Monsters of Television

“Please don’t kill me, I’m pregnant. That probably just makes you want to eat me even more.”

True Blood has always been a show about character. First and foremost. Set in a mostly realistic world, the season storylines have always been more about how it paints parallels to the real world and the way it affects the characters. While this season overall is about power struggles between vampire kingdoms and between races of supernatural beings, it really comes down to character which in essence means it’s about people. As the stakes are being raised, both literally and figuratively, “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues” showed us that emotions run high even when you’re dead and vampires aren’t necessarily the epitome of perfection.

Greed, love and jealousy aren’t just emotions reserved for humans. It seems that even in living forever these feelings do as well. With every week we learn more and more how crazy Franklin is but it’s also apparent why he is the way he is. He’s said his work is his life, he doesn’t have much time for himself or relationships. Is that not something a lot of us can relate to? Sure, it doesn’t excuse kidnapping Tara and riding her every word and action as obsessively as he does, but he gets what’s coming to him as Tara puts an escape plan into action which involves drinking Franklin’s blood and bashing his skull in with a mace.

Lorena’s been drinking the crazy juice too. With the capture of Sookie at the end of last episode Russell knows Bill can’t be trusted. It was either that or when Bill tried to kill him at the beginning of the episode. Either way, Russell wants Bill dead and he’s tasked Lorena with doing the deed. So for a good portion of the episode she uses a variety of blades to cut Bill up and down his body, slowly bleeding him to death. Naturally she cries blood as she does so, fighting her warped feelings for him as he expresses a desire to have known her before the darkness in her eyes consumed her and made her who she is. And then a revelation. We learn that Lorena’s maker was quite the evil bastard. Her bloodlust, her sadism; all the result of the evil molding impressed upon her by her maker. So Lorena’s vampire bat-shit insane because she’s heartbroken AND she has daddy issues.

Talbot’s got some issue’s as well. He’s feeling quite neglected with all of these new people in his home as Russell continues putting his kingdom expansion plans into action. His jealousy is merited but it also stems from a bit of manipulation. Eric has been very flirty with both Talbot and Russell since his arrival. I have a feeling it’s all part of a plan. Eric always has a plan. He’s Eric.

They may be lacking souls but it would seem vampires suffer from the same deep-rooted problems we humans do. And what’s great is that the aforementioned fucked-up fangers are not main characters. True Blood is really embracing the season three ensemble and giving a lot of depth to characters who may not be around for the duration. Franklin will probably die (he’s not dead yet, I’m sure) but I bet Lorena will be sulking around for quite a while more. Talbot depends on how well Russell’s plans go and if they’ll have an reach beyond the current season.

Another great real world facet explored on True Blood is the parallelism the show makes between the homosexual community and vampires. The coming out of vampires and the hatred of them is very similar to that of the LGBT movement. But the show also touches on the subject in a far more literal sense this season with deeper explorations into Lafayette’s character and his blossoming relationship with Jesus.

It took a little while, but Lafayette seems to have finally taken his guard down a bit and let Jesus in. The two share a great conversation and a great kiss in his car after their pool date at Merlotte’s. What’s great about this relationship is that it’s treated simply as just that. It’s not a “gay” relationship, one of them isn’t experimenting with men for the first time or anything. This is two people who know what they want and are getting to know someone they are interested in. Very refreshing. Unfortunately they seem to have hit their first speed bump. Lafayette’s profession as a drug dealer doesn’t sit so well with Jesus, but that sits just fine with me. Again, it’s great to see a hitch in the relationship come from something real and not from one of them questioning his sexuality.

One last thing I’d like to mention just because I’ve been complaining about it for so long: I’m glad we’re finally getting some light shed on an actual story for Sam and his new found kin. It seems Tommy is being forced into dog fighting by his parents as a way of making money. Ok, now that I see you’re actually doing something with them I can rest easy.

Final Thoughts:

• Franklin used the word “strumpet” in the episode. Great word.
• This may be the first episode ever where I actually cheered for and enjoyed Tara.
• The little Jessica/Arlene feud gives me laughs in addition to just giving those characters something to do.
• I noticed and did not appreciate the huge lack of Alcide in this episode.