It's Possible I'm Getting Sucked Back In... Review: True Blood – “Who Are You, Really?”

Season 6, Episode 61

Air Date: Sunday, June 16, 2013, 9PM on HBO

RATING: ★★★★★

“It’s time to ditch this party.” – Eric Northman

My sentiments exactly. I remember the days when a True Blood (TB) finale ended with a scream and the following season’s premiere began with a continuation of that scream. It meant a big mystery, the unknown waiting to be revealed, and excitement. Too bad this season premiere doesn’t incite any of that. I no longer get that thrill of a new episode when the theme song, “I Wanna Do Bad Things,” begins to play. Where has this show been led to? I find that I haven’t missed the characters or their stories. While I didn’t love or hate the season six opener, I am left wanting. I can see the beginning of the end for this once great series.

Observations and thoughts:

What I Loved:

Shotgun toting Lala.

The writers have finally realized Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) doesn’t need to be too over the top in his involvement in the supernatural community. I’ve loved his sassy ass since season one and that’s the Lala who has come back after the disaster that was last season. I only hope Ellis continues to showcase the nurturing, caring, shotgun toting cook we’ve come to know and love.

What I Liked:

I don’t want to get my hopes up but there is a little something that made me squee like a fangirl. Eric’s (Alexander Skarsgård) love for Sookie (Anna Paquin) is evident, as is his continued loyalty to her. Did you see the way he jumped to her defense? Not once, but twice! You can’t tell me the vampire isn’t in love. Now, if only Sookie would pull her head out of her ass…

What Didn’t Bode Well:

I’m still clueless as to what’s going on in Louisiana and why I should care. I can’t tell you what happens in this episode because, well… nothing happens. Yeah, the good guys make their escape from Billith (Stephen Moyer), and vampire/human relations are becoming more strained, but with new characters coming into play—like the crazy Governor of Louisiana Creighton Burrell (Arliss Howard), and *spoiler* Niall/Warlow (Rutger Hauer)—the TB world is being flipped on its axis. From the pending vampire/human war to potential convoluted love triangles, I wasn’t bored, but I wasn’t enthralled either. I guess I was expecting more resolution to the events of last season. All we get is the reemergence of Bill as a superpower (ha, ha!), Nora’s (Lucy Griffiths) bossiness going to her head, and Pam’s (Kristin Bauer van Straten) demotion to red-headed stepchild. I dislike seeing these familiar characters turned into strangers due to twisted plotlines only to boost the show’s campiness. Not to mention, some of the acting is sub-par (not including Howard’s ostentatious portrayal of the conniving Governor Burrell) and the only saving grace (besides Lafayette) so far is Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten).

“I’m Bill Compton,” he says. I’m going with Billith.

Speaking of Jason, if he weren’t so stupid, I don’t think Kwanten would be able to do what he does with the character. I’m impressed with his delving into new depths of Jason’s naïveté and lack of sophistication to bring the character into new realms of comic relief. I love every moment Kwanten is on screen. He does an excellent job portraying the clueless and bumbling brother who wants to rid the world of the evil vampires. Too bad he doesn’t know how to go about doing things without getting into more trouble.

Interesting Tidbits:

It’s good to see Sookie hasn’t lost her spunk. She’s always been ready to help a friend in need and she doesn’t hesitate to do so here. Although I have to question her sanity, I can’t fault her for being loyal to Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). It’s hard to find true friends nowadays, especially since they’re becoming deities. “This is not Bill!” And cue the dramatic music…

You know what’s really odd? The episode somewhat mimics events in the final novel of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead Ever After (DEA). I would say it should be the other way around, but I don’t believe that’s the case at all. There are comparable scenes in “Who Are You, Really?” about Sookie wanting her old life back that ring true to her feelings and actions in DEA. She wants to be far removed from vampires and their politics. You go, girl! (Considering the parallels, I’m curious if Charlaine Harris wrote the final novel based on any knowledge of TB’s directive.) But what do I know?

It's Possible I'm Getting Sucked Back In... Review: True Blood – “Who Are You, Really?” 1

This dynamic duo isn’t so dynamic anymore.

I’m not sure why the change in heart has come about, but it doesn’t do much for TB’s ‘major’ plotline concerning Sookie and Eric being in a relationship. Not only is the turn of events unbelievable, it doesn’t coincide with the way things have been going. Just what is supposed to come of Sookie and Eric’s separation? Will Sookie simply go back to waitressing and living life as a telepathic Southern belle who tries her darnedest to stay out of people’s heads? Will Eric return to Shreveport and continue his role as Sheriff of Area Five? Oh wait, he hasn’t really been taking to his sheriff duties as of late now, has he? I don’t know the ins and outs of the coming season so I can only make assumptions at this point.

Funny lines:

Jessica: “You mean you wanna kill Bill?”

(Love the movie reference.)

Eric to Nora: “Jason? He’s never read a book in his life.”

Lafayette: “Wrong place at the wrong fucking time ought to be my fucking middle name.”

Jason: “I see dead people. Well, not all dead people; just my parents. And they’ve gotten kind of racist and scary since going to heaven.”

The ultimate trifecta.

As premieres go, this one doesn’t suck royally but it doesn’t make me look forward to what’s to come either. I can see the different direction TB is going in, and the efforts of the writers and producers might be in vain. “Who Are You, Really?” is beyond strange and doesn’t have the typical TB feel. The damage is irrevocable. TB is near dead to me (har, har). I’m willing to give season six a go, with reservations. But don’t let my feelings sway you. Tell me what you’re looking forward to this season.

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Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle