True Blood Review: Bill of Wrongs

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True Blood Season 6 kicked off with "Who Are You, Really?," an episode that picked up immediately following the events on the Season 5 finale and concluded...

... with the events on the Season 5 finale.

Not really. But kind of. Sort of. The major lingering question of what the heck happened to Bill when he arose from a pool of blood last year wasn't really answered. Instead, the concluding scene was a pretty big letdown, reminiscent of exactly what we witnessed on "Save Yourself."

Bill was once again inhabited by Lilith and is now... again, we don't really know.

New Bill Compton

I had no doubt in my mind that Bill was pulling one over on Jessica when he tucked her in and brought her a warm glass of milk Tru Blood.

His speech was so overwrought, so heavy-handed, so cheesy. I figured the finale would end with some God-like glimmer in Bill's eye as soon as he left Jessica's room, some kind of sign to the viewer that he had been lying and was, indeed, very aware of exactly who he was - and it was anything but the old, well-meaning, Sookie-obsessed Bill Compton.

Alas, Bill was telling his progeny the truth. Which sort of sucks, at least for now. I loved last season's slow but sure turning of this protagonist into a religion-based villain. I don't want some confused Bill Compton. I definitely don't want some all-powerful Bill Compton who means his friends no harm, as he made clear in their brief porch chat... just as he removed that pesky stake from his chest.

I want a bad ass Bill Compton, someone who either is God or thinks he's God or who at least poses a serious threat in order to shake things up in Bon Temps.

And, granted, we may still get him. But this premiere pretty much ran in place with the major cliffhanging issue of True Blood Season 5, keeping Bill's new powers and identity a mystery to both the viewers and himself. That was a letdown.

Elsewhere:

  • Great speech by Governor Burrell. Is it bad that I agreed with every word out of his mouth? I know we're supposed to be on the side of the vampires here, but from the governor's point of view? When it comes to protecting his citizens? You can't exactly blame the guy for cracking down on the enemy. And the best villains are the ones who reside in a morally grey area, not the ones twirling their figurative mustaches and conjuring up absurd, over-the-top scenarios. We should be in for a fun ride with the human vs. vampire conflict now going all the way up to the Louisiana Statehouse.
  • Also a big fan of the changing relationships that were teased on the premiere. Pam and Eric have clearly lost their bond, prompting the former to get closer to Tara. Jason has seemingly had it with Sookie, while our favorite faerie is no longer oscillating non-stop between Eric and Bill. Thank goodness. It will be refreshing change of pace if Season 6 does away with that love triangle entirely.
  • As for Jason's new mysterious friend? No way can it be Warlow. That vampire doesn't strike me as someone who would fake the role of hitch-hiking pal just to play some kind of con on his enemies. He'd bite first and ask questions later. Or bite first and then bite second and then bite third and not have any questions for anyone. The guess here? Jason and Sookie have a Faery Godfather.
  • Finally, forget Alcide's six-pack if you can for a few moments, ladies. It's his new role as pack master and the power that comes along with it we'll need to keep our eyes on. If absolute power corrupts absolutely, what will be the effects on this werewolf as the season progresses? And will anyone even care as long as he rarely wears a shirt?

What did everyone else think of the premiere? Are you satisfied with the answers we received regarding Bill? Are you looking forward to the escalation of the human vs. vampire war? Was there enough nudity? Is Jason really done with his sister? And the show's producer has teased a major character death at some point this season: Who will it be?!?

Sound off now: What did you make of the True Blood Season 6 premiere?

Who Are You, Really? Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0 (89 Votes)

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.

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