Episode 7 Recap: The One Where Godric Crashed The Party

So far in season 5 every new episode has been better than the last one, not so this week, with “In the beginning” not at all living up to the previous episode’s high standard. It could be the mid-season lull, or it could be that Brian Buckner is one of the least humorous of the True Blood writers, but whatever the reason this installment most definitely won’t figure in any Trubies future “Top 10”. In fact as you will see below, it left me with a truck load more questions than answers.

We started where we had stopped with the death of Roman and the re-emergence of a full strength Russell Edgington. After having a little bit of fun at everyone else’s expense, and dumping his strongest nemesis in a rather undignified way, Russell allowed himself to be caught, because, as we are all about to discover, shock, horror, it was Salome that did it and Russell has discovered religion (yeah, right) and Lilith will forgive him. Eric and Bill are confined to the cell as they try to work out what the heck is going on (Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson don’t need to concern themselves with potential rivals here). Nora did finally get up off her knees and whilst Salome retains her air of detached calmness Nora really is a fruit and nut case, and when the newly released Eric tells her to go fuck herself, and that’s pretty much where I am with his unworthy sibling right now. Bonus points in this scene for angry Eric, which I unashamedly  always find hot. The Viking has clearly had enough of this shit and when they ask him to join them he calls them all a very bad word.

Following the cross-bow shooting, Sheriff Andy is being interrogated by super-sleuth Kevin. Jesus tits on Christ this has got to be the worst night of his life (and he’s had some pretty bad ones). Kenya wonders if there is something she should know about Sam, believe me Kenya in Bon Temps ignorance really is bliss. Hoyt has hooked up with the local Hate Group and feels more love and acceptance than from any other group in his life. Whatever Hoyt, I’ve got a feeling that you ‘re going to soon start wishing you’d stayed home with your mommie.

Daytime in Bon Temps (lasts too long) and Sheriff Andy goes round to get support and advice from his old boss Bud Dearborne. Why? I don’t mean why he is going to see him, I mean why are we witnessing it? Could Bud have a part to play in the Shifter killings? Was it just a random scene to give another old favorite a share of the all too precious screen time? Could he be the Dragon? What makes them think that we actually care?

In other news, Alcide is busy practicing for the pack-master contest (and it looks like he’ll need plenty of practice as JD and his followers are now back on V, most probably provided by a certain Mr Edgington, who is apparently preparing for war with the humans). He almost gets to make out with his second, Rikki, before Emma’s gravelly-voiced grandma interrupts. Whilst I always find the weres the most unnecessary supernatural creatures of them all, I kind of like the tenuous Rikki, and if she can keep Rambo away from sniffing around Sookie’s door then I’m on her side.  Laffeyette made a visit to Jesus’s evil grandfather and ended up with his mouth sewn up. Why doesn’t Laffy ever drive the Ferrari Eric gave him? Where is this storyline going? And why do we all have to suffer it? At least be thankful for small mercies as Terry and his smoke monster didn’t show up until 48 minutes and 3 seconds in this week.

If Bud Dearborne didn’t make us nostalgic enough then next up is Lettie Mae, she wasn’t sure if Tara would know who she was, but their relationship seems to me to be exactly the same as it was before her daughter joined the ranks of the un-dead. Never mind, Tara has Pam now, a Pam who is begrudgingly becoming more and more attached to her pole dancing progeny. We need to see a lot more of these two in the coming weeks.

Time to check in on our story’s heroine. During her visit to the fae night-club Sookie is informed her powers may not last forever, as she is only half fae. (Half fae? I’m not even going to try to work that one out). After a heart to heart with Sam at the hospital, Sookie decides that she and those she loves would be better off without her fairy powers. On her arrival home she reminisces about the bad times and the interest her fairy-ness has raised in some very undesirable supernaturals – Russell, Maryann, Bill (twice) – but thankfully no Eric. She then commences to get rid of as much fairy light as she can. Meanwhile over at Castle Compton, Jason’s heart to heart with Jessica doesn’t go quite according to plan. He’s going to find out which vampire killed his parents (and I’m not touching that one with a 20ft pole this week). Much ado about nothing ends with Jason shooting Jessica in the head, before he spots his sister’s light beams in the night sky and will no doubt hightail it over there to see what’s going down in the middle of the night at Gran’s house.

Back with the vamps and Salome decides that they will all show their dedication to Lilith by drinking the scared blood. Dieter doesn’t think it’s a great idea, which wasn’t a great idea in front of Russell, and hence everyone else joins the party. Steve Newlin is like a tree in the wind and just happy to be included (catch the approving Russell look?) Eric doesn’t think the blood will have any effect on him, and it’s off we go to the streets of New Orleans and  a final scene that brings a whole new meaning to the term “wedding crashers”. Most of the smiles on my face this week came from Russell and his religious professions, and his entrance into the karaoke party showed that a year and a bit in a concrete tomb hasn’t dampened his flair for showmanship.  And then its chow down time for the vamps, with Bill (who seemed anonymous to me for most of this episode) taking particular relish in the chomp (perhaps sweet, old memories are coming back to him?) and a naked Lilith even arrives to give the whole shenanigans her seal of approval. Was she actually there or was she just a group hallucination? I guess we’ll find out in the coming weeks, although as many have already noted, once Godric had spoken to Eric about the wrongs of what he was doing, he could no longer see her.

I have to admit I was slightly underwhelmed by the ending, and that Godric’s main reason for his surprise visit was so that Eric could save his sister (a character we hardly know and after a promising beginning seems to be more than slightly bonkers) but hey, at least Eric looks to have seen the error of his ways, and we will see in future weeks if he manages to get out of this sticky, bloody mess with his sanity and his sister in tow. Will he have to play the game and pretend he’s one of them? Or will he make a run for it? Will Nora snap out of her frankly very annoying religious fever? How does the Viking manage to look so sexy with gooey blood trickling down his chin? Will they all wake up tomorrow suffering the mother of all fang-overs? Tune in next week to find out……

Well those are my rambling thoughts, let us have yours below.

Screencaps were made by us or Skarsgardfans / Eric gif by inglorious-basterd