Not super fresh, I thought. Fresh Blood definitely had its moments, but overall it just didn’t get there for me. Maybe it was because I expected a TON more from the second to last episode of the season.
Firstly, it’s disappointing that they basically gave away how they were going to kill Russell in the previews for next week but I guess the snapshot of Godric is a little sweet spot for us to look forward to considering they gave pretty much everything else away (i.e., Russell is dead).
Secondly, how are they going to wrap up (if at all) all of the other miscellaneous subplots that have for the most part been somewhat lame this season? Let’s enumerate: 1) Crystal and Jason and her meth/were-panther family, 2) Tara’s rage at everybody (although was the cathartic sex scene between her and Sam in this episode supposed to be a loose end tied up?), 3) Lafayette and Jesus and their whole weird super-natural (and now diabolic???) relationship, 4) Arlene and her baby (although maybe that’s for next season now that her “evil” baby didn’t die), 5) Jessica and Hoyt (in hindsight though as I write this, maybe that one has been wrapped up because they’re back together, although Hoyt’s mother and Summer are devilishly plotting to break them up), 6) Claudine and her fairy bunch, and lastly but not least, 7) The Authority – at least give us something to chew on between seasons. Pretty pretty please!
The shining moments between Crystal’s were-panther appearance and the completely bizarre Wiccan scene between Holly and Arlene to get rid of Arlene’s baby, was of course the confrontation scene between Eric and Russell when he offers him the sun, as well as the last part of the episode where the whole trick with Russell, Eric, Sookie and Bill comes together.
Bill: One caveat gentlemen. If you drain her completely, that’s the last fairy blood you’ll ever drink.
Eric: Hm, good point.
Russell: We are schooled. Onward to adventure!
Sookie: If this is you trying to help me, thanks for nothing.
The scene in the bar when drunken Sam completely loses it was actually also pretty funny. In a messed up way, it was cool to see the normally pulled-together Sam falling apart and swearing at everyone, even poor gentle Terry who tries to tell him that it’s just the liquor talking.
Sam: Get back in the kitchen, you shell-shocked mother-[BLEEP]!
Even so, I laughed so hard because that is exactly how Terry looks to me…shell-shocked. I actually also liked wrap up of the story between Jason and Kitch, and the whole secret that he’s using V to be able to play football longer and stronger, and that all the coaches know about it. Probably something that will go into next season unless Jason goes ballistic on them in the last episode. The part where Tara tells Andy that she knew about Eggs was cool, and I liked how Andy comes back and just explains about Maryann.
Andy: Well I don’t feel like a hero. I never wanted nothing like this to happen. It was all Maryann. He [Eggs] was innocent. God help me. If I could do it again, if I could go back and just get a hold of Jason’s gun, if Eggs would just listen and put the knife down, but he…he was bound and determined to die. I couldn’t stop him. Jason didn’t know. I’m sorry. Tara, I’m so sorry.
Honestly I think that was all Tara needed to hear that somebody was sorry that Eggs had to die. That was a good resolution of that piece.
It was good to see poor little Tommy back-pedaling like crazy when Sam fires him and kicks him out, especially how quickly he usually is to fire off his mouth. Bet he didn’t see that one coming!
Tommy to Sam: Wait. I lost my temper. It’s…it’s nothing. I’m sorry. See, see, I ain’t mad anymore!
Absolutely loved the last few minutes of the eposide when Eric turns around to Russell when they’re outside in the sun with his face is competely blistered and burned, and he snaps the handcuffs on Russell’s hand before Russell can escape.
Russell: You traitor! [BLEEP] madman!
Eric growling: Be brave. We’ll die together.
Thought Eric was very much like a Viking prince in that moment, facing death so courageously.
The final episode, which looks super-exciting based on the previews (Godric!!!), will air in two weeks on September 12, at 9pm on HBO. As a final note, loved the In Memoriam of all the vampires/creatures who met the True Death, from Maudette to Godric. Classic gory True Blood moments!
So Sookie is a fairy. One dumb-ass fairy. Seriously who goes running to Fangtasia when you know that werewolves are after you and that the vampire you’re running to knows exactly what you are and wants to use you for his own nefarious ends? Yep, you guessed it. A blond clueless fairy named Sookie Stackhouse who gets kissed and dismissed in the dungeon of hell. Like I said, dumb as a bucket of rocks.
I thought this episode of True Blood was a little disappointing in parts and not so disappointing in others. The whole V roller-coaster trip with Lafayette and Jesus was almost too weird, and I’m not sure I’m liking the direction that’s going too much. Sorcerers, black magic, witch doctors? Not really feeling it. Next, between True Blood‘s cool-looking vampires and the awesome effects using real wolves for the were form of the werewolves, Crystal’s black panther form was some B-grade horror movie fakeness. Did not like that at all. I also think it would have been way cooler if they had revealed this earlier in the show before we got totally fed-up with her and her strange deer-chewing, meth-dealing kin. Too little, too late at this point.
On the flip side, I did like the explanation of Sam’s back-story, and it was good to understand why he didn’t give in to his anger before his brother came along. He used to be a bad boy himself. Love that Tommy’s rage sent Jessica right back into Hoyt’s arms (not to mention Hoyt getting a drink of Jess’ blood to heal him). She and Hoyt belong together. Speaking of Jessica, I was cheering inside when she gave Arlene a piece of her mind, and her fangs, when Arlene was mouthing off about vampires. Nothing like a firecracker red-headed vamp to shut someone up. Awesome!
Thought the scene with Russell and his street-boy-toy, and the whole reenactment of Talbot’s staking was more than a little creepy. I know Russell’s gone off the deep end, but seriously, the man has issues. By the way, anyone notice that the boy-toy faux-Talbot was Michael Steger (Navid) from 90210? Ok, now that’s just become even more creepy. Ewww, 90210 is now ruined forever.
