****DIVERT YOUR EYES AND COME BACK LATER IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THIS LATEST EPISODE OF TRUEBLOOD BECAUSE THIS REVIEW IS CHOCK FULL OF SPOILERS!!!! BUT MAKE SURE TO COME BACK AFTER YOU’VE WATCHED IT AND TELL US YOUR TRUEBLOOD THOUGHTS!!!!****

Well, tonight’s episode was short and not so sweet, except for the scenes between Eric and Sookie. Those were so sweet they were almost syrupy, but you just can’t help but say, “Awww!” Yet even Eric managed to feel the burn and if the title was based on any one character’s storyline tonight, I’d say it was Eric’s. (Last week was Jason’s.) So let’s get to it!

So when we last saw Eric and Sookie, she was giving him heck for dining on her Faery Godmother Claudine. Now she’s worried Mab’s faery goons might show up at any moment so she tries to hustle Eric inside. But wouldn’t you know it? The big Viking is drunk! He guzzled so much faerie blood that he is so drunk he actually falls over. And then, wanting more, he goes to nibble on Sookie for dessert.

“Eric, you’ll kill me, no!”

This cry of alarm from Sookie breaks through Eric’s stupor and looking quite appalled that she thinks he would hurt her, he tells her that he would never hurt her. Obviously she is quite special to him even in this amnesiac drunken state. Then he playfully pinches Sookie’s butt and it’s so funny because even though Eric in his right mind seems capable of much mischievousness, I still can’t imagine him being downright playful. Anyhow, as we expect Sookie squeals with mock outrage but she still can’t herd the big vampire into the safety of the house. Eric wants Sookie to catch him, so he takes off into the night. Alarmed for him because dawn is right around the corner and he doesn’t seem like he can handle himself if someone tries to harm him, Sookie takes off after him, albeit at a much slower pace.

At Fangtasia, Bill is questioning Pam about Eric’s whereabouts. When is Bill ever going to learn that trying to get Pam to tell anyone anything about the Northman is like trying to get blood out of stone? No luck there Bill.

“You like the feel of it, don’t you Bill? That crown?”

Yes, Pam, he probably does is all I can say in answer to your rhetorical question. Bill leaves none the wiser.

Now the next scene is disturbing and disgusting to me on so many levels. Not only because the woman on top of an unwilling Jason is a gross mean bully on Hung, but because what she’s doing to Jason is just so absolutely wrong. And then crying and carrying on… All I keep saying is, “Poor, poor Jason.” The thing he’s always been so proud of is the cause of all his current troubles. You really need to choose better women Jason. Right now he’s on the conveyor belt of breeding and I just don’t know how he’s going to recover.

But he does manage to escape. Becky has been sent in for her turn and here we see that Jason is actually a big romantic. He tells her that a girl’s 1st time should be special and with someone you really like who really likes you back. Becky, who never wanted any part in this horror anyway, takes pity on Jason and cuts him free. Jason takes off running.

Meanwhile, Nan is giving Bill an earful for sending Eric after a bunch of Wiccans. This is not something she can take to the authority.

“No dead humans!”

And there’s an unspoken “OR ELSE!” attached to that order. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown, hey Bill? After all, nan does have a point. How many retired kings (or queens) do we know?

Marine is in the throes of a dream where she sees what happens to the evil spirit who possesses her every once in a while. Here she is in her human form tied to a stake and is about to be burned. Since this is just a vision the evil spirit is giving her, Marnie is unable to do anything, though she calls out for this horror to stop. Unfortunately we know that the witch is going to burn. What a horricble time in history. I can’t wait to see more of this witch, who obviously hates vampires, and her history. She begins to burn and there is nothing Marnie can do about it…

Alcide shows up at Sookie’s door in answer to her request for help. How nice it must be to have hunky vampires and werewolves as friends, hey? Alcide strips down and shifts into werewolf form, all the better to smell a vampire, my dear. He and Sookie take off searching for an errant Northman.

Maxine shows up at Merlotte’s on the war path. She is worried about Tommy and tries to pick a fight with Sam who doesn’t bite. Sam manages to keep his zen — those “anger management” classes must be working, hey Sam? — and Maxine finds it strange that Sam does lose it. And I’m surprised too because she sure tries hard to get a rise out of Sam.

If there’s one thing you can rely on Felton to be it is a disgusting pig, and he doesn’t disappoint when he starts to question Becky about her time spent with Jason. It doesn’t take the genius long to find out that Jason has flown the coop and the hunt is on. Felton and his panther posse take off hunting for Jason.

