True Blood: Gone, Gone, Gone

Episode Synopsis: the Authority continues to pretend that they aren't devout Sanguinists, but Russell tires of that, vowing to "have the sun", aka fairy blood. Eric pretends to accept Lilith, and Bill brings Jessica to the AVL to keep her safe. Back in Bon Temps, Sookie and Jason find a contract that gives them another puzzle to figure out, Tara offs the new sheriff, Jessica glamors Hoyt into forgetting all about her and Jason, and Sam and Luna go on a rescue mission as mice. You know, just the usual shenanigans.

Let's start things off fabulously, shall we? Lafayette's over-the-top ridiculous ensembles are back, complete with headscarf and giant sparkly 'L' buckle. Just in case you forgot who he was.

I'm going to ignore the single feather earring (does Lala watch Pretty Little Liars?), because the leopard print tank + sparkly sweater? AWESOME.

Also note-worthy: his baby blue snakeskin kicks. Did you steal these from Billy?

I think Pam's outfit confirms that they read YKYLF in Bon Temps.

Clearly she borred this look from Zoe's collection of spiked leather jackets. But the leather dress? All Pam. Plus her hair is looking back to its glam self after the horrid crimping mess of late.

...or apparently I spoke too soon? It looks like Pam let a three-year-old play hairdresser on her (as if...Pam wouldn't go near a kid with a ten-foot pole). Love the merlot, Victorian inspired dress, though.

Speaking of Pam and her progeny, Tara is seriously killing it. The McQueen-esque jacket and spiked jewellery are a far cry from her old wardrobe. Vamp=fabulous as far as I'm concerned.

So in love with Tara's cobalt leather jacket. She accessorizes nicely with a giant sword from Eric's Viking days.

Actually, no, the sword was to kill Eric's sad replacement, Nigel, who favors Mardi Gras jewels and ripped jeans. Thank goodness he's gone. I really didn't feel like recapping his outfits.

Let's hope Eric will be back soon to take his rightful place, because the poor boy is still trapped in the AVL's headquarters, divested of his leather jacket.

Probably because the rest of the Authority didn't want anyone thinking he was a part of their leather brigade... there seems to be a predilection to leather in the AVL, no?

They've even got Jess in on it!

They do branch out, though. Like Salome's elegant, but boring navy dress.

Or Nora's awesome burgundy cutout dress.

I guess jewel tones are the thing at the AVL. Jewel tones and leather. Just in case you get an invite to one of their parties.

And then there's Rosalyn, a proper Southern women in her pearls and tweed jackets.

Or Kibwe (that's really his name. I looked it up Wikipedia.) and his bizarre patterns and odd choice of a cravat and grandpa sweater.

Back to Jessica. She actually looks like... a normal teenager. Not a fabulous baby vamp whose daddy is the King.

Mad love for her dangly heart earrings though. It's all about the accessories.

And accessorizing with weapons is the new thing! Here Sookie pairs her blah floral pjs with a sleek gun.

I honsetly think Bill needs to come back to Bon Temps because Sookie is in a sartorial rut. WHERE ARE THE CUTE SUNDRESSES?!? Here we have a conservative rose-printed dress... paired with adorable slippers. Oh Sookie, so predictable.

Maybe she can learn a thing or two from her fairy friends. Morella is an absolutely stunning in this silk handkerchief dress. I love the pattern, and the color is totally in line with the fae's tendency towards the gaudy/tacky.

Speaking of tacky, that's exactly what Morella's costume jewellery is.

And the fae-boys are in on it, too. Not many guys can pull off Chinese-inspired silk tops. It must be a fairy thing, because Claude does it effortlessly.

Wait... do you think Lafayette could be a fairy? Who but La-La gives the fae a run for their money in the Tacky Olympics?

True Blood: Somebody That I Used to Know

Deep end, meet True Blood. True Blood, this is the deep end. As in, the one that y'all done gone off of. Sookie's trying to get rid of her magicalness while Eric, Bill and the Authority gang spin out of control with this whole Lillith thing. Well, except for Eric, who is the calm, clarity-filled one. I told you things were getting weird. Arlene enlists Lafayette's help to call upon the woman who cursed Terry, and guess what? Terry has to kill Patrick or vice-versa! Then there's Hoyt who is just plain old lost. Does he love Jessica? Does he not? Is he going to become a supernatural killer? Or not? Make up your mind! 

This was the same dress/jacket combo Sookie wore last episode, but I wanted to point out her boots (that you can't really see...sorry). I love that she toughened up a girly ensemble with some edgy kicks. 

