Stomping Out of the Room is “True Blood Code” For “OH-NO!”
By latbfan on June 21st, 2010| 17 Comments »
Personally, I enjoyed last night’s episode, “Beautifully Broken.” There were some things that I would’ve preferred to be different, but the ‘net abounds with some rather harsh criticism. If you’re interested in reading what non-fan(g)s are saying, here’s a well-written, well-reasoned example that rates Skin vs. Scare.
“Skin overshadowed scares last week, but Episode 2, titled “Beautifully Broken,” made up for it by pandering to the horror crowd with a chainsaw (wielded by the wonderfully immature young vampire Jessica, who will hopefully take on a larger role), a completely unnecessary reference to Stephen King’s Christine, and a flashback involving werewolf Nazis. This really was the Tarantino episode.”
“The show began and ended with a burst of excitement, but in between, it fizzled, burdened by a strained plot and too many long close-ups of very serious faces. Thus far, the major battle of the third season of True Blood is not between light and dark so much as between light and heavy. Heavy dominated this time.
Tara and Sookie were both in tears over lost loves. To which I say: Get over it, ladies. That was an entire episode ago, a lifetime in soap-opera years. Lafayette hardly brightened the mood with this groaner: “The Buddhists weren’t lying when they said life is suffering.” Did “the Buddhists” write this episode? And look, one plotline about reuniting with lost parents can slow a pulp soap opera down, but two? That’s dramatic quicksand. Moreover, when Sam sat down with his parents (Lafayette also visited his mother), his moody new brother stormed out of the room because … why exactly?
You know the writers are getting lazy transitioning from one heated moment to the next when they rely too much on the stomping-out-of-the-room gambit. When Sookie ran into the bathroom after Bill proposed marriage, you almost wanted him to take back his offer—that is, if you didn’t know enough about the conventions of the show to realize that storming out of a room is just True Blood code for Something Big Is About To Happen.”
Ouch. I have to say, he does make some valid points. There’s much more to this review – Eric’s tender side and some of the many new additions to the cast. Click on the link above for the entire article.
I watched the ep late last night after some sightseeing ::ahem:: in the Quarter. I liked it. I did think they crammed way too much into an episode, and that Sam’s story arc so far is a big ol’ snooze, but I’m intrigued and rather enjoying the roller coaster-like ride this season.
And who didn’t enjoy seeing Bill rip the shit outta the werewolves and turn Lorena into a human torch? GO BILL.
Hmm, I’m saving my thoughts for my recap so I won’t say whether I agree or not. They seem to be one of those ‘I’m way too intellectually superior to be watching TB and I’m mildly embarrassed by liking it’ type reviewers though. They annoy :p
No one does a recap like you do, CE! We’re all waiting with bated breath for your unique and witty perspective.
I liked the episode and loved how Bill did those Were’s in. Sorry, but the King said Bill worked for the Queen but did not say the Queen sent him to BT to seduce Sookie! He said why would the Queen let him come to BYT and get it on with a waitress! Difference!!!
I love Talbot! He is funny!
Loved Franklin Mott!
Tara – don’t know
Laf -great!
Jessica – so funny!
Lorena – hot stuff!
“Sorry, but the King said Bill worked for the Queen but did not say the Queen sent him to BT to seduce Sookie! He said why would the Queen let him come to BYT and get it on with a waitress! Difference!!!
So I guess that big ass file folder full of clippings, some of them decades old, the family tree and the pictures wasn’t evidence enough for you. Not to mention the fact that the king said QSA has secrets, secrets you know about, and I want to know them all…I get that we don’t want it to be true or to happen, but looking below the surface, it’s pretty undeniable that Bill and QSA are in cahoots about Sookie.
I said the King did not say SEDUCE! Maybe Bill came there to check her out, and maybe for years, but lets see about the seduce, EH??
Also, seeing the relationship between the Queen and Eric, maybe the King had the wrong Vamp kidnapped!
I have to agree with CE, this person sounds all, “TB is below my paygrade, but I’ll humor yall with a review.”
Takeaways from Episode 2: Franklin Mott & Talbot both excellent additions. King of MS? My new favorite character – loved the whole civilized dinner they were having in the mans! Enjoyed the ear biting bit; nice to see Bill manning up this year. Cooter? Thank you Alan Ball. Really. Thank you ;) Nazi stuff? While it’s nice to see Vampire Jesus again, the flashback wasn’t working for me. Eric & Sookie, I don’t really see the sexual tension – I know I’m supposed to. I imagine there are lots of people who do, so that’s good. Ima going to watch again and try to get into it.
