'True Blood': And now ... Vikings!

 There's some of the best stuff that "True Blood" has ever done in "Trouble." Eric's random flashback to his days as a Viking(!) in Norway are gloriously over-the-top and full of Gothic fun, right down to Russell standing at his doorway in a cape and then walking away into the softly falling snow. Sookie trying to put the pieces together of just what's going on continues to be fun, and so does the gradual reveal of whatever Bill's grand master plan happens to be. But then the show will cut to what is, essentially, a completely different show, and it loses a bit of its momentum. Now don't get me wrong. I could see Sam's family drama being interesting in isolation. I could see Tara's weird, psycho-sexual relationship with Franklin being interesting all by itself. I could maybe even see Jason's visit to the Dukes of Hazzard and love match with yet another inappropriate woman being kind of fun without the other stuff going on.

But when you compare all of these storylines to the building war between Louisiana and Mississippi and the secret histories of Bill, Sookie and Eric, there's no way they match up. They all feel like they're taking place in different TV shows, even though each and every storyline reaches a major turning point this episode. Sam realizes his little brother is in a massive predicament. Jason gets much, much closer to being a deputy and meets the mystery girl up close. Tara tries to run away from Franklin plus gets brought to Mississippi, where she meets Russell and sees Bill. Oh, and then Franklin proposes that she become his vampire bride. I mean, all of these things are fun in isolation, as mentioned, and I enjoyed most of the scenes that went into them, but there's little to no connective tissue among them. Even last season, when the two major storylines didn't have a whole lot to do with each other, they somehow felt more cohesive because they kept bringing in more and more folks from Bon Temps. This season, it just feels like everybody's off in their own little world.

Anyway, as mentioned, tonight's adventures in Mississippi are highly entertaining. There's the minor hiccup of never showing us how Sookie escapes the were-bar -- something I at least had been dying to see -- but everything beyond that is just ridiculously fun. I suspect the show is trying to set up Alcide as another love interest for Sookie, but I almost like him better as her partner in crime. There's a fun and feisty feeling to the two figuring out what their next move is going to be, and I love the way that the differences between werewolves and vampires mean that Sookie can, say, communicate with Alcide in ways she never could with Eric and Bill. I'm glad the show isn't pushing too hard on the romantic front at this point, and if "True Blood" ever decided it was time to turn the two into private investigators or something, I'd be all for it.

But that's not all! Russell finds out about the folder of information Bill had on Sookie from Franklin, and he spends much of the rest of the episode trying to figure out what Bill's really up to before Bill finally shows something of his true colors and attacks the werewolves before heading out to save his ex. Bill's motive, it would seem, was to figure out just what was up with Sookie's telepathy and see where she fit in the supernatural pantheon of the show. Russell suspects Sophie's behind all of this, though he doesn't know for sure (and neither do we), and he and Bill's attempts to stay one step ahead of each other give the episode a really propulsive feel in places. I love cat and mouse games, and the one between Russell and Bill has high stakes indeed.

But wait! There's more! Eric showed up in Mississippi to try to find Bill, claiming he needed to bring him in for dealing vampire blood (which is true, though he's doing so only to save himself from the Magister). Eric, of course, finds out that Bill is actually present in Mississippi, and then he finds the crown of his long-dead father -- killed by Russell's werewolves -- and has a flashback to Norway under the Vikings. We've known about Eric's Norwegian roots for a long time, but it's still such a kick to flashback to this sort of story because the last thing I'm usually expecting out of this show are random Vikings. This sequence is a lot of fun, as is the one that follows, where Bill and Alcide try to rescue Sookie but she's nearly taken by Russell's men anyway before blasting one of them off with previously unknown electricity powers. Or something. Tune in next week!

The downside to this is that every time we go back to Bon Temps (or hang out with Tara and Franklin again), the show feels like it's not really itself. It's not as though "True Blood's" pacing has ever been anything less than erratic, but it feels as though the wheels are coming off more often than not this season. I don't know what the point of Jason's new career ambitions are, outside of getting Ryan Kwanten to wander around without a shirt off, I guess. Similarly, I'm not sure why we continue to spend a scene or two each week on the birth of Arlene's baby or her relationship with Terry, to say nothing of Jessica's new career. And then there's Sam, trying to stand up for his little brother, only to find out that he's bought and paid for or something. Any one of these storylines could carry a whole season of the show on their own (well, maybe not Arlene's baby) or at least a handful of episodes, but the show keeps setting them off to the side, then bringing them back haphazardly.

Again, I don't know how much to complain about this, because when the center is as strong as it has been this season, it's easier to write off the stuff orbiting around it as so much flotsam. But at the same time, I'd like if there were some sort of unifying throughline running among all of these storylines. You could say that this is a season about origins, which would at least explain much of the Sookie and Sam storylines, but that doesn't explain what's up with Tara and Franklin or with Jason. You could say it's a season about finding your way within the political culture of your area, but that doesn't explain Sam's storyline. These stories all feel like different shows. For now, it's entertaining, but it'd be best if there were some sort of connection between them sooner rather than later.

