'True Blood' season 4, episode 6 recap: Bewitched (Eric), bothered (Bill) and bewildered (Jason)

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on July 31, 2011 at 10:30 PM, updated August 01, 2011 at 1:02 AM
true-blood-season-4-episode-6-recap-bill.jpgThis week on "True Blood," Bill (Stephen Moyer) seeks to impose the true death on an amnesiac Eric just as Eric moves closer to Sookie. Coincidence? Sookie thinks not.

Last week on ""True Blood"">True Blood": Matricide, incest, and one really creepy grandfather.

It looks like Sookie and Eric are finally going to do it in a non-REM way. He's undressing her, telling her she's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen, and she somehow shakes off her lust for a moment to make a crack about him merely not remembering anything more beautiful. Things are getting serious on the couch, but just then Bill bursts through the door, having just heard from Pam that Eric's alive and well and living in Sookie's cellar. Bill stops short when he sees them in flagrante delicto, and Eric gets up and bares his fangs while Sookie covers herself. Bill attacks, throwing Eric up against the wall and smacking him around -- really, Bill, that's the best you can do? -- and then Eric has Bill pinned against the door frame, his hand at Bill's throat, squeezing. He throws Bill against the fireplace and is about to stake him with the poker, but decides to ask questions first, skewer later. "Who is this vampire to you?" he asks Sookie, who tells him Bill is the King of Louisiana. Eric drops the poker and retracts his fangs. He bends his knee and says, "My liege, will you forgive me?"

Next thing we know, Bill and his goons are dragging Eric back to Bill's mansion while Sookie trails, protesting. "You aren't my king," she tells Bill. Bill: "You made that abundantly clear when you lied to my face." Sookie: "You've got a hell of a nerve lecturing to me on lying." Eric tells Bill that Sookie was just protecting him. In response, Bill's goons put silver handcuffs on him and lead him downstairs to Vampatraz. Sookie thinks Bill is just arresting Eric because he's jealous. He says who is in her bed is of no concern to him. "I took an oath to protect the vampires of Louisiana," he says (oops -- Stephen Moyer's native English accent rises to the surface here.) Eric is dangerous because he's under the power of necromancy, Bill says. And then he explains that Eric will do or say anything to make Sookie his. Which is it, Bill? Sookie wonders. "If you ever loved me, you won't hurt him." Sookie says she won't leave without Eric, but Bill tells his goons to consider Sookie a trespasser.

Eric is thrown into a cell with the rotting Pam, who admits to Eric that she spilled in the beans on his whereabouts. He makes her take off her veil. Her face is even more of a wreck, but on the plus side, her hair still looks fabulous. Pam reminds Eric how he feels about Bill: "He's a self-loathing, power-hungry pompous little dork and you hate his guts ... You are a Viking god. You bow to no one." Eric says he doesn't remember any of his bloody past, and he's not the vampire she thinks he is. At least, not anymore.

Bill gives Nan Flanagan the lowdown on Eric and Marnie. He tells Nan that Eric is "extremely unstable," and that Marnie intended to use Eric against his fellow vamps. He wants a warrant to impose the true death. "I'm sure you're real broken up about that," Nan snarks. She tells him she'll run it up through the channels.

Terry and Arlene's house is on fire thanks to the book of matches that lit itself on their bureau. Arlene goes to grab Mikey from his crib, but he's gone. Terry pushes Arlene out the door and promises to find Mikey. But there's an explosion, and when they make it out of the house, they see Mikey sitting on a blanket with Arlene's two kids, who tell them that they found Mikey out there when they rushed out of the house: "He was just sitting in the yard hanging with that ugly old doll." If that isn't creepy enough, Mikey seems to be making eyes at a black woman in an old-fashioned yellow dress, who waves to him. When Arlene turns around, there's nothing there except a little smoke. The next day, Sam, who rents the house out to Terry and Arlene, tries to make sense of the fire. "The ghost of my serial killer ex-fiance just tried to kill us in our sleep!" Arlene explains. What's there to understand? Andy Bellefleur clearly still has it in for Sam, suggesting faulty wiring. Sam tells him that he recently replaced the wiring, that Arlene and Terry lost everything, and that his big investment is a pile of cinders. Then he suggests to Andy that the next time he shifts, maybe he'll turn into a doberman and chew off Andy's face. Andy harrumphs, saying maybe he'll call animal control and put Sam to sleep. That went well.

