Everything is Broken

by Courtney Hilden
Spoiler Alert!: Almost all of the surprises in this episode are revealed in this review.

In the latest episode of True Blood, "Everything is Broken," Sookie and Hadley met up in an aquarium to see Hadley's son, Eric gave a testimony to the Authority, white womanhood continued to be the chief concern of Jason, Tara continued to heal from her rape, and Sam cut loose after another series of struggles over parenthood.
First and foremost, our show's heroine: Sookie. It's interesting to note that even though Sookie would provide a safe sanctuary for Eric and Pam, he chooses someone else. Even though Eric has decided to get his revenge, he also is still loyal to Sookie.
Sookie will probably never be able to appreciate Eric's loyalty, because, as the episode showed, she is too busy being happy with Bill. Her and Bill shared one of the show's few calm moments with an intimate shower between the two. Then Bill and Sookie had a conversation about the secrets Bill has been hiding from Sookie. She rightly asserted that she is not a thing and not something that needs protection, especially now when she has been through so much. It was a nice change of pace from the usual powerless Sookie that fans are always complaining about.
As discussed in the review of the last episode, there is a lot of defending white womanhood. A lot of it apparently centers on Jason, who this episode was taking care of Crystal, his new potential girlfriend. Parts of it were admirable, since Jason told Crystal's boyfriend that Crystal was allowed to do what she wanted. But parts of it weren't, since it quickly turned into him controlling her.
Black womanhood, in the form of Tara, continues to be sidelined, though she too has gone through a terrible, traumatic event. (And unlike Sookie, recognizes how much danger she was in.) Sam wisely suggests that she consider a shrink. These scenes are troublesome because, again, it's a man protecting a woman, but nice in that they show that these characters do really care for one another. It was so wonderful to see Tara yell at Franklin for being a rapist. But again, as part of the whole "men saving women" meme on this show, Jason ended up saving Tara. For once, can a woman be the one to defend herself?
I will credit the show for at least trying to be progressive. It was also great to see women coming together to support each other. Hopefully, this group will help Tara deal with her situation and save herself from further emotional damage. Women coming together to help each other and fight rape culture? That's feminism. It doesn't make up for the rest of this show, but it's a start.
In terms of race, the show introduced a really interesting concept: snitching. Snitching has been an issue within minority races, particularly African Americans. But the connection between meth-doing, rapist shapeshifters and the African American community is a very dangerous one to make. The outside community doesn't understand why they are the way they are, but at the same time they beat Crystal. It's an unflattering portrait of people of color at best.
One of the many nice things about this episode was the lack of Bill. Sadly, one of the scenes we did get with Bill included another romp through the heaven-garden, which was even more boring than the first time when it was Sookie running around.
Eric and Pam's scene together afterward made up for it. Eric and Pam genuinely do care for one another and it was nice to see that. Eric is not just loyal, he's strong. And far more admirable than Bill.
Finally, after waiting a few episodes, the audience got to see this mysterious Authority, which, unsurprisingly, is represented in the form of Nan Flanigan, the spokeswoman for vampires across America. This Authority is just as unfrightening as it sounded it would be, though Eric took it seriously enough. (Seriously, though, web cams? Those things are scarier in dystopian novels.) Eric has a lot on his plate these days, and Alexander Skarsgaard does a great job of making himself look like a scared puppy. (He even swallows dramatically.) Watching him rat out Russell was a joy, especially since giving this kind of information is usually a thankless task. Watching Russell becoming unhinged at the end of the episode was also a pleasure. His speech almost came off as a piece of slam poetry. And unlike the Authority, he was slightly scary.
Sam is basically a parent now, and managing it better than Bill has done so far with Jessica. At least Sam tries to be a positive influence and guide his adopted kid to being a normal, successful citizens. It's too bad that parenting Tommy is such a thankless task. (Sam parenting Jessica would also be fun to watch, though she would probably realize what was for her own good.)
Gross out moment of the night was brought to you by Talbot, whose remains were disgustingly pawed by Russell at the beginning of the episode. It was creepier than what happened later in the episode, when Russel started carrying around a jar with Talbot's remains inside. It's so macabre and strangely Victorian. Quote of the night goes to Andy, who discussed how he has an ulcer so big coffee was coming out of his bellybutton. The cutest nickname of the night award goes to Lafayette, who was referred to as "Lala" by his Mom. Aww. And the fashion moment of the night was also brought to you by Lafayette (who has by far the best wardrobe on this show) wearing a rosary as a necklace. Haven't seen that look since the late nineties with the Spice Girls. Nice.
Also, as a final note, Holly seems like a wonderful and kind person, which means that she is probably really evil and about to destroy someone's life.

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.

Hitting the Ground

by Courtney Hilden
Spoiler Alert!: Some of the surprises, though not the very last one, are revealed in this review.

