy Bellefleur in True Blood, also played Frank Sobotka in The Wire, which I'm now now reviewing in Jane After Dark. I'm seeing all of these people I know from other shows (like Lance Reddick from Fringe). Anyway, I digress...
During the first part of this episode, I kept thinking how hen-picked Bill seemed, with Sookie whining about how he hadn't told her about turning Jessica (to save Sookie, mind you). I guess I can see Sookie's point, especially when she said, "I've shared every dark horrible corner of my life with you. What makes you think i couldn't handle yours? I'm a lot stronger than you think." Still, Bill's a fairly mysterious character and he hasn't had a true love for 140 years, so he might be a little rusty on how the whole thing works.
But I guess it turned out alright since they ended their little spat by having hot, bloody sex (or is that bloody good sex? Either way...).
So now we know the body in the car wasn't Lafayette. It was Miss Jeanette, the fake exorcist that set Tara's mom on the path to righteousness. But now we've got another mystery on our hands. Who would rip her heart out and leave her body in the backseat of Andy's car? Andy seems to think Tara had something to do with it, and who could blame her really? Miss Jeanette did scam her and her mother in the fake exorcism (even though her mom thinks it was the real thing).
Personally, I think it's got something to do with MaryAnn. She is one freaky chick/demon/??? with her endless supply of tropical fruit, and now we know a little more about her past with Sam. As a 17-year-old, he wandered into her home in puppy form and ended up in bed with her, then stole a bunch of stuff, including cash. I guess he wanted to clean the slate by giving back all of her cash in this episode. She doesn't appear to need it, but I suppose he doesn't want to be indebted to her in any way.
Then there's the thing about Maryann trying to hook up her other house guest with Tara, then going all crazy when her houseboy interrupted their lip-lock at the pool. She sure seemed smug when they kissed at the bar, though, with Sam looking on. What do you think her deal is? Trying to get Sam back?
And there's always the thought that Jessica might have something to do with the body in Andy's car. She IS all giddy about her newfound vampirism, after all.
Bill (referring to Sookie): "I'm gonna have a guest coming over shortly."
Jessica: "Can we eat her?"
Bill: "You may not."
So Jason is turning to religion, enough to make him want to join The Fellowship of the Sun church and bow at Rev. Steve Newlan's feet. And he got the "sign from God" to do the training -- the inheritance Sookie gave him from Uncle Bartlett, since she didn't want anything to do with it because of Uncle Bartlett's sicko-ness when she was a little girl. We'll see how Bill's killing him plays out.
That whole storyline is sort of true-to-life, with Newlan and Nan Flanagan of the American Vampire League going head to head on TV, then Mrs. Newlan telling her husband, "You could be governor of Texas if you play your cards right." So typical of so many public figures on TV these days. I'm sure there's a sex scandal in Steve's future.
The scenes in the dungeon really threw me for a loop, especially after we learned that Eric is behind it, seeking answers "in regards to a fire that claimed three of our kind." I'm not sure why Lafayette and Terry Bellefleur are being held, though. Well, maybe Terry, but not Lafayette. Though even in their chains, they still managed to have a funny exchange: Lafayette says he got in trouble for "punching out three stupid rednecks at the bar," and Terry apologized for hassling him about being gay, not to mention the whole "my ass is magnetic" story.
So what did you think of this episode, fellow True Blooders? Are you loving it? Was it everything you dreamed it would be? Spill it (not your blood, just your thoughts) in the comments below!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-15-2009 @ 3:34AM
Mike Rogus said...
Lafayette is in the dungeon because the vampire that Jason and his now dead girlfriend bled dry was the one that he was getting his "V" from. The vamps knew about Lafayette's arrangement and probably assume he did it or is connected to those that did.
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6-15-2009 @ 6:04AM
Kristie said...
Terry is not the guy in the dungeon with Lafayette. It was actually the guy in Merlotte's that told Lafayette he did not want an aids burger.
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6-15-2009 @ 9:03AM
Richard said...
Don't you think Bill had something to do with Miss Jeanette's murder... 2 weeks earlier Bill was burnt up by the sun and when he came back he told Sookie he had fed. On who?.... When they found Miss Jeanette's body they said the rigor mortise had set in 2 weeks ago.
I agree with Mike Rogus on why Lafayette is in the dungeon.... That's what I thought...
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6-15-2009 @ 10:01AM
Zoe said...
You obviously didn't hear that quite right because if she'd been dead for two weeks with that gaping hole in her chest she would literally be rotting by now.
6-15-2009 @ 11:01AM
Tanahy said...
If Bill had fed on Miss Jeanette, he wouldn't rip her heart out! He would just feed.
6-19-2009 @ 9:46AM
DebbieJean said...
I don't think Bill took Miss Jeanette's heart. What I wonder about is Sam, the shape shifter. Could there be another Shape-shifter in the picture that we don't know about yet?
6-15-2009 @ 8:58AM
mel said...
god, i should write this review, this person obviously does not watch the show. maryann was mad at the houseboy for interrupting when they were going to kiss, that's why she slapped him, and what everyone else says lafayette was dealing V.
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6-15-2009 @ 9:08AM
laura said...
The whole show , i was asking myself "where is my eric?" and when he showed up with FOILS in his hair I died laughing. perfect entrance for someone so manly and sexy!
I loved the season two premiere, I was hoping they would keep lafayette around, and was glad when they did although him ending up in a dungeon was out of left field! he is obviously there because of the man that Jasons girlfriend killed. and i cannot see them keeping him around just to have Eric and Pam and Chow kill him.
