I feel like True Blood has hit its stride and found it’s true identity. This week’s episode was full of hookups with the vampires and the humans, just as it should be. Salome gets the prize for having sex the most times with all three of the hottest vampires there are. Jason did it with a school teacher from his past which made him realize something quite profound. It was a great episode with every story line moving along nicely and this week it will be hard to get the quotations list down to 10 because there were so many good ones.
Sympathy for the Vamp, Tara
Sookie and Lafayette start out the episode desperately searching for Tara in the night. Sookie goes to Fangtasia to beg Pam to help, but Pam is much more worried about the whereabouts of Eric than the new vampire she made the night before. She pushes Sookie away and when she does Sookie uses her magic fingers and blows Pam into the back of the stage at Fangtasia.Tara still is struggling with what she is and she goes to Sam for help. He takes her in and feeds her bottle after bottle of True Blood until she passes out from exhaustion. He then hides her in the freezer for the day, but Sookie finds out when she reads his mind.
Debbie Pelt’s parents are looking for her which prompts Alcide to come to Sookie asking again if she knows anything about it. Andy Bellefleur is also on the lookout for her. When Alcide comes to Merlotte’s to confront Sookie about it, he and everyone else sees Tara and the “vampire is out of the bag,” shall we say. Then, Sookie tells Alcide everything hoping he won’t giver away, but he gets really angry and leaves in disgust. Meanwhile, Arlene is criticizing Lafayette for turning his own flesh and blood into a vampire, but Lafayette is more concerned about what is happening to him when he is possessed once again causing him to pour bleach into his gumbo. Luckily, he comes out of it and throws it away before anyone eats it.
The Authority’s Sexy Salome
Roman decides, even over the protestations of his council, to let Bill and Eric go out and try to kill Russell Edgington. The boys are fixed up with these weird contraptions that will immediately stake them if they disobey. Salome is Roman’s closest confident and lover, but she also does further “research” on Bill and Eric to be absolutely sure that they can be trusted. I guess the best way to find out is by having sex with each of them. She tells Roman that she finds them to be trustworthy, but she also tries to reason with him saying that maybe he needs to modify his mission. I wonder if this was a glimpse that there might be more to Salome than meets the eye. When she was with Bill, we learned from her about her history and what happened when she danced the dance of the seven veils and got the head of John the Baptist brought to her on a silver platter. Salome refutes her historical reputation as nothing more than a cautionary tale about teenage female sexuality. And, at the time, she was involved in politics beyond her understanding and was manipulated, leaving us to believe that what really happened wasn’t quite like it’s described in the Bible. Salome obviously knows how to use her sexuality as a tool to achieve her goals.
While all this sex activity is going on, Nora confesses under torture, via Authority member, Rosalyn Harris, that she is a Sanguanista so, now Roman knows that The Authority is vulnerable. Salome certainly has the men in her life in her control, including Roman to an extent. I wonder if she is also questioning the mainstream agenda and might even have Nora working on it for her. Could she have sent Nora to save Eric and Bill?
The New Nan Flanagan
The new representative replacing Nan Flanagan is none other than Steve Newlin (the New Newlin). The transformation of Steve Newlin into a vampire seemed at first, odd to me. Now, I think it was a stroke of genius and I wonder which of the writers came up with it.
Steve has been recruited by the Authority to help them to continue to promote the mainstreaming objective and he seems ready to take on the task. Roman doesn’t seem as sure about his skills as Steve is, so Roman makes his point to the new recruit that under estimating humans is not the way to go. I’m not sure if Steve’s down home and play to the lowest common denominator philosophy is going to work in Roman’s high powered world. Whatever happens, Steve Newlin is an interesting addition to the vampire culture and adding his newly announced sexual orientation, should just add flavor to the brew.
Jason discovers what he’s been missing
Like Tara, both Jason and Hoyt seem to be going through an inner crisis. Jason runs into a teacher who he had sex with when he was in school and goes to her home, presumably for tea. This time he is the one who instigates sex with her, only to realize after the act, that it is no longer fulfilling for him. He seems to have had an epiphany about his sex life and tells Jessica later that he has a giant hole in him that he has been trying to fill all his life by having sex. Is Jason growing up?
