***SPOILERIFFIC GOODNESS COMING YOUR WAY***
Holy Toledo, I didn’t think it was possible to have that much fun in front of a television! My apologies if this weeks review isn’t quite as finessed as what you would expect from a writing student, but it was just sooo freakin’ entertaining that all I want to do is rave madly about how awesome it was. This week’s episode ‘Trouble’ simply had it all: drama, comedy, romance, violence. Stupidity, sexiness, tenderness…psychoness. And we all learnt a very important lesson (well, I hope most people learnt it): do not doubt Alan Ball and the amazing TB writing staff, they always have their shit together! While having a bazillion different storylines in two states going on simultaneously may have been difficult for our poor brains to compute for the last 4 episodes, the payoff is now that most of them have come together in a beautiful tangle. We now have our main storyline in Jackson, involving politics, vengeance, lies, secrets, vamps, weres, homoeroticism and practically everything else under the sun, and a couple of new romances and a disturbing family situation over in Bon Temps.
First things first. While there was not a dud performance or a flat moment anywhere in this episode, I really believe the show was stolen by two supporting characters: Franklin and Talbot. Throw Russell and Eric in with those two and you have one seriously amazing sitcom, just imagine it.
Franklin was…wow, I don’t even know how to describe him. Hilariously psychotic? Just a teensy bit possessive? How bout I just go with (to quote the episode) ‘FANTASTIC!’ There were things he did and said in this episode that I really think will remain some of the funniest shit that ever happens on this show. Bickering with Talbot, speed texting, tying Tara to the bed, having an emo-vamp moment that out emo’d even that drip from thatothervampirefranchisethatshallnotbenamed…every bit of it was over the top enough to be completely hilarious, but remain genuinely horrifying. I mean, he’s clearly a psychopath that would rip anyone’s head off without hesitation, but…loveably so? Whatever he is that’s making me love him, I tip my cap to you James Frain for just going for it.
And Talbot? Well, his one-liners just continue to get more gay and more amazing, and he is oh so fun. Not to mention the way he was staring at Eric like he was a triple cheese with curly fries at the end there. I don’t think a better visage of pure rapture and lust could have been done, and the possibility of what might transpire between these two in coming weeks is tickling me silly. (And btw, Alex Skarsgard did look so mesmerisingly beautiful this week that I may have skittled a little more towards Team Eric. That smile…)
If I had to pick a favourite scene, I really really loved Bill and Coot. Coot was just such a dick. His lines were amazing and our adopted Aussie Grant Bowler is killing it. Plus, his dickishness led to Bill properly pummeling seven shades of shit out of someone for the first time ever, which was rad. And hey, he’s really kinda fucked right now, so if he can do down literally swinging and kick some ass in the meantime go for it!
Storylines and characters that were a bit iffy or just ok all got better. Tough, not quite so dumb Sookie is back, hallelujahs hallelujahs! She stood up to Debbie (who was also very good in that scene) and her scenes with Alcide keep getting better and better. Sam Trammell has got acting chops, and he got to bust them out when Sam got thoroughly pissed at his drunk-ass redneck of a dad. Something rotten is definitely going on with him and Tommy (who I now think is cute as hell, and I loved his little interaction with Jessica), and I have a sick feeling about it. Although I think they made Jason look a little too dumb in that ridiculous day at the cop-shop montage (how are we supposed to buy that he could actually be a police officer if they make him look borderline retarded?), I enjoyed his scenes with Crystal and am actually looking forward to Jason having a proper romantic relationship. Crystal seems sweet yet intriguing, and she can’t be worse than Amy the hippie V-addict from season 1.
Closing scene- thought it was great. Very short, but I think that added to the sense of urgency. Was extremely surprised that Bill and Sookie were reunited, short lived as it was. Somehow I was prepared for them to not see each other at all until near the end of the season. I did get all fuzzy inside when Sookie jumped into Bill’s arms, but nobody escapes big bad Russell! Sook shot that magic white light from her hands and propelled Coot across the room, positively delighting Russell whose OTT reaction was completely appropriate for the character. Denis O’Hare has been brilliant as Russell, and even though I’m already shuddering at what he’ll do to Bill now that he’s completely blown his charade, I know there’ll be a part of me that’s still loving Denis’s work even as he does dastardly things to our constantly up shit creek lovebirds.
I will be now be ravenously anticipating episode 6 next week, my goodness, half a season gone already! Tear. But to tide me over til then, I think I’ll have some repeat viewings of this sublimely crafted hour of television to which I award the season’s first…
10/10.
Best Quotes:
Talbot – ‘You and your dusky little bloodbeast are totally at odds with my décor.’
Talbot - ‘You’re not supposed to bring work home.’ Russell – ‘Darling? *points to self * King.’
Russell – ‘Frankin, you’re a huge freak.’
Bill to Lorena – ‘You’re really not very smart. You’ve played yourself into a corner you tiresome cow.’
Sookie to speeding Alcide – ‘I am not gonna die cos of your shitty girlfriend and a Mississippi pothole!’
Talbot about Bill – ‘He’s not missing, and he’s way too square to deal V.’
Franklin – ‘Watch how fast I can type ‘motherfucker’.
Franklin again, while crying hysterically – ‘You have no idea how much you’ve hurt me. I feel like I’ve been staked!’
