True Blood, Episode 2 “The First Taste” (Review)

Last night’s episode of True Blood, certainly upped the ante if you will. It was much better than the pilot episode. Starting off with the can of whoopa#$ still being unleashed on Sookie by the unfortunately named, Rattrays. But, don’t worry about Sookie, that mysterious dog shows up and distracts them, while Bill uses his stealth-like vampire speed to take out the Rattrays. We also get to see the Jason/Maudette sex tape in its entirety, and we learn that Maudette was very much alive when Jason left.

Remember my question from last week, did some rogue vampire swoop in and finish Maudette off? That’s exactly how it appears. Sheriff Larry, Daryl, and Daryl ask Jason did he switch the tapes, hoping to clear himself when he actually killed Maudette. We hear one of the greatest lines of the night from stupid hot Jason, “Oh, come on Andy, I’m not that smart.” So, true, so true Jason. But, alas Jason is exonerated. You are free to continue being the manslut of the parish.

Last week, I was hard on the Tera character and I probably will be again, but not this week. We learn a source for some of her anger. So, I feel sympathy for her so I will not comment on that atrocious accent. But, it’s still bloody awful. Her mom looks to be an alcoholic and we learn my favorite character from last week Lafayette is her cousin. She and Lafayette go to a party and a seersucker (that outfit was a hot, hot mess) wearing guy attempts to hit on Terra. She tells him that she’s married and after that didn’t work, she changes her approach. And the next best line is uttered, “He already shot one guy in the nuts for buying me a CD.”

Meanwhile, Bill rescues Sookie and tells her the only way for her survive her wounds is to drink his blood. And let’s just say, Sookie clamps on to Bills wrist like he is a strawberry smoothie. Anna Paquin and Steve Moyer have more chemistry than I thought, I might add. Bill and Sookie’s scenes were all pretty hot. Filled with some serious sexual tension. Good job. We learn that Bill was vamped in 1865 when he was 32 years old and he was married with kids. He also fought in the Civil War. The next mooring we learn that by drinking Bill’s blood Sookie, gets keener senses and a stronger libido. They should bottle that I mean it sounds like liquid Viagra with a splash of ecstasy. I’m just saying.

Sookie invites Bill to meet her and family, which he does. Did anyone notice, the Fiona Apple song, First Taste being played in the background? It was almost completely shrouded by the conversation in the room, but not quite. But, still awesome. There were some moments throughout the episode that were purposely there to parallel the civil rights moments and other human racial stereotypes. Basically, Bill passes the grandmothers test and she likes him, whereas Tera and Jason still don’t. We get some telling flashbacks to when Sookie was little and their parents discovered she was telepathic.

We end with Sookie going over to Bills house and meeting three of the scarier vamps we have seen in the show so far. Including the vamp that was doing the vertical mambo with Maudette in the pilot episode.  Overall tonight’s episode made up for the lackluster start. I would give it an 8/10 if I were rating it. Not a Six Feet Under just yet, but it has potential. I am definitely watching next week’s episode, but I’m not completely hooked just yet. Thoughts, groans, moans?

I will leave you guys with these questions for next week’s episode:
Again, is that dog Sam? Anyone notice the odd dog painting on Sam’s office wall?
Will Jason stayed tied to Dawn’s bed?
Did Bill kill the Revered and his family?
And who are those crazy looking vampire friends of Bills?