Trust is a tricky thing–especially on True Blood, where most characters have dark pasts, hidden secrets, and conflicting emotions. And sometimes, if you trust the wrong person, you will end up chained in a basement.
Sookie the Fairy
Sookie has been wondering her whole life, and especially in these last couple of months, what she is. Bill gives her the answer: she’s part-fairy. Sookie goes from being disappointed, to confused, to scared, as Bill explains that fairies, aka “the Old People,” used to mate with humans sometimes, until they were wiped from existence by vampires because of their intoxicating, super-delicious blood. Sookie fears that Bill’s feelings for her might be because he’s addicted to her blood, but he pleads with her to see that is not the case:
“We grew into something much deeper. You must know that. You see the difference between the way I look at you and the way Eric and Russell do…Sookie, it is not your blood I love. I love you. You’re mine–your heart, your soul. And I will forswear ever feeding on you again if that’s what it takes to convince you of that. You have brought light back into my life, and hope, and gratitude. That is why I love you. Nothing else.”
Bill and Eric and the Game of Truth or Dare
Over at Fangtasia, Eric is putting his affairs in order with his lawyer. In his will, he leaves everything to “my progeny, Pamela Swynford de Beaufort,” as Pam paces behind him, angry that he seems to have given up. He explains, “Russell Edgington was maybe the oldest and strongest vampire on the planet before he eviscerated a newsman live on tv. Now he’s also the craziest. And his rage is directed at me. Do the math.” He insists that he is going to fight back, just as soon as he comes up with a brilliant plan to defeat Russell.
Eric goes to visit Bill, wondering if Sookie’s blood would truly allow him to walk in the sunlight. Bill reluctantly tells him that it only works for a couple of minutes, then you still burn. As they’re arguing, Sookie comes up to them, having just overheard Eric ask Bill why he doesn’t tell her the truth. She still has some doubt about if Bill is sharing everything he knows, but she’s certain that Eric isn’t trustworthy. Sookie insists she’ll never let him feed on her, but as he leaves, he says, “I won’t be around much longer anyway. I wish you the best, Sookie Stackhouse.”
Jason’s Dilemma
Jason panics after shooting Franklin, flashing back to Eddie and Eggs. Tara covers what remains of Franklin with dirt and, as the final act in the whole nightmarish experience, spits on him. Jason brings Tara back to his house for a place to unwind, surprised to find Sookie and Bill there. Sookie explains that she needs somewhere to hide because she’s being hunted by some werewolves and a vicious vampire. Tara blames Bill for all the trouble. Sookie starts to scold her, until she begins to realize the depth of Tara’s trauma. Bill speaks to Jason before he goes to sleep for the day about protecting Sookie until he returns.
At Merlotte’s
Nan Flanagan‘s PR campaign has moved into damage control mode after Russell’s “extremist” behavior, but the anti-vampire side uses the opportunity to gain ground. Thus, we see our old buddy Steve Newlin again! “This heinous act of pure evil is a blessing, actually, because it finally reveals the true nature of these beasts to us all. If I were a less of a Christian, I’d say, ‘Told ya!’ ” Arlene is watching at Merlotte’s nodding in agreement, which gets on Jessica‘s last nerve. Her fangs pop out, and pinning Arlene against the wall she tells her to stop being such a “narrow-minded, skinny bitch with a bad dye job.” Tommy gets totally turned on by this display of power. He tries to kiss Jessica, but she runs away from him. At the same time, Hoyt is getting jumped by Summer. She gives him the unwanted nickname of “Bear” and tries to help him move on from Jessica, but he clearly doesn’t take advantage of the situation.
Calvin’s Recovery
Lafayette knows there’s no time to get Calvin to the hospital. He takes him to his house instead, where he has something he know will cure Calvin’s injuries instantly. He pours a vial of V into his mouth, and Crystal and Jesus look on in shock as the bruises and cuts disappear. Apparently they don’t teach manners in Hot Shot, though, because Calvin jumps up in a rage at Crystal for letting two gay guys put “vamper juice” in him. The concern she was feeling for her father quickly vanishes when he hits her and tries to force her to stay away from Jason forever. She is dead to him, he says, as she runs away from him for what is hopefully (but probably not) the last time.
