Now that Season 2 of HBO’s hit series True Blood wrapped up last Sunday, I wanted to review the Season 2 as a whole. So let’s talk about what worked and didn’t work this season, and list the best/worst episodes to watch. My thoughts are listed below so let me know if you agree or disagree with my assessment. Your comments are encouraged!
WHAT WORKED:
1. More Eric please….you only briefly saw Eric in Season 1 as the evil Sheriff of Area 5 that played the bad boy to Bill’s good guy. In Season 2 his role was significantly expanded and his character was explored in more detail. He was able to show his full range this season by terrorizing Lafayette and ripping Royce into pieces; tricking Bill by calling on Lorena & Sookie into drinking his blood; and heartbreak over Godric meeting the Sun. He stole every scene he was in, and I really hope they continue to expand his role next season (as they do in the books) because we can’t get enough of him….oh, and did I mention he got a hot makeover this season.
2. Lafayette Lives! If you have read the books, you know it is actually Lafayette’s body that is found in Detective Bellfluer’s car, not Miss Jeanette. In the books it didn’t hurt much because the character was very one-dimensional and rarely mentioned; however, in the show Nelsan Ellis has developed a character so rich and full of life that many viewers were up in arms on the thought of losing him in the show. Alan Ball must have been listening, and came up with a brilliant Season 1 cliffhanger that fooled everyone into thinking he was a goner only to be imprisoned by Eric in the basement of Fangtasia.
3. The Dallas Storyline – even though the main cast was broken up into two locations, the trip to Dallas really worked this season. The Introduction of new characters such as Barry, Godric, and the Newlins were great. I especially enjoyed watching the buildup and explosion of the Jason and the FOTS and Sookie and the Dallas vamps. And I wouldn’t mind staying at that vamp hotel, either.
4. Jason. If last season was all about Jason Stackhouse’s body, then this season was all about Jason’s mind, or lack thereof. He kept his clothes on this Season (I think even Sookie was naked more this year), but almost every word out of his mouth was priceless. Nobody can play equal parts stupid and sincere as Ryan Kwanten can, and I found myself cracking up at him all season, especially his interpretation of “The God Who Comes”. Brilliant!
WHAT DIDN’T WORK:
1. Maryann Storyline. At first intriguing, the repetitive orgies and zombie eyes quickly took their toll with characters and viewers alike. This became glaringly obvious once the gang returned from Dallas. Most now agree that too many orgies can be a bad thing, and dare I say, boring.
2. Tara and Eggs. Tara was completely unlike her character from last year. With her crappy childhood, she should have been instantly suspicious of Maryann and Eggs. And letting them come live in then trash Sookie’s house – not cool, Tara!
BEST EPISODES OF SEASON 2
1. “I Will Rise Up”
The most emotional episode of the season dealt with the fallout from the FOTS bombing of the Dallas vamps nest, including sibling bonding and trickery by Eric before culminating in Godric deciding to meet the sun. Oh, and Sookie and Eric totally hook up [relax – it’s only a hot dream, for now].
2. “Timebomb”
This episode was non-stop action as the showdown between the vamps and the FOTS come to a head before finally exploding [literally]. I loved the interactions between Bill and Eric as they are starting to set up the love triangle for the future seasons.
3. “Scratches”
Sookie is attacked by a “bull-man” and agrees with Eric to go to Dallas in exchange for Lafayette’s release; also the adorable Hoyt and Jessica meet [love them!].
WORST EPISODES OF SEASON 2
1. “Frenzy”
This felt like a disjointed filler episode leading to the finale. Bill is stuck with the Queen all day [boring], Tara gets away from her friends and family to go save Eggs and ends up possessed [again], Sookie and Lafayette go after her [again]….plus Sam goes to Eric and nothing ends up coming of it. Shame on you, Alan Ball!
2. “New World in my View”
Everyone’s back from Dallas and most of this episode is used to get them up to date on what we already knew; the town is full of bug-eyed zombies and Meat Trees and Maryann is evil. Plus this episode only clocked in at 46 minutes, so you automatically feel cheated this late in the series. Come on, you could have at least squeezed another Eric dream in there [just saying].
