True Blood 2×08 – "Timebomb"

Godric teaches Sookie how to win friends and influence people.

So, enter Godric. For all of the hushed murmurings around this mysterious character, and the brief glimpse we get of him in the flashback to Eric’s turning, the writers had to be very careful to make his introduction as fascinating as possible. They succeeded. And then some.

Having not read any of the Sookie Stackhouse books, or indulged in any spoilers (and I’d like to keep it that way, dear commenters) I’m not sure how big of a character Godric will end up being, but I certainly hope he has a pivotal role as the show goes forward. I thought the idea that a vampire would in fact grow more liberal and tolerant of humanity as he grew older to be especially interesting, not to mention logical; presumably a vampire doesn’t reach 2000 years old if he’s spent all that time pissing off humans. Keeping Godric around as a character would be a great way to explore those elements of vampire society that have only so far been skirted around. How are sheriffs chosen? Who do they report to? How does this system work, and does the vampire leadership believe in modernising (as Bill, Godric and everyone’s favourite vampire media pundit Nan Flanagan seem to)? The young actor playing Godric, Allan Hyde,  did a great job of portraying an incredibly old and world-weary figure whilst still maintaining plenty of charisma and authority.

Of course, my hopes could all be dashed by the large man-shaped bomb that was about to blow up at the end of the episode. Dang. Here’s hoping it’s Isabel who will save the day and throw herself on the grenade; fine character though she was, I don’t know how much more they could do with her.

Speaking of sacrifice, I thought one of the best exchanges in the episode was between Eric and Sookie; trapped in the Fellowship of the Sun Church, Sookie tries to figure out why Eric is risking his unlife to save Godric:

Sookie: He’s your maker, isn’t he?

Eric: Don’t use words you don’t understand.

Sookie: You have a lot of love for him.

Eric: Don’t use words I don’t understand.

Of course, Eric goes on to display this love after Godric’s rescue by desperately trying to please him; it’s certainly interesting to see a different side to the character. And is it my imagination, or does Eric now just flirt with everyone?

Eric isn’t the only one being inappropriate in this episode, however, with Tara and Eggs gobbling up a Daphne’s Heart Souffle (that Maryann somewhat euphemistically calls Hunter Souffle) before beating the living crap out of each other, maniacally giggling and fucking in Sookie’s hallway. Gran would be so disappointed.

Bone-chilling.

(Speaking of Gran, can the writers please stop inserting the hideously creepy photoshopped Gran-Lil Sookie-Lil Tara photograph into almost every episode? I can handle the gore of people getting torn limb from limb, but if I’m asked to look at that picture once more, I may have to start watching True Blood from between my fingers.)

It’s hard to see what Maryann’s master plan is (if, indeed, she has one). She obviously has a special interest in Tara and Eggs, since if she wanted to she could presumably bewitch anyone she wanted. She may just be messing people around for the hell of it, or perhaps there’s method to Maryann’s madness. Either way, I’m constantly glued to her scenes; Michelle Forbes is absolutely hypnotic, terrifying and hilarious in equal measure. Who else but Forbes could deliver the line “Feeling sorry for things is just an excuse not to celebrate your own happiness.” with such relish? It will be such a shame when Forbes leaves the show, which I have a feeling will be fairly soon. We’ll just have to make the most of her while she’s still around. Pass the Hunter Souffle.