They can’t all be winners, can they?

 Thoughts/highlights from “9 Crimes,” the fourth episode of True Blood this season:

• As Sookie is tending to Alcide’s battle wounds, she chides him for not purchasing new furniture in the month’s time since his ex-fiancee left him.  I’m sorry Sookie, but how long ago did a Maenad wreak havoc to your grandmother’s house and it still looks like something being taken over by a swamp?
• Bill’s break up call to Sookie is rather cold-blooded (ha!  I made a Vamp joke!).  In the book, Lorena had kidnapped him and he was under her control, so it’s particularly interesting that in the television version, they’ve made this his decision.
• Critics tend to go ga-ga over Anna Paquin’s acting ability and plenty were upset about her being overlooked for an Emmy nomination earlier this week.  She personally bugs the hell out of me with her OVER-acting and horrific Southern accent.  However, her scene after Bill’s call was a pretty realistic crying jag.
• Ok, we’re finally getting somewhere with the Sam and his no-account family plot line.  Let’s keep moving it along or move on PERIOD.
• There were several outdoor scenes that were clearly filmed on a set in this episode.  Disappointing, especially since filming on location in the rural South couldn’t be THAT expensive.
• “Well!  That was the best sex I’ve had in decades!” as Lorena cracks her neck after an especially “twisted” romantic interlude.
• TEASE!  Eric flies over to Jackson to visit Sookie and we get some very hot Sookie/Eric foreplay…until Eric wakes from his day-dream (can you really call it a DAY dream when talking about Vamps?)
• Alcide is kinda a jerk.  In the book, he’s clearly still hung up on Debbie and is stand-offish and uncertain as to what to think about Sookie.  In the television series, he comes off as just rude and hateful.  He better get thoughtful and endearing, fast.
• Speaking of Alcide, his sister Janice isn’t exactly what I pictured.  When reading the book, I thought she was a sweet, Southern gal who had a family and did hair.  This Janice, while still sweet, is kinda trashy. 
• Also, I don’t like that they’ve changed the Were/Shifter mythos in the TV series.  In the books, weres/shifters are only the first-born and are only from “pure bred” parents.  However, Sam and Tommy are both shifters (when Sam is oldest and should be the only one and has a human father and shifter mother) and Janice is older than Alcide in the TV series but isn’t a were…I don’t think (in the book she isn’t anyway).
• I didn’t comment on this for the last episode because I just thought he was upset, but Bud Dearborne is actually retiring.  I don’t know how I feel about that yet.
• Ha Ha…Sookie got to Alcide.  He went out and bought a frying pan.
• I’m digging Sookie’s new biker look!  I like her as brunette.
• Can vampires smoke cigars?  They don’t breathe.
• Is it just me or is Bill’s wardrobe significantly improved this season?  It must be the living in a mansion full of men with good taste.  Actually, he looks less pale and has a sexy new swagger too (see: walk through strip club).  This is a Bill I could get used to!
• Apparently people love giving redheads tips.  Did you know this?  Neither did I.  Arlene was once good comic relief; right now she’s just annoying. 
• I REALLY don’t like what they are doing with the Calvin Norris character.  Sure, it’s an inbred community, but they aren’t supposed to be racists and meth dealers.  DISLIKE!
• Honestly, the Franklin Mott-Tara  relationship was a throwaway plot line even in the book.  Regardless, I’d like to see it move along towards a conclusion sooner rather than later.
• I haven’t seen hair like Debbie’s since the early 90s.  Yay for bangs!  And is EVERYONE trashy in Jackson?
• Oh no Pam!  But give it up to my girl for clear-headed thinking whilst being tortured.
• The glasses the Weres use for Russell’s blood remind me of church communion glasses (my church always uses little individual plastic ”shot glasses” of grape juice for communion)
• When Bill’s stripper gave her name of “Destiny,” Alex and I both said aloud the next line in the script “What’s your REAL name?”
• I’ve heard a lot of criticism of the special effects but they’ve never bothered me until tonight.  When Coot the Wolf starts to howl, it’s almost laughable.

Of the 4 episodes this season, this was my least favorite.  Lots of naysayers have been down on the sheer number of plot lines going on this season but I haven’t derided it until tonight.  Some of the plot lines are dragging so much, I actually began to become distracted, my mind wandering off and, once, I even picked up the laptop to check email.  I understand the need for set up, and the next episode looks very enticing, but I’m in favor of concluding or wrapping up the Sam/Family, Franklin/Tara, and Jason/Cop plot lines.  Unfortunately, we’re getting ready to embark on a Lafeyette/Jesus story too.

And just a final randomness:  Did you know the beer used at Lou Pine’s is Wilmington’s own Wolf Beer?  Here’s a link to a story all about it, as well as all of True Blood‘s connections to North Carolina:  http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100626/ARTICLES/100629758/1177?p=1&tc=pg