Sean Guard sinks his teeth into the latest episode of the popular U.S. vampire series True Blood – “Soul of Fire”…
All of the several major story-lines in this epic season have dwindled down into about only two. The first one being the battle, more like war, between the vampires and the witches. Led by their king, Bill, the vampire quartet of him, Eric, Pam and Jessica reach a stalemate when they first arrive at the witch shop ready to do some major damage to it. They are all stopped by Jason who warns them his fairy sister, Sookie, is trapped inside among many others. Bill and Eric both immediately agree to re-think their strategy much to Pam’s dismay.
Elsewhere, Sam and Alcide manage to force the whereabouts of Marcus out of one of his pack members. With the arrival of Luna, Sam and Alcide learn that Marcus has kidnapped her and his daughter. We are then shown that Marcus intends to run away with not only his stolen daughter but a stolen girlfriend as well. He tries consistently to convince Debbie, Alcide’s woman, to come away with him. She fights him but it can be seen that she may change her mind at any moment.
Back at the shop, Marnie has gained total control over Antonia and killed one of her hostages who took a run at her. Jesus comes up with a plan to force Antonia out of Marnie’s body in order to weaken her enough to stop her. He taps into some pretty dark magic which forces his pretty scary “demon side” to show its very ugly face.
Upon learning of the vampire’s arrival, Marnie tries to strike up a deal with them. In exchange for Sookie’s release, Bill and Eric must each face the true death. A deal that both of them agree to, rather quickly, to my surprise. Pam and Jessica, as well as Sookie, are shocked and completely against it. With tears streaming down her face, Eric kneels to take the bullet from Bill that will cause his existence to end. But right before this suspense-filled event is to happen, Pam snatches up a rocket launcher and fires it directly at Marnie. The rocket explodes when it hits the magical protection barrier running around the shop. Marnie and Sookie are left unharmed, along with all of the vamps, but Jason is critically wounded in the blast.
Andy, while desperately trying to find his way home after being deserted by his cousin, randomly comes across a fairy. She attacks him at first, thinking that he is a vampire due to his intake of “V”, but realizes he is human soon after. Without rhyme or apparent reason, she mounts him when he awakes and begins to make love to him. But before they begin, she makes him swear by the light in her finger, that if they f**k, he must always protect her. Of course he agrees and they have a little romp in the woods on the grass. Congratulations are in order to Andy, probably the only character on the show who hasn’t gotten any booty yet.
Sam, Luna and Alcide discover that Marcus and his daughter are at Alcide’s house with Debbie. They storm in on Marcus and Debbie still having their conversation and a very heated brawl in sues between Sam and Marcus. Alcide allows them to fight without interruption but he is not very happy with Debbie at all. Sam defeats Marcus but decides not to kill him. Marcus then makes a grab for Sam’s gun but is stopped by Alcide who quickly ends his life. He then explains to Debbie that they shall not be together any longer. She pleads with him but it makes no difference, he quickly silences her in his anger and storms out.
After the explosion at the witch shop, Eric is furious with Pam and orders her from his sight. Jessica isn’t happy with Bill either but quickly finds a dying Jason and once again feeds him her blood. He eventually heals and the two stare at each other. Obviously their feelings are growing quite rapidly for each other. Without warning, Marnie casts yet another spell, this time forcing the vampires to walk towards the protection barrier outside the shop against their will. At the same time, Jesus is nearing the completion of his own spell to force Antonia from her body. Its then suspense against suspense as we wait to see whose spell reaches completion first. Jason tries his best to force the vampires back but to no success.
Needing everyone’s life force, the hostages are forced by Marnie to join hands in a circle, including a reluctant Sookie. As the vampires get closer and deadlier closer to the barrier which would end them as quickly as if they walked out in the sun, the suspense grows. Sookie’s fairy powers then reveal themselves yet again after she overhears Jason’s thoughts claiming that the vampires will die soon. She breaks the spell and rescues the vampires. Just as Marnie is about to punish Sookie for what she has done by way of death by fire, Jesus manages to complete his spell and relieves Marnie of Antonia.
With the protection barrier now broken, the vampires bust inside to do what they came to do. Marnie’s sole loyal follower suffers a death at the hands of Eric who rips his heart out and then uses one of the ventricles to suck its blood out like a straw. Pretty gross, yes, but also very gangster. It’s good to have the old Eric back. King Bill then unloads a few rounds into Marnie and one into her head leaving her dead.
With everyone safe, they all return home. Jesus and Lafayette revisit the night’s events while preparing for bed. But right before Lafayette falls asleep, he sees a hovering apparition of Marnie which quickly takes over his body. Here we go again. The plot thickens even further now leading into the last weekend of the fourth season. With Marnie now apparently back, again, the gang will need to rally to defeat her once and for all. I am also very anxious to see what storylines are set into place for next year’s fifth season. Last episode on the way folks. ‘Til then, go forth and do bad things.
Sean Guard
Follow me on Twitter @Sean_Guard
Originally published September 9, 2011. Updated April 10, 2018.
