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IMHO "True Blood" (2.2): Keep This Party Going

The second season of HBO's True Blood continues its stellar start with an episode that has Lafayette bargaining for his life, Jason conjuring up my bad memories of Vacation Bible School, and the still-mysterious Maryann dealing with a severe case of the munchies.

Journey below to discover the top ten reasons why this episode earns a big up arrow, but prepare for SPOILERS...

10. Like many gay boys, I spent a few summers at Vacation Bible School, and seeing Jason at the "Light of Day Camp" brought back uncomfortable memories of B.O., Jesus-head paperweights, and strange rashes in places impossible to scratch. And like many gay boys, Vacation Bible School is where I lost my ... keys.

9. The hot rivalry between Jason and his Nathan Fillion-esque roommate led to the first Jason shirtlessness of the season. Finally!

8. The Carrie Prejean-esque preacher's wife (Sarah) has obvious hot panties for Jason, especially after their little skit where she played bloodsucker to his Clueless Vampire Killer.

7. Maryann continues to be the most intriguing character this season. She visits Merlotte's and orders half the menu, and later that night she's still consuming the artery-clogging delicacies. Somehow she and her Mystical, Enchanted Tapeworm cast a spell over the other patrons in the restaurant, and soon people who have no business dancing are boogie-ing down. It looked like a Tennessee Williams fever dream of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

6. Sam is furious that she's brought her magic to Merlotte's, but Maryann does her weird vibration thing, and forces Sam to shapeshift into a dog. She lets him know that she can pull that trick anytime she pleases, and it's probably best that he ... never ... threaten her again.

5. Sookie and Bill continue to strive for domestic bliss, but teenager Jessica isn't making things easy. After they have a tepid fight about the young redhead, Bill apologizes with "prepare to be made up to." Oh dear ...

4. Sookie wants to connect with Jessica, so she inexplicably lets Jessica talk her into visiting the teen's house, so she can see her family one last time. I have a feeling we'll be seeing this on the "Whatever, Sookie!" segment of this week's Blood Work.

3. Vampires cry tears of blood! I don't know if that's part of vampire folklore, or if it's something they just thought up for the show, but it was very cool, and creepy. It makes sense, though, and probably explains why I cry tears of Yoo-Hoo.

2. Lafayette is doing everything and anything he can to stay alive. He tries to convince Eric to let him live, and even goes so far as to offer to become a go-go-dancing vampire, and Eric decides to "take it under advisement" right before he, Pam, and his henchman enjoy a Lafayette blood feast. Lafayette also enjoys the first awesome Grand Guignol moment of the season, as he searches through the remains of the redneck's "magnetic ass" to try and fashion a tool. It's a hilarious, over-the-top scene.

1. Eric's new look. I love the new hair, and when it's coupled with the "freshly pepper-sprayed" eyes, he's irresistible.

I'm so glad they were able to keep the momentum from last week's debut, and I can't wait to see what happens in Dallas, and how (or if) Lafayette will manage to escape his precarious situation. And what of Maryann and her hedonistic ways? Will Tara finally realize that her benefactor is more than she seems?

What did you think of this week's episode?

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  • GeoNorth's picture

    Best moment

    You forgot the little gay moment when the retail assistant whose hitting on Bill sees him talking to Erik and is all "Now I get it...I'm not your type..."

     

    HoYay!

    the herald's picture

    Charlie Brown Christmas

    HA!  Awesome line.  I think Maryann is the living embodiment of X or something.  I'm worried about Eric, though.  He can never grow his hair back out, seems risky to do something so permanent.   This was a big improvement over last week's episode.  I think this season is going to be great. 
    slippy's picture

    It had me "...sweatn like an ice tea pitcher...."

    O YES we are back in the groove -ONLY True Blood can make me jump off the sofa and SCREAM because I can't fkkn believe what just happend. I mean who can resist "... I was told to pay special attention to the faggott drag queen in the basement" ( AFTER Lafayette grabs his "neather regions" with the fanger bar maid at Fangtasia) To Jason being described as "like some Muslim buffy the vampire slayer with a dick" after the flag pole scene -THIS SHOW ROCKS !!!

     

     I was hooked at the opening credits in the first episode

    giovannif7's picture

    So much pretty in this episode

    and so little space - but I have to make sure there's a mention (and visual reminder) of Tara's new infatuation, the incredible edible Eggs (and his awe-inspiring abs.)

    Plus, leave it to Jason to buddy up with a guy named McDonald who doesn't get a reference to the family "farm."

    And seriously, anyone who saw these two shopping together at the mall;

    would be thinking the same thing as the saleslady.

    woodroad34's picture

    It's wonderful that we all

    It's wonderful that we all thought Jason was just a pretty vacous sex machine until he tells a joke to a college grad who doesn't get it....Dumb and Dumber.  And what's up with MacDonald wanting to be best buds with Jason on the bus and then getting all Glen Close on his ass?

     BTW, wasn't the guy who plays Eggs supposed to have gone into some rage on Desperate Housewives and caused some trouble so that's why he was let go from that show?

    Kurtus Sietz's picture

    eh

    i'm pretty sure lafayette is dead...
    dmsnsa's picture

    No Lafayette no

    KurtSietz wrote:
    i'm pretty sure lafayette is dead...