Holly, who apparently lives next door, asks Andy to help her move a heavy recliner. He lifts it above his head, and she's impressed. He asks after her boys; they were at their father's, "thank goddess." Andy lets that one pass, barely. She thanks him and offers to buy him a cheeseburger the next time he's in Merlotte's. Is that a date? Andy asks. Holly says her mind isn't exactly on romance, what with the fire and all, but sure, it's a date.

Sam has his hands full, so he tells Tommy to open the bar for him, and promises he'll be home tonight for the full moon so they can run together. "We'll get through this, Tommy," Sam says. In Sam's trailer, Tommy, still terribly guilt-ridden about the matricide (I'm guessing he's not too torn about Joe Lee), puts on a shirt and looks in the mirror. He starts cursing at his reflection and hits himself a few times ... and turns into Sam. And screams. Hey, at least he didn't turn into Maxine Fortenberry. When Sookie shows up to beg off work again, TommySam tells her she's fired. "I don't get why everyone treats you like you're so special. You almost never show up, and when you do, you're always dragging some kind of trouble with you. Get your stuff and get on out of here. Go on!" Hey, Sookie, wondering what got into Sam? Wouldn't it be awesome if you were, like, telepathic?

TommySam walks into the bar, though he seems to still be walking with a limp (nice touch). He talks up a couple of cute girls, then sees Maxine Fortenberry eating in a corner and walks over. She tells TommySam that she's so angry that Tommy left her after all she did for him. "He didn't care about nobody but himself. Waste of time teaching him to read. Boy's dumber than a bucket of spit, and just as useful." Ouch.

But there's an up side to being Sam: Luna shows up at his trailer and starts kissing TommySam. He tries to put the brakes on for as long as it takes for her to rip open her top. Never mind those pesky scruples. Sam Trammell does a hysterical impression of a gobsmacked Tommy. "How am I supposed to say no to that?" TommySam says. They start kissing. Cut to them laying in bed, the deed done. "That was different than I expected," she says, quickly adding, "Not in a bad way. Like we're strangers." She suggests they head out to shift. TommySam suddenly tries to get rid of her -- is he afraid that Sam is going to come home, or is he just that much of an ass? "You got what you came for, right? So go," he says, throwing her dress at her. "What the heck is wrong with you?" Luna says, and TommySam starts cursing at her, and Luna responds in kind. The moment she walks out, he changes back into Sam. That looked painful. He throws up. Sam returns and finds Tommy passed on next to a pool of vomit.

In her cell, Marnie is cutting lines into her flesh and begging her spirit for help. "I have seen your suffering," she says, smearing some blood on her forehead. "I can't let them win. Use me to avenge yourself." We're back in Logrono, Spain, where the vampire Luis is snacking on the witch from Marnie's visions. The older, white-haired vampire spurs him on: "Fear only sweetens the blood. Make her scream." So Luis begins to rape her. "You will burn in the fire of hell," the witch says. "Mark my words, you will burn for this." Luis only laughs. Then we see the witch in the pyre again, chanting, and her minions in the cells are chanting as well. Suddenly all the vampires are coming out of their crypts into the sun. The older vampire and his cohorts walk into the courtyard where the witch is burning. Their faces are melting and they are consumed by flames, which are reflected in the witch's eyes. Marnie wakes up, and in the corner of the cell is the witch. She walks toward Marnie and kind of ... enters her through her mouth. Marnie stands up, suddenly full of purpose.

true-blood-season-4-episode-6-recap-alcide.jpgAlcide (Joe Manganiello) wears a shirt. Also, were-lady love Debbie Pelt wants to join a new werewolf community.

