'True Blood': A great, gory, good time

"I Got a Right to Sing the Blues" is one of the better episodes "True Blood" has ever done, blending the grandly dark drama, the daffy over-the-top humor and the insane twists and turns the show is known for in nearly equal measure. There are a few scenes that don't work as well as they might -- Tara breaking Sookie out of the room where she was imprisoned was awesome in theory but edited a bit confusingly -- but for the most part, this was an episode that revealed the show clicking along on all cylinders. Remember, even as I complain about some things, I thought this was one of the show's top episodes. Now, let's complain about some things!

The Jason and Sam plot lines continue to feel essentially disconnected from everything else, as did the story of Arlene and Jessica dealing with the disgruntled customer. With all of the insanity going on over in Mississippi, with the way the show will occasionally just cut over to Sophie-Anne doing something equally crazy, it sure drags the show down when it returns to Bon Temps and a bunch of story lines that have nothing to do with anything. It's becoming increasingly clear that the theme of the season is staying true to oneself and embracing one's true nature, and I don't mind the ways these stories tie in to that idea. But I do wish that they didn't feel so disconnected from everything else going on. Last season, the two main story lines -- the Newlins and Maenad -- each had elements to keep us invested and tied in all of the characters. If you weren't really feeling the Maenad story line during a certain episode, well, at least Michelle Forbes' performance was reliably goofy and fun (I mean this as praise). This season, if you're not really feeling the Sam story line, there's just nowhere for it to turn. It can't suddenly reveal, out of nowhere, that Marshall Allman is an all-star actor on the level of Denis O'Hare, because he's not.

We got some interesting developments in all of these plots Sunday night -- it sure seems like Sam's family is into something unscrupulous, possibly dog-fighting, and Jason's new lady love is apparently engaged -- but they're all vague on both plot and emotional levels, and they drag when the stuff over in Mississippi moves along like a rocket ship. It's still not immediately clear why, say, Sam is so insistent on finding his family and bonding with them or what the whole deal with Jason's burgeoning cop career is (and just why it needs to be in the show). The problem is that the main plot is moving forward so quickly that we forget it's all happening over the course of a couple of days. Every time we flash back to Bon Temps, it's a reminder that, yeah, time is proceeding at what feels like a snail's pace. It wouldn't be realistic for Jason to abruptly become a deputy, but when the show insists on putting one thing after the other like in real life, it leads to story lines that move forward like molasses.

That said, there was a ton of stuff to enjoy here. Let's start with Franklin and Tara. I've been down on the weird psychodrama between the two in the last few weeks, but I very much enjoyed it this week, as Tara seemingly gave in to his demands because she felt so helpless, then beating in his head to make her escape. The show's been maneuvering Tara to the same position of reclaiming her strength that it maneuvered Sookie to earlier this season, and it's thrilling to watch that strength come spilling out all at once in this episode. Her bid to distract the werewolves with almonds just long enough to give Sookie a chance to smack them around was inspired, and I liked the escape from the mansion, even if the scene with Sookie and Tara beating up the werewolves was chaotically shot and edited, with a poor sense of where everyone was in relation to each other. I also loved Tara trying to get Sookie to leave Bill behind. Do it, Sookie! You're more interesting without him!

Every time I start to question the story line over in Mississippi, something happens to jerk my attention back to the show. It's either Russell tossing out some sort of note-perfect bit of dialogue or some crazy plot twist or some darkly demented scene. I long ago lost interest in the weird relationship between Lorena and Bill, but Sunday night's episode found a way to make it compelling again by putting the two in the same room and having Lorena torture Bill, rather than simply letting him die. The dialogue here, from series mastermind Alan Ball, was refreshingly complex and dark, and it really sank its teeth into the way that these two drive each other to distraction. They need to break from each other -- and the series gave them a way to do so -- but they keep getting drawn back into each other's webs.

But that's what "True Blood" is about, really. It's about how the things that are bad for you can feel so, so good and can end up taking your head out of the game. How much more helpful would Eric be if he weren't obsessed with revenge? How about Sookie, without her strange, continued devotion to Bill? The only person who's playing any sort of long-term game at this point is Russell, and that's why he's absolutely schooling everyone who comes up against him. This state of affairs probably has to change at some point, but in this episode -- which almost felt like a season finale -- Russell is on top of things, perfectly able to strike fear into the hearts of all around him and cunning about his master plans. Not everything works on "True Blood," but the things that are working are working so well that it feels a little uncharitable to complain about certain things. This is Grand Guignol as trash TV, and it's a whole lot of fun in an episode like this.

