Written by Laura Dengrove
We aren’t in Kansas anymore, but we may finally be in Bon Temps once again.
As the infectious second episode, “I Found You” begins (with a glorious sex scene only fan fiction-ers could only come up with in their wildest dreams), everyone in Bon Temps is trying to wrap their heads around what happened in the previous episode. There’s still a heavy hangover from the Hep V infected vampires’ “nightcap” at the town’s fancy vampire/human together togetherness party. Sookie (Anna Paquin) and company head to another town to investigate, the gang foolishly leave all the townsfolk behind to decide for themselves what to do.
Nothing says good idea like leaving a bunch of paranoid hillbillies to fend for themselves.
As paranoia spreads, and the good old American DIY attitude grows, Bon Temps becomes the battlefield that it always eventually becomes.
Seriously, Bon Temps has seen more action than the woods in this show has.
But as some characters prepare for war, others are just trying to reach some normalcy again. Some even go as far as to reverting back to the characters that they once were, such as Lettie Mae (the terrific Adina Porter), who is falling back into dark places to keep in contact with her recently departed daughter Tara (Rutina Wesley). Also, there’s Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), who’s just trying to stay away from all of the supernatural stuff that goes on in the town. Even Sookie herself yearns for the good old days, when she didn’t know vampires, and there was more than just one guy pining for her.
These character developments, however, are a good sign. A sign that the Bon Temps everyone once knew and loved were coming back.
The writers seem to finally realize the difference between being over-the-top and bringing all the characters into a harmonious plot. With this, the show has become less confusing (let’s just remember the raping werepanthers, smoke monster, and any story line heavily involving Arlene), more entertaining, and reminiscent of the first sip of True Blood.
The writing isn’t the only good thing about this episode; the acting surpasses (so far) the last few seasons performances. The show seems to be striving for more realistic performances, in particular, Anna Paquin and Adina Porter. These are raw performances, which we haven’t seen since Season 1 or Season 2. Emmys may be in the future for these two lovely ladies.
Along with the acting and writing, the cliffhangers have also improved. They are more shocking and less predictable than the last few seasons have been. The newest cliffhanger left me breathless and completely shocked, which is extremely hard to do, so good job True Blood!
While the episode was better than the past three seasons, some minor improvements should be made.
The plotline involving Arlene (Carrie Preston), and every other bad character to be introduced to the show, Holly (Lauren Bowles) and Nicole (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), while somewhat improved, is still too long and takes way too much camera time. We get it, they were kidnapped and are trying to get out, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing if one or two of them were to die? For the sake of the show, True Blood writers, please kill off Arlene, she hasn’t been funny or entertaining since season one and even that was a stretch. Or at least get rid of Holly, she only really had a story season four, and she wasn’t even really needed then.
Along with this, is the extremely bad acted Willa (Amelia Rose Blaire) storyline really necessary? Yes, she is crucial to the Lettie Mae plot, but that can only go so far before it becomes extremely tiresome and annoying.
All in all, the episode was good, which is a far cry from the usual cold blood served to the viewers every Sunday night. The series does have a long ways to go if it ever wishes to be how it once was, but it is on the right track. Just a few more funny one liners from characters, like Andy’s (Chris Bauer), “Jason’s pizza forensics” line, more scenes involving Eric, and tighter plotlines and characters, and the show may find its way back home before it meets the True Death.
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Review: True Blood, Season 6 Premiere (Marla Pachter)
Review: True Blood, Season 6 Finale (Marla Pachter)
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Laura Dengrove is the one of youngest members of the Pop-Break staff and is a critic for television/movies of all types on Pop-Break. Just having closed out her senior year, she will be studying to obtain her bachelors degree at Rutgers University for Journalism/Public Relations. She was the editor for the Arts and Entertainment section of her school newspaper, runs her own blog (Pop Culture Darling), and interns for Design New Jersey. She also has an in-depth knowledge about all things True Blood and an avid Eric and Sookie shipper.
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