Premiere: Monday, August 29  Order: 12 episodes

This one was flying under my horizon until I stumbled on it online. MTV has been doing some fine with Teen Wolf and this one is about zombies, vampires and werewolves. What is not to like about that? I know it is a bit early for Fall but I included it anyway.

Death Valley is a scripted horror-comedy that captures the exploits of the men and women of the Undead Task Force (UTF) – an elite branch of the LAPD that was formed in 2009 when the San Fernando Valley became overrun by zombies, vampires and werewolves. While scientists frantically search for an answer to what caused the outbreak, the UTF is responsible for eradicating the monsters, or at least containing them to the Valley. Documenting each case and paranormal encounter is a daring camera crew that is embedded with the UTF from the beginning to end of every shift.  As a result, the documentary crew becomes central to the storytelling and is as much a part of the action as the young cops and the undead they encounter. Always alternating between humor and horror, Death Valley at times borrows from the conventions of reality television creating a visual style that is a blend of follow documentary and sci-fi action. The series stars an ensemble cast including Caity Lotz (who plays “Stephanie” on MAD MEN) Tania Raymonde (who played “Alex Rousseau” on LOST) and Charlie Sanders (Funny or Die’s The Big Dog).

I found my joy again in reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels in Dead Reckoning. As with many longer series the early books had a lot of new stuff to fascinate, then came a dip in originality and in quality. It was just more of the same. It is still more of the same but the story is more character driven which I enjoy.

Sookie and her boyfriend Eric is exploring ‘going steady’ which is a new experience for the both of them. It generates many small situations that amused me.

The fallout from the shifters revelation continues in this novel. Early on there is a firebombing of Merlotte’s, the bar where Sookie works. She catches a glimpse of the perpetrator before taking cover. She soon realizes that there is more to her investigation than shifter-haters.

They also have to deal with the king’s henchman Victor. He is out to get Eric and all the people around him, Sookie included. It is endearing the way Pam and Eric tries to keep Sookie out of it to ‘protect’ her. Like that ever is going to work. This is where Sookies personal journey comes into play. She has to face some hard facts about herself and her relationship before it is over and Eric is … let us say consistent.

Pam is the character I most enjoyed. She becomes more her own here.

Did I mention Bubba is back?

I liked and enjoyed this lightweight entertainment that is Southern Vampires. It is very character driven so be warned if you don’t go for that kind of thing. The plot is the weakest part, it is partly inconsistent with earlier books. I mostly enjoyed being with the characters for a while though.

There are quite a few unresolved threads for future books at the end. I hope Charlaine Harris continues on this trend but we need more plot in the next volume. I recommend Dead Reckoning to fans of True Blood and Southern Vampires if you like character driven stories.

Book Information

Dead Reckoning (True Blood 12) by Charlaine Harris (Gollancz 2011) – Amazon US | UK

With her knack for being in trouble’s way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte’s, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his “child” Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows…

Things get a bit dicey on this week’s Lost Girl when Dyson wakes up in an alley covered in blood next to a dead dark Fae he was seen threatening earlier the same night. He claim Sanctuary in Trick’s bar, and it is granted. The girls are there after a very ambitious looking but failed attempt at cooking. Bo immediately jumps to his help. Trouble is that he can’t remember anything from the night before.

She and Kenzi visit the club, Carpe Noctem where it all happened. It is owned and operated by none other than Vex, the dark Fae that tried to kill her a few episodes back. Unfortunately she can’t borrow the ‘witchblade’ again from Trick; the Light Fae confiscated it after last time! That is so sad; it was such an awesome weapon, made of a unicorn horn. Anyway there were only three witnesses to what Dyson said to the murdered guy, the bartender, a human girl and Vex.

Bo dash back and forth between the people involved, confronts Vex, interrogates the girl, fends of Morgan the dark Fae mistress and watches a showdown with Ash the Light Fae leader before she finds the clues she need. Trick does not have much regards for Ash either, there is a major disagreement brewing there. I wonder if Ash knows who Trick is.

We learned some interesting things beside the plot here. Dyson was a Stone Warrior for a couple of hundred years, whatever that is. At least I think that is what they said. Bo is starting to relate to Dyson as her boyfriend even if she has not used that particular word yet.

Lost Girl is doing great, I just love the characters and the plot is going places. Only two more episodes left on this season (It has been renewed).

Related Posts

• Lost Girl 110 – The Mourning After [TV Review] November 23, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.09 [TV Review] November 16, 2010
• Lost Girl Renewed for a Second Season November 12, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.08 [TV Review] November 9, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.07 – Itsy-Bitsy Spider … [TV Review] November 3, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.06 [TV Review] October 26, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.05 [TV Review] October 19, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.04 – Faetal Attraction [TV Review] October 12, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.03 [TV Review] September 28, 2010
• Lost Girl 1.02 [TV Review] September 21, 2010
• Lost Girl Series Premiere [TV Review Recap] September 14, 2010
• The New TV Season for Science Fiction Fans (Fall 2010) August 25, 2010
• Lost Girl [New This Fall] August 10, 2010

All is set for a really awesome season finale on The Gates, ABC’s new supernatural summer show. We have met the Monohans and ordinary family that moves to a gated community for a safer environment and a change of pace. They failed at safe but succeeded in change of pace. Their closest neighbors are a couple of vampires with a living daughter. Their son is dating a succubus. When Nick, who works as the chief of police is not haunted by ghosts (who tried to kill him while they where still alive) he tries to keep the peace between the Vamps and the Weres. His assistant keeps her heart in a box at home which makes it easier to survive being shot in the chest. Half the football team is werewolves and likes to run a teen-pack just outside the Gates at night. And there is a wicked witch who has been building a spell for a whole season. My guess is that it’s going to go off tonight. It is not difficult to understand that Sarah and Nick want to move out of the Gates, but my guess is that it might more difficult than they ever expected. Tonight there is a Bad Moon Rising and tomorrow is Moving Day.