Still, apart from all that, exciting times! Just two more episodes left! The main plot-line of course is going to come to a head with Eric (armed with Sookie’s blood I’m guessing) versus Russell. It would be neat if the Authority got involved at some point in the final episodes, at least to show that they have some say/response in matters of vampire security. Not sure what the True Blood team is going to do to resolve the various weak sub-plots which I reiterated in my last post, but I’m in it for the bigger stuff anyway. And hopefully, Alcide will make a reappearance and make it all worth it.
First thing is that I have to apologize for going a whole week without writing about last week’s True Blood episode. I only watched it off my DVR yesterday as I’ve been away fighting monsters of my own (3 foot long eels). Blech! You’d think I could handle the nasty little buggers being addicted to all the blood and gore that is True Blood, but no. Still, that’s a story for another time.
Anyway. So two things stuck with me after this episode.
1) Franklin’s wasn’t dead! But now he’s dead for real courtesy of Mr. Stackhouse.
Franklin (with disdainful English diction): You do realize that I’m a vampire. You could empty every round in me and I’ll heal.
Jason: Not if I got wooden bullets.
2) Russell is one crazy psychotic vampire (not to mention creepy, carrying around his little crystal chalice of Talbot entrails…ewww).
Russell: We are immortal because we drink the true blood, blood that is living, organic, and human. Make no mistake, mine is the true face of vampires! Why would we seek equal rights? You are not our equals. We will eat you. After we eat your children. Now time for the weather. Tiffany?
Classic!
Overall the episode wasn’t bad, it just seemed like it was a lot of catch-up/build-up for future episodes to move the main plot along with Sookie/Russell/Bill/Eric, and attempting to wrap-up the smaller sub-plots with Jason and Crystal, Sam and his family, Lafayette and Jesus, Tara and her post-Franklin rage, Jessica and Hoyt, etc.
Speaking of sub-plots, still don’t know what the deal with Sam’s brother is or even why Sam finally loses it because he gets his buttons pushed about everyone walking all over him. So predictable! The relationship between Crystal and Jason is still annoying me, it just doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Of course Crystal is not going to leave her “kin,” they’re her hillbilly pack. Come on already! I really think Sam’s and Jason’s characters have been undermined this season with this story direction. It’s boring and lame.
Still happy about Lafayette and Jesus but I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop on poor Lafayette. Either Jesus is going to turn out to be some non-human or one of the other True Blood uglies is going to take him out.
Love the little scene between Jessica and Hoyt, especially when he tells her how much he hates Summer. That was awesome because I can’t stand Summer. I just want to crush her with my bare hands! Plus, I love Jess.
Hoyt: I [bleep] hate her. She will not stop talking!
I wasn’t sure about the addition of Holly but now I am excited to see what she brings to the table this late in the season, especially after all the tweets that she is a witch. The main question I have in my head is whether she knew what happened to Tara and said that she was a rape survivor in the meeting so that she could get close to her, just like she knew about Arlene’s baby. Speaking of the baby, when she was sitting with Arlene and Arlene was saying that her baby was evil, there was a moment there. Something baaaaad is going to happen! *shiver*
Now for the good stuff. Really loved the scene between Nan and Eric when he was being interrogated. It was good to see that there is actually an Authority or some authority anyway (a bunch of faceless guys in a room over a webcam does not an Authority make, but we shall see). Also, anyone else notice that after claiming that she only drinks TruBlood to Eric, Nan is just like any other vampire with her little human suck-toys? She certainly seems to have a lot of power for a vampire who’s supposedly just the face of the American Vampire League.
Nan: Listen, you whiny little bitch…you brought us this steaming pile of shit, and you’re going to make it go away. Now bring me his fangs or I will have yours.
Lastly, what in tarnation is Sookie? We have Bill miraculously going to her secret dream place where he meets up with Claudine, and obviously she tells him what Sookie is, but we still don’t know! Dammit. Like the twist that Hadley’s kid (Sookie’s nephew) is also the same as Sookie, but now I really need to know why the vampires all have such a huge interest in her.
I am guessing that all this is going to come together in the last couple episodes somehow as Sookie undoubtedly will have to be the one to kill Russell (possibly working together with Eric and Bill) if only because he is 3000 years old and stronger than any other vampire.
Can’t wait for the next episode! True Blood airs on Sundays on HBO at 9pm EST.
I do have to add a mini-postscript that Russell, despite being a complete lunatic, does make some good points about current society. Could True Blood be delivering a public message about excess and morality? Hmmm.
“Now the American Vampire League wishes to perpetrate the notion that we are just like you. And, I suppose in a few small ways we are. We’re narcissists. We care only about getting what we want, no matter what the cost, just like you. Global warming. Perpetual war. Toxic waste. Child labor. Torture. Genocide. That’s a small price to pay for your SUVs and your flat screen TVs, your blood diamonds, your designer jeans, your absurd garish McMansions! Futile symbols of permanence to quell your quivering spineless souls.”
That’s it! *shakes fist to sky* No more designer jeans for me!
If you’re shy, easily offended, or don’t like blood, turn away now. This ain’t for the fainthearted.
The True Blood Rolling Stone cover is mad sexy! It’s everything that True Blood is about – vampires, blood, nudity, sex, and rock n’ roll. Ok, maybe not so much the rock n’ roll part but definitely the first four with lots of intrigue, various other paranorms, and a lot more sex than just the one word above implies.
Featuring Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse), and Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton), the cover, like the show, is bold, dramatic, and provocative, typical of many past Rolling Stone covers.
Absolutely love Alan Ball’s comment to Rolling Stone, “To me, vampires are sex, I don’t get a vampire story about abstinence. I’m 53. I don’t care about high school students. I find them irritating and uninformed.” Hilarious.
Check out the latest issue of Rolling Stone on newsstands now. The article will be available online on Friday, August 20th for Rolling Stone subscribers.