Pam is Made
This episode included another flashback into Pam’s past showing us how she became a vampire. During the flashback, we also get to see the first meeting between Bill and Eric.
Eric arrives at the bordello and Pam offers one the ladies to him. Eric is not interested, except for Pam herself. The duo walk into a room catching Lorena and Bill feasting on one of the women. Bill, being a very young vampire is fool enough to try and start something with Eric. He soon finds out that he is not strong enough. It was great to see Mariana Klaveno once again as Lorena who quickly begs Eric to understand that Bill is new and she will learn to keep him under control. Bill stomps out in disgust and Lorena asks for Eric’s forgiveness before leaving.
We next see Pam and Eric in bed presumably after having had sex. Oddly, I liked the fact that they didn’t show the two performing the act, but instead chose to show only the moments after. Pam is obviously very unhappy and begs Eric to turn her. She explains that she has no future in life and she will gladly follow him as one of the undead. He tells her that obviously she doesn’t know that it is a huge responsibility making someone vampire. Pam argues telling Eric that he can make her and then leave her; she will be able to take care of herself; she always has. He continues to refuse saying it’s like leaving a baby in the street. She gets up, puts on her silk robe and sadly slits both of her forearms. Eric see this and quickly decides what he must do. His fangs appear and instantly we know that he has decided to turn her.
I can’t express how much all the flashback scenes in each season have enhanced the story for me in ever case. Learning how Bill was made, then Eric and now Pam, is fascinating and I hope that the writers continue to show us these glimpses. I’d be interested, for example in knowing Russell’s history or how Lorena became so bloodthirsty and cruel. It would fascinate me and be great stories, worth telling.
The Rest of Bon Temps
Hoyt, like Jason and Tara seems lost right now. He has been hurt by everyone he is close to and his desperate attempt to find something, when he enters Fangtasia dressed in such a way, is witness to this. Poor Andy has his butt plastered by Holly’s sons all over Facebook. However, when he confronts Holly about it, the discussion turns to their relationship and Andy asks Holly to go steady. Terry is about to leave with Patrick but refuses to tell Arlene anything about where he is going or what he is doing. While in Tracy’s Togs, trying on dresses, Jessica smells something very tasty indeed, and it’s none other than the fairy, Claude. This is our first glimpse of him and I look forward to more.
As the episode ends, we find Tara distraught breaking into a tanning salon. She decides to get into the tanning bed; presumably to commit suicide by meeting the “artificial sun”, but Pam realizes this and although she may not be happy about it, I know she will save her and this is not the end for poor Tara.
This is the first Season I haven’t even thought about the books…because I am very loyal to the books…they are my first love. If you only like Trueblood for the books then you will miss the excitment on screen…you need to accept that the books are the baseline for the show but it has definately ventured into other areas that are so working for me personally I love it.
I am enjoying the energy the characters have and the fact the cast are just as pumped on twitter about the show allows us to enjoy it more. Books can only take you so far within your own imagination and the authors but five seasons of a show can take you above and beyond.
I really hope for Quinn I feel there is a spot for were-bangle tigers he needs to be in on this! :)
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Well done, Lynn. Appreciate the commentary and the pictures.
Salome had a busy episode. Lucky lady to have her way with three handsome vamps. Salome sponsored Nora’s chancellorship. I find it surprising that she did not know Nora was a Sanguinista … or did she? I’m beginning to believe that each Authority member has his or her own agenda. Who really can be trusted?
Andy Bellefleur, internet star, courtesy of Holly’s delinquent boys. He and Holly are now going steady. Hope it works out for them.
I felt for Tara. She is struggling to make sense of her new life. I hope Pam comes to her rescue and frees her from that tanning bed.
Kudos to Sam for helping Tara, even though he couldn’t keep “walk in” out of his thoughts.
Jason is growing up while Hoyt appears to be in desperate straits. I wonder what he’s looking to prove at Fangtasia. What will Alcide do now that he knows the truth about Debbie?
Steve Newlin, the new Nan Flanagan. Who would have thought it? Good luck, Steve. I’d watch my step if I were you.
I wonder how many of Fangtasia’s patrons really took note of Sookie’s zapping powers.
A foursome flashback with Pam, Eric, Bill and Lorena. She’s the maker I love to hate. Good to see her back again, and to get more information about the initial meeting of Bill with Eric and Pam. And to learn how Pam forced her turning.