3. “Beyond Here Lies Nothin”
This season finale resolved a Maryann storyline that was long overdue. True Blood opted to go bat-shit crazy over the top in this episode; some of it worked (Sam being stabbed and reappearing as a Bull to gouge Maryann was awesome!) and some of it didn’t (like bridesmaids that lick Ostrich eggs). Thankfully, Maryann was defeated within the first 30 minutes; but then the rest of the episode felt slow as a consequence…and I felt a little cheated that Eric was stuck playing Yahtzee with the Queen instead of being a part of the battle with Maryann.
My Season Rating: 8/10
Season 2 of True Blood felt forced, and the last episodes dragged on and on for what felt like eternity. Seriously, Maryann - WTF?!?! She believes in some sort of magical god and religion, and therefore can control people and grow f'ed up looking claws when her hands get a little mud on them. Pllllease. If I'm that starved for entertainment, I'll go pick up dog poo in the backyard at night without a flashlight in bare feet - it doesn't make sense, right? I try to imagine myself in the show's writing sessions, and picture conversations about certain scenes. "Then, we will build a giant replica of The God Who Comes statue with twigs and expensive meat? Brilliant!!!" Who gets on board with that kind of garbage?!?!
ReplyDeleteMaybe my problem is that I've read, and enjoyed, the books, and so my expectations are a bit much. In the second book, Maryann was more of a jealous witch that wanted her payment in pride and lust. She had a whip-like weapon instead of claws. She leaves after blowing some expendable Bon Tempians up. The end.
So I'm obviously not a fan of the Maryann b.s. Then there is Tara and Egg's ongoing nonsensical drama - just shoot me in the head now if they decide to bring that douche bag back from the dead. "Uhhh...huhhh...hey man, I don't know what's going on anymore". That character was doomed from the beginning. Apparently Tara must live on, along with her "still looks drunk all of the time" mother. If they are that starved for filler, let's get some more scenes at the vampire bar; I'm sure SOMETHING exciting is going down there.
I know, I know, "I don't have to watch the show if I think it's that bad", but the optimist in me says it's going to get better. I think the Season 2 would have been a lot better, with more substance, if they shortened the Maryann crap down to just 3 episodes. But what do I know?
The good: Pretty much any scene with Jason's stupid ass in it. I thought Michael Scott from The Office was dim - jee-RIPES!!! I'm surprised this character can hold a job in road construction. Thankfully there was never a dialogue scene with Jason and Eggs - can you imagine how painful that would have been? Of course, Beavis and Butthead was a hit.
My Season 2 Rating: 4/10
Greg
ReplyDeleteI will agree with you on many of your points. My feelings are that the character of Maryann being introduced last season was a mistake. I mean I understand why: the TV show will automatically go away from the books when Sookie is not involved and the secondary characters have to find something to do when she is not around...
I am sure in the beginning it made sense to have Tara get wrapped up in the drama and Sam as well. But since it was introduced so early, and continued to get so much air time in every episdoe, then it got real old, read fast. [especially if it takes away from the vampire's storyline...I mean, that is why we tune in].
It is pretty obvious I did not care for the Maryann storyline from my review above, and I felt the last 3 episodes were the weakest of the season because they had to deal with the fallout of her storyline...I honestly think the writers let her grow out of control and didn't know how to reign her back in....
In retrospect, they should have set it up early this season, then had it fade back while they were in Dallas, then come back to resolve at the end [like in the books]... but without the ridiculous wedding ceremony...that really was over the top [even for me] and I like drama...
However, I think that you are letting your frustration with Maryann cloud what was otherwise a pretty good season...come on, a 4/10 is like a Mitchell rating...personally, I loved the FOTS/Newlins craziness, the Dallas vampires, Godric, more Eric [duh], and of course Jessica and Hoyt...when it comes out on DVD we can watch it and fast forward the MA parts, then I bet [hope] your rating would go up.