"To everything there is a season" goes the most famous lyric of the Byrds song from which "Turn! Turn! Turn!", the Season 5 premiere of True Blood, takes its title. Not to completely blasphemize this — lest we forget — Biblically inspired ditty, I want to ask: What do we think this season's "everything" will be?
VAMPIRES, DUH!
Let's look at the facts: In just the first hour, Eric and Bill, with the help of Eric's "incestuous" vampire sister Nora, have gone into hiding to avoid the wrath of the mysterious, nefarious Vampire Authority. We learn that Russell Edgington's concrete grave was just a temporary resting spot, and that he is now back among the mobile. Jessica, in her attempts to make human friends, realizes that being a vampire can be pretty cool. Jason finds himself in a bizarre vampire love triangle among Jessica and the newly turned — and apparently also newly same-sex-oriented — Rev. Steve Newlin (the former much to Hoyt's chagrin). Most significantly, though, at Sookie's request, Pam saved Tara's life by turning her into the one thing she despises most in this world: a vampire.
Do you sense a trend? After the shellshocked denizens of Bon Temps endured the wrath of a maenad, werewolves and a witch, it seems clear that Season 5 will circle back to the series' origins to focus on some good old-fashioned vampire-on-vampire action — a move that I, for one, welcome.
TARA
But let's talk about Tara for a minute. I don't think anyone really thought that Tara was dead-dead when they watched last season's finale, bullet to the temple nothwithstanding. And then Rutina Wesley did a morning-after interview in which she confirmed that she would still be in the cast for Season 5. So we had to have seen this coming, right?
Still, it's a real sea change for the character. Until now, despite her overwhelming bravado (that girl's got a mouth on her), Tara has been True Blood's resident sad sack, the one who had a terrible upbringing, dates the wrong guy, trusts the wrong friend and otherwise has the most misfortune heaped upon her. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is going to make for one pissed-off vampire, right? Our introduction to Vampire Tara indicates as much, since the first thing she does after her dirt nap is attack her cherished friend Sookie.
In my recap of last season's finale, I surmised that the impending vampire war might divide our cast into those who side with the Authority and those who fight it. But I actually didn't think that Tara would be turned. Now that she has, though, I have a wildly speculative prediction to make: Tara, Pam and the Rev. Steve Newlin will join forces with the Authority in their attempts to foil King Bill and Eric. At the very least, they'll find themselves reluctantly serving the enemy cause. It should make for some interesting betrayals along the way.
THE OTHERS
We also have three non-vampire stories with which to deal. Let's do it quickly. If tonight is any indication, I'll be labeling them "filler" by, oh, about Episode 4 and will rue them for the duration of the season. First up, Patrick Devins (Scott Foley) reports that the suspicious fire at Arlene and Terry's house coincided with blazes at the houses of Patrick and two other Army buddies, who are now deceased, and it's because of "what happened that night in Iraq." For now, that's all we get. Second, despite Holly's protestations in the finale, Andy and Holly are an item! This is fun, even if we have to endure a gross Andy nude scene when Holly's teenaged sons catch them in bed together. Oh, and Sam and Alcide are loping around because of some pack succession nonsense, but, you know, blah.
A FEW ASIDES
-Great use of "Silly Love Song" by Wings (in Nora's car) and "Cherry Bomb" by the Runaways (Jessica playing Rock Band)
-Lafayette said this: "We done with all the supernatural bulls--- — no vampires, no witches, no ghosts, no maenads, and no motherf---in' werewolves!" (Not exactly, Laf!)
What did you think of "Turn! Turn! Turn!"? Is the turning of Tara — and the overall emphasis on vampire stories — a step in the right direction? Also: I want to hear your predictions of how Season 5 might unfold, especially those of you who have read Charlaine Harris' novels.