L, J, & T (sounds like a Lafayette, Jesus and Tara sandwich, don’t it?) have cornered Marnie and are trying to convince her to reverse the spell for all their sakes and the sakes of the coven. They don’t know the extent of Marnie’s evil counterpart’s power just yet, but when they do, I bet it won’t take long for the wheels to start turning in Tara’s head. Unfortunately Marnie can’t reverse the spell. She has no clue how. It wasn’t her who spelled the Viking, she pleads, it was her. And we know her who, but Tara doesn’t.

“Her who?”

Tara always asks the pertinent questions, doesn’t she? Anyway, they convince Marnie to give it a go, but Marnie has no luck reversing the spell. Surprised? No? Me neither.

Sookie and Alcide’s vampire hunt ends up at the edge of a lake. And who pops out of the water all smiles and cuteness? Well it’s the Northman himself frolicking away in the sunlight! He invites Sookie to come and play the Norse goddess to his Norse god and he promises to slay the sea monsters, aka “krokidilers” that he calls to oh, so sweetly. Alcide watches all this, his werewolfy face perplexed by the new Eric hijinks. But alas, no sooner did the fun begin than it is over when Eric begins to burn, literally, and feel unwell.

“I don’t want to go back to the darkness.”

Poor Eric. Sookie covers him up and croons to him soothingly like one would a sad child and tells him to run back to the house and that she will follow. Eric obeys and Sookie and Alcide follow him.

As Jason stays one step ahead of the panthers who are tracking him, Tommy is reuniting with his mom. Anyone else think this is the epitome of a bad move? I tell you I have never trusted Melinda. She needs a T-shirt that reads, “BAD MOM”.

Sam makes a surprise visit to Luna’s and Luna isn’t pleased. And just when you think she has another dude on the house, a little girl comes outside. Well, SURPRISE! Baby shifter’s out of the bag.

After a quick glimpse of more running from a beaten and bruised Jason, we catch up with Eric and Sookie just as Sookie is tucking the vampire in.

“Stay with me. Please.”

How Sookie can resist such adorableness I will never know. Eric pleads so sweetly! Alcide is eavesdropping on the pair as he stands outside and when Sookie comes out him and Sookie have a brief argument over the fact that Eric is in Sookie’s house. But one well placed barb about Debbie and it blows all the steam out of Alcide sails. They hug it out as “friends”. And when you have vampire hearing, I guess it’s hard not to eavesdrop, right Eric?

Tired of running and knowing he has to make a stand, Jason does his best Rambo and hides in tree as he sharpens a spear made from a thick tree branch. He drops out of the tree onto the panther who is standing under the tree and plunges the spear into the wildcat. Jason kills Felton who manages to swipe at Jason and slice him up on his leg with his panther claws before shifting back into his human form and dies. And who should appear? Well it’s Crystal.

“I’m Big Momma Kitty now.”

Your also a big piece of work, Crystal. Jason wants no part of her or her plans. But he may not have a choice come the full moon, will he? And I agree with you wholeheartedly, Jason. Crystal really is the worst thing that ever happened to you!

Portia has taken Bill to meet her and Andy’s grandma Caroline. Bill is at his charming best. Excuse me while my eyes roll back in my head. Bill’s parlor room antics are nauseating. But Andy, or should I say Andrew is funny. He’s just itching to get out of there. Now where have we seen Grandma Caroline before? Knot’s Landing? Hmmm…

Sam is working his way into Luna’s… heart and is being real sweet and indulgent towards Emma. He tells Luna she should have told him she had a daughter and that he wouldn’t have taken off. I believe he is genuine when he says this. And since it’s a time for truth, Luna tells Sam about her stalker ex who is Emma’s dad and a werewolf. I can see this causing Sam some trouble, do you?

Marnie and L, J & T are still searching for the spell that will set things right and having no luck. Marnie is calling upon her spirit guides who don’t seem to be listening until a book drops on the floor all on its own. Can this be where the reversal spell is perhaps?

Back at Alcide’s and Debbie’s, Alcide returns home and you just KNOW Debbie can smell Sookie all over him. I just have one thing to say, “Alcide, if you think for one moment that Sookie doesn’t bother Debbie in the WORST way, you are in for a surprise!” I’m just not buying Debbie’s I’ve turned over a new leaf bull.

Back in the Bellefleur parlor, Bill is in for a shock. If he had a heartbeat it would have skipped a beat when he finds out that Portia is his great-great-great-great granddaughter. Let’s move on. I just don’t even want to contemplate this ish, and neither does Bill as he makes a hasty departure. So did Grandma BTW. Portia runs after Bill and forces him to tell her why they can’t see each other any more. Well, do you really want to know, Portia?

