True Blood – “I Smell a Rat” – review

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I’m trying very hard to wait for the end of this season before I make sweeping judgments about the direction the show is going, but it’s hard.  For me it’s running dangerously close to capsizing and has been for a couple episodes now.  However.  I will maintain my microcosmic view and talk about the episode at hand only, since the season finale’s fast-approaching.

First, the Russell having a psychotic break and killing that poor hooker in Talbot’s effigy was…ineffectual.  I know it was supposed to make Russell more sympathetic, oh, look how much he loved Talbot, but he was already sympathetic in that way from last episode, crawling through his lover’s remains and carrying him around in an urn while he swore vengeance.  This just made Russell no good as a villain, if he’s just going to be tragic and broken and truly mad.  Where’s the challenge or satisfaction in conquering that? 

The Eric martyr mentality/manipulating Sookie into kissing him “goodbye” = trying to walk the line between not alienating people like me who don’t like the triangle or understand either his obsession with her or why she would want him over Bill, and pleasing people who are on Team Eric. (Team Eric in the sense of wanting Sookie to get with him not just thinking he’s hotter, which I totally do…I just don’t like him with Sookie or Sookie with him. They don’t fit.)  And it was kind of lame.  It was enough to annoy me and not enough to satisfy my friend on T.E.  So, what was the point of it, then?  Quit trying to be a soap opera and just commit to one direction or the other. 

Two best quotes: 

• “I’m a fairy?  How fucking lame is that?”  Truer words, girlfriend. 
• “They’s a whole new kind of trash.”  Again, truer words, girlfriend. 

The reveal of what Crystal is came way too late to be shocking or even particularly interesting to the audience.  I suppose the only real tension there is how Jason deals with it, but Jason is so confused about the world right now I’m not sure it’s going to be even the same level of what-the-fuckery for him as actually admitting he killed Eggs to Tara was.  I’m glad he came clean to her, though, especially if there’s a risk of her falling back into her schoolgirl crush on her BFF’s brother.

No werewolves at all?  Are they just going to run back to Mississippi and disappear?  Surely they come back into the mix at some point…right?

Jesus and Lafayette had an interesting V trip together wherein we uncover Jesus’s secret Santeria powers.  I kind of like that he has some Mexican magic in his background.  It’s why he said Lafayette has power, because he has the same power and recognized it in Lafayette.  And if they’re going to through Greek gods and fairies into the mix, why not Santeria?  I wonder if this is going anywhere other than soulmate ville?  Is Jesus not as benign as he appears, or is he going to lead Lafayette down the primrose path to black magic?

Sam’s flashbacks were the most interesting part of the episode to me.  He clearly has a much darker past than we imagined.  It kind of lends a different perspective to his treatment of his family, his easy-going attitude, and his breaking point. 

Second favorite part of the episode was Jessica and Hoyt getting back together.  Do you think that was the intention Tommy had in fighting Hoyt?  Or a development likely to create more drama with Tommy?

And, finally, everybody take a collective moment to roll our eyes at the obvious plot point that Sookie’s fairy blood giving only a few minutes of sun protection being all Eric’s going to need to kill Russell.  Gee, that’s not obvious.

3 Comments

1. 

   booboobear

   August 25, 2010 at 12:55 pm

   I don’t agree that the show is “dangerously close to capsizing and has been for a couple episodes now”. The numbers of people watching are breaking records every single week, this is the most successful show HBO has ever had and it continues to be so. I understand that “Eric” fans/teams are not happy, but this is not the book story, this is Alan Ball’s story and I am still eagerly awaiting every Sunday night, still sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment of my favorite show. I agree that Sookie’s blood giving Eric only a few minutes of sun protection is obviously not going to be enough time for him to kill Russell, but those kinds of things happen when you make split second decision to kill someone for vengeance WITHOUT A PLAN. Eric put himself and everyone in the show in danger by acting so impulsively, without a thought, a plan or a care for anyone else. Unless there is a huge surprise, he will be in an urn soon also, along with Sookie and Bill and everyone else he endangered. His actions last week and the week before completely convinced me that he has lost it, he is no longer in control of anything, himself or otherwise and he needs help. Wonder who he will need to ask for help in staying alive?

   Reply
2. 

   Lela

   August 26, 2010 at 3:21 am

   I agree with Boo, the show is hotter than ever with ratings through the roof. HBO has such a winner on its hands and I attribute it mostly to the out and out uniqueness of the show as well as its two main leads. Stephen M and Anna P have amazing chemistry on and off screen. I adore Bills character and watch mainly for him.
   I will agree with your review about Eric and Sookie. Dont see the connection and do not care for them together. I believe in true love, but I know Bill and Sookie will break up for a while for the villain Eric to step in.
   Eric is a despicable character. You described him correctly when you called him a mentally manipulating martyr. He is that and worse, a spoiled child throwing tantrums when he does not get his way. I dont see him as a romantic lead, he is just the bully on the playground.

   Reply
3. 

   denise locklear

   August 30, 2010 at 6:36 pm

   i think eric would make a o.k. leading man. if they take him off the show i would not watch it. also i like the werewolf man i think hin and sookie would make a good couple. i think bill and sookie make THE couple but sometimes its noy ment to be.

   Reply