True Blood S3 Ep 6

[caliente_uk]

Wow, that was one blood thirsty episode, wasn't it?

Things I Liked:

* Loved the action packed beginning.

* Especially Talbot screaming when the house was wrecked. :D

* Not really surprised by Eric leaving Sookie to her fate (for now) so he can concentrate on taking his revenge on the King. At this point, I don't think he really has much choice - especially if he still wants to save Pam. And I somehow doubt that Sookie's in any real danger from Russell at the moment, as he's too interested in finding out who - or what - she is.

* Russell is turning out to be a great villain, and is becoming scarier by the minute! He also comes out with some great one-liners.

* Love the chemistry between Lafayette and Jesus, but I knew it was all going too well to last. Poor Lafayette!

* Loved the Jessica and Arlene scenes. They play off each other well.

* I'm enjoying Jason/Crystal, and am looking forward to seeing how their storyline plays out in comparison to the books. In fact, I can't help but love Jason, so the more scenes there are with him the better. *pets him*

* Sookie impersonating Eric's voice, like she did with Bill. Hee, love it!

* Franklin in his silky pyjamas. He has a lovely pert bottom!

* Yay for Tara fighting back at last!

* Loved every scene with Eric - his fake smile, flirting with Russell, his scenes with Queen Sophie, telling Sookie to shut up (which I loved), etc. I'm looking forward to when he finally turns on King Russell, and shows him how he REALLY feels about him!

* Bill being tortured by Lorena - I can't bring myself to feel too sorry for him, after what he's done in the last few episodes.

* And scenes like this are why I can't feel bad for Lorena when horrible things happen to her - she enjoys inflicting pain on people herself. I know she says she doesn't want to hurt Bill, but it doesn't stop her from doing it.

* Debbie Pelt and Cooter are very well suited.

* I'm definitely warming to Tommy.

* Dog fighting! So that's what Sam's dad is up to - he's their handler, and is forcing them to fight.

* OMG! Franklin! That was horrible! But somehow, I don't think that's the last we're going to see of him. He's going to be so pissed when his head grows back! And even more psycho, if that's even possible.

* But I don't blame Tara for doing it. Yay! We have kick-ass Tara back!

* Alcide!

* Oh no! Lorena!

Things I Didn't Like:

* Yuk - I didn't like the biting scene between Tara and Franklin. It made me feel sick to my stomach, as did the head-caving scene. I understood why she did it, but I didn't like it.


* I completely agree with Tara when she calls Sookie stupid. Sookie forgives Bill far too easily, doesn't she? I much prefer her when she's apart from him. She becomes way too reckless as soon as he's back on the scene, and seems to lose what little common sense that she has. It's annoying!

Has she forgotten how he treated her? And how he left her best friend for dead? What's happened to the Sookie of the last few episodes? She'll never learn, will she? It's like all the character progression of the season never happened, and we're just back to square one where Sookie and Bill are concerned. Even finding out that he's been keeping a file on her didn't have an effect. Don't get me wrong, I like Bill, but I really wish Sookie would stop forgiving him so easily.

I like Sookie as a character, and I expect more from her than that. Disappointing.



But other than that, I loved the rest of the episode. Can't wait for next week!

Comments

[shapinglight]

The episode was a mixed bag, as TB eps tend to be. There were things I loved all mixed in with things I didn't love as much and things I didn't like at all. Overall, though, it'll take an awful lot more than fountains of fake blood to make me not like this show, Sookie's blind spot about Bill notwithstanding.

In other words, I agree with you. :)

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Overall, though, it'll take an awful lot more than fountains of fake blood to make me not like this show, Sookie's blind spot about Bill notwithstanding.

I feel exactly the same. I hope Sookie wakes up to the fact that Bill isn't perfect eventually, but it definitely won't effect my love of the show if she doesn't.

In other words, I agree with you. :)

That's good to hear. :)

[shapinglight]

In other words, I agree with you. :)

That's good to hear. :)

We two, we happy two....

[unbridled-b.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why fans keep criticizing Bill for doing to Tara in the last episode the exact same thing Eric did to Sookie in this one. Yes, Bill left Tara in Franklin's crazy clutches. What else could he have done? He was trying, at that time, to convince the king he was on his side, and he was doing so in order to protect Sookie. That's no different than Eric ignoring Sookie's pleas for help and playing Russell's game in order to save Pam, yet for some reason Eric is called clever and Bill is labeled a villain. I don't think one vamp is any more villainous or heroic than the other, but I like them both so maybe that's why.

I did not like Tara bashing my man Franklin's head in with a mace. I'm glad she got her desire to live back, and I'm glad she's no longer willing to play the victim...but that was just hard to watch. Still, at least she didn't stake him.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

We two, we happy two....

