I Will Rise Up, Episode 9

This episode completed the cliffhanger from last time -- the bomb does go off and everyone is OK, except for Stan the Dallas Sheriff (no great loss) and Sookie's independence from Eric. Now that Eric has tricked Sookie into drinking his blood they are forever linked. I know that the Team Eric fans are loving this and that they can't wait for Eric to be Sookie's boyfriend. Now wait a minute: this is still the same Eric that imprisoned and tortured Lafayette and who called Bill's maker to torture him so he couldn't rescue Sookie. Still, Eric is very charming and he's fun to watch, but that doesn't mean I want Bill to stand aside. TV Bill is the good guy and is the moral force of the show. He is the guy who could be us if we turned into a vampire; he was turned against his will and he is fighting tooth and nail for love and for his humanity. Book Bill is not the same as TV Bill and I think almost everyone out there knows that. Book Bill wasn't as developed as Book Eric and he doesn't think of Sookie's feelings when his own needs come first. If we had a main character of wishy washy morals (wait, that's Eric) we'd have another Mad Men and Don Draper on our hands and one is enough, thank you. Our Bill played by Stephen Moyer is a gentleman who didn't yell at Sookie when she drank Eric's blood. He could have! Instead, he says, you did so because you are so tender-hearted and Eric took advantage of that. Book Bill kills the humans after the lair bombing, while TV Bill shows mercy. I hope that Bill continues to fight hard for Sookie's love and humanity. I believe that Eric wants to turn Sookie into vampire.

Another great point in the episode was when Lafayette and Lettie Mae confronted Marianne to get Tara back. Lafayette: "I'm feeling you and you a soulless bitch!" Again, Nelsan Ellis was beyond perfect and I was mad he didn't get enough screen time. I also loved Jason and Sookie's heart-to-heart and Hoyt's confrontation with his mom who hates everyone, especially women who wear red shoes. Just when you think this show is too crazy, the real emotions the characters feel ground everything. Way to go, Alan Ball, et al! Of course, the greatest catharsis was Godric's death by sun at the episode's conclusion. Thanks to Sookie's courage to stand by his side till the end, Godric is still surprised after 2,000 years and he meets the sun without fear.

Next week: our good guys return to Bon Temps and find it's been hit by Hurricane Marianne (not Bill!). I guess everyone will regroup at Bill's or Jason's house since Marianne has taken over Sookie's place. Next episode will also bring the characters who don't spend a lot of time together in the same frame -- as usual, can't wait till Sunday!