Review of Episode 8 of Season Three of "True Blood"

I originally wasn't going to write a review of this week's episode of "True Blood," but the sheer adrenaline level of the episode, which managed to blend together a gay seduction scene, plenty of violence, vampire politics, and a twisted plot into one what is, without a doubt, the best episode that has aired so far this season.

Easily the most exciting moment of the evening came during an erotic counter between our old friend Eric and the Vampire King's sultry, sulky lover and partner Talbot. Of course, this involved a great deal of clothing shedding and could have been one of the most erotic scenes yet played, if it weren't for the inconvenient fact that Eric staked the breathless Talbot in revenge for Russell's murdering of his own family a thousand years earlier. The death of Talbot, while unfortunate, is not entirely unexpected. After all, it was just a matter of time before Eric finally chose his preferred method of revenge. It's just sad that it had to be the petulant but ultimately likable Talbot.

Another noteworthy moment occurred in the hospital, when Bill and Sookie reluctantly agree that they cannot possibly pursue their relationship with one another without pain for both of them. This was easily the most powerfully emotional scene that the series has yet produced, and I'll be the first to admit that I had more than a few tears in my eyes at the end. Fortunately for everyone involved, however, Bill and Sookie engage in a tearful reunion (and a great deal of passionate sex,) after an aborted attempt at capture by Russell and his werewolf goons (he finds himself called away by the tragic death of Talbot.)

This episode was the best yet in a myriad of other ways. It allowed us to see some strong moments from Tara, something that hasn't truly happened since Season One (let's not forget that she was almost constantly under MarryAnn's control during Season Two.) It was nice to see her finally growing a spine and having some meaningful conversation with Sookie. This episode was also noteworthy in that it showed some deftness with several interestingly different camera-angles and unique shots, showing that the director of this show is just as talented as the writers.

All in all, this was my favorite episode of "True Blood" yet aired, bar none. If this episode is any indication of what is to come, I think that we can expect to see much more of this kind of intensity from the rest of the series. Let's hope that HBO realizes that this series has great potential and keeps renewing it. It'd be a shame to see something this delicious drift off into the no-where land of cancellation.