Same jacket, different dress (this one is by Anthropologie). While we're still awaiting the return of full-blown florals on every outfit, sweet dresses like this one will have to do. At this point, I'll take pretty much anything over her Merlotte t-shirt and cutoffs. 

Sookie's best friend has not only transformed into a vampire but her entire wardrobe has transformed--into high-class stripper garb. This week, Tara trades in a zipper collar for what looks like an unbearably tight corset. Maybe that's why Tara is angry all the time...because she is always in the most uncomfortable workwear.

Vampires really do have more fun. Look at this sexy outfit Jessica gets to wear to find some lovin' at Fangtasia. Massive amounts of eye makeup complement the tousled, wavy hair. But my favorite part of the outfit--the fingerless gloves. How...vogue.  

Sidenote: I WANT her hair. 

Tara's better half also usually looks semi-uncomfortable in her clothing choices; however, Pam tries out a new hairstyle this week. Last week was 80s pop-star. This week, wannabe geisha. Surprising result--I think I prefer Pam's crimped look to this pile of hair. 

This has got be the most covered, most normal, most minimalist we have seen Arlene. Her fire engine red hair isn't so fire-enginey, Her clothes are not super-tight nor horribly mismatched. And is that a rhinestone applique on her chest? I think it is! How mom-like.  

This fairy gets my vote for best dressed of the week. Slightly flapper inspired with a dose of 2012 in the leather shorts, this fairy needs to help Sookie every week so we can see what other fabulous era-combinations she comes up with. 

Present Bill is so boring. No colors, no leather, no print, no nothing.

But early 1900s Bill...

...is oh-so-dapper. 

Salome continues her fashion reign of supremacy with this emerald green gown. She is always so put together but also relaxed in her luxurious outfit choices. 

More Alexander McQueen...

 

Like really? Who can wear a deep-v, sheer long-sleeve, black dress and look good? Apparently Salome can, which also means she can stand at the head of the table. 

Nora is slowly but surely coming up to Salome's standards in the wardrobe department. Maybe this dress was one of Salome's castoffs that wasn't quite right? It's not quite right for Nora either but at least she is not chanting craziness in a UV punishment cell anymore. 

This Authority member had an absolutely terrible skirt-suit last week but she steps up this week (must be the after-effects of all that wild partying). Loving the teal and heather gray color combo. 

And I leave you with little piece of creepiness. I will pray for the day that Steve Newlin buys a new sweater. He shouldn't have to borrow his human father's sweaters anymore, right?!

True Blood: In The Beginning

Tonight, on a very special True Blood... Russell, Eric and Bill and the remaining chancellors get CRUNK on Lilith's blood and storm out onto the streets of New Orleans. A good time is had by all (except the people they kill) culminating with a naked lady springing out of the spilled blood. Hey there, Lilith! Lafayette goes to Don Bartolo's casa in Mexico to get some answers on Jesus' fate, but instead gets all tied up and tortured. At the last second before Lala is killed, Don's preggo girlfriend straight-up murders Don Bartolo. WHOSE SIDE IS SHE ON and what's in her belly because totes it isn't human.

ALSO: Sam helps Andy hunt down the hate crime perps, Alcide "trains" to kick his packmaster's ass, Jason shoots Jess in the head, Tara's mom disowns her, and Hoyt joins the aforementioned hate group. It was a busy night.

I'd like to start things off here on a positive note, so here's Alcide's abs. Homina homina homina! Although Martha is kinda right when she calls him "Rambo." What is that bandanna, Alcide?

Ok, that was pleasant. Now for the rest of the recap.

We see the return of some floral prints to Sookie's wardrobe, layered with boots and a dark denim jacket. Super cute for visiting Luna and Sam in the hospital and also nice for moments of riveting self-doubt and existential crisis. It's an appropriately dark ensemble, I suppose.

Bless Jess for adding color to the insanity! I am starting to think she has the most costume changes in the whole show. This silky robe is loud, yes, but fun, and suits her wild and fickle tastes. Also, her hair looks fab.

Right, hair! This crimped hair is an interesting development compared to Pam's usual voluptuous curls. It's... uh... fun? Maybe she was feeling nostalgic for the 80s?

80s Pam. Now there's a thought. I do believe I'd enjoy seeing the various vamps throughout the various decades. Can you imagine Eric in the 60s?

But let's focus on Tara in the 2010s. Holy -- ! Well, I suppose this was only a matter of time. Since, you know, Pam is her maker. Wow. Also, not the outfit I'd want to be caught dead in when my mom walked in. (You get it? Dead? Cause Tara's a vampire now? Haha....right.) The zipper-choker looks particularly uncomfortable.

Poor Tara's mom - a minister's wife in Fangtasia. Those gloves. The feathered hair. That print. How insanely awkward.

