True Blood Review:
"The Fourth Man in the Fire" (Episode 8)

Either Alan Ball or his source material, Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries series, has had no problem killing off what seemed to be main characters (Sookie's grandmother, one of waitresses at Merlotte's and the three wicked vampires who moved to town). But Bill Compton was certainly off limits—he wasn't the fourth man in the fire. At the end of episode seven we saw the hold other vampires have over Bill, taking him away from his Sookie, but they couldn't keep him inside their den.

Eric Northman, the thousand-year old Viking Vampire and sherriff of Area 5, however, wields much greater power over Bill—enough for him to drive Sookie to Fangtasia in Shreveport. Fortunately, Eric wasn't looking for a night with Sookie, just help solving a crime. Thus the series billed as a mystery show finally has a detective who's not Bud Dearborne (a cop who so far has made Police Chief Wiggum look like Columbo). Of course, being able to read minds is a bit of an unfair advantage.

But if Sookie's first case was a snap and Bill was hiding in the graveyard, plenty of other mysteries remain on the show. Who's been killing all the humans? What's Sam Merlotte up to? Does Tara really have a demon? And will Lafayette's suburban vampire client ever get to watch Heroes again?

Things are getting interesting (even if I still miss Lois Smith), and it may be edging out Life on Mars as the fall's best new show.

Related Links:
True Blood review: Episode 6 "Cold Ground"
True Blood review: Episode 5 "Sparks Fly Out"
True Blood review: Episode 3 "Mine"
True Blood review: Episode 2 "The First Taste"
True Blood review: Episode 1 Series Premiere