I cant stand Maryanns character, i cant stand the shaking effect when she goes all otherworldly, its the only part of this show that is cheesy to me.
I predict Jason will end up with reverend newlands little woman by the end of this season......because cmon....its jason!!
So glad to have trueblood back!
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6-15-2009 @ 9:26AM
Vern said...
I loved Eric in Foils too! Hubba Hubba! What a Hottie!
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6-15-2009 @ 9:38AM
craig said...
I thought the season premiere was weak, poorly written, and actors just going through the motions. Every episode from season 1 was much more intense and interesting than last nights debacle. Sookie's endless whining and complaining is becoming intolerable and I wish Bill would just turn her and get it over with.
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6-15-2009 @ 10:07AM
Cyn said...
I think Eric is making the dungeon people atone for their crimes against vampires. All chained up earned their spot. Yes, Eric is a hottie. Sookie should take a little ntaste of Eric......Can't figure out what MaryAnn is?
Greast season premiere......
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6-15-2009 @ 10:36AM
lo82070 said...
1. Your opening quote, I believe, was said by Sam to Sookie, not the other way around.
2. The guy in the dungeon with Lafayette is Royce Williams, or "Head Redneck who Didn't Like His AIDS Burger and Burned His Arm While Burning Down a House Full o' Vampires".
Other than those two points of order, I agree that it was a good episode to introduce season two. It brought the funny with Eric's hair foils, Bill's stern dad lectures, and Jason's "Your book has really made me....uh...think!" And MaryAnn is creepy and vibraty and probably all-around bad, but her verbal smackdown of Lettie Mae was super awesome.
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6-15-2009 @ 11:17AM
Sarahbellzz said...
Terry Bellefluer was the cook in the kitchen who paid for the beers, if you read the books, you know Maryann is a maened, And it's Steve & sarah Newlin.not newlan or however you spelled it. I was happy with the premier but a little dissapointed in the plot changes from "living dead in dallas"
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6-15-2009 @ 11:19AM
Tim said...
I'm glad to see that Lafayette isn't dead after all! I was worried that Nelsan Ellis and Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur) would be written out for the second season to focus on the other characters.
Remember in season 1, Lafayette had a milking... err... draining partnership with consenting vampire Eddie Gaultier for V- which led Jason and his girlfriend to kidnapping Eddie for a ready-access supply. Unfortunately for everybody else, Amy staked him. I think that will eventually have repercussions for Jason...
As leader of the local vampires, Eric is trying to figure out who kill the vampires- both Eddie and the nest under his watch. Remember in episode 7 "Burning House of Love", when the vampire nest that was burned down, killing the nasty vampires Malcolm, Liam, Daphne and fangbanger Neil Jones? The organizer of that vigilantism was Chuck, the redneck who most notably got an AIDS burger from Lafayette in episode 5 "Sparks Fly Out". This is the same guy who is keeping company with Lafayette in "Nothing But the Blood".
Terry Bellefleur is the cook who came out and threw out the rude customers who were gossiping about Rene Lenier/Drew Marshall in front of Arlene. In the books, he has a bit of a thing for Arlene, so I wouldn't be surprised to see this get developed.
Your comment about Bill seeming henpecked may be somewhat accurate: this is a vampire who apparently has been out of touch with his emotions (and others feelings) 140 years... It must be disconcerting for him to have to learn to be considerate again.
I suspect Maryann may be an amalgramation of several characters, and her powers seem to be related to a maenad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maenad) - which would fit, although in the books (I've only read the first two), Callisto the maenad was more wild and natural. And violent.
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6-15-2009 @ 11:35AM
Joe said...
I bit and I bit hard on this episode. I thought the first episode was great. The whole Lafayette in a dungeon was just plain awesome and scary. This episode set us up for a great season. I can't wait!
http://www.joeonthetube.com
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6-15-2009 @ 12:32PM
Brian said...
Not to be pervy, but that sex scene was HOT!
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6-15-2009 @ 12:37PM
Courtney said...
It's very hard for me to seperate the books from the show...I find myself constantly comparing the two. I love the show, love the books but Lafayette was supposed to be in the car not the voodoo woman...so no telling where this series is headed. I don't like seeing Eric that "bad"...(tearing that guy's limbs off - NOT Terry) His evilness was only implied in the books, making him a lot more mysterious, but he's still great eye candy and I can't wait until we see more of him on screen.
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6-15-2009 @ 1:17PM
Lisa said...
I find myself doing the exact same thing...comparing the books and the show, though i realize that we can and must enjoy them as two separate entities. Last night's episode, though amazing in it's own right, strayed far from the book's story lines, which leaves me wondering how and if the writers of the show even intend to keep/make them similar. But, to me, it doesn't really matter, just curious.
6-15-2009 @ 1:51PM
rocio17 said...
New season is off to a great start! Was not disappointed with it at all-totally loved the "father/daughter" moments with Bill & Jessica-funny! Best part of the show-HOT love scene with Bill & Sookie-WOW!!! I want more! Cant wait for the next episode...
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6-15-2009 @ 2:51PM
Midnight13 said...
Great episode. "True Blood" is really filling the void in way of vamp television. When I first saw this show I was worried it would get too doomed romance with the whole Bill/Sookie relationship and that them being the main characters won't really see much in the sex/nudity department. When in fact in this short time we've seen more of them then anyone else. Anna Paquin fanboys (and fangirls) must be loving this. The premire was everything the promos promised, looking forward to the rest.
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