Stand by for the next installment of hilarious Southern Gothic vampire fiction, rich in satire and hinting at gay minority status through allegory. “True Blood” returns Sunday at 7 p.m. on HBO.
Where else can you get supernatural diversity and soft-core porn, too?
On Sunday, we launch into an ever crazier, maybe even bloodier season of Alan Ball’s over-the-top, supernatural and often funny adaptation of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern vampire mystery novels.
HBO has posted a recap online, with cast members narrating their characters’ story arcs, that’s a good way to prepare. The season’s mystery will center partly on the character of Sookie and where she fits into this world.
By now we know that Sookie (Anna Paquin) is telepathic, but what else? (“What are you?” the mad Manead Maryann asked last season, genuinely intrigued.)
Sookie responded that she is a waitress. Oh, but we have a feeling she’s something more. Don’t tell me if you’ve read the books.
After the Dionysian orgy and killfest of last season, how can the writers top themselves? Two words: Nazi werewolves.
No spoilers. For now, just know that Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) is in fine form when we spy him in the basement of Fantasia, the fangbanger nightclub — the actor’s naked torso is the star of the first episode of season 3.
Meanwhile Queen Sophie- Ann (Evan Rachel Wood) is back and furious. Seems someone is cutting in on her V-trading operation, selling vampire blood. This makes her furious. She goes fangs out, at supersonic speed, and Eric must obey.
There’s just enough drama and suspense about feuding vamps and inter-species romance surrounding this goofy, guilty pleasure to keep the story going.
Bill (Stephen Moyer) has been kidnapped, Sookie is desperately searching for her would-be fiance, whose marriage proposal she would have accepted at the end of last season if he hadn’t been nabbed before she got back from powdering her nose and making up her mind.
As we already know, love is on the verge of triangulating. Even when he’s otherwise erotically entangled, Eric mentions, with regard to Sookie, that Bill’s got what he wants.
All kinds of boundary crossing is in the air, including a homoerotic dream for bar owner Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell).
Jessica is still putting off Hoyt, Tara is overcome with grief for the late Eggs, and Lafayette is trying to keep Tara’s mom from infecting her daughter with her religious superstition.
And Sam, when he’s not running through the woods in dog form, is about to locate his birth parents who gave him up because he’s a shape-shifter.
The camp humor continues to shine through, in spite of the sometimes brutal vamp violence.
Bon Temps, here we come.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