-Everything Coot said to Bill, every damn bit of it.
Tara – ‘I’m hungry. And I can’t eat day lilies.’ Franklin – ‘Tell Talbot we don’t want his fucking flowers!’
Eric, talking about old vampire erotica – ‘You learn any tricks?’ Talbot – ‘Eric, you know as well as I there’s nothing new except someone new.’
Bill – ‘It’s too late. There’s no hope for me.’
Russell - *laughs wickedly* ‘Fantastic!’
First things first. While there was not a dud performance or a flat moment anywhere in this episode, I really believe the show was stolen by two supporting characters: Franklin and Talbot. Throw Russell and Eric in with those two and you have one seriously amazing sitcom, just imagine it.
Franklin was…wow, I don’t even know how to describe him. Hilariously psychotic? Just a teensy bit possessive? How bout I just go with (to quote the episode) ‘FANTASTIC!’ There were things he did and said in this episode that I really think will remain some of the funniest shit that ever happens on this show. Bickering with Talbot, speed texting, tying Tara to the bed, having an emo-vamp moment that out emo’d even that drip from thatothervampirefranchisethatshallnotbenamed…every bit of it was over the top enough to be completely hilarious, but remain genuinely horrifying. I mean, he’s clearly a psychopath that would rip anyone’s head off without hesitation, but…loveably so? Whatever he is that’s making me love him, I tip my cap to you James Frain for just going for it.
And Talbot? Well, his one-liners just continue to get more gay and more amazing, and he is oh so fun. Not to mention the way he was staring at Eric like he was a triple cheese with curly fries at the end there. I don’t think a better visage of pure rapture and lust could have been done, and the possibility of what might transpire between these two in coming weeks is tickling me silly. (And btw, Alex Skarsgard did look so mesmerisingly beautiful this week that I may have skittled a little more towards Team Eric. That smile…)
If I had to pick a favourite scene, I really really loved Bill and Coot. Coot was just such a dick. His lines were amazing and our adopted Aussie Grant Bowler is killing it. Plus, his dickishness led to Bill properly pummeling seven shades of shit out of someone for the first time ever, which was rad. And hey, he’s really kinda fucked right now, so if he can do down literally swinging and kick some ass in the meantime go for it!
Storylines and characters that were a bit iffy or just ok all got better. Tough, not quite so dumb Sookie is back, hallelujahs hallelujahs! She stood up to Debbie (who was also very good in that scene) and her scenes with Alcide keep getting better and better. Sam Trammell has got acting chops, and he got to bust them out when Sam got thoroughly pissed at his drunk-ass redneck of a dad. Something rotten is definitely going on with him and Tommy (who I now think is cute as hell, and I loved his little interaction with Jessica), and I have a sick feeling about it. Although I think they made Jason look a little too dumb in that ridiculous day at the cop-shop montage (how are we supposed to buy that he could actually be a police officer if they make him look borderline retarded?), I enjoyed his scenes with Crystal and am actually looking forward to Jason having a proper romantic relationship. Crystal seems sweet yet intriguing, and she can’t be worse than Amy the hippie V-addict from season 1.
Closing scene- thought it was great. Very short, but I think that added to the sense of urgency. Was extremely surprised that Bill and Sookie were reunited, short lived as it was. Somehow I was prepared for them to not see each other at all until near the end of the season. I did get all fuzzy inside when Sookie jumped into Bill’s arms, but nobody escapes big bad Russell! Sook shot that magic white light from her hands and propelled Coot across the room, positively delighting Russell whose OTT reaction was completely appropriate for the character. Denis O’Hare has been brilliant as Russell, and even though I’m already shuddering at what he’ll do to Bill now that he’s completely blown his charade, I know there’ll be a part of me that’s still loving Denis’s work even as he does dastardly things to our constantly up shit creek lovebirds.
I will be now be ravenously anticipating episode 6 next week, my goodness, half a season gone already! Tear. But to tide me over til then, I think I’ll have some repeat viewings of this sublimely crafted hour of television to which I award the season’s first…
10/10.
Best Quotes:
Talbot – ‘You and your dusky little bloodbeast are totally at odds with my décor.’
Talbot - ‘You’re not supposed to bring work home.’ Russell – ‘Darling? *points to self * King.’
Russell – ‘Frankin, you’re a huge freak.’
Bill to Lorena – ‘You’re really not very smart. You’ve played yourself into a corner you tiresome cow.’
Sookie to speeding Alcide – ‘I am not gonna die cos of your shitty girlfriend and a Mississippi pothole!’
Talbot about Bill – ‘He’s not missing, and he’s way too square to deal V.’
Franklin – ‘Watch how fast I can type ‘motherfucker’.
Franklin again, while crying hysterically – ‘You have no idea how much you’ve hurt me. I feel like I’ve been staked!’
-Everything Coot said to Bill, every damn bit of it.
Tara – ‘I’m hungry. And I can’t eat day lilies.’ Franklin – ‘Tell Talbot we don’t want his fucking flowers!’
Eric, talking about old vampire erotica – ‘You learn any tricks?’ Talbot – ‘Eric, you know as well as I there’s nothing new except someone new.’
Bill – ‘It’s too late. There’s no hope for me.’
Russell - *laughs wickedly* ‘Fantastic!’
