TRUE BLOOD Season 3: "I Smell A Rat" - Review
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Episode 1, of the final three episodes of HBO's third season of "True Blood" is one of the season's darkest episodes thus far. The title of the episode fits the events which occur within it nicely. The episode is really an up and down ride, with some positive secrets being revealed, and also some negative ones. The positives? We finally find out what Sookie is. A revelation which depending on the person, might be viewed as lame, stupid, funny, or fitting...for a show like "True Blood". Although we also learn that what Sookie is, she's just half that, and the other half of her is human. But more problems arise when it's revealed that the supernatural half of Sookie, has a bad history with vampires. |
Yes, it seems that those who represent Sookie's supernatural lineage, are said by legend, to be threatened with extinction by vampires. "True Blood" is funny in this way, because of course...the show's cornerstone story arc, is the vampires having their own league, which tries to deflect, defeat, and unravel the discrimination aimed at vampires by humans. Yet also in the show, vampires kill so many people, and now...we've learned of yet another supernatural group that they have an enemy-ship with, it just really makes their cause all the more difficult.
And this didn't get any easier last episode when Russell Edgington went on national TV in the last episode, and killed a guy for the world to see. In this ep though, Russell pretty much sulks around, still mourning the death of Talbot. This leads Russell into having a twisted tryst with a stranger, and the end result of that in itself is...bloody. Russell's behavior in this episode is quite strange, and I am not sure about other viewers, but I have lost some respect for him as a season 3 villain. When it was first revealed early on in the season, that Russell was behind the kidnapping of Bill, I was like..."okay, he's the season 3 main bad guy...that's cool".
But now, with him mourning Talbot so much, and so strongly, it's kind of getting pathetic. Especially because he also carries around a glass-chalice of Talbot's blood with him. I guess the writers wanted to make Russell look strong at the start of the season, and then bring in a few episodes where he looked weak, to balance things out. But this whole thing to me is kind of tarnishing the character. Most villains respond with rage and killing when their best henchman is taken out. But Russell is responding like a crybaby. Granted, when he first found out Talbot was dead, his response was warranted, but after three episodes of this? Kind of getting weary myself.
Good news though, Sam has become interesting again! In this episode, we get another look into his sordid past. And if you thought him being a "shifter", and his past relations with MaryAnn was bizarre, well...things get even weirder in this episode, as we learn more about Sam's "travels". But the writers make sure to connect the latest revelations about Sam, with his first encounter with MaryAnn. We now find out why he was in MaryAnn's house in season 2 in the first place, trying to make-off with her statue. And with the latest Sam flashback, season 3 brings us a cameo by a young up and coming actress, one Arielle Kebbel.
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Back to Russell for a moment though. At some point this season, with two episodes left...we know he's gonna come for Eric. Eric spent the newest episode, willing over all of his possessions to Pam, his prgeny, in case Russell should kill him. This whole thing erupts into a funny scene where another "progeny" of his, confronts him about getting "her share" of his stuff. Eric doesn't take that very well, resulting in a hilarious bit of banter between the two. Eric also confronts Bill in this episode about protecting Sookie, and telling her the "truth". It seems that the shows writers are trying to hint at the fact that Bill may not be all he's cracked up to be, but they're slowly kind of doing a Lex Luthor thing with Bill, opening up some room for him to possibly go bad? Not sure if it will happen, or if it's just a tease, but it certainly has kept things interesting. Meanwhile...V blood makes another appearance this season, in this episode. It's used to save Crystal's father, an act which he doesn't appreciate. |
But it's also used to take Lafayette and Jesus on a "trip", where they discover some dark things about their past ancestors. Not sure how far they'll go with this storyline this season. But it'll be interesting to see where things go in season 4 with Lafayette and Jesuses pasts. Speaking of pasts, Jason's finally comes to light, the whole "capping Eggs", thing. Tara finally finds out, and who knows what direction she'll go in now. But she's pissed for sure. Hoyt and Jessica seem to be back together now, much to the dismay of Tommy. This comes after Jessica and Arlene get into a heated argument due to Russell's on-camera-murder. While things look up for Jessica afterwards, things spiral downward for Arlene.
She breaks the news to Terry that the baby isn't his, and then she seeks out Holly to take her up on her "offer". Question now is, is Holly good or evil? It comes out in this ep she's a wiccan, but is she good wiccan or bad? We'll probably find out in season 4. The episode concludes on a strange note, mostly for Jason...who spends most of the episode dropping the ball all over the place. But in the end, he gets a funny, and possibly pleasant surprise, as there's finally some daylight for him and Crystal's relationship. However, I personally am still annoyed with the character of Crystal so if she gets bumped off this season, I wouldn't be broken up about it. Two more episodes to go in season 3, and they're both sure to be a blast.
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