Ryan Kwanten, on the other hand, brings his game face to work every day, as does Sam Trammell, but both are saddled this season with uninteresting storylines. I'm glad Sam has finally found out what's up with Tommy and Joe Lee, and perhaps this plot will finally take off, but the set up for it left me cold, despite the strong thematic tie in to family and identity. And Jason has never appealed to me when I am supposed to care about his issues rather than laugh at his take on the world. He's the architect of his own misfortunes and I don't care about his desire he won't work at to be a cop or his envy of the high school quarterback. It doesn't help that the potentially interesting Crystal so far reminds me of Sam's storyline.
Lafayette is of course another joy on True Blood. Nelson Ellis is a very capable actor who provides the human element of Bon Temps with charisma and humour. And it's not that I don't enjoy watching another side of him as he explores his relationship with Jesus. But the attraction of True Blood is watching humans try to co-exist with the supernatural. I'd like to see Lafayette's romantic life embedded into a storyline that intersects with the vampires.
Another point on my wish list for the rest of the season is for all identity issues and revealed secrets to matter. We've learned Bill not only lied to Sookie and intended to keep on doing so, but also was a procurer for Sophie Ann. The side of him Lorena wanted to bring to the fore may not be one he is proud of, but it exists. These things should matter to Sookie. I don't want a reset to season two Bill, whose flaws never seemed to matter to the narrative. I want what we've learned about Eric's past to continue to inform his relationships in the present. The complexities of his character help give True Blood depth and hopefully Ball will run with them. I want Sam, Jason and the always wonderful Jessica to get hooked into the main action, which is much more interesting than the plots they're currently mired in.
However, overall, the season is still getting a very respectable passing grade. I'm excited every week to see what happens next and I don't expect that to change as we head into the second half.
Article comments
1 - Christine
Gerry,
I just have to tell you I'm so impressed with your 6 week check on True Blood. I found myself agreeing with everything you said, and that's rare! So it's been my pleasure to read what you wrote. :)
2 - Gerry
Thank you! I hope you stop by again. Can't wait for the next episode tonight.
3 - Rachel
Excellent analysis/review! I agreed with everything. Well, actually I do disagree slightly on the fact that Eric used Sookie to further his own agenda with Russell. In my opinion, Eric was trying to save Sookie's life by making it clear to Russell that she was valuable so that he would spare her life and not see her as just another human. I think Eric did the best he could under dire circumstances. Other than that, you were spot on! lol Seriously, truly excellent and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading your take on the second half of the season. :)
4 - Gerry
Thanks Rachel! It's always great to hear everyone's opinions. I think Eric is more interested in Sookie's well being than he let on, but I think he also knows Russell is already interested in Sookie due to Franklin. I think Pam at this point means more to Eric than anyone he has left, Godric having died, and he'll go pretty far to protect her. But he doesn't want anything to happen to Sookie--he's playing Russell, not Sookie. So we don't see things too differently. (-:
5 - Rachel
Very true, Gerry, and I completely agree! :) I really enjoyed watching him maneuver through the minefield and accomplish the first part of his very important plans - to save Pam's life (and by extension his own), and to free himself from the menace of the Magister. I'm looking forward to watching how he will maneuver his way out of Russell's clutches.
I'm also looking forward to watching Sookie evolve as a character. So far, in my opinion, there hasn't been enough growth. However, I do understand that Sookie is in many ways still a "teenager" in her approach on life and love.
It should be a fantastic second half of the season. :)
6 - ANV
Yesssssssss you're back!
I missed you Gerry!!!
Great recap!!
Alby
7 - Nicole
Great review! I have struggled with the show this season-multiple storylines that seemed like they were taking too long to intertwine have really hampered things. I am still bored by Jason's storyline. Sam's at least has begun to come together. My biggest continuing frustration is the Sookie and Bill. Sookie's naivete and blindness in the face of the things she finds out about Bill and Bill's oh so dull, dull, dull self loathing are killing me. I understand that Alan Ball loves Bill and thinks that he and Sookie are soul mates-he needs to find a way to write that story that doesn't make both characters insufferably annoying.
8 - ella
Great mid-series recap! Excellent points made.
Epi 7 showed promise for Jason and Sam - they still have time to come into their own and round out the season.
Good analysis of Bill.
I don't get the Nature point that Russell was trying to make, disingeniously I thought, about humans messing up the environment. Where's the evidence of his concern for the earth? There doesn't seem to be anything green about him.
9 - Gerry
Hi ANV, Nicole and ella, thanks for reading! Nicole, I'm trying to ignore Ball's soul mate comment, because if I can avoid reading ahead so I'm not spoiled, I really hoping he's not really spoiling the end himself. I know what you mean by Bill and Sookie not necessarily being all that riveting, particularly last season. If Ball is going to find a way to bring them together, it has to be earned. I need to see Sookie actually dealing with what she knows about Bill and the trauma of what happened to her. Hopefully, that's going to be part of the season.
10 - Shannon
Gerry, this is an excellent recap of the first 6 episodes. I was very intrigued to read your thoughts on Eric, as he's one of my favorite characters. He is incredibly deep and I have a feeling we're only seeing the beginning. If you've read the books, you know a whole lot more than you're letting on! ;)
I definitely agree with your assessments of the Sam and Jason storylines. That's how I felt about Tara in Seasons 1 and 2. This season she's come into some good stuff. But Jason seems more comic relief than anything, which is too bad because if the writers follow the books at all with his story, it could be so much more interesting.
Episode 7 answered some of the issues you brought up. And I have read spoilers, which I won't share here...all I will say is we haven't seen the last of Jesus...
Bring on the final 5 episodes! So far, this has been the best season!
I hope to see more of Pam...and her relationship with Eric. As well as some more character development with Jessica - she's a hoot and the best part of the end of Season 1 and all of Season 2!
Thanks again for the great insight. I can't wait to read your thoughts on the 2nd half of my guilty pleasure!
11 - Gerry
Hi Shannon, thanks for the comment! About the books, I've only read the first two so far. I started first with True Blood and not the SVM and I want my reviews to be of the show, so I decided not to read ahead. I do my best to avoid other spoilers, too, so I can view the episode with fresh eyes. Man, that can be tough--even HBO previews give away way too much, IMO.
I adore Pam and Eric and Jessica, too and would love more development there. I enjoyed episode seven, but felt it had a bit of a split personality. The Russell/Eric/Pam parts were excellent.
I love reading all the comments on the show, so please stop by again!
12 - Lisa
Gerry, I agree with almost everything you have said. What a great review of the characters and plots so far this year! I am also really tired of Alan Ball excusing everything Bill does, and trying to make all of his actions so noble and self sacrificing, when they are not! Sookie is so blind to his faults it is unbelievable. AB also does not seem to want to make Eric too sympathetic because he feels Bill & Sookie are "soulmates". I completely agree with you about Alcide too, not an interesting character. He really has done very little to help Sookie, yet she thinks he is just fantastic. Jason is getting on my nerves. Keep writing these reviews, great job!