I sometimes feel like there aren't that many of us around who enjoy this show in our little corner of LJ. So I'm glad your opinion of the show mostly mirrors mine! :)

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Not really surprised by Eric leaving Sookie to her fate (for now) so he can concentrate on taking his revenge on the King. At this point, I don't think he really has much choice - especially if he still wants to save Pam. And I somehow doubt that Sookie's in any real danger from Russell at the moment, as he's too interested in finding out who - or what - she is.

Yeah. Pretty much. I just basically consider Eric as having a priority list. Since the King is so fascinated by what Sookie is, Eric doesn't consider her in immediate danger which leaves him with a priority list of

1. Pam. She has something like only 24 hours left so he must rescue her.
2. Revenge. He's wanted it for 1000 years.
3. Sookie. If he takes the King out(as he's planning) he'll essentially be 'rescuing' her by default. I'm not saying he's right, just that I think that's the way he's prioritized it in his head.
4. Well... Eric doesn't give a rat's ass about Bill. So if Bill is killed? *Eric shrug*

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I think one thing that's disturbing is that for all Bill knew Tara was upstairs being constantly raped (and I'm so glad the show didn't actually go there because it was right there and could have been gone to at any second). Whereas, Eric doesn't have to worry about the King raping Sookie, nor does he seriously think that the King will kill Sookie right this minute. The King is interested in what Sookie is. Plus, Eric no doubt plans to kill the King so Sookie will be rescued after he's had his revenge. Plus, in most immediate danger is Pam who needs rescuing first.

None of which should prevent Sookie from being hella pissed because Eric has pretty much put her down at the bottom of his list of priorities (and Bill doesn't even rank on his list so I can see her being pissed about that too). But for whatever reason it doesn't feel as though Sookie is in as much immediate danger. The King is sane and curious about Sookie. Franklin is just psychotic (though hilarious! :) However, Eric is still being incredibly ruthless about all of it.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

I don't think one vamp is any more villainous or heroic than the other, but I like them both so maybe that's why.

Well, neither do I. I like both vamps, and all this Team Eric and Team Bill nonsense gets on my nerves.

I'm not criticising Bill for what he did to Tara - I agree, it's very much the same thing as what Eric does to Sookie in this episode. The person I'm actually criticising is Sookie, as I don't think she should forgive Bill quite as easily as she does in this episode.

Still, at least she didn't stake him.

Yes, that was very hard to watch! I'm glad she didn't stake him too, as he's such an interesting character to watch.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I kind of had an issue with how she didn't listen to Tara at all concerning the Bill issue.

That said, I don't resent Sookie's stance. Just roll my eyes. I find her amusingly dimwitted, so I get sort of perverse amusement when she's being noteworthily dim.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with pretty much everything you say here. Eric knows Sookie isn't in any immediate danger, but Bill doesn't know that about Tara. Plus, I think we expect Eric to behave in the way that he does, but we've come to expect better than that from Bill.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

I kind of had an issue with how she didn't listen to Tara at all concerning the Bill issue.

Yes, she wasn't willing to take any notice of what Tara had to say at all.

I agree, Sookie can be a bit dim at times (something she has in common with Jason *g*) and I don't usually mind it, but I just found the whole blind spot where Bill is concerned annoying in this episode.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Well... Eric doesn't give a rat's ass about Bill. So if Bill is killed? *Eric shrug*

Yep, that sounds just about right to me! :D

I agree with all of your points here, and #3 is exactly how I see Eric's mind working too.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Especially Talbot screaming when the house was wrecked. :D

And he kept looking at the big hole in the ceiling...

Russell is turning out to be a great villain, and is becoming scarier by the minute! He also comes out with some great one-liners.

Russell is absolutely one of my favorite all time villains, such a great character. Totally evil and enjoying every moment of it.

Loved the Jessica and Arlene scenes. They play off each other well.

Arlene taking Garlique to ward off Jessica, Jessica glamouring the customers to stiff Arlene's tips.

Franklin in his silky pyjamas. He has a lovely pert bottom!

"cough" You noticed that as well...

Dog fighting! So that's what Sam's dad is up to - he's their handler, and is forcing them to fight.

Yup and now Big Brother is going to try and save him.

Loved every scene with Eric - his fake smile, flirting with Russell, his scenes with Queen Sophie, telling Sookie to shut up (which I loved), etc. I'm looking forward to when he finally turns on King Russell, and shows him how he REALLY feels about him!

Those are the worst fake smiles evah which is why they're hilarious.

[unbridled-b.livejournal.com]

But again what could Bill have actually done? Russell is far stronger than him (as evidenced in last night's episode) and, from what we've seen, also more clever. Bill couldn't really have saved Tara if he tried and he knew that. I can't blame him for deciding not to blow his cover just to embark on an effort that was certain to fail; that would have been foolish.

As for Franklin constantly raping Tara...I really hope not. Since the kidnapping, we saw no evidence of them having sex until last night's episode, and even that was more a case of dubious consent than forcible rape. Tara agreed to sleep with him (even pretended to "seduce" him) not because she wanted to, but because she knew it would offer her a chance at escape. Still traumatic, I'm sure, but not nearly so much so as being constantly forced into it.

