Barely Alive, and Only Alcide was On Fire: True Blood Roundtable S4, E4

This episode was fairly short on plot – most of the crew agreed that this was an episode designed to move the plot forward. However, there was one thing this episode had a plenty – fanservice! Joseph Lamour, Kendra Pettis, Jordan St. John, Alea Adigweme and Amber Jones join me to shake our heads at Sookie and start our support group.

On the rape and rescue of Jason Stackhouse…

Joseph: Man, a two episode rape arc? This is worse than SVU.
Kendra: @Joseph, Should we really be surprised? Tara had practically a full season rape arc last season. For Ball & Co. this is old hat at this point.
Latoya: Will someone please save Jason?
Jordan: brother husband?
Alea: Eek.
Amber: @Jordan Right?! They are killing me with these familial titles. The writers keep overemphasizing the incest that takes place within Hotshot…you know, just in case we forgot about it since last season or something…
Latoya: …
Jordan: ewwwww… on a number of different levels
Latoya: Jason is being gang raped ON TV!
Alea: “Next.” Called it last week. Jason’s being “married” to all the ladies of Hotshot.
Joseph: I wonder if the writers have a “Big Book of White Trash Stereotypes” they dig into when these Hotshot people need to speak
Latoya: @Joseph – Yes, clearly.
Amber: @Joseph OMG they definitely do and they keep it on the bookshelf right next to “Upholding the Cult of True Womanhood: A Handbook” and “On Screen Torture Using American Slavery References.”
Alea: Absolutely. “White trash” equals incest. That they’re werepanthers attempting to preserve their bloodline is a thin cover for what is otherwise a pretty cheap narrative move.
Jordan: Oh I think this might be a new chapter though…
Latoya: Never did I think I’d feel so pained for Jason. He’s trying to help this girl.
Jordan: I know. Jason is practically saint like and wise this season
Alea: I feel pained for nearly everyone involved. Rape is endemic in Hotshot culture and Jason, by entering the community in an attempt to help people, became “fair game” to be a victim of the same abuse that women in Hotshot endure. And I love that Jason is the one giving the “your first time should be special” advice. Didn’t see that coming in the first season.
Kendra: @Alea I think it’s more than the rape experience inspiring the the wise advice? That’s definitely part of it, but I think the wise thing started a bit last season during that whole miniarc with the football player and the V. He had a whole bunch of sage advice for that Quarterback, even if it was fueled by a bit of jealousy.
Alea: Also, if they’re all breeding with the same man, how’s that going to help the genetic flaws caused by incest in the long-term?

Jason is released and manages to escape…

Latoya: THANK GOD
Joseph: Seriously
Jordan: Run free!
Latoya: I couldn’t take another rape scene
Jordan: I know… too much… too much
Alea: Becky is in deep shit.
Joseph: BrotherHusband, UncleDaddy
Alea: Dear god. Felton is a creep and a half.
Jordan: Ohhhh.. I’m going to need them to elevate this hot shot group soon. This is just a little too much
Joseph: MotherSecondAuntTwiceRemoved
Jordan: Is there no one half way sane of the whole group… reallly..Joseph Lamour: I think the trashing and incest happens after puberty?
Latoya: Seriously – this SisterNiece rape-incest thing is just….no.

Jason survives his showdown with the Werepanthers…only to collapse on the road.

Latoya: Okay, again. Will someone please save Jason?
Joseph: Well ain’t that the worst way to pass out, Head all in the road
Latoya: Oh God. Vamp, Were, Fae Jason?
Alea: I was just thinking that. It seems like trouble or, at least very least, a recipe for something completely unexpected and plot-twist-y. Also, Jess totally was lit to look like an angel. I wonder what that means for her relationship with Jason.
Kendra: We haven’t confirmed that Jason’s Fae blood does anything, have we?

