Talk us through itSeason two kicks off directly after the cliff hanger in season one, Sookie, Tara, and Detective Andy discover a dead body in Andy's car. Turns out it isn't Lafayette, as we all assumed, but the fake exorcist Miss Jeanette. Adding some mileage here her heart has been ripped out which either indicates a vampire with a particular keen work ethnic or a new danger lurking in the dark around Bon Temps. Bill has his hands fill with newly turned Jessica who has been slightly spoiled by Eric and the gang over at Fangtasia. She's not so keen on recycling, not hunting, and the taste of TruBlood. Sookie finds out before Bill can tell her and isn't so accommodating to an attractive young lady living in Bill's house. We also learn that Sam ran into Maryann sometime ago and has quite the history with her including some petty larceny and doing the wild thing. Maryann proves not to be the hippy tree hugger we thought she was when she takes exception to the dispensing of towels at the wrong moment. Rounding out yet another jammed packed episode Jason is enamelled of the Fellowship of the Sun, an anti vampire Christian movement, and is a regular worshiper at church meetings. He is invited to attend a church run week long leadership seminar but lacks the required funds. Surprisingly God, or at least Vampire Bill, indirectly provides the necessary resources.
Review"The good lord tested our faith by taking Ms. Jeanette away from us. I stayed true. I wish I could say the same about you. I'll pray for you." - Lettie Mae ThorntonOutstanding!!! A completely new season of True Blood to sink my fangs into and a chance to get back into the whole Southern Gothic vibe thing. My experience as a sometime reviewer of the small screen is that season two is either a make or break year for any franchise trying to find a regular audience, maintain the fan base, and to spread the word to untapped viewers. A lot of shows tend to implode in the second season while some of the best in the past have really nailed things to present a solid build on their debut season. I'll keep an eye on this aspect of True Blood through the season two episode guide and deliver a verdict in the final review of episode twelve of the season. Hey all in the future lets lock horns with Nothing but the Blood. There's a real front up pitch about the seduction of religion and the effects belief in religion may or may not have on people from differing viewpoints. Who would have thought Jason could see the light, or in fact read if we want to be honest. But our Boy has had something of a conversion to the word of the Lord and is unfortunately in the grasp of a Fundamental church group. I'm not expecting a good result for Jason here and the mind boggles at what sort of crazed results the mixing of organised religion with Jason Stackhouse might deliver. It's not going to be a match made in heaven kids, fingers crossed our Boy gets out of this one with all parts of his anatomy intact. We know Jason is dedicated to the cause when he gives up the chance to party with a hottie in order to keep himself pure for leadership camp. Contrasting Jason and the scales being removed from his eyes on the road to Damascus, or whatever the Bon Temps equivalent is, Tara's mother Lettie Mae has had her religious hysteria reinforced by the supposed exorcism by the unfortunate Miss Jeanette. At no stage during season one has Lettie Mae shown the least bit of Christian charity to anyone, least of all her daughter, and that trend looks like it is unlikely to change judging from the first episode of season two. While the jury remains out on Maryann's motives she sure has already summed up Lettie Mae pretty concisely. The season gets underway with flexing of the muscles as Alan Ball and Co. have a not so subtle dig at organise Southern religon. Interestingly about the only locals unaffected by religious mania or at least Southern Christian thought are the vampires who are pretty much unaffected by any religious paraphernalia. Which makes any Hammer expert living in Bon Temps slightly out of date and misinformed. Central to the first episode is the relationship between Vampire Bill and Sookie that naturally is travelling through the usual rough waters. Bill has kind of forgotten to inform Sookie about the whole Jessica thing, and well murdering her great Uncle sort of slipped his mind. Naturally Bill hasn't been totally honest due to the clear issues Sookie is going to have with vampire morals. Jessica pretty much sums it up by pointing out it's all Sookie's fault in the first place. From the mouth of babes and all that. Naturally Bill and Sookie then proceed to have steamy sex thus strengthening their relationship and pointing out to the Audience that we aren't going to be missing out on any T&A during season two. Got to love the folk ay HBO and Alan Ball. 
There are developments going down on the secondary character front as well, just in case we get bored with the leads. Tara has a new man in her love, Eggs another of Maryann's projects. Seems Eggs doesn't do much other than hang at Maryann's mansion taking advantage of the food, abundant herb (hey maybe that's where Maryann's name comes from), and the pool. We also get an insight into Sam's life as a dog, come on kids you knew I was at some stage going to make that pun happen, and his past dealings with Maryann. Either she's suffering from a very bad case of epilepsy or bad times are coming to Bon Temps! Anywise seems Sam helped himself to something of an unoffered loan there, and now he's trying to pay it back. Don't think Maryann is interested in the cash Dude. Think I've pretty much covered the happenings in Nothing But the Blood, well except for our finding out what happened to Lafayette at the end of season one, oh and I guess the sudden non showing of Royce at Merlottes. For folks not used to horror getting down and dirty be warned there is one vicious scene in this episode that might upset some viewers. It's pretty brutal and involves a fairly graphic dismemberment courtesy of Eric. Oops out of room here, will hit the Actor appraisals starting next episode review. Soundtrack listing time kids:
Summary ExecutionTrue Blood back for another season and I'm rocking on with it. The first episode maintained the strong multi faceted nature that shined on through the first season. Clearly there's going to be new enemies at the gate, twists in the tale, and a huge bunch of shenanigans coming our way. Hell yeah sign me onboard for another twelve episodes. Nothing But the Blood had me baying at the moon and ready to book into the Bon Temps Hilton. No flagging here folks we are back in the thick of things for another season.For North American fans True Blood season three gets underway June 13th this year, good luck to you folks pleased for ya. Naturally since Australia is the end of the world according to Fox we don't get to check out the happenings in season three until mid August, and then it's via pay TV rather than free to air. Well frack you very much Fox, nice to know what you think of the fan base Down Under. Anyone else thinking the show is going to be getting a heavy amount of down loads happening in this part of the world? Nice one Fox, thanks for nothing. I guess if you haven't seen season one yet you could dive into season two without losing too much in the process. Some catch up needed and some things will have to be explained. If you are a veteran of the first romp in the Bon Temps woods then it's welcome back home. An excellent episode to kick off the second season, I'm ready to roll.
ScaryMinds Rates this episode as ... True Blood is back and am I ready to party!
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