TV.com

True Blood Season 4 Episode 3

If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin'?

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 6

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

AIRED: Jul 10, 2011

8.3

User Rating

282 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

Eric and Sookie work out an agreement while Bill renders advice and guidance to Jessica. Meanwhile, Jason becomes Crystal's reluctant hero and Tommy, once again, becomes estranged from Sam. Pam instructs Lafayette that if demands aren't met, retaliation may be in order. Marnie sets out to give her new powers a try. Eric upsets a get-together.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (9)

Sookie must vamp-sit Eric.

6.5

By MovieMark, Nov 20, 2011

It's a worrying sign when the season is only on its third episode and it already feels as though it's stalling. It may be down to the fact that this was simply a poor hand dealt, in terms of storylines. We have plenty of gross Hotshot scenes, which only build upon my hatred for Crystal and her unwashed panther-y cohorts (say it with me: shampoo!). And almost every other storyline has one or two strands that simply don't tie together. Alcide is finally back on the scene, looking as buff as ever, greeting Sookie with a giant bear hug. Unfortunately, he's made amends with Debbie, a wolf in sheep's clothing if ever there was one. It's hard to buy into the idea that Debbie has reformed, and I was glad Sookie saw right through her ''pardon my French'' facade, choosing to leave Alcide's almost immediately and find somewhere else to hide Eric. The 1000 year-old vamp that has lost his memory. I didn't think that I'd enjoy this storyline much, but I have to admit, it was most certainly the highlight of the episode for me during an hour with very slim pickings. There is something endearing about an Eric who giggles when someone tickles his feet and apologizes at every turn for his past mistakes. I also really got a kick out of him shoving Pam to the ground the second she tried to intimidate Sookie. AND, I almost got up off the couch and cheered when he killed Claudine. One fairy down. While I want this storyline to be dead and buried, I'm guessing the Queen of the Fairies will have something to say about her second in command biting the dust (quite literally). It only means more trouble for a (moderately) defenseless Eric Northman. I found it funny that Lafayette, Tara and Jesus spent the majority of the episode scurrying about and arguing over how to approach Eric for his forgiveness. It's the kind of plot development you have to look at through your fingers, since they have no clue regarding Eric's amnesia, and will no doubt inadvertently land themselves in even more trouble. Like with Pam. God, I love Pam, she's easily my favorite character on the show. I may have a few gripes with her if she kills Tara or Lafayette, though. Speaking of favorite characters, or should I say former favorite characters, Jessica and Hoyt continue down the road of their relationship crisis. It's an awfully tedious subplot to sit through and I'm just wishing for the day that she either kills Hoyt or simply breaks his heart. This plot is running both characters into the ground. Maybe now that Jessica handed over that hideous doll to Arlene's kid, they'll start being adorable again. Oh, and before I forget, I did enjoy Bill's scene with Jessica, however brief. It's good to be reminded on occasion that they're meant to have a very strong emotional bond as maker and ''vamp pup''. Bill appears to be adapting to his new throne with very little hassle at all, quite capable of making the tough decisions (sentencing a vampire to his true death for being caught on camera feeding) and enjoys reaping the benefits, and less difficult decisions, of adding sex to his new professional relationship with former Dexter hottie, Courtney Ford. There's very little here to do with Marnie and her coven this week. The snippets we do get are still mostly setup, though the spirit that possessed Marnie last week clearly has her sights set on the wiccan. As of right now, there's still very little here in terms of character. Marnie is a pious woman who believes that she was born with one foot in another world. That's still not very much to go on. Overall, it's a mostly uneventful hour, True Blood by the numbers, if you will. The season is still trying to set things up for further down the line. I hope it pays off.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Eric gets amnesia, Jason remains in trouble and Bill sleeps around.

7.0

By JaCkKbAuEr2424, Sep 25, 2011

After last week's episode, I had high hopes for the direction this season might take. But this episode took the goodwill garnered by the last episode and ruined it by cramming it with so much ridiculous stuff and somewhat lame storylines that I just grew fed up with it all. That being said, there WERE some really good stuff going on. I just can't look at Season 4 so far and say that it's as good as the other seasons were in their first three episodes.