Some other thoughts:

• I did like Tara's fleeting escape from the mansion and that wolf running her down. The show's decision to use real wolves instead of CGI creations has paid off for the most part.
• Random scene I liked: The other employees of the sheriff's department discussing mulch. I like the idea that this world is pretty boring outside of the crazy shenanigans we're shown.
• Seriously, I get that Alcide helped Sookie escape, but we couldn't see it? That would have been so fun!
• Predictions as to what's up with Sookie's powers? No fair if you've read the books.
• Remember, I'm always looking for your thoughts in comments, in my e-mail, or on my Twitter.
• "The last time you had any real money, you ended up at the slots in Biloxi, slaughtering a church group of elderly women." "They wouldn't let me have a turn!"
• "You're a huge freak! I like your work."
• "I don't know. That seems kinda wild."
• "I do not care to be hypnotized, which is apparently what you walking dead people like to do."
• "I can't eat day lilies."
• "Fantastic!"

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

Photo: Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis, left) makes a new friend in Kevin Alejandro. Credit: HBO.

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'True Blood': 'Leave me out with the waste; this is not what I do'

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Complete Show Tracker 'True Blood' coverage

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Comments

[PR]

Thanks for the quick recap! As always really insightful and you hit the mood exactly....to many storylines. I've read the books, but you might as well throw them out the window because Alan Ball seems to have fun playing with what we know and changing it all around.
I don't understand why he doesn't keep to the books, do you know why? Do you think the writers are a little ADD, do they think the viewers are ADD, or do they just think jumping around, repetitious storylines (last season, Sam, Tara), and lots of gay vibes make an interesting story?
Loved the Vikings. So mysterious. Wish the rest of True Blood was just as good.

[Andreas]

I hate to be picky but in every flashback Eric has he and the other characters from his past are speaking old Swedish, so this would technically make them "Swedish" vikings, not Norwegian.

-A Swede living in SoCal

[foozlesprite]

They're combining several of the books to make this season. I think that's why it feels so random and disjointed at times.

[Briana Warner]

I agree with your statements in the article...mostly. I do get frustrated when people start complaining about Sookie's powers or Franklin's fling with Tara. I've read all the books, and even though I never give any spoilers, I do tell people to be patient, the story lines may seem random now, but soon it'll all intertwine and make a lot more sense. I know people want to hurry up and understand right now everything that's going on, and if they do, great, I tell them to go read the books. But otherwise that's what a good show does, slowly rolls out the story.

Of course, for the story lines that aren't in the books...well, that's where I agree with you more, because I have no idea how (or if) they'll intertwine with the major plot points of the show. But then I have to take my own advice and be patient, trusting the show will make the wait worthwhile.

[Jerry]

Minor deet: I know it's difficult for most people, including me, to tell the difference, but Eric and his familly are Swedish, and but for the WWII flashback, every time we've flashed back in Eric's life, the characters have been speaking Swedish. Actually, in the WWII scene they were speaking German but for when Godric and Eric were speaking directly to each other.

Many of the details (but far from all, since Ball has gone so far afield from the Harris originals) you're guessing at... well, I won't say yes or no, but you may be on to something.,

[dharma]

I hate to come off as an anal-retentive know-it-all, but am I the only one who remembers Eric's orgins as a Viking and Sookie using her mystic electro-force-field powers when Marianne the Maynad came at her? Don't get me wrong, bloody freakin' good episode, but I am not catching on to the foreshadowing enough either to see where much of the the side stories are going to intersect with the main plot or are they jsut supposed to be entertaining distractions from it. Because that wasn't often the case in the first two seasons. P.S. -Twilight can suck it, one drop of V and your in psychedelic ecstacy, just one of the million plus reasons why Twilight is so lame.

[TB]

You forgot the best exchange of the night:

Tara: We need to talk
Franklin: Don't say that. Women say that, everything goes black and I wake up surrounded by body parts.

It's like a prelude to the next Mel Gibson webisode.

[MK]

Sookie doesn't have special powers in the book, besides telepathy. This season, True Blood has veered more and more from the books it's based on.

[Leilani]

Eric Northman is Swedish, not Norwegian. :)

[Montre]

The theme for this season is quite simple... The Crazy things the Bon temp people do for love. Everyone seems to be a little crazy end right now when it comes to the people they love. Jessica is jealous of hoyte . Sam's love for his brother is driving him crazy. Franklins CRAZY love for Tara. Sookie and Bill's craziness. If you look at each character this season I believe you will see how they're love for someone else will or has driven them to the point of doing something crazy or unexpected that they normally would not do. This season will have alot of surprises.

[MaryAnn]

When I see the limited and dull Arlene/Terry or the Jason/Andy/Crystal storylines on the screen I wonder why they have not made an attempt to create a good Pam storyline. Pam taking Jessica under her wing would have been entertaining.

