True Blood Re-Up: Frenzy
Hitchcock’s ’72 film Frenzy is near-perfect and has one of the most tastefully shot rape scenes in movie history. True Blood’s Frenzy was near-shit and raped my retinas for 54 minutes. I can’t believe Alan Ball wrote this episode. The big build up to Evan Rachel Wood’s Queen character was an immense letdown, which is odd because the character herself should’ve been awesome. How’d they fuck up that? Wood had miserable delivery, that’s how. I’ve seen The Wrestler so I know she can act, but having dialogue that Ball’s children wrote doesn’t help. In a nutshell, the Queen explained that you can be anything you want to be if you use your imagination. Well, I’m imagining myself as Odin and you’re not invited to Valhalla, Mr. Ball.
I’m glad that they teamed up Bellefleur and Jason, two of the funniest characters (Eric being all of the other funniest characters), and stressed that these two would be the saviors of Bon Temps. Like, they really stressed it. Ball took a giant dialogue dump all over us and delivered a speech about Americans. I understand it was meant to be humorous and tongue and cheek, but it wasn’t. All the actors, even my beloved Nelsan Ellis, just appeared to shut down this episode. Ellis, as Lafayette, had a flashback and saw Eric in the guise of Lettie Mae. Ellis must’ve slept through the “terrified” lesson in acting class because he was just acting goofy. Sometimes when I play with my parents’ dog, I roll into a ball and whimper so he’ll get worked up and have a panic attack. That’s what Lafayette did. Eric was on some Neo shit and flew. Eric. Can. Fly. Sure, why not? That part and the Yahtzee bits were the only joy I got from this week. Two episodes left, Let’s Do This Right, Please.
Below: This video of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins performing “Frenzy” (used during the credits) is far more enjoyable than the entirety of this week’s True Blood.
- Oh Mars
September 1st, 2009 at 10:17 pm
hell to the yes with the true blood frenzy!
September 1st, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Yo dude, great re-up per usual. You know my thoughts on this episode. More or less utter dogshit, punctuated only by awesomeness via Eric flying. Props for the Neo reference.
Alan Ball’s social commentary devolved into ninth grade melodrama poetry, I was cringing FOR him.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 am
The queen was a massive let down. I thought she was going to be a bit more serious and somewhat similar to the Judge when Bill was punished for killing that vamp in season 1. So whats up with Sookies white trash cuz? Also, The Queens explanation of what Maryann is, pretty lame. I thought Maryann was a much bigger deal but she made her seem like some kind of nuisance more than anything. Hope the finale is good, from the previews it looks iffy already. Those white dresses? ugh.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:46 am
This episode fucking sucked period. Now we have to wait to weeks until the last episode and I pretty much want the whole cast to die except Jason, Andy and Eric. That dumb bitch Tara got all possesed within 5 seconds of running back to man tits Eggs (surprise) and now Lafayette is too which I just think is cheap. It’s like they ran out of ideas midway through the season and were just like well we’ll ride this maenad thing out for another 8 episodes. The way things went down in the book were way better. The hotel in Dallas blows up and Eric saves soooooookie by riding pam’s coffin down the side of the hotel with Pam in it.
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 am
I’m really bitter about having the Frenzy bad taste in my mouth for two effing weeks while we wait for another probably shitty episode. I’ve lost all hope for season 2 at this point. And you’re so right, how did they screw up Evan Rachel Wood’s character? So annoying.
Remember when this was like, the best show ever?
Huh.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
For some reason it makes me happy to know that people hated this episode as much as I did. It makes me certain that the I’m not just hating, and this show has fallen into shit.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
@Caffeine: You’re absolutely not the only one. I’ve yet to talk to anyone who isn’t completely pissed at Alan Ball & Co. but still watches in misery every. single. week. I’m just hanging on to the hope that the season 2 clusterfuck will clear the way for an amazing season 3. Though knowing what I know of the books, I’m a little worried.
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Hell yeah, that definitely describes my viewing process this season. I really have no idea what happens in the books / how close the television show follows it? Has S2 followed (at least loosely) the second book?
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:09 am
I’ve talked to one person who said it was a lot different than the books. But I dunno.
It’s super weird what they’ve done with Lafayette this season. The majority of viewers adore him, yet he’s barely been in this season. And now they turn him into a black-eye? Dumb.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
see i thought i was the only one who thought this episode sucked! smh.
this season is turning out to be a dud. i’ve read the first three books — im hoping season 3 is as good as the third book… sooooo looking forward to it! :)
the fucking season finale better be awesome….