Review

Bill falls into the clutches of Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi, who is hatching a plot to extend his territory. Seems Russell sent the lupines to kidnap Bill but didn't mention they should also nearly drain him. Back in Bon Temps Lafayette stops Tara from committing suicide and takes her to see his mother, Ruby Jane, who has been institutionalised. Not sure what our boy is trying to achieve there, but top marks for the effort.

Seems Eric knows a lot more about the mark on the werewolf Sookie discovered, and we learn more via flashback, though Eric isn't sharing with Sookie. Bill has dinner with Russell and his gay vampire lover Talbert, who is a camp as a row of tents, there's also a special surprise guest. Oh before I forget Jessica, who is currently rooming with a decomposing corpse, arrives home after hiring a chainsaw to discover the body has vanished. Is Pam responsable or is something even more sinister going down?

And finally, think I might be missing some sub plots, like Jason tackling a perp while out on a call with Andy, Sam is finally re-united with his trailer trash family. Father Joe Lee Mickens is wholly human, though his choice in grundies leaves a lot to be desired, while Sam's mother Melinda and brother Tommy, are both shifters. Almost forgot Sookie, she has a werewolf stalking her, Eric is fang ready at the end of the episode there, and also a vampire, Franklin Mott, who is watching her from the shadows. Someone is keeping a file on Sookie, we don't know who, or more importantly who discovered the hidden file. Franklin seems to be attracted to Tara, can this show get any more complex? To hell with it, watch the episode to find out the full skinny y'all.

Nazi werewolves!!! I'm with Jessica, just how cool is this concept, and two thumbs up to Scriptwriter Raelle Tucker for highlighting the development. It's like grindhouse brought to the small screen, you just have to be excited. Clearly Eric has had a long history with the Lycan cult, and is still tracking it. I would imagine we might just be in for a number of shock developments during this season, and no I'm not going to speculate on what those might be.

One of the best ever episodes, I'm a confirmed fan of the franchise, bring the rest of the season on!

The other cool aspect of this episode was the possibility, remote though it might be, that Jessica has managed to create a zombie. Either Pam, or someone unknown has removed the body of the dead trucker, or we're talking re-animated dead in the future. A zombie outbreak in Bon Temps, can this show get any more awesome! Though the downside for those of us that care is the fact that the zombie apocalypse might play havoc with Hoyt and Jessica's romance, and Hoyt got that bad ass haircut as well. Possibly two dollars not well spent there by the big fella. Actually talking zombies, just goes to show that True Blood can go in any damn direction it wants, we'll still all be onboard its groove train.

Surprisingly I thought Jason was a tad under used in Beautifully Broken, the boy is hanging out there with a lot of guilt and was left dangling. About the only development on the Jason front was some chick he barely glimpsed in the forest around the crime scene Andy had been called out to. No prizes for guessing this is going to come back as a major plot point somewhere through this season. In the meantime Jason is tackling crimes and not coming across as the sharpest tool in the shed. So business as usual on the Jason front then.

Notably mythos addition, fully fed Vampires are far more dangerous than a pack of werewolves, Bill takes down a number pretty readily. Have I mentioned already that True Blood vampires can see themselves in mirrors? Pam and Jessica have a girl moment, though it's more a discussion of draining people than about boys for those wondering. Well actually considering its Pam that's not so surprising.

Behind the camera Director Scott Winant freaking nailed it. I thought his screen transitions between major characters really worked like a brought one. It was seamless, with the pace not dropping or going overly kinetic between the scenes. Winant has both Bill and Eric fanging up, and I got to say for once Bill looked dangerous, something missing from the whole of season two. If the Director ever makes a feature length vamp movie I'm there opening night, yes he's that good.

Script Writer Raelle Tucker turned in a damned fine episode that ranks with the best ever in the franchise's history. Besides Nazi Werewolves, I reiterate, just how cool is that, there's a faint hint that Bill is not who he presents himself as. A faint whiff of conspiracy if you will, involving something Russell Edgington said to Bill. Russell thinks Bill is working for Sophie-Anne, an idea Bill hotly denies, however why would Russell mention it if he didn't have a little information that we aren't privy to? And if so exactly how does this situation relate to Sookie and the wider Bon Temps community? Are we looking at a far more complex situation than we originally supposed? Guess all answers will be given in due course, but the show sure does present a sizeable room for debate. Full marks to Tucker for stirring the pot and added some depth to the flavour.

The third season is already heating up with some very solid plot directions, new characters to rock out to, and Nazi Werewolves. I'm hooked solid and am now wondering whether a marathon might be in order over the weekend to see where things are going or should I parcel out the episodes at a slower rate till season four arrives? Either way this review guide is going to cover each and every one of the twelve episodes of Bon Temps glory. Beautifully Broken is an excellent forty odd minutes of television that once again raises the bar for the franchise, if the rest of the season matches this episode then we're in for a good time.