Sam’s Memories
Sam has a lot of painful memories running through his head when he gets back to his trailer after beating Calvin to a pulp. One incident in particular comes to his mind, back before he was the cute, scruffy, sweetheart we’ve all gotten to know. In 2003, he and his pretty blond girlfriend were running around, stealing jewelry, until she betrayed him. Her real boyfriend showed up, put a gun to Sam’s head, and took everything Sam had stolen. This side of him is new to us, and to his employees (who are really his only friends). They’re a bit scared of him at work the next day, except for Tommy, who was impressed by how intimidating his big brother was, and new waitress Holly, who’s a Wiccan tries to give Sam some herbs to calm his rage.
Arlene’s Confession
Arlene finally comes clean to Terry about the baby. She cries and tells him that Rene is the father and that the baby’s going to be evil. He looks at her for a few seconds not saying anything, and then he gives the best possible response: he hugs her and tells her he’s going to raise the baby as his own. “Do you hear me, Arlene? I want to marry you, and together we will surround that baby with more love than it can handle.” So sweet! Except Arlene still goes to Holly and asks her about those other methods of getting rid of the baby…
V Tripping
After seeing the power of V, Jesus is curious and wants to try it out with Lafayette so that their power can be enhanced and connected, or something like that. Whatever it is, the two of them go on a very strange, spinning V trip in which they see some Mexican healing woman, and Lafayette’s great-great-grandmother and Jesus’ grandfather, who both practiced magic.
Jason’s Confessions
Jason has been keeping a lot bottled up recently, and he finally shares it with Sookie. She says he should tell Tara before she finds out from someone else, but he thinks he’s protecting Tara from getting hurt more if she knows what he did. Still, when Tara’s trying to thank him for being so good and heroic and dependable, he can’t lie anymore. She kisses him, and he feels so guilty that he admits to shooting Eggs.
Retribution
Away from the rhetoric of talking heads on television, we can see that vampires really have been set back by what Russell did. Somebody vandalizes Bill’s house and sets a cross on fire in his yard. Jessica wants to go after them, but Bill calms her down saying, “It’s more important than ever that we restrain ourselves, even if it is against our nature.”
Sam’s Dark Past
Sam continues to be haunted by that night years ago. He had tracked down the couple who who cheated him, took his money back, and shot both of them. Killing the girl seemed to be an accident–she shot at him, and he fired impulsively. He was upset when she died, perhaps some residual feelings from their relationship, even if it was fake. Then, he goes over to the guy whimpering on the ground and shoots him in the back. Sitting in the woods, drinking and remembering, it’s hard to discern what Sam is feeling.
A Sookie and Eric Moment
What Eric said about not being around much longer made Sookie wonder what will happen to him, and she has another dream about him. While Jason is distracted with Tara, she goes to Fangtasia to see what’s going on. She wants to know why Eric and her intuition say Bill can’t be trusted. Eric ignores the question: “Here’s the truth. There are forces beyond even my control. And if I meet the true death without having at least kissed you, Sookie Stackhouse, that would be my biggest regret.” She resists at first but then stops pulling away, and they share a long, hungry kiss before she steps back. Then Pam interrupts, “Blah blah, vampire emergency, blah.” Pam wants Eric to give Sookie to Russell to save himself. He refuses, but Pam says she has no interest in inheriting his farm. She will do anything to save him, so he had better figure out a way to use Sookie if he’s so set on keeping her safe from Russell.
Russell’s Loss
Speaking of the lunatic vampire king, he picks up a male prostitute on the street who resembles his dead love. After they’ve had sex, he’s lying on the guy’s chest, apologizing over and over to Talbot that he wasn’t there in the end. Tony the hooker is getting really creeped out and tries to leave. Russell recreates Talbot’s “true death,” driving a stake into the guy’s chest and kissing him goodbye.
Jessica and Hoyt Connect
Hoyt shows up at Merlotte’s. He broke up with Summer, and he tells Jessica he loves her. She’s afraid of him finding out that she’s fed on people and even killed a guy. “Well, if you don’t wanna be with me because you don’t love me, that’s something else. But don’t tell me what I want and what I don’t want. That’s my decision to make, and I want you.” Jessica is silent for a moment, unable to tell Hoyt that she really loves him, so he walks outside. Tommy has been watching the exchange and goes outside to taunt Hoyt, “Nice work in there, dude.” Hoyt gives him a much-deserved punch in the nose. As Hoyt is leaving, Tommy shifts into a pit bull and attacks him. Coming out to admit her feelings, Jessica finds them and throws Dog Tommy into the woods. She barely even hesitates at the blood flowing from his arm, biting her own wrist: “Hoyt, I love you, too. Now drink my blood.”
