A Bloody ‘Timebomb’

Episode Commentary: “Timebomb”

Another week, another cliffhanger.

In the final seconds of last weeks episode, Sookie was saved by the 2000-year-old vampire Godric, (Allan Hyde, “2900 Happiness”) who, ironically, was supposed to be saved by Sookie. Godric’s character in this episode shows the continued brilliance of the “True Blood” writers as he adds another dimension to the Human vs. Vampire war that seems so inevitable. Hopefully, Godric is one vampire who sticks around for a few more episodes.

Despite being shot by Sarah in the previous episode, we still get a healthy dose of Jason ready to Rambo on his former Fellow of the Sun brethren for what they did to his sister. Jason’s ignorance, to put it kindly, has always been a source of comedy in “True Blood” and the misunderstanding between him and Steve and then him and Sarah in a life and death situation are sure to make you chuckle.

Stepping away from the whole bigotry thing, the story around the wicked Maryanne just keeps getting weirder and weirder. After having Eggs kill Daphne, what she does with the body, and some of the body parts, may just ruin your appetite. Whatever Maryanne is, it’s more than just evil.

Speaking of Eggs, the constant blackouts he and Tara have had are really starting to haunt them. Both know something is going on, but why exactly can’t they remember, they don’t know. While they first thought it may have just been a bit too much ganja, Eggs is starting to feel like he’s done something really bad but he just doesn’t know what.

Once Tara and Eggs find out what Maryanne is and what she is doing, as it seems this is where the story line is heading, what is going to happen with Maryanne? The mystery surrounding who and what she is, is too juicy to let it die out at the end of the season. Hopefully,  Maryanne and her devilish deeds will be part of the story for at least one more year.

Elsewhere in the world of “True Blood,” Jessica and Hoyt’s relationship takes the next step and we learn the dangers of being a female vampire and a virgin. And of course, poor Sam Merlotte, who was betrayed by one of his own, and the woman he loved, is put on the Sheriff’s radar with only the drunken Andy Balfour helping his cause, and nobody wants him on their side.

Few shows on television are as engrossing, and none as devilishly fun, as “True Blood” is. “Timebomb” is just another example of how wonderful a television series can be and true to its name, this episode goes out on a bang.

“Timebomb” was a wake-up call that “True Blood” may have jumped the shark. While the cliffhanger at the end of an episode is nothing new, this series has based most of the second season on cliffhangers often reserved for season finales. Not only that, but the only interesting part to the episodes lately have been the cliffhangers.

The first season developed an interesting premise by placing vampires in your standard dramatic series, creating something new for audiences. The far-fetched plots were counterbalanced by characters grounded in reality. Unfortunately, the creators have decided to eighty-six that concept for season two by creating a season based solely on outlandishness. Season two has multiplied on vampires, shape-shifters and even presented the devil herself, which sadly takes the show into a field that is far off-course from what it started out to be.

Also, the vampires are so-self important and dull that it has a dramatic impact on the outlining characters. The episode of “Timebomb” makes this evident and laughable as the characters we loved are pushed aside. The episode could have played as a direct to- Sy-Fy channel movie of the week. The original characters, Jason, Sookie and company have lost any appeal in drawing us into their character development; they are boring and whiny.

The only one that gains any audience interest is Sam Merlotte, whose character reminds one of classic film noir- an element that should have been expanded upon.

-Anthony Benedetto