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It’s Too Late to Say You’re Sorry: “True Blood” S4:E1, “She’s Not There”

By Sarah Carlson | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (29)

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(Note: Episode 2 of “True Blood” Season Four is now live on HBO GO, but it won’t be recapped here until next Monday.)

“It’s a post-Russell Edgington world,” to be sure, as the American Vampire League’s Nan Flanagan (Jessica Tuck) told us in “True Blood’s” Season Four premiere. But did Edgington take all the fun to his concrete grave in the Season Three finale? Judging from previews of this season, I think not, but Sunday’s episode, “She’s Not There,” was more focused on tricks than treats. Alan Ball and Co. must have been in the mood for a gamble: They jumped in time a year. This device has been deployed plenty on TV, to both great and detrimental ends (“Battlestar Galactica” may have done it best in recent fare). It’s a big risk for “True Blood” because the time from of its first three seasons has only been a few months, with each season picking up exactly where the other left off. Only one episode into Season Four, it’s tough to tell if “True Blood” made a smart or a cheap choice by having telepathic heroine Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) visit Fairyland with her godmother, Claudine (Lara Pulver), for what seemed to her a few minutes but in actuality was a year. But now we’re just as out of the loop on the goings-on of Bon Temps as she is. It’s both intriguing and frustrating, and at least for this season’s opener, not quite as fun. Because in this world, everyone is a bit darker, a bit colder, and none of us has our bearings.

Sookie wasn’t fooled into eating “light fruit” along with the other humans present during her brief trip to Fairyland, and seeing her grandfather, Earl Stackhouse (Gary Cole), dead 20 years, present furthered her suspicions. Being part fae herself, Sookie has brought on a world of trouble to the fairies through her run-ins with vampires, who crave fairy blood and its ability to let them walk in the sun. Vampire Bill’s (Stephen Moyer) visit set them off, and soon Sookie realizes the fruit is being used as a sort of reaping to disable humans with fae blood from leaving Fairyland. The fae don’t want any more vamps or humans knowing about them, and this includes Barry the bellboy (Chris Coy) from Season Two. Sookie and Earl escape, though not before the fairies let down their beautiful facades and resemble a cross between Orcs and Anjelica Huston a la “The Witches” and provide a chase scene straight out of B-movie heaven.

Because he ate the fruit, Earl dies again back in Bon Temps, and Sookie is alone. And from that point, the hits just keep on coming as she learns what happened during the past 12 1/2 months. To move the plot along, “She’s Not There” has to catch viewers up instead of flesh stories out, whether it’s by showing Arlene (Carrie Preston) had her potentially-evil child, Mikey, or that Tara (Rutina Wesley) is now living in New Orleans and … working as an ultimate fighter? Sookie herself kind of gets the shaft.

Because everyone is in a different place from where we left them, here’s a brief rundown of how things stand:

  • Sookie’s brother, Jason (Ryan Kwanten), is a sheriff now and had put the family house (now painted and revamped) on the market, assuming Sookie was dead. He seems almost good at his job, too, while Detective Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) has become addicted to V (vampire blood).

  • Both Bill and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) felt Sookie’s presence when she returned, but Eric claimed he was the only one who believed she wasn’t dead. In fact, he revealed at the end of the episode that he was the mysterious buyer of the house, meaning he can come and go as he likes and tells her at the end of the episode that she, too, is his. Bill seemed happy to see her but has also moved on, though he covered for Sookie with Andy and said he had sent her on “secret vampire business” for the past year. That vampire business excuse is a flimsy one, considering the worry her loved ones went through, but it can’t be helped.

  • Tara is now going by Tony, has created a backstory that includes having a family in Atlanta and now, most interestingly, likes the ladies. She’s dating the woman, Naomi (Vedette Lim), we see her fighting with in New Orleans, and though she probably has decided never to go back home, a text from her cousin, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), about Sookie’s return may change her mind.

  • Lafayette is still dating Jesus (Kevin Alejandro), who convinces him to visit the Moon Goddess Emporium for a Wiccan meeting to explore their magical sides. There, we meet Marnie (Fiona Shaw), a mild-mannered witch who has her mind set on bring the dead back to life, starting with her pet bird. This surprises everyone gathered for a little Wiccan fun, including Merlotte’s waitress Holly Cleary (Lauren Bowles) and a woman named Katerina, or Katie (Alexandra Breckinridge).

  • Sam Merlotte did in fact shoot his brother, Tommy Mickens (Marshall Allman), in the Season Three finale for stealing his money, and now Tommy, with a leg still injured, is dining with Maxine Fortenberry (Dale Raoul) at Merlotte’s. No doubt Maxine is using him as a replacement for her son, Hoyt (Jim Parrack), who she has given up on thanks to his love for the vampire Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). Those two are still living together, although their domestic bliss comes straight out of a Franzen novel. They love each other, but it’s obvious that the arrangement can’t be enough for the young Jessica, a fact Pam (Kristin Bauer) calls her on when they visit Fangtasia.

  • Sam tells Tommy he is taking anger management classes, although the meeting we see him attend is a gathering of three other shapeshifters who drink together, commiserate together, and then turn into horses and go running together. This is not the sweet Sam we met in Season One (or fans of the books know and love).