Super intense True Blood episode with some mad angst, mad fighting, and mad sex (all kinds, pick your poison – vamp/vamp, boy/boy, boy/girl, vamp/girl). Lots of boy-boy action again in this episode between Jesus and Lafayette, and also between Eric and Talbot. Booyah. Not to mention Eric’s man-tease after Talbot tells him imperiously “I’m bored. Take your clothes off.” Classic. I did think that their kiss was very awkward, not like Lafayette and Jesus, but then again they are two primal vampire males versus the two human nice boys, right?
Eric’s game to somehow exact vengeance on Russell is starting to get ramped up, especially when he pledges his allegiance that he has been searching for him for one thousand years, for “a true leader, one strong enough to unite us all.” He definitely knows how to play Russell, and seems to have him in the palm of his hand. Still, I don’t know if I like him in this submissive role (I want the Eric from last season), but I am sure it’s all a means to an end. “I will show you just how deep my loyalty runs…” To us, the viewers, his underlying threat to Russell is unmistakable. I cannot wait for when he takes Russell down.
No surprise that Tara is having crazy sex dreams about Franklin, after all she drank his blood. She is also definitely torn about Sookie’s feelings for Bill which she admits to still having, but I think a lot of that is a combination of how Bill treated her when she first arrived at Russell’s place and of course her terror of Franklin. She’s seen what a truly horrific vampire is capable of, no wonder she’s ticked off. Speaking of, I guess I was wrong that Franklin is dead since Talbot mentioned that he had to scrub his brains out of the linen. Unless…vampire brains can regenerate? Hmmm.
Glad that Jesus is back in the picture with Lafayette. Love how he gets Jean to hand over the knife…little bit of sweet mixed in with a whole lot of crazy in this episode, which was a nice change. The twist with Lafayette having a lot of power is also cool although I’m not sure how that will play out with all the other vamps, weres, shifters, light-bearers, and other paranorms in the True Blood world.
Crystal and Jason also have some sex of their own too, but we still have yet to see what she and her family are. I am guessing from the man eating the raw deer and the weird little hiss that maybe they’re some kind of were-coyotes or other wild-cat creatures. Love when Jason goes all Rambo and threatens Crystal’s father to stay away from her, “me and the whole sheriff’s department are going to come after you, and your hillbilly freak show! You feel me?” Go Jason! He always jumps then thinks, but it’s what makes him Jason. I really hope they make him a cop and validate him just a little bit.
Things are also heating up with Sookie – I really need to know what she is, and what her cousin Hadley revealed to Sophie-Anne and Eric. It has to be big otherwise why would Eric risk sending Hadley to warn Sookie? Speaking of Eric, anyone else notice that he always seems to be bleeding from the ears and/or nose? What is that about? Anyway, I knew that he was going to take Talbot out, and of course, sex is when they’re the most vulnerable considering that Talbot is older (and stronger) than Eric. Poor Talbot, he really does get the, um, short end of the stick. I mean stake.
“Oh poor Talbot, are your diamond slippers chafing.”
So Eric soothes the ruffled feathers of Talbot while Russell goes to track Sookie. When Talbot realizes that Eric is going to kill him, the look on his face was a classic B-movie horror still. I think I actually felt sorry for Talbot, he had some good one-liners especially when he told Russell he was going to babysit his wife and then calls her a putana in the same breath. Oh Talbot, we shall miss you and your wifely antics!
The Sookie/Debbie showdown was cool, glad to see there was no cliched hair pulling, just some good old fashion punching, head-smashing, and face-slashing. Nice! I actually liked the fact that she didn’t turn into a wolf. Must have been a power thing to take Sookie down while in human form.
Love how Bill provokes Russell to save Jessica, “are you a coward, or are you just lazy?” It made him seem so badass even though he knows that he was going to get his butt kicked because Russell is 3000 years old. Of course, Bill ends up being saved inadvertently by Eric as Russell feels it acutely when Talbot is killed so he disappears.
I was also really hoping for some Hoyt heroics, like maybe he would save Jessica from the werewolf. It was almost too predictable to see her killing the werewolf – it’s not like she’s weak, she’s always been strong so I expected it. I just didn’t get what was the sense of having Hoyt drive by at that moment if he didn’t have anything to do with the moment.
And now for the grand finale of this episode (no pun intended). The sex scene at the end between Bill and Sookie might have just eclipsed the sex-scene between them after he climbed out of the dirt grave in a previous episode. That was some of the most angry, emotional, intense make-up sex ever seen on True Blood! But you know it was coming…those two can’t stay apart for long, even with Alcide getting his flirt on. Umm….Alcide…
Looking forward to what happens when Russell gets back to his dead love, and how Eric handles the situation! Only 3 more episodes left! True Blood airs on HBO on Sundays at 9pmEST.
Holy crow, True Blood! Blood, guts, gore, and more. Way to wake Tara up! I think I am now a little afraid of her badassness – biting Franklin in the neck and then bludgeoning his skull to flatness with a grisly-looking spiky hammer! Outstanding! Although I do have to say that I don’t think Franklin is dead because all I was thinking was “cut his head off, Tara, cut it off!” Between that, burning, and staking, it’s really the only real ways to kill one of those sneaky suckers. Love how she takes charge to rescue Sookie and then they tandem kick the bejeezus out of the guard. That was just spectacular. I think I almost liked Tara in that moment. Almost.
Eric didn’t really impress me much in this episode but I guess he’s tortured by other things like almost-forgotten family vengeance. I did enjoy him putting the beat-down on Sophie-Anne.
Eric: “I’m older and stronger than you…I only submitted to you in the past because of respect…I will rip your head of and throw it in the pool, and I will have fun doing it!”
Hiss hiss, snarl snarl.