Hello Crystal
Jason returns home from searching for Sookie and finds a very distraught Bill, who yells at him for breaking his word to look after her. Jason cuts in, all the emotions of the day exploding as he curses at Bill and kicks him out of the house, slamming the door in his face. He hears a noise back in the bedroom and finds a panther sitting there, who then shifts into Crystal. All he can do is call for his Mama.
Eric’s Dungeon
After doing some thinking, Eric goes back to get Sookie from his office. He picks her up over his shoulder and carries her to the basement. She screams at him, but he coolly clamps a chain around her neck and walks back up the stairs.
Now, I’m an equal opportunity viewer. For the same reasons that I have defended bad things Bill has done in Season 3, I’m willing to give Eric the benefit of the doubt that he is thinking about what will keep Sookie safe. He’s protected her in the past, and he clearly told Pam that giving her up to Russell was not an option, but as of now, his actions are frustrating. He probably arrived at the conclusion that drinking her blood will give him just enough of an advantage to go in the sun, if only briefly, to kill Russell while he sleeps. But why not TELL SOOKIE THAT?! She has mixed feelings about him, but it’s clear she cares for him to some degree and doesn’t want him to die. All he’s doing by chaining her up is making it so much harder for her to ever trust him. And if, as I suspect, people want to see Eric and Sookie in a relationship and not just having a fleeting physical attraction (although I’m sure nobody would mind that, either!), then he’s just hurting his cause.
I have no doubt all of you have very strong opinions on the subject, and I’m excited to hear them. So….what did you think about this episode?
(Photo credit: HBO Inc.)
Nia
Hi Trubies, sorry but this is just another hectic/bad week in a long string of them this summer. I have not had a chance till recently to rewatch the last epi and to put down my thoughts.
This was an episode of revelations. So many truths came out.
Jason confessing to Tara, Arlene telling Terry about the child she is carrying, Jessica telling Hoyt she loves him, Jesus and Laffy’s ties to witchcraft ( the V trip was crazy, but gave us true insight to both their ties to light and dark magic)….
The only one still holding something back is Bill. I admit that it really is time already and I will be happy to mete out some punishment myself and spank that cute round bottom of his, MMMM MMMM!!! LOL
But really, Bill’s declaration of love to Sookie was so beautiful, if only he could reveal this last inner demon to her.
But again it shows great trust in Bill that Claudine revealed so much to him.
Is it just that he was sent by SA? Or is there more to it? Inquiring, impatient minds ARE DYING to know.
I have always thought that Bill may be working for the AVL, or perhaps since we have seen the AVL answers to the Authority, for them. Could he be a double agent? Sent by the “A” to keep an eye on SA while he is under the guise of her procurer? And per the “A”, he is under oath not to reveal his identity?
Sounds like Batman and 007 combined, LOL!
Bill has said several times, including in past episodes, referring to their “cause” which is the cause of the AVL, to further human/vampire relations. Malcom was not behaving towards the furtherment of this cause and now Eric, as Bill has said, has set back their cause 1000 years. So could Bill play a major role in this movement?
I am just speculating here and having some fun with the possibilities, to keep it simple it is more than likely just that SA sent him and he is afraid Sookie will hate him for that even though he was under orders. I have to admit I am on pins and needles to find out. One thing for sure is that Bill loves Sookie above all else and will die before allowing anyone to harm her, but it looks like from the spoilers that he will be bound and unable to help while Sookie is being fed on and drained by RE and Eric.
As far as keeping things from others, I thought originally that Sookie did not remember her time in Fae land. I thought since she had been almost dead and upon waking maybe her memory was faulty, but she remembered all and did not confide this in Bill. Probably because of what Claudine originally said about him.
I am tired of Taras anger, she had a terrible experience at the hands of Franklin but she fought tooth and nail to survive and instead of being happy and grateful and starting to heal she is continually angry and spouting her anger at everyone.