And we meet Claude for the first time. He made quite an impression on Jessica.
A jam-packed episode. Looking forward to next week.
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This was a good one too! :-)
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I have my doubts whether Nora is really the Sanguinista traitor they were looking for. She clearly confessed to safe Eric from being staked with his iStake harness. Her love for Eric is also the reason she tried to save him in the first place, but she did consort with known Sanguinistas to provide Bill and Eric with new papers and help them escape the Authority.
Right now every chancellor is a possible suspect in my eyes and I think Roman will be very surprised when he’l finally learns who it is.
Salome knows a lot more than she gives away, she knew about Nora being Eric’s sister, what else does she know?
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Lou Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 17:23
Salome definitely has a lot of secrets. And I bet they’re biggies.
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How ’bout Sookie blasting Pam in Fangtasia
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That was a great episode and thank you Lynn again for an excellent recap with your Random Thoughts. I’m going to be brief and just highlight the important and a few trivial.
1. Wasn’t the girl Tara didn’t chomp on the interview girl The Vault followed on YouTube through the audition process? If it’s her (don’t know her name) but she did a great job.
2. The story that pulled at my heart the most was the Jason had sex/molested by teached now comes full circle and him and Jessica will be trying to deal with it, hopefully next ep. This I feel is such an important issue in our society, I read about it frequently, and when a female teacher is the one seducing it does not get the same treatment as a male perpetrator. Ryan played his part so well as the tormented in pain Jason and I am glad he has a friend in Jessica.
3. Vamp sex is just too quick or we need to see it! (Shad laments on Bill Chronicles) I agree. We need to see something. Ah was that supposed to be exciting with Bill & Salome?
4. Loved the flashback scene, Pam & Eric love the story and did you get a look at the ladies; no wonder Eric picked Pam.
5. The Sookie finger throw zap was spectacular! She’s getting good at it. But I feel for Pam, Eric has moved on she feels.
Most important observation from 5.03:
I MISS THE SIDEBURNS!
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Susanna Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 14:24
I miss them too. very much. Not many men are so attractive in sidenbuts, as Bill is.
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Lynnpd Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 18:48
Yes, the girl that “Tara didn’t chomp on” was Abbie Cobb.
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Great episode =)! Interesting that Eric had to be forced into turning Pam (and he didn’t seem to be that interested in feeding on her when they first met). Good back story on Eric & Pam’s first meeting with Lorena and Bill, too— our two handsome vamps have obviously been rivals/antagonists for awhile. It’s good to see them working together now :].
I actually think Salome is the traitor. What she said to Roman in the bedroom was a bit suspicious, I thought. I also have my doubts that Nora’s confession to being a Sanguinista was true— it was made under duress, if you know what I’m getting at.
And poor Tara ={! Bless dear Sam for trying to help her out. I hope Pam’s going to come to her rescue next episode, though =[!
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For me, I think the most interesting aspect of this season will be the dynamic between Pam and Tara, who previously hated each other. I think Pam and Tara will bond over attempted suicide, among other things. They both know what it’s like to be so desperate, you don’t want to go on with the life you’ve got. You could tell from Pam’s sigh at the end that she completely understood, and she’d start to care for the progeny she’d hoped to dismiss. Should be interesting.
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Great reveiw. :-)
I rewatched the ep. and a few very quick thoughts came to mind:
- Jason mentioning Crystal – the cat hisses at him. Did they just drop the WerePanther motive or is this a hint of it going somewhere? To add a bit to that Jason is changing emotionally, maybe that’s a start for the physical change?
- Rev. Newlin mentions an Elvis sighting? I think that’s a nod towards the books, but even if it was amusing in literature, I think it might be too cheesy in the movie. Hope they keep it out.
- I love how TB came back to politics and power struggle. Introducing the Authority is what makes the series profoundly interesting, not just a Bill-Sookie-Eric triangle. I was wearly of that at the end of last season, so I am glad it is not the core of the series anymore.
But to get back to my point. Nora and Salome. Did you notice that Salome tries to persuade Roman to change his approach? Maybe she was Nora’s mentor, but is also a (very) covert Sanguinista? This might give a huge sting in the tail somewhere mid-season.