Wait, no, I don't feel bad for her. She was a psycho alcoholic who beat Tara with glass bottles in previous seasons. That was insane.

Speaking of insane, the fairy nightclub workers look like Britney Spears backup dancers from the Circus tour. Or rather, if a high school drama director was going for the Britney Spears Backup Dancer Look. So confusing.

How many layers does she have on, anyway? It looks like this outfit would take a very long time to get into.

Club Fae is too much. How about a palette cleanser? 

Oh, Nora. Eric is so totally pissed at you. But your hair is so perfectly neat and your snug black blazer is so simple and elegant! I'm hoping we'll get to see Nora in something more fancy, but it's hard when Salome is around, hogging the fashion spotlight.

See, look at these goddess-curls and the gold cuff. Her black silhouette is not a slinky little dress like one might think, oh no -- it's a pantsuit. Palazzo pants, I might add. With an obi-style leather belt (I'm assuming leather because pleather is not a vamp's style.) She looks gorgeous as usual, so it's no wonder everyone goes along with the plan and drinks up.

Especially when the other chancellors consider this outfit haute couture. Seriously, who is this vamp and who is her stylist??

Well you know Russell is a happy camper, now that he's been brought back to full power by the Authority, no less. His blue tie is actually really nice here, despite how much I dislike him as a being and wish that Bill and Eric had killed him when they had the chance.

This girl singing karaoke for her drunk and teary family (and presumably new husband in the front row) both stands and dresses like a Glee reject. I actually thought they were trying to reference Wizard of Oz with the blue dress and green curtains in the back -- she looked like Dorothy for a hot second. Oh, and I would make a crack about ruby slippers and the amount of blood she's about to lose, but I won't.

Bill and Eric are STILL wearing their leather jackets, dark tees and dark denim. That makes...what? Two outfits this entire season? Maybe three?

I just wanted to point out that at some point during their drunk rampage in N'Awlins, Bill gets a piggy back ride from Eric. You're welcome.

True Blood: Let's Boot and Rally

Part 1 of 1: Must be Thursday!

Bill and Eric recruit Sookie in their search for Russell, and we learn that a female Authority member freed Russell (three guesses who!) and that he's recuperating in a creepy asylum. Meanwhile, Jessica takes Tara under her wing - a short-lived friendship as Jessica finds Tara and Hoyt together in the ladies restroom of Fangtasia. Lafayette struggles with his demon and when he calls out for help, Jesus' decapitated head (with mouth sewn shut) arrives with a muffled warning. Jason becomes more convinced his parents were killed by vampires as he investigates the shifters found dead by Sam. Who is later shot - along with Luna - by the same people. And Emma turns into the cutest wolf pup and runs away. Oh, and in-the-storyline-that-no-one-cares-about, Terry remembers a woman who cursed them all into getting killed by a fire Ifrit.

Let's open with Sookie's pink polka-dotted socks. I'm assuming she kept these from when she was five.

You know, back when she looked like this:

We wanted the cute sundresses back, but adorable pink overalls and heart printed turtleneck? Cuteness overload. This is exactly what I wore everyday when I was a tot.

But back to grown-up Sookie. I'd like to thank the True Blood writers for perhaps the most hilarious moment in True Blood history - Sookie throwing up just as she and Alcide are about to finally do it. Also, a gratuitous picture of Alcide's abs. Just 'cause.

Here to pass judgement are Bill Eric. I am so very glad they're out of those ridiculous tracksuits. I won't even fault Bill for wearing another leather jacket because #yum. And Eric looks good in anything, obvs.

Looking less good is Lafayette. "If I wanted to look like a drag queen, I would've raided Lafayette's closet" claims Tara. Only, Lafayette isn't so much about the his fabulous drag queen self these days. Bomber vest with 'Hi Bitch' embroidered in gold?! Is that the best he can do? At least he's wearing a fab printed headscarf.

This is what it's come to. Hoyt is outdressing Lafayette. Freakin' Hoyt.

Although, I don't know what's worse. The cut-off purple vest or the eyeliner and nail polish. Hoyt, does your mama let you out of the house dressed like that?

Mr. Fortenberry isn't the only one with a new look. Damn, Tara. Clearly, better clothes just come with being a vamp. Right?! I love this studded purple corset on her, especially paired with that amaze leather jacket!

Then again, she has this lady's closet to borrow from. Pam, looking trashy-glam (is that even a thing?) in a red patent dress that looks like it would be rather difficult to sit in is pretty much my dream Maker.