Oh and Tara & Sam storylines? Uh… still waiting for something, anything – OK, Franklin Mott is something, and he appears to be fierce boyfriend material (watch out Tara!) Lafayette can do no wrong.
Also, I’d watch the Bellefleur and Jason Stackhouse show.
Agree, Liv, I also saw no sexual tension. I just saw them talking, normally.
Oh good! So it’s not just me who didn’t see the sexual tension either. I just don’t get see the chemistry there with Eric/Sookie that I do with Bill/Sookie. But then again, I also don’t see the books as the Sookie/Eric story as some do. I see them as the Bill/Sookie story. I just finished Book 10, and am more convinced than ever that Sookie and Bill are meant to be.
beautifully broken was better than the premier. I liked how it was fast paced. Season 3 is way better than the previous 2….
Sometimes people/critics break things down too much and just make things out to be too complex…TB @ the end of the day is all about entertainment…
Keep It Simple Stupid!!!
I have to admit, episode 2 was excellent in my opinion. I loved the fast pace and enjoyed it far more than the premier (more like a catching up show). I think the new cast additions only create more layers and depth to the story. Fun to watch and truly “popcorn for smart people” (Alan Ball).
That was the best episode of TB yet! I’ve always wondered what’s so great about Sookie? It’s the fairy blood stupid!
And GO Franklin! He not only takes care of Jessica’s smelly little problem…so we’re spared the chain saw…he finds the dossier Bill had hidden…on Sookie! Adding to THAT…he brings out the best of Tara. Which isn’t much but at this point…welcome!
So Russel want’s to take over the world? Eric will stop him. Bill will help. I don’t think the show could be any better at this point.
Have just watched this episode and can’t say i totally agree with this reviewer …looking forward to CE’s recap though !!!
Having never watched the Tudors didn’t know who James Frain was before but am looking forward to seeing more of him , i mean his character Franklin . Also looking forward to seeing more of the King of Mississipi and how his plans for world domination may or may not unfold .
Saying that Eric was “pandering to the audience” (which is probably one of the reasons this article was chosen) was ludacris and shows zero insight. This guy didn’t even know what Sam’s brother stormed out of the room.
Eric’s in slowly opening up and still terrified of any human emotion so much so that he can’t even identify or speak the word “cry” Don’t do that he tells Sookie lol
marina ‘s review of the same scene:
Skarsgard has mastered the ability of expressing all manner of emotional depths without moving a muscle in his face–rendering endlessly fascinating what could have been just another dull prettyboy (see Pattinson, Robert
Why I too struggle at times with Anna’s Sookie he was a bit too harsh on her as well.
I have a hard time believing that any 1,000 year old being would be “terrified” of anything, well perhaps death, but no so much human emotion. Maybe it’s just me, but that word just doesn’t describe True Blood Eric so far (maybe book Eric?). I think that he probably is feeling Sookie’s emotions pretty intensely when she’s around him, and perhaps that’s making him uncomfortable. I wonder if he feels Lafayettes with the same intensity. Lafayette drank a lot more of his blood than Sookie did.
As if there weren’t enough sorrow in the world, it pains me to say that I share the reviewer’s take on Sookie as the center of attention. Why, indeed, does everyone orbit around her? The character doesn’t command the room, is neither Old Soul nor young fey spirit, just sorta priggishly and peevishly middle-aged. Still, Paquin pulled off a wondrously effective crying jag at Fangtasia, more credible than Eric’s disturbingly-human bit. Loved the two of them on the porch – best of both characters.
What do I know. I may be the only person here who enjoyed the Sam scenes (surprised I did, but I did.) Bill was back to his worst wooden self ( I am an ardent Bill fan, too), and Franklin Mott failed to wickedly intrigue. So far, the werewolves are just rednecks in furry drag,. For me the hot-chocolate deliciousness of Lafayette trumps the silken campiness of Talbot, but it’s early days. Also early days for King Russell, who failed to charm or frighten on his first outing.
Scene stealer: Alfre Woodward. Scene spoiler: bad camera work on the opening tableau. Could almost see the Klieg lights and sound booms. Ditto the WWII hut.
All the above IMO only. All you far more knowledgeable fans who live in rock houses, please don’t throw glass at me.