True Blood Round Table: "Save Yourself"

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True Blood Season 5 has come to an end.

But with four kids for Andy, a new relationship between Tara and Pam and some sort of Bill/Lilith-like creation formed, discussion over "Save Yourself" has only just begun.

In the latest edition of the TV Fanatic Round Table, staffers Matt Richenthal, Chris O'Hara, Leigh Raines and Jim Garner are joined by Liz Henderson of True-Blood.net to break it all down. Let's dig in!

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What was your favorite scene from the finale?
Matt: Every single one involving Jason. He managed to crack me up (If I want to be a fool then I will be a fool! That is my God given right as an American!) and also inspire me, going all business and taking down every vamper that came his way. All in the name of protecting his sister, too. Good guy, that Jason Stackhouse. Sucks for Jessica, though.

Chris: Oh man this is tough. The scene where Bill poisoned Salome was the most intense. If I had to name a favorite that exemplified what I love most about this show, though, I choose the scene where Eric made like Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles and popped his head into Jason’s truck window to ask him to pull over. I must have rewound that exchange three times before forcing myself to move on to the rest of the finale.

Liz: When Bill reveals his plan to remove Salome from the equation. Until he started talking, I was sure that he was taking her down just because she was nuts and high on the Lilith thing. That it was all part of his and Eric's plan to take down the Sanguinistas. I was floored when he revealed his actual intent. Well played, writers and Stephen Moyer.

Leigh: The final scene just blew my mind. I was always kinda on the Bill/Sookie team but after everything he said, and Eric showing how much he cared for her, I am off Bill. Or should I say Billith? Please tell me we're not spending all of next season looking at Bill soaked in blood like Carrie. Overall, an intense and amazing scene that elicited a very audible gasp from me.

Jim: Arlene, Lafayette and Jane watching those glowing and sparkling babies being born. All three were totally unphased by the bright light coming out of her... and by the fact that she had four good-sized gals in there.

Was Rosalyn's death the coolest in show history?
Matt: Yes. I've heard of a fly in the ointment, but that was ridiculous... ly awesome!

Liz: I laughed so hard! It was by far the best death scene we've witnessed on this show. They continue to raise the bar!

Chris: I agree with Liz on this one. Sam has really learned to use his shifter powers to his advantage this season more so than ever. I loved the shots of Bill and Salome seen through the multi-lensed eyes of a fly.

Leigh: Sam is in it to win it. Definitely a great death scene. At first I thought he was trying to sacrifice himself for Luna and then, POW, Sam looked like Lilith too. However, my answer is no. Greatest death scene was season two Maryann, when Sam turned into the devil horse and ripped her heart out.

Jim: Rosalyn wins hands-down for funniest, but coolest of the night was Russell's death. First, leaking the light of the fairy he had just eaten... and then realizing what was going to happen right before he popped.

What should Andy name his children?
Matt: Easier question ever: The BelleFOUR.

Liz: Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan. Why not?

Chris: Terry Sue, Andy May, Sookie Joe and Arlene Lynn.

Leigh: Names? Andy needs to stamp them or something to keep track. Let's go Dr. Seuss on this: Thing One, Thing Two, Thing Three, Thing Four.

Jim: Tinkerbell, Iridessa, Vidia, Rosetta. What?!? I can't be the only one who watches True Blood and Disney Fairies.

Were you happy to see Tara lay one on Pam?
Matt: No. I find the Maker/Makee relationships - Eric/Pam, Bill/Jessica - fascinating on their own. I didn't need, or care for, the addition here of a lesbian Maker/Makee relationship. Never thought I'd write this, but not EVERYthing has to be about sex, True Blood.

Liz:

Chris: Pam and Tara’s relationship was possibly my favorite story line of the season. They both have lived such hard lives, largely on their own. They are both survivors who deserved someone good in their lives. Jessica’s “I knew it” was a great touch, as was Tara’s order to Pam to stay alive because she was owed a date.

Leigh: At first I thought Pam and Tara was out of nowhere and then I realized it made a lot of sense. Everything Chris said is spot on. Loved Sookie and Jessica's reactions Oh, Okay... I knew it!!! The bonus scene had another great Pam and Tara exchange.

Were you surprised Bill drank the blood?
Matt: Gosh yes. I figured Sookie would (lamely) talk him out of it or we'd learn he was pulling one big con all along. Instead, we were left with a genuinely intriguing cliffhanger and a new direction for a character that had grown stale.

Liz: No, I was stunned! That whole scene shocked me speechless. At first I thought they actually killed Bill and I was in disbelief. Then, when he rose out of that puddle of blood as the new Billith, I was shocked and delighted. Just think of the possibilities for Season 6 with this transformation. No book fan would ever have seen this coming - and as one myself, I'm thrilled about it. After all, we've already read the books. This gives me something new and exciting to look forward to involving beloved characters.

Chris: Not after his speech about how he was tired of always feeling guilty about what he was. It didn’t shock me to see him betray Salome, either, and I rather liked his calculated bet that she wouldn’t detect the silver. His calm and cool admission about killing Kibwe did raise my eyebrows, however, as very ballsy. When he was reduced to a puddle of goo I knew he wasn’t done, but his resurrection was still a very intense scene made that much more so by the fear in Eric’s eyes.

Leigh: If Bill would have just gave in after one speech from Sookie, it would've been pretty lame. As much as I love her and believe in the powers of her "fairy vagina" (Copyright, Pam).

Jim: Bill has been on the bat-shit-crazy train ever since he stopped Eric from escaping a few episodes ago. When he hadn't tainted the blood but replaced it to kill Salome, I knew he would drink it. That said, I'm not sure what surprised me more him being reborn as Billith (great term, Leigh) or Eric screaming "RUN" to Sookie.

Give Season 5 a grade.
Matt: B. I might have gone C if not for the surprising conclusion, too. There are still too many characters and too many stories that feel wholly removed from everything else going on. In a word: Terry. In two words: smoke monster. In three: come on now!

Liz: I'm giving it an A. It has been my favorite so far. It hit on all points for me: character growth, action, drama, cheese, fun and shock.

Chris: I give it an A as well. I liked how each week we delved deeper into the emotional toll this world has wrought on the main cast of characters. Jason and Sookie’s heart to hearts were a nice addition, as were the various flashbacks to characters pasts and origins. This was all done without sacrificing the light-hearted and comedic moments that do well to keep the show from going too dark.

Leigh: Sorry guys, going with a B. There were a couple of storylines we could've dropped. I also got really sick of The Authority by the end.

Jim: A-. Overall, the episodes moved well, up until the finale. I felt like they rushed too many resolutions into the final episode. There were at least two conclusions that could have been worked into the previous one.

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True Blood Season 5 Episode 12 Quotes

Jason: Something funny fanger?
Eric: Yes blood bag.
Jason: Leach.
Eric: Breather.
Jason: Dead fu-k.
Eric: Meat sack.
Sookie: Stop acting like children.
Nora: You smell like something I once dreamed of.
Sookie: Eric please ask your sister to stop looking at me like that.

Nora: What is she?
Eric: She is a waitress.

True Blood Season 5 Episode 12 Music

  Song Artist
Save Yourself Stabbing Westward iTunes
Dazz Brick iTunes