But that was just a snippet of the old Eric. I know he’s only being a sycophant just to get close to Russell but it’s bordering on skeevy. Definitely a lot of mano-y-mano action in this episode between Eric, Russell and Talbot (little jealous man-wife), and of course, Lafayette and Jesus (hot orderly boy if you’ve forgotten). Speaking of those two, I honestly have to say that that was the best boy-boy kiss I have ever seen on TV. I was totally cheering for Lafayette! Well, until of course he totally ruins it all when Jesus finds out that he’s a drug dealer. Silly Lafayette.
The other sub-plots are moving along but aren’t interesting enough for me to think about with any huge amount of brain space. Sam and family engaged in a shady dog-fighting ring. Blah. Jessica and her random eating habits. Blah. Jason and Crystal’s on-the-sly outdoor extravaganza. Blah. Still think she’s a werewolf by the way.
Can’t wait for next week now that Lorena finally has Sookie in her clutches! Definitely need to see some more of that supernatural killing force from her! And of course more of Alcide seeing that we only got a tiny little teaser of a view….although he was naked after morphing from wolf form so not complaining too hard.
Previews for next week look awesome! True Blood airs on HBO at 9pm on Sundays. Get yours!!
Tara gets out of stupid mode and is actually funny in this episode. Loved her OMG faces when she’s talking to the obviously psychotic Franklin. He is hilarious when he does the “how-fast-can-I-text” thing. What a tool. Hopefully Tara is wily enough to wrap him around her little finger before she becomes the meal du jour slash vampire bride.
Nice twist with Eric showing up (of course Talbot finds him hot!) Thought the back-story when he sees the crown in the king’s collection with him and his father was also neat, which reveals that Eric is in fact a Viking prince. Classic. Just adds in the element of “vengeance” against the house of cards that the old Mississippi King Vamp Russell is building.
Now for the rest of the True Blood sub-plots… Not really sure where the whole Sam and family thing is going, especially with his father’s rage against his little brother. I’m sure there’s a reason but it’s just boring – alright already, tell us what it is. Also interested to see who this mystery girl is that Jason keeps seeing. $50 says that she is a wolf too (or some other kind of super freak). Very happy that Lafayette is going to hook up with the cute orderly who takes care of his mother! Being Eric’s little cabana boy and dealing with his crazy cousin Tara all day long, the poor boy needs some nice in his life!
Absolutely loved the end of this episode where Bill goes completely nuts against Cooter and his vampire guard. And then the piece with Sookie using the strange power that first came to light against the maenad from last season was very cool. Mr. Vamp King definitely likes that considering he probably wants to use Sookie for his own ends. That little clap thing he did was extremely creepy.
So the last episode of True Blood entitled Crimes was pretty decent. LOVED the dream that Eric had about Sookie, but loved even more the look that was on his face when he woke up. Classic. Normally it’s about humans dreaming about vampires not the other way around! He was completely shaken!
Definitely got my fill of Alcide as he steps in to help Sookie find the man/werewolf who kidnapped Bill. On that note, funny to notice that the same hot/cold metaphor comes up – cold for vampires, hot for werewolves. Obviously it’s not a new thing.
Sookie: Oh my god, you’re so warm.
Alcide: It’s a were thing, we run hot.
This just brings me to my rant of the day which of course is that everything to do with vampires and werewolves has been done. Even in this episode, they talk about Sookie being a telepath and not being able to hear Bill, which is the same thing between another vamp popular couple, Bella and Edward. He can’t hear her thoughts. There’s rarely anything new, well except of course for sparkling fairy-dust vampires. But I digress.
The best part (and saddest) about this episode was Bill being so cold to poor Sookie – “You are no longer of concern to me,” and telling her that he’d just been with Lorena. Ouch. That was stone cold. Despite his iciness to Sookie, Bill has definitely gotten his sexy back – how hot does he look when he gets angry and smashes Lorena in the face? Fantastic! I am liking the new Bill…
Apart from the whole plot movement of the Mississippi king vamping out his blood to the werewolves (which hopefully is going to come back in a huge way because you have to imagine that if dealing V to humans is so bad, giving it to the werewolves is even worse), the episode was very entertaining. Tara is still as dumb as ever but maybe one of these days she will surprise me, and Franklin is just plain psycho. The sub-plot of Sam and his family is a little boring but I’m sure they have a purpose. Love that Sam hired Jessica to do some waitressing (and of course Arlene’s reaction – “I’m the only redhead!”) And of course the magistrar vampire dude laying the law down on Eric by punishing Pam is pretty cool.
Looking forward to next week, now that Eric has a timeline to find Bill.
These last two episodes of True Blood felt more like plot movers than anything especially with the Eric/Godric flashbacks and the Bill/Lorena flashbacks, although there were a couple exciting moments in both episodes.
I forgot to mention Sam’s search for his family in my last post but that’s because it just wasn’t as interesting as anything else. It’s pretty obvious that they are going to cause trouble for him so it’s just watch and wait at this point. Also Jessica’s three episode affair with her dead trucker is very grating. It’s like, come on already. We get it. He’s dead and rotting, and she’s grossed out. Move on. However I do like Pam’s role in Jessica’s development. Love her dry sarcasm and unwilling “motherly” role, which is the antithesis of what she is.
So first of all, what is with the vampire royalty turning up everywhere? There’s a king and queen of every state? Plus a sheriff? That’s a lot of law for a lot of underworld lawlessness going on! Like kidnapping poor Bill. Not sure I like the king of Mississippi and his annoying consort, Talbot. The jury’s also out on the new slimy looking vampire who seduces Tara (she’s so dumb!) to get closer to Sookie.
But I do like the fact that Arlene is pregnant with Terry’s kid – because I KNOW that something good is coming out of that one. I mean fast-growing fetus? Oh yes, Mr. Terry is no ordinary human is my guess. I would even venture to say that he’s a werewolf. Speaking of werewolves, LOVE that Joe Manganiello (Owen on One Tree Hill) is playing Alcide. Hot!
