EPISODE 5: 09 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD OR: WHERE DID BILL GO, AND WHO IS THAT IN HIS BLACK LEATHER JACKET?
by Mary
If last week’s episode shook me up, tonight’s was an earthquake! What the hell just happened? Can Lilith’s hallucinogenic blood travel through time and space, causing me to see things, or is someone skinwalking as Bill Compton, ‘cause this can’t be him!
Episode 9 opens with a televised report of an explosion and fiery destruction of a Tru:Blood factory in Texas. The new Authority chancellors, including Bill and Eric, are standing around their conference table, with its lighted center, a naked man tied on top of it. He’s squirming, fighting against his chains, his screams are muffled by the gag in his mouth. Salome is smiling ear-to-ear. Nora is declaring “In celebration of our holy war we shall feast.” At Russell’s request, Steve Newlin recites a comic diddy as “grace.” Salome recites an incantation in ancient Aramaic. There’s a synchronized “click” as all fangs drop down, and everyone dives into their communal celebratory meal. The poor man’s pointless struggling fades as the beginning credits roll.
Feast? Isn't he a little small for even an appetizer?
Next we see the cute computer geek girl, carrying a metal briefcase, walk up to the elevator, which does not accept her blood DNA, and refuses her access. As she returns her briefcase to its locked cage, Eric suddenly appears. He asks her how they can escape, and she says she has a plan, but it will probably get him killed. His response is so Eric – “Sounds perfect.”
In the next scene, Bill enters his room, along with Eric, who immediately needles Bill into letting him in on his scheme, as he mockingly exudes “Hey, I have an idea! Why don’t we blow up all the Tru:Blood factories and start a civil war? Praise Lilith!” Then, in all seriousness, “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing …” Bill interrupts “It’s no game.” Eric counters “Shut up! There aren’t any cameras in here. You’re laying it on a little thick, aren’t you? You’re as crazy as they are.” Bill answers “What if they’re not? I saw Lilith. We both did.” Eric says “I don’t know what’s in that blood, but we need to stay away from it.” Bill replies “I’m lost. I don’t know who to trust. Everything I’ve ever believed in has been turned upside down.” Eric challenges Bill “What about Sookie? Is she just food to you now?” Bill is silent. Eric continues “I didn’t think so. You’re more of a Mainstreamer than I’ll ever be. And whatever religious crisis you’re having you can have it somewhere else. We’re getting the hell out of here.” Eric discloses a plan of escape, giving a specimen pipette to Bill, who realizes what it’s for. “You want me to steal Salome’s blood? What about your sister?” Eric tells Bill he’ll handle Nora. He says they will escape tomorrow morning, before dawn. Screams are heard from a distance, and Eric quips “We better get back to slaughtering people in the name of God.” He walks out, leaving Bill staring at the pipette in his hand.
Seriously Eric, women are supposed to pee on it ...
The following scene opens with Nora kneeling in front of the pedestal which displays the crystal and gold vial of Lilith’s blood, enclosed in a glass case. Eric walks up behind her, and the two vampire siblings have an earnest and emotional conversation, as Nora explains to Eric the beauty of her belief in Lilith, and how she will help him understand and believe himself. Eric is visibly touched. He kisses Nora, telling her he doesn’t want to lose her. They are apparently reconciled.
Now comes what for me may be one of the most distressing scenes in the entire True Blood series, and one that I am having a hard time even discussing. It opens in a deceivingly lovely way, with Bill on Salome’s bed, sitting against the headboard – naked! And oh, what a lovely sight he is! Salome, on the far side of her lacey, see-through curtain, is dancing, moving her voluptuous body seductively, relishing her new status, as the one who has brought this new era of Lilith to vampires. She’s clothed only in gold jewelry and a red gauzy wrap around her hips and thighs. She climbs onto Bill and whispering in her intensely sensual way, tells him that he’s been chosen to be her “Adam” and start a new world order. Bill’s reply gravely asks “What if I don’t want to be chosen?” To which Salome answers, “You have Lilith’s blood in you!” There is passionate kissing, a vamp-speed switch to Salome lying under Bill who rips her gauzy wrap off and mounts her. OMG, he’s so hot! Frenzied sex ensues, but within seconds, as Bill looks down at Salome, he sees Sookie, all light and sweet smiles, gazing up at him, whispering “Bill.” Immediately Bill’s fangs drop. Opening his mouth in a feral grimace, he lunges at Sookie’s neck. At first she smiles, reminding us that she trusts Bill completely. But this is different. Horribly and sickeningly different. Bill is ravenous. He’s growling. He’s gorging. He doesn’t stop. Sookie is struggling. Her smiling, trusting face has changed to one of pain and panic. She punches his back with her fists. Her feet are kicking the bed … then they are twitching involuntarily … then they are still. Bill raises up from his goulish feeding, only to see Lilith, bathed in blood, smiling up at him. In a flash, Lilith attacks his neck, as he bites hers. She raises up from him, only to become Salome again, who is now fucking him sitting upright, a wild, unearthly look in her eyes.
Umm, Lilith ... I'm not really into your time of the month.