Tonight it’s Sarah’s turn to have scary dreams about the neighbors. Nick tries to convince Sarah they are good people.

Buckley and Vanessa are having a good time in bed. He is getting older; maybe she will turn him tonight? They plan to. They are cute together but we know Devon the wicked witch has been cooking something for these two. She is not a happy ex wife to Buckley who replaced her with a younger model.

Buckley has to sit down and discuss this with the leaders of respective group and Nick, with the tension between vampires and werewolves running high. So Nick is the defacto leader of the ‘humans’? That’s a very male group you have there, Buckley! Neither group likes the change of status quo; the weres feels he is choosing sides and leaves.

Devon the wicked witch and Claire the Stepford vampire bitch in a delightful way about Buckley’s night party. What are you doing out this sunny day- shopping for your ex husbands anniversity party- take something you can return, their marriage will soon be over… – I doubt that very much, haven’t you heard? Vanessa is going to turn Buckley (Claire has a very telling facial expression when she says the last part) etc.

Devon closes the shop and starts spelling and cursing. Mighty strange ingredients you have there. A facial mask, vampire blood and werewolf eyes are the main ingredients in this new tea? Is she feeding it to Sarah? I am starting to have a bad feeling about this. Sarah opens up about her fears and Devon tells her she can trust her. That’s the one you can’t trust Sarah!

Andie continues to take Devil’s Weed which her friend stole from Devon. She and Charlie set a date for ‘practice’ after school. Brett the werewolf quarterback ex boyfriend is back and he is greeted by the teen-pack. One girl in particular is panting for his attention but he only sees Andie together with Charlie. He is not so happy now.

Sarah is obviously under the influence of Devon’s brew as she and Nick prepare for the party. Nick you should notice things like this, your wife is not herself. The party starts and the werewolves’ late arrival is a bit thrilling. I get a feeling the coach’s handshake with Buckley is more significant than it seems. Have Devon concocted a curse that require touch from multiple persons?

It’s a wonderful scene when Sarah’s friends come and talk to her for the first time since she found out about them. Claire put it nicely “Now that you know what we are, try not to forget who we are.” But in the middle of that conversation Sarah spots Buckley and sleep walk over to him. “We must talk, can we go somewhere private?”. Claire notice something is wrong but for god’s sake we switch over to Andie and Charlie all alone at home with little sister.

After banning sister to the upper regions, they tell how much they love each other. A peck on the cheek? Really?

Back to Buckley who sits down with Sarah and tries to explain how he dealt with the Gates when he first found out and how wonderful and valuable her and Nick’s contribution to the Gates has been.  Meanwhile Nick and Dylan chat and drink. The party is interrupted by heavy banging on the door. A message and a big nail “Even Vampires Die”.  That put a lid on the party.

Vanessa and Buckley retreat to the bedroom for the turning. Everything is fine until Vanessa starts to feed, she got something in her throat, and no she begins to age, shrink and die. Buckley calls Nick.

Nick, Peggy and Dylan meet up at the ‘crime’ scene and they take a sample of Buckley’s blood suspecting it to be poisoning. Dylan takes the vial for processing at his lab. Vanessa turned her age, unfortunately for her it was 150.

The man hunt starts the next day. The message nailed to the door had prints from one of the werewolves. Lucky for them he tries to attack them in the wood so Nick knocks him human with the butt of his rifle. I wonder if that trick will ever work again. They bring him down to the station. He tells it all when Nick brings in the Alpha. He only nailed the message to the door. Nick, I think the one you are looking for is sleeping in your bed.

Sarah wakes up and calls Nick at the office but get Leigh instead. Leigh is a bit surprised Sarah doesn’t remember anything about last night.

Dylan returns with the test result. Frank Buckley’s blood has indeed a poison in it. But it is weird shit, it is growing and it is turning Frank Buckley into something that will kill any vampire that comes into contact with him. Suspect werewolf has good hearing and hears it all. Remember he was the one who hates vampires.

Nick visits Devon. He has her pegged as prime suspect but she has a good alibi. They word fight for a while before Nick leaves her a bit spooked. Charlie calls Nick, Sarah took them out of school and now they are not allowed to leave the house.

A bottle of hard liqueur and three frustrated teenage werewolves in the wood. That can never have a happy ending.

Sarah is freaking out about Vanessa’s murder. She doesn’t remember anything about last night, including that Nick told her about the vampires and the werewolves. Nick tries to convince her she was at the party yesterday. “There that’s your purse; you never use it unless we go out.” Sarah finds a small vial in there and starts to remember Devon pouring her tea, giving her the vial and telling her to pour it in Frank’s wine glass at the party. “I poisoned Frank Buckley.”. “It is not your fault, Honey. She drugged you”

Devon has closed up shop and fled by the time they get there.

Lukas is a real party pooper, he brings up Andie and Charlie just as Brett was starting to enjoy himself. Then Lexi tells him about the medicine Andie is taking. “It will allow them to do… things”. Poop number two. Brett who can barely stand walks off with an attitude.

Meanwhile Dylan tells Claire of the ingredients he has found. Among them vampire blood. Claire tells him about Devon’s little blackmailing scheme. It is good to see her come clean about it. Dylan forgives her. I think that was very sweet of him.

Coach pack leader comes by to warn Dylan that the pack knows and that they will be coming for Buckley to get his blood, anyway they can. Maybe they have to find Devon and have her ‘cure’ him before it is too late.

Buckley, Sarah, Nick and Dylan have a sit down where they all open their hearts to each others. Buckley is crushed that the people he has been protecting the last decade is coming to kill him, so he kills himself. It makes sense in the show but it sounds weird.

Nick and Sarah decide to leave the Gate as Buckley’s body leaves with the Coroner.

