Evil is Going On

Spoiler Alert!: Almost all (but not the last) spoiler for this episode are revealed in this review.

by Courtney Hilden
"Evil is Going On," the final episode in this season of True Blood, opened up on Eric trying to kill Russell by lying out in the sun with him. After having a conversation with Godric (who, yes, is still dead), decided to punish Russell rather than just kill him. Meanwhile, Talbot's bloody pulp-remains took a trip through the plumping system, Jesus comes out as a witch, and Sam runs after Tommy. Oh, and finally, Sookie broke up with Bill. Hopefully for good.
Dealing with one of the worse things about the episode: Was it really necessary to bring Eric's maker back? Godric was a great character, but using him in some kind of vision is about as original as the heaven world that Sookie and Bill have been making regular visits to. Godric was a great character when he was simply undead, but as an angel/figment of Eric's imagination felt contrived and silly. Even Eric's motivations are obvious through his interactions with characters (like Pam), or they are not. Either way, it could work. But using Godric-back-from-the-dead smacks of some bad tv show I am so unfamiliar with I cannot even give an example.
Sookie's power (whatever it is) has become a deus ex machina. Great, now one of the other good things on this show, conflict, will be sacrificed to make things even easier for the uncompelling character. The only good thing about this is that it gives Sookie her own power within a world where mostly white, supernatural men have power.
The only good thing about Sookie scenes was that, for once, Sookie showed some character and dumped the remains of Talbot down the drain. Her evil laugh was so liberating to watch. Talbot's remains are still gross, but we have assumably seen the last of them.
There were some good moments on the show. Tara and Sam's morning breakfast started out so cute. Tara's reluctance did a good job of capping off her recent struggles with accepting vampires and other supernatural stuff. There's something sad about watching her hate all supernaturals because of the terrible things a few of them have done, but if she really is gone for a season or two, she will come back wiser and more accepting.
Hopefully, Jason is actually going to take care of the people of Hotshot. And it's going to make him a better person. Hopefully.
Jesus's betrayal of Lafayette was awful. Poor Lafayette. He finally gets a good relationship going, and, of course, Jesus has been lying to him. And obviously manipulating him. Lafayette should not trust Jesus.
The scene between Tara and Sookie was great. It was one of the few true friend conversations that have happened. Tara should not have apologized to Sookie, since she was the one trying to help her out of what was clearly a bad relationship. Tara is always setting herself aside for her white friend, and it is so sad to watch. If the show does depict where Tara goes next, it should include her sticking up for her own feelings.
Bill continues to be a disappointment. Eric is one of the few good characters, and although it is nice to embrace my hatred of Bill now that it's clear he truly is in it for himself, I am already missing Eric.
His instance of killing anyone who has tasted Sookie is another great moment of creepy misogyny. "Tasting" here is obviously a metaphor for sex, and to here Bill claim he is going to destroy all of those who share a sexual link with her is just another one of the things to add to the "Nasty Anti-Woman Things Bill Says."
And finally, some positive things about this last episode. One of the things not cover in these reviews is how good the music has been. Every episode has ended with perfect music. The incidental music during the last scene between Tommy and Sam was particularly nice.
Also: Terry has an armadillo?

Crimes

by Courtney Hilden


In True Blood land, Bill has officially (thankfully) dumped Sookie.  A normal girl would get angry, break some glass bottles, and then move on.  Sookie, of course, decides to take denial to new levels by staying in another state to look for him.  Sam tries to right his family, Jason attempts to bypass become a police officer the traditional way, Tara is held hostage by Franklin, Lafayette fails to sell his drugs, and Eric's club is sacked.  A lot happens in these episodes, so let's focus on the good and the bad.  
It's really bothersome that Sookie takes two seconds to be attracted to Alcide, especially after he's involved in violence.  Is Sookie attracted to violence and emotional baggage?  She's almost as bad as Bella Swan.
In the books, the audience does not see Bill's stay in Mississippi, and now that the audience can see it on screen, it's easy to see why Harris, the author, left it out.  Bill's plotline continues to be boring and slows down the rest of the episode.  The other irritating plotline is Arlene's anti-vampire screed.  Once again, this show has decided that women are all crazy and bitchy, especially when they are pregnant.  
Some of the other problems with this episode included originality.  Jason's little football-playing-rival Kit called himself the "QB" which is exactly what Kevin called himself on Daria.  And apparently the writers have watching high school rom coms from the nineties, because Sookie got a makeover in order to impress a guy. 
But some things are worth watching for.  The acting by the secondary characters continues to amaze.  Franklin and Tara's scene where Franklin dictated her call was spot on, both scary and terrifying, like a particular moment in the "Midnight" episode of Doctor Who.  Tara's scenes where she was tied up was great too, showing us that Franklin is a rapist, using not just sex but people's mind against them.  Points also to Sookie and Eric, who once again have chemistry in a line of dialogue that outdoes everything Sookie and Bill have had this entire show.
The interesting juxtapositions with faith have also continued, though this is by far the bizarrest way yet.  This time, vampires donating blood in a ritual meant to imitate the Christian ceremony of drinking Jesus's blood.  How exactly the audience should interpret this on-the-nose reference has not been yet revealed, but probably will be as the season continues, just like the show's thoughts on evangelicalism was fleshed out over the course of season two.  
There are also great friendships on this show.  At the end of the last season, the show highlighted Andy and Jason, which continues to be wonderful but now slightly painful.  It's too sad the relationship between Andy and Jason is souring, because so many shows lack friendships that feel as real and faithful as the ones in our lives. This episode showed Eric and Lafayette in a different kind of friendship.  Scenes where Lafayette is discriminated against because of his sexuality, his race and his connection to vampires is hard to watch, but seeing Eric protect his own was a relief, though not as empowering as "AIDS burger" from season one.
And no show can be bad if it uses a song from Massive Attack, so the show, despite having clunky elements to it, also has moments of genius.