Meet the true rat of "I smell a Rat" (HINT: It's not Eric Northman)

I know how I felt after I watched episode 10 last week.  Everything was fine and wonderful-we got to see Sookie actually doubt Bill Compton's words and actions.

We were given (another) dream sequence with Eric and Sookie-and a REAL, if not brief, kiss.  A kiss that had obvious effects on Eric.  At that point it was crytal clear that he loves Sookie. 

 Enter Pam (who we also learned in this episode is royalty).  She doesn't understand Eric's feelings for Sookie-and his willingness to give up his life for a human.  She will do anything to spur action in Eric.  It's also obvious the love she has for Eric.

Then everything went to hell in a handbasket.  We watched Eric hoist Sookie over his shoulder and take her to the basement and place a chain around her neck!  Really, Alan Ball?!?  This is how you are going to reward your Eric fans?  With this:

I've had time to reflect.  I've had time to reassess the situation.  And now I'm not just mad, I'm ready to see Bill Compton exposed to be the liar, serial murderer and con man that he is.  And I'm ready to see Eric take control of the situation.

Let's go back to the earlier scenes-when Eric stopped by Jason's house to say goodbye to Sookie.

He played Bill like a violin and was able to get him to admit that Sookie's blood will allow daywalking, if only for a brief time.  Bill underestimates Eric's intelligence and strength, and overestimates his own.  Sookie is a mirror of Bill-she overestimates Bill's honesty and intelligence, and underestimates Eric's.  I blame Sookie's misguided feelings on her consumption of Bill's blood-and the fact that she cannot hear a vampire's thoughts.  This is another reason Sookie is easily taken advantage of by Bill.  She's at a disadvantage when she has to trust herself in reading body language.

Why did Eric feel his only option was to lock Sookie away in the basement at Fangtasia?  Because if Sookie was a man, we would accuse her of thinking with the wrong head.  She has been dickmatized and brain washed by Bill Compton and his "bad blood".   She is running off half-cocked and going blindly into battle.  Hmmm, remind you of anyone?

Yes, I 'm talking about Bill Compton and his hideous man-bangs.  We have watched this man for almost three seasons now.  We've watched him enter Merlotte's in season one.  He was brooding, dark and mysterious.

Bill Compton, procurer

We can re-watch those scenes again with fresh, knowing eyes.  It's apparent to us now that he was on a mission.  He knew exactly who his mark was: Sookie Stackhouse.  We were seduced with a love story-a vampire that was trying to regain his "humanity", and now it is apparent that that is all for show.   We watched him "save" Sookie's life from the Rattray's.  We've watched him kill and threaten anyone that he feels will take away "his" Sookie.  We keep waiting for Sookie to wisen up and tell Bill she is no one's possession.  Alas, we are still waiting,  But enough about Mr. Compton.

Let's talk about Eric Northman. 

Eric Northman, BAMF and VILF

We've watched his character grow from a minor character in season one to a main character in season three.  His character is much more developed than Bill Compton.  Is there a reason for that?  Are we seeing more of Eric because of Sookie's obvious attraction to him?  Or is it because Eric Northman is just more interesting?  I think it's a little of both. 

But I digress. I'll touch base on the misdeeds of Bill Compton and good deeds of Eric Northman in another post.

Back to Episode 10.  Jason saved Tara from Franklin, while very entertaining, was a psychotic rapist.   We watched Jason Stackhouse grow up in one episode-he finally had the courage to tell Tara about his hand in killing Eggs AND kick Bill Compton out of his house:

 

I enjoyed watching the vampire I loathe lurch backwards out of Jason's house.  Could Sookie be the next one to remove Bill from her life?  We can only hope.

I'm not sure what to make of the strange scenes between Lala and Jesus, just as I'm not able to figure out if Jesus is good-or Satan in a Sunday hat.  We are being told that Lafayette is powerful, but how is his power going to be used? 

Next on the list to discuss is Hoyt/Jessica/Summer/Tommy.  We watched Summer try to seduce Hoyt.

And we watched Hoyt go to Jessica.  And I cheered when Hoyt sucker punched Tommy. 

Tommy, thinking he would get even with Hoyt, proceeded to shift and attack Hoyt.  Jessica, out of love for Hoyt, offered her blood to him.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Jessica, saving Hoyt Season 3

Bill, saving Sookie Season 1

The big difference, darlings-Jessica and Hoyt have an established relationship to each other.  Sookie had met Bill twice at his point-and doesn't know anything about this vampire.  Is Jessica doomed to follow in her maker's footsteps?  Or will she also break free from Bill's influence?  I think the scene with the burning cross and writing on Bill's house was set up for a reason.  To make her trust Bill and make him look like a caring "father".  Even his words sounded hollow: “It’s more important than ever that we restrain ourselves. Even if it is against our nature.”

We had a major revelation about Sam Merlotte.  We were shown Sam's past for a reason.  Trust that fact.  We are shown that Sam is not so different from Bill.  They both have lied, stolen and murdered.  Another fact to tie them together: Sam has also ingested a large quantity of Bill Compton's blood.  Are we seeing this because of Sam's guilt-or the influence of Bill Compton's blood in Sam Merlotte?

 Arlene finally admits to Terry that the baby she is carrying is not his.  And we watch Terry accept the situation and choose to love Arlene, the unborn baby, and to do the right thing.  Too bad Arlene isn't going to do the same.

And finally, we see the depth of Russell's grief and insanity.  We watch him with Tony, a male prostitute Russell picks up off the street.  We watch Russell confusing Tony for Talbot, trying to make up for his mistakes and his absence when he met his final death.  Intense? Yes.  Insane? Hell, yes!

So, the only questions I am left with are these: Who is the rat they are alluding to in the episode?  And what is the common theme-regardless of  the character?  We have manipulation and we have people using each other for different reasons-for love (Arlene/Terry), grief (Russell/Tony), for control (Sookie/Bill, Eric/ Bill AND Jessica/Bill) and to save lives (Sookie/Eric AND Jessica/Hoyt).  And to address the final question-who is the rat?  That's easy, darling.  It's Bill Compton.