A combination of vacation with limited internet access, an apartment move, and a hellish cold kept me from seeing the second episode of Series 8 until this weekend. In fact, I watched it back-to-back with Episode 3. So I thought I’d merge them both into one review, much like the Doctor sharing his mind with […]
Eric Rezsnyak
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“True Blood” Series Finale: “Thank You”
I think we can all agree that this one falls under the “Whimper” category, not “Bang,” right? I have actually been digging the laid-back, ongoing-wake feeling of the second half of this last season. I thought it was bold in its own way, and I enjoyed much of the character work it entailed. But I […]
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“Doctor Who” Series 8, Episode 1: “Deep Breath”
After nearly a year of teasing, we finally got to meet our new Doctor, Peter Capaldi. Of course, first episodes with new Doctors are tricky. The character himself doesn’t really know he really is, so it’s difficult for audiences to get a handle on him as well. I felt that way about Tennant and Eccleston […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 9: “Love is to Die”
The wake for “True Blood” – which is really what the second half of this season has felt like – continued with more characters making their peace and accepting their fates. It’s certainly not the most exciting way to wrap up a show – there is no Big Bad, no real threat left to menace […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 8: “Almost Home”
In this episode, Bill Compton cemented his place as the biggest idiot on this show. And that’s really saying something, given the terrible decision making all around, especially from the Stackhouse clan. But Vampire Bill is really the absolute dumbest. Before we get into that, I realized about halfway through this episode that something wonderful […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 7: “This May Be the Last Time”
This fairly low-key episode was notable primarily for the next few stops on the Long-Gone Character Cameo Train. This time around we got more Hoyt, psychic torment courtesy of Steve Newlin (and a cameo by the decapitated former governor of Louisiana), fairy granddad Niall, and best of all, the long-forgotten Dr. Ludwig, who I don’t […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 6: Karma
Anyone who has ever had issues with lawyers needs to watch that magnificent segment with Vampire Bill and the attorney. And then they need to slow clap, clap, clap at its last 2 minutes, rewind, and watch it again. Seriously, that was a thing of beauty, and probably especially gratifying for anyone who has been […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 5: “Lost Cause
This week, “True Blood” turned into an adult version of “Can’t Hardly Wait” as basically the entire town descended upon Sookie’s Haus of Death for a swingin’ shindig where everyone made Big Life Decisions or slept with someone other than his/her partner. Plus, Eric dressed up like JR Ewing, the Yakuza shot up the George […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 4: Death is Not the End
The first half of Sunday’s episode felt like a LOT of filler. It was all character work that, arguably, needed to happen, but it felt obligatory rather than revelatory. But the second half of the episode really took off, featuring some great moments with Eric, Sookie, LaFayette, Bill, Jessica, and Arlene. And then it all […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 3: “Fire in the Hole”
I literally moaned, “NOOOOOOOOOO!” multiple times during Sunday night’s episode. I guess that means the showrunners are doing something right. I am invested, OK?! I thought I was totally ambivalent about this dumb show but there were two moments there that REALLY hurt. It was also an awfully preachy episode. I felt like it should […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 2: “You Found Me”
Real talk: if the episode had ended after the first 5-minute scene between Jason and Eric, I would have considered a triumph. A, um, “rousing” success. Jason Stackhouse sex dreams are always good for the soul, and Jason Stackhouse wrestling with, and then giving himself up to, Eric Northman…yes. This is what we wanted. All […]
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“True Blood” Season 7, Episode 1: “Jesus Gonna Be Here”
If the final-season premiere was any indication, “True Blood” is going to be limping to the finish line. That makes me sad. What was once one of the greatest guilty pleasures on television has become such an echo of itself that it can’t even do exploitative trash right. I found Sunday night’s episode largely boring, […]
