True Blood - Episode 4.04 - I'm Alive and on Fire - Review

For a show that has about 20 sub plots, this episode of True Blood managed to move about half of them along quite nicely which is a fairly impressive feat for a show as complicated as this one. Unlike the last episode there were really no slow moments for me, the only exception was the excessive shots of Jason running around in circles in the woods with the ultra-fake panther sound effects in the background. But he was shirtless in about half of those shots, so no complaints here. 

Now before I write my reviews I generally browse around different sites and forums to kind of see what other people are saying; I usually watch TB with my boyfriend and he’s not exactly the type to spend an hour discussing these things, and a different perspective really helps me know where to go and what to talk about in these reviews. The biggest complaint that I seem to be hearing is about the Hot Shot storyline, not necessarily Jason’s role in it, but the whole ‘town’ and people etc. Although it may not be my favorite plot this season, it needs to be in there. Now it changed slightly from the books, where Jason did not get raped by like ten different women, but the end result is the same. Jason is turning into a were-panther. The only were-panthers in the area are the people of Hot Shot. Therefore we have to deal with Hot Shot. We may get a reprieve for a little while now that Jason’s escaped, and the fact that Crystal is insane, but don’t expect to count them out for good. My guess is that Hot Shot is here to stay for the long run, and Sookie definitely visits periodically in the books, so with that in mind let’s start off with Jason.

I read an interview with creator Alan Ball where he said that what has been happening to Jason this season is his comeuppance for his previous actions, which is a nice way of saying screwing anything that moves and has a vagina. Still, I’m glad that he escaped this episode, he’s been tied up for far too long now and this plot needed to get a move on. Even better was how Jason was freed, thanks to Becky and the most touching conversation that I’ve ever heard out of Jason’s mouth. Even sadder was Becky’s surprise that boys were supposed to bring you candy and presents. The women in general are a sad group in Hot Shot, the other standout was the poor woman who said that rape-sex with Jason was the best she had ever had. Hopefully now that Felton’s dead maybe things will get better for them. Speaking of Felton, how awesome was that scene where Jason jumps out of the tree and stabs him? Amazing. I am not sad to see him go, hopefully now that he’s gone maybe Crystal will start to return to the somewhat normal girl we met in season three. Jason on the other hand may be scarred for life, both literally and figuratively, at least I thought so until Jessica and Hoyt found him. Naturally Jessica saves his life, and the shot of him seeing her lit like an angel was some nice foreshadowing. Because of course now that Jason has had her blood, we can expect the attraction and sex dreams, what’s left to be seen though is how poor Hoyt will react. The relationship was already pretty strained, I doubt this will help.

Another entry on to the list of bad relationships is poor Bill and Portia. We all knew it was coming when Grandma Bellefluer started rattling off relatives, but the horror on her face when she realized it really sold the moment. I guess it can be strange when you’re screwing your great-great-great-great-great granddaughter. My only thought is that maybe Portia will be upset and decide to take it out on someone, like say our dear Sookie. Other than that I’m not sure where else this subplot could go, other than making Bill feel forever alone again. Also, did anyone else get déjà vu with the scene in the sitting room? It felt just like in the first season when Bill met gran for the first time. When Bill shows up again at Sookie’s, I felt for sure that he was going to try to reconcile with her. Instead he wanted to search the house. I have to give Sookie major points here, not only for standing up to Bill but to call him out on his lying while lying to him about Eric. When have I ever lied to you, except for right now apparently? She’s making major strides in the bad ass department, must be faerie Sookie at work again.

We find out from Nan that the Spanish Massacre was caused by “a single powerful witch with a reason to go after vampires.” Well we finally met her in this episode, through a flash-back dream sequence from Marnie, where she visited said witch as she was being put to death at a burning stake. So somehow this ties into the Spanish Inquisition of witches, and that meshes somehow with vampires. Remember Eric told us in an earlier episode that he was there when the massacre happened? Or at least in the area. Shame he currently can’t recollect what happened, it might be useful in the future. I’m guessing this will play a pretty huge role later on in the season, and I always enjoy the revised history elements of TB.

