Review

Franklin clearly doesn't get on with Talbot but is totally infatuated with Tara, which is just as well as he has kidnapped her and ties her up each day. Tara does try to escape the Mississippi King's mansion, but when the grounds are guarded by werewolves there's not a huge chance of success. Eric of course has arrived, and is surprised to find Bill is now working for Russell Edgington. An item in Russell's collection draws Eric back into his past and a path he is set on, this isn't going to end well for someone. And of course Sookie and Alcide are closing in. Alcide seeks the advice of his pack master over the direction Cooter is taking the pack in, and we learn Russell has had were servants for a number of centuries.

Back in Bon Temps Sam is becoming increasingly aware that something he doesn't know about is going on between his brother Tommy and the altogether disgusting Joe Lee. Still Sam has employed Tommy at Merlottes and Joe Lee is his live in handy man. Jason has joined the Police Department, or at least he thinks he has - Andy playing loose with the truth, and renews his interest in the mysterious Crystal, the chick he meet at the stake out early in the season. Oh and Terry has moved in with Arlene, and Jessica is still not over Hoyt.

Director Scott Winant pulls off some fly shoots, Tara fleeing Russell Edgington mansion for example - some Dario Argento influence there, but to be honest it's not enough to raise Trouble above the status of interim episode. Multiple plot lines are moved forward but there really is nothing in the episode to sink your teeth into, any new revelations, or awesome scenes that will have people conversing about the show in front of the water cooler Monday morning. Having said that I should also point out that True Blood does occasionally need to chill out a bit and slow dance rather than pogo every episode.

There were a couple of aspects that I still managed to groove to. Bill is clearly playing some sort of wheels within wheels role and Russell Edgington is onto his game. We finally have the infamous file revealed, and I have to say I'm now intrigued as to what Bill's game is. Russell thinks it's a Sophie-Anne move but I have my doubts, rivers run deep with Bill, there's something we don't know yet. Interestingly Bill has circled Sookie's name and a few of her forbearers, exactly why and does it have anything to do with the supernatural power Sookie displayed out of the blue at the conclusion of the episode? I got to say I love me some mystery, one of the reasons I keep dialling into this show, there's always a revelation just around the corner that will put you on your arse.

The episode didn't have the same intensity of previous outings in Bon Temps, but still retains the interest

We also get to learn a bit more about Eric Northman's background. Son of a Viking king, philanderer, and ultimately on a revenge cycle due to his family having been slaughtered by werewolves. We now know why he hates the brand that Cooter and his pack are adorned with. In one of those twists of fate that Television delights in, Eric discovers his father's crown in Casa del Edgington, which promises some whole scale bloodshed in the not too distant future. I was really digging Alexander Skarsgård's performance in this episode, his character has always been cold and aloof, but Skarsgård sure can emote when called on. Two thumbs up to this riveting sub-plot, anyone else think it's going to be the mansion that dripped blood?

For the Ladies there are three relationships going down that should give them the warm and fuzzes. Terry has moved in with the hormonal Arlene, and just who's baby is she carrying, and what might eventuate there? Jessica and Hoyt are still circling each other; I figure there is a future story line right there. Did they write Hoyt's mother out of the show? And Jason Stackhouse might have just met his match in the elusive Crystal who clearly has a few secrets waiting on revelation. Oh and Lafayette gets a love interest in Jesus, the hospital orderly who is otherwise engaged in looking after our boy's demented mother.

Hey for once I was able to cover all plot developments, normally I only have room to catch the major ones and have to let a few things pass back to the keeper.

Director Winant does manage to keep a few things bubbling along that will no doubt come to fruition later in the season. Sam is on a collision course with Joe Lee, there's something hidden there, and I get the feeling Sam is going to go ballistic by season's end. Similarly Jason is now ensconced in the Police force with Andy doing everything he can to keep Jason happy due to the threat of Jason revealing just what did happen on the night Egg's meet his demise.

While I still see the episode as being True Blood trying to take a breath from the normal warp pacing I came away entertained and frothing at the mouth to catch the next episode. Trouble throws some more petrol on the Sookie fire and I got to say the character needs some more meat on the bone. If you are a regular True Blood devotee then for sure you will need to catch Trouble, if a sometime viewer then you could perhaps give this one a miss.