TV Review: True Blood 5.5, "Let's Boot and Rally"
So two vampires, a werewolf, a fairy, and my friend Doug walk into an abandoned insane asylum and – wait, I’m sorry; have you heard this one before?
rating: 4
Remember that episode of The Simpsons when Homer wrote a letter to the movie Die Hard not the actors or writers or producers or director, but the movie itself? I want to write a letter to True Blood the show to tell it, Yes, thats what Im talking about! Best episode of the season thus far. Were really seeing lines being drawn and tensions rising throughout the many plots which gave the episode a sense of coherence. Plus this episode had such good and effective humor that it felt like better times; seasons 1 and 2 better times. This is the first episode of the fifth season that really feels like perhaps Alan Ball is trying to have fun with and put his signature on the series before he departs as showrunner. This episode had just the right amount of fantastic realism, humor, and juxtaposition to remind audiences what an immensely entertaining and satisfying show this can be. Right from the opening scene, in which we follow Sookie and Alcide finally about to consummate their long history of eye-fucking each other until Sookie pukes all the peach Schnapps that she drank last episode presumably onto Alcides boots, I was under the impression that this would be an episode of True Blood that tried a bit harder and I was right. This hilarious in and of itself moment was perfectly punctuated by Bill and Eric hangin out in the doorway, like you do, commenting on Sookies digestive systems excellent sense of comedic timing. From then on throughout the episode, this motley Scooby gang goes on a mission to find Russell Edgington, the 3000 year old poster child of the Sanguinista movement which aims to affirm the supremacy of vampires over humanity. This movement has come into greater focus all season yet has lacked any real context and hasnt really felt like a fully-fledged entity until this episode. With Jason discovering that vampires killed his parents, the Faeries re-entering the game looking to use humans for their own purposes, Tara embracing the Pam-prescribed and Jessica-endorsed vampire pride, the masked anti-supernatural shooters of Sam, Luna, and company, and of course the grandstanding of the Authority, the line drawn between those fighting for segregation and supremacy versus those fighting for peaceful integration and equality has never been more clearly drawn. Meanwhile, Lafayette is falling deeper into the rabbit hole of witchcraft and the dark arts. In another moment that felt reminiscent of Alan Balls excellent existential family drama, Six Feet Under, which used lots of magical realism, Lafayette prays to his idols and in response the menagerie literally laughs at and taunts Lafayette. LaLas in trouble pretty much the entire episode as his prayers are finally answered by Jesus or at least his severed head with his mouth sewn shut appearing simultaneously to Lafayette and his mother who can apparently understand the severed heads mumbled messages. Im glad it looks like well finally be diving into the true potential of Lafayettes power as well as where it comes from. The only real drawback of this episode was the unfortunate continuation of Terry and Patricks arsonist mystery. After another flashback in which we see that Patrick ordered Terry to kill a woman in cold blood which he did but not before she (of course) cursed the soldiers with a fire demon called an Ifrit, the demon seems to have really liked what the smoke monster did on Lost and swallowed up Heller. Even aside from the fact that this plot has sullied the backstory of a beloved character, this story is a dud in an otherwise very successful episode because I see no reason for it in the first place nor what role it can play in the larger seasonal arc of the aforementioned vampire civil war thats brewing. One thing I feel tragically compelled to comment on comes from one of those extremely quick cuts from the coming attraction for the next episode Im referring to the shot of Hoyt covered in blood which suggests those masked hillbillies will kill a vampire in front of Hoyt. This is most likely either Tara or Jessica. Considering Tara was already recently shot to death then resurrected and the fact that Jessica has been maturing significantly this season, Im very afraid Jessica may be killed next episode. I hope Im wrong; what do you guys think? Overall this was another set-up heavy episode but one that worked beautifully and has me hoping the second half of the season will be truly explosive and satisfying.