Spellbound was a good episode, in my opinion. It boiled down to several main themes which were, the witches against the vampires, the love triangle between Jessica, Hoyt and Jason, Eric and Sookie’s love, and the other shifters and humans. I was “spellbound” during the entire episode and the hour went by very quickly and only a few times did I look at the clock wanting to go to the next scene, so while it was over all good; I felt that there were some weak moments which you will read below.
Here’s my random thoughts about this episode.
Love Triangle – Jessica, Hoyt and Jason
The episode opened with Jason saving Jessica from walking into the sun. And, when the spell ended just as Jessica was going to bite Jason, it was touching to see her kiss him instead and he kiss her back.
I’m glad that the death of Bucky won’t be reported by Jason, and that Bill has agreed not to mention Jason having shot one of the guards outside.
I keep forgetting about the time lapse between seasons 3 and 4, and have to always remind myself that Jessica and Hoyt have now lived together for a year. Because of this, it seems about right for their relationship to fall into some trouble now.
The two scenes tonight between them blew my mind. They were both exceptionally good in their portrayals, especially Jim Parrack. Like I said about Sam Trammell a couple of weeks ago, tonight I say that Jim Parrack really showed his depth as an actor in both scenes. In the first “dream scene” with Jessica he was the Hoyt we expect him to be, mild mannered and all blubbery and sad and almost suicidal at the idea of Jessica leaving him. But, then in the next scene, which was real, he showed how powerful Hoyt can be when he is hurt and angry. Deborah Ann Woll and he together were magical.
I was shocked that Jessica killed Hoyt in the first scene until I realized it was a dream and by the way Jason was behaving it became very clear. Glad for that.
I feel bad for Jessica because even Jason now has spurned her. While I love Hoyt and Jessica together, I hope that Jessica finds someone she can love, and if that’s Jason, I’m OK with it. However, it would mean the end of Hoyt’s and Jason’s friendship, and that would be horrible.
I’m also worried that this breakup might turn Hoyt into a vampire hater. Jason did that in Season 2, and who knows, now maybe it’s Hoyt’s turn.
Eric and Sookie’s Love
Please, all Eric fans, don’t kill this messenger, but for me, tonight’s love scenes were just way to saccharine. There were a few tender moments when Eric and Sookie exchanged their blood and got into the shower together, but after that it was a sugar coated, syrupy in the bed with the snow falling, mess. I’m sorry, but it just ruined what could have been a very exciting and wonderful moment for all Eric and Sookie lovers, but instead, they got a “Hallmark moment” instead. I know that the couple was supposed to be sort of on a “V” trip, but come on, the Eric fans have waited for four years for a good scene between them, and this just wasn’t it. Jason and Amy’s trip in Season 1 was more acceptable since they were together because of the “V”, but supposedly Eric and Sookie are together because they have this great love, and these scenes didn’t prove that to me at all.
And, now that Eric is possessed by Antonia, as was Luis, I doubt he will even remember his love for poor Sookie if she lives, so who knows if their relationship will even continue.
Shifters and Humans
Tommy and Maxine - As we know, Tommy is a skin walker now because he killed his parents. He is still up to no good as he shifts into Maxine in tonight’s episode in order to steal her home from her to sell the gas rights. Dale Raoul really deserves praise for playing Tommy as Maxine so well. It was funny to see her place her order at Merlotte’s and bargain with the salesman. Oh, and Tommy was hysterical dressed in Maxine’s clothes as he shifted back into himself.
Marcus and Sam and Luna - I am starting to like Marcus a lot because he seems to be a good pack leader. However, I still don’t trust him because I suspect he is up to no good with Debbie behind Alcide’s back. I am also liking the Sam and Luna relationship better now; it’s growing on me. I am hopeful that some good will come from this story line which Sam so deserves. However, Marcus seems to be a bit jealous of their interest in each other.
Alcide and Debbie – I rarely feel for Debbie, but I sure felt for her tonight. Right after Alcide promised her he wouldn’t see Sookie, what does he do but go knocking on Sookie’s door? However, it was for a good reason since obviously, somebody had to grab Sookie and bring her to safety after the witch/vampire fight. Poor Debbie, she saw it all. If Sookie survives, I fear for her even more with Debbie after her butt.
Since Marcus told the pack to stay out of the vampire trouble, I also worry that Alcide will be in real trouble with him.
Lafayette and the lady Spirit – Although not that long a sequence, we got to see Nelsan Ellis stretch the already colorful Lavayette in this episode. We now know that the woman spirit from the past is looking for her dead child and she has decided that Mikey is that child since he has the doll that she bought for her boy. She has discovered that Lafayette is a medium and so inhabits his body. Once possessed, Lafayette then goes to the Bellefleur’s (where Arlene and Terry are temporarily staying) and passes by sleeping Andy Bellefleur, taking his gun and then upstairs to steal the baby. Nelsan Ellis has always been, and remains, awesome in his part of Lafayette. If it is possible, Nelsan took Lafayette even further by becoming even more feminine now that he is inhabited by the spirit. Nelsan truly had the mannerisms of that woman and did a wonderful job.
Andy Bellefleur - Andy was so funny with Jason tonight when he was lusting after Beulah’s remains. Andy is a kind of tragic figure in True Blood as he has never found real happiness. However, tonight he had a great line, and probably my favorite in the episode, when he said, “Jesus, tits, and God America!” to Jason. He is a troubled soul and I sure hope he gets some help soon.
Witches vs. Vampires
Once again, I am a real lover of the vampires, so this review is very biased in their favor, sorry mortals.
We come in on the vampire story at the crime scene where Maxine’s neighbor Beulah died meeting the sun. King Bill shows up as Maxine is being interviewed by the press and wants to make a statement. The newscaster says she doesn’t know if she can do that, but Bill glamours her into to allowing him to do so. Bill Compton is good at glamouring, wow, great job. Dale Raoul, as Maxine Fortenberry was awesome in this scene as she looked on in surprise.
Bill calls Antonia and Tara answers the phone. Tara is now fully committed to killing the vampires and has fully joined Antonia in her pursuit. Bill asks to meet Antonia alone in the graveyard at midnight and she agrees. However, when they meet, each are not alone. Neither one has trusted the other and they each have brought a small army with them making it pretty apparent that peace is not on anyone’s mind. I do believe that Bill wanted peace, but he certainly decided that he had be prepared for anything.
Bill still attempts to forge an agreement with Antonia when Sookie realizes that Antonia is casting a spell and the fight begins. Eric attacks one of the humans, killing them and the real struggle then breaks out and Sookie gets shot. Antonia has overpowered Eric and has obviously cast the same spell on him that she did with Luis and it’s clear that he is now in her power. Pam is about ready to kill Tara when Bill interrupts her and tells her she may not kill Tara or he will personally see she meets the true death. Tara asks him why he spared her, and he replies, “you know why.” We next see Bill being silvered and Sookie lying on the ground Alcide comes up and picks up Sookie, taking her to safety, but not before we see Debbie shift back from a werewolf and see it all.
While I feel for Antonia’s and Tara’s hardships, I’m not convinced that their on the right path. As Sookie says, “I’m willing to die if it means keeping an entire group of people I know and love from being eradicated, in the name of hate.” I agree hate rarely solves anything.
Of course the episode ended with the cliffhanger of whether Sookie will live or die. From the promo for next week, we know that Bill will attempt to give Sookie his blood, but it doesn’t look like its working.
I’m very excited to see how things play out next week, aren’t you? Please leave us your comments about this episode below, we want to know your thoughts.