On the Eric/Sookie/Alcide Fanservice…

Jordan: Sookie is really not dealing strongly in common sense here
Latoya: I’m stil amazed at Sookie’s nonchalance about her godmother being eaten
Jordan: really sookie… really
Latoya: Eric is reaaaaallly weird.
Alea: Eric is really schwasted.
Latoya: Eric and Sookie are officially a thing
Alea: He’s pinching her ass. They’re totes a thing.
Jordan: ummm… have we forgotten the woman he just killed? Remember her, the woman who was trying to help Sookie? Who he just drained…
Latoya: @Jordan – Girl, we have no time for sympathy – it’s time to hit skins!
Jordan: hahaha
Joseph: I’m still holding fast to the notion that those aren’t actually her fairy relatives
Jordan: I love Eric as much as the next woman but a moment of silence.. a pause even.. would be nice
Alea: Sookie’s incredibly self-absorbed. Once that faerie died, Sook pretty much forgot about her.
Latoya: @Joe – Evil faerie clones?
Joseph: The ugly side seems to be the real version of what they are
Latoya: I miss evil Eric
Jordan: Not digging the defanged Eric… all the power, none of the sense
Amber: Me either…he’s so neeeeedy. I miss the sass and his all knowing sexy-eye. Sookie is totally eating it up and loving it though.
Joseph: Haha I think he’s precious. Like a baby lion.
Alea: Ditto. So. Effing. Cute
Jordan: I wouldn’t keep a lion in my house
Latoya: Now I see why Alcide is on the Sookie side of the ads. Sigh.

Alea: That’s a lot of eavesdropping going on. I wonder how this ties into the mind control theme we’ve teased out in the first three episodes. People dishonorably getting access to information that they’re not supposed to have, I guess.
Kendra: Have we talked about/linked to the ads yet? I hadn’t paid ANY attention to them until I was standing in front of an MTA bus the other day and realised that one of them has Lafayette, Tara, and Jesus all united and in white, and then the other one completely corresponds with the ownership theme we’ve talked about– all three of the men have their hands on various parts of Sookie like she’s just a thing.
Alea: Interesting. I haven’t seen any of the ads for this season, but that’s definitely something to talk about. [Just googled them: it’s all “POC are doing it for themselves” and Sookie as owned meat.]
Amber: @ Kendra @ Alea In the ads I’ve seen it’s Sam in the ad with Tara and Lafayette, not Jesus. I think that changes things a bit.

Eric spits game to Sookie…

Latoya: Boyfriend said “Eric is not a happy vampire, he’s a smug vampire.”
Jordan: Eric still has some moves in him
Latoya: “You want the Eric who doesn’t feel…” Damn it. That is what Jacob should have said to Bella, but I AM NOT WATCHING TWILIGHT!
Amber: Oh yes, now Eric is turning the game back on. “If you kiss me, I promise I’ll be happy.” I’ve missed that deadly sexy gaze and flirtatious grin combo.
Alea: Lol. Little Boy Eric is smoother than Evil Eric.
Latoya: …
Jordan: Eric has a plantation?
Latoya: The plantation in Barbados. You know what, Fuck all y’all vampires.

Alcide and Eric fight for Sookie, thrilling the fans…

Latoya: This is just straight up fanservice
Joseph: I do like this naked actor theme however.
Jordan: Yes… I am on board for that
Alea: Hallelujah. Drunken, bewitched Eric is hilarious. “Come! Come play with me!” He’s frolicking.
Latoya: “Fuck you, she wants me here!” THIS IS FAN SERVICE
Alea: Lol.
Jordan: They should have fought for her in the water… that would have been my choice
Alea: Why would they not cover his head? “I don’t want to go back to the dark” — that’s just sad.
Joseph: Oh god, I’m getting Tara as Sojourner Truth flashbacks
Amber: @ Joseph LOL

On Marnie and The Spanish Inquisition…

Latoya: I am so curious about the Spanish Inquisitions they are referencing.
Alea: Yeah. Why did that one powerful witch have a good reason to go after vampires?
Kendra: From what Nan said, it definitely sounds like there’s a history between the vamps and the witches. I inferred that not only did the vamps have something to do with the Inquisition, but also Salem.
Amber: Agreed. I rather enjoyed that exchange between Bill and Nan.
Alea: “Puritanettes.” Sounds like a cheerleading squad.
Jordan: Ha… true that what happens to an ex king?
Joseph: @Latoya Yeah, this is the second or third time they mentioned it. I’m curious too.
Jordan: Ahh… no one expects the Spanish inquisition
Joseph: @Jordan: Usually wooden bullets or a beheading
Latoya: My first though on seeing a person twitching under a blanket: “Oh please God, don’t let it be Tara.” I officially have post third season stress syndrome.
Amber: @Latoya Yes! I immediately thought the same thing. Gaaaah. We need to start a support group ASAP.
Jordan: I am getting another buffy the vampire flashback though
Latoya: I feel like Marnie should have watched the Craft.
Amber: Right?! It would have saved her from the inevitable downfall that awaits her. At this point the coven needs to compile a required list of “dos” and “don’ts” (as heavily influenced by The Craft).
Joseph: Mmmhmm
Jordan: the scooby gang at the magic shop with the books…
Alea: Exactly.
Latoya: lol
Latoya: …Was Sookie trying to sneak a peek at Alcide…
Joseph: @Latoya: Wouldn’t you? LOL
Amber: Oh my, I’ve been patiently waiting for Alcide to take his shirt off. * Fans self *
Alea: Heck yeah. He’s….preternaturally ripped.
Jordan: Of course she was… she is human.

