This review contains spoilers.
5.5 Let's Boot and Rally
With the latest True Blood instalment, we’re getting close to the halfway point of season and it’s all starting to kick off – just when you think it’s safe to assume the Authority are is the season’s most likely big bad, suddenly we discover that the shifter murders are orchestrated by a Point Break-inspired, supe-killing gang of vigilantes. It looks like Bon Temps’ love all of things supernatural has come to an abrupt and bloody end, and leaves a large percentage of the population at risk. The timing of the gang’s arrival is the most interesting thing about them so far – a murderous gang appears just as the Sanguinistas are making their move? There’s a distinct whiff of conspiracy here, and given that Russell is now in full possession of his faculties, or as in full possession as he gets, there’s a very good chance he’s pulling the strings.
The gang’s arrival also coincides with the rekindling of Jason’s vamp-hate - what are the chances that he ends up somehow involved in it? Please God let’s hope he’s smart enough not to start killing vamps...
Outside of Bon Temps, things are shaping up very nicely over at the Bill/Eric storyline. It’s fast becoming clear that the bromantic duo have been set up, and probably Sookie too, although it’s still unclear whether by Nora or someone Eric’s sister is covering for. What is clear is that the bromance definitely showed some cracks this week – but then imminent death via iPhone would make anyone snappy. Although, what’s with all the faffing around with the staking Russell? Have they forgotten what he’s like? Stake him quick or live to regret it boys. At least until dawn...
What’s most interesting about all this is the question of Nora’s devotion to the cause. So far, so convincing, but given that this is True Blood, it’s a pretty good bet that, devout or not, she’s covering for someone, and that someone is most likely Salome. Which leaves Roman up the proverbial – just how many of his Chancellors are part of the conspiracy? Russell is on the cusp of being up and about, and without doubt has allies at the Authority. Surely, chaos is on the horizon.
Eric and Bill’s perfect bromance got itself a little competition this week, in the form of the possibly amazing duo that would be newly kickass Tara and almost as newly kickass Jess. This has the potential to be the most interesting friendship in the show – Bon Temps could with a kickass girl duo and without doubt, that's what they'd be. So, it’s a shame that they’re catfighting over Hoyt in the toilet. Surely this particular fang banger is not worth the energy? They’d be much better served getting over it and getting on with being fabulous vampires.
Ok, so it’s time to talk about Terry’s Iraq storyline. We’ve been ignoring it for a few weeks, but the time has most definitely come. On the plus side, we have an almost full explanation for Terry’s nutjob tendencies, but a fire demon/monster? This could well be a supe too far for True Blood. A maenad we can just about buy; Faeries at a push, but fire curses? It’s possibly still too early to tell, and God knows Arlene needs something to do, so when it does eventually rock up in Bon Temps it’ll have her to deal with, but it’s going to take something pretty spectacular to rescue it.
Which brings us neatly to Laf’s hoodoo interloper storyline, which continues to be completely bewildering. And not just because we’ve no idea who the hell has Jesus’ head... As we’ve been led to believe the hoodoo is evil, maybe he could take care of the fire monster for us and then we can just forget about the whole thing.
Aside from the above-mentioned superfluous supes, Let's Boot and Rally was another superb show, if at a slightly slower pace. The addition of the Point Break vigilantes, and Sam’s current bullet-to-limb ratio being slightly higher than is considered healthy, have ramped up the tension considerably. With the strong possibility that all of the big bads are connected, the second half of the season has the potential to be explosive in lots of ways. Let’s pray to the TV gods that, at the very least, Russell lives to scheme another day... And takes care of the damn Faeries.
Read Emma's review of last week's episode, We'll Meet Again, here.
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