Recall, in season one Sookie (Ana Paquin) and co. had their first brush with the undead and also had to deal with a serial killer targeting “fang-bangers.” By the end of the season, the serial killer had been terminated and humans were softening up to the idea that vampires might not be so bad to live around. The main plot points were neatly brought to a close, and fans were left with a couple of things to think about over the summer, namely whether Lafayette would return next season and was Michelle Forbes’ character somehow connected.
In season two, the locals of Bon Temps had to address the considerable powers of a new super-being who had strolled into town, Maryann (Forbes). By the end of season two, Maryann had been revealed to be a ritual-killer/maenad from Sam’s past who spontaneously induced bacchanalian love festivals. Once Sam dispatched Maryann, the big question at the end of the season was “what other mythical creatures were lurking around the backwoods of Bon Temps” and “what’s going on in the vamp world that makes someone like Godric want to kill himself.” Again, the main plot points were neatly dealt with. Of course, there remained the issue of Bill’s kidnapping.
Season three explores the strange universe in which humans and mythical creatures all co-exist. Apparently, there are werewolves, werepanthers, witches and fairies drifting through Bon Temps. The season’s focus has been on Bill’s abduction and the warring between vampire factions. One of the big reveals is that vamps use werewolves to further the vampire agenda, kind of like in “Underworld.” Another major reveal is that Sookie is a fairie. But the biggest reveal, which only comes in the finale, is that Bill and Sookie’s love affair was part of the Queen’s master plan to obtain Sookie’s blood for use as an elixir.
Last night’s finale, which felt more like the first half of a two-hour episode, left a lot of threads untied. Why did Sam dream about showering with Bill and did he kill his brother? Will Sookie return with major fairie powers and hook up with a werewolf? Where is this netherworld from which Godric coaches Eric? How on earth will Jason manage as the leader of a family of werepanthers? Will we ever see Tara again now that she’s gotten the hell out of dodge after learning the whole town is full of mythical beasts, which also begs the question of whether Lafayette’s mom is crazy or just sick of Bon Temps? And, what’s wrong with Lafayette: mental break down or fairie powers kicking in?
Of course, fans will tune in next season for answers. But emotionally, one feels cheated, as if we’ve only reached the mid-point of the third season. Will fans resent waiting until the fourth season for closure on these plot points, major and minor?