Definitely looking forward to this Sunday’s episode if only to see more of him!
The last thing I need to mention is the sex scene between Bill and Lorena. Now that was awkward to even watch. Ouch. Guess he really, really hates her. From the previews of the next episode, looks like Bill only succeeds in pushing Sookie closer to Eric. Flame on peeps! Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned by her vampire lover!
Talk about classic Fringe ending! Freaking awesome! Even though I haven’t been blogging about Fringe over the season, I had to do a post on the very cool season finale, which aired in two parts.
So basically if you’ve been following Fringe, you’d know that Walter brought his son Peter from an alternate dimension to save him from a terminal disease when his own Peter in his own dimension died. His grieving wife was so happy to have her boy back that Walter didn’t return Peter to his own dimension. He stole him. Outside of the typical Fringe events, eventually Peter finds out, and furious with Walter, he returns to his dimension with his real father, who we later learn has sinister plans for him. Peter is the biological trigger to a weapon that “Walternate” (as nicknamed by Walter) will use destroy the other universe.
Walter, Olivia, and three other grown-up “soldier children” go to the alternate universe to find Peter. In the end, it is Olivia who gets Peter to return with her even though it’s not his own reality – she tells him that she needs him with her…because she loves him. About time, I say!
However, in a shocking twist, Olivia’s alternate self switches places with the real Olivia just as she, Peter, and Walter go back to their own dimension (with William Bell’s help). The episode ends with her going to the typewriter that connects the universes, and she writes, “Infiltration complete.” Alas, Peter still won’t get the love of his life.
The Fringe season finale had some pretty cool moments especially when Olivia comes face-to-face with herself, and even kicks the crap out of her alter-ego. It was cool to see the other versions of the characters that we are used to from the one dimension. Even Walternate is cool – he is the Secretary of Defense in the alternate universe. It was neat to see him so much more put together than the brilliant but feather-headed Walter that we’ve come to know and love. “The only thing better than a cowis a human! Unless you need milk. Then you really need a cow.” Classic.
Great season finale! Looking forward to next season – with the Olivia-spy in place, the real Olivia in captivity in the alternate universe, Peter in love with Olivia (and fake-Olivia’s response), Walternate still planning the end of the Walter’s dimension, and anything new that Walter comes up with!!! Cannot wait!
All in all, definitely not a bad season finale for ABC’s V. They could have definitely offered up more visually for the half-human/half-lizard baby other than the tiny glance of a green snaky tail wrapping around Ryan’s finger. After my last post of the 1980′s plasticine version, I wanted to see more! Lots more. However, that said, I do have to say though that given the whole theme of human empathy throughout the final episode that it was a nice touch that the baby recognized and loved its father. That was sweet (and cute). Awww. Speaking of Ryan, I think he may turn back to Anna’s bliss unless the baby’s connection allows him to resist her. That would be neat.
Got another glimpse of the alien teeth when the soldier was feeding and even though it was cool to see that again, I felt like it was used material. I wanted to see something new other than angler-type teeth and weird slitted eyes for the Vs. In some way, it also lessened that look for Anna as the queen, if that makes sense. It would have been way cooler if the soldier’s teeth had been slightly different. But I guess they are her spawn.
Still can’t stand Kyle Hobbs or Chad Decker, and was glad to see that Chad got set straight after Joshua told him to go check out the human experiments. Too bad that they had to reuse the other initially cool scene of the torture needle table. Wish that they had showed some other funky human experimentation device. Chad was totally Anna’s little dog as they called him, and so self-righteous that I wanted to punch him in the face, especially when he betrayed the gang. It was so awesome when Joshua told him that Anna put an aneurysm in his head, she didn’t take one out. Classic Anna.
I completely LOVED Lisa’s role in this episode and how she just brings it. Love how Joshua called her “my queen” after she told him that he was very brave. That was another awesome moment. Speaking of Joshua, bummed that his old version died, but am interested to see what they’ve reincarnated/healed and whether he will remember anything of his past empathy and Fifth Column ties. Erica was super strong in this episode too! It was great to see her stand up (although most of it was tongue in cheek) to Anna. And when she walked into the egg room (barf!) and dropped the blue energy grenade (hey, that was new!), that was incredible!
Anna’s all too human response at the end was awesome when she finds the destroyed eggs. Loved the little smile on Lisa’s face as she watched her mother get wracked by human loss. Sign of things to come, people, things to come.
And I guess the red sky at the end means that Anna has declared war officially – maybe it’s the sign for the Vs to move in. Either way, it was definitely a cool and ominous way to end the episode.
Can’t wait to see if they renew V for a second season. Sci-fi has always found it tough to remain on network television so we will see if V returns in the Fall, even at the very least a mini-series like the original. Need the closure!!
The Vampire Diaries season finale was awesome! Love, love, love the ending with the twist! Guess who’s back!? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not Slim Shady.
I thought it was totally weird that Elena would kiss Damon especially after she was so sincere with Stefan, but I sort of expected it given the little covert eye looks and flirtation going on between them the last few episodes. Damon is hard to resist. Even earlier on this episode, she asks him to stop his flirty little comments and “that eye thing” that he does. Damon says “what eye thing” and then does it! Naughty, naughty. I am definitely feeling the chemistry between them, and not sure that I like it so much because it’s just wrong (she’s with his brother) or because Damon is so sexy. My guess it’s the latter.
But I digress. Back to Elena/Katherine. I totally started feeling something wasn’t right with “Elena” when she was standing behind the fridge so quietly with some definite vampire-style stealth. But I actually didn’t guess it until she eyed John’s ring. And then of course I almost jumped out of my skin as that knife came down slicing off his fingers and offending ring. Wow. She is vamp fierce. Love the “hello John, goodbye John.” Way to bring Katherine back when all season I’ve been wondering when we’d see her although I still want to know what her end-game is now that she’s killed John Gilbert (or maybe he isn’t dead after all…).