Talking about ignorance is bliss, Terry is no longer deluded that Mikey is is his son. The baby has scrawled in bright red magic marker BABY NOT YOURS on the wall. This understandably freaks out the whole family. Except Mikey who is giggling away.

Sookie visits a depressed Eric who is mourning the fact that he’ll never swim in the sun again and see the sunlight in Sookie’s hair. Poor vampire. He’s feeling the loss of his humanity all over again.

“If you kiss me I’ll promise to be happy again.”

And if it wasn’t for Eric sensing Bill at Sookie’s door, we might have seen Sookie kiss that big blonde Viking. Damn you, Bill. You ruin everything!

With the perfect excuse to see Sookie, Bill arrives at Sookie’s place and intends to do search of the premises for Eric, since it’s the only place in the world they haven’t searched in this game of “Where In the World Is Eric Northman”. Sookie tells Bill a bold faced lie but it is enough to guilt Bill into not searching the house.

A very sick Jason collapses on the side of the road. Luckily for him Jessica and Hoyt are driving by and find him. See Jason? I TOLD you you had a Faery Godmother! Jessica feeds Jason her blood, (ahem, Hoyt, not everybody finds Jessica’s blood gross) and I’m wondering if Jason is going to fall for Jessica now. That would be one interesting love triangle considering Hoyt and Jason are BFF’s.

And even though you know it’s comin’, it’s still a horrible sight when you see Joe Lee Mickens snarling mug as he wraps a chain around Tommy’s neck. These two seriously take the award for world’s most horrible parents. Can you say BETRAYAL with a capital B? Melinda never left Joe Lee after all. They were just waiting for the perfect moment to trap Tommy and make him fight in the ring again. And with Joe Lee promising viciously to teach Tommy the meaning of the word obedience, well, despite the fact that Tommy can be a little turd, I feel so sorry for him. His life is about to turn to sh*t and I don’t know if Sam will be there to save him this time.

L, J & T have brought Marnie to Pam as promised and Pam isn’t impressed by the stupidity of the coven. I mean, what kind of witches can’t reverse their own spells is right, Pam. And look, there’s tara with her gun again. I don’t know why, but Tara is starting to bug me now.

“Fix my Maker!”

Well, this is one time Pam is out played. The evil spirit chooses this moment to appear and she casts a spell that reveals Pam’s “true self” and wouldn’t you know it, but beautiful Pam is turned into a rotting stinking corpse right before our very eyes. Horrified, Pam takes off. Now L, J & T have to know that they are the top dogs in Bon Temps now. And with an evil spirit and Tara hating on vampires like they do, I can see a whole lot more spells and mayhem being cast on vampires. This does not bode well for the undead. But, I’m sure Pam will get even with the Wiccans one way or another before this season is over. Haven’t we learned that you don’t mess with Pam?

Take a look at next week’s episode. Enjoy!

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Eric after a fae dinner.

Well, last episode was awesome and if I know True Blood, things are going to be even better in the next episode “I’m Alive and On Fire”. But before True Blood is on once again in Vancouver I thought I’d share with you some of the things the last episode taught me. So here is my list of 24 Things I Learned from “If You Love, Why Am I Dyin’?”

24. Who knew Eric Northman had ticklish toes? I guess he does.

23. You can still see the old Eric in this new boyish and innocent Eric. Don’t let his adorable sweetness fool you. He’s still dangerous!

22. Seeing Andy use V is gross.

21. Even though Alcide is back with Debbie he still has a thing for Sookie.

20. Debbie cleans up real nice but I still don’t trust her.

19. Whatever Maxine’s reasons are for helping Tommy I’m still mad at him for wanting to screw her over.

18. Tara will never like vampires.

17. Family should always look after each other because you never know when you’re going to need your cousin to stop a pissed off vampire from killing you by holding a gun with wooden bullets on that pissed off vampire.

16. Never tell anyone you are a shape shifter and expect them to stick around.

15. Friends with benefits never work out. That means you Portia Bellefleur!

14. Always answer your phone when King Bill calls or else!

13. Always ask for what you want. It works for Portia Bellefleur, why shouldn’t it work for you?

12. Never accept strange gifts from gingers with fangs.

11. They sure do swear a lot on True Blood.

10. Portia will never be Sookie for Bill. Not even close.

9. Even Sookie likes to read Charlaine Harris.

8. Never think Pam will go easy on you if you mess with Eric.

7. Don’t mess with Pam.

6. Invoke an evil spirit and they will listen.

5. A blood sacrifice always seals the deal.

4. Beware of crazy hillbilly junkies. This means you Jason!

3. Stay away from vampires if you are a faery. No good can come from it. Unless you’re Sookie…

2. Sookie’s hair looks really good this season. Hair extensions really do work wonders!

1. Eric is absolutely adorable but no less dangerous!

Take a look inside “If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin’?” and see if there are things you learned from the episode and dish me up a comment!