Brett have somehow ended up in Andie’s bedroom, she is sleeping while he’s eyes sweep the room, there the ‘medicine’.

Dylan and Clair decide to hunt down Devon and make sure this can never happen again.

I get a feeling this is the night of the body snatchers. That Coroner might be a vampire but he had Red Shirt written all over him.

It is Moving Day. Nick is helping Sarah pack; he will follow in the morning.

Dylan and Sarah are looking for clues in Devon’s shop and they find her searches on the computer. She was looking for a hiding place.

Devon is hiding at a Motel and Mia is bringing her stuff. Mia your mother would be very cross with you if she knew where you are just now! Mia asks Devon if she was involved in Vanessas death? She tells her smugly that she only gave Frank means to protect himself. If she never tried to turn him she would have been fine now. Mia realizes she doesn’t know Buckley is dead and tells her.

That got a reaction, Devon show real shock and starts to cry. She begs Mia to leave and starts to cast her spell. She sees a vision of herself killing Charlie in a hospital. That was weird?

Charlie is not happy about leaving the Gates so he runs away.

Brett tells Lexi he snook into Andie’s room and watered the medicine last night when he was drunk . Lexi takes Brett to tell Andie what he did. I assume he won’t be in time.

Nick has to tell Leigh he chickens out and leave this whole mess in her lap. Nick how can you live with yourself? That’s what he looks like when he tells her. “Don’t worry. We will get your family out safely.”

Dyllan and Claire on the hunt just missed her at the motel.

Brett and Lexi come to tell Charlie, but he has already left with his camping gear. They listen as little sister tells Sarah and leave. So Sarah gets a major shock when she comes down and finds Devon there! “Charlie is in danger.” -”What did you do to him?” – “Nothing, but he will die without my help.” – “Get Out!”.

Talking about character switching, are we to believe Devon had a change of heart?

Sarah calls Nick while the happy two goes walking in the woods.

Markus is the only one not knowing.

The vampires know Devon is back and they will not let her leave.

Brett and Lexi go hunting Andie and Charlie in the woods while Nick meets with denial dad, sorry Andie’s dad. He finds out  Andie has not been taking her medicine and tells Nick that she might kill Charlie. Has everyone forgotten that Andie herself will die if she doesn’t take the medicine?

Clair and Peggy return to Devon’s shop in the hope she is there. Claire shows Peggy the list of ingredients. Peggy recognizes her daughter’s handwriting. Shocking discoveries all around. Parents don’t know their kids. That can’t be true. Can it? Mia, you are in trouble now girl. Mommy Peg makes her daughter tell where Devon might hide.

Charlie and Andie find an abandoned house in the woods and decide to take a break there and cuddle a little. While they make out Brett and Lexxi is getting closer. So are Dylan and Nick. Big shout! Charlie is drained. “I killed Charlie”.

Peg tries to help but it doesn’t work. At the end they are left only with Devon as a possible savior. But will they get her in time before the vampires get her?

What is Markus doing in Leigh’s apartment? Sitting there contemplating it seems. Now he notices the strange box. Leigh gets all weak when he opens it and starts to bleed. Markus, what are you up to?

Showdown at the Spa. Claire with a gun in the spa? Not if Nick can help it.

Showdown in the rain? Vampires surround the car. Dylan makes stakes and everyone looks grim.

Fighting time! Dylan and Claire fight off the vampires while Nick takes off with Devon.

Devon is going to kill Charlie to save Charlie? Ok, with a revival spell. They take the character switching a bit beyond the believable here. Why should Devon be doing this? She kills him then revives him. Why does she look so smug? Is there some kind of bound now between her and him? Will he die if she dies? I refuse to believe she turned good. Nick and Sarah thank her as they walk away with Charlie.

Charlie’s first words where about Andie. He wanted to go to her but they stopped him.

Markus is still in Leigh’s apartment, with the box opened. Leigh refrains from killing him and even tells him the truth about how that happened. He turns all guy on her. “Can we fix you?” When he asks, she tells him her real name Isabella Armont”. A guy has been calling asking about her. She is shocked.

Dylan and Claire are back home trying to negotiate with the rest of their group. They will only hear their plea if they bring Devon. They don’t believe they will get a fair hearing so they start to make arrangements for Emily. She is going to her aunt.

Charlie wakes up to a new day and call Andie. Her message is sad but very romantic. She is leaving to protect him. “She is drawn to him like gravity”. But she still leaves.

Sarah and Devon are having tea for breakfast when they come for Devon. “There is something wrong with Charlie”. Charlie walks in totally zombie like, when Nick tries to talk to him he blasts him to the floor. “What have you done to him?” “I said I could bring him back. But I never said he would be the same.” I knew she was up to no good!

Demon Charlie standing there.

A smug Devon and that’s all folks!

Not bad! I so hope ABC is going to renew The Gates. I want to see what happens next.

Next season has so many plots to pick up.

• Charlie’s demonic/undead attitude and powers. Does that mean he can kiss Andie now? What will his grandparents say?
• Will Andie come back now when the love of her life is a demon? And did she take all that Devil’s weed without any consequences?
• Leigh’s stalker. Is he coming to the Gates? What will he do to get to her?
• It Claire and Dylan at war with the other vampires now? What will happen to Emily? She knows their secret.
• Who will be the now leader in the Gates? Will there be two?
• Devon is not going to be idle. I am sure. How will she use all this to come out on top?

The Gates have had a good first season, a bit uneven and suffering in the numbers but I do hope for a renewal. This can be a great show if they stick to it.

Vampire Diaries Season 2 premieres September 9 on CW

Vampire Diaries is an entertaining little vampire show from CW that I saved up to watch after the finale last season, but it was so good that I decide to follow it from the beginning this season.

Last season ended in quite a cliffhanger. Elena’s vampire double-ganger Katherine arrived in town with deadly and emotional consequences. It is now time for the others to find out. Damon kissed Katherine believing it was Elena, his moment of realization is sure to be a high point in the season premiere.

