TV Review: True Blood 1.9 – Plaisir d’Amour

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 4, 2008

True Blood, HBO, Airs Sunday 9pm

Episode: “Plaisir d’Amour” (Season 1, Episode 9)

Synopsis: Bill (Stephen Moyer) breaks a vampire taboo in protecting Sookie (Anna Paquin) – and must pay a steep price as a result. Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Amy (Lizzy Kaplan) break their own taboo by kidnapping a vampire named Eddie (Stephen Root) in order to harvest his blood. With Lettie Mae (Adina Porter) apparently cured, a skeptical Tara (Rutina Wesley) consults with Miss Jeanette (Aisha Hinds) about exorcising her own inner demon. Sookie returns home to yet another horrific tragedy, prompting Bill to enlist an unlikely bodyguard – Sam (Sam Trammell) – to protect her while he’s away.

Review: Like any good editor would do, I am stepping in to take over the reviewing of True Blood for Roberto Fure this week, as he has experienced some technical issues. And it works out, because it gives me the opportunity to talk a bit about one of my other favorite new shows — with Sons of Anarchy clearly being the other. For weeks now, I have been a big fan of Alan Ball’s vamp-drama and its leading lady, the now oft half naked Anna Paquin.

And what is great about this show is that it continues to stick to its big guns — sexiness, vampires and blood, lots of blood. In this particular episode, we open with Sookie (Paquin) getting absolutely covered in blood. It was an intense kick-off to another solid episode. If the first five minutes of this show doesn’t get under your skin, then there is no hope for you. As well, we see another episode in which the story continues to become more complex. One of the long-running storylines that I’ve been keeping an eye on — the connection between Sam Merlote (Sam Trammel) and the dog — finally boils over this week, giving us more answers as to why he has been seen running naked through the woods. I have a feeling that there is even more to Sam’s story, but I don’t dare speculate at this point. What I do know is that where there are vampires, there are often other creatures who have the ability to change their appearance. I will leave you to piece together the rest of that puzzle.

As for the rest of it — well, you can’t deny that the addition of Cloverfield’s Lizzy Caplan has been a welcome addition to the cast. Aside from the fact that she has been doing the nude thing in the past three episodes, her character is an interesting mystery. With her propensity for kidnapping and draining vampires of their blood, she could end up causing quite a bit of trouble — and dragging Jason Stackhouse down with her as well. Its all very interesting and not to mention, very sexy. Overall, sexy is probably the best way to describe this series — it has a very unique, sexy aesthetic. Combine that with writing that is top notch, mixing social relevance with often intense drama, and we’ve got a show worth watching week in and week out. And this week’s episode was certainly no exception.

Up Next Week: Caught in a compromising position, Sam shares a secret with an incredulous Sookie. Thinking she’s been purged of her demon, Tara celebrates with Lettie Mae – but goes off the deep end when she uncovers Miss Jeanette’s true intentions.

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Did you watch True Blood this week? If so, feel free to discuss below.

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Rob Hunter

Am I wrong in recalling a scene earlier in the season that featured both Sam and the dog together? And I was expecting werewolf, but instead Sam turns into a Collie?

Meli

This episode went by faster than most and the cliffhanger -wow- I knew it! Well, I think most of the audience had figured out the connection between Sam and the dog. We finally got see the better side of Jason, which was refreshing because his jackassery was getting so tedious that I was at the point of hoping he was the next to be offed. It was also good see a bit of a softer side to Tara who was also becoming a little overbearing. I've been trying to think about who might be the murdering bastard and terrorizing Sookie (killing the cat, really?), but I haven't a clue. I think it might be someone we may not expect or haven't yet met.

Meli

Rob - you're right about that scene, so I think there are two dogs. Sam's dog and the dog he shapes into. Though I find it very odd that he's shifting into a domestic dog, but Bill feels confident that Sam is the one he can trust to keep Sookie safe.

BmOvie74

I can't wait to see what is going on with this whole Sam storyline. He has to be a werewolf bc a human that can just turn into a dog is disappointing and lame - I mean what good is that??

jimmytripps

I'd just like to take a second to acknowledge the work of Stephen Root over the last two episodes. He brings such an aura of sadness, mixed with dignity, to his role. It is a refreshing change to the cliched depictions of vampires that we mostly see on this show- the sort of gothic wet dreams that mostly inhabit this sort of work. Since I first saw him on Newsradio so many years ago, I can't think of a single project I've seen him in where he did not add a great deal to the mix. Great character played by a great character actor.

Cole Abaius

Hell yes, Jimmy. Stephen Root is one of the best actors around. He can do almost anything, and his characters are almost always the most memorable part of anything he's in.

Stephen Root for President.

TV Review: True Blood 1.9 – Plaisir d’Amour

True Blood, HBO, Airs Sunday 9pm

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