This week’s episode had everything fans want just before a finale: resolution, questions to be answered in the finale, and a killer cliffhanger that might keep us on the edge of our seats till next season. While there continue to be some questionable character motivations, mainly at the hands of Tara, Sam and Jason, this episode was rapid-fire with the plots and extremely reminiscent of past calms before the finale. True Blood returns September 12th with a season finale that should leave fans holding their breath until season 4.
As Eric scrambles to figure out a way to defeat Russell for good, Bill frees Sookie from Fangtasia’s basement only to discover they will be the guests of honor for the King of Mississippi’s final curtain call. Sam’s drinking causes him to push everyone away except for Tara who seems to understand him. Arlene enlists Holly’s help to rid her of her baby but it seems that maybe the child is meant to be born. Jason learns star football player Kitch is abusing V and learns about Crystal’s secret life. Jessica and Hoyt are reunited but Maxine and Summer refuse to believe he’s returned to the vampire for good. Tommy’s expulsion from Sam’s life leads him to some questionable choices.
The episode overall was surprising to say the least. Yes it was a bit disappointing that Eric and Russell didn’t have a knock-down, drag-out brawl when Eric revealed his past but there’s no denying the plan he executed wasn’t amazing. His more subdued moments with Pam were sweet and sincere and who didn’t get the shivers watching Eric stride out into the sun and hoping to God Russell didn’t notice anything. Pam and Eric’s relationship has grown very subtly throughout this season and watching her sob quietly with Bill behind her conveyed so much about their relationship without words. Continuing the trend of heart and sweetness who didn’t love Jessica and Hoyt this week? Their make-up felt far more realistic than the tacked on “reconciliations” between Bill and Sookie. Jessica’s biting of Hoyt was also incredibly sexy, I’d go so far as it to say it felt more intimate than any of the sex scenes shown this season (again I’m pointing the finger at Bill and Sookie). To discover that Hoyt’s mother was behind Summer dating her son came out of left field but it also seems to hint at some drastic measures being taken in the finale. Arlene’s story with Holly is fascinating, if only to see the introduction of witches, but are we supposed to believe Arlene’s dream is wrapped up with Sookie’s fairy world? The way it was shot seemed too coincidental, but to go with that her constant suppressions of her feelings around Terry continue to provide a lot of laughs.
As the season comes to a close its strange that quite a few things are left unresolved, and some plots are just now forming mainly Lafayette’s story. It’s still unknown what it going with the V tripping, the demonic family history and Jesus, but at this point will the arc leave things tight enough to satisfy audiences without feeling like a last minute addition? Same goes for Jason’s undying need to prove the football player Kitch is bad. Both of these plots are so tiny that it’s unknown how they’re meant to fit into the bigger scheme of things. Jason’s need to get this guy seems incredibly selfish and at this point they should be focusing on his hollow relationship with Crystal. The selfishness continues with Tara and Sam. It’s easy to see where Tara’s feelings come from but considering everything that Eggs did last season, and the small fact that he wanted to die, it’s hard to sympathize with Tara. Sam’s drinking also seems out of place and his newfound resurgence of sex with Tara doesn’t feel like anything more than titillation.
Overall Fresh Blood was a solid episode and a strong segue into the finale. I wouldn’t expect too many answers but this season has had some massive ups and downs so it’ll be nice for the writers to end things and try to get back to what made the first two seasons so astounding. Hopefully we won’t be losing Eric as he’s the strongest part of the series and as an aside in honor of the Emmys who wasn’t laughing during the True Blood In Memoriam? Either way a great episode and we’ll be back on September 12th to recap what capped off season three.
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