TRUE BLOOD
Season Two, Episode Two
“Keep This Party Going”
Written by Brian Buckner
(Warning: Spoilers abound from this point forwards)
Comedy is a odd thing. Take the opening of this episode. Poor Lafayette just saw a redneck attack a vampire with a silver cross – and get literally torn into bloody pieces for his trouble. Then this six-foot-plus Viking vampire, dripping in gore, looks right at Lafayette and says what is probably the funniest line in the show that week.
“Is there blood in my hair?”
Well, yeah. That kinda goes without saying, doesn’t it? There’s bound to be.
For the record, the dungeon where Lafayette has been held captive is pretty much exactly that – in basement of Fangtasia, the private little holding cell of Vampire Erik, the local undead sheriff who’s investigating anti-vampire crimes. This includes the disappearance of Eddie, Lafayette’s “source” for Vee. Lafayette tells them everything he knows, including his (correct) belief that Jason Stackhouse had something to do with it. We learn via subtitles in the conversation between Vampire Pam and Erik that they can’t do anything with this data, because Sookie is too important. Why? Ah, wouldn’t we like to know!
It also deals with Tara’s budding relationship with ‘Eggs’ Benedict, a (very) handsome young black man also enjoying the benefits of Mary Anne’s largesse. To put it mildly, they like each other. A lot.
Sam, on the other hand, does not like Mary Anne. At first he thought she wanted back what he stole from her years ago – and he’s very willing to oblige. But there’s clearly more going on. And when the mysterious lady visits Merlotte’s we find out some more details about her. One is that she has a seemingly inexhaustible appetite. Another that she can set off a kind of partying instinct in people, as she does. Even Detective “I don’t dance” Andy gets up and dances with her (demonstrating in the process why he shouldn’t dance, at least not in public). When Sam objects, Mary Anne vibrates strangely and turns Sam into his preferred other form, that of a dog – with a warning she can do that anytime she likes.
I’m wondering if she’s maybe Circe from “The Odyssey”? Maybe?
Jason has found his way to the leadership conference, where he’s soon quite a hit with (almost) everyone. But at the same time he’s haunted. Memories of the girl he loved, of Vampire Eddie who was so nice and whom he saw murdered, they disturb his dreams and his waking hours. One wonders just how far he’ll go to try and banish those memories. Too far, is my guess. And we’re left, Jason being Jason, wondering which of the many-toothed blonde young things will end up with him between the sheets. My bet is on the Reverend’s wife, she of the slick phrase and perfectly bleached hair.
We learn Erik wants Sookie to help investigate the disappearance of another Sheriff named Godric in Texas – and of course Bill doesn’t want him even to mention it to her. This scene takes place while Bill is trying to do a kind thing, namely buy some nice clothes for Jessica.
Erik returns to find Lafayette has nearly escaped during the day but got shot for his trouble. Asked if he wants to die by the leg or by the fang, he asks for a third option. Lafayette requests to be made a vampire, pledging himself to Erik. The sheriff is intrigued, says he’ll consider it, then joins with Pam and his deputy in feeding on the young man. Myself, I don’t think they’ll kill him. Turn him, maybe. But I’ve little doubt we’ll see him next week.
So we are left with a bunch of dangling mysteries yet again. Pretty much par for the course. What is Mary Anne and what does she want? What happened to Vampire Godric and what is soooooo important about Sookie to Vampire Erik? Is Lafayette still alive and (different question) will we be seeing him once more? How will Jason fare as he gets deeper and deeper inside the Fellowship of the Sun?
And what about Daphne? She’s the new waitress at Merlotte’s. Pretty, a bit awkward, but nothing much to distinguish her yet. Emphasis on “yet.” There’s way too much screen time devoted to her for something not to be up with this character. Another mystery.
TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE THREE
