Review

The complications following Eric's murder of the flamboyant Talbot are starting to mount up. Russell has lost it completely and is after revenge, however he mistakes the purpose of the Authority's troops at Fangtasia. They are there to ensure the Authority's decision in regards to Eric's involvement in dubious affairs is enforced, they are not there as protection. Nan Flanagan, the public voice for the Vampire equal rights movement, is interrogating Eric about the disappearance of the Magister and other activities in Louisiana. With Russell basically declaring all-out war on the Authority things could get messy from here.

Jason is still having troubles with the mercurial Crystal and her inbred family. Sam finally loses it and beats the crap out of a customer. Tommy is being an even bigger dick than usual. Sookie and Bill are together again, though she harbours some issues with Bill's folder on her family. Hadley introduces Sookie to her son, who has Sookie's powers. Tara has a final confrontation with Franklin. Hoyt and Jessica look to be on again. Oh and hell Bill now knows what Sookie is! I'm probably missing whole plot developments, but damn these episodes are multi layered.

Sorry if this review is rubbish, but have an impacted wisdom tooth and am on more drugs than Charlie Sheen.

Guess I'm running slightly late with these episode articles as season four of True Blood has arrived. It's enticingly sitting on the desk but am going to hold off till I finish season three. Let's crack on and get Everything Is Broken under wraps.

Seems Eric can't win a trick currently. Firstly he's under pressure from Sophie-Anne, then Russell Edgington, and now Nan Flanagan. The Authority, a sort of high Vampire council, aren't best pleased with a missing Magister, V being dealt out of Fangtasia (though there's no physical evidence), and Eric's switching of allegiances. Eric warns them that Russell is a danger, but the Authority doesn't want that to be open knowledge and order Eric to sort out the megalomaniac. Unfortunately Russell has other ideas, and pretty much torpedos the Vampire equal rights push with a surprise television appearance. Even for Eric, this may prove to be a bridge too far.

Eric is really coming into his own this season with the Writers adding some sympathy for the devil

Of course Eric isn't the only one with major problems. Hoyt is shackled to the Walt Disney vanilla Summer, Jason is having problems deciphering Crystal's family relationships, Tara is suffering from post-combat trauma, and Sam has real issues with brother Tommy. Guess nothing ever runs a steady course in Bon Temps. With all the conflict and personal issues going down I'm kind of wondering how things are going to get resolved through the final quarter of the season. Seems to be a tad too many plot arcs to successfully close everything out and move to new territory next season.

Of course this wouldn't be True Blood if they weren't already dropping some background for the next season and a bunch of new characters. Holly, the new Merlottes chick, is definitely going to be central next season. A lot of time is being spent on the character for it to go any other way. The Arlene pregnancy situation could turn out to be a whole mess of trouble, Arlene is certainly losing it in a big way as she struggles with what to tell Terry about the parentage. And I got to say the whole Lafayette/Jesus thing is bound to hit troubled waters next season, bliss not being high on the agenda down South apparently. Oh and Nazi Werewolves, not sure if they'll hit season four, but it never gets old!

Director Scott Winant starts his episode with I guess a dream sequence, though you can never pin the tail on the donkey in this show. Bill is in Sookie's ethereal place and runs into the enigmatic Claudine who shows him that she has the same firepower as Sookie. Claudine accuses Bill of wanting to steal Sookie's "light", while Bill is all up in dying to protect Sookie mode. It's about here that Bill learns what Sookie actually is, though we don't which was slightly irritating. It's a nice sequence and Winant hits the right vibe to it, making it otherworldly while still getting the dramatic job done.

Surprisingly in this episode Jason of all people comes through as resourceful and the action dude able to take decisive action. Sure he might have some inside knowledge on the local meth lab scene, but he puts things together quicker than Andy and has a police raid organised. Crystal is dead against this as she continues in her almost schizophrenic stance towards her family. Strangely there's something slight odd, what am I saying this is True Blood! - about the clan with a feeling that we may be dealing with yet another supernatural element. Jason also draws down on Franklin in defence of Tara, and shows he can come prepared when needs be. Nice to see one of the more comedic elements get some decent character development.

Out of room here, and I didn't even get to go chick over the Hoyt-Summer-Jessica thing, or dial into the Sam being pushed over the edge situation. Guess we'll cover those in more detail in the next episode review, unless new developments take precedence. As ever, full recommendation, this franchise never ceases to amaze or surprise.