I'll start with what I'm liking. The Jessica/Hoyt plot had some good payoff. We spent the first two episodes watching Jessica and Hoyt's little cutesy act disintegrate before our eyes, with Hoyt growing frustrated at Jessica's inability to make a real meal for him and Jessica being frustrated by the urges that overtake her as a vampire. It all culminated in the moment last week when Jessica fed on another man. We get an awkward heart-to-heart between Bill and Jessica and we get Jessica glamouring Hoyt into forgetting about her infidelity. Sure, perhaps Jessica and Hoyt aren't the most thrilling plotline on the show, but boy, the writers did a great job of preparing us for this and making it seem tragic.

And while Eric's amnesia was played for a few too many jokes, I loved the work Skarsgaard was doing here; we've known Eric as a cocky, self-serious individual who is older than everybody else and therefore has the guts to go against whoever he wants. In this episode, he's a goofy guy who somewhat remembers who he is but not quite. It seems as if the writers took his persona from a different show and transplanted it here. I laughed and thought it was funny, but how can a show as dark and macabre as this one think that this is a worthwhile plot? I understand it's part of the book series, but it's lame when adapted to screen.

As for the rest of the occurances, I didn't care that much. The "my baby is a killer!" plot involving that waitress and Terry are going through is dumb, Jason's plot is creepy and has the potential to be interesting.. but right now, I just don't know. And I'm really looking forward to seeing how Fiona Shaw's character Marnie grows from here on out. It appears that an ancient witch is possessing her and using her to do her deeds, which makes Marnie less of a villain and more of a puppet, which is interesting.

I have the bad habit of comparing shows too much to their former selves, which is why I'm trying to keep an open mind here. But this season isn't pulling me in the way the last three have. Let's hope it can keep improving.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 2

Flag
Share Hide
So far it was the worse episode ever. From the gruesome story about vampires the show has become some sort of a fairy tale and soap opera which has barely anything to do with vampires.moreless

3.0

By mobilehead, Sep 01, 2011

So far it was the worse episode ever. From the gruesome story about vampires the show has become some sort of a fairy tale and soap opera which has barely anything to do with vampires. They've been placed in the background and as a substitute we are watching things about shapeshifters, skinwalkers and faeries... It sucks! It sucks unbelievably! But what the heck, you still could have watched it if the main and important characters were still important and nicely build. Since the second episode they are not! They have been reducted to some sort of retarded morons. The last three episodes are completely without any idea what to do next with the story. Jason is constantly laying in bed, Eric is playing a 5-year old child, Bill is banging anything that moves, Sookie has lost its temper and Sam is living a life in his own shifter world (since the the third season - without any reason). The idea with wicans is weak. Everything seems to be upsidedown and there is no hope to have it changed...

Frankly speaking I have serious doubts if I manage to watch this season to an end. I hope that the fourth episode will put the show's situation in much brighter light. So far for me it is declining...moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Eric Reloaded (Spoilers Ahead)

9.0

By Neksmater, Aug 18, 2011

Eric is drawn to Sookie's inner light but she manages to get him under control and take care of him as he knows that he doesn't remember who he was. She puts him in the space in her house for the time being. She goes to visit Alcide to see if Eric can stay with him but the fact that a now supposedly better Debbie is back with him she decides to handle it herself. Bill executes a vamp caught publicly feeding on someone and also start a sexual relationship with Portia Bellefleur was interesting foreplay and his "I can never love you" line gave me a big hint of sadness of his longing for Sookie. Lafayette looks to apologize to Eric for whatever Marnie did to him as a peace offering not knowing that his memory is wiped but Pam decides to let them go along and bring Marnie to her instead of killing them. Marnie does a blood ritual to become closer to The Spirit. Jason stays strapped to the bed and begs Crystal to let him go but she remains certain that she must continue to let him die for him to transform and he even takes back his love in the wake of death. I would do the same, she's not worth all the trouble she's worth and she's going to kill him. While it's good we got a sex scene with Crystal and Jason, some nudity would be good since we've never seen her before. I know that sounds pervy but her guys, this is True Blood we know what we wanna see, and the sex between Bill and Portia also lacked any nudity. Tommy needs to seriously get hit by a bus, I know Maxine is annoying but she doesn't deserve to be robbed by a punk lowlife like Tommy. Sam should've killed him and then we would be rid of him and his grubby little face forever. Sam acts better than him because he is better than him, that's all. Jessica and Hoyt have an argument after she admits to him that she fed on another guy and she glamors him into forgetting all about it which is sad. But even sadder is how sweet Hoyt is especially when he says that other women don't exist for him. I hope that they can make it work out, they are truly the couple that I root for along with Jesus and Lafayette. Good riddance Claudine, and also seeing innocent Eric is entertaining seeing Skarsgard take the character in a new way like never before. Good stuff, keep it comin'.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 0

