This week’s episode 4.10 of True Blood called “Burning Down The House” was really fast paced and it’s all FINALLY STARTING TO MAKE SENSE. Eric is back to himself, Jessica can’t wait to kill somebody, Bill tells Nan where to go and Pam is back to her gorgeous sarcastic self. There were five clear themes in this episode, Marnie Rules Antonia, Terry bonds with Andy – Jason bonds with Hoyt, Tommy dies the true death, Sookie can’t make up her mind, and the Vampires unite.
The image of the four vampires with guns at the end of the episode, just blew my breath away. Four gorgeous vamps in black, Wow! All this waiting finally seems to be paying off. I know I’ve said this before, but for me, the most important part of True Blood is the vampires and this has been the BEST EPISODE YET and I’d lay money that the next two are going to even top this one.
Marnie Rules Antonia
Tara, Holly and the rest are still being held captive when Antonia and Roy return to the Goddess Emporium with the two remaining vampires. The others really see how insanely committed Marnia/Antonia is to her effort. The vampire Blackburn died in the fight at the Rally (which I was sorry to see), but the two remaining vampires are completely controlled by Marnie/Antonia. Eric, thank God, is free from her spell (thanks to Sookie, more on that below) and now remembers everything.
When Marnie/Antonia is alone, Antonia leaves Marnie’s body and they discuss what is happening. At first Antonia is against what Marnie is doing saying that she didn’t want to hurt people saying that she only turned to necromancy to save her village and save lives. But, Marnie convinces her that they are a union and she can rid the world of vampires, and needs her help to do it. Antonia agrees and once again inhabits Marnie’s body and they are one. Marnie/Antonia are committed to end the world of vampires and anyone who collaborates with them.
Bill has vowed to burn down the shop that night to once and for all get rid of the witches. Jesus along with Lafayette, Jason and Sookie go to the Emporium to see if they can free Tara before the vampires start the war. Jesus doesn’t know that Marnie is the instigator and he says he can get to Marnie so he tries to go inside the shop. Marnie/Antonia meets him outside and tells him he must break her force field to be permitted to come in. He is fearful, but manages to get through the fire and impresses Marnie/Antonia by his powers. Once inside, he and Marnia/Antonia talk and he asks Antonia to let him speak to Marnie only. When speaking to Marnie he learns that she is really the one running the show, not Antonia and he telepathically sends this message to Sookie. Tara and Holly have been trying to figure out a spell to free everyone and just as they do, they run out and Sookie and Lafayette run to them, but Marnie/Antonia manages to reinstate her spell and they all then get trapped and disappear inside. Jason is left alone in the street.
Terry bonds with Andy and Jason bonds with Hoyt
Terry confronts Andy about his drug addiction and decides to take him to Fort Bellefleur, which is a tree house that they both used to play in as boys. Also, when Terry was just back from the war he lived there for a while. Terry confronts Andy about his addiction and the fight and argue and then Terry takes out his guns and says they are going to try to shoot tin cans. Andy can’t hit one and they argue about who had the worst childhood and then start to fight and, of course make up. In the end, Andy realizes that he has to try to give up his addiction and promises to not take any more V. Terry leaves him to walk home saying, “Take your first steps as a free man tonight by walking all the way home.” The scenes between Terry and Andy tonight were beautifully acted and I have to say I was really impressed with both the writing and the actors. It was nice to see a scene like this in True Blood. Let’s just hope it works for poor Andy.
Hoyt is looking for some understanding from his best friend, but poor Jason is full of guilt over having had sex with Jessica. Hoyt says he doesn’t want Jessica back, but it’s pretty clear that he is torn apart about their split when he begins to cry while he and Jason are sitting in Jason’s living room. Jason flees to Sookie’s house hoping he can stay the night, but Sookie has other plans for Jason and asks him to help her save Tara.
Tommy Dies the True Death changing all for Sam, Alcide, Debbie and Marcus
This is the first time I truly felt for poor Tommy. Turning into Sam the way he did and going to Marcus was certainly an attempt to do Sam a favor and was also a death wish on his part. While I never liked him as a character, I think Marshall Allman did a great job and Tommy exonerated himself for me in the end. Sam truly showed his love for his brother in their scenes together and it was quite touching.
Sam vows to kill Marcus and it’s clear that Alcide is done with Marcus and his pack too because he goes to the motorcycle shop to find him with Sam. When they get there, one of Marcus’ pack werewolves is there alone and Alcide reveals to Sam that he was one of those who beat up Tommy. They beat him up together.
Meanwhile, Debbie is having a heart to heart with our pal Marcus. I knew these two would get together and I predict that this will be a story line for season 5. Marcus is an interesting character and Daniel Buran is doing a great job playing him. The character of Debbie on the other hand is a real doufus and as spineless as they come, as we saw last week when she was willing to turn in Sookie to get away from Marnie.
The Sookie Triangle
When Eric is under Marnie/Antonia’s spell he tries to kill Bill and at the beginning of the episode, we see this. Sookie has enough and uses here magic fingers to zap Eric which also manages to take the spell off of him. We see him recollect his entire past, including his “Emo Eric” period and he stops. After the vampires and Sookie return to Bill’s mansion, Eric and Sookie talk and Sookie tell’s Eric that although she loves him, she realized at the moment he was ready to kill Bill that she did not want to see a world without Bill in it. Eric expresses his love to Sookie and wants her, but Sookie isn’t so sure anymore although she admits that she still loves him. In fact, just like in her dream from the last episode, she says she loves them both.
Sookie sure has a pretty incredible predicament with both gorgeous vampires wanting her, and I have to say that I don’t know if I understand why she is so torn. This should be interesting to see what happens with this triangle in future and if there is any resolution this season. I tend to doubt it though.
The Vampires Unite
Bill had warned Nan that holding the event at the Dorchester was very risky and he now blames her for what happened. She starts yelling at him and he gives as good as he gets telling her that it’s all her fault and that he is going to report it to The Authority. He then tells her that he plans to blow up the Goddess Emporium and when he says so, Sookie hears him and immediately warns him that Tara is one of the prisoners and if he blows it up he will kill her, too. Bill is all about vampire business and tells Sookie that he can’t stop this just for her friend. Sookie begs to help, but he says no because she was almost killed the last time she helped them. Eric now, in his normal state agrees with Bill and Pam does, too. All the vampires go to ground together in silver chains to rest up for the upcoming battle and before they all sleep, Nan and Bill continue their bickering. Both Pam and Eric support Bill and Nan says that she will see to it that they all die, but not before Pam calls her an “incompetent bitch.”
The episode ends when it’s dark and the vampires arrive in front of the Goddess Emporium ready for battle (and all looking mighty fine) with incredibly big guns.