Some other thoughts:

• Sorry for the lateness. Traveling back from Comic-Con took way, way too long. If you're curious to know what happened at the "True Blood" panel, the Times' Scott Collins has the goods.
• One of my least favorite things "True Blood" does sometimes is compare the struggle of vampires to gain rights to the struggle of gay people to gain rights. It's clearly done as sly satire, but it falls apart if you think about it even a little bit. On "True Blood," lots of vampires are bloodthirsty killers who seem to have a low regard for humanity. It's easy to see why some folks are concerned. Gay people, however, don't need to feast on the blood of humans to live. There are some fun winks to this idea throughout the series -- including in Sunday night's scene in which the vampire debated vampire rights on TV -- but I'm glad it's receded to the background mostly. It's just a silly, facile attempt to make the show seem more cutting-edge and current than it is, and it doesn't make a lick of sense.
• Love the conversation between Russell and Sookie. That's just a very well-written scene of mostly exposition, and Ball pulls off nearly every single line. Tough to do.
• I DID like the trips back to Bon Temps when Lafayette was on camera. I don't know that this story line about his new love interest is the best thing ever, but Nelsan Ellis is so instantly compelling that I don't care so much.
• This episode had SO MUCH BLOOD and viscera. Rare to see the show head that far into splatter movie territory, but it always pulls off its voyages to gore-town when it wants to.
• The only story line I can't fit into that whole "being true to yourself" idea I developed above is Jason's, which just seems completely disconnected from everything. Little help here (preferably sans book spoilers)?
•  O'Hare's delivery of "DO NOT DEFY ME! I AM YOUR KING!" was some marvelous scenery chewing. Again, tough to do.
• Don't forget: I always like your thoughts in comments, in e-mail and on Twitter.
• "I would just love to rip you open and wear your ribcage as a hat."
• "Those are dumped out of a can into a big pot and heated up. I mean, where do you think you are, lady? Red Lobster?"
• "Once, I threw a chain at somebody, and it wrapped around his neck by itself, like that face-crab thing from 'Aliens.'"

--Todd VanDerWerff (follow me on Twitter at @tvoti)

Photo: Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) has a new love interest on "True Blood." Credit: HBO

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Complete Show Tracker "True Blood" coverage

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Comments

[P.F. M.]

Last nights show was terrific. The whole Jason storyline is I believe leading up to what goes on with him in the books. I love both the books and the show. I am glad that Alan Ball and the writers are doing the show their way but are still using the books as a general outline I think.
Just my humble opinion.

[Mathew]

I enjoyed the show, although IMO, they are going a little over the top on the gay theme. No one wants to see two guys kissing (two girls is ok of course ! )

[Brian]

It seems very obvious to me that Crystal is a dog. Remember they were going all hot and heavy and then she just pricked up her head - as if smelling something - and ran off? She's a dog. She's a prized fighting-dog. And so is Sam's brother (as was his mother). So, the homophobes who beat up Lafayette run a dog ring which includes Sam's brother and Crystal. This feels obvious to me. And feels obvious about how these story lines will connect (Sam/Jason/Lafayette's car being smashed, etc) Not meaning to be a spoiler, just meaning to be right. Maybe I'm wrong. Didn't read the books. I just think Crystal is a dog.

That came out wrong. Crystal is beautiful... and in an episode or two, we'll learn that she's actually a dog.

[Billy]

Absolutely LOVED this episode. My boyfriend watches with me and isn't a huge follower. He normally trails off to his computer when the storylines stretch out too long, but this week he was sucked in by the "POW POW POW" of each story.

I agree that the Bon Temps story lines are like "molasses", but they are so perfectly setting up the leading stories of the next season (at least according to the books). They may not seem like much, but they are creating some AMAZING characters that will introduce the new Supes.

I can't hardly wait to see our Mississippi story come to fruition, and start seeing these Bon Temps stories to pick up speed.. and obviously leave us with a huge cliff hanger at the end of the season. :)

[Taryn]

The episode this week was absolutely amazing! I felt like I was watching a movie the entire time, and I was at the edge of my seat 100% of the show. Is anyone else absolutely loving the mind games at play this season? Tara and Franklin, Russell and Eric, Sam and Tommy, even Eric and Sookie...the way they are all messing with eachother's heads is fascinating to the point where I feel like I have absolutely no idea what is real and what isn't and I love it! Loved Tara and Sookie's tag team escape, especially how Tara sent Sookie a mental message to be ready and Sookie took that to mean just stand by the door with a blunt object ready to attack! Perfection.

[Ken]

Mathew, there are gay people in real life, and they kiss (GASP!!). Get over it.

[Liz]

Last nights show was amazing...my only problem: the blatant line stealing from "Buffy"....I mean did the writers really think it was okay to steal that ribcage line?

[Jess]

Brian, you've got the wrong animal. And her story doesn't involve the Mikens. She, and her fiance, will completely change Jason's life.

[TNG]

FYI... Crystal is NOT a dog. I won't give up any book spoilers, but in them, she's not a dog. However, Alan Ball and his creative writing team may find a way to link her and the Hot Shot crew to Sam and his new "family". We'll just have to wait and see.

[Carrie]

Yes, Ken you are right... gay people kiss in real life too and they have every right to... Matthew, get over it...That being said, I hope Lafayette gets to keep his man. I so want him to have some happiness. My favorite line was from Lorena..." I would just love to rip you open and wear your ribcage as a hat." Don't mess with her! I cannot wait until next Sunday!

[Andrea F]

"No one wants to see two guys kissing (two girls is ok of course ! )" ROTLMAO - OF COURSE we want to see two guys kissing! Don't believe the lies that men tell you about what women want to see.

