Over the last few weeks I’ve struggled with my own opinions about True Blood. I feel let down by the lack of seriousness when dealing with what could be an important allegory for civil rights. More recently, I’ve learned to love some of the goofier exterior story lines like Jason’s inane life decisions, Tara’s mother’s drunk demon and the term “fang banger.” Something has troubled me about the series, though. I’m concerned that the idea of an allegory of the civil rights of gay Americans being touted in True Blood is actually a significantly ugly one. If we’re to believe that Vampires represent gay Americans in this narrative, then the representation is unfair and frankly, bigoted. There is only one vampire in the entire world of True Blood who behave with anything less than complete contempt for the normal human world. That vampire is Sookie’s lover Bill. Even in that case, Bill is held up as an exception to the murdering brood that vampires are as a while rather than the rule. I hope very much that this isn’t the intention of the writers and producers, but I’m concerned that they may be playing with fire.

Last week the vampire sheriff Eric asked Sookie and her telepathic abilities to help find a thief in his vamp bar. Sookie fingered the bartender who then attacked her, only to have Bill stake him in the back covering Sookie in his blood. It was just horrifying and over the top. The bartender just exploded and vomited blood all over Sookie. Bill’s killing of the bartender has consequences, and the jackass bar owner Eric demands Sookie in payment for Bill’s crime. In the end, Eric the lame settles for sending Bill away to a tribunal for judgment. Bill goes to Sam and asks him to protect Sookie while he’s gone. Sam agrees and decides to spend some time as a collie on the foot of her bed to protect her. Sookie wakes up to a naked Sam on the foot of her bed. Next week, we may finally get a proper explanation of Sam’s ability.

Jason’s new girlfriend, who seemed such a good influence a little while ago, has convinced Jason to kidnap LaFayette’s vampire lover Eddie to drain him for his blood. Jason actually seems to have regrets. Sadly, he drinks those regrets away over the screams of their captive and has sex with his sadistic hippie girlfriend Amy. Later on Jason has an absolute meltdown when Rene tries to Jackhammer the roots of a tree. Its good to see Jason have a good old Stackhouse freak out. Jason spends some time downstairs with Eddie the captured and learns of his pre-vampire life. Luckily, Jason has some humanity left and is unsure about the morality of draining Eddie.

Tara reluctantly returns to the witch doctor with the fear that she might indeed have a demon as well. I love Tara and her family, but this whole demon bit just isn’t working for me. What is working is the Sam the were-tender and Tara conflict. Sam is opening his heart to her, and right on cue, Tara slams the door. Sam gives Tara the money she needs to have her swamp exorcism. It looks like we may see another drowned possum next week.

This episode was an absolute train wreck. Sookie and Bill’s teary goodbyes are just as hollow and unbelievable as their whole relationship. Other than Jason and Eddie the vampire’s basement conversation, there were simply no compelling scenes. However those scenes of Eddie and Jason are captivating and worth the price of admission.