| Warning Spoilers ahoy. If you are new to the series then may I suggest you catch up with our look backs of the previous seasons. If you have seen the first episode or are just curious what all the fuss is about then read on McDuff. |
In a direct continuation to the climax of season six we find BelFleurs (the newly named Merlottes) ready for an onslaught from a Hep-V rippled horde. This is a huge slap in the face of a opening sequence as we see fighting from between Vampires who are diseased and those who are healthy. The fights generally revolve around at least one human, mostly those that have been assigned protection but there are some protective that run far deeper than the idea of a mutually beneficial arrangement. The action s very stylised in this section and you cannot help but notice the way the Hep-V vampires move when they are on the chase.
| The aftermath of the attack is a total bloodbath, as well as more than one of Bon Temps residence being taken to places unknown (it turns out Fangtasia is the hives home for now). This though is overshadowed by one of the shows most notable characters meeting the true death. There is no ambiguity revolving around this death as Tara is now just a blood riddled pile of goo covering her mother. There is a question over who killed her (I have my own tin hat theory) but losing her should be a major point in the show instead though I think the creators missed the mark with their depiction. It may be because we have no time to grieve as the world is being turned upside down but I felt more emotion the first time she was killed. Unfortunately now though one of True Blood’s most sarky characters is now no more and for one will miss her greatly. | 
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| One of the main characters not present at the party is Jessica, she instead is keeping a vigil over the last of the Sheriff’s daughters. In the last season she decimated the family draining three of the sisters and leaving the fourth for dead. In her determination to do the right thing Jess is not eating and almost kills herself trying to save Adilyn from a Hep-V vamp who has caught the half Fairies scent. The two actresses play their parts really well and you get the idea of a strained relationship growing between the two. 
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In another strained relationship the emasculation of Jason continues as Violet continues to deprive him of that which is most vital to his existence, Sex. Not only this but the way the medival vampire protects him and calls him her own further destroys the young Stackhouse’s pride. The resolution of this is very True Blood as in the end Jason (not noted for his intelligence) finally realsies Viloet just wanted him to take control, the final pay off being a quick session on the bonnet of a police crusier.
There is however a problem with this episode it feels very disjointed as we spend a small section following a number of groups. It works to help catch us up to the world as it now is but almost to the detriment of any kind of cohesive narrative. Obviously we can only judge the episode as part of the series and if the following episodes feed from this then it will be a success but in isolation the main part of the show cannot live up to the opening.
There is however a problem with this episode it feels very disjointed as we spend a small section following a number of groups. It works to help catch us up to the world as it now is but almost to the detriment of any kind of cohesive narrative. Obviously we can only judge the episode as part of the series and if the following episodes feed from this then it will be a success but in isolation the main part of the show cannot live up to the opening.
My main gripe is that we do not get more of the Andy/Bill dynamic, the way the sheriff plays his part shows his character growth and is a great piece of acting to boot. However it’s facing off with Bill that really shows the best of the Sheriff as he controls his pain to tell him exactly where he stands. This is probably the stand out scene from the entire episode.
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| Elsewhere we do get a spot of time with Lafayette and Sam and of course Sookie. This is a particularly rough episode for our Fairy Halfling especially at the conclusion in her dealings with the grieving Mrs Daniels (Tara’s Mum). The way the human population of the town have turned on her is small minded with a hint of the understandable. It remains to see where she will end up by with the lone Wolf Alcide at her side she may not be around to save the population of Bon Temp for very much longer. |
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By Paul Fiander
Pictures Courtesy of Fox and HBO
Pictures Courtesy of Fox and HBO
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