True Blood Weekly Lowdown: Fresh Blood

This is the next to last episode of True Blood, and HBO is going to torture us like a bad vampire by having a two week hiatus.  I feel like the buildup to the finale isn't as strong as it was last season.  We wanted to know how Maryann was going to die, because she really needed to go.

Eric

I'd actually like to see Russell stick around, but that would be a problem for the the main characters, especially Eric.  So unless something really big happens, I'm already looking at Waterford crystal urns to place his remains in...see?

Yes. THIS Waterford Urn - The Lismore Pattern.

Bill shows up at Fangtasia, looking really good actually. Stephen Moyer is pretty hot in person so it sucks that his makeup on the show is so bad. Pam sprays him with silver and they fight. Turns out, Bill is older, thus stronger than her. Yvetta, pissed off at Eric, released Sookie from the dungeon. I really hated Sookie's dialogue this episode, it was so forced. She curses like someone that has never actually heard another person use curse words before. Pam nearly blinds Bill, but Sookie strangles her with a silver chain and then they escape, but not before Pam tells Sook that she was supposed to be a gift for Russell.

CrystalMeth tells Jason what she is, and he could not care less. So, your sister has almost been killed by werewolves and vampires and you think the best thing to do is hook up with a werepanther? This girl couldn't be more white trash if she tried. He leaves to look for Sookie, but stops by Bon Temp's football stadium. Kitch, the local football hero, is throwing passes with his friends and being fussed at by his girlfriend.  (Why are all the blonde women, except Pam, in Bon Temps so annoying?)  Jason notices that something weird about Kitch's throwing--he's on V.   Apparently, everyone is and no one cares that he's using.  Jason may be dumb, but he's not a cheater.  If that whole "Let's Infiltrate a DEA Raid" thing goes well, because really, then Jason could get his revenge on Kitch.  Or at least slap him for having such a stupid name.

Jessica and Hoyt are back together, finally!  He's feeling the affects of having Jessica's blood in his body and is loving it.  Jessica has always been a little embarrassed about the things that come with being a vampire, but Hoyt loves her flaws.  Maybe a little too much.  She tells him about the trucker she killed and he doesn't care.  She needs to feed, so why not on him? Meanwhile, Jesus and Lafayette are coming down off their high.  Jesus wants to use again, ("Just like a virgin!") to try to see more of his ancestors, but Laffy advises against it.  It doesn't help that he hallucinates Jesus looking like a demon.  He asks Jesus to leave and later wakes up to his collection of dolls taunting him.  I'd probably have a heart attack if a Blythe doll (which I adore) came to life and started taunting me about not having a boyfriend. The horror!

Russell at the Museum

Russell is hanging out at the Jackson Art Museum, checking out some paintings with his dear Talbot. He senses Eric and asks why he killed his dear lover. "There are consequences, even for Russell Edgington."  Eric decides to make him a deal, if he doesn't believe that he can be shown the wonders of daywalking, he is free to kill Eric the next day.

Russell stops Sookie's car

Cut to Bill and Sookie talking about what a normal life for them would be like.  This scene felt weird and soap opera-ish.  Thank God, Eric and Russell swooped in to stop them in the middle of the road.  The four of them cramped into Sookie's little car, they head back to Fangtasia. Eric asks Bill to hit him and they start a fake fight, and he tells him about his plan.  Eric and Pam share another touching moment, "You know I love you when you're cold and heartless." Sookie doesn't get it, (does she ever?) and says she hates everyone. Bad timing girl.

Sam's storyline has been all over the place. Last week we got another peak into his past. He waltzes into Merlotte's, drunk, and calls sweetheart Terry a "shell shocked bastard." Holly quits after he goes off on her and Arlene. He fires Tommy and kicks him out of his house. Tommy has been hit or miss for me, but it was a little sad to watch him beg Sam to let him keep his job and stay with him. After visiting Egg's grave, Tara finds Andy sitting by himself. She confronts him about what really happened and that she knows that Jason is the one that killed Eggs. Andy apologizes, he was just trying to make things right. Hopefully now Tara can fully move on. Eggs was cute, but he wasn't that cute. After he kicks everyone out, Sam sits and drinks with Tara.  He's tired of being the go to nice guy, but that's what you are Sam!  Tara and Sam were almost and item in Season 1 because they were really the only two each other could relate to. After Sam got over Sookie, he had a fling with her but nothing really came out of it. So they kiss and Sam asks "You feel like dropping by my nasty ass trailer?!"  Um yes, yes Sam I do! Commence screwing!

Holly, performing the ritual...

Arlene is desperate to get rid of her "evil baby" so she lets Holly perform a ritual to asks the spirits to basically abort the child. Holly tells her to drink a tea everyday and then it's up to the Gods. If the baby is meant to be born, then there's nothing they can do about it."Sacrifice. Nothing's free." Oh hell. Terry wakes Arlene, who is covered in blood. She is almost too happy that she seems to have had a miscarriage. She does her best to hide her obvious excitement from Terry, but they go to the hospital anyways. Turns out, the baby survived. So I guess that means that her baby really is some kind of evil.

Back at Fangtasia, Eric and Russell eagerly await daylight so that they can see if Sookie's blood really gives them the ability to daywalk. Eric goes first, stunned at first to be able to be out in the sun and not burn. Eventually he does but hides it from the view of the security cameras Pam and Russell watch from. Bill screams to get free so he can heal Sookie by giving her his blood, but Pam ignores him. Um, vampires are daywalking her Bill, no one cares about your girlfriend right now. As Russell makes his way outside, Eric handcuffs him and both burn in the sunlight.

Well, this is a pretty good plan from Eric, but how will he escape death without burning up himself? Again, I hope the finale delivers because the buildup is boring and feels a bit uninspired. What happened to the werewolves that had been after Sookie? Tommy was shown breaking into Sam's safe, to take money? Turns out Hoyt's mother sent Summer to try and seduce him, although she failed. She even offered up her virginity, bless her heart. Of course at the end, I start to care about the characters again.

I have a feeling True Blood will be going out with a big bang.