With each passing year, True Blood‘s pre-season buzz gets louder and louder thanks, in part, to HBO’s genius marketing schemes. But social media is heavily responsible for spreading those ads and teasers, heightening the anticipation for the vampy soap. June 26th will finally feed the blood lust – and it leaves you both satisfied and craving more.
Personally, I’m a huge True Blood fan. But even with series I love, I tend to be critical, only because I expect more out of them. True Blood suffers from a few chronic weaknesses like convoluted plot lines and extended periods where the main characters never interact with each other. The show is at its best when all paths cross and a solid connection can be made. When I heard that season 4 was dubbed “Season of the Witch,” I got a little scared. New supers are all well and good, as long as the old ones don’t lose any ground. Actually, when you look back on season one and realize the only things we were dealing with were a handful of vampires, one shifter, and a mind-reader, it seems so quaint.
So it was with trepidation that I watched the season 4 premiere, “She’s Not There.” And let me say — so far, so good.
First, let’s look at where we left off. The end of season three wasn’t so much about cliffhangers as it was about new predicaments. Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is confronted with new-found visions while learning his boyfriend Jesus (Kevin Alejandro) is a witch; Tara (Rutina Wesley) copes with her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by cutting off her hair and seriously contemplating her future; Hoyt (Jim Parrack) presents Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) with a place of their own; Sam (Sam Trammell) and Tommy’s (Marshall Allman) unsteady relationship seems to hit rock bottom; And after Bill (Stephen Moyer) throws Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) into a pit of wet cement near King Russell (Denis O’Hare), Eric not only escapes but hits back by revealing Bill’s original intentions to Sookie (Anna Paquin), which she did not take kindly to, eventually finding herself disappearing into the Land of the Fae. Whew.
So where does that leave us? (If you haven’t already watched the first eight minutes, beware of spoilers. Other than that, there’s not too much to worry about.)
There’s what we already know from the sneak preview: Faerie World is not all it’s cracked up to be. And Sookie’s Granddad is shocked at just how much time has gone by since he’s been there. While this opening scene is crazy in a “this feels like a totally different series” kind of way, its necessary to give the rest of the episode a jarring effect, as we the viewers find ourselves in the same position as Sookie.
The first half of the episode flies by. As we learn along with Sookie what the folks in Bon Temps have been up to since we saw them last, I was on the edge of my seat eagerly anticipating the next familiar character to show up. There were so many questions that needed to be answered. Amazingly, the episode does a great job at answering most of those questions… while adding about a hundred more. This is a brilliant ploy, by the way. It drops you in the middle of the action, allowing you to deduce what’s happened already instead of bogging you down with bland exposition.
True Blood is known for making social commentary through the use of supernaturals and the humans around them, and judging from two interesting scenes with Eric and Bill simultaneously playing a camera and a crowd, respectively, I’m hopeful this season goes a little further with politics and the media.
The episode slowed a little in the second half. But the double reveal (and I’m not talking nudity, though there’s some of that, too) in the last few minutes is beautifully done. And it sets the scene for what we can expect for the rest of the season from Bill and Eric.
We don’t see every character in this first episode, but I’m sure they’ll be around soon enough. But there are several references to past characters, which is rare in television. It’s great to see a show that doesn’t forget its past. And yes, there are witches. We meet Marnie and the rest of her coven though the extent of their power hasn’t been fully utilized here. It’s safe to assume, from the trailers and previews, that we’re in for a whole lot more witchery.
Overall, I’m excited about where everybody stands right now. It sets up the season by rearranging the chess pieces while our eyes were closed. The game has suddenly become much more interesting.
The Season 4 premiere of True Blood will air on HBO on Sunday, June 26th at 9pm.
Follow Us
love watching trueblood.would love to see more.
Wow I am so eager to watch True Blood Season 4 Episode 1 after reading this review.
i'm a huge True Blood fan and season 4 sounds awesome. can't wait to watch it. :)
Can any one tell me when the boxset comes out
For season 4? We're probably a little less than a year away. Season 3 came out on DVD recently.
personally i would have liked to see the storyline stick to the books a little more…theres exciting stuff that comes up in the books with sophie and im disappointed that she wont be in it…at least im assuming shes dead
I watched the first two episodes on HBO to GO and am pleased that even more loose threads were cleared up in the second episode. More background info on Bill and how he got to be where he is, what happened to Sophie Anne, more Nan and her role in vampire life, and the Eric/Sookie setup that we all know and love from the fourth book. Fiona Shaw is amazing. Alan Ball has sucked me back into True Blood again!
So far season 4 is a real disappointment. What is up with Tara being a lesbian now? Competing with the Real L word? What's up with the disrespect to Martial Arts? No black belt would announce their rank in the street to another person and then act all tough only phony wannabes do that. Then Eric forgot Sookie and called her Snookie…shouting out to Jersey Shore? Seems like there is more underlying marketing here than actual writing. The writers should really go back to the books and stop with all of the bullsh*t. The last episode just had Sookie reading Charlaine Harris' book…wtf? They couldn't come up with something better…that was such a tacky marketing move. It seems like the writers got tired or maybe hired an ex advertising executive to join the team. i don't know what the deal is but I hope it gets better. Season one and three seemed so authentic and real, this season just seems…corny.
I completely agree, 100% with Lily.
I think the real True Blood "left" mid-way through season 2. Now there are fairies, witches, werewolves, panthers, blah blah blah. There is no more social commentary and there is just a shock value.
I used to love some of the characters but with each passing episode, I realized I don't even care if all of the characters were to die. The only reason I'm even watching this show is because I started it and I may as well finish it.
Frankly, True Blood has turned into an overproduced and overpriced, horribly written soap opera. It's like a cable show that shows boobs.
In short, thanks to all the new fans, the director has bent over backwards in order to cater to them, letting the show go to ****. I truly am sad.
I agree with Lily here, however, what WorstShow said bugs me, "I think the real True Blood “left” mid-way through season 2. Now there are fairies, witches, werewolves, panthers, blah blah blah. There is no more social commentary and there is just a shock value."
In Charlaine Harris' books there were faires, witches, weres, and other mystical and mythological creatures. Its not that the real True Blood left, its just getting bogged down with what the writers think is their own creative twists and takes on things, which sometimes can be REALLY irritating.
Every time True Blood deviates from the books slightly I repeat what Charlaine Harris said in an interview once, "The show needs to take a life of its own because Sookie wouldn't be able to carry the entire series on her own, other characters would need to become more developed."
Despite that, whenever the TV series deviates majorly from the plot line, or I see several separate book plots condensed into a few episodes I piece of my soul weeps…
sad this show has gone so down hill for so many reasons. miss russell. get rid of eric/sookie/tara. start w/some fresh blood. edge is gone and character alterations are just too simple and lazy.
Bobby I totally agree with you and I'm a girl.
Season 4 sucks.
New season SUCKS. I only watch it cause there is nothing else on. Never watch the reruns now, not worth it!!!!!!!!
I agree with most of the comments here. I am totally disappointed with True Blood Season 4 and I was (am still am) a True Fan from the beginning. It definitely started to get crazy in Season 3 with the whole marianne, gratuitous cult sex thing. Now it's Marnie. I hate that Sookie and Eric got together and I don't care if she is in love with both Bill and Eric. And now Alcide is sniffing around her? She is not hot enough to have that many hot men sniffing around her. Fairy or no Fairy. Did Alan bal take a hiatus from writing or at least overseeing? Is he even still involved?
Watch Watch True Blood Season 4, Episode 12 – And When I Die Season Finale Full
Video In Mega Video Working Link 100%
Here———–>> http://tinyurl.com/3nals2k