TRUE BLOOD Goes "Radioactive"

Article first published as TRUE BLOOD Goes Radioactive on TheTVKing.

HBO's True Blood has had a banner year, surely an improvement over the past couple just in terms of sheer excitement. Major characters died, the rules of the universe began to change, and the tale was much more focused on the central players, rather than guest stars or big bads brought in for a single year. And some of the newbies that joined the cast not only fit as if they've always been there, but definitely have already made a place for themselves in future seasons. It may have only been ten episodes, but it used every minute of those hours well.

Forgive me if part of this review inadvertently refers to bits of the penultimate episode, "Life Matters," as I watched the two hours back to back, and they were quite excellent taken together, especially the Terry (Todd Lowe) scenes in the first half. Additionally, True Blood features a very large cast, so if I skip the subplot you love most, I apologize, but I'm just not going to get to everything.

The end of the vampire concentration camp arc in this year's finale, "Radioactive," is a shocking one. Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), with Bill (Stephen Moyer) on his heels, breaks into the facility and slaughters all who work there. It's poetic justice, and certain notable guest characters get ends befitting them, including Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian), whom has been very enjoyable these past years, but is not disappointing to see die now.

Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp) escapes, which is appreciated because everyone can't die at once. Steve has his time without her in earlier seasons, and she deserves the same in the future.

Eric's brutality reminds us that he is not the kind and cuddly vampire that Bill introduced us to early in True Blood's run. Eric is much older, and has a different moral compass. It's easy to forget that when we see him interact with Sookie (Anna Paquin). But when his sister, Nora (Lucy Griffiths), is murdered and his other loved ones endangered, he can go back to that steely-toothed beast fans love to fear. "Radioactive" shows us Eric as scary as he's ever been.

Those who worry about Eric's fate in his final scene of "Radioactive" need not fret. We don't actually see him fully die, and the producers have confirmed Skarsgard remains a full-time cast member next season. He's just too important to True Blood to lose.

By contrast to Eric's evilness, Bill, who has been stand-offish while existing as the god-like Billith, fulfills his messianic destiny and goes soft again. He gets to save everyone with his super blood, temporarily allowing them to frolic in sunlight, and then goes back to secretly caring for Sookie. Sookie isn't ready to forgive him yet, not even close (in the first half hour), but fans of the show likely will quite quickly, now that we know old Bill is back.

Sookie is with Warlow (Rob Kazinsky), the one arc this season that never quite made sense. It almost feels right when Warlow turns on her, and then Bill, Jason (Ryan Kwanten), Andy (Chris Bauer), and Adilyn (Bailey Noble) must rescue her. It's all very contrived, though, and ends way too easily, which I'd complain about, except I'm glad no more time was spent on this story.

Mid-episode, the action suddenly jumps six months, a very interesting choice, made much earlier in the episode than most shows would have chosen to. It's such a jarring break that the last twenty-some minutes of "Radioactive" feel like a different season entirely. Which is kind of good because it whets our appetite for next summer, and gets to set up some very fascinating plots.

Most importantly, Sam (Sam Trammell), Bill, and the local preachers have banded together to protect their friends and neighbors from hepatitis-V-infected vamps. This alliance doesn't completely add up, but since there is a lot of time missing, that can be overlooked, as we don't know what happened to convince everyone to work together, and desperate times call for desperate measures.

Even Arlene (Carrie Preston) is on board with playing friendly towards the fangers, which shows you just how dire the situation must be.

This is excellent because it gets back to part of the original premise. When True Blood began, vampires were just coming out into the open. We barely got time to see how humans and vamps mix before the plot picked up with Sookie's romantic life, and eventually, a great many interesting supporting characters. Now, we're actually going to see what working together and relying on one another means for the two species, and that will be satisfying. It also neatly fixes the humans-against-vampires war of this season.

It does not appear, however, that the rest of the supernatural creatures have come out of the closet. What will happen when Sam, the beloved mayor the people trust, is exposed as a shifter? This is a recipe to have the alliance fall apart at a crucial moment, leaving the future ripe with dramatic promise.

There are other things of note in "Radioactive," such as the satisfaction many will feel at finally seeing Sookie and Alcide (Joe Manganiello) as a couple, the ultimate betrayal Lettie Mae (Adina Porter) may finally have made against her daughter, Tara (Rutina Wesley), the amazing scene where a tearful Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) vows to protect an almost-not-furious Andy and Adilyn, Jason being more than tamed in his one-sided romance with Violet (Karolina Wydra, House), and the juicy premise that Arlene now owns Merlotte's. But we'll save all of that for next season's reviews.

"You're No Good" TRUE BLOOD Not True

Article first published as "You're No Good" TRUE BLOOD Not True on TheTVKing.

HBO's True Blood is only three episodes into the sixth season, and already so much has happened that the series bears another review. With the numerous characters and plotlines, not everything that happens in this week's installment, "You're No Good," will be covered in the following article, but most of the important points will be touched on.