Alcide comes home and finds Debbie talking to the Shreveport packmaster, who tries a different tack with Alcide this time around. Debbie told him what happened in Mississippi, and he understand why Alcide may have some, er, trust issues, but says the pack needs a wolf like him. The packmaster tells Debbie he'll see her tonight, and leaves. Debbie tells Alcide that she needs to be part of a pack: "Isolation is bad for my sobriety." She begs him to come with them; he seems to be considering it.

At Jesus' grandfather's house, Lafayette is served up some goat tongue. "Wow, that smells ... well done." He tries to pass it to Jesus, who sort of shakes him off. Jesus thanks his grandfather for his hospitality. His grandfather is angry that Jesus disappeared for 20 years, then comes back begging for protection. Where's his pride? Jesus says that some things are more important than pride, and Pops takes a good look at Lafayette, then orders the two to bring him a sacrifice. Jesus and Lafayette are in the field, waiting, as Jesus explains, for the sacrifice to come to them. And here it is: A rattlesnake.

"Took you long enough," Pops grumbles. As Maria, his pregnant lady friend, locks the door, he tells them that the Mayans worshiped snakes and believes they were the gateway to the spirit realm. They need to use the same magic their witch friend is using -- blood magic. Jesus interrupts, saying he's never seen Marnie do that. "She wants possession and she'll get it," Pops says. "Maybe she already has. They're always looking for a way in." When Jesus protests that they need protection from the vamps, not from Marnie or from spirits, Pops tells him they don't know what they need. When Pops takes out the snake, there's a flash of him in some creepy mask. He holds the snake out to Jesus, and it bites him on the cheek, and then he throws the snake in the fire. Lafayette is frantic, telling Maria to call a doctor, but she and Pops go into another room and lock the door behind them. Jesus is sweaty and can't seem to talk; Lafayette holds him in his arms. Then Lafayette sees a man in the corner of the room, and it goes right into his mouth like the witch did with Marnie. "Don't worry, my boy," the possessed Lafayette tells Jesus. "Tio Luca is here." He begins a protection and healing spell, and soon Jesus appears to be recovering. Then Tio Luca appears to leave Lafayette, and he asks Jesus, "Who the (bleep) is Tio Luca?"

Back at Lafayette's house, Tara is asleep when someone comes knocking. Tara has a gun beneath her pillow, and takes it with her to the door, where she finds Naomi. Looks like someone has some 'splaining to do. Tara tells her about her drunk wretch of a mother, alludes to Eggs and Franklin, and says she just wanted to leave everything behind. "So the woman I've been living with and telling all my secrets to for the last six months, who was that?" Tara: "Everything I wish I was. I thought if I could make you believe in her, maybe I could too." Naomi is still angry: "Glad I could be a nice vacation from your life," and then grabs Tara by the throat and throws her down, telling her she should kick her ass. "Is that what you mean to do?" Tara asks. And then Naomi starts kissing her.

Sookie shows up at Jason's house. He yells at her from his bedroom to come back at a better time: "I'm in the middle of a secret special police investigation here." She bursts into his room, where she sees him handcuffed to the bedroom. "I shoulda konwn this was a sex thing," she says. He tells her that it's not, he's dangerous -- he's turning into a werepanther. Dun dun dun!!! Sookie just laughs, but Jason explains that he got bit by Crystal and her kin. Sookie points out that if he does in fact transform, he'll just slip out of the handcuffs. Jason hadn't thought of that. He begs her to leave, because he doesn't want to hurt her. Sookie realizes he's telling the truth.

"The second I start sprouting fur, I want you to shoot me in the head," Jason tells Sookie as they sit outside, a shotgun keeping them company. He's never been good at controlling his impulses, he explains. Jason tells Sookie he doesn't want to be some kind of freak of nature, which Sookie takes as a bit of a insult. She says she used to wish she could be normal, but she finally decided that there's no such thing as normal; everybody has got something they're ashamed of, or something they can do without trying. "Like how I"m extra good at sex ... and shooting?" Jason says. Heh. Sookie lets that one go. It's what we do with those talents that matters, she says: "You can't run from what's inside you, but it might be a blessing if you let it." Sookie promises she'll help him get through this, but when she returns after grabbing Jason a beer, he's gone. She grabs the shotgun and heads into the woods.

