True Blood Recap 4.8: ‘Spellbound’
by Britt Hayes
Editor’s note: This article, as well as all recap articles for True Blood, contains significant spoilers. If you have not watched this weeks episode we strongly encourage you NOT to read this article until you have done so.
After last week’s cliffhanger, which had me more excited for True Blood than I’d been in some time, we open this week with a continuation of the WILL JESSICA EXPLODE INTO VAMP GOO saga. And I’m thrilled to report that she doesn’t because Jason saves her. Jason is quickly becoming a personal favorite, as I’ve mentioned previously but I feel it bears repeating. Jason. Jason. Jason. There. I’m done. They share some sweet kissing action this week before he silvers her back down in Bill’s mansion basement for safe-keeping.
There’s a lot of development with Jess this week, as she imagines breaking up with Hoyt and killing him before having sex with Jason whilst covered in Hoyt-blood. This was such a fabulous WTF moment that, although I love Hoyt, I was hoping it was real. Sadly for us and for Jessica it wasn’t, and as soon as she broke the news to Hoyt in real life, he turned into a mega jerk (i.e. Mrs. Fortenberry, more on her in a moment), decrying Jess and her vampire kin, talking smack about her immortal hymen (seriously, he should be so lucky) and how she’ll never get old or have kids – basically poking at all the tender spots – and then he revoked his invitation, leaving Jessica out in the dark. Naturally she runs to Jason, but he’s been burned by ladies and their baggage too many times, so he too revokes his invitation. What is up with the men in Bon Temps? Your most viable options are Jessica and Sookie – and you know how I feel about Sookie.
Speaking of the little troublemaker, Sookie spends most of the episode naked with Eric – they exchange blood and go about frolicking in a magical snowglobe world on a bed of furs. The premise is so ridiculous that typing it just now gave me a douche-chill flashback. Eric asks Sookie to run away with him, presumably to Norway (which probably looks like a fur-splayed snowglobe world in Alan Ball’s mind), and she says… No? Really, girl? A hot vampire Viking GOD asks you to run away with him and you’d rather live in Bon Temps, Louisiana, population 30 crazy and/or undead and/or supernatural STUFF? It’s humid and gross and apparently it’s like the Hellmouth of Louisiana (Buffy joke, what up). Sookie, you are a fool.
But no, your idea to join Bill Compton in the war against Antonia/Marnie is a much better idea. Bill puts up a fight, but Sookie has a death wish, obviously, and her argument is very selfless and compelling.
Before I get into the major battle at the end of the episode, let’s take a trip through sub-plot land:
Things are getting more interesting with Lafayette and the Cajun ghost woman who’s been poltergeisting the crap out of Arlene’s baby. It’s a little predictable, but Cajun lady uses Lafayette’s perfect medium body as a host, and it gives us some hilarious mannerisms from Lafayette as he channels the ghost woman. Does she have a name? Can we call her something besides Cajun ghost lady? It feels so informal.
Her back story is incredibly chilling; she was once the mistress of a married Bellefleur man. She gave birth to a baby, but Mr. Bellefleur killed the child to hide his shame and protect his prospects. The creepy baby doll was a gift the woman was bringing home to the child. How Jessica came to possess this baby doll is a mystery, and an even bigger one is why this doll didn’t seem to bring her or her family any mischief. I suspect we’ll get more dainty Lafayette shenanigans next week since he’s kidnapped Arlene’s baby.
Even though I’m enjoying the Lafayette possession, I have to say they’re really milking the possession business this season. It seems that Ball and Co. are particularly skilled at finding an effective plot device (sex, V addiction, naked Sookie, et al.) and beating it into the ground. Variety is the spice of life, people! Well, that and naked Alexander Skarsgard.
Andy is still crazy for V and almost slurps up the vampire goo Mrs. Fortenberry’s neighbor left when she wandered into the sunlight under Antonia’s spell. That’s about as far as that goes, but I’d love to see Andy Bellefleur on an episode of Intervention. Cross-promotion!
Tommy shifts into Mrs. Fortenberry to make a deal with the gas man from a couple of episodes back. It doesn’t work as well as he’d hoped, but it does allow Mrs. Fortenberry to drop some choice F-bombs. Tommy feels like such a useless character, but he’s giving the actors on the show a chance to show more range by doing their best Tommy impressions, and I’m sort of in love with it.
The big reveal this week is that Marcus, Alcide and Debbie’s new pack leader, is Luna’s ex-husband and father of her daughter. And he’s kind of a dick, which isn’t really shocking. During their first pack meeting Marcus gives strict orders for all werewolves to stay out of the witch and vampire war, giving Debbie the perfect opportunity to make Alcide promise to keep away from Sookie and her magical fairy vagina.
Tara joins up with Antonia, and although reticent to commit to the war once she discovers they’re not just protecting themselves from vampires but actually, you know, killing them, she still marches into battle. The final showdown sees Tara and Sookie on opposite teams, which bodes well for my whole idea that Tara should die.
Sookie uses her fairy power on a witch sympathizer and promptly gets shot (of course she does). Antonia brings Eric under her spell, and for a moment I thought she might just be spitefully restoring his memory for the greater good of myself and everyone else who is sick of this Eric/Sookie sex snowglobe business. Instead she’s using him as her new toy, which is both exciting and almost disappointing. The biggest issue I have with Antonia is that she seems to rely on some pretty tame, practical-jokey spells. Where’s the risk? Where are the stakes (see what I did there)? I think we need to see a major character die, and soon. We need to be reminded that there are real dangers and threats that come with Antonia and her ancient power, and I’m not talking about some neighbor of Mrs. Fortenberry’s in an unfortunate muumuu ensemble.
Bill gets a silver cross to the face but he also saves Tara because she’s Sookie’s friend and he needs to keep his brownie points up for when Eric regains his memory (when lord, when?!). Speaking of which, Pam almost kills Tara (again, so close) but is stopped by King Bill. At least we got some good Pam this week. Always a joy.
Bonus points this week:
· Pam: “THIS IS. SO. FUCKING. LAME.” Girl, I feel you. I can’t even deal with Tara and Bill is mad stuck-up about Sookie and her friend folk.
· Andy: “Jesus, tits and God America, Jason!” I like this Andy. I’ve decided he can stay.
Points deducted:
· That fucking snowglobe sex world. I can’t even.