And the teeny tiny scenes featuring Jesus, Lafayette, and Tara…

Jordan: Oh… the headwrap and the jacket on Laffy…
Alea: He has a fondness for “Asian-y” things this season, it seems [I hesitate slightly to label Laffy an Orientalist, but...there’s some evidence]. He looks like he just walked off the set of Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon.
Jordan: I am captivated
Jordan: not sure how I feel about rape being the theme of this season
Latoya: Lord, Tara. “And Rape.” #P3rdSSS
Joseph: Yeah I was gonna say. At least they’re calling it rape now.
Alea: Now.
Amber: @Joseph Truth. I picked up on that when Jason was clear about being raped in the beginning of the episode. All of a sudden the word isn’t taboo–it’s like a new buzzword for the season. I don’t think it was the same at all last season with Tara’s storyline, even though now she’s very vocal about her abuse being rape.

Tommy is in trouble…

Jordan: oh… she did not leave that man
Alea: Nope. “Well……I did………….I left him.” Her face is priceless.
Latoya: Oooh…did his mama escape an abusive relationship? Or did she kill him?
Joseph: …Someone killed their husband…
Alea: Killed him.
Amber: Totally killed him.
Latoya: LOL. Tommy is so tragic. He just needs love. A wayward, illiterate child.
Alea: Ehhh….I don’t know about that. He’s not really a child and I don’t see him as being any more tragic than any of the ten million other tragic characters in the show.
Latoya: Oh snap.
Amber: A theme I picked up on and thought was pretty interesting was the emphasis on “Loyalty, Obedience, and Family” as it relates to the poor whites on the show. There are definitely parallels between Tommy and Melinda and Joe Lee and the HotShot clan on this front. When Joe Lee had Tommy in the chain hold (poor naive Tommy) he yelled that he was going to train him and dropped the “loyalty, obedience, and family” line. The HotShot clan seems to emphasize these same qualities–bullying members of the clan (especially women) to do as told and ask no questions for the preservation and survival of the family–and both of these families are portrayed as poor and uneducated. I’ll be looking out for more connections between these themes in future episodes…especially since Tommy has been kidnapped, which interestingly enough seems to be a part of the HotShot clan’s M.O. as well (Oh, Jason…glad you made it out).

And Sam discovers Luna’s secret…

Alea: I thought girlfriend was hiding a sexy-time thing, given her outfit, but she’s actually hiding a mommy-time thing.
Amber: Secrets, secrets, secrets! A kid? I definitely didn’t see that coming. Luna just gets better and better.
Latoya: I love this kid.
Kendra: True Blood knows me. Hot men with tiny children? Gosh! And this is not a character pairing I want to be shipping, because I’m still mad at Luna’s casting.
Joseph: TB needs more kids… and not evil babies
Jordan: I was hoping she had a husband though…
Alea: Yeah. Maybe there was one. I wonder why she was looking over her shoulder before closing the door. Like she’s expecting someone to be watching her and digging up dirt.”

Alan Ball Finally Gets Back to Showing Southern Stuff…and Bill Creeps Himself Out

Joseph: MONA!!
Alea: It’s fucking Mona!!!! Mo-NA! [/Tony Danza]
Latoya: Andy’s moms!
Alea: Andrew lives up at his grandmomma’s house?
Jordan: I love that she is putting this hundred plus year old vamp through quaint southern dating rituals
Latoya: Redbull is vulgar? I love this woman.
Alea: She is so incredibly genteel. I wonder if she’s secretly evil. That might only make me adore her even more.
Latoya: Such a passive-aggressive grandma
Alea: Yeah. She is so miffed. Debbie’s going to be trouble for Sookie this season.
Latoya: I missed these Southern scenes though
Alea: Ditto.
Joseph: Oh… I know whats coming…
Joseph: LOL
Latoya: OMG
Jordan: Ha… yep… that’s a wrap
Latoya: She’s Bill’s relation! Oh, HotShot comes to Bon Temps!
Alea: I know, right? “Incest: It’s not just for ‘hillbillies’ anymore.”
Joseph: What shall we call her? GirlfriendGreatGreatGreatGreatGrandaughter?
Jordan: hahahaha….
Latoya: LMAO

Poor Terry….

