Article on PioneerLocal by Jennifer Thomas
Last September, TV got a little more interesting when “True Blood” premiered on HBO. It’s been a long seven months since it went off the air, and I think I’m not alone in finding something endlessly fascinating about the campy, silly, engrossing, over-the-top, dark dramedy. Season 2 premieres in less than two weeks (June 14) and after watching the first few episodes, it’s bloody good. Last season was partly spent setting up the quirky (and hazardous to its residents’ health) world of Bon Temps, while Season 2 literally dives right into the action. Tara and Sookie’s screams — after finding the body in Andy Bellefleur’s car — are still fresh when the second season begins. (Some minor spoilers ahead.)
Where we last left off, Lafayette had been attacked by something supernatural; Tara was living with the suspicious social worker Maryann — a fan of the vibrating shimmer and pigs; Sookie was recovering after killing Rene, the slayer of vamp-lovers; Bill was recovering from getting a tad too much sun and dealing with his whiny, newly minted vamp, Jessica; and Jason, who never met a lesson he could learn, was being courted by the Fellowship of the Sun Church.
Since things literally pick up where they left off, all those events are fresh in the minds of the main characters. It’s nice that we didn’t “miss anything” while “True Blood” was off the air, but it’s also a little jarring to hear Sookie say that it’s only been three weeks since Gran died.
But back to the body in the car. That dark-skinned leg with the pink-painted toenail leg spilling out…Is it Lafayette, the fan-favorite, was definitely great for his one-liners and his way of cutting through a whole lot of crazy on the part of the other characters? Is he dead? The answers come pretty quickly.
The Stackhouses, Sookie and Jason, have never met a flashing red “Danger” sign they didn’t like, and as usual, they end up in trouble. Jason gets in cozy with the Fellowship of the Sun members, who have an affinity for silver “honesty” rings and singing their own version of Kumbaya. Jason signs up to attend the church’s leadership conference where he gets in good with the young Rev. Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) and his perky blond wife, Sarah (Anna Camp). Here’s where it looks like things are going — maybe an illicit affair between Jason and Sarah, who gets a little glint in her eye whenever recovered bad-boy Jason is around. It also doesn’t take Jason long to inadvertently make a rival out of Luke, (Wes Brown) who thought he’d be the golden child of the Fellowship of the Sun leadership camp. Either way, the camp is a hilarious setting and you’ve got to wonder what would happen if any of the cheerful, but frightening, members ever ran into a real vampire.
Jason’s also going through some Terry-like post-traumatic stress, dealing with the deaths of Gran, Amy and Eddie the vampire.
Sookie isn’t happy about the revelation of Jessica, but eventually decides to take pity on her, which ends up being the exact wrong thing to do. Bill is also finding it hard to play daddy-dearest to a teenage girl.
Tara’s living the high life at Maryann’s (Michelle Forbes) house, and getting cushy with fellow housemate, Eggs (Mehcad Brooks), but her natural cynical side is wondering if a life where there’s an endless availability of passion fruit, might be too good to be true.
The connection between Maryann and Sam — one that goes back to when Sam was a teenager — is revealed in greater depth. Sam’s also starting to get cranky (or crankier) about Sookie’s treatment of him. “I’m tired of charring my ass on your back burner.”
A new waitress, Daphne (Ashley Jones), comes to work at Merlotte’s, and she’s mighty clumsy. (Seriously, why would anyone waitress at Merlotte’s anymore? They might as well give you life insurance instead of health insurance.)
Eric hasn’t forgotten Sookie’s promise to help him when he requires it, and he’s looking for her to find the missing vampire sheriff of Dallas. Which makes Bill a little ticked off in a scene in a woman’s clothing store. Seeing Eric in a track suit alone is worth it.
The usual regulars — the ones that survived anyway — are back with Arlene, Terry, Andy Bellefleur, Tara’s mother and Eric’s vamp sidekicks, Pam and Chow.
The premiere ends with one of the most violent human deaths yet. We’ve seen a lot of bloody vampire demises — Longshadow exploded all over Sookie and Eddie erupted in a geyser of gore in Jason’s basement — but this time it’s a human who goes really grisly.
Oh no! Tara’s mom is back? I guess the theory of her dying instead of Lafayette just went out the window…
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Susan Reply:
June 3rd, 2009 at 23:56
My thoughts exactly. If it’s not Lafayette, my vote is still for Ms. Jeanette. I wonder what human is gonna get it in the end. Royce maybe?
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“I’m tired of charring my ass on your back burner.”