There will be werewolves this season according to early spoilers.

The Vampire Diaries is based on a novel series by L.J. Smith where you are given the insight into the diary of 17-year old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev). Elena and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), live with their Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning). Elena seeks comfort from her familiar social circle – best friend Bonnie (Katerina Graham), frenemy Caroline Forbes (Candice Accola), and former boyfriend Matt Donovan(Zach Roerig).

At Mystic Falls High, Elena and her friends become fixated by a mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). Stefan and Damon(Ian Somerhalder) are vampire brothers – one good, one evil – at war for Elena’s soul.

Episodes

2.01 – The Return (CW)

Picking up on the same night as last season’s finale, Elena arrives home to a nightmare as she discovers Uncle John’s and Jeremy’s fate. At the hospital, Sheriff Forbes is comforted by Matt , Bonnie  and Damon while she waits to hear if Caroline will survive the car accident. After a confusing conversation with Elena about the night’s events, Damon is the first to realize that Katherine has returned. Katherine’s arrival sends Stefan and Damon on a path to find out what she wants, why she’s back, and how much of a threat she is to the people they love. Meanwhile, still reeling from his father’s death, Tyler is surprised when his charming and mysterious uncle, Mason Lockwood, arrives to console the family.

2.02 - Brave New World (CW)

THE CARNIVAL FROM HELL — When a confused and desperate Caroline leaves the hospital and joins her friends at the Mystic Falls Carnival, Damon wants to take immediate action, but Stefan and Elena come to Caroline’s defense. Matt is completely mystified by Caroline’s behavior, but still tries to tell her about his feelings for her.. Damon has suspicions about Tyler’s Uncle Mason (guest star Taylor Kinney..) and uses Tyler’s volatile personality in an attempt to get Mason to reveal his secret. Upset with everything going on around her, Bonnie (Katerina Graham) takes her anger out on Damon.

2.03 - Bad Moon Rising (CW)

STEFAN FACES A NEW DANGER — Elena, Damon and Alaric take a road trip to Duke University and search through Isobel’s research on folklore and paranormal phenomena to see if they can uncover any clues to the mystery surrounding the Lockwood family. Isobel’s former student, Vanessa (guest star Courtney Ford, Dexter) offers to guide them through the research and ends up getting quite an education herself. Stefan comes face to face with a terrifying new danger in the woods, and Tyler makes a shocking discovery about Mason (guest star Taylor Kinney)

Extended Vampire Diaries promo with a shorter Nikita promo at the end

Last Week

Nick discovered werewolves in Dog Eat Dog. Dylan finds out about Christian and binds him to a tree facing sun rise.

This Week

This episode was a bit slow or else it was watching True Blood before that made me think so. FBI comes calling looking for a guy presumed to be living inside the Gates, but not everything is as it seems. The FBI agent is a vampire looking for revenge on the vampire who turned her.

The guy happened to be head of the vampires’ identity switching program with data on tens of thousands names on a flashdrive. She is out to kill all the vampires in the world.

Nick has to do it himself with the help of his assistants this time since Dylan in brooding over Clair’s betrayal.

The teen drama was the most interesting this week. Lexi wants Brett so she goes after Charlie to make Andie jealous. Andie is still not taking her pills and she is getting worse and worse until Brett more or less forces her to feed on him. She tells her best friend Mia she hurt when feeding from Brett, because she doesn’t love him. Mia gives her Devils Weed she stole from Devon. Does it sound like a good idea to give a Succubus something called Devils Weed?

The episode ends with a cliffhanger Andie sees Charlie kissing Lexi and Emily gets kidnapped by Christian, who is alive. Wonder how he survived that.

I am a bit unhappy with this episode, too much stuff happening without cohesion I think. We will see next time.

Next Week

Hiatus – The Gates returns September 5

The Gates 1.10 – Little Girl Lost (ABC)

Nick learns more about Claire and Dylan’s vampiric past after a kidnapper snatches Emily; Sarah presses Nick for details about the case; Brett deals with his relationship issues with Andie; Charlie becomes uncomfortably aware of his situation.

Related Posts

• The Gates 1.08 – Dog Eat Dog [Review - Recap] August 16, 2010
• The Gates 1.07 – Digging the Dirt [Review Recap] August 16, 2010
• The Gates 1.06 – Jurisdiction (ABC) August 2, 2010
• The Gates 1.05 – Repercussions (Review) July 27, 2010
• The Gates 1.04 – The Monster Within (Review) July 19, 2010
• The Gates 1.03 – Breach Short Review July 12, 2010
• The Gates 1.02 – What Lies Beneath June 28, 2010
• The Gates – A Review of the Series Premiere June 22, 2010
• The Gates – First 17 Minutes June 16, 2010
• Introducing the Cast of The Gates June 1, 2010
• The Gates New Promos (and Scoundrels) May 24, 2010
• The Gates Promo 2 May 17, 2010
• The Gates – New Promo of ABC’s New Summer Show! April 30, 2010
• The Gates Open June 20 This Summer on ABC (New Pics) – promo pics from the pilot included. April 8, 2010. Updated April 18.
• The Gates – an update on ABC’s New Supernatural Summer Show April 5, 2010
• Supernatural Eureka Due This Summer From ABC? March 26, 201

Last Week

A lot of things happened last week, some characters checked out, some broke out and some went too far. Lorena became vampire Crème brûlée staked by Sookie and Alcide killed Cooter. Russell killed the Magistrate and married Sophie Ann which might very well be going too far but nowhere as far as Bill goes when he almost drains Sookie to death.

Tara and Sookie escape, Sookie meets the fairies. Sam breaks up a dogfight and takes his brother home. That about sums it up.