  • Jason appears to be the only one who has improved for the better, and he still is taking care of the poor residents of Hotshot. Although now, his beloved Crystal Norris (Lindsay Pulsipher) is nowhere to be found. His generosity for bringing groceries to the compound gets him locked in a cooler at the end, though, but someone unseen.

  • The aforementioned Katie, from the coven, apparently is a vampire spy. Once she saw Marnie’s goal of bringing the dead back to life, she went to alert the vampire king — Bill. I’m assuming he defeated the queen, Sophie-Anne (Evan Rachel Wood), in last season’s finale, and Bill turned politician makes some sense. But that twist may have been the most shocking of the premiere. (Side note: Was he giving romantic looks to the pretty lawyer and Andy’s sister, Portia Bellefleur (Courtney Ford)? Because technically, she is his descendent. Let’s hope not.)

    • “Everyone who claims to love you, they all gave up on you. I. Never. Did.” That’s how Eric welcomed Sookie back to the land of the living, a rude awakening for a woman who, in her time frame, had just had her heart broken about an hour previously by Bill. While all are surprised to find she’s returned, none really deliver the kind of breakdown the situation deserves. They’ve mostly moved on. Sookie seems as alone as ever now, but she’s grown stronger during her supernatural shenanigans. She’s handling the I-missed-a-year-of-my-life discovery rather well, and viewers don’t have much option but to also take it in stride. “She’s Not There” was a reintroduction both for her and viewers on the Bon Temps world — engaging, but not thrilling. Just a necessary study session for a season that promises more twists. Here’s hoping they pay off.

    Sarah Carlson has a front-row seat to the decline of the newspaper industry and lives in Alabama with her overly excitable Pembroke Welsh Corgi.









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    Comments

    If next week doesn't open up with a hot naked nordic man this show is dead to me.

    Posted by: hoover19 at June 27, 2011 12:09 PM

    "If next week doesn't open up with a hot naked nordic man this show is dead to me."
    Hoover19, you nailed it. I'll take a naked Jason if I HAVE too, though.
    Plus last night was boooorrrring.

    Posted by: jp at June 27, 2011 12:16 PM

    I actually liked the skip forward in time -- allows the characters to spread out a bit, unlike the previous seasons where one tragedy after another piles on in a short span of time. I am particularly happy to see Tara less victimized, though I miss her interactions with Sookie in S1.

    So glad True Blood is back -- waiting to see how this season goes, as book 4 is my favorite!

    Posted by: Siege at June 27, 2011 12:35 PM

    Just to appease everyone... naked Sookie and naked Eric!!

    The Sookie part would certainly appease me :)

    Posted by: OldRod at June 27, 2011 12:37 PM

    So, let me get this straight. In a universe where vampires and werewolves, not to mention maenids exist, the idea that another plane where time works differently is just too radical? Perhaps for widespread consumption, but at least tell Andy, if only to get him off your back.

    Posted by: Mrcreosote at June 27, 2011 12:48 PM

    Jason has apparently spent the last year and change visiting a lot of gun shows...

    I mean, damn, boy.

    Posted by: Jerry at June 27, 2011 12:53 PM

    I haven't seen this yet, but I have to know: when Sookie came back did she get her job back at Merlottes? And Jason is sheriff? I'm thinking we could solve the unemployment crisis by sending a lot of people to Bon Temps where they seem to have a difficult time finding qualified and dedicated people for the jobs that are available.

    Posted by: PaddyDog at June 27, 2011 1:03 PM

    It was a necessary episode to set up all the different situations. But yeah it was a bit boring by TB standards. The time travel is consistent with faerie lore so you cant complain about it. All in all it was ok and the ride ahead looks fun.

    Posted by: logan at June 27, 2011 1:18 PM

    I REALLY hope there is something of book 4 in this season. You stray too far from the actual plot of the books and you are going to lose a LOT of viewers. So yes, there better be some naked Eric STAT!

    Posted by: MRod at June 27, 2011 1:29 PM

    Naked ERIC! Naked ERIC! Naked ERIC! Naked ERIC!

    Cripes this isn't Chippendales night at the Back Door Bar & Grill. Why dont you women objectify the poor man a little more?

    Posted by: logan at June 27, 2011 1:36 PM

    Well... technically the 4th book opens with Sookie finding Eric... naked. Naked walking down her street.

    Posted by: MRod at June 27, 2011 1:51 PM

    The Sookie-finding-Eric-walking-down-the-street scene showed up in one of the previews. Forgive me, but I didn't notice if he was naked.

    Andy was still driving the sheriff car, wasn't he?

    I like the flash forward. Giving these characters a little distance and progress makes them more interesting.

    Posted by: DarthCorleone at June 27, 2011 1:59 PM

    I watched the second episode RIGHT after the premiere, and I'll try not to spoil anything.

    But the second episode is far better. I really wish that the premiere and the second episode was combined in some way. If it was, it would have been fantastic. That's all I'm gonna say.