In any case, the show left me breathless. So much emotion and chaos. It was gory, but in a way that did not seem gratuitous. Lorena's tortue of Bill was so emotionally real. I can't wait to see how Russell brings everything to a head. Not crazy about the Sam plotline right now, but Crystal and Jason may be goign somewhere.

[Sara]

The show has been so good the last two weeks, and it looks from the previews that it will keep rolling to the end of the season. Looking forward to meeting Claudine and hoping that the dripping IV was pulled out of Sookie's arm in the preview was removed because she got a transfusion straight from Eric.

I like the idea that Crystal is part of the dog fighting storyline - I hadn't thought of it but that would work and it would give the whole Mickens plot some connection that it doesn't have right now. And who's to say that Ball won't make the Hotshot people dogs? That would be a liberty with the books but he's taking liberties all over (and they're working!) On the other hand, who's to say that only dogs are fighting? No reason it couldn't be all sorts of shifters (and wouldn't that be a convenient way to bring in an additional book-based love interest for Sookie?). However they tie things together, I hope they start moving the subplots along soon.

As for Lafayette and Jesus, I loved this whole episode for them! Jesus definitely has something up his sleeve (fey, warlock, other?), and I'm so excited to see what it is. Hope it works for them in the end, though. And Matthew, as a married mom of 3 who puts the Eric/Alcide nudity in the top 3 best things about this show, I adored the kiss! It was so well written, well acted, and hot hot hot. So speak for yourself please!

[Lady of the Lake]

About two of your comments -- Marshall Allman could be a very fine actor, though not as experienced as Denis O'Hare -- but his part is nowhere near as complex and rich as Russell Edgington. So I think a slightly unfair comparison!

Also -- re the scene between Sookie and King Russell -- it is very well written, but let's give a hand to the actors who pulled it off so beautifully as well.

And, a propos of James Frain as Franklin Mott -- he's truly wonderful to watch!!

Generally, finding this season much more enjoyable than last, which in my opinion was taken over by the overnblown Maenad storyline (although the acting was, as always, top-notch!).

[Mathew]

Uh oh, did I strike a nerve, lol.

Sorry but girl on girl will forever be hot, and guy on guy will forever be not. I don't make the rules, that's just how it is.

[Lauren]

Love this show so much and enjoy reading the Show Tracker entries!

Responding to "The only story line I can't fit into that whole "being true to yourself" idea I developed above is Jason's, which just seems completely disconnected from everything. Little help here (preferably sans book spoilers)?"

Well, if Jason thinks his true calling is to be a cop, which makes sense to me (his first season run-ins with the law probably got the ball rolling, then he thinks he finds himself and his true calling at the Newlins' boot camp, then he kills Eggs, rides with Andy and has his ta-da moment), then it fits that theme. I'm sure the writers could (did) dream up lots of ways to connect that to the other story lines. Maybe it's just taking longer than some viewers like. Jason fighting crime, trying to keep the peace and investigating would (will?) also be hilarious. I dunno, just my two cents.

The show can be so different from the books that I don't think readers could give true spoilers because even they don't know what will happen.

Sara - I like your thinking! Didn't Quinn "referee" such fights, or am I making that up? I also think there's a lot more to Jesus than meets the eye, and I can't wait to see where that storyline is going.

Mathew, you sound like a small-minded redneck from Bon Temps.

[Alice]

Okay so I am a girl and I agree that nobody wants to see two guys kiss, nor do I want to see two girls kiss! LOL! Does anybody know who might die next week? And can somebody please tell me that Eric and Sookie get together?! I mean I understand that he totally went against her but I'm sure he still has feelings for her!!

[Alice]

Okay so I agree that two guys is not a pleasant sight, but neither is two girls! However, if it is needed to help develop a character, then who am I to judge? Does anyone know who will die next week(if anyone)?! And are Eric and Sookie ever going to hook up?! I mean I understand Eric is bad, but he's pretty hot, and deep down it's obvious that he still has some of his humanity not to mention that he has to still have feelings for Sookie.

[coblstone]

Todd you should edit your complaints about editing, seriously.

[BEV]

I think that the flirtation (courtship?) between Lafayette & Jesus has been fantastic. The actors play that first date balance between teasing & shyness beautifully. I would love to see Lafayette give up dealing for Jesus, telling him he's "worth giving it up for". As far as the romantic scenes go, the two have amazing chemistry. I could almost feel them falling in love.
Just as a side note to Matthew; It's 2010 dear, hypocritical homophobia is sooo last century. Actually it's more like 18th century.

[Al]

No straight man enjoys watching two men kiss. There is nothing wrong with them doing it, I think Mathew is saying that it's not fun for straight men to watch. I'm sure some girls and gay guys love it (who probably make up more of the audience for this show than straight men), so more power to the show.

Definitely fascinated by O'Hare, I didn't particularly like Russell very much when we first met him, but now he is my favorite character. It's funny because I didn't care for many of my best friends at first, then they grew on me. Maybe it's just me.