Air Date: Sunday, June 24, 2012, 9/8C on HBO
RATING:
What would Pam do if Eric never comes back?
This week’s episode features a newly made vampire run amok (because the bitch is crazy); a lonely vampiress who longs for the maker she can’t stop dreaming about (because the bitch is crazy); and a short, small town vampire king who thinks he’s too good for anyone’s “sloppy seconds” (because the bitch is crazy). While I can’t say I loved “Whatever I Am, You Made Me” I can say I didn’t hate it—not too much, anyway.
Observations:
“I’m sorry.” Yeah, so am I for thinking this week’s episode would make sense compared to the farce I like to call the season five premiere. New vamps don’t have control over their desire for blood, so how does Tara (Rutina Wesley) avoid biting into the stranger she meets on the road? I have a theory: it may have to do with the fact Tara was turned with half her brain missing. I guess she hasn’t come back ‘right’ like a certain brain damaged vampire known as Bubba we fans of the Sookie Stackhouse series would relate to. Yup, maybe the writers of True Blood are getting back to the basics. No? I didn’t think so either. I’m sure you’ve noticed her vampire vision was odd. She could see things more clearly but with a kind of luminescence surrounding whatever she looked at. Not only that, she’s hell bent on either permanently maiming or killing herself. Only a lunatic would do something like that and all signs are pointing to yes where Tara is concerned. I don’t like this one bit. It may force Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) into the picture to act as a true maker, but I don’t know what the point would be.
Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) spend yet another day chasing down a vampire. Why? Don’t they realize they can’t catch her no matter how fast they run or how loud they yell Tara’s name? “Tara ran away. She’s too fast; we can’t catch her.” See, if Sookie knows the answer to my question, why bother chasing after Tara to begin with? I get they want to help her but seriously, stop running after a vampire because it’s stupid.
It’s obvious Salome isn’t to be trusted, but what is her agenda?
Bill’s (Stephen Moyer) hairstyles from the days of old are ridiculous. What’s happened to the makeup and costume departments? They make Moyer look like a douche bag and it’s not even funny. You can’t make a man who’s in the prime of his life look younger without CGI. Just ain’t gonna happen and it’s a piss poor attempt that only shows just how far from grace True Blood has fallen.
I’m curious about Pam’s dreams reliving her first encounters with Eric (Alexander Skarsgård). I didn’t think their fallout would hurt her as much as it did, but she can’t seem to forget what Eric means to her. I know she won’t give up looking for him and probably won’t forgive herself for disobeying him, so what will come of her revelations? Does this mean her relationship with Eric will go back to normal or turn into something we haven’t seen yet? Oh, but no, it has something to do with the guilt she has for turning Tara and not taking care of her as she should. Or so I’m guessing. Pam has never been one for guilt though, and I don’t get the woman we’re seeing in these flashbacks. Would the Pam we know willingly force Eric’s hand so he would turn her? It shows a certain desperation from Pam I never thought I’d see. How did she go from that weak-willed human to the tough-as-nails vampire we know? There’s more to the story here but I doubt it’ll be some major breakthrough. I’m thinking it’s just another story arc to entrance viewers without having to do much of anything.
“Your heart. You still let it rule you. It’s a rare quality amongst our kind.” How interesting… Someone (yeah, I’m talking to you, writers) is still out to make Bill the good guy. Making him look like a rarity amongst vampire kind is a nice way to edge out the competition. But what the hell is up with him and his “You know what they say about gentlemen, we don’t talk about sloppy seconds” comment to Eric? (I totally think Bill hasn’t forgotten about being punked back in San Francisco.) Not only does it not fit Bill’s persona, it makes Eric look like an idiot. Who is this Eric Northman? I get that vampires have no qualms about sex but for Eric and Bill both to be taken in by Salome (Valentina Cervi) seems a little odd. Are they both just thinking with the organ between their legs or do they not realize they’re being played? What kind of sheriff and king do we have here? What has happened to these characters?
Will Alcide stay away from Sookie for long or will his heart heal quickly?
Alcide (Joe Manganiello) is all broken up over finding out Sookie killed Debbie (Brit Morgan), but I didn’t feel anything genuine from him when he rages. We know he loved Debbie, but does he completely overlook Sookie telling him Debbie tried to kill her (the woman he has the hots for)? Doesn’t that tidbit count for something? Is he rightly pissed that she lied to him about the whole thing? Can he really blame her? “I have had your back since the day we met!” What, she doesn’t get abjured? I’d like to see a scene where Manganiello doesn’t have to force his tears. I didn’t buy it and I don’t think anyone else did either.
Jason (Ryan Kwanten) has experienced some character growth (I say this without sarcasm) and it makes me wonder what more we can expect to see from him. I like Jason and I’d like to see him do something other than just being stupid. Give Kwanten an opportunity to show his acting chops and I bet he’ll give us a Jason we never thought we’d see.
What the hell is a “sanguinista” and why should I care? Vampire politics is way over my head and needs to be put to rest. It’s boring and nothing seems to come of it but a lot of yelling and posturing by these so-called members of The Authority. This is a prime example of where using the material put forth by Charlaine Harris would make a difference. Her novels don’t sell like hotcakes for nothin’.
Funny lines:
Sookie: “Can I give you a hug without you thinking about my boobs?”
Sam: “Probably not.”
**
Andy “Is that Facebook?” Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) and Hoyt ‘I’m an emo-goth boy’ Fortenberry (Jim Parrack) have their usual small parts to play but I enjoy seeing the two. Knowing Andy is happy and Hoyt is out to prove he’s not just some whipping boy piques my interest. I’m still hanging in here and waiting to be wowed. It hasn’t happened yet and I’m not holding my breath.
Tune in to True Blood, Sundays at 9/8c on HBO. For more information on the show, visit: http://www.hbo.com/#/true-blood.
Follow True Blood on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TrueBloodHBO @TrueBloodHBO using Hashtags #trueblood #waitingsucks #tbmoments.
LIKE True Blood on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TrueBlood?ref=ts.
Photo credit: John P. Johnson/HBO © 2012 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Latest posts by Elle (Posts)
- The Walking Dead Season Finale – “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” Review. It’s Showtime! - April 6, 2017
- The Walking Dead – “Something They Need” Review. Full of Guns and Surprises and Guns. - March 29, 2017
- The Walking Dead – “The Other Side” Review. Girl Power! - March 22, 2017
- The Walking Dead ― “Bury Me Here” Review. The End Is Near. - March 15, 2017