The last few weeks’ episodes have been named after the songs which have accompanied the end credits … So, this week, I was all geared-up for some Talking Heads action … But no, it’s a cover by The Used. Devastated!

But that isn’t this week’s cliff-hanger, so I’m not giving away any secrets here. Last week’s cliff-hanger had all heck breaking loose at Nan’s ridiculous Festival of Tolerance. This, finally, galvanises Sookie into doing something that doesn’t involve showing the world her knicker collection. She gets mad and, finally, after nine weeks of, frankly, doing bugger-naff-all, she unleashes all kinds of super-powers. She saves the day – and both of her vamp bfs – and knocks all of the wide-eyed-puppy-dog stuffing out of Eric.

The collateral damage (of Marnie/Antonia’s attack, not Sookie’s retaliation) is lots of innocent human by-standers getting a nasty case of True Death … In front of the cameras … But gangs of glamouring vampires seem to deal with the fall-out from that and all is (literally) forgotten.

But Eric remembers. He remembers that he’s all glarey and gets to say sexist bullshit like “You are mine” without apology or irony. Oddly, she doesn’t remember to slap him this time.

And Sookie has remembered, at long last, that she’s the star of the show and really needs to do something pro-active. She argues with Bill about his plan to attack Marnie/Antonia and blow-up her magic emporium. She tells him that Tara is in there being held captive. He tells her that this is a war and innocent victims die. Wonder how resolute he would be if she were in there instead?

Anyway, he tells her to stay away from Marnie’s for her own safety (which demonstrates that he has learned precisely nothing about women in his 175 years) and so Sookie runs off (leaving Eric – the supposed love of her life – behind with nary a glance) and rushes to … Make breakfast for Jason.

Oh. Okay. Well, Jason is having a hard time, you see … Being gang-raped by leopard people, that he could handle on his own, but being unable to keep his dick in his pants with Jess, that’s just eating him up inside! He is feeling The Guilt and Hoyt being all long-faced and turning up and drinking his beer … That’s just too much for him to bear. Time for him to join The S-Team, Sookie’s hand-chosen band of freedom fighters (including LaFayette and Jesus) who are going to break Tara out of Marnie/Antonia’s control … Just as soon as a plan comes together.

Meanwhile, Alcide delivers the battered remnants of Tommy to Sam who, quite correctly, says that Tommy needs V to save his life. But Alcide is of the opinion that:  “He’s got a right to choose his time”. And Sam accepts that?  Since when? Obviously he forgives the boy, he’s done it every other time he’s screwed-up so why not on his death-bed? But death isn’t necessary in this world because there are vampires!!

This deeply touching scene just rings wrong for me, despite Sam Trammell acting his socks off.  As dull a character as Tommy is, he doesn’t deserve this send off. But then, I suppose, Sam has been so distracted, so far from the centre of the action this series … Something has to motivate him!

This is an episode with several emotional confrontations, one between Hoyt and Jason and another between Andy and Terry. This latter is especially moving, with the ex-druggy, Terry, getting into an intervention with his cuz. Both of these scenes are better-written and better-performed (especially by Jim Parrack and Todd Lowe) than the Sam-Tommy scene and, more importantly, they are necessary for their character’s arc. Neither the Jason-Hoyt nor Terry-Andy scenes add anything significant to the main Marnie/Antonia narrative … Indeed, they are mainly there to add a little light and shade to the episode … But at least they feel true. I just don’t get that with the Sam-Tommy scene.

All that aside, this is really Fiona Shaw’s episode. She gets to develop the Marnie character more than in any episode so far, and has fun with the Antonia character.  At one point they separate and have a discussion: Antonia is having second thoughts (after 400 years of wanting revenge?  Really?) But Marnie will hear none of it – Antonia was merely raped and burned at the stake … Marnie had to contend with bullying and name-calling!  No wonder she wants everyone under her control or dead!

Inside, Tara and Holly are planning a break-out, not quite the digging-a-tunnel-and-wearing-German-uniforms type, more the fighting witchcraft with witchcraft type!

Outside, Jesus wants to try ‘The Mavis Move’ – to repel the spirit – so he goes into The Moon Goddess Emporium to try his luck. But the increasingly powerful Marnie/Antonia has a few tricks up her sleeve and, suddenly, The S-Team disappear.

Just in time for the Vamps’ black van to pull up with everyone all moody in black leather and slo-mo.

Jess, in particular, having been rejected by Hoyt and twice by Jason is bristling for something to kill … And that, frustratingly, is where it comes to an end … Just as things were starting to get going.

So, this has been a performances episode, with several actors getting to update their audition reels with some powerful scenes. What don’t we get? Well, the remnants of last week’s cliff-hanger notwithstanding, we don’t get much blood, no sex, no nudity (yes, even Alcide keeps his kecks on this week) and precious little Eric. I suspect much of that will change next week since we have two episodes of showdown and a chance for some of the season’s forgotten plot-lines (like the 80s Bill and the Vamp-Kill people and Portia Bellefleur and, oh yes, THE FAERIES) to make a comeback.

Written by – Nancy Oliver

Directed by – Leslie Linka Glatter

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