I watched the last five minutes a second time after I knew for sure it was Katherine, and the nuances were subtle. She was Elena, but not quite Elena. She looked different, colder and older. Even in her conversation with Damon, she was strangely curious, especially after he kissed her on the cheek or when he was explaining why he was trying to do the right thing. Because she wasn’t Elena. LOVE how Damon touched his lips after Katherine went inside (invited in no less by Jenna! – “it’s late, you should probably come inside“). He frowns almost like if it was too familiar. Very cool. I really hope he puts two and two together a bit – I’d expect that from Damon, he’s no sucker (um, you know what I mean).
Jeremy was good in this episode but of course what happens with him almost gets eclipsed by all of the action with Katherine and Tyler. I cannot believe that he has taken Anna’s blood and a bunch of pills. On the one hand, it’s such a cop-out, especially after Damon’s heartfelt conversation with him about life not being that easy even as a vampire. But on the other, I can understand why he would want to do it so that he wouldn’t have to feel anything. Part of me wants him to turn, and the other doesn’t. I think it would be way cooler if he became something else, like some kind of half-vampire, half-human.
Bummed that they killed off Anna – she was a very dynamic and interesting character I thought. But I can understand why – her whole reason for living was her mother, so when Pearl got killed, it makes sense that she had to die. Now that I’m writing this, I think that Katherine came back to punish John for what he did to Pearl and Anna – after all, they were originals, part of the 1864 Katherine crew. There’s definitely something going on that we don’t know yet, especially with respect to what is driving Katherine – there are just too many interpretations from everyone else. I want to know what she wants.
Also loved Bonnie in this episode and how totally badass she is – “you saw what I was able to dotoday…I know who I am now” and the way she tells Stefan that Damon has to shape up or she’ll take them both out. “I’ll take him down even if I have to take you with him.” Definitely cool!
Great season finale! I was a bit sad that we didn’t see more of Tyler or his dad as werewolves except for the very cool but short snippet of his wolf-eye, but I guess they are saving him for next season. It was a little funny that the device also worked on them in addition to the vamps – the mayor definitely was not expecting that! Sad that he’s out of the picture because I liked the rough dynamic between him and Tyler, but I guess Tyler will now need to work it all out on his own.
And now for a very long hiatus until fall… True Blood will have to keep me company until then! I just have to survive a vampire-free month until June 13, 2010! Ack!
Hmmm…maybe they meant Friction instead of Fruition on ABC’s V because I wanted to throw my television against a wall. Boy, is Anna the master manipulator or what? From working Chad Decker to a T and getting him to push support for the Vs to stay, to physically abusing her own daughter for sympathy and gaining resources to unearth the Fifth Column. She is definitely a piece of work. I do have to say that it was awesome to see the little smile on Joshua’s face after he sees that Lisa can resist Anna’s bliss. That was cool. Lisa has definitely grown on me – hoping that she will become Fifth Column. Love the twist with the algae that could be deadly to the Vs.
On the flip side, Chad Decker still annoyed the pants off me – he’s so needy, it made me feel like barfing. I am hoping that he can make some sort of turnaround in the finale and prove to have a little backbone. He’s like a little terrier lapping at Anna’s heels. Come on already!
I also cannot stand Kyle Hobbs. Seriously, negotiating with Marcus from the Vs? That’s just stupid. After the other three put so much on the line for him and he’s going out on his own. What struck me the most about him in this episode was his conversation with Ryan about having no feeling. It’s a neat reversal because some of the Vs are becoming more human-like because of their connection to human emotion, while Kyle has trained himself to be so emotionless that he is more V-like. He has no empathy. Very interesting take. I loved that despite what Kyle told Marcus, he still refused Anna’s bliss.
Season Finale airs next week on Tuesday 18, 2010 at 10pm EST on ABC. Apart from Hobbs’ dirty dealings with the Vs and Lisa’s growing empathy, looks like a little lizard baby is on the horizon! Don’t forget this cute little guy from the original V series!
Damon is on fire! I love when he took charge vampire-style administering a beat-down on Isobel when she tried to get too fresh. Way to show her who was boss, although it didn’t seem to do much to deter her. Isobel is definitely irritating, even with showing her sensitive side to Alaric in the end. Plus I can’t stop thinking about Mia Kirshner in Not Another Teen Movie where she was adamantly wishing that someone would take a dump on her chest. Not a great image for a bad-ass vampire.
Glad to see that Damon still has his famous one-liners.
Damon: I like being a living dead person!
Cool twist that the invention is part of a weapon to kill vampires, and that Katherine wants it. Although I am not quite sure that I get that. Why would Katherine want to kill the tomb vampires? And also, wouldn’t she be pissed off that Isobel added Stefan and Damon to the kill list? I mean, she did love them both supposedly.
I liked that Bonnie made up with Elena (albeit briefly), and that she was back in the mix to help save Jeremy. She has obviously been working on her skills since her grams died, but I knew the way she looked at Damon after she did the spell on the weapon that she was lying. After all, she did tell him not to trust her and she hates both Stefan and Damon.
Anyway, interesting bit at the end where we find out that John is really Elena’s father. I do want to know why Isobel made the choice to become a vampire in the first place, especially since she confessed to Alaric that it was her biggest regret. Something to do with Elena? And how did she become entangled with Katherine? What’s going to happen with this weapon? Will a float explode???
Season Finale next week! Founder’s Day airs on Thursday on the CW at 8pm.
Checked out the latest V episode on ABC.com tonight. Not bad at all. It’s definitely gaining some momentum, and had a bunch of knee-jerk moments. Like the human experimentation with the “needle” table-cage. That was some serious coolness, well not for the human victim of course. That torture table was sick.
