So, here we go, into the fourth year. We’ve had psycho killers, demi-gods, religious nutters, mad kings… What do we face now?
Witches. Well, a nutty witch because it seems that US TV can’t handle witches being nice people, and those that are, well… it’s SO SAD!
The season starts off with Sookie Stackhouse returning from the Other Place after it all goes a bit pear-shaped. It seems that Fairyland is not all it’s cracked up to be.
However, time is, as we all know, relative. As is the help she gets to leave. And whilst Sookie thinks she’s just been away for a little while, it has in fact been a year.
A lot can happen in a year. People move on. Lakes get dragged for missing waitresses, old flames become Kings, brothers start to become proper policemen. And ‘abandoned’ Stackhouse homes get bought by vampire Sheriffs.
The backstories to this year include Lafayette learning that he’s a medium, setting up the whole possession storyline to enable covern leader Marnie a little more oomph. Also Tara appears to have decided that men are all bastards – understandable considering what’s happened to her in the past – and become a cage fighter. (Yeah, we know.) Meanwhile, Sheriff Andy Bellefleur is a V addict, leaving Jason to pick up the slack, and Jessica and Hoyt may not be the greatest couple around after all.
Season 4 almost felt like True Blood by numbers. And boy, are we sick of Sookie whinging and wanting her own way. Woe betide anyone who says no to her. We have, in the past, wondered if this is a story of a girl becoming a woman: discovering her sexuality and running wild with it; the power it gives her over men; her dangerous adventures with her vampire friends and the love triangle that emerges.
Except it’s not her story…
The real story in True Blood is that of her brother, Jason. How a bumbling, good for nothing, child man grew to become a good, decent, honest, loyal person. Jason in Season 2 is almost having to hold the Bon Temps police together. And as we know, Jason isn’t blessed with huge amounts of brain power, but he just knows what’s right and what’s wrong. Watching Ryan Kwanten play him straight down the line is a joy. In an actor who isn’t so committed to the role, Jason could just be a comedy figure. As it is, True Blood is HIS story.
Next year, Mad Queens and Reborn Kings…
Extras: Not too much on the DVD edition, with the lion’s share going on the Blu-ray set – six commentaries, a bit of behind the scenes malarky and.. well.. that’s about it.
Released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 21st May 2012 by Warner Home Video.
> Buy the Seasons 1-3 boxset on Amazon.
Watch the Season 4 trailer…
What did you think of Season 4? Let us know below…