On the next episode “I’m Alive and On Fire”:

“Alcide helps Sookie hunt for Eric; Marnie searches for guidance to break a spell; Bill discovers a common bond with the Bellefleurs; Jason begs for liberation from Hotshot; Sam penetrates Luna’s inner circle; Arlene sees the writing on the wall; Tommy returns to his roots.”

via ~ IMDb

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“The boy who lived come to die.”

I love everything that Harry Potter stands for — courage through adversity, finding the strength within, the power of love and the bonds of friendship, and faith, above all, faith that when the chips are really down, you’ll have the power to conquer any obstacle because of the faith you have in yourself. I did immensely savor this epic finale to a fantastical fantasy saga. The ending was poignant and hard earned by our beloved characters and it was a final installment filled with all the magic and adventure we love in our Harry Potter films.

As part of a whole, and even separately, it does deliver most admirably. This film boasts a score filled with reminiscence of bygone adventures and David Yates and Steve Kloves do pay homage to the themes J.K. Rowling poured into this wonderful work of fiction. The CG was seamless, awe inspiring and masterful, and enhanced the story without overwhelming it. The writing of Steve Kloves was stark and to the point, and the action was fast paced and always moved towards the end with purpose, and without any lulls that allowed the mind to wander. And the end was tied up nice and tight and even had a bow on it, and the only thing left to our imaginations is what will life be like for our heroes now that the peril is over? It is a film that is almost perfect and brings to a bittersweet close an unforgettable adventure that spanned a decade.

The opening scenes of Part 2 set up the calm before the storm and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his faithful friends are regrouping before their final battle. Before long the audience is swooped up into another daring adventure as Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) search for the remaining Horcruxes. There is a sense of urgency that is magnificently conveyed as is the danger of this life and death quest. They’re not practicing spells at Hogwarts anymore. No, this is the real deal where one wrong move can end up costing the lives of those Harry loves.

The malevolence of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his horde of evil doers is fully realized and no longer reduced to shadows and whispers. His reign of fear and tyranny is in full swing and he is indeed terrifying to behold in all his glory. And yet for all this majestic evil unveiled, for the first time we can also marvel in the fact that Voldemort is not invincible and that Harry just might have a chance in defeating him.

In Part 2 our characters are fully developed and both we and they know exactly who they are. They are also no longer children shouldering burdens that the young shouldn’t have to carry; now they are capable, adept and fierce wizards who have grown to adulthood under our ever watchful eyes and they are set to defend Hogwarts where they will have their last stand against Lord Voldemort. Even Hogwarts itself, a place that was once a hallowed, mysterious, kooky and off the wall place, is now a grim sentinel of all that is good in the world.

The most emotionally moving moment of the film comes when Severus Snape’s (Alan Rickman) true part in all of this is revealed. We have the good fortune of going back in time and delving into his most private memories and we see a man with a heart capable of a deep and abiding love and duty. He is a man who has been forced to become the villain. Where once you reviled him as a traitorous killer, you will ultimately see him as a man willing to take the fall and be the bad guy who will do what he must in order to give Harry and his friends a chance to succeed. More than any other character in the movie, he has been sorely misjudged by all and sundry — even Harry.

And Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), the man who seemed to be the magnetic north of these films, the compass by which Harry steered through a life fraught with danger, is a man whose nature is called into question. Were we wrong to trust him all along? Was he so devoted to prophecy and duty that he was the most duplicitous of anyone? Even at the end he is a wizard that will remain a true enigma.

Ultimately in this film the past 7 installments coalesce into one final swell, weaving every nuance and bit of story that we’ve experienced over the years into one whole. It is definitely one of the darkest of all the films with some disturbing and sinister moments and deaths. Yet the way they handled Harry’s questions about death and what is next after life was treated in such a beautiful and peaceful way that it was easy to accept the tranquility Harry felt about these themes and this thing we call life.

We see characters we hate finally get theirs (and we cheer about it), we see our favorite wizarding teachers finally show us what they’re made of, and it’s like a reunion of sorts as we get to see for a final time on the big screen characters we’ve come to know like friends. We even get a deeper understanding of the kind of wonderful people Harry’s parents were and the love they shared and had for Harry.