Jason has bored me since day one of the show. Alan Ball has taken Jason from dumb red neck to mentally retarded.

[Andrew Salzbury]

Summary above seemed to leave out that Hoyt was caught flirting with another chic at Merlottes! Am excited to find out what he was doing with her? Pretty risky to parade her around in front of Jessica who as we all know can be crazy tempermental!! :)

[evie]

Other than the Sam family storyline, there isn't a single one I'd like to see go. Most especially, I'd miss Tara/freak-Franklin and Jessica/Hoyt (and Lafayette/Jesus).

I'm dying to find out what's going on with Bill and that folder! I'm very surprised he lied so directly to Russell, especially since he was totally busted. What's in there that he doesn't want anyone to even know he was compiling it?

Loved the moment with between Eric and Bill where Eric said, "You mean..." followed by Bill saying, "Sookie is no longer mine." Priceless.

[Chris]

There was also one scene, very early on in Season 1, where Sookie used some sort of inhuman force to toss a drunken hillbilly out into the trees around Merlotte's. I don't remember if there was a flash of blue light then, but it seems that we've seen that superhero power at least once each season.

I haven't read the books.

[dawn]

"previously unknown electricity powers"- doesn't anyone remember Sookie doing this to Marianne last season? It's not previously unknown at all. This is the second time she's used these powers.

[KarenJ]

I'm glad I wasn't alone in the 'missing the escape scene' thing! I was SO disapointed when they showed up in the car. I thought Alcide was going to be 'taken by the moment'.

Jason, Arlene/Terry, and Sam's story lines seem to be the most disjointed from the whole. I must say - I do really appreciate Jason's comedic relief though. I really enjoyed the vignet of him in the office. Such silliness and fun.

Tara and Franklin make a lot more sense now that they're in Mississippi (he's such a FREAKY character!) and he's clearly working for Russell. I know Tara doesn't work into the MS vs LA thing. But, Franklin's obsession with her makes pretty clear the kind of freaky minions Russell surrounds himself with! The guy's got werewolves at his feet like trained attack dogs! (sick 'em! Heal! - well trained wouldn't ya say?) The aforementioned Franklin, and the equally obsessive Lorena! What a crowd!

Lafayette has an admirer! ahhh...

Of course we're being set-up for the love, what do yo call it? Foursome? (THAT seems wrong!) I rather like Alcide in the mix. Even though he's a werewolf - he seems more human. Very much the same as Todd's point. And I really enjoy Eric's fascination with Sookie and his fantasies. Bill... ehhh. But, it's all such great fun.

LOVE that we got to see more of Eric's past. He's such an old guy. Much of his past will be really interesting.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Russell's full reaction to Sookie will be. And the preview... what'll be up with Russell proposing to the Queen? Looks like there may be some history there huh? I haven't read the books - so I don't have a clue! Can't comment on Sookie's powers. I've heard comments from a book reader's guess that would make it unfair.

Good read as always Todd.

[Melissa]

Tara: We need to talk
Franklin: Don't say that. Women say that, everything goes black and I wake up surrounded by body parts.

That really was the best line of the night. I know people are a little cold on the Franklin/Tara scenes but gems like that make it all worth it. Franklin has some of the best crazy lines ever.

[KarenJ]

A point I forgot to make on the original post. The 'postmortem' that was shown at the end appears to be connecting the dots for us in Eric's history and timeline. Eric's parents were killed (this episode), Eric went on a vengeful rampage (the postmortem), and some time thereafter was turned by Godric (from last season). It was clear Eric would have looked for vengeance for his family's death... but the 'rampage' was not clear. Why not get that into the show with a tighter story line? Did we really need to be told in a 'postmortem'? Or is there some goofy reasoning behind getting us to WANT OR NEED to watch the silly postmortems?

It's silliness like this that makes me sure True Blood doesn't have a chance against shows like Mad Men, Lost, and the others in the Emmy race. And yes - this would be the fault of the producers, directors, writers. Not the books' author.

Just a thought

[Mike]

Can we just kill off Tara already?

Her character has run it's course and probably should have died last season. She adds nothing to the current storyline and the plot line written around her character is just plain stupid. It's like the writers lost a bet and were forced to include the character.

[Ryan Robinson]

So, didn't Bill say last week that he was one of Sophie Ann's top "procurers" (when Russell sent him into the strip club)? Perhaps Sophie Ann actually sent Bill to "procure" Sookie for her/Louisiana (her telepathy could be valuable? she could have a vampire or some other powerful being in her family tree?), and Bill accidentally fell in love with her. Chances are I'm over thinking it. But part of me also hopes I'm right, and that Sookie finds out or something and dumps Bill on her own accord so that we can see more fun, pseudo-detective Sookie and less of the Bill/Sookie love-fest. That might be best for both Paquin AND Moyer. I'm sorry, but Stephen Moyer just does a quiet, tormented, brooding Bill MUCH better than a love-struck protective Bill (who, by the way, has the WORST Louisiana accent this Southerner has ever heard).