Of course, realistically, a stalker holding his victim prisoner like that would be almost certain to rape her. However, the writers seem to be playing Franklin for laughs, and I can't imagine them doing that if Tara were actually being put through the trauma of repeated sexual violence. That would be extremely distasteful, to say the least.

[unbridled-b.livejournal.com]

I'm not criticising Bill for what he did to Tara - I agree, it's very much the same thing as what Eric does to Sookie in this episode. The person I'm actually criticising is Sookie, as I don't think she should forgive Bill quite as easily as she does in this episode.

Oh, okay. I misunderstood. Sorry about that! :)

I can understand being frustrated with Sookie, especially in regards to her dismissal of Tara. However, I'm not sure she actually forgives Bill. It's just that she knows he's in danger and right now all she can focus on his finding a way to help him. That doesn't mean that once they are free she won't scream at him for his stupidity; she just knows now isn't the time. Plus, he's been drained into unconsciousness, and he probably wouldn't hear her anyway. :P

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm not saying that Franklin was upstairs raping her. I was constantly fearful that the show would go there next because there was absolutely nothing preventing it, but thankfully the show mostly sidestepped the issue. I'm glad. There's enough problems without their going there. That said, there's no reason for Bill to have thought that it wasn't going on, because, honestly, it would be the most likely assumption to make.

I don't have any great preference between Bill/Eric so it doesn't matter much to me which is perceived as "better". It's just that if the question is why do some viewers react differently to what is, as you point out, not all that different a situation, it's that I think that part of the answer is the perception of imminent harm. Sookie has the whole light-thingie going on, The King is sane, and the King has no sexual interest in her, so it doesn't seem to the audience that Sookie might be raped and murdered at any moment. Tara, on the other hand, was in danger of both, constantly.

So, yeah, the Eric/Bill situation is essentially the same, but the audience has reacted differently to it. I think that may be because the set-ups have come across a bit differently in regards to what the audience perceives as an imminent threat of harm done to the female character.

*shrug* I'm not really either Team Eric or Team Bill. And, frankly, I'm a bit a amused by Sookie's bias and stupidity, so it's not all that big of an either/or issue for me.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this.

Tara is in immediate danger and being traumatized. Sookie is the new pet they've collected that's too "valuable" (as Eric puts it) to harm. I wonder if the way Eric stressed that word was an indirect way of drivig home that Russell shouldn't want to injure her. Because in other circumstances, I think Eric would want to downplay how valuable Sookie was in order to lower the changes of someone else taking an interest in her and becoming more competition for Eric (more besides Bill).

Then there's also the fact that Bill's been playing as more the righteous and good vampire, while Eric's never claimed to be anything but a vampire who cares nothing for humans.

And from what I've heard about future books, every time Eric says he cares nothing for Sookie, it's partially about denying her power of influence over him. So considering he keeps reminding her again and again, I think he's also trying to remind himself.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

You've totally got Eric's priorities down!

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Then there's also the fact that Bill's been playing as more the righteous and good vampire, while Eric's never claimed to be anything but a vampire who cares nothing for humans.

Yes, this. Bill has made a point (over the last two seasons) of showing us his human side, so we can't help but feel disappointed when he then shows us something different to what we expect from him. Eric, otoh, has never pretended to be anything other than what he is, so we react in a different way to him.

I like how complex Bill is becoming this season, though. It makes him more interesting to watch.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Oh absolutely, Bill is way more interesting this season. My problem is that Sookie's not really reacting to the complexity and darkness, but granted, she hasn't seen what we've seen. I mostly just want to shake her for it.

And now I'm remember how she discovered Bill had killed her great-uncle back in early S2, and then got over it fairly quickly and they had incredible make-up sex. *sigh* Sookie's judgment when it comes to Bill goes beyond love-lorn and becomes out-and-out stupid.

And I like Sookie. I just wanna shake her sometimes.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

"cough" You noticed that as well...

I certainly did. *g*

Those are the worst fake smiles evah which is why they're hilarious.

Yes, they really are, which is why I love them so much!

Russell is absolutely one of my favorite all time villains, such a great character. Totally evil and enjoying every moment of it.

He's so good! There have been some wonderful new characters this season.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Sookie's judgment when it comes to Bill goes beyond love-lorn and becomes out-and-out stupid.

And I like Sookie. I just wanna shake her sometimes.

Right there with you. Sookie can be a strong, kick-ass character when she wants to be, but when it comes to Bill all of that goes out of the window. It's so frustrating!

[reddwarfette.livejournal.com]

It was all awesome and I agree completely with your lists! The other thing I enjoyed for some reason was Sophie-Anne being put in her place - she really doesn't like it when no one is intimidated by her fangs. Russell and Talbot are hilarious, gosh I hope they stay around for a while :)

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

It was a fabulous episode! And I completely agree with you about Sophie-Ann. Russell and Talbot are wonderful! I'm so hoping they stay around for a while, too. :)