Jessica may lack a stylish Maker like Pam, but nevertheless, she can do no wrong in my eyes. She manages to pull off leopard pants. I mean. Leopard. Pants. Also, her hair is a thing of beauty.

More Firetrap...

Still, her vibe is a little more laid-back than Pam/Tara. I'm actually a bit surprised that she got all territorial over Fangbanger Ken.

Because this is more her speed. Ok, and mine. It's pretty much my third favorite (after his uniform, and well, wearing nothing) Jason outfit ever. How adorbs does he look?

I mean, footie pjs!

Also winning a nod for fetching sleepware is Arlene. I'm absolutely in love with this rose-printed silk robe. It's a step up from her bejewelled minis, for sure.

More La Fee Verte...

If Arlene's robe was a curveball, Alcide's plaid was...I don't know, what's the opposite of a curveball? A bunt? A slow under-hand pitch? (I'm a fashion recapper, not a baseball player). For a show that's notorious for its plaid, we only spotted one plaid shirt this week, but that's enough to keep things consistent.

The day that Alcide shows up dressed like this guy, it'll be like a homerun that shatters the scoreboard.

Roman's suits rival that of Chuck Bass'. Which is pretty much the highest honor here at YKYLF. Also, there's something about his attitude that's very Don Draper-esque, which is pretty much our second-highest honor. Well played, Roman. Not bad for a character we don't even care about.

And When I Die - Part 2 of 2 - Saints

I just wanted to take a minute to appreciate the fact that for the first time in three seasons (flashbacks notwithstanding) we got to see Gran -- albeit in a nightgown with dirt in her hair, on Halloween, for the purpose of dispelling Marni's effed up witch-spirit. Poor Gran was the first emotionally significant casualty of the whole series, way back in season one. Sigh. Sookie still isn't over it, really.

Whoops, I guess I should have warned against gratuitous multiple-vampire feeding... Sookie looks superfierce though. The denim is nice, the floral T is sweet, and the leather jacket! Be still my heart, Sookie, you've finally graduated from Delia*s hoodies?! That's my girl.

And can we talk about Sookie's awesome knotted bun? Casual but feminine. And super hot. A+!!!

They went to some pains to make Tara look sweet and loving in this episode, even though this girl has been through Hell and back multiple times (do not pass "GO," do not collect $200) and has a lot of anger and crazy pent up inside of her to show for it. Unlike Sookie, who tends to have crazy stuff happen to her and then she carries on somehow, Tara has shown a lot of signs in the last season or two of real wear and tear on her sanity. But her hair looks lovely here, and I like the pink top on her...

...but not the denim suit. The wash is too light and the two items are the same wash. Tara, honey, what happened to your cagefighter leather and combat boots???

Oh, poor Sam. No family left (poor Tommy!) except the hope of building new family with Luna and Emma now that all the bad nasty people are dead (the Mickens, Marcus, etc). Sam looks sharp in a suit, you gotta admit.

Even when he's the only one at his brother Tommy's funeral other than Maxine Fortenberry....

...who, although sporting her usual over-the-top fabrics and styles, looks really nice in spite of it all, and genuinely loved Tommy (even though he was a conniving little cuss). Her words of wisdom are actually even comforting to Sam, and it is possible that Hell also froze over while she was making her speech about family and life. Who knew she had it in her?!

Luna and Emma show up to the funeral at the last moment, looking equally lovely in funeral-appropriate darks, but with a splash of pattern from Luna, who is also a contender for Bon Temps' Most Fashion Forward now that Sookie has lost all of her sundresses.

Although Holly's devastating Halloween costume is beyond anything I could ever have imagined her in, she did a lot of good deeds this week so I'm putting her on the saints list anyway.

Besides, the costume itself is actually almost impressively awful.

And of course, since it's Halloween suddenly (what?) Arlene and Terry show up to work at Merlotte's dressed as zombies. Extremely PG-rated zombies. (Also, shout out to Arlene's kids, who are dressed as an alien/monster and Teen Mom. Kudos, kids.)

Poor Jesus. Poor, poor, POOR Jesus. I can't even stand it. He was such a wonderful character.... on so many levels.... one of them being that his eyes matched any blue or green item of clothing he ever had on, and his hair was so ruffly and friendly.... Oh, that, and he had lots of juju to save people with. But. Yes. Erm. Sadface dot com slash bye hottie.

In conclusion, all I really have to say is that we're in for a regular good old fashioned revengefest next season. There's a whole heap of trouble happenin' in Bon Temps and our unfortunate heroes (Sookie and... well... whoever else, I guess) are going to have their work cut out for them. I am thrilled that we were able to recap this season, though, and I look forward to the next one, even if there are zombies a-comin'.... See y'all next summer!