True Blood - Release Me

 I realized I hadn't watched HBO's True Blood since 2017. I have HBO Max (well, I also own most of the series on DVD) and I wanted to watch anything but Friday the 13th, so I was like, "Sure, why not?"

"Release Me" hit me like a ton of bricks because memory recall was practically lost. Four years, a pandemic, and ongoing societal collapse might have a lot to do with that, among other things, including a planet preparing to annihilate us (perhaps, it is just as well, since it would appear we deserve it).

A lot of stories in succession smacked me upside the head and I had that moment of "Woah, okay, this is why it is perhaps rational to follow a series from start to end without so much time lapse." I am terrible with that. I love to go in and out. I did better with "Game of Thrones" and "Lost". I haven't done so with "The Vampire Diaries", "Teen Wolf", "Stranger Things", and the like. I swerve in and out, sometimes because I just get lost somewhere else. And my interests come and go depending on my mood any given day.

In "Release Me", Maryann seems to be some kind of creature dedicated to Satan (or a Greek god, Dionysis) feeding off human energy and completely free to use humans as she sees fit. Sam, a shapeshifter, was that "one that got away", and Maryann wants him to freely give himself to her. After what Maryann does to Daphne, a shifter (or "supe" in language short-form), wholly dedicated to her, I can see why Sam wants to be as far away from her as possible. It would seem Daphne was merely a tool to seduce Sam, gaining his trust. Once that was done, Maryann has a possessed Eggs stab her. Seeing that look on Daphne's face as blood pools in her mouth at the end after an entire dialogue scene earlier with Sam about how great it was to surrender to her, this episode gives you a lot of how dangerous Maryann really is. Nobody at the "orgy party", with their eyes completely black, have any idea what they are doing. In fact, the likes of Eggs and Tara awaken without a clue how they got to Sookie's house (and couch). But Andy Bellefleur knows what happened even as no one else does when he runs into Sam's bar threatening "all you Satan worshippers". And when Andy gets his arm broke by Terry Bellefleur, his own cousin (under Maryann's influence), at that party after chasing a pig upon Maryann's property, there is extra rage and an agenda. 

Even with Tara starting to realize that Maryann might not be who she thought she was, especially since there is this memory block others besides her mention, there is still a whole other big series plot with Sookie kidnapped by the Church of Light of Day, held in a cell with "vampire traitor", Hugo (Chris Gartin). This powerful vampire named Godric appears to be held prisoner by the Church, with Eric and Isabel surveying the estate with rescue plans (and talking relations with humans). It is obvious with Eric's scenes that the show was building towards something between him and Sookie. Despite the whole "Bill wants to leave his hotel but maker Lorena won't let him" focus, as Bill seems unable to rescue Sookie because Lorena is more powerful and faster than him, the series is clearly planting that seed of Eric being a monkey wrench in the "Sookie and Bill" romantic series arc. All that "why would vampires ever bother with humans?" angle remains of such signature importance, with the subplot of human Hoyt and vampire Jessica deciding to fuck just another addition to that. The romantic angle with Hoyt and Jessica does seem to be a cute sidebar to the more intense, dangerous, and complicated Bill and Sookie relationship.

Lorena really loves Bill. She's willing to forgo sleep during the daytime, weaken and bleed from the ears, and dispute Bill as long as it takes in order to keep him in the hotel room. All this does is open the door for Eric to rescue Sookie (who is awaiting Bill to rescue her) and further complicate a relationship that is already under a lot of stress. And with Church leader, Steve Newlin, learning that Sookie is Jason's brother (not realizing his wife, Sarah, is fucking Jason), through Hugo, who is claustrophobic and wanting out of the cell, even more complications arise. Jason is now seen as a vampire lover and, therefore, due for excision...through a departure that might go against any Christian philosophy Steve seems to artificially uphold. Gabe, Steve's muscle and footsoldier, isn't so Christian, willing to pummel and kill Jason (doing so lousily) and rape Sookie...Godric interfering, leaves Sookie (and us) a bit miffed. How can Godric move around so freely if he is supposedly kept prisoner?

As far as Jason goes...when Sarah arrives with a gun, willing to put a bullet in him, what will save him? 3/5

Eric won't listen to any "leadership positioning", concerned only about rescuing Godric.

In 1935, a flashback is shown as Bill remembers requesting his release from Lorena, surfacing as he is trapped in a hotel room in "present day" by Lorena who doesn't seemed to have ever let him officially go. She can't understand why Bill would want to love a human. He tries over and over, credit to him, but Lorena is always a step ahead.

Sam wants answers as to why Daphne betrayed him.

Godric emerges as Sookie is about to be raped.

Tara and Eggs don't realize they were in an orgy arranged by Maryann

In 1935, Lorena offers Bill a snack, the treat from a play she just finished.

Andy lets the bar know he saw what they did at the orgy, even though they have no idea what he is talking about.

Jessica is set to bed Hoyt, who will prepare their first time with candles and "mood"

Hugo is able to relax after Sookie talks him to a cool