TRUE BLOOD: Preview of this weekend's episode! The Party Keeps Going!

Sookie Stackhouse is the type of gal who can read people almost as well as she can read minds.  Maybe there’s no difference, call it woman’s intuition.  In episode 14 of HBO’s TRUE BLOOD, Sookie has to deal with another woman in the life of her pale faced lover, civil war era vampire Bill.  And her ability to read people gets the ultimate test.  Lives will be on the line!

Proving that premium cable is the perfect place for an adult soap opera handling of dark, erotic vampire material, TRUE BLOOD dishes out some good old-fashioned vamp justice in the June 21st episode.  Where the season premiere gave us more background on the various players, episode 14, subtitled “Keep This Party Going,” gives them all something to do.  A lot of ground is covered. 

After Sookie gifted to her brother, Jason, the money left to her by her deceased uncle, the conflicted Jason decides to use the money to enroll in the Light of Day leadership conference.  Light of Day, run by Jim and Tammy Baker types Steve and Sarah Newlin, is a religious organization devoted to the eradication of the vampire race.  By using religion as a means of motivating confused young people, Steve and Sarah (played by Michael McMillian and Anna Camp) are assembling an army of sorts at their compound.  And Jason might just turn out to be one of their bright stars.  Note that there may be some outrage generated in religious communities over a song called “Jesus Asked Me Out Today” sung by Molly Burnett in one Light of Day scene.  The clip can be viewed above.

Yes ladies, actor Ryan Kwanten, who plays Jason, removes his shirt in this episode to reveal his cut physique.  But his bod is actually eclipsed by Tara’s love interest Eggs, played by Mehcad Brooks.  Eggs is a man housed at Maryann’s estate, where Tara has taken up temporary residence.  We learn more about his past, but it is his incredible body that might turn heads.  Brooks, a former model and high school basketball star, is quite the physical specimen.  TRUE BLOOD makes great use of delicious nubile frames including Paquin who has another steamy scene with Bill at the start of episode 14.

Meanwhile, bar owner Sam Merlotte has his hands full with the mysterious Maryann.  A party girl of sorts, Maryann displays some infectious grooves on the dance-floor at Merlotte’s.  As insidious as she appears, I found myself drawn to the awkward relationship she shares with often dour Sam.  One wonders whether creator Alan Ball and his team intend to make Maryann a villain or some kind of legitimate love interest for Sam, who could really use some good lovin’.

But of chief concern in episode 14 is Sookie’s struggles with Bill’s new vampire apprentice, Jessica.  Much tension is generated as Sookie tries to be compassionate and understanding while protecting her neck.  Bill lectures Sookie about the dangers of new vampire emotions, and cautions her as she begins to befriend Jessica.

Given the massive site upgrade and the long nights we’re putting in here at EI, I watched this episode at about 1:30am on Thursday night.  And the concluding moments really gave me the creeps.  Is Bill a good guy?  Can Vamps live peacefully among us in the open?  Only time will tell.  TRUE BLOOD season two party’s on….