Meanwhile, Tara brings Naomi to Merlotte's. They're holding hands, and several patrons give them looks. Jessica is their waitress, but just as Tara orders, Jessica appears to hear something, then quickly bares her fangs and zooms out the door. "Told you," Tara says.

Later, Tara and Naomi are outside Merlotte's, and Naomi tells Tara that she still wants to be with her and wonders if she's coming back to New Orleans. "I want to ..." Tara begins. "But you hate this place," Naomi says. "You said there was nothing left for you." Someone interrupts: "Now that's a rotten thing to say. Rotten. Get it?" It's Pam. Tara immediately starts with her excuses, that she had no idea what Marnie was doing. "Spare me the dyke in the woods routine," Pam says. Tara tells Naomi to get out of there. "Girls, don't squabble. There's plenty of me to go around." And then she attacks.

Jason is running through the woods when he hears something. He calls out, "I'm a police officer ... and a werepanther. Back off!" But it's Jessica. Thanks to their blood bond, she could sense his fear and tracked him in down. She tells him that the woods are crawling with supernaturals because of the full moon. Jason is freaking out about becoming a werepanther, and she tries to calm him down by telling him to picture something beautiful, something that makes him happy. So of course he starts staring at her breasts. She tells him the night she turned into a vampire was the scariest of her life, and she won't let him do this alone.

Sookie is trying to find Jason in the woods when she comes upon Alcide and Debbie on their way to the pack meeting. (Um, in Bon Temps? Didn't we establish Alcide and the pack is in Shreveport?) "You lose Eric again?" Alcide asks. "No ... yeah ... it's complicated." She uses this chance meeting to pump them for some information and finds out that the only way you can be a were-thingie is if at least one of your parents is. Sookie thanks them and sends them on their way.

Jason and Jessica are still sitting in the woods, and Jason is decidedly not a werepanther. He's actually feeling a little disappointed. He asks Jessica if she would go back to being a human if she could. She says that while being a vamp is not easy, what with the urges and pallor and all, she loves the excitement of vamp life, the be-all-you-can-be bit. Jason muses that he sometimes wishes that he was special. Jessica points out the obvious: The football skills, the sex appeal, those abs. "How can you not think you're special?" she says. Both Jason and Jessica realize they've edging into dangerous territory, and agree that they shouldn't tell Hoyt about this meeting.

Luis is watching Marnie on Bill's monitor. She's staring up at the camera with an evil smile on her face. Luis heads down to Vampatraz. "Father Luis," she says mockingly, flashing back to the rape for those of us viewers who are bit slow on the uptake. "What a surprise." Luis knows who she is: Antonia the witch. "I know I like different, but you made such a mess of my last body," AntoniaMarnie says. Luis: "You mad whore. You burned my maker. This time you will scream." He unsheathes his fangs and goes in for the kill, but she freezes him with a hand and bit of a chant. She makes the devil's horns with her hand and motions down, and he falls to the floor.

Bill's goons are walking Eric outside the mansion and bend him down before Bill. Bill asks him if he knows why he is there. Eric says that he's to die because he's under a necromancer's spell, and because he consorted with Bill's human. "Sookie is not mine," Bill says. Eric: "You love her." "Irrelevant." Eric tells Bill that he apparently was a barbarian thug who never respected Bill, so he has nothing to say in his own defense. But he does want Bill to release Pam, who is decomposing too fast to be a threat, and to pass along a message to Sookie: "Tell her I was born the night she found me, and because of her, I went to my true death knowing what it means to love. Tell her thank you." Swoon! You'd think Bill has been giving him pretty speech lessons. Bill looks torn. Eric tells Bill that Sookie clearly still cares for him, and he hopes that they can get back together again. "Because she deserves happiness with whoever can give it to her." Eric looks up as Bill prepares to stake him.

But no! Sookie is still wandering the woods in search of Jason when Eric comes up behind her. "The king set me free," he explains. They start kissing. Pan to Bill looking moodily out of his window. Cue strummy folk music. Pan back to Eric and Sookie making love in the woods.