Jordan: I love terry
Latoya: Terry is the best man ever.
Kendra: @Latoya, please don’t say that, he’ll die next week!
Jordan: scary doll baby
Joseph: Oy
Jordan: what in the world….
Alea: Oh, shit. That’s the scariest thing I’ve seen in a while.
Amber: So, Terry Jr. IS possessed. Confirmed…?
Latoya: The baby was set up!!!
Alea: By the doll? I think they’re in cahoots.
Joseph: Now riddle me this, how can a serial killer and a neurotic waitress make a demon baby?
Alea: Magic. Also, it’s Bon Temps. There’s probably demon-making potions in the damn tapwater.
Joseph: Or at least, that’s where this is heading
Jordan: i don’t know but I am curious to find out

In which Pam is Robbed of her Flyness…

Joseph: What I wouldn’t do to get a tour of Pam’s closet
Alea: +1. I want to wear all of her everything.
Latoya: Lol. I kinda want to put Pam on that Tara and Laffy show. Just for some spice. Maybe she could be their big bad.

And after confrontation that leaves Pam decomposing…
Latoya: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH
Joseph: Allow me to speak for everyone when I say EW
Alea: Daaaaaaaaamn. That witch has a serious and powerful mean-on for vampires. Makes me wonder what they did to her [and what she would do if she happened upon a Catholic priest].
Jordan: Oh this woman is a BAAAAAd bitch
Latoya: LMAO – Clearly…Marnie’s witch is not to be fucked with.

Next week’s preview gave us the more excitement than most of the episode…

Latoya: GODRIC! OMG!
Alea: Love Pam’s black lace version of Beyoncé and LG’s outfits from the end of “Telephone.” She wants to kill everyone in the diner, yo.
Jordan: next week looks good. this week seemed to be a lot of set up
Latoya: cosign
Joseph: The first few episodes in TB seasons seem to go for the slow boil
Jordan: true
Joseph: If that witch in three episodes melted Pam’s face and erased 1000 years of memories in Eric, we are in for some crazy spells
Latoya: Think she’s gonna possess Marnie?
Joseph: I think Marnie will be gone by the end of it. or mostly
Jordan: yeah… in over her head
Amber: Totally. I’m also not really feeling all the begging [to the spirit] that she does pre-possessed state. Get it together, Marnie, and show some dignity.
Alea: She’s totally Fairuza Balk in The Craft invoking Manon. Ending up in a straitjacket is her best outcome here.
Latoya: Any big themes from this ep? Think I’m going to have to pull some history for this one
Joseph: Rape, Incest
Joseph: that’s all I got
Jordan: yeah… sadly those seemed major
Alea: Cosign. I see all of the lying going on as a “softer” [less abuse-y?] form of the psychological abuse happening in the first three episodes [e.g. Hoyt/Jess, Jesus/Laffy, et cetera].
Joseph: Spanish Inquisition, probably to explain the backstory of the face melting witch
Alea: Yes! The face-melting witch who melts the faces of “corrupt, unsanctified corpses,” which is strange considering that she was “melted” by people who found her corrupt and unsanctified. Maybe the vampires in power during her time period pulled strings to get her burned because she was causing too much trouble for them and this is payback? [Also, poor Pam! I love that face! Though she should have had more patience and not stepped inside of the circle. And why the right side of her face? Symbolism?]
Joseph: I really want to see Laffy or Jesus cast a spell or (I hope I hope) Tara
Alea: I think that’s all coming. Jesus was looking a little power-hungry this episode.
Jordan: tara looked like she might make a smart decision and leave town
Joseph: I have the feeling her girlfriend is going to come looking for her before that happens
Latoya: Yup. I say they all stay in NOLA
Alea: The Episode 5 preview is probably too good to be true IRT Tara heading back to New Orleans. Depending on the writers’ whims, she’s going to stick around either to kick ass or to get her ass kicked. I’m hoping it’s the former. [Though I’m not so sure if the girlfriend’s going to be heading north to Bon Temps.]
Jordan: yeah she didn’t seem like the stay put type