Usually after a really solid first season, shows have a dip in quality during the second season. Maybe it is because the writers are floundering or that it is hard to top what came before, but it's been seen in shows like "Lost" and "Heroes" in their second season. Not so much with "True Blood." If anything, this show just seems to get better by the week. Maybe it is because of the lack of filler; there are only 12 episodes each season, not 22, so they can get to the point and tighten the plot. Whatever the reasons, this season is kicking some serious butt. "True Blood" for best Drama of 2009!

Bill is developing his father-daughter relationship with Jessica, thanks to a little gentle prodding from Sookie, and he is starting to listen to his ... what do they call her? He suggests progeny, but Sookie suggests ward. They're too cute. Anyway, now that Sookie has agreed to go to Dallas for Eric, she has to finish up a few things in Bon Temps first. Tara agrees to move in with her, which doesn't please Maryann one bit but she manages to fake a smile anyway. Sookie also attempts to connect with Sam again, even apologizing for sort of leading him on, but he's too busy with his own stuff to take her olive branch. The important thing is that Sam hasn't left yet, and that may be because of Daphne ...although she seems to have some secrets of her own.

Sookie, Bill and Jessica arrive in Dallas and Sookie nearly gets kidnapped by an agent of the Fellowship of the Sun. This makes things somewhat more complicated, because if Godric was taken by the humans, what does that say for less powerful vampires? Eric is concerned to say the least. This also is dangerous since Jason is rising the ranks of the Fellowship and is now deemed a Soldier of the Sun. Steve and Sarah favor him openly, although the other boys taunt Jason it's because Sarah wants to sleep with him. All Jason wants these days is a sense of purpose and worth, so the idea of going back to just being a piece of meat isn't really appealing to him. What Sarah and Steve are really up to is a big question mark. They seem to be using him, manipulating him, but for what? Next week might just answer that for us.

Tara is having a bad birthday, but apparently all of her birthdays are bad. She moves into Sookie's house and Maryann surprises her with a big planned party. It's sweet things like that which make Maryann a really sympathetic character, although she's just using it as an excuse to have a big orgy for her nefarious purposes. Eggs and Tara make up and during the massive drugged orgy end up having sex. I hope this doesn't screw over Tara too much, because it's been nice seeing her finally get happy. She never gets that present from her mother that Sam brings to the birthday party, but it's hard to know if that's good or bad. Her mother is a bad influence. Maryann is a ... good influence? The world is a crazy place! Also, Maryann may just be the three clawed demon that attacked Sookie. Aw. I kind of don't want her to be the villain, although clearly she is, because she's such a fantastic addition to this cast.

Lafayette agrees to take Eric's blood to heal his infected leg, and in return Eric will be able to track him at any given time. This is followed by a great scene with Lafayette buzzing on Eric's old blood and basically humping everything in sight. We missed you, happy drugged Lafayette! This episode ends with Sookie meeting Barry the bellhop at the vampire hotel, and finding out she's not really as alone as she feared. He can hear thoughts too! What! Better watch out, Bill, Barry's cute and understands what she is going through.

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"True Blood" is on HBO Sunday nights at 9 PM EST.

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Story by Chelsea 'Dee' Doyle

Starpulse contributing writer