This Week

Break up and graphic reunion sex in the same episode wonder what is going to happen next time? This was an exciting episode, so many story lines on the brink of something now that I can’t wait on next episode. Russell and Debbie going after Sookie with Bill and Jessica fighting off the werewolves was very climactic, Bill really care for Jessica. She is such a hoot in every scene she is in and then she is saved by the bell when Eric Nordman stakes Talbot and Russell superman home. Debbie and Sookie really slugged it out there. That was no cat fight. Those girls hit hard.

So now Hoyt is on his way to Jessica while she munches on some werewolf alone in the wood. Russell is flying home. Jason takes his shotgun and threatens Crystal’s clan with the police unless they leave him alone. Is he going to be surprised when he learns the truth! Sookie and Bill do the aforementioned reunion thing. Jason is definitely getting his charm back. Tara’s dreams about Franklin don’t bode well for her but I can’t help it if I root for him to be undead again, he has been one of many highlights this season. It would be a pity to lose him.

Once again the people behind True Blood prove why they are the best on TV at the moment. Exquisite episode.

Said and done

• Say Something, are you brain damaged (Jason)
• They killed my Cooter (Debbie)

Post mortem

Next Week

True Blood 3.09 – Everything is Broken (HBO).
With the ratification of the Vampire Rights Amendment at hand, Nan Flanagan detours to Fangtasia to confront Eric about the Magister’s disappearance. A grief-stricken Russell vows revenge against his foes, vampire and human. Awakening from a slumber, Bill uncovers the truth about Sookie’s true identity. Jason gets unexpected help as he goes up against Felton and Calvin. Sam is distressed by Tommy’s attitude; Tara encounters a new ally and an old tormenter; Hadley introduces Sookie to a new family member; Arlene despairs about her future; Hoyt confronts his true feelings.

Related Posts

• True Blood 3.07 – Hitting the Ground August 3, 2010
• True Blood 3.06 – I Got a Right to Sing the Blues July 26, 2010
• True Blood 3.05 – Trouble July 19, 2010
• True Blood 3.04 – 9 Crimes – The List July 14, 2010
• True Blood 3.03 – It Hurts Me Too June 29, 2010
• True Blood 3.02 – Beautifully Broken June 26, 2010
• True Blood Renewed for a 4th Season June 21, 2010
• True Blood a Review of the 3rd Season Premiere June 14, 2010
• True Blood Final Minisode – Jason June 2, 2010
• True Blood Minisode 5 – Bill May 24, 2010
• True Blood Minisode 4 – Sam May 20, 2010
• True Blood Minisode 3 Sookie Lafayette Tara May 12, 2010
• True Blood Season 3 Poster and Mini-Sode 1&2 (youtube) May 4, 2010
• True Blood Season 2 Finale and speculations September 14, 2009
• True Blood season 2 June 16, 2009

Last week

Mott and Tara tried to out twist Bill and Loreena’s but since no actual twisting was involved they failed. But Tara maced him good afterwards but more paranoid viewers suspect a smashed head just makes vamps angrier and gives you a headstart (pun intended). Tara is awesome when she wants to. Tara splits right after freeing Sookie and run into Alcide coming for the rescue. Loreena walks in on Sookie untying her man and decides to have a bite. And Sam catches on what his real parents are up to with their other son.

This week

Loorena learns how lovely Sookie tastes before Bill and Sookie makes vampire aspic out of her – it is gory. Tara and Alcide to the rescue but Debbie walks in on their rescue party with a gun. Tara is a strong little fighter, she unarm Debbie all by herself. Cooter bites a bullet from Alcide and Debbie swears to hunt Alcide.

They roll Bill up in canvas and stash him back in Alcide’s truck. I ride back her with him, Sookie says. Said and done, Sookie feeds the lifeless Bill and he ravages her until she is lifeless. Guess if she is going to forgive him that? They kick Bill out and drive Sookie to the hospital where they have difficulties to type  her blood.

Meanwhile in Jason’s world Hoyt gets a new girlfriend and Jason gets a lead on information about Crystal. He could ask that meth dealer in the county jail, who refuses to talk unless Jason gets him some Meth. So Jason is with Lafayette when they call from the hospital that he must come immediately, Sookie is in coma and expected to die. Jason holds her hand and they all have their talk with her.

Sookie meets Claudine (a special character from the books, all the fans jump up and down) in a dreamscape and dance with the fairies, they look really happy and gay btw. Claudine says your cup is empty, we can’t have that can we she says and they go for a refill in the spring. Lots of people are using that spring. But before long darkness  descends and the faeries jump into the spring and disappears (it is Bill coming into the room). Claudine parts with; don’t let him take your light. Bills blood saves her but her friends are not happy with Bill.

One of the most entertaining parts of this episode was Eric interrogating the queen, who he keeps in a birdcage. It looked quite cute. He threatens to drain her lover unless the queen tells him why she is interested in Sookie. The lover is Sookie’s cousin; she whispers the secret to Eric before she dies. Eric turns her before it is to late and then we switch to the Magistrate torturing Pam. Russell is very entertaining when he rejects ‘the authority’ and force the Magistrate to marry him and queen Sophie Ann before beheading him with a pointed stick.

On the side Sam track down the dogfight and confronts his family. They have been using Tommy to fight as a dog. Tommy elects to walk away with Sam. Wonder how long that will last.

There was no Jessica this week otherwise I am a happy, happy fan.

Said and done

• I newer thought I was smart enough to get depressed (Jason)
• Last time you came to me looking like that you wanted V (Lafayette)
  I left all that behind, I want Meth. No, It’s not for me (Jason)
• I am so happy I could bleed (Queen Sophie Ann)

What we learned this week

• Sookie has no blood type, but her brother does.