The sassy trio is back, and this time trying to convince Marnie to reverse the spell that she can’t remember casting. After some half assed attempts, they finally find a spell and meet up with Pam. She, naturally, gets fed up pretty quickly with what appears to be a fairly pathetic spell and starts to approach Marnie. Apparently getting threatened seems to be the fastest way for the Spanish witch to take possession of Marnie, so out she comes and sends a nasty spell Pams way. Poor Poor Poor formerly Pretty Pam. Her skin starts to rot away and fall off, and can no longer heal properly. Pam can’t seem to win, can she? I’ve seen a lot of theories roaming around that maybe Sookie’s faerie blood can fix her, but I’m going with Eric’s blood on this one. In the books if a vampire is sick, their makers blood seems to be the cure-all. Out of the two necromancy spells we’ve seen so far, I think Eric got off easy.

We’ve never seen what happens to a vampire when they drain a full-blooded faerie, and well we found out tonight. They get plastered. And it is amazing. It’s a shame we won’t get to see drunk vampires more often, not unless we get a sudden onslaught of faeries that are also stupid enough to stand around waiting to get attacked. It’s also a shame that we won’t get to see more of Eric in the sun, or splashing around in a lake while pretending to be sea gods and goddesses. Of course as soon as he starts to burn Eric sobers up pretty quickly. And then we meet depressed amnesiac Eric, the saddest yet most adorable version of Eric we’ve seen yet. On a scale of cuteness I would rate him at sad puppy with a broken leg, and the Sarah McLaughlin music would be playing in the background. Adopt him Sookie, adopt him! Also the scene where Eric listens to Sookie and Alcide talk made me think that at some point Eric is going to try and kill Alcide. Jealousy is a bitch.

Speaking of jealousy, it’s nice that Alcide want to help Sookie out, and it’s obvious that Sookie want Alcide, but if you can’t spot the crazy that is Debbie Pelt a mile away then you need your vision checked. Like I mentioned before, Debbie plays a big part book four. As soon as I saw her sniff Alcide’s shirt I thought to myself ‘Oh shit, she smells Sookie.’ Not to get too spoilery, but I don’t think she’s going to stay reformed for very long.

Random Thoughts:

• I know I’ve previously said that it’s not a real episode of TB without some gratuitous and probably unnecessary sex scenes. Well there was none of that tonight, but there was plenty of shirtless semi-nude characters so I think that counts.
• Am thinking of making a bingo game for the next episode. Shirtless Jason? Check. Fake panther sound effects? Check. Did Bill say Sookie? Check. Either that or a really awesome drinking game.
• Not sure how much I’m liking the fire in the eyes that Marnie gets when she channels the other witch. It comes off as a bit too corny, even for TB.
• I left out Tommy, but I’m not surprised that he went back to his parents, oh and that they screwed him over yet again. *sigh* We saw this plot last season, hopefully they change it up a bit.
• Also needs a quick mention: Luna and Sam. How cute are Sam and Emma? Anyways, not much here except to expect some jealous baby-daddy werewolf action in upcoming episodes.
• Note to Luna: If your psycho werewolf-ex is stalking you, try closing some damn curtains.
• For a lawyer, Portia is pretty slow on the whole family situation.
• The ‘Baby Not Yours’ scene was pretty creepy, but I’m still not sold on this storyline yet. Don’t we have enough already this season without a voodoo baby and a matching voodoo baby doll?
• Loved the look on Tara/Lafayette/Jesus’ faces after Marnie melted off Pam’s face. It was definitely a we-got-to-get-the-fuck-up-outta-here-NOW expression.

Favorite Quotes:

• “You can’t have any more. There isn’t anymore. You drank the whole faerie and you are going to your room!”
• “All of your subjects are learning how ruthless you are.”
• “I don’t know why you’re crying, I’m the one getting raped.”
• “Breed Ghost daddy, Breed!”
• “Some old hippies levitated a dead bird, so what?”
• “Remember Salem? We all thought it was such a big threat when it was just a bunch of neurotic puritannetts who needed a good lay.”
• “Well the goddess, she will protect us!”
• “And you are Ran, my sea goddess.”
• “Let me rub some dirt on that!”
• “Sam. Stay!”
• “We’re fucked.”
• “If you kiss me I promise to be happy.”