Night on the Sun

by Courtney Hilden
Spoiler Alert!: The first and last spoilers of this episode of revealed in this review.

"Night on the Sun," the latest episode of True Blood, opened up on what fans have been waiting for seasons now: the breakup of Sookie and Bill. Although it was probably heartbreaking for Sookie to break up with Bill, there was something deeply relieving about it. Too bad Bill is still going to be an important part of the show and that the breakup did not last. One of the other reasons it is too bad the breakup did not last was because there are lots of sweet-hearted male characters on this show for Sookie to have a relationship with, and Bill, is well, either boring or annoying. The only good thing about this episode's opening was that it was a nice change of pace to have an opening not dependent on guts, blood, violence, or a naked Eric. (Though the last is always welcome.) Instead, we got to see a scene that is usually reserved for the end of episodes, where Bill breaks up with Sookie.
One of those great male characters includes Terry Bellefleur. It's nice to see him, since it has been MIA for the last few episodes. It is too bad that his sweetheart Arlene is obsessing that the baby she is about to have is an evil ex-boyfriend's.
The most troubling aspect of this show continues to be the rape that Sookie suffered from. Jason was right to suggest that Sookie press chargers, though not because Bill was a "fanger" but because he had raped her. Since vampires are often meant to stand in for other sexual or racial minorities on this show, having a vampire be a rapist is problematic, since it suggests that minorities are a threat to white womanhood. This is not to say that Sookie deserves to be raped, but as a critique of the collective imagination of the Other being sexually dangerous.
One of the other storylines about domestic violence, Crystal and Jason's relationship, shows a white man, Jason, defending a white woman, furthering the idea that white men are the defenders of women. All the white men on this show are always protecting Sookie: Eric, Bill, Alcide, Jason and Sam. This kind of storyline would make a Birth of the Nation fan proud, but on a show that is meant to be forward-thinking, just embarrassing.
The other rape metaphor working on the show, Tara's dominance by Franklin, is slightly more progressive. At least in this storyline it acknowledged the tragic psychological damage rape can do, when Tara has a nightmare of Franklin visiting her in the shower. Not that I really wanted Tara to be mentally raped by anyone, but at least here there's an acknowledgment of the violation she suffered and how difficult that is to deal with.
This tragic moment led Tara to try to talk to Sookie. Sookie, sadly but not unsurprisingly, ignored her. Tara and Sookie's relationship isn't even capable of existing outside of a man's world, since that is the only thing they seem to talk about. It was great that finally someone was able to tell Sookie that Bill was dangerous, even if Sookie ignored it. Tara is one of the few female characters on this show who seems to have it together enough emotionally to realize when something is a bad idea.
The only domestic relationship that is working out right now appears to be Bill and Jessica. Bill might actually be capable of being a good father figure to Jessica, if he applies himself. Again, good for Jessica for sticking up for herself and asserting her needs, which right now includes having someone to show her the ropes of being a vampire.
Best lines of the episode go to Jason for his line about a cult "washing" his brain.