    God I hope not but I can't see Lafayette being a full blown vampire either. Has anyone seen any spoilers on this topic or not? I really don't want to wait until Sunday to find out.  I wonder if the its going to be Steven NewLin sipping on the juice, as pussylove###@whatever.

    woodroad34's picture

    Lafayette is sooo

    Lafayette is sooo magnificent a character:  Strong, pragmatic, and smart--heroic in his own way.  He reminds me so much of a friend of mine who had that same outlook.  When the Stonewall Riots broke out, I sure as hell wouldn't want to be a cop around him.  Nelsan Ellis is a terrific actor!

     Oh!  And that Bible Camp thing--so true!  I got a sick ball in my stomach watching that scene--I wanted to do a Linda Blair all over the TV.

    Lvng1Tor's picture

    Michelle Forbes Kicks Butt

    The introduction of Michelle Forbes, as what I assume is an incubus, is fantastic. She is one of the most underrated actress' around. I look forward to the trouble she'll cause. Same with Michad Brooks. One of the nicest and gay friendly straight guys you'll ever meet.  
    Jesse's picture

    Umm About Marianne....

    She is a Maenad....look it up.....
    Morgan's picture

    Miss the old Tara

    Tara's blind following of Marianne annoys me. She was such a loner and such a hot-tempered character for most of season 1 I don't want to believe she has "changed". Marianne is controlling her somehow hopefully, because I liked the old Tara much better. She provided a nice change from Sookie, Bill, and Sam at the bar.
    Average (1 vote):
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    Ian's picture

    I'm with you

    I miss the old Tara too.  This love struck, doe eyed Tara lacks the mystique of the old. Last season I was sure we would find out that Tara is not all human, that she has a power of persuasion or some other freakiness about her. Alas, her spunky exterior and tumultuous interior are a now show so far this season.
    Average (1 vote):
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    Lvng1Tor's picture

    Looked it up

    Yeah,I looked it up. Seems right to me. Cool, we couldn't figure it out. I should have added Dionysus to my search. He was so central to her story with all the food, wine and pot. Not to mention the big ass painting of him. I totally missed that. Thank you. Oh by the way "Thank you" are polite words...Look it up... Regardless of that, I appreciate you clearing up what she is. It's so much more fun than an incubus storyline would be.
    Rillion's picture

    Bit of background

    Yep, plus one of the words Maryanne kept repeating in her head when Sookie was reading her thoughts this episode was "Bachus," the Roman name for Dionysus. He and the maeneds would get deliriously drunk on wine, which could lead to good times but also mindless violence. In one story the maeneds actually set upon a man out in the country and ripped him limb from limb.  So it's looking like Maryanne exemplifies pure, unrestrained hedonism and tries to stir it up in humans as much as possible.

    The guy in the "bigass painting" (sculpture, actually) was Pan-- a minor god, a satyr, described as being in Dionysus' "retinue." You can buy the plaque yourself for only $3,999.  ;-)

    Daphne was a water nymph in Greek mythology....Apollo fell in love with her, but she was afraid of him and ran away.  She sought help from her father the river god, and he turned her into a laurel tree-- which is why the laurel became sacred to Apollo.  Naming the new waitness Daphne could not have been accidental, I'm thinking-- though it was funny as hell that she thought it was French, since her mom is "half Cajun."  

    Lvng1Tor's picture

    Cool Thank you

    I think I'm gonna rewatch the last few episodes again. So much fun stuff I missed. The background info you supplied really has me even more intrigued with the series. Thanks Rillion! I , honestly, would have never caught on to the Daphne thing.
    Curtis's picture

    True Blood rocks

    There are people on my job who race home to catch the next installment and these aren't just your average folks.  You have a party girl, who has every boy/man and girl lusting like no other after her.  A young and extremely hot, Black Republican with opinions and muscles to match.  I can only say that he knows alot about everything under the moon, sun and stars and not ashamed to speak on it.  Last and not least, you have me and my sexy very proud and very gay butt, I have to say that I'm all over True Blood and wait patiently for the next episode.  I have to give thanks to AfterElton because I wouldn't have known about the show if it wasn't for coming on here and hearing about the show.  Thanks 

    It seems that all of us have some things in common but when it comes down to talking about True Blood, time completely stands still because I can go on and on about the show.  Oddly enough, it turned me onto other movies, shows and books dealing with vampires and the TRUE romance of vampires and how it seems very similar to my own life.  Sometimes I feel a bit misunderstood, yet I have people that might have been a bit recluntant to talk with me, now wanting to know all about me.  I truly love the night life and even though I feel more alone at night, I feel more alive.  When it comes down to TRUE passion, I have to say that I am one of the most sexual and sensual being on the planet, yet I can't find TRUE love or TRUE romance to save my own life.  Go figure.  Yet, I found a show that somehow gave me a bit of hope that if a vampire and a mortal can be together, with all their differences, than there is still hope for me.  One day my Prince of Darkness will come.       

    Seriously, if there is any show on the tube currently that is capturing the TRUE essence of our daily struggles in a fun at times, yet romantic and heartfelt way, it would be True Blood.  As my Republican co-worker put it so refinely, "It's one a show that I would never think, I would love, let alone like but I truly can't stop watching this show because it's my SH$T."     

    Russell1947's picture

    True Blood.

    The "Vampires Cry Blood" thing.

    <> Anne Rice's Vampires also cry blood.  In the VAMPIRE CHRONICLES Books.

    Isn't that Bridget from BOLD & BEAUTIFUL playing the incompetent new waitress? 

     

    Lior's picture

    Just started watching.

    Just started watching.  Gotta say, I LOVE it!!!