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?