    Posted by: Candee at June 27, 2011 2:02 PM

    And one more thing, when Sookie finds Eric walking around in the book, he is not naked.

    *Book Spoilers/potential Spoilers*

    He's in jeans with no shirt, and then when she takes him home she catches him taking off his pants and he's wearing bright red, skimpy underwear. It may have been a thong. Seriously.

    Posted by: Candee at June 27, 2011 2:07 PM

    I thought it was the worst episode of a show that only really has about 3 good ones person. Just terrible. Ultimate Lesbian Fighting? Why can't they just all watch Ultimate Surrender over at Kink? Were-Horses? Really?

    I have watched Ep2. It is slightly better. A great deal of female nudity evens things out a bit.

    Posted by: Sean at June 27, 2011 2:24 PM

    they're not WERE-horses. They dont turn into horses on the full moon and attack carrot patches.

    They are shifters they can change into ANY animal and still have human intelligence.

    Posted by: logan at June 27, 2011 2:29 PM

    I cannot believe I am saying this: I think I am over True Blood. The first season was BANGING hot but things have just gone way wrong. The actor playing eric looks like Big Bird and he's this one-note dicso-pimp-looking smarmbag. Honestly, I loathed the books, so I am thrilled when they do not follow them. But last night's mayhem was just boring. I looked at my watch more than once, and I got up to get the phone. That's a baaaad sign.

    Posted by: klingonfree at June 27, 2011 2:37 PM

    Oh, Lafayette, you smokin' hot, you. I want more of him, and less of everyone else. Except Terry, of course, Terry is awesome. And Andy.

    "You owe me a plaque!"

    Posted by: Lauren at June 27, 2011 2:47 PM

    I thought the episode was fine. I found the time lapse kind of refreshing. It will make the twenty subplots that Alan Ball likes to throw into each season a bit more interesting. Force the writers to make an attempt at character development and whatnot.

    I'm not just seeing things, right? Ryan Kwanten's been hitting the gym, big time. He was always in great shape, but I don't remember his arms being that huge. Gun show, indeed.

    I want audio of Skarsgard making that low, appreciable groan in the back of his throat. When he did that at the end of the episode, my eyes rolled into the back of my head. It should be illegal to be that hot.

    Posted by: Kala at June 27, 2011 3:01 PM

    And that should be "appreciative." Fucking goddamn margaritas.

    Posted by: Kala at June 27, 2011 3:02 PM

    >>>A great deal of female nudity evens things out a bit.

    Awesome! *runs off to HBO Go to watch*

    Posted by: OldRod at June 27, 2011 4:12 PM

    I thought the episode sucked. The opening with the fairies especially was horrible -- what happened was ridiculous in its own right, but those seriously were some of the worst special effects I've ever seen on such a high-profile television series.

    Best part was Pam, I think. The witches stuff was fine, too.

    Posted by: Thijs at June 27, 2011 5:00 PM

    I want audio of Skarsgard making that low, appreciable groan in the back of his throat. When he did that at the end of the episode, my eyes rolled into the back of my head. It should be illegal to be that hot.

    Posted by: Kala at June 27, 2011 3:01 PM

    Thank you Kala. My head just cocked to the side and I remembered how one tiny thing could be so sexy.
    Yum!

    Posted by: daria at June 27, 2011 8:44 PM

    Oh, Kala. How right you are. It's very difficult to be completely appreciative, however, when one is watching the show with one's husband and one's son. Three cheers for On Demand!

    Posted by: Az at June 27, 2011 10:52 PM

    I completley avoided seanson 3. The only reason I knew about what was going on was by coming here and reading the recaps. I decided to rejoin in the 4th season on a whim last night and I have no regrets.

    I think the time jump was a refreshing thing to do and a good way for Sookie to hurry up and jump into bed with Eric. It's what we're all waiting on. They need to hurry up and make that happen. Two years is a long time to wait

    Posted by: Candy at June 28, 2011 12:03 AM

    "Text a motherfucker" is going to be my new text alert. When I'm on vacation, anyway.

    My hope for this season is that Alcide actually grew a spine in the 13 months Sookie was gone, but I'm not holding my breath.

    Pam remains the bright spot in the series. I like my monsters unapologetically monstrous, and she fits the bill just fine.

    Also, Aunt Petunia should not be allowed to do magic. It cannot end well.

    Posted by: Reba at June 28, 2011 12:23 AM

    And my wish was granted. More Pam. In smoking hot black.
    Hopefully the one year Sookie blackout won't be used to backfill personal stories at the expense of moving along the main plotline. Is there a main plotline? Enquiring minds want to know.
    Overheard at Chez Dorque: "Wait, Bill's the King? WTF is that about?"
    "Fan Pandering".
    "Gotcha".
    We work well together.

    Posted by: dorquemada at June 28, 2011 11:49 AM

    Reba - Aunt Petunia! Thank you! That's who that is.

    Posted by: Tits McGee at June 29, 2011 12:18 AM

    Thank GOD Jason finally got his shit together! Now, if only Crystal NEVER COMES BACK EVER...oh.

    Posted by: keikoreo at July 1, 2011 12:30 AM