Vortex, I'm thinking more from the U.S. government end of things. The average government employee around here barely has authority to breathe without at least telling a supervisor what you're doing. So Reynolds renditions several foreign nationals entirely on his own initiative? Does not compute.

Oh, I'm with ya, Fred. Especially since said employee is supposed to be in the hospital.

TB: Polite, dazed, apologetic, yet still dangerous Eric is surprisingly endearing.

I've been thinking how much the actor appears to be able to change his appearance based on how he carries himself. I've always thought he was very imposing - intentionally - based on how he's always looking down and holding his arms. But now he seems almost childlike. But still dangerous.

The Jason story is super boring and I'm now fastforwarding through each scene.

Well, that's another issue -- he needs a crutch and a wheelchair to leave the hospital, but he's able to fly across the Atlantic and drive a couple of hours through the English countryside. Again, kind of forgivable in the interests of getting the plot going, but when the Oswald Danes story line already has my disbelief poorly suspended, not good.

I love meek Eric, the way that the actor uses body language and voice to convey a completely different character.

The Jason story is super boring and I'm now fastforwarding through each scene.

amen. His story is always boring. Plus, the stupidity, it burns.

Also, this Andy as an addict thing is annoying as well.

amen. His story is always boring. Plus, the stupidity, it burns.

I miss season two Jason. He was dumb, but self-aware and heroic. They've regressed him horribly ever since. Although if there's got to be a punching bag this season, better him than Tara and Lafayette.

Speaking of which, kick-ass Tara is definitely an improvement over the last two seasons.

I heard the final scene(s) are a departure from the books. Anyone care to elaborate for us non-book readers?

good god, yes! Alan Ball and his ridiculous changes are really starting to burn my butt. Eric/Pam/Lafayette are the only reasons i'm still watching. as for how it was changed, Eric never killed Claudine. in fact, Claudine plays a pretty pivotal role throughout many of the books and was only recently killed in them when she was protecting Sookie. apparently the whole Fairy storyline is going to be completely changed because none of it has resembled the books at all. the stuff with Andy has been changed too. Jason's storyline is slightly different too. Crystal wasn't this crazy in the books and she really did care about him. Felton kidnapped Jason and bit him for days on end to change him into a werepanther.

Speaking of which, kick-ass Tara is definitely an improvement over the last two seasons.

Amen. I really liked the interaction between her and Lafayette when he told her to go back to New Orleans because Bon Temps wasn't good for her.

I miss season two Jason. He was dumb, but self-aware and heroic. They've regressed him horribly ever since. Although if there's got to be a punching bag this season, better him than Tara and Lafayette.

Speaking of which, kick-ass Tara is definitely an improvement over the last two seasons.

I agree with all of this. I also find Sam and his brother's story to continue to be boring.

I also find Sam and his brother's story to continue to be boring.

I don't mind Sam and his shifter group, but I REALLY wish he'd been a better (or worse, if he was aiming to wound) shot last season.