I can hardly believe what I witnessed. Bill has disappeared down the rabbit hole. He’s lost all sympathy, all caring, all love. He’s devolved into Lorena’s ideal – a heartless killer, without mercy or principle. I don’t want this to be real.
The final scene of the episode starts with Eric leading Nora through a door, as she asks him “Where are you taking me?” They enter a stark, bare room, where computer-geek girl is waiting. Nora is stunned. She starts to ask Eric what is happening, when he grabs a syringe and injects her neck. She immediately loses consciousness. He picks her up, carries her to the elevator, and applies her finger to the DNA detector. As he does so, he asks his young accomplice “Where’s Bill?” Just then, Bill appears from the door behind them. Eric turns, saying “You had me worried there for a minute.” Bill, standing very still, gazes evenly at Eric, giving him a slight smile. The doors of the elevator open, and there stands Salome, accompanied by armed guards, who immediately surround Eric and computer-geek girl. Eric’s fangs are bared. His expression is one of bare ferocity. He faces Bill, and with uncontrollable rage, shouts “You fucking traitor!” Bill’s response, posed in a zealot’s self-satisfied tone, explains “I’m doing this for you. I’ve been chosen by Lilith. This is what God wants!” The closing shot is Eric’s face – angry, incredulous, and at the end, devastated.
And that pretty much sums up how I feel. WTF? I am having a difficult, if not impossible, time accepting that Bill could be manipulated by a hallucinogenic drug, or by Salome’s mind-games, or by the loss of his beliefs and ideals, or by all of the above, to attack and drain Sookie, the person for whom he has proven he would go to the true death. How did Bill become so lost? Where is his rescue? Who can devise an escape from the grips of this cult-mentality? How will I, how will all of us, cope with this overwhelming heartbreak, this devastating loss? Bill must be saved.
We had the same expression on our faces, no doubt. That ‘WTF just happened’ look the entire fandom is probably sporting at this point.
The show seems hell-bent on taking every single character and twisting them around until they are almost unrecognizable, even the all-time good guys like Terry, Hoyt and Bud.
One possibility I see is that escape would be fantastic for the ones who escaped, but would do little to curb the war the vampire hierarchy are implementing. The best chance at putting things right is to institute a change from within the Authority, the same way Salome did with her coup. Perhaps this is Bill’s big plan, and handing over Eric and Tech-girl would cement his loyalty and he would have opportunity to work on things from the inside.
This is what I would like to believe, but the way so many characters are being damaged, I’m not so sure this is the case.
Comment by konfettii — August 6, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
Mary,
Thank you so much for your excellent review. Like you, I felt physical discomfort at Bill’s devolution. My heart of hearts tells me that he will come out the other side regretful but stronger and more committed to mainstreaming than ever before. Religious fervor and devotion to the false idol of Lilith has him blinded now, but ultimately the veil will fall from his eyes. Whether it happens this season or next is the question. I’m leaning toward next season which I think will be the final season.
I will mention what I believe to be one error in your quotation of Bill’s lines to Eric during the escape scene. I mention it only because it reminds us of who Bill is at his core: a caring person. In his justification to Eric as to why he betrayed him he says: “I’m doing this for you. YOU’VE been chosen by Lilith. This is what God wants!” As Raelle Tucker says, Bill believes that he is saving Eric’s soul by thwarting his escape. Perhaps thinks he can force Eric’s conversion.
Unlike some others, I believe that Bill has indeed fallen down the rabbit hole and it will take something profound to open his eyes so that he can dig himself out. Whether it is Sookie, Eric or simply his own awakening from this nightmare, only time will tell.
Thanks again for your review.
Comment by tabby1249 — August 6, 2012 @ 12:53 pm
Bill is not really a religion type guy however he knows GOD.the Vampire Bible is rubbish..i think Bill is trying to survive his way out….Eric and Sookie are his only hope to wake up and smell the crap all around him..once he sees Sookie ,his love for her is still strong , she may have to snap the light on Bill..guess we’ll have to wait and see…3 more episodes left and Bill better be his ole self before then or i’ll be piss.!…v”v..bite me pls!
Comment by CYNTHIA DELCLAIRE BUTLER — August 6, 2012 @ 1:20 pm
Thanks for the Bill-cap Mary! I’m feeling you on the major shift in our Bill… But we can’t underestimate the power of the blood and Salome’s influence. Look how profoundly it affected Nora (which I think was the whole point of hearing her story, so we can understand how powerful it is, and why Bill has fallen for it) Godric turned her because of her strength of character and determination blah blah- which makes me think she was not a weak vampire ever, and at least 600 years old… yet 1 drop of blood changed her completely.
It’s not a stretch to see that same blood be able to have an effect on Bill. But I think once Salome dies, and hopefully that stupid vial with her, Bill will start coming to his senses… it might not start until the finale, but it will happen.. the real Bill is stil in there. Had he still had Sookie’s love and their relationship to believe in, he might not have been so easily swayed… but he was lost before he even got to the authority. I think Jess is going to be the key…
Comment by shelhill — August 6, 2012 @ 1:37 pm
I was thinking that Jess will be the key, too. I hope so because this episode was soooo hard to watch.