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Salome, uh, gets around, doesn’t she? How did VC get so lucky? LOL
I really enjoyed this ep too, Lynn. It felt like old school TB in a lot of ways, what with the Merlottes gang actually together again. And mostly working! Will wonders never cease? And Jason/Jessica finally got to me again after episodes of blah.
I of course loved all the Bill scenes too. From his reaction to the iStake to his heart to heart (and other parts) with Salome, then flashbacks and that hilarious elevator ride with Eric…what’s not to love? Seeing Bill with Lorena again, and them both being so very bad, was a thrill. I miss Mariana and the crazy Lorena she brings to the show. And was it just me or did Eric seem a bit impressed with young Bill? That scene was great, though not what I was expecting.
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My father is still watching this, every now and then if nothing else is on, and I happened to catch this scene with Eric and Pam. Here’s how you described it:
“She gets up, puts on her silk robe and sadly slits both of her forearms. Eric see this and quickly decides what he must do.”
Uh, she doesn’t just slit her wrists sadly…..that is a power move on her part, and she turns to Eric and says “Either turn me or stand there and watch me die.” I think that is an important aspect to this scene-it wasn’t sad Pam, poor me, I want to die now because my beauty will fade soon and my future is bleak and I hate life. It was scheming Pam forcing this vampire to do something he doesn’t want to do or watch her die and suffer with thirst as she bleeds out. This was not a loving, if I can’t be with you I’d rather die thing, it was Pam manipulating a man to get what she wanted-an escape from ugly human life and the chance to stay young forever and to advance her position in society.
In essence, she forced Eric to turn her, and that helps explain why sometimes he gets so mad at her and turns his back on her-he knows she is a master manipulater. I think he turned her because he couldn’t just sit there and watch this smart beautiful woman die all because of him. Turning Pam was not his idea nor his overall objective, so I think this knowledge changes the relationship between them on the show. Just my two cents.
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Lynnpd Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 18:52
rowan: I agree that Pam forced the turning, but I don’t think she did it for any other reason than she was unhappy. She saw this as a way out of her horrible life; a life that she saw had no future. I agree Eric had no intention of turning her and it was forced though, but I would not call what Pam did “scheming.” I think it was more impulsive than scheming, actually.
I thought that it was a beautiful scene for both of them.
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Shadaliza Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 21:48
Yes, I see it as an act of total desperation. She saw a chance for a way out and took it, not knowing if she would die or not. She had nothing left to lose.
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Lori Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 10:25
Eric still had choices though, he could have let her die, he could have healed her and glamoured her but he chose to turn her IMO.
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I liked this episode and I think the S5 has a good level so far. Great!
What a difference! Both Eric and Pam have chosen themselves to be vampires. So it was definitely not for Bill and Jessica, and now poor Tara. I hope that Tara will never speak more with Sookie and Laffe for what they have done with her. What selfish on their part! They thought only of themselves and not at Tara. I hate the thought that Tara is a vampire and that Pam is her creator!
I think Pam wins the prize for the worst maker.
I loved flasback 1905th I think the scene with Bill and Lorena saw Eric that Pam is like him. Cold, calculating. She did not even bother to save the poor girl but wanted $ 500. Just girl in Eric’s taste .. lol .. Why am I not surprised that they run Fangtasia together?
I loved how Stephen played Bill. He really looked like a young puppy. Bravo, Stephen!
It will be exciting to see more of Claude ..
Salome, Salome, you lucky b…! Three attractive vampires in one night … hm .. and then I have learned a new expression in English ..
And I must say that I think Merllots will survive in these difficult economic times. Have you ever noticed that all three waitresses was at work and at the same time? There have not happened in many months. ;;)))
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I’m not sure about this season so far…it seems great and it’s going in a different direction that all the others I believe but I hate how Eric and Bill don’t seem to care about Sookie anymore and how everyone is ganging up on her. Tara should realize she jumped in front of Sookie and Sookie just wanted to give her another life. Alcide should realize she didn’t want to hurt him but his ex was a crazy nut that killed Tara and tried to kill Sookie….it’s just coming off as a lonely season or something. I kinda miss the Bill/Eric/Sookie triangle some what…
I guess we’ll see how the season progresses…
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Flashbacks were the best part of the ep for me, next to Alcide finding out Sookie killed Debbie and lied to his face about it.
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