Truly, Madly, Deadly_ The Unofficial True Blood Companion - Becca Wilcott [64]
When Jason is with Amy, it’s like he’s the kidnapped sympathizing with his kidnapper. But even without the ability to glamour, Eddie has found a window into Jason and is quietly pulling the shades back to reveal Amy’s true nature. Eddie’s take on the world isn’t lost on Jason. Jason didn’t have a father around to raise him, and Eddie, as unlikely a candidate, is able to speak firsthand, both as a newly out gay male and as a newly turned vampire, about what it means to break with conventions and be the man you always thought you could be. While Jason has always been one to leap, it’s not without a fair degree of certainty that he’ll get what he wants. Eddie, on the other hand, has not gotten what he wants, but he does know who he is.
In this episode, everyone feels a bit as if they’re coming off a high or suffering from side effects. As Eddie says, there comes a time when you realize that conventions have defined you. Who are you without them? If you don’t know — you snap. Sookie snaps at Andy, understandably frustrated, but, regardless, an out of character moment. Jason snaps at Rene for drilling into a tree root, then snaps at Hoyt for using his high school nickname. Earlier, Tara snapped at Sam for coming to her to try and work things out. Sookie’s homestead is a crime scene. Jason’s under the influence of a powerful personality, someone who wants to change the way he thinks, acts, and eats. The woman who once terrorized Tara is now healthier than her.
It’s hard to believe in an episode that features an exploding vampire and a psychedelic sex scene, that the most memorable thing is Jason’s talk with Eddie, Tara’s conversation with Miss Jeanette, or Lettie Mae’s observation that only white men bring flowers when they want sex because black men don’t grovel. The viewer doesn’t need bells and whistles to stay immersed in these stories. The best visual effect of this show was Pam’s expression when she reached into Sookie’s bra to retrieve a piece of Longshadow. This show always works best when it knows what it truly is.
With Bill’s departure for tribunal, and Sookie waking up to find a naked Sam on her bed, it doesn’t look like things will become any more certain any time soon. How long can Sookie hold on to blind faith?
Highlight: Eric: “Humans. Honestly Bill, I don’t know what you see in them.”
Nightcap: Patrick Gallagher, who plays Chow, can also be seen in Glee as the football coach, Ken Tanaka. When Sookie spots the dog (Sam) following her, she names it Dean. Sam and Dean are the names of the lead characters in Supernatural, a favorite show of some of the cast members.
Paging Dr. Creepy: Ginger, Fangtasia’s human waitress, is involved in both of this episode’s gory moments. Ginger Part One: puking after Longshadow is staked . . . just not what I wanted to see in that moment. Ginger Part Two: cleaning Longshadow off the floor to accompanying noises of what sounded like an octopus being pried from the linoleum.
Location, Location, Location: Lettie Mae’s residence is a home in Los Angeles, located north of downtown, just east of Dodger Stadium.
Encore: When Jason and Amy transport Eddie back to Jason’s house, we hear “Plaisir d’ Amour” performed by Joan Baez. The joys of love last but a moment. The grief of love lasts a lifetime. “Plaisir d’Amour” is a French love song dating back more than 200 years. Composed by Johann Scwartzendorf, the lyrics are taken from the poem “Célestine” by Jean de Florian, and the final orchestral version was arranged by Hector Berlioz. The song is known in English as “The Joys of Love.” Joan Baez recorded her version for her second studio album in 1961. It’s also been covered by Brigitte Bardot, Marianne Faithfull, Nana Mouskouri, Emmylou Harris, Andrea Bocelli, Nick Drake, and Charlotte Church, among many others. The song is played for ironic effect in this scene, Jason starting to show his concern (bordering on fear) for Amy’s non-humane actions against Eddie the Vampire. Jason has always been lead by the hand of strong women, but none of his impulsive actions