True Blood Alan Ball on Season 3 (HBO) HD

June 20, 2010
'True Blood' blog: Episode 26, 'Beautifully Broken'

“Excuse me, gentlemen. I need to drain the second course. Carlo, bring me that Thai boy!" – Talbot

All hail the King? I think we’re supposed to. Well, Bill’s supposed to.

Just one of several new characters introduced this episode, Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi, is a dashing fellow. There's horseback riding. Ascots. Southern manners. And a cadre of werewolfs doing his bidding, which apparently meant kidnapping Bill.

Bill has been fighting off a pack of wolves, even doing a Tyson-feasting-on-Holyfield number on one. It’s bloody and disgusting.

Until we learn the Vampire King’s head wolf is named Cooter. Now I’ll no longer be scared of wolves I suspect may be of the “were” variety.

What does the King want with Bill? Over the course of a dinner, we learn the King is also hungry for power. He wants to use Bill as a pawn to consolidate power – and take over the lands of Queen Sophie-Anne.

He’s a Karl Rove figure – smooth-talking, dangerously powerful, a mover-and-shaker. And has a boyfriend who drains a Thai boy for the second course. We kid, Karl. You're no longer dangerously powerful.

Speaking of the boyfriend – Talbot is fun! He’s got a penchant for decorating and cooking (a gay stereotype that apparently carries over into the vampire world). I love when “True Blood” gets specific about the vampire world, and the dinner was chock-full of delicious vampire-living. Talbot serves “Chilled vampire blood – cruelty free” and “warm-blood bisque infused with petals.”

Dinner looks good – though his guest-room decorating choices are suspect. A sterling silver door for a vampire? Not so inviting.

The dinner quickly continued the vampire politics storyline introduced in the Season 3 premiere. Bill is a promising vampire – think a young Barack Obama or Scott Brown of Bon Temps. The King wants him and the King wants Sophie-Anne or, more likely, Louisiana. Werewolves will help.

“I think I’m going to have to bring in the girl,” the Vampire King says after Bill proves unyielding.

That undoubtedly means Sookie.

Mythology also deepening: werewolves. Specifically, Nazi werewolves. Really? Didn’t think the Third Reich could get scarier.

Sookie, understandably, appears unphased by the discovery that werewolves exist. She’s curious though, so she goes to Eric, who denies he knows anything of the Operation Werewolf gang. Liar!

We’re then treated to another awesome “True Blood” flashback to Augsburg, Germany. 1945. Godric (!) and Eric, in Nazi SS uniforms, corner a werewolf. She craves Eric’s blood (we later learn werewolves thrive on the stuff) and when Eric threatens to kill her, she claims that “they’re on the same side.”

But she has three short line marks on her arm, not the design of Operation Werewolf, so Eric says they aren’t their friends. And she later is killed by Godric.

It’s apparent that these werewolf folks are complicated. Some are good. Some are bad. I’m sure we'll get all the answers at some point. What’s also questionable is that werewolf at the end of the episode about to attack Eric and Sookie. Not very nice perhaps? Oh could be be the werewolf sent to protect Sookie, Alcide (who'll appear in Episode 3)?

Sigh, Eric and Sookie, oh the sexual tension. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bill and Sookie, but Eric opening up to Sookie and offering her protection was downright steamy. Who didn’t enjoy this sure-to-be-classic line: “You’re going to invite me in to protect you or have passionate primal sex wiuth you. How about both?”

Pause for a moment of reflection and reverence on that line.

Able to go on? Awesome, because so much happened in this episode – and so quickly. We met not only the aforementioned Cooter, but also Lafayette’s mentally disturbed mother, played by Alfre Woodard (clearly still seeking TV redemption after her awfully written turn four on “Desperate Housewives”).

We also meet Jesus who – metaphor alert! – is Lafayette’s mom’s caretaker/Lafayette’s future boyfriend. Then there's the new vampire in town, Franklin Mott, who meets Tara in Merlotte’s, and appears to be up to no good and likely spying on Sookie. Basically Frain is the same dangerous, badass character he played on Showtime’s “The Tudors," Thomas Cromwell -- minus the hatred for Catholicism.

Sam’s Search for Himself broadened a bit. He has met his birth parents (mom’s a shapeshifter, too) and tries to bond with his brother, also a shapeshifter. The pair later “go for a run” together, which in shapeshifter’s world means “change into dogs and run after each other.”

And his brother may or may not have tried to kill him.

Oh, and did I mention Lorena is back!? And on fire. Yes, she's also at the house of the Vampire King and in a greeting Emily Post likely won’t approve of, Bill sees her and throws an oil lamp on her. Well, seeing your ex can be tough.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ‘BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN’

Two of the most heartfelt moments: Hoyt and Jessica crying for each other on either side of the door and Terry Bellefleur trying to prove himself to Arlene. I think I’d fall for anyone who made a list of “10 reasons why you can trust me with my kids.” Well, if I had kids. But still, who can resist Terry’s reason No. 1: “I’m a nurturer.I found a baby armadillo on the side of the road, nursed it back to health. It sleeps under my bed.”

Best Andy line of the episode: “You got heart. You’re prettier than most girls” – to Jason

Big mystery: Who's stalking/ gathering info on Sookie? He/she picks up a paper where dad’s name is circled in a family tree. Also, we learn Sookie was a champion speller!

Biggest mystery: That dead body Jessica was hoarding? Gone. What? But I did learn you can rent a chainsaw for the day for under $50. So, good news/bad news.

Endearing?: Terry tells Sookie, “I’ve always liked you. And I’d miss you if you get killed.” Terry really knows how to tug on the heartstrings.

Best Bill impersonation: Sookie, who keeps on expecting him to walk through the door and say, “Soookie.” Perfect guttural Bill tone, Sooks. Clearly a wink to fans who love aping Bill, too.

Tha 'Blood' Pound: After the episode, we were treated by the video for Snoop Dogg’s Sookie-loving song. It’s hilarious. We learn he’s “the dog that don’t bite,” offers her a “mary jane cookie” and says they “can do it in the daytime.” All this awesomeness plus Sookie look-a-like back-up dancers? Snoop Dogg can officially do no wrong.

What did you all think of “Beautifully Broken”? Post your questions/comments below.

Photos by HBO