True Blood 07/25

Sunday's episode of True Blood continues to pick up the pace from last week. And for the first time since the season started, things are really starting to go somewhere. But, the number of sub plots and characters continues to bring everything down a notch. There is just too much screen time spent with Jason, Sam, and Lafayette right now that is badly needed elsewhere.

So, Sookie has been kidnapped and brought to King's place. Eric is playing gay-man to earn favor (so he can get close enough to kill the King). Vampire Bill is in deep trouble, having betrayed his new King to help Sookie. Lafayette goes on a date that goes wrong. Jason is dumb, and a complete dick for no reason. Jessica is hungry. Tara is still trapped, but finds it easy to manipulate her 'future vampire husband'. Sam connects to his brother, and figures out long after the audience what is up with his family. And the Queen is forced to agree to a political marriage with the King of Mississippi.

Even with all of that, the episode was definitely better than last weeks. The scenes between Lorena and Bill were very well done. And I even liked the scenes between Sam and Tommy--Tommy is acting less of a pure dick now, which makes him a more interesting character. Eric is playing his game...though the actor is seriously over-acting in a bad way. They are definitely starting to explore more of Sookie's nature...I'm interested to see where that goes exactly (I wonder if she's going to be more supernatural in nature than she seems to be at first glance).

Though True Blood often ends on a cliffhanger, the one for this week was more effective than most. Even if it was telegraphed well in advance. And the preview for next week's episode was very cool. And it looks like certain plots are starting to merge, which hopefully will help with the pacing as well.

Other notes...

- Is it just me, or is Jason just not very cool this season. Jason works because he is dumb, yet likable. This season he's been dumb, and very unlikable. His dickishness in this episode was a good example of that.
- Why aren't we seeing more of Jessica? She's a cool character, but is always left completely behind by everyone. The mash up of Jessica and Arlene is very cool though, I have to admit that.
- Obviously Crystal is a shape shifter. That was pretty much confirmed when Jason commented on just how hot she was (and he wasn't referring to her looks). If I remember correctly, Jason married a woman named Crystal in the books...or was that someone else? She also obviously connected with the drug-dealing group that have been screwing with Lafayette. So I'm guessing that Jason and Lafayette's stories will start coming together at some point.
- Sam spent most of last season in his own little show until near the end. This one is pretty much the same. It's too bad really, since he's the most charismatic male actor on the cast IMO. Sam's problems with his white-trash family are just annoying though. But fortunately Tommy is becoming a more interesting character, slowly but surely.
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