True Blood: "Nothing But the Blood" (review)

Oh Bon Temps how we've missed you. It hardly seems a year has gone by since we have been engaged in the world of Sookie Stackhouse and all her misfortunes. The most shocking perhaps was finding out that Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is alive. If you are familiar with the novels, you are aware that Lafayette's fate is pretty much fatal.  One of my favorite characters, I was totally happy to see him, in spite of the dungeon. What is that all about anyway?  My guess its under Fangtasia but not so sure, but yay for Lafayette being alive! 

That aside, I think its interesting to see how Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) are both finding themselves on what they believe to be life changing paths. Tara's interrogated by Andy and co. at the station regarding "Ms. Janette's" mysterious death.  Her mother getting the third degree from the complete stranger Maryann, you almost feel sorry for her. Tara, now totally charmed by Maryann (Michelle Forbes) whose mysterious ties with Sam (Sam Trammell) are yet to be fully discovered. We know she has something to settle with him but what exactly? I like that Sam still has some dark secrets, poor guy can't get a break can he? First Sookie ends up back with Bill after Sam risked his life to save her from Rene, then Tara is scooped up by Maryann and some mystery guy that he knows nothing about. Can't get any worse can it? BTW Maryann, what's her deal, she obviously has some kind of supernatural-ism we don't know yet, is she a vampire? A shape shifter? Or just some effed up metaphysical mess? Then we have Jason who is totally convinced that he is supposed to join the church of latter day vampire haters, aptly named the "Light of Day Institute" poor misguided Jason, has he learned nothing? Obviously not, waiting for the eminent scene from Borat to replay itself at some point.  Always great to see Jessica Tuck by the way,  I have missed her on my tv screen.

Comic relief of the evening was of course Bill (Stephen Moyer) and his new 'daughter' Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) the 17 year old vampire that he made last season and passed on to him by Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) who is leading investigations against crimes against vampires. In an odd way it is sort of a way for Bill to experience the teenage angst as a parent that he never did with the family he abandoned after becoming vampire. At the same time, you can see how he is morally struggling with what he lets Sookie know and what he hides from her. As she discovers he killed her uncle, even though it was to settle the score for her,  she has the right to be angry of course.  But it is another example of how vampire politics, score settling, whatever, will continue to be a struggle for them.  If they even keep being a couple after this. 

I guess we can pretty much count on Arlene (Carrie Preston) ending up with Terry (Todd Lowe). You have to feel sorry for the poor girl, the man she loved turned out to be a crazy vampire hater and slayer of women.  While Terry has his own issues like PSTD, I think they'll be good together, I mean it can't get any worse for Arlene than being engaged/married/whatever to a serial killer.  

All in all I love how everything has been set up so far. The suspense, and mystery are there full swing, and I am sure will continue to gain momentum. So interesting to find out what exactly is going on in that dungeon, and also what really happened to Ms. Jeanette, though I'm fairly certain she's the one that Bill fed on.  Now if only Sunday would arrive quicker :)