Post Mortem

Truebies & Newbies: Jessica & Debbie

Next week

True Blood 3.08 – Night on the Sun (HBO)
Shaken and disillusioned, Sookie rethinks her relationship with Bill. Sophie-Anne takes up a new residence as Russell plots his next move. Jessica and Bill reconcile; Jason throws down the gauntlet in hopes of saving Crystal; Lafayette gets a surprise visit from his mom, Ruby Jean; Sam tries to keep Tommy in check; Merlotte’s gets a new waitress; Eric proves the depth of his allegiance to Russell. Sookie finds herself in a vulnerable position when Alcide needs to deal with a family emergency.

Related Posts

• True Blood 3.06 – I Got a Right to Sing the Blues July 26, 2010
• True Blood 3.05 – Trouble July 19, 2010
• True Blood 3.04 – 9 Crimes – The List July 14, 2010
• True Blood 3.03 – It Hurts Me Too June 29, 2010
• True Blood 3.02 – Beautifully Broken June 26, 2010
• True Blood Renewed for a 4th Season June 21, 2010
• True Blood a Review of the 3rd Season Premiere June 14, 2010
• True Blood Final Minisode – Jason June 2, 2010
• True Blood Minisode 5 – Bill May 24, 2010
• True Blood Minisode 4 – Sam May 20, 2010
• True Blood Minisode 3 Sookie Lafayette Tara May 12, 2010
• True Blood Season 3 Poster and Mini-Sode 1&2 (youtube) May 4, 2010
• True Blood Season 2 Finale and speculations September 14, 2009
• True Blood season 2 June 16, 2009

Last Week

We have a real cliffhanger from last week when Dylan saved Nick from that avenging sister and revealed his true nature at the same time. Nick was shocked. We could see that before the episode ended.

This Week

Dylan buries Tess/Amanda while Nick brings the kids home. They don’t meet until the day after, and they have a manly talk about it where Dylan, at least on the surface gets his will on how to handle it, but you can see Nick is not happy about it, but he is also scared. Marcus will miss Thess and now it is Nicks thing to suppress it. It is painful to see Nick refusing his Marcus and then he goes off and interrogate Dylan Radcliff by himself.

I feel sorry for Andie, finding out you are a succubus when you just started dating boys and the hormones are raging can not be easy. Peggy is kind of wonderful the way she helps Andie. I still doesn’t like Andie’s father.

Devon’s ex husband’s new girlfriend Vanessa shows up in Devon’s shop and reluctantly have ‘tea’ with her. Then she invites Devon to the party later that night she and her husband is throwing for the new chief of Police. Seems there is a lot of conflict under the surface. Barbara is gossiping like a lunatic here and there and Clair calls Christian to tell him they have a problem. Maybe Christian will take care of it for her?

Dylan is guilt ridden when he tells Claire he killed the day before. That is kind of a role reversal for them. They are still the most interesting couple in the Gates but Nick and Sarah are catching up.

After being sent home Marcus discovers Amanda’s notebook with notes on Nick’s activity’s in her luggage. He shows them to Leigh and they start to suspect Nick. But then they discover Theressa’s true identity and Marcus tells Nick he is sorry for allowing her to come so close to him.

Devon uses the party to break into her ex safe and remove a disc. Frank Vanessa’s husband and Devon’s ex is keeping recordings of all that happens inside the Gates. And this episode ends with him putting a recording of Devon killing Nick into his safe.

Things are heating up in the gates. It is getting a bit more dark and becoming more of it’s own show.

Next Week

The Gates 1.06 – Jurisdiction (ABC)
When a neighbor is murdered inside The Gates at the hand of a vampire, Nick enlists Dylan’s help to find the killer. Sarah organizes a school fundraiser at Devon’s Spa, but finds it difficult to bring bickering factions together. Claire attempts to end her “arrangement” with Christian, only to find him more entrenched in her life than ever. Frustrated by the side effects, Andie stops taking her medicine and tries to control her symptoms, resulting in dire consequences for those around her.

Related Posts

• The Gates 1.04 – The Monster Within (Review) July 19, 2010
• The Gates 1.03 – Breach Short Review July 12, 2010
• The Gates 1.02 – What Lies Beneath June 28, 2010
• The Gates – A Review of the Series Premiere June 22, 2010
• The Gates – First 17 Minutes June 16, 2010
• Introducing the Cast of The Gates June 1, 2010
• The Gates New Promos (and Scoundrels) May 24, 2010
• The Gates Promo 2 May 17, 2010
• The Gates – New Promo of ABC’s New Summer Show! April 30, 2010
• The Gates Open June 20 This Summer on ABC (New Pics) – promo pics from the pilot included. April 8, 2010. Updated April 18.
• The Gates – an update on ABC’s New Supernatural Summer Show April 5, 2010
• Supernatural Eureka Due This Summer From ABC? March 26, 2010

Last Week

It was rough last week but now all our principal characters are ‘guests’ of Russell.

This Week

I found it amusing when Talbot blew a fuse over the hole in the ceiling Bill made when the King stopped him, instead of reacting to the attempted staking. Great opening scene. Russell orders Bill to the slave pens and Lorena to kill him. Eric shutting Sookie up was also great.

Lafayette and Jesus continue to be cute together but they run into a snag when Jesus learns that Lafayette is a drug dealer.

Jessica is also cute when she displays her fangs at Arlene’s finger cut, scaring her. She is funny, a great addition outside Charlene Harris’ books.

Jason and Crystal also run into some problems when Jason meets her fiancée.

Russel’s interview with Sookie was exceptional. He also reveals Bill’s research to Sookie but she doesn’t seem to mind, she is determined to rescue Bill. I wonder if Talbot will cease to be comic relief and become a real problem for Russell. Anyway Eric and Russel go off and visit the Queen. Russell’s proposal to Sofie-Ann is another great scene. Eric is trying to seduce Russell so he can get his revenge.

Sam and Tommy start to have a talk about their father but are interrupted by momma. Seems like Sams folks are involved in dog fighting.