First off, what a great opening. It was wonderful that we finally killed off one of the most annoying characters: Lorena. The blood was both delightful and perhaps a little too much, though it prepared the audience for the end of the episode.
It's a good and a bad thing that they changed this part of the story. In the original novel, Sookie rescues Bill by herself, which is a nice moment of girl power. But later on, she gets trapped in a car's trunk and raped by Bill, in the most anti-feminist moment of the series. Seeing that the show also fell into a similar trap was very disappointing. The only thing that was an improvement about this was that Tara was smart enough to dump Bill off and take Sookie to a hospital. (Characters should really spend more time there anyway, given the nature of this show.) But it's even more troubling that the only person who could 'save' her was her rapist. For a show that's suppose to be progressive, it seems fixated on women being helpless and submissive to men.
There's a lot of other moments where women are forced into very uncomfortable moments. Sophie-Ann has decided to take the marriage proposal of Russell, which might be more acceptable if she wasn't so clearly powerful herself. Even though she is a Queen, she is unable to control her own life.
Props for great performances this episode including Debbie Pelt for giving a scary monologue. She's going to be around for a little longer, and that monologue, with the light clearly out of her eyes, was great. Lafayette once again is the best character on this show. Watching him be the strength is this strange family is so uplifting in a very sad show. Lafayette is exactly who any sane person would want in their corner. Pam also gave the sort of performance that will stay with the audience for the next few episodes. Her sense of humor while being tortured was great.
It's nice that they're trying to give Jason more to do, but it doesn't really work. Jason trying to "evolve" just highlights how unevolved he is. Hoyt, on the other hand, is still adorable. His devotion to Jessica is so sweet. Which makes it all the sadder for Summer, who is probably going to get her heart broken.
In the disappointing category this episode was the heaven vision that Sookie had. It didn't actually give the audience or Sookie much information, other than her parents were not killed by water. (Could the writers not think of a more creative way to do this?) Even if this moment does pan out later in the story, this was the most trite way to deal with this.
As to what it is about Sookie Stackhouse, my theory is that she is some kind of rare supernatural creature, like the Maenad from last season, which is why she is always blasting other supernatural creatures with the power thing. It's also why she doesn't have a blood type, which makes her especially delicious to vampires (because she taste like no other human there is.)

Night Junkies

by Courtney Hilden

Night Junkies, a small independent horror film, is about a vampire named Vincent who accidentally turns Ruby, a stripper, into one of them. Normally, this would simply mean she becomes a vampire, but in this film vampires are more like addicts (interested in blood instead of something like drugs), and Ruby vows to break her addiction with Vincent at her side.
The movie knows how silly it is, since it opens up on a discussion of vampires and how they are all about sex. Sex is actually one of the last things this movie is about, since it makes the connection between vampires and drug junkies, which is a nice change of pace from the usual stuff audiences associate with vampires. She meets a vampire, not in a club, but in a cafe. Vampire Vincent eats a muffin.
Vincent, played by Giles Alderson, is delightful creepy and slightly awkward, sniffing the air. He has this weird nostril thing that would never work on any other character but a vampire. The chemistry between him and Ruby (Katia Winters) is prefect. It's nice that these actors aren't afraid to look like crap, with Ruby's makeup and sweat mixing in that gross way that girls are all too familiar with. These actors actually do look like people who are coming off of addictions.
There are some weak parts of this movie, including the monologues of Vincent, which would be fine if it was just to introduce the movie, but it gets used too often. He also has a strange lisp that makes him sound more like a Muppet than a vampire. Also, there's no need to be listening to the Boss carry on and on about unnecessary metaphors; just get to the point. The villain of the story, one of Ruby's old pimps, wastes our time creeping around her apartment building, harassing old ladies. He's one of the least scary villains, being almost all campy, and not, sadly, in a good way. The villain even gets a monologue, one that is boring and only stalls the obvious conclusion, which is drawn out and corny in its own way. And if that weren't enough, several bits of dialogue that are meant to be funny fall utterly flat.
From such a promising beginning and such subversion of the genre, it might give you the impression that this film is worth watching all the way through. You'd be wrong. The film loses much of its momentum about mid-way. It's an interesting idea, and certain parts of the film work, but what doesn't work ruins the few successful things about it.

Bad Blood

by Courtney Hilden
Spoiler Alert!: Certain surprises within the episode are revealed in this review.




"Bad Blood," the first episode of this season of True Blood, picks up where the last episode left off, with Tara still reeling over the death of Eggs, Sookie looking for a kidnapped Bill, Eric trying to sell V (vampire blood used as a drug) to fund the Queen of Louisiana, and Sam out looking for his family.  Although the episode was fascinating and moved all these storylines forward, like most episodes of the show, there wasn't much tying these things together. 

The episode opened with what has to be the longest "previously on..." segment in the history of television.  The show is juggling way too many balls at this point not to be confusing, even to those viewers who have been loyally following (including your's truly.)
It's good also to see some of the book's most interesting characters, including Kendra Jones.  Kendra is always in the background of the early books, and in this episode she gets a brief cameo.  Also seeing the Bellefleur cousins bonding over their mutual killer status was nice.  No other character manages to both be badass and sensitive like Terry Bellefleur.  That badass might be rubbing off on Andy, since he went through Jason's window.  (Also: can someone make a techno song of Andy and Jason's mantra?)  The only thing that's sad is to see Eric at his trashiest and horndoggediness.  As a fan of the books, I want to see Eric like he is in the fourth or later books.  Tara was also hard to watch.  Tara's a great character, but seeing her act like a stereotypical black woman (crazy and violent) was disappointing, since this show is supposed to be all about subverting stereotypes, though the show has always struggled to do so with non-white, non-male characters. 
The show, at this point, is espousing an atheist point of view, which would be fine, if this was a simplistic show.  It would be nice to see the show to work to show an complicated answer to God.  It's also sad that the characters often interested in God are stupid or African American.  In the latter case, it's racist, but in the former, it's simple unimaginative.  Also, in the case of race, is it necessary to make one of the few African American characters to be made a slave to white people and sell drugs, as they have with Lafayette?  Aren't there enough of those stereotypes on tv?  The only thing that was good about it was the interesting commentary about blood and drug use.  The magistrate mentions that using vampire blood for drug use was "blasphemy," a word associated with this simplistic evangelist model.  (The magistrate also mentioned that this situation was "moral anarchy.")  Maybe the show will depict drug use as not so bad or terrible in the same way that sexuality is depicted by fundamentalist Christians.   
Overall, a decent episode, one that was funny in its now-standard way and allowed all the characters the chance to naturally grow.