True Blood has had a funny season, hasn't it? At times it dazzles with wonderful characters and pure fun, and at other times it simply plays into its critics' complaints about it being too scatterbrained. For every person who claims to be the biggest fan of the show, there's another one-time fan who can't stomach the show anymore.
At times I've called the current season (the finale airs Sunday) the best season of the show and at other times I've called it the worst. Why is this happening? Because like every sentence in this article has implied so far, True Blood has been both good and bad this season. Let's review what went well and what went wrong.
Good: Some great new characters
Franklin Motte (James Frain), the psychotic freelance vampire, injected the right amount of crazy into the season, and Alcide (and his shirtless bod) made women (and some men) swoon.
Bad: Those characters were let go too soon
Just when Franklin won over everyone's hearts, a few wooden bullets went through his. Splish splash, a vampire guts bath. And Alcide and the rest of his werewolf friends completely disappeared towards the end of the season. I thought this was the Season of the Wolf? Here's hoping they'll be back for the season finale.
Good: A maniacal central villain
Russell Edgington (the brilliant Denis O'Hare) is hands down the most vile bad guy True Blood has pit against Sookie and company. He's irresistibly charming, he's extremely powerful, and he walks around with an urn of soup that used to be his boyfriend. Good times.
Bad: Too many supernatural creatures
I know this is probably how it goes in the book, but Werepanthers, fairies, and witches? We tuned in for a vampire show and got the entire Monster Mash!
Good: It got more gay
I know a lot of homophobes out there puffed out their chests and complained about the show hitting from the other side of the plate a lot this season, but I for one respect the risks it took. Hey, if you're going to be thousands of years old, you'll probably give it a go at least once.
Bad: Misuse of characters and boring storylines
Tara, Jason, and Sam deserve much better than what they got this season. Tara was only exciting when she was paired with Franklin; when she wasn't, she just did that trembly voice of hers and bugged her eyes out while fighting those who tried to help her. Jason was all over the place and wasted time on Crystal, one of the show's worst characters in history. And Sam, poor, poor Sam, went on a goosechase to find his family and ended up with a jerk brother.
Good: Moments of extreme sex and violence
We don't all watch True Blood to see if Sookie and Bill will cuddle. These are vampires, and they love to f*** and kill people. Sookie and Bill got pretty hardcore on us for a gratuitous sex scene and Russell interrupted the weather in one of the goriest moments on television. But the prize of the season was Bill turning Lorena's head completely around during some kinky sex. Extreme violence and sex all in one scene? More of THAT!
Bad: Inconsistency
When True Blood was good this season, it was outstanding. "Trouble" and "Night on the Sun" were highlights of this round in Bon Temps, and some of the series' best segments. But "I Smell a Rat" and "Fresh Blood" were 120 minutes of my life that I'd like back. And those stinkers came before the finale, too! I'm praying this rollercoaster of a season ends with an adrenaline-pumping freefall and not a tiresome climb up the tracks.
What are you expecting for the finale?
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
"head" turning is what i meant. freudian slip? :op
why is not wanting to see gratuitous scenes of man humping ***phobia? i think you're a ***fanatic.also that hard turning scene come ON. it at first was just stupid because it was needlessly shocking, as I think on it more, it's just needless.
All the sex scenes arent a good thing! its why i dont watch it, because its disgusting!!and having more Gay isnt a good thing either. its just gross and isnt needed.
"Good: It got more gay"thats not a good thing. i skip those scenes. they could easily replaced most of the gay scenes with something that PLAYS MORE INTO THE MAIN CHARACTERS STORY.And Tara. all i see is a moping face, all the time. i hate her and she needs to leave the show, period.
Taras story line goes something like this:Mope,Cry,Mope,Cry some more,Mope some more,Crying and moping.I forget that Sam is on the show most of the time. And i also agree that Crystal is boring. She is also boring in the books, so they got that part right.
@EvelynTimmonsWho ever told you that was full of crap, Jason has never been a drug dealer in any season of True Blood. He did dabble in taking V in the second season like two or three times. But hasn't touched it since his girlfriend died while they where on it. If you are only basing a show off the clips then maybe your biased?.
Ok, I am telling you all now. Put down the remotes. Turn off the TV and start reading the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have only watched clips of True Blood and I cant stand it. I have been told that Jason is a drug dealer/addict?! Are you frelling kidding me? He might have been the black sheep of the family, but he was not in to drugs. Yes, In the books there are werepanthers (and other wereanimals), fae, and witches. If you cant afford to buy the books, there are downloads of the books availible and you use ereader to read them. I looked at the cast for the show and the only one they got right, was Eric. Evidently no one who is producing or directing the show has read the books and needs to do so to try and fix what they have seriously frelled up!moreless
Tim, I think you should rewatch Fresh Blood. Just watched it again today. Even Sam's drunken rampage didn't bother me.
@Forgiveme: I've read the books, and yeah they do have a more coherent plot (and a very good one at that!). True Blood hasn't always followed the books, but it was at least cohesive up til this season. It's one of the things that make you go "hmmm".
This was definitely the most uneven season so far. It seemed aimless and unfocused throughout. I haven't read the books, but I've got to think they have a more coherent storyline, more in keeping with the over arching plot of season 1. I'm not holding out too much hope for the season finale, but the production values are so high, it's still a guilty pleasure to watch.
In my opinion this is the best season of True Blood! Franklin was hilarious and he should have stayed all season!one thing i really liked about Sam this season: he finally got fed up with being so nice all the time!
not enough Franklin
Kill off Tara!
I expect a horribly cliche cliff hanger that will leave me waiting until season 4. I mean seriously I know that's what this show is known for, but the cliff hangers are starting to wear a bit thin.
Now time for the weather, Tiffany?
I hope my mind gets blown!
suspect it will be, in part at least, the set up for the Sookie-Eric relationship next season.
Tara is one of the characters who have been expanded in the series. She was a lot less present in the books. So her death may have an effect but not one that would really effect the story. I hope they keep Lafayette though. He's a pretty interesting character. He seems like he is a standard mortal guy but he seems to have some Supernatural things going on also. That is something that could be explored more next season.
yeah I kinda agree
please make it tara though:)
they need to kill off a major character (except for the three main of course) to make up for the bad episodes this season.
I completely agree except of the too many supernatural creatures part only because if Alan Ball were actually following the way it is in the books, there would be balance to the crowd rather than manic confusion and frustration.