It’s about time we got some new blood around these parts.
On last night’s sixth-season finale of HBO’s “True Blood,” the show finally seems to have taken a step in the right direction — forward. Novel idea, eh?
After 30 minutes of a typical season ender, something crazy happened. Yes, everyone saved Sookie and she ended up out of harm’s way, but as a result (spoiler alert) the show appeared to kill off fan-favorite and hunky Swede Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård). Rumors have been whirling all season that a major character would die, and it makes sense that it’d be Skarsgård — whose film career has taken off in recent months with roles in “What Maisie Knew” and “The East.” and who is said to be in talks to play “Tarzan” in an upcoming reboot
Then came the even bigger shocker: a black screen with the words “six months later.”
Those three words can destroy a show . . . or save it. By the looks of the last 20 minutes of the episode, series co-executive producer Brian Buckner is determined to ensure the latter.
After taking over the job mid-season from creator Alan Ball, Buckner spoke at last month’s Comic-Con about his plans to get the show — which in recent seasons has gotten increasingly confusing with a reliance on 748 subplots per episode — back to its roots.
“We’re going to try and condense the number of stories we’re telling and really make this feel like we’re going home,” he said.
The proof seems to be in the blood pudding.
After the flash forward, we find all of Bon Temps back home and in a whole new scenario.
There are now two distinct types of vampires — the good ol’ guys like our friends Bill, Jessica and Tara and a new zombie-esqe kind infected with Hep V.
Under the guidance of vamp leader Bill Compton, now a bestselling author, the town is advised to have each human sign up for a “monogamous feeding relationship with a healthy vampire.”
What’s that going to mean for the Bon Temps folk? And is Northman really dead? Who knows, but you’ve got our attention again, “True Blood.” You’ve come back to bite us right where we want it.