I knew that True Blood was making a full 180 degree turn after Episode 6, but I have to admit what happened in Episode 7 was more than I had planned on. I loved seeing all the hi-jinks with the vampires and The Authority, but I’m also a bit confused. Here’s some random thoughts about the 180 degree turn that took place during this episode.
The Faeries – Sookie turns 180 degrees to be human
As the episode opens, that is after the mayhem at the authority, we first see Sookie getting her luminescence checked by Claude and his sister Claudette. She learns that she is magical, but because she is only half faery, her powers are limited and they may run out. She learns that she could become 100% human, if she isn’t careful with her powers. This seems to interest Sookie who has always dreamed of just “being normal.” Later, back at Merlotte’s, Sookie asks Sam about it and she realizes that this is a big choice for her to make. I’m glad to see her hesitate because I don’t think I would find Sookie half as interesting if she lost her powers as a faery and became just like everyone else. However at the end of the episode she is seen trying to use up her power when Jason runs to her.
Hoyt takes 180 degree turn from Love to Hate
I know that Hoyt was at rock bottom last episode when he let that creepy guy feed on him almost to his death, but I just don’t get how he could have gone from lamenting after his true vampire love, Jessica to hating her completely. His claiming that he has felt more love and acceptance in the hate group than he ever felt in church or in real life, is truly disturbing. And when they say that hate groups are more than about hate, I just tuned right out. It’s true that Hoyt was saved by the hate group, and might feel some obligation to them, since he really needs some friends right now, but to go this way isn’t going to help him find the happiness he so desperately needs. I thought his transition from down and out to avid hater, was just too drastic and quick. Even the relationship between Jessica and Jason is now at an end and the fact that Jason shot Jessica in the head was also very disturbing, wow that’s sure 180 degrees of a turn for Jason.
Alcide turns 180 degrees to Rikki and being a Packmaster
After being glamoured by Eric to recoil from Sookie, it does kind of make sense for Alcide to turn to his roots as a werewolf and accept the packmaster role that had been offered to him after Marcus’ death. When I first saw Rikki, I knew she would end up being a love interest for Alcide and I have to say I kind of like it. She seems more of a normal choice for him even it if it is a complete turn about for Alcide to fall for her.
Andy Bellefleur Turns 180 degrees accepting help from a supernatural
After Andy almost got killed by Junior in the Stakehouse only to be saved by Sam, I can certainly understand why he is willing to make his 180 turn by letting Sam do detective work with him. It’s great to see Andy finally showing some sense and using the resources he has to find the perpetrators. I don’t get why he sought out Sheriff Dearborn though, but maybe it was so he could realize that getting help from him just wasn’t possible anymore and he had to rely on his own wits, instead.
Lettie Mae Turns 180 degrees on Tara
Poor Tara, she has the worst mother there is in Lettie Mae. I was hopeful that her mama was coming to see her because she missed and loved her, but that was not the case. Now that she is a minister’s wife, she tells Tara that she feels she can’t have an association with anyone who is a vampire. OK, I get it, but to disown your own child when becoming a vampire was not her choice, that’s just wrong. I used to feel sorry for Lettie Mae because of her addiction to alcohol, but now I think that she is showing her true personality and to not even give her one daughter any love at all, after such a traumatic life change, is just too much. Tara shows real pain in the scene with her mama, but also shows her feelings, although a vampire, when she hugs her maker Pam after Pam says the line,
“A hundred years from now, you won’t even remember her, this I promise you.”
This is truly a turning point for Tara and I hope it’s for the better for her.
Vampires turn 180 to Religion
At the beginning of the episode we see Bill and Eric trying to figure out how Russell could have killed Roman. They are invited to Salome’s chamber and find there that Russell has been brought into the fold and they are also asked to also join.
Even after Salome admits to having dug up Russell, Eric refuses and Bill says, ”I still believe that without peaceful co-existance between our species, neither species will survive. Therefore, I believe mainstreaming is the only way.”
Eric and Bill agree to come to Salome’s gathering later where she plans to anoint all of the chancellors into the fold.
At that ceremony Salome claims that Lilith has forgiven Russell for what he has done and Russell then gets up and says he universally disavows himself of what he has said about Lilith. He then says, “I Love Lilith.” When Dieter Braun protests, Russell swoops in and kills him.
After that, presumably out of utter fear of Russell, all agree to drink the sacred blood that is said to be Lilith’s. Eric tells Bill that the blood can’t hurt them since it’s vampire blood so they too, agree to play along and drink. The next time we see the group of vampires, they are walking down Bourbon Street, high as kites, presumably from the blood they’ve just drunk. I have to wonder if there is a budding romance beginning Russell and Steve Newlin?
