Kathy Griffin - "Look At My Butt Crack" comedy album review

I am well aware that Kathy Griffin, two-time Emmy award winning comedienne and reigning Grammy award winner for Best Comedy album, is not for everyone. However, if she is not for you, chances are that you are really boring and have no sense of humor #sorrynotsorry. The self proclaimed Queen of the D-Lists's latest comedy album "Look At My Butt Crack" dropped suddenly on August 14th, soon after it was recorded at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, with the aim of garnering Griffin a seventh consecutive Grammy nomination.

This album is classic Kathy Griffin, the sharp tongued comedienne once again regales the audience with insider tales of some of Hollywood's most famous (and craziest) celebrities. Ms. Griffin also allows the audience a sneak peek into her own life, through personal stories about her and her much younger boyfriend, not to mention the usual segment dedicated to her dysfunctional relationship with her mother, Maggie, who would of course be familiar to any fan of Griffin's reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

Not only is Kathy Griffin an excellent  stand up performer, never once letting her voice waver or losing her breath during the two hour act, but a truely hilarious comedian that delivers consistent laugh-out-loud material. Griffin's style of humor is best suited to anybody with an interest in celebrities and pop culture in general, as she offers a sneak peek into the world of Hollywood's elite and their off-times ridiculous behaviour.

I purchased "Look At My Butt Crack" via the Apple iTunes Store for $16.99, and it was certainly worth every cent. Not only are Griffin's comedic stories of her usual hilarious quality, the audio for the file is clear and crisp, making it an easy listen.

Overall rating: ★★★★½

Satirising everyone from Madonna, Harry Styles, the entire Kardashian clan and even her own mother, "Look At My Butt Crack" is Griffin's usual no holds barred approach to comedy!  Ms. Griffin's unashamed attempt at a seventh consecutive Grammy nomination could very well be realised, as this album demonstrates her strength as a stand up performer and her undoubted comedic ability. Worth every cent!

"Thank You" - True Blood Season 7 Episode 10 Series Finale review

The finale opens with Bill reaching Sookie's house and attempting to explain his reasoning for wanting to die to her. Bill explains that he wants Sookie to have the opportunity to have a family, and in particular, to raise children, which she will never be able to do so long as he remains alive and a part of her life. He asks her to use her light to kill him, and in the process "de-fairy" herself. Also, by "de-fairying" herself Sookie would no longer have to deal with vampires constantly being drawn to her. Sookie is horrified that Bill would ask her to kill him, however, she does promise to think on it. I was actually quite surprised that the writers managed to find a way to make Sookie's "supernova" power from last season relevant in some way! Kudos!

Shortly afterwards, Jessica arrives home to Bill's house with Hoyt and confronts Bill again about his decision to meet the True Death. Despite not understanding how he could choose to die, Jessica tells Bill she will find a way to accept it and promises him that she will be fine. Bill questions Hoyt's intentions with Jessica, and asks whether he would ever consider marrying her. Jessica is angry that Bill would bring something so serious up so early in their renewed relationship, however, he explains that he needs to know that Jessica is spoken for before he dies. Realising how much it means to both of them that Bill be apart of her wedding, Jessica agrees to marry Hoyt that very day.

The main Bon Temps cast members (Sookie, Jason, Arlene, Holly and Andy) make their way to the Compton house to attend Jessica and Hoyt's wedding, all questioning why they had decided to get hitched so spontaneously. Sookie helps Jessica get ready, while Jason serves as Hoyt's best man, calming his nerves as he begins to have second thoughts. Bill walks Jessica down the aisle, where Andy presides over the ceremony, declaring Hoyt and Jessica husband and wife, despite the government not recognising vampire-human marriage. After the ceremony Jason and Sookie discuss Jason's obvious feelings for Bridgette, with Sookie confirming that she knows through her telepathy that Brdigette feels the same. Sookie tells Jason that since they had just come from Hoyt's wedding, she doesn't think he will mind if he starts to date Bridgette. Hoyt and Jessica's wedding felt extremely sudden and unexpected, however, it did serve to wrap up some minor unfinished storyline in one foul swoop- Andy, Jessica and Bill managed to put the death of Andy's fairy-daughters behind them, allowing Bill to organise to leave his estate to Andy, who will then grant it to Jessica, bypassing the law prohibiting vampire progeny inheriting property.