Before writing anymore, I have to say that I absolutely cannot stand Chad Decker. All I want to do is punch him in his smug little dimple over and over and over again. Seriously, for Fifth Column, when Father Jack told them that Chad was the one who told Anna about the attack on the shuttle, they should still have been suspicious. But they just believed Father Jack when he said he’s an ally. I’m not sure. I still think he’s Anna’s little cabana boy.
Loved that Lisa cares enough for Tyler that she broke up with him so he wouldn’t do the live-aboard program. Hated that her mother punched her in the face and told her to say she got attacked by Fifth Column just to try to get Tyler back. And then she tells a sentry to break her legs. That was just cold. Way cold.
Great episode! Now that there’s an FBI-driven task force to hunt down the Fifth Column that Erica is heading up, things can only get more exciting. They need to add more cool people to their little Fifth Column group.
I missed the airing of Blood Brothers on TV last Thursday so I watched it on the CW online, and it was pretty good, especially in full-screen mode. Check it out here.
Things are definitely headed in the right direction! I really liked the flashback scenes, especially the ones in the beginning which tied in Katherine being locked up with Elena locking Stefan up. That scene of both of them through the bars was neat. I like how they brought the images together to connect the past and the present. Getting more of Stefan and Damon’s back-story is also making the plot deeper and more complex with all the different participants.
I love that Jeremy and Anna are back together. Brings back memories before Elena and Stefan became an old married couple. Kidding! It’s cool that she trusts Jeremy enough to give him the scoop of everything going on between Pearl, Damon, and her uncle John. It was a sweet moment when she tells him that he is her weakness. I want to see Jeremy take a more active role, maybe with putting a beat-down on uncle John.
LOVED Elena’s backbone in this episode. I wrote about her being a bit wishy-washy in past episodes. But holy crow! Even I was scared when Stefan got all up in her face, and she just stood her ground even though he went all fangy and veiny in the eyes. Good for her! It’s not just physical gumption, she’s a stronger character too.
Elena: Our actions are what set things in motion. But we have to live with that. [...] You can keep fighting, it’s your choice.
I really like that she’s become Stefan’s rock, believing in him when he doesn’t even believe in himself, especially after learning what Damon has told her. And I totally take back what I said about them being an old married couple. That kiss at the lake was a nice very real moment.
Super interesting twist that Stefan was the one to force Damon to turn when all he wanted to do was die. Stefan’s a little creepy when he’s full out human-blood-loving vampire even in the flashbacks. Anyway, no wonder the guilt is killing him now. So Damon’s got two reasons on why he hates Stefan – because he forced him to turn and because Katherine chose him too.
Damon: You got what you wanted, you and me for all eternity. But hear this brother, I will make it an eternity of misery for you.
Despite all that, Elena is right. Damon does care about his brother. Otherwise why would he care whether Stefan consumes human blood or not, despite his offhand comment about cleaning up after him.
I really don’t like John Gilbert’s character, and can’t believe that he killed Pearl and Harper. I am already hoping that he dies an excruciating death. But death-wishes aside, what is his end-game? And who is Forbes, the guy he called on the phone after he killed Pearl? It’s all getting twisty now especially that Isobel has finally shown up considering John knew her as well. What’s going to happen next? Exciting times!
I can’t wait for next week’s episode! The Vampire Diaries airs on the CW on Thursdays at 8pm EST.
HBO has finally released the new True Blood photo for the cast of Season 3 that we are all eagerly anticipating with bated breath, set to premiere on June 13, 2010 at 9pm. The entire gang is looking hot – Eric front and center, Pam, Bill and Sookie, Jason, Lafayette, Jessica, Tara, and Sam. Plus the cute little wolf smack-bang in the middle. Werewolf anyone? June 13 can’t come quickly enough!
Check out the latest “minisode” below as part of the Waiting Sucks HBO campaign. Get your teeth wet, you know you want to.
Named after a medieval torture device with a two-pronged fork that was attached to a victim’s neck so they couldn’t sleep without intense pain, this episode Heretics Fork, was not bad.
Things are heating up with Val and Ryan and their half-human, half-V baby. The Vs are onto them and want to find them to dissect them. Apparently it hasn’t been possible to combine DNA so this baby is a threat to the V’s very existence. Ryan has decided to take Val somewhere safe, and Anna has decided to advance the live-aboard program as well as her plans for Tyler and Lisa. So far the best part is the deployment of the “soldier” – one of the mature eggs that Anna has created (yep, I wrote about the very gross egg pool in my last post, which surprise, surprise, she’s standing in again. It seriously grosses me out every time).
I do have to say that I definitely got a little of what I asked for – more alien/lizard special effects. Loved the V soldier eyes when it was tracking Ryan and Val. Imagine that Anna has laid thousands of those things!
I am starting to like Lisa a little. At first I thought she was playing Ty’s mom but maybe she does have real feelings for Tyler. Maybe that empathy that Joshua saw is starting to develop into something else!
Overall not a bad episode this week. Not too sure about Chad, whether he’s Anna’s little stooge or not. That remains to be seen. If he’s a half-way decent reporter, he should try to figure out both sides. We shall see.
So I had to do it. How could I not? I write a blog and I love Spartacus. I held out as long as I could to the very last episode of Season 1, when all I wanted to do was postsplode (post+explode=postsplode) the entire time. In the end, I had to give the shoutout to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Season 1. Plus on IMDB, one of the listed genres is Fantasy. So there.
It’s graphic. It’s bloody. It’s violent. It’s sexy. It’ll make you cringe and check to see if anyone’s looking in your window at your television. But once you get past that, you’ll be hooked. If you liked 300 and Gladiator, you will love this series. Put it this way, if you could merge those two movies, the end product would be Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Outside of the non-stop action, it’s not short on plot and intrigue, the two things that make this series addictive. I haven’t even gotten to the display of muscular bodies, a flesh-fest not just for girls but for boys too. It’s a complete visual (and sometimes full-frontal) overload so prepare yourself accordingly. Spartacus: Blood and Sand is not for the faint-hearted nor the easily-flustered.