We see mild and sweet Mama Weasley (Julie Walters) lay it down in a “Nobody messes with my kids!” kind of fashion which is so utterly awesome; and Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) becomes a gallant hero showing us the courage and bravery that lay all this while in his shy heart, and we can be happy for Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch). We finally see true love bloom and blossom between Harry’s best mates and comrades in arms, Hermione and Ron. It’s a love that beautifully culminates in a sudden unexpected, but long awaited kiss that has us laughing right along with Ron and Hermione with pure joy.

It’s also reconfirmed in our hearts why Harry is the Chosen One. His courageous and selfless heart reaffirms for us once again why we have loved this boy wizard from the moment we set eyes on him so many years ago.

Unfortunately, the final battle is shocking in its brevity. Being that this is the moment we’ve been waiting for for 10 years — the final epic showdown between two of the most powerful wizards in the land, the different sides of the same coin — audiences may feel that it should have been more spectacular and filled with such an unbearable tension that by the end of the battle you were weak with relief that it was over. Instead Voldemort is vanquished in a way that seems almost too easy and it’s over before it really started. And moments before, even the death of his terrifying pet snake seemed too easy and slightly discordant, though it did afford Neville the chance to shine.

And the final scene, well, I won’t expand too much on it, but I find it ironic that in a franchise spanning a decade that was all about the most outlandish magic, magical places and mythical creatures, it was here in these final moments where I was most unwilling to suspend my disbelief. Is it because I’m just too sad to see the end of a 10 year story that will live in my heart forever? Or is it because I wish this film would have been a little longer and a little less frantically paced? Or is it because I fear Harry and his crew are now destined for a normal life of ordinary?

It’s the end of an era in film history and yet I do not feel that absolution of spirit that I quested towards for all these years. I left the theater feeling like something was missing; like I was missing that ultimate feeling of overwhelming satisfaction that settles into you after bidding farewell to well loved characters and a beloved story. I was close to it, but mostly I’m just left feeling sad. Afterall I have invested 10 years of my life in this franchise and 10 years of intense emotion.

I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the saga of Harry Potter is one in a million and we may never see the likes of it again. And despite the feeling of sadness I am left with, I know that in the end, things ended the way they needed to end for Harry, Hermione and Ron. As far as endings go, I do think that this film was almost perfect. I’m also left thinking about the saying, if you love something, let it go. And though letting go is hard to do, it is indeed time to say goodbye to Harry Potter, the boy who lived.

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Read more from Kyra Dawson at TheMoviePool

Our favorite wizarding trio.

How many kids grew up with this saga? How many parents and adults grew older with this franchise? (hehe) As we have grown and changed, so has our favorite wizarding trio, three kids who have brought some magic into the lives of millions of fans around the world. And though it seems that Harry Potter has been with us forever, in fact it has only lasted a decade. However, a lot can happen in 10 years, and there were a lot of things that happened in this 10 year long saga. So Warner Bros. released a featurette that takes a look back at the blockbuster franchise, it’s Harry Potter in a 5 minute nutshell, highlighting the events in the entire saga.

It all ends on July 15th with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, but before that happens, let’s journey back in time to where it all began…

Thanks Matt for the heads up!

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Movies and television just wouldn’t be the same without wardrobe. Wardrobe is responsible for enhancing setting, defining a character’s personality, and acts as an indicator for era and status. Hollywood, celebrity and fashion go hand and hand, and a change in personal style or being seen in hot designer fashion can sometimes catapult a star into the limelight. Welcome Wardrobe Wednesdays where we examine the link between fashion, celebrity and Hollywood.

Cameron Diaz has been a Hollywood staple for a long time now. In fact, her breakout role was playing the oh, so fresh and sweet Tina Carlyle in the 1994 blockbuster movie “The Mask“. I never thought of Cameron as either stylish or as a clotheshorse until I saw the promotions for her new movie “Bad Teacher”. Every outfit is so well put together and luxurious, but what stood out to me the most is her shoes.

Just look at how Cameron Diaz rocks the red bottoms!! They appear throughout the entire movie. The stylists for this movie deserve a raise and some praise. Each shoe I’ve seen on Cameron is to die for.

So if you are looking to watch a movie that looks funny, maybe has a touch of romance, and has fashion for days, go see “Bad Teacher”. and be sure to come back and let us know what you thought about Cameron’s shoes!

Havana Haven is The Scribe’s Desk Gossip and Fashion Correspondent who always has her well manicured fingertips on the pulse of What’s Hot! | Wardrobe Wednesday Contributor

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