She should have listened to Jason explain further what happened to Eggs. She should know by now that Jason is not a malicious person and would not shoot for no reason. I don’t believe that Tara and Jason would suit. Just too ill matched. The kiss was spontaneous but not meaningful.
I am saddened to see Sam turning to alcohol to chase his own demons away. Seeing him kill when he was younger was hard but it has obviously been a cause of great inner turmoil for him. We knew he had resorted to stealing when he was younger. I wonder how he spent the 100,000 he stole from MA?? Or did he just have a liking for stealing. At least we saw the real Sam peeking through and that what he really wanted was a business, wife and family.
Ahh, what to say about Eric. I like that he is thinking ahead to Pams security but he is still taking out his anger on her and then there is poor Yvetta. I guess for her the good sex wasn’t good enough?? LOL. She obviously expected more for his treatment of her. He made promises he never intended on keeping. Tsk tsk Eric, the poor girl gave you her all as well as an alibi, don’t you think she is worth something more??
And then there is his interactions with Sookie. He does seem to have feelings for her, but will it be enough so he does not sell her out to RE again? Can he put her first as Bill does??
OK, In all honesty he was playing up the poor martyr to her a bit much. “I wont be around any longer” “if I meet the true death”. A bit whiney Eric and not befitting someone so old.
He was really playing on her sympathies, and seems it was the only way to get her to feel something for him.
Bill told her Sookie a previous epi that there was no hope for him and tried to send her away instead of using her to help himself. Eric will use Sookie as we will see. I just hope that he will help Bill to save her in the end.
Eric really wanted Sookie to feel sorry for him so he can get his kiss. Well, good for him, it worked but I think the look on his face spoke (he looked furious) volumes when she broke it off still set on getting her answers. I think he was hoping that the kiss was enough to make her jump his bones. LOL, Sorry Eric in this Sookie had a one track mind. She wanted to know about Bill.
So Eric was angry at Sookie for that and will now heed Pams advice and use her to further his agenda. I just hope he does have a plan this time, unlike his staking of Talbot which was spontaneous and with no exit strategy in place. His actions put everyone in danger and caused RE to go Midievil, thus the killing of the anchorman and setting back all the work of the AVL.
It is a dangerous game he plays when he will allow a 3000 year old vampire access to Sookie like we are seeing for this week.
Then of course, and this has to be said, it was pretty horrible of him when he literally dumped Sookie unceremoniously to the filthy ground and chained her up like a dog to his torture device without so much as an explanation. This behavior is the same as in REs mansion when he told her she meant nothing to him. Why is he not explaining himself and being honest with her?? What happened to their tender moment? Why not talk to her, gain her trust? Because it is just Eric about Eric.
Personally I was disgusted by his behavior. Why would anyone want him as a love interest when you are constantly at the mercy of his mood changes, tantrums, and agenda?
Maybe it is just Viking PMS. LOL.
Eric ultimately brought all this upon himself, and others, when he killed Talbot.
He did not have to kill him (and in such a cowardly way, not allowing Talbot to defend himself or the reason for his coming death), Talbot knew nothing about Eric and was made long afterwards. Eric was all about an eye for an eye. RE killed Erics family and yet spared him because he was not singling anyone out, there was nothing personal there, it was killing to acquire. Vikings should have been used to war and death, fighting and pillaging.
My Favorite quotes:
Bill to Sookie:
It is not your blood I love, I love you, your mind, you’re heart, you’re soul.
You have brought light back into my life, and hope, and gratitiude, that is why I love you, nothing else.
Bill to Eric:
-Well you should know, since you’re now his “butt boy”.
-That’s why he went medieval on TV.
-You have set our cause back 1000 years.
Eric to Yvetta:
Less than nothing you gold digging wh*re.
Pam to Eric:
You can be a cold hearted bast*rd.
Sookie to Eric:
All I know is I sure as hell can’t trust you.
Jess to Arlene:
Well I don’t like narrow minded skinny b*tches with bad dye jobs.
Tommy to Jess:
Are you kidding? You gave me total wood.
Sam to Tommy:
-Its not respect when your employees think you’re a psychopath.
-Yeah, well you’re and idiot.
Jesus to Laffy:
Because I care for people who live in a different reality, that takes mad intuition.
Laffy to Jesus:
Shaman in a Sunday hat.