Later Russell enters a bar where a pre-wedding dinner is going on and the others soon follow. They immediately attack the party goers, each of them devouring them all. All of a sudden we see a drop of blood fall into a pool of blood which gives birth to none other than Lilith. All the vampires seem transfixed by her image and she seems to be able to control them. They all continue their blood sucking, except for Eric who sees a vision of Godric who tells him, “This is wrong, You know this…but your sister does not. Save her, my son.” “Peaceful co-existance” seems to be a distance memory in Bill’s mind as he continues to drink from his victim, let’s hope Eric doesn’t do the same and instead, listens to Godric.
Random thoughts about the rest of the episode:
I don’t have much to say about the other story lines. I really enjoyed Arlene and Holly watching the wedding video, but Lafayette being made captive by Don Bartolo was really creepy and didn’t seem to fit in anywhere. However, I’m so glad that he was freed. Terry is somehow lost and I hope that story line will pick up. I’m wondering what the reason is for bringing back Bud Dearborn? Could there be another reason or purpose that we saw him again other than to talk to Andy?
While I’m still a huge fan of the show, this episode didn’t do it for me, perhaps with the exception of the vampire story line, but I’m hoping that it’s setting us up for some truly great things yet to come. I’ll be tuning in Sunday night, just like always.


































Thanks for providing Lynn, both commentary and videos. I have to say that this is my least favorite episode thus far. I can’t quite get on board with the vampires tripping out on their one drop of Lilith blood … must be powerful stuff. I did enjoy parts of the scene, however. And we finally get to see Lilith, in the hallucinatory flesh.
I lament the loss of Dieter. Wondering how the Terry-Patrick smoke and fire monster story line will end. Not a fan of this scenario for Terry. I hope there’s a happy ending for him. I hate what is happening to Hoyt. The Jessica-Jason biting and shooting was a total surprise and not a happy one. I can understand Sookie trying to divest herself of her fae powers. Will she be successful? I’m okay with Sam giving Andy a hand. I’d like to see them work together even more. Alcide and Rikki … from training partners to possible lovers? Seems the direction they are headed. The romantic part certainly developed in a hurry.
Bud Dearborn’a appearance must have a purpose. Is he the mysterious Dragon who is the head of the hate group? There is speculation to that effect.
I loved the Holly-Arlene wedding video scene. Not so the Lafayette-Don Bartolo scenes. Wifey doing in the Don was a total surprise.
What surprises will episode 8 bring? This inquiring mind will be watching to find out.
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etc Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 6:01
spot on Lynn! Too much going on and not enough focus on any of these story arcs. Few good moments (Tara and Pam, Russel singing) but not enough. I actually fell asleep at one point which has never happened watching TB before!
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Cate Hayes Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 12:04
I think all of you are nuts! This season just keeps getting more unpredictable and action that wasn’t even on the radar, has impacted all of the characters in drastic ways! I was not the greatest fan when I started watching, I am a Vampire Fanatic. I was not impressed with the fangs, popping and then retracting. The show seemed like a lot of sex, and not much Horror. This season however, has upped the stakes, and when I can’t predict how the story plot of a show, or movie, is going to turn out, that’s a rare treat for me! I’m loving this season.
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E.H. Reply:
July 29th, 2012 at 21:45
Wish I could say the same. So far, I’ve been able to predict the important shifts, like Salomé being the one who dug up Russel. So I’m getting bored with this season. Also, there’s not enough sex and love in S5 for me, nothing that can even begin to compare with the Sookie / Eric scenes or even Tara and Eggs.
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I think the blood they drank is fairy blood and they are all just tripping out on it and all hallucinating lilith appearing.
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Thing is its not really Godric though is it, it’s Eric’s conscience telling him it’s wrong and that he should save Nora. Godric taught him well :)
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Lynn your Random Thoughts are excellent and they help me see other overall themes developing in the episode and season. 5.07 has not been the easiest of episodes to comprehend.
I liked the NOLA and Wedding party “feeding” (twisted) but getting there with the incoherent rubbish coming out of the bible-banging gals (Eric used another word) was distracting. I was happy to see the Bourbon St. scene which was seen earlier from fan tweets and reported here. Lilith and what she gets the vampires to do will be interesting to see.
I feel for Hoyt and see where this is heading and don’t like it. Also the Jessica Jason fight was not nice either.
I just figured out the problem with this episode: Too negative! Overly depressing and oppressive – where is the ray of hope. Yes Lala is alive but even that was so gruesome I don’t even want to think about it. Only Arlene and Terry’s wedding was a hopeful scene.
I will stop and hope next episode, Stephens directorial debut will be excellent!
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