Comment by Piper1715 — August 6, 2012 @ 3:02 pm
Thanks Mary!
Comment by purpleprince — August 6, 2012 @ 3:48 pm
Thanks, everyone, for your sympathetic responses. I am still having a trouble digesting this episode. I am not giving up on Bill, not for one minute, which makes this even harder to watch somehow.
TB does take their characters to some strange places, so IDK why I thought Bill had gone through enough in previous episodes to make him immune to more tragedy. Apparently there’s never enough angst for TB!
tabby – thanks so much, I never caught that. What a difference a pronoun makes! Although still completely delusional, it does prompt some hope that Bill is, in some way, looking out for Eric.
I feel like Bill has abandoned not just his humanity, but us too!
Comment by iamtrue2bill — August 6, 2012 @ 4:32 pm
first of all I love the captions to the pics you used they were so funny. Thank you for that. Great reivew I had the same emotions you had about what has happend to bill I felt the same way you do. You read my mind all the way I hope somehow the bill we know and love comes back to us. This episode was hard to watch.
Comment by venia — August 6, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
Thank you so much for your excellent recap, Mary. I’m having a hard time with what Bill is going through as well, but I’m sticking by him ’til the end!
Comment by SenseofDoubt — August 6, 2012 @ 5:42 pm
Mary -
I think you so beautifully captured the feelings so many of us have. At this point I don’t know what to believe. it seems we will have to struggle thru this together or it’ll be just too much.
Comment by shocknawe — August 6, 2012 @ 7:05 pm
Thanks Mary for the review, you said what a lot of us are feeling.
Comment by Roswellover — August 6, 2012 @ 8:13 pm
Thank you, Mary, for another heartfelt, beautiful and insightful recap of Bill Compton. What a great way to start a Monday.
Comment by aemac — August 6, 2012 @ 9:05 pm
I agree with Aem, your recaps are something I always look forward to on Monday. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I plan on taking this ride with Bill and I’ll still be here when he resurfaces as the vampire we all love.
Comment by Bennie — August 6, 2012 @ 9:08 pm
Loved you review, Mary. My sentiments exactly. It breaks my heart to see Bill like this but I have to admit that I really love his acting. Still I am pretty sure that whatever Bill does to Sookie she will still choose him over Eric.
Comment by Marigold — August 7, 2012 @ 2:28 am
Once again many thanks Mary for your excellent and heartfelt all Bill recap.
We all feel the same. It is difficult to see Bill, who has worked so hard to evolve towards his humanity, now on a drug induced path and fall from grace.
But I have no doubts that the good man we all know is there, will return.
And I will be there when he does!
Comment by BN — August 7, 2012 @ 7:10 am
Thanks Mary. I will watch this ep in a couple of days. I am glad I have been prepared!
Comment by Lizzie1701 — August 7, 2012 @ 8:31 am
Thanks for the recap, Mary. I know it was painful for you to write and painful for all of us to watch. I just hope that Bill comes out the other end fully cured, and I fully expect Sookie to help him. Nice that Jess, Sam and Luna will apparently try to help. I hope that Alcide helps too. Bill will need all this help and more. Man, do I want to stake Salome, with Russell a close second, and then Nigel, and the new sheriff of Area 5 to round out the group.
Comment by Crazy4Bill — August 7, 2012 @ 11:20 am
Y’all need to mark this post NSFW. Serious.
Comment by Sheryl — August 7, 2012 @ 11:49 am
Mary, you have written what so many Bill fans are feeling these days. Thanks for writing such an excellent recap. I’m with Bill until the end!
Comment by vampire vixen — August 7, 2012 @ 4:31 pm
After watching this episode again, Im pretty convinced that Bill is showing signs of discomfort with the opening meal, although he’s masking his true feelings for the benefit of those around him. It also looked like he realized the blood in his mouth from Salome might be causing him hallucinations. Eric also discovered the blood Salome gave Nora had an extreme impact on her, (after all that’s what drugs do, they fuck with your brain and make you unrecognizable- if any of you have ever had a loved one on drugs you know what I’m talking about). That said, I’m going to take a wild guess and say, Bill and Eric have devised the whole “botched escape plan” for the benefit of getting the Authority to let their guard down. Regardless of how it looks right now, Bill and Eric are working something out…mark my words!!! I will not give up on Bill or Eric..or their brilliant, cunning ways!
Comment by Wanda — August 8, 2012 @ 12:19 am
I understand where you’re coming from Mary. It’s hard for Bill but in the end I think he’s gonna come out ok! Really good review!
Comment by Ariel — August 9, 2012 @ 6:53 am
Thanks, everyone, for your support, and for your support of Bill. We are all hoping and praying for the real Bill Compton to appear. I do think it might not be until next season, which will be so hard to take.
But however long it takes, I’ll be there, and I know you all will be too. We’ll support each other as we anxiously wait.
Someone pour that Lilith blood down the toilet! (Oh, they don’t have toilets, do they? Uh-Oh!)
Comment by iamtrue2bill — August 9, 2012 @ 11:57 pm