Niall Brigant (Rutger Hauer), King of the Fairies, stresses to Sookie (Anna Paquin) that she should be more worried about Warlow than she is. Sookie's retort, telling her grandfather that she has to cope with a lot of dangerous situations, and so tries very hard not to overreact and keep a level head until the truly dire circumstances come along, is funny, self-referential, and perfect. Then Niall tells her Warlow does rate that most dire category, and one's blood runs cold.

Normally, if a character in a story has to tell another character (and the viewers) that a villain is really, really scary, it's a weak job on the script that's to blame. After all, we should already know how scary the baddie is by what's shown. However, there is an exception to this rule, and that occurs here. There is a lot of dangerous stuff on True Blood, and because of who Niall is, his words mean something. As happens very rarely on television, words end up being more powerful than the visuals.

Unfortunately, it's awfully hard to worry about Warlow, despite how he slaughters everyone in the fairy club, when Jason (Ryan Kwanten) is collapsed on the floor. I don't know what is going on with him, but he is not well. And, of course, his symptoms pick the worst possible time to manifest. The trouble level at the Stackhouse homestead has never been higher.

Into this turmoil, Bill (Stephen Moyer) shows up. He couldn't possibly know everything that Sookie is dealing with, and so can be forgiven for seeking her assistance now. He cannot be forgiven, though, for being demanding and rude. It's clear he no longer cares for Sookie in any romantic way, if he ever did. It's sad to see the show's central couple completely done with one another, but "You're No Good" reveals exactly that in a heart-wrenching scene.

Bill is no longer recognizable as Bill. He is ruthless and arrogant and a bit evil. His ability to see the future is as onerous as it is helpful. Perhaps Bill is the only hope for the vampire species, considering all of the humans turning against them, and the weapons being brought to bear. This Bill, more than the old Bill, is equipped to be the right vamp for the job, even if he is still allergic to the sun. But it's still sad to see a beloved character replaced by someone who looks the same, but is drastically different. If he harms the fairy kids, he will completely nonredeemable.

Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), too, is acting strangely. Kidnapping the governor's daughter, Willa (Amelia Rose Blaire), and treating humans with little regard is something pre-Sookie Eric would do. Without Sookie by his side, has he reverted back to his old, bad self? Or is this just what happens when you trap a deadly creature in a corner? Have we seen the last of Ginger (Tara Buck)? Eric's anger is completely justified, but his willingness to hurt the innocent is not.

Yet, Eric's tenderness towards his prisoner is a sign that he hasn't completely changed, as Bill has. Much of his dialogue can be chalked up to posturing. Eric is cunning, and has a plan that he doesn't always share with his friends. Yes, Eric almost kills Willa, but after that, he seems to take a step back from the edge. We'll see if desperation or a noble spirit wins out.

Alcide (Joe Manganiello) is finding it harder than expected to stop his pack from going after people who don't deserve it. When peaceful young men and women show up at their door, the pack wants to tear them to shreds, and mostly does, save Nicole (Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Friday Night Lights). Alcide himself even shows some angry, violent tendencies, though he stops short of hurting anyone. Does the pack make wolves mean, a group egging one another one? Can Alcide control it and his people, as we know he's good at heart?

It's this general darkness that makes season six better than the past couple of years. True Blood is a humorous horror show, and those laughter-inducing bits and lines are still there, such as when Holly (Lauren Bowles) takes up Andy's (Chris Bauer) system of calling his children by number. But there's also real peril and tension when the stakes get high, and unlike past seasons, this year turns up that knob right away.

Take, for instance, Sam's (Sam Trammell) plot of trying to stay hidden in a world where supes are increasingly exposed. He seeks to avoid death, but cannot. He tries to do right by Emma (Chloe Noelle), but is blocked at every turn. No matter how much Sam fights, he just can't do what he wants to do or live the way he wants to live. It seems rather hopeless.

Then Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), who isn't known for his generosity, offers Sam help. In fact, Lafayette insists on it. Sticking together is the only way to get through the tough stuff, and "You're No Good" lets Sam find help where he doesn't expect it. The fact that Lafayette feels compelled to provide assistance shows us how bad things have gotten, but it also provides that ray of hope that just might get Sam through. We'll see, though, since the body count on True Blood is usually pretty high.

The last thing that must be mentioned about "You're No Good" is the triumphant return of Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp). Now in a position of authority and influence, she rubs it in her ex-husband, Steve's (Michael McMillian), face. Since they are both despicable characters, one can just enjoy the juicy verbal sparring between the two, and the wonderful performances of Camp and McMillian, without worrying whether the characters will be hurt or not. It may be a small thing, or it could grow into something, but having Sarah back is welcome, indeed.