Flag
Share Hide
Who knew Eric was ticklish? Spoilers ahead

8.0

By foggygirl, Aug 16, 2011

There was alot of stuff happening in this episode not all of it was particularly interesting but it was still a great episode. I found it very amusing that Sookie has now expierenced enough vampire dramatics recently that when 'blank' Eric shows up acting in a threatening she reacts in a 'whatever' manner even going so far as to punch him in nose to make him back off. I loved Pam, Eric and Sookie's interactions they have a great chemistry that makes for very entertaining TV. I didn't particularly care for the whole Crystal, Jason Hotshot storyline but I am very interested in how it turns out for poor Jason. I was very happy to see Alcide back, but I'm not totally sure about the Debbie angle. That has the potentional to end badly, probably for Sookie. On the whole I think that the writers have set the stage for an exciting and fun season of True Blood and I can't wait to see more.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 1

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Anna Paquin	Sookie Stackhouse
Stephen Moyer	Bill Compton
Sam Trammell	Sam Merlotte
Ryan Kwanten	Jason Stackhouse
Rutina Wesley	Tara Thornton
Alexander Skarsgård	Eric Northman

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Courtney Ford	Portia Bellefleur	Guest Star
Dane DeHaan	Timbo	Guest Star
Paola Turbay	Woman/Antonia	Guest Star
Lindsay Pulsipher	Crystal Norris	Recurring Role
Tara Buck	Ginger	Recurring Role
Dale Raoul	Maxine Fortenberry	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Episode Photos

Deborah Ann Woll on True Blood from "If ...

© 2011 HBO
Kristin Bauer on True Blood from "If You...

© 2011 HBO

See All Photos

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA
- Sitting at her kitchen table waiting for Eric, Sookie is reading Grave Secret, a Harper Connelly mystery, by Charlaine Harris. Harris also wrote the Sookie Stackhouse aka Southern Vampire Series upon which True Blood is based.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (0)
ADD QUOTES
- ADD QUOTES from this episode.
NOTES (5)
ADD NOTES
- Original International Air Dates:
  Czech Republic - October 18, 2011 on HBO
  United Kingdom - February 19, 2012 on FX/FX HD
  EDIT SHARE
- Featured Music:
  "The Wreck of Us" by Acumen Nation (music at Fangtasia when Pam is on the phone with Sookie and snacking on Jethro)
  "If You Love Me (Why Am I Dyin')" by Boxing Ghandis (Lafayette, Jesus and Tara have dinner and discuss Eric)
  "Montgomery Moonlight" by Ohio Sound Machine (Sookie visits Alcide and Debbie)
  "Restraining Order Blues" by Michelle Malone (Tara asks Sookie to talk to Eric about going easy on them)
  "Nowhere" by G. DaPonte (Sam and Tara catch up)
  "Who Needs Forever" (Thievery Corporation Remix) by Astrud Gilberto (Bill and Portia have dinner)
  "Child's Play" by Dave Pezzner (Pam tossess Lafayette into Fangtasia's basement)
  "Season of the Witch" by Karen Elson (end credits)
  EDIT SHARE
- Although credited, Janina Gavankar (Luna) and Jessica Tuck (Nan Flanagan) do not appear in this episode.
  EDIT SHARE
- Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux) becomes a series regular with this episode.
  EDIT SHARE
- Special billing was given to Brit Morgan (Special Guest Star) for this episode.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- (After Sookie punches Eric, breaking his nose)
  Sookie: Oh please, it'll heal in 5 minutes. You're a vampire.
  Eric: I know I'm a vampire, Snooki.
  Sookie: It's Sookie!
  
  Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, is a member of the reality show Jersey Shore.
  EDIT SHARE