Sookie seeks out Reverand Daniels for advice regarding giving up her nature as a fairy in order to grant Bill his last wish. The Reverand explains that he believes that God makes everyone exactly the way he means to, and that nobody is made as a mistake. However, he also explains that God gave people free will with the intention that they should use it. When he asks whether this helped her, Sookie insists that it has and leaves.

Elsewhere, Eric is left seething over Mr. Gus's threat on Pam's life, and the pair concoct a plan to take revenge. Pam feeds Sarah her blood so that she will be able to feel her presence wherever she goes- and then sets her free. The maker-progeny pair then proceed to kill the Yakuza, including Mr. Gus, preventing them from assassinating Sookie for knowing about Sarah's nature as the cure for Hepatitis V. 

Pam tracks down Sarah to the carousel where Eric turned Willa last season. Sarah explains that she chose to hide there because she wants Pam to turn her, as she thinks that she would make a "kickass vampire". Pam refuses, and Sarah attempts to sway her by saying she intends to be a lesbian when she becomes a vampire, which Pam only finds amusing. When Sarah mentions Pam needing to replace Tara now that she is gone, Pam snaps and begins to choke her for daring to speak her deceased progeny's name. Pam then proceeds to begin feeding off Sarah in order to vaccinate herself against Hep V. As usual, Pam, Eric and Sarah were the most compelling part of this episode- the chemistry and superior acting of all three actors was as evident in the finale as it was throughout the rest of the season, and this episode could have done with a lot more of each characters participation!

After speaking to Reverand Daniels, Sookie calls Bill and says that she has made the arrangements at the cemetery to grant his wish at sundown. The pair meet there and share a final kiss, before Sookie creates her "supernova light ball" to grant him the true death and "de-fairy" herself. However, Sookie realises she will never be herself without her powers being apart of her and refuses to lose that part of herself. Bill insists that he still wants to die, so Sookie makes a makeshift stake out of a shovel. The pair whisper that they love each other, and together force the stake through Bill's heart, causing him to finally die the True Death.

One year later, Pam and Eric are shown filming an infomercial for their product, "New Blood", which is a synthesised version of Sarah Newlin's blood, which cures Hep V. Three years later, the pair are shown together at the stock exchange, where the company they own together has made millions of dollars. The pair return to Fangtasia, where business is booming as usual. In the basement, Pam keeps Sarah as a slave and allows vampires to drink from her for one minute at a time in order to vaccinate themselves- for one hundred thousand dollars a pop! Sarah continues to hallucinate visions of her ex-husband, Steve, who taunts her about losing her mind. Steve explains that since it's Thanksgiving they should say what they are thankful for- he is thankful that he gets to watch her descend into madness, whil Sarah looks horrified and whispers that she has nothing to be thankful for and begins to cry.

Sookie is shown heavily pregnant, hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for all of the surviving main cast members (besides Pam and Eric). Jason married Bridgette and they have several children, as do Sam and Nicole. Lafayette and James are still in a relationship, Arlene proves how much she has grown by being in a longtime relationship with Keith the vampire, and Holly and Andy are still together. Sookie is shown hugging her husband, who's face is never even shown, and the screen fades to black.

Overall rating: ★★★½

I felt that the series finale, like the rest of the seventh season, had both it's strengths and it's weaknesses. More specifically, this episode gave the viewer one last taste of everything that was great about True Blood- as well as everything that wasn't great about True Blood. Kristin Bauer van Straten, Alexander Skarsgard and Anna Camp each gave fantastic last performances as their long-term characters, with their stroyline easily being the most positive aspect of the episode, and season, overall. Anna Paquin, Deborah Ann Woll and Stephen Moyer also put in stellar performances during the long-march to Bill's inevitable True Death, with the emotion they invoked being