A brief synopsis. Spartacus has been separated from his wife and forced into slavery as a gladiator by betraying a Roman Commanding Soldier, just because he wanted to protect his own people. As a gladiator in the House of Batiatus, Spartacus claims victory in the arena and becomes known as the Champion of Capua, the Slayer of Theocoles, and the Bringer of Rain. Batiatus sends for Spartacus’ wife as a reward but she is killed on the way by bandits. Spartacus is broken but vows to forget his past and move on. He is revered among slaves and brings the House of Batiatus to notice in Capua. Lucretia (Xena, warrior princess!), the wife of Batiatus, is having an affair with Crixus, the former Champion of Capua who is Spartacus’ sworn enemy. For a while, Spartacus is content with his lot but then he discovers that Batiatus is responsible for killing his wife. From that moment on, he is consumed with a need for vengeance against Batiatus, which he gets in the very last episode, “Kill Them All,” when the gladiators re-take their freedom and do indeed kill them all.
And that’s just the bare bones of it. The lives and games of many are layered and intertwined so deeply that it becomes an unstoppable force in itself – Spartacus and Crixus, Crixus and Lucretia, Lucretia and Illythia, Illythia and Spartacus, Spartacus and Glaber, Glaber and Batiatus, Batiatus and Solonius, Solonius and Asher, Asher and Doctore, Doctore and Spartacus, Spartacus and Varo, Varo and Aurelia, Aurelia and Spartacus, Spartacus and Batiatus, Batiatus and Lucretia…it goes on and on and on.
What makes Spartacus: Blood and Sand so good, notwithstanding all the gratuitous nudity, profanity, and blood, without a single doubt is the plot. It actually has substance and is so full of unexpected twists and turns that you just don’t see coming. It is one thing if unpredictable. The acting was quite refreshing and the constant changing of affections and as I called it, intrigue, just kept me coming back for more.
Can’t wait to get Season 1 on DVD, and I’m waiting with fingers-crossed and bated-breath for Season 2.
OMG. Best episode so far! The Vampire Diaries are back! I absolutely loved this episode. First of all, Bonnie is back! I have to say that it just hasn’t been the same without her. Love her new look, she looks older and more confident. Everything was on fire tonight – Stefan, Damon, Jeremy, Anna, Pearl, and even the new guy, John.
It was scary awesome to see Stefan giving in to the demands of human blood as if it were a real addictive drug with the lying and the edginess and the desperation. I didn’t expect him to bite that girl, Amber, in the parking lot but then he did, and it was terrifying and crazy, exactly as I would have envisioned that scene. I loved it when he asks her, why aren’t you afraid of me? And she responds, because you told me not to be. He almost didn’t understand his own power, like he was a schizophrenic. He looked so guilty and devastated when Damon, Elena and Bonnie found him all covered in blood. And then when Bonnie did her mind-control thing with Stefan – that was pretty cool. Makes me wonder what else she learned while she was away.
Another thing I loved about the episode tonight was Damon being so sweet with Elena. I absolutely LOVED the dance scene with them when he escorts her out for the Miss Mystic Falls non-touch dance. It was electrifying, I could almost feel Elena’s heartbeat racing, because mine was. That was incredible – they had a great moment together. You could tell that she really felt something for him too.
Interesting twist with the invention that Uncle John is looking for, especially when Pearl gives it to Damon. My guess is despite what she says, maybe she does know what it does or wants Damon to find out for her. Pearl is way too old and way too calculating to just turn tail so easily, and tell Damon that there’s no catch, that she doesn’t want anything in return. I don’t buy it. There has to be more.
Love that Jeremy is back even though he read Elena’s journal which I didn’t think was fair in my last review, but I guess there was no real way for the writers to have him get caught up on everything including his lost memories. So I guess it worked out. He’s sassy and interesting again, especially with Anna. I like when he’s cool, confident, cute Jeremy. I’m curious as to whether he still wants to be a vampire now that he’s read Elena’s journal.
LOVED this episode. Can’t wait to see where it goes from here. The Vampire Diaries airs on Thursdays on the CW at 8pm EST.
Secondly, how are they going to wrap up (if at all) all of the other miscellaneous subplots that have for the most part been somewhat lame this season? Let’s enumerate: 1) Crystal and Jason and her meth/were-panther family, 2) Tara’s rage at everybody (although was the cathartic sex scene between her and Sam in this episode supposed to be a loose end tied up?), 3) Lafayette and Jesus and their whole weird super-natural (and now diabolic???) rela
tionship, 4) Arlene and her baby (although maybe that’s for next season now that her “evil” baby didn’t die), 5) Jessica and Hoyt (in hindsight though as I write this, maybe that one has been wrapped up because they’re back together, although Hoyt’s mother and Summer are devilishly plotting to break them up), 6) Claudine and her fairy bunch, and lastly but not least, 7) The Authority – at least give us something to chew on between seasons. Pretty pretty please!
Bill: One caveat gentlemen. If you drain her completely, that’s the last fairy blood you’ll ever drink.
ay, it was cool to see the normally pulled-together Sam falling apart and swearing at everyone, even poor gentle Terry who tries to tell him that it’s just the liquor talking.
Andy: Well I don’t feel like a hero. I never wanted nothing like this to happen. It was all Maryann. He [Eggs] was innocent. God help me. If I could do it again, if I could go back and just get a hold of Jason’s gun, if Eggs would just listen and put the knife down, but he…he was bound and determined to die. I couldn’t stop him. Jason didn’t know. I’m sorry. Tara, I’m so sorry. 
