June 14, 2009 - Last season, I loved the novelty and unexpected twists and turns of True Blood. This season, I'm a little more prepared, having read the source material, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, during the break. However, this show still packs a huge punch and the opening scene alone of "Nothing But the Blood" is so intense and shocking that I cursed, twice, before the disturbing opening credits. (And I'm glad to see that the credits remain the same as last season – but who picked the images for that opening sequence? They are either completely mad or a total genius. Perhaps a bit of both.)
Season 2 begins right where we left off – Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) screaming with a drunk Andy, finding a body in his car. Sam joins them while they identify the body and the show delivers a wild ride for the next hour. In fact, the worst part of this episode is the end – because the cliffhanger endings on this show are enough to drive a person mad, waiting a full week to see the story continue. One very welcome resolution in this hour: we do find out the fate of Lafeyette (Nelsan Ellis), so at least we're not left hanging there.
Since Bill (Stephen Moyer) hasn't been a parent in over 100 years, it's highly entertaining to watch his relationship with Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). He lectures her on vampire rule – and also, they recycle in this house. It's a bit surreal, but like a typical teenage girl she's thoroughly unimpressed with him, but really wants a cell phone.
Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Sookie seem to have a pretty decent relationship, moving past all the family chaos of last season. It doesn't mean he'll always be completely honest with her. He's looking for meaning to life and still missing Amy (Lizzy Caplan), and he's still pursuing his newfound interest in the Fellowship of the Sun. It'll be interesting to see where that takes him.
Tara's mean mama, Lettie Mae (Adina Porter), suffers a shock with a recent death, which makes me wonder what that will do to her. Regardless if she stays sober or not, Maryann (Michelle Forbes) takes on Lettie Mae – and it could make for an interesting fight over Tara. These two tough women are so different, but both powerful; how much influence over Tara would Maryann need, to get Tara to shut her back on her mama forever? I'm not sure it could happen, and I'm not sure Tara will ever be her own woman, at this rate. She seems destined to be controlled.
We get some backstory on young Sam (Sam Trammell) and how he knows Maryann; and as a bonus, we get to see her vibrate again. And remember last season, when Sam packed up a bag full of money? We see where that money came from.
They really pack so much into each episode of this show. It's an hour filled with big plot developments, a ton of little details, plenty of gratuitous sex, and some disturbing gore-filled scenes. There's no doubt this is the highlight of television this summer – sure to please both vampire fans and connoisseurs of quality TV.
Season 2 begins right where we left off – Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) screaming with a drunk Andy, finding a body in his car. Sam joins them while they identify the body and the show delivers a wild ride for the next hour. In fact, the worst part of this episode is the end – because the cliffhanger endings on this show are enough to drive a person mad, waiting a full week to see the story continue. One very welcome resolution in this hour: we do find out the fate of Lafeyette (Nelsan Ellis), so at least we're not left hanging there.
Since Bill (Stephen Moyer) hasn't been a parent in over 100 years, it's highly entertaining to watch his relationship with Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). He lectures her on vampire rule – and also, they recycle in this house. It's a bit surreal, but like a typical teenage girl she's thoroughly unimpressed with him, but really wants a cell phone.
Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Sookie seem to have a pretty decent relationship, moving past all the family chaos of last season. It doesn't mean he'll always be completely honest with her. He's looking for meaning to life and still missing Amy (Lizzy Caplan), and he's still pursuing his newfound interest in the Fellowship of the Sun. It'll be interesting to see where that takes him.
Tara's mean mama, Lettie Mae (Adina Porter), suffers a shock with a recent death, which makes me wonder what that will do to her. Regardless if she stays sober or not, Maryann (Michelle Forbes) takes on Lettie Mae – and it could make for an interesting fight over Tara. These two tough women are so different, but both powerful; how much influence over Tara would Maryann need, to get Tara to shut her back on her mama forever? I'm not sure it could happen, and I'm not sure Tara will ever be her own woman, at this rate. She seems destined to be controlled.
We get some backstory on young Sam (Sam Trammell) and how he knows Maryann; and as a bonus, we get to see her vibrate again. And remember last season, when Sam packed up a bag full of money? We see where that money came from.
They really pack so much into each episode of this show. It's an hour filled with big plot developments, a ton of little details, plenty of gratuitous sex, and some disturbing gore-filled scenes. There's no doubt this is the highlight of television this summer – sure to please both vampire fans and connoisseurs of quality TV.
