BLOG True Blood Episode Review 2.11 - Frenzy

None

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Blogger Kelly Harker gives her verdict for episode eleven of True Blood. (WARNING: Contains spoilers!)

2.11 “Frenzy”
Written by Alan Ball
Directed by Dan Minahan

Blogger rating:

THE ONE WHERE Bill enjoys a mini-holiday at the Vampire Queen’s mansion where he drinks from a lovely cabana boy, soaks up some faux sunshine, gets a lesson on maenads, and enjoys a game of Yahtzee. Not knowing that Bill, Sookie and Jason have returned from Dallas, Sam seeks out Eric’s help regarding Maryann. Meanwhile, Jason and Andy hope to be the town’s saviors but don’t really accomplish anything; Hoyt has second thoughts about his relationship with Jessica; Sookie and Lafayette continue to try to protect Tara from Maryann; the towns folk remain bonkers.

VERDICT What’s the best thing about this episode? Yes, I agree that all of the scenes with Eric were really good... but for me the best, most shocking scene is learning that Maryann was actually summoned because of Tara’s exorcism in season one. It was the dark rituals of the exorcism that actually made it happen. This great plot reveal ties both seasons together perfectly, and it answers a lot of questions like why Maryann has been so invested in Tara, why Miss Jeanette was killed, and why Maryann choose Bon Temps to corrupt. With the second season starting to wind down it’s great to finally get some clear answers about Maryann. With one episode to go before the finale, and every main character trying to figure out how to kill Maryann, a resolution for the maenad problem in Bon Temps seems promising. I really can’t imagine the writers dragging her storyline into the third season.

Jessica and Hoyt’s romance also may not continue into the next season as problems resulting from her being a vampire keeps disturbing the harmony between them. Sure they’ve got their problems, but it would be such a shame to see Jessica and Hoyt break up because they’re so adorable together. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those two.

And is how they’re portraying Evan Rachel Wood as the Vampire Queen a disappointment to anyone else? Although I like how sensual the character is, I was really hoping Sophie-Anne Leclerq was going to be more malevolent. However, Eric and Bill seemed to be terrified of her, so perhaps her character is just waiting to pleasantly surprise me...

MORE SEX PLEASE, WE’RE HBO Perhaps the first time for a True Blood episode, there wasn’t any actual sex going on. Just a lot of foreplay. What’s up with that?! Hurumpf.

GUEST APPEARANCE Sophie-Anne Leclerq, the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, is played by Evan Rachel Wood ( American Gothic, Practical Magic ).

MAENADS 101 According to the Queen Vamp, Maryann (being a maenad) needs to offer a supernatural being (preferably Sam) as a sacrifice to Dionysus in order to summon him. All of her hard work in Bon Temps has been in hopes of summoning and pleasing her god, Dionysus so that he will marry her...or something. And Maryann also wants to die. I think. Even with Sophie-Anne’s informative lesson about maenads, I’m still a bit lost...

VAMPIRES 101 Vampires have the ability to fly, as proved by Eric Northman when he bolts into the night sky like Superman, with a surprised Sam and Arlene’s two kids looking on. What a fun talent for his character to have! Really, could Eric be any cooler?

EWW! GROSS! The scene showing one of Bon Temps female residents giddily humming a song whilst slowing cutting her own fingers off was very disturbing, creepy and gory. Yay!

WTF?! The episode ends with black-eyed Tara and Eggs building a nest to protect a very large egg (possibly of the ostrich variety.). Is this another gift offering for Dionysus, or a hint at a new supernatural being about to be born into the series?

BEST LINE Eric: [About Arlene’s two kids] “They’re like humans, but miniature. Teacup humans.”

SFX Magazine is the world's number one sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine published by Future PLC. Established in 1995, SFX Magazine prides itself on writing for its fans, welcoming geeks, collectors, and aficionados into its readership for over 25 years. Covering films, TV shows, books, comics, games, merch, and more, SFX Magazine is published every month. If you love it, chances are we do too and you'll find it in SFX.

Latest in Fantasy Shows
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO boss says new Game of Thrones spin-off's battles "match" the mainline series at a "fraction of the price"
Abubakar Salim in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon season 3's opening battle is "beastly", according to one of the show's stars
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things
The Rings of Power newcomer Jamie Campbell Bower has 'revealed' his season 3 character – but it could be a Sauron-style misdirect
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things 4
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 adds Stranger Things star and Eddie Marsan to cast
Jeff Goldblum in Kaos
Jeff Goldblum's fantasy series Kaos was Netflix's most-watched cancelled show of late 2024
The Wheel of Time season 3
The Wheel of Time showrunner teases future of the Amazon fantasy series beyond season 3: "My job is to do everything I can to get it to the end"
Latest in Reviews
The pump header of the NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB showing a 35 degree cpu
NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB review: "Has some solid design points that make installation a lot easier"
Logitech G Pro X TKL Rapid gaming keyboard on a wooden desk with blue lighting
Logitech G Pro X TKL Rapid review: "one of the best value Hall effect gaming keyboards out there"
Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt in The Electric State
The Electric State review: "Although this may be their most visually stunning movie yet, it looks like the Russos are yet to find their footing outside of the MCU"
Doggerland player board
Doggerland review: "A delicate dance of survival and management that doesn't feel weighted toward a single strategy"
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX gaming mouse standing upright on a wooden desk
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX review: "a force to be reckoned with"
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again season 1 review: "There have been far worse Marvel projects, but few as disappointing as this"