So much going on, so much of it keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. True Blood season six is off to a great start! New episodes air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

TRUE BLOOD Season 5 Episode 1 Turn! Turn! Turn! Review

HBO's TRUE BLOOD begins its fifth season last night. The episode, entitled "Turn! Turn! Turn!," brings many changes to Bon Temps, even though it picks up the very same evening that last season left off. This is a true serial, one that unfolds episode by episode, and no plot is ever truly resolved.

Perhaps the most shocking thing to occur in last year's finale is the death of Tara (Rutina Wesley). Best friend of Sookie (Anna Paquin), and central character from the beginning, no one really expects Tara to be dead. Which may be why the writers let Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) show up immediately after Tara is shot. Sookie and Tara's cousin, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), beg Pam to turn Tara into a vampire, thereby keeping her around. Pam grudgingly agrees to try, for a price. Which gives fans a great scene of Pam in a cheap sweat suit, a very funny sight!

What are the rules of turning someone into a vampire, as they apply to TRUE BLOOD? Can it really be done after half of a person's head is blown off? Tara is in bad shape, definitely already dead, before Pam comes into the room. Yet, the vampire acknowledges that, while difficult, there is a chance turning her will still work. It seems like quite a stretch, done just because no one wants to part with a popular character. Story and drama are being sacrificed for job retention, and while no one wants Tara gone, it's a shame that it's being done this way.

Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) just can't resist their hero complex where Sookie is concerned. Even though she rejects them both, they start when they hear she is in trouble. Perhaps their reactions are a bit delayed because of recent events, but they still will go to her aide. It's a little pathetic, as Pam is quick to point out, two powerful creatures hung up on a girl that won't be with either of them. Yet, it is still romantic and world-affirming that they react when Sookie is in trouble. The show would not be the same without this element.

Too bad neither vamp gets the change to follow through on this instinct, quickly being captured by the Vampire Authority. Much has been hinted at or alluded to about the organization over the years, but only a couple of representatives have been shown in TRUE BLOOD. It looks like season five will change all that. Bill and Eric are about to be drawn into some type of civil war, which has the good fortune to not only provide an interesting, high stakes story, but keep them from pining away over a certain waitress too much.

Eric's "sister," Nora (Lucy Griffiths, Robin Hood), is introduced as a member of the authority who is loyal to Eric, probably because of all the great sex that they have. Setting aside how creepy it is that they refer to each other as siblings during intercourse (although they do not share parents, only a maker), Nora is viewers' window into this new plot. In that, she works very well, and giving her back story with a lead quickly endears her.

However, it is a little strange that the authorities that show up at the end of "Turn! Turn! Turn!" quickly slaughter every other vampire except her. Leaving Bill and Eric alive makes sense, as they have always been power players, and likely have some skin in the game. But what is Nora's significance? Why is she not given the true death along with her compatriots? This episode only makes us want to learn more about her.

We get no glimpses of the new big bad, Roman (Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: SVU), or returning villain Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare) this week, unfortunately, although it is confirmed that the latter has escaped his concrete prison. How will Russell figure into this vampire struggle? Is he on the side of the authority, like Roman, or might Eric and Bill have to team up with their former foe? O'Hare plays a gripping, delicious character, and anticipation is high for his return.

Speaking of vampire returns, Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) isn't exactly what one might expect. He makes his way to Bon Temps because he is in love with Jason (Ryan Kwanten)! Interestingly, Steve only glams Jason to get into the house and talk to him, not to use sexually. Might this have changed if Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) hadn't shown up to protect her sex toy? This is the beginnings of what could be the funniest love triangle on television! But one that could also turn very dark and dangerous very fast.

Meanwhile, Sam (Sam Trammell) is just as heroic as the vamps ever are, willing to sacrifice himself to the werewolves to protect Luna (Janina Gavankar) and her daughter. It's noble that Sam won't betray Alcide (Joe Manganiello), who has been a friend. But this means that Sam gets badly beaten. Thankfully, Luna does the right thing and informs Alcide of the situation, allowing him to step up and take the blame. This clears Sam from further injury, but what will it mean for Alcide?

It seems that Arlene (Carrie Preston) doesn't have a demon baby after all! This is little relief, though, since that means there is something else afoot. Terry (Todd Lowe), who has always been a bit of an enigma, his past told only in broad strokes, has a very dark secret. He reacts much more angrily towards Patrick (Scott Foley) than we have ever seen him. Which could mean a couple of wonderful supporting characters might finally get a big story this year on TRUE BLOOD, definitely something to look forward to!

"Turn! Turn! Turn!" has plenty to show fans what they have been missing for nearly a year. TRUE BLOOD remains a terrific series, far better than the pulp fiction it is based on, with a wealth of complex characters and plots. With things kicking off in high gear, and an oddly chosen final song, timed perfectly for comedic effect, this not-quite-campy action show is back to doing what it does best! Tune in Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.