Instant Reaction: True Blood “Nothing But the Blood,” 6/14/09

“Doesn’t it always seem like you’re apologizing or yelling at me?” Sam Merlotte said to Sookie in the “True Blood” season 2 premiere.   Yikes.  He basically nailed the biggest flaw of the first season.  Sookie is petty, whiny and snotty.  For someone that can read others’ thoughts, she has very little empathy.  At times it’s hard to watch.   Hopefully that bit of dialogue means that the writers are aware of this problem.

And with that one line, Sam became a more complex and interesting character.  It also marked the first time in the show that someone got the best of an argument with Sookie, which is pretty unbelievable considering how irrational she is.  Still, it was a step in the right direction.

The show seems to be taking a more complex track altogether.  The first season focused almost entirely on the murder mystery and Sookie and Bill’s romance with the subplots left a bit messy.  This year’s debut introduced much clearer long term storylines for Lafayette, Jason, Bill, Jessica, Sam and Tara (though Eric’s role is admittedly mysterious at this point).  Even the two cops seem to have a defined conflict and purpose.  Plus Bud had a spectacular square dancing shirt.

Signs of progress in the sophomore year? Yes.  Still, “True Blood” needs to make Sookie more endearing or they risk losing a huge portion of the audience.  After all, only about 50% of the population is going to be won over by hot vampires.

Also of note:  the episode opens with something of a big twist for Charlaine Harris fans.  The body discovered in the back of the car outside of Merlotte’s that served as the cliffhanger of the 1st season?  It’s not Lafayette like it is in the books.  Nope.  It’s Miss Jeanatte of insane (and fake) exorcism fame.