If Sam actually says that – and I’m assuming he will since it’s quoted – I will die laughing. Too funny!
Not enough Bill/Sookie info, but that’s fine. I don’t want to be too spoiled.
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Susan Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 1:35
Do you think Sookie does something else to set Sam off or is this in response to the three week old kiss? Hm…. I love that phrase…it’s so southern. I have a friend from Texas and she is forever coming up with hilarious phrases.
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Lou Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:28
Sam was still pissy with Sookie at the end of the finale after the two-week jump, and season 2 picks up from there. I could see Sookie maybe trying to apologize or mend fences a bit with him (over kissing him out of loneliness, getting back together with Bill, etc) and him responding in that way.
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That’s great and all that they’re giving Bill’s actor some screen time…but geezus, he should not have THIS big of a role. I want more Eric/Sookie spoilers!
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Lou Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:32
Stephen is the show’s leading man(pire), and his billing is second only to Anna Paquin. I think that bodes well for Bill continuing to play a prominent role on the show, which makes me incredibly happy.
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Kay Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:24
I agree with you Lou. :)
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cocoablossoms Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 4:37
he is the LEAD male in the SHOW. i know that’s hard for people to accept but that’s the way it is. even if eric and sookie hook-up, bill’s story will stay prominent. eric is getting plenty of screentime and will continue to get attention due to his large fanbase and his prominence in the books, but plot wise at this point this is bill’s time. there has been plenty mentioned about eric’s interest in sookie in lots of spoiler articles.
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Kay Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:23
Hello! Bill is the LEAD Vampire in the show. He deserves the attention.
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mortal Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:27
Its funny that people are saying that this show is all Bill. Every scene with Bill and Eric, then Bill is the little slave(yes master] type of persona… Thats not a leading carachter… Eric will grow into the show more and more.
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Shadaliza Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:48
The lead character is not always the most dominant in his behaviour. It does mean a lot that Stephen Moyer is mentioned as second right after Anna Paquin in the opening sequence, that makes him the male lead. HBO wants Stephen Moyer nominated for an Emmy for lead actor and Alexander Skarsgard as supporting actor.
But don’t get me wrong, I’d love to know more about Eric and we will see a lot more of him in season 2.
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Lou Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:49
That’s the vampire hierarchy. Eric can be a bully who exploits his power at times. Bill having to follow orders doesn’t take away from him being a lead character – and Stephen being the leading man – on the show, though. I think it adds a great deal of conflict because Bill obviously has issues with the rules (and good for him).
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kay Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:53
Not all people are saying that the show is all Bill. If you read articles or watched those entertainment shows like ET, SM is labeled as the lead actor in True Blood. In fact, HBO is campaigning for him to be nominated in the LEADING ACTOR category for the Emmys. Bill is more prominent in the show than Eric anyways.
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Meep Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 17:48
I also hope Moyer does get an Emmy because he’s such a great actor and he added more dimensions to the character of Bill. He has so many subtle changes in his face that are so charming and in tune with the character.
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it was more than 3 weeks from the time gran dies ,till they find the body in the car.
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Shadaliza Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:10
Body in the car was 2 weeks after Bill’s return from the grave.
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1st night gran dies
2nd night bill dream runs to sookie
3rd night sookie runs to bill
4th night three vamps take bill away
5th night sookie finds bill in grave yard
6th night they babysit arlenes kids
7th night bill finds eric in his tub
8th night go to fangtasia
9th night leave for the tribunal
10th night arlenes part
11 night bill returns and b*slap sam
12 night bill returns from his burning….then two weeks later
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Shadaliza Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 8:12
You’re time frame is too short. I am sure they didn’t bury Gran the day after the night she was murdered. A few days must have past there.
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I wonder if the death discussed as being at the end of the first episode will occur at the FOTS’s church in Dallas. We know from one of the published synopses that there will be a scene of two prisoners there. Right?
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NOOO!!!!! Lettie Mae you were amazing but I needed you to die so that we could keep Lafayette!
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“Seeing Eric in a track suit alone is worth it.” Oh yeah bring it on.
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Meep Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 17:44
I like the choice of clothes in True Blood, it’s very realistic and down to earth or very thematic as with Sookie’s white night gown. They add a new element to how we see the characters.
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The tracksuit is the black one with blue stripes along the sleeves. Not anything pink, haha. You can see it in the promo pic with him, Pam and Chow :-)
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“Which makes Bill a little ticked off in a scene in a woman’s clothing store”
Hhhmm I wonder why? Maybe Eric “purposely” walked in on Sookie while she’s changing. Haha! This is soo Eric. LOL
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