True Blood, "Timebomb": Fellowship of no fun

Some thought's on this week's "True Blood" coming up just as soon as I make sure my hunter's soufflé hasn't fallen ...

"You have a lot of love for him." - Sookie
"Don't use words I don't understand." - Eric

When he was first introduced in "Escape from Dragon House", Eric role seemed clear: an elder vampire who grudgingly accepted the world's knowledge of vampire, but who would have been just as happy sticking to the old ways. He wasn't above taking advantage of the new order in opening Fangtasia, the fangbanger's hangout par excellence, but the club was just an extension of his nature, his ruthlessness, taking advantage of those who were willing participants. Contrasted with Bill's attempts to assimilate in the human world, Eric was the monster who was proud of it, the vampire who'd lead the vampire pride parade (if he wasn't too cool for it).

This season, Eric, and Alexander Skarsgård's potrayal of him, has been a revalation. Skarsgard enfuses Eric with a joy of (un)life that the character can't acknowledge in himself. In conversation, like the one quoted above, Eric continues to espouse the same old "I'm a vampire, I don't have emotions" routine that he's maintained all along, but his actions speak differently. Overtly, his love of Godric is plain enough that even Sookie picks up on it. Skarsgård layers this with small glimpses of other emotions that Eric has bubbling underneath. A quick smile or two, when he squares up with Jason at Godric's party and when he thinks Bill is willing to fight him over Sookie, reveal an Eric not seen before, one that can find joy in parts of his life. Sure, there's not your everyday happy dance inducers, but if Eric can find joy in these things, perhaps there's hope for him to transition to a more human like behaviour. He's already begun the physical transformation with his new haircut, although much of that is probably more an attempt to increase Skarsgård's appeal as his character become more of a protagonist than an antagonist. While I'm sure Eric's emotional transformation will continue as Godric seems to encourage at the episode's conclusion, I hope they don't neuter him completely as he's a much more fun vampire to have hanging around than Bill has ever been.

Other things to think about:

• Lafayette sees Justice coming, but will it be for Tara, Maryann, or Eggs. Maybe justice for all?
• I love how the score really works overtime in all of Maryann's scenes, undercutting the seemingly happy scenes with music that screams "If you're not creeped out right now, you need to pay better attention."
  
• I feel like Maryann must have come to Bon Temps previously. Was it in Bon Temps that Sam met her previously or somewhere else? Her presence would certainly explain the town's name and the people's love of letting les bon temps rouler.
  
• "Dude, honesty!"
  
• Mind readers taste different. Has Bill ever mentioned this when sucking on Sookie?
• Hopefully, this will be the last we'll see of Sarah Newlin. I'd have never though Jason would look smart, but next to Sarah, he's a regular scholar. Clearly, she's in the running for most clueless character ever.
• Clearly, Jason's practice with the paintball gun paid off. Headshot!
• Andy seems destined for redemption eventually, but for now, he's the man stuck at the centre of a comedy of errors.
• After being essentially disposable, Jessica's adventures in vampiring have grown on me. Hoyt tries his best to comfort her after she realizes that she'll always be a virgin, but the look of sadness on her face is heartbreaking.

What does anyone else think?