Team Alcide: True Blood 3.8, "Night on the Sun"

At risk of giving something away here, I have to say that this episode began and ended with Sookie screaming. Overall, Sookie was very loud this episode. What we have here is an interesting turning point in her character development; she's louder and badder than ever before. As this third season continues to ratchet up the violence, with the many "stakings" and twisted sex scenes portrayed, our favourite characters change accordingly.

As I've made clear, the most obvious change in character can be seen in Sookie here. Although the series opened with her beating up the Rattrays with a chain (if you remember), that scene shies in comparison with her recent skirmishes with Lorena and Debbie. Consider: "You wouldn't know love if it kicked you in the FANGS!" and "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, BITCH!"

Sookie is, of course, quickly becoming more and more aware of her own powers, and there can be little doubt that awareness is spurring her development into something bold and bad. Towards the end of the season, I think the person she's becoming will land her in some new conflicts and possibly force her to take a step back and look at what she's becoming.

Still, the ultimate ego boost is inevitable. Important people, like Russell, want her. As he says to Bill, "I'll trade you the red one for the blonde one."

Speaking of the red one, Jessica too is becoming quite a violent young lady, as Bill schools her in blurry vampire martial arts and trains her to sink her fangs into a few werewolves. At one point, she reflects that the person she's become will never deserve someone as good-natured as Hoyt.

"Who...?" seems to be the recurring theme these last few episodes. Who are the characters becoming?

Who is the British lady in Sookie's dream?

Who are the Norrises?

Who is Jesus, really, and who for that matter, is Lafayette?

Who will Arlene's baby turn out to be? Will her anxieties turn out to be a source of more comic relief, or is there something more sinister about the fact that Drew Marshall is the father?

The exception to these Why questions is Where did Alcide go, driving off in his contracting truck like that? Doubtless he'll be back, at least in time for the seasons's finale, but for those who see him as a potential alternative to Bill (who is bland) and Eric (who seems to find more at stake with his relationship with Talbot than Sookie...), that isn't soon enough.