True Blood Trickles Out A Premiere

B.W.E. and I (and many more I am sure) excitedly tuned in last night to watch the premiere episode of “True Blood“, Season 3. We actually had to take some time on the weekend and re-watch the season 2 finale because we had actually forgotten all that had transpired since that season ended. Anyone who watched knows that Bill is missing, Eggs is dead, and Sam is off hunting down his heritage, and Jessica is, well, just hunting. After waiting what feels like an eternity for the highly-anticipated HBO show what we were treated to was … okay. B.W.E. and I took a moment before “Treme” started up to discuss what we had seen and the bottom line is that it was a pretty good episode, but it was a remarkably unremarkable premiere episode.

I don’t want anyone getting me wrong, I actually liked the episode. I think it set up a lot of excitement for the coming season and a lot of avenues for conflict and shake-ups. Seeing Bill and Sam get all hot and steamy weirded me out but after I thought about it, it did make sense given the scenario. What I am a fan of is taking something which we would assume is a non-event or a minute detail and having it balloon up to be a major plot point. Take the fact that Bill gave Sam so much blood to save his life last season. Take the fact that Jessica took her frustrations out on some hapless trucker. Take the fact that it was Jason that shot Eggs and Andy, one-time self-professed nemesis to Jason Stackhouse, is now covering for him.

I very much enjoyed the set-up of almost everything.

Almost.

What I am a little nervous about is the turn in the story to a whole Vampires VS Werewolves thing. I do love a monster mash. The idea of Vampires and Werewolves in a longstanding racial war is something which, in the idea is very cool. The issue lies in the execution of the idea. It could go in a cool direction A LA “Underworld“. Despite having some dry sequels, the whole “Underworld” story was pretty cool and there was lots of violence and blood and then a little bit more violence, some Kate Beckinsale in leather (rawr), some Rhona Mitra in leather and corsets (rawr), and then some violence. The opposite end of the spectrum is that it could go in the “Twilight” direction. This series just wont STOP having sequels, the vampires have secret rhinestones that make them all sparkly, like Barbi outfit that when you dip in water they change colour, and usually whimper about not having enough hair gel. The Werewolves do a lot of jumping with their shirts off and hoard all the hair gel so the vampires don’t have any. Then Kristen Stewart bites her lip. Then everyone cries.

I certainly hope I don’t get let down this season and look forward to better episodes from the “True Blood” team. In the meantime this episode will tide me over to the next week when I hope things amp up a little more.