Mott and Tara try to surpass Bill and Loreena’s lovemaking but it is only part of Tara’s plan to get free. I like this new non whiny Tara. I wonder if banging the head in with a morning star kills a vampire, at least Tara seems to think it does. She frees Sookie and run for it only to run into Alcide who is out looking for Sookie.

Lorena tortures Bill while he tortures her right back when Cooter and Debbie shows up at Bill’s torture for some blood. It ends with Sookie being eaten by Lorena.

Amazing episode, a great deal of the remaining plots start to clear now. I can’t wait to see the next episode.

Said and done

• Do you care nothing about our home! (Talbot)
• I would love to tear you open and wear your ribcage as a hat (Lorena)
• There is a fine line between feisty and delusional (Russell)

Postmortem

Next Week

True Blood 3.07 – Hitting the Ground (HBO)

Imperiled by Lorena, Sookie goes to extremes in her attempt to save Bill – with unforeseen consequences. Sam infiltrates a dog-fighting ring to extricate Tommy from his parents’ greedy influence. Jason heads to jail to uncover the truth about Crystal; Summer makes a homecooked play for Hoyt’s affections; Debbie vows revenge on Alcide; Eric uses Hadley as bait to get information from Sophie-Anne; Russell turns his back on the Authority, and on the Magiste.
Spoiler [Introducing Claudine]

This week is the case of the missing hunter and a father-daughter dance with Dylan and Nick.

Last week

The Monahan’s are still clueless to what is going on inside the Gates and last week Charlie hooked up with Andie. She doesn’t know she is a succubus when she kisses Charlie but someone ought to TELL her. Leigh almost lost her heart but killed the thief, what’s up with that? And what is she? You can catch up with The Gates 1.03 – Breach Short Review.

This week

The Teen pack is out running again when they are attacked by a drunken hunter. Lukas is wounded and Brett kills the hunter. Then they all panic and leave the body there in the open. They bring Lukas to the Coach who operates and take out the bullet. But they don’t tell him about the killed hunter, instead Brett goes back (after going to school first) only to find the hunter gone and the police at the scene. Nick is like a bloodhound when it comes to crimes, he knows there is something wrong when they find the hunter’s dead body far away from the Gates. He orders CSI to the scene but we never find out if they found any clues. In the end we learn that the coach, who is the pack’s beta, moved the body before it could be found to protect the pack. Brett is kicked off the team and instead of learning from his mistake he goes running outside the Gates again, and that is the last we see of him this episode.

Andie feels she is a little too old to go to a father-daughter dance but her father convince her to go anyway. But before that she goes to school where she makes out with Charlie and they kiss again. Later Charlie faints in class and Nurse Peggy sends him home. Peggy has another talk with Andy’s father and he promise to tell her after the dance. He wants her to be a little girl just for another night. Thomas has a very frustrating personality. He tells her the truth later that night but we have to wait until next episode to learn her reaction.

Denial your name is Claire. She slips away to meet Christian, the bad-boy vampire while Dylan is at the dance with Emily. Too late she realizes she can’t go on like this and tries to break it off with Christian but only after they meet Barbara, the worst gossip in the Gates.

The other major plot line this week is Nicks past. He shot a rapist in cold blood one year ago but convinced everyone around him it was a mistake; he thought he was pulling a gun etc. Now it is exactly one year since it happened and Nick comes clean about it to Sarah who puts up a brave face and supports her man until he leaves and she starts to cry. It just happens that the father-daughter dance is going down the same very night and Nick has to go there with Dylan as their daughters are best friends. That starts out awkward since Nick has accused Dylan and his family for crimes more than once since he came to the Gates. One mystery gets it solution this episode, Theresa Marcus new girlfriend has always seemed fishy to me and now we learn why. She volunteers to take photos at the dance and with a pretense steps outside with Nick. The way it was set up with Nick first talking to Sarah made me believe they were going for adultery but instead she pulls a gun. Theresa’s real name is Amanda and she is sister to the man Nick killed. She is there to first kill him then the rest of his family. She is about to shoot Nick when Dylan attack and bite her to death. He tells a shocked Nick to drive the girls home and he will meet them there, scene. Nice cliffhanger to next episode.

Things are starting to heat up in the Gates and as surprised as I am about Nick finding out about vampires I like the idea of Nick and Dylan working together. Dylan seems to be a ‘good’ man even if he turned Claire. Wonder how long Nick can keep a secret from his family?

New characters this week

• Barbara – The gossip queen. She knows everything going on inside the gates.

Said and done

• Dead people doesn’t get up and walk away
• The Radcliffs adopted Emily

Next week

The Gates 1.06 – Jurisdiction (ABC)
When a neighbor is murdered inside The Gates at the hand of a vampire, Nick enlists Dylan’s help to find the killer. Sarah organizes a school fundraiser at Devon’s Spa, but finds it difficult to bring bickering factions together. Claire attempts to end her “arrangement” with Christian, only to find him more entrenched in her life than ever. Frustrated by the side effects, Andie stops taking her medicine and tries to control her symptoms, resulting in dire consequences for those around her.

Videos

Related Posts

• The Gates 1.03 – Breach Short Review July 12, 2010
• The Gates 1.02 – What Lies Beneath June 28, 2010
• The Gates – A Review of the Series Premiere June 22, 2010
• The Gates – First 17 Minutes June 16, 2010
• Introducing the Cast of The Gates June 1, 2010
• The Gates New Promos (and Scoundrels) May 24, 2010
• The Gates Promo 2 May 17, 2010
• The Gates – New Promo of ABC’s New Summer Show! April 30, 2010
• The Gates Open June 20 This Summer on ABC (New Pics) – promo pics from the pilot included. April 8, 2010. Updated April 18.
• The Gates – an update on ABC’s New Supernatural Summer Show April 5, 2010
• Supernatural Eureka Due This Summer From ABC? March 26, 2010

Photos: SpoilerTV and ABC

Last week Bill got a proposal from the sophisticated and blunt king of Mississippi; Sookie learned of Operation Werewolf; Jason saw an electrifying woman and caught himself a drug dealer. At the end Eric Northman was invited in; Sookie fired her gun, the werewolf leaped and so did Eric. Now this week’s episode.

Before Eric gore himself in the werewolf’s blood (where are your table manners Eric? that was disgusting, at least you where sorry for messing up her rug) Sookie ‘hears’ he is from Jackson and declare she has to go there and save her man. But before that she has the time to pay for Egg’s funeral where she reconciles with Tara and asks her to move back in while she is gone.

Jason is so excited about the drug bust that he realizes he was meant to be a cop, he got ninja level marksmanship skills so he don’t need to study for the test. It is quite amusing how he goes about it, cutting corners and being clueless and charming. But pay attention Jason that naked dream you had is a warning.

Bill is having a rough time this episode first he flames Lorena which leads to a amusing scene where they roll her in a rug to put out the fire and the king dismisses her and Talbot with “Let the cooler heads prevail” and then goes on and threatens Bill in a chilling kind of southern charm way – It was quite funny the way Lorena wanted us to make you watch while she killed your human. Bill would do anything to protect Sookie even swear allegiance to the King. To make us understand how much he hates being a vampire and Lorena we get a flashback to 1868 when he returns to his home only to find his son dead. His wife Caroline is first happy to see him but she soon realizes something isn’t right. In the end he has to make her forget he was ever there.

Tara went from suicide girl to rolling her eyes with Mott in the bed pretty fast. That girl has issues as soon as he starts to ask about her she is out of there. House sitting for Sookie doesn’t go so well for her when Mott come calling she lets him in pretty fast to even if she rants off quite good first. If you let a vampire stick anything into you, you are his to command, is that it?

Sam‘s new family is giving him trouble; first his brother almost had him killed and lies about him leaving. Then they come and sponge on his hospitality in the bar which with their obvious alcohol abuse eventually leads him to ask them to leave. The same night Tommy tries to burglarize the bar but Sam arrives in time to see him flee through the open window.

Pam is eating the help when Jessica calls. She has lost the body in the basement. This is a great scene, Pam is so witty and in a hurry to end the call. Lie back Sweetheart and think of Estonia and the scene switch to pies? Ok now I get it. Eat pie.

Franklin Mott aka Mr Cowboy boots gets off at violence and don’t want to bite Tara during sex because she wanted him too, maybe not the kind of guy you should get involved with. He is obviously there to stake out Bill, but why? He is the one that took Jessica’s house corpse and placed it headless in a draining pipe (causing the Sheriff to quit) so he can blackmail Jessica about information on Bill, wonder if he is a corporate spy? Jessica and Mott’s fang-off and the subsequent questions and showing of head is a highlight.

Arlene visits the doctor and learn to her chock that the baby is two to three months old making it Renee’s? When she starts to tell Terry he gets so happy that she can’t tell him. That is going to hurt down the road.

Alcide Herveaux was a welcome sight, Sookie pegged him for another wolfman sent after her but he convinces her he is sent by Eric. Good plan Eric, send a hunk to protect your love interest, but I guess good werewolf help is hard to find. He seems bitter about his ex (Debbie Pelt) banging the Nazi Pack leader (Cooter). He escorts Sookie to a biker bar where the weres hang out. Wolf is a name quite far from Club Dead, at least Sookie learns the pack was involved (but she already knew that?). Alcide also learns that Debbie is going to get engaged to Cooter tomorrow night.

Lafayette has cahonas to to talk back to Eric when he gives him a blood red sports car. The whole thing is a bit mystifying, why does Eric give him the car? He is his best pusher but why resort to bribes when threats worked so fine before? Eric delivered some good lines about plywood hut not going so well with the new car, gift tax and such. Wonder if the queen made him do it? She seems a bit weak on reality.

Bill raping Lorena and twisting her head halfway around while doing it ends this episode on a twisted note. Or is it that she tells him to make love to her that makes him do it while saying I will never love you. At least she seems to like it, she declare her love while he twists. That is one twisted relationship.

Things are really starting to happen in this Southern Mystery but now we have to wait for two whole weeks while America celebrates it’s Birthday.

New Characters & casting calls

CAROLINE COMPTON played by Shannon Lucio
20’s. Seen in 1866, a lovely, very strong, brave, well-bred and well-spoken Southern woman, Caroline pulls a shotgun on the intruder into her house–clearly prepared to use it–till she realizes it’s her husband Bill (Stephen Moyer), whom she was sure had died in the War.

ALCIDE HERVEAUX played by Joe Manganiello
This good looking, rough looking but articulate and basically decent man is not what he seems. He is a heroic type and he and Sookie get along really well, and it’s possible there’s even an attraction between the two..VERY STRONG RECURRING

HOLLIS
40s, African American, this bouncer in a bar looks like he either was an NFL lineman or has just eaten one. A nice guy who knows Alcide well (though he’s suspicious of Alcide’s guest, Sookie), Hollis bursts in to help when Alcide is getting the crap beaten out of him, and then gives him some unexpected bad news about his fiancee, Debbie…2 speeches & 7 lines, 2 scenes

GUS played by Don Swayze
Another of Coot’s biker thugs, he gets crazy high on V blood…2 lines, 2 scenes (3)

source: Trueblood-online.com

Inside this episode

True Blood 1.04 – 9 Crimes returns July 11

Sookie joins Alcide at a raucous engagement party for his former fiancée, Debbie Pelt; Eric is given a deadline to locate Bill; Andy gets a promotion and draws Jason’s attention; Franklin takes Tara on a road trip; Arlene is irked by Jessica’s arrival at Merlotte’s; Sam brokers a deal with Tommy and his parents; Bill “procures” dinner for Russell and Lorena. This episode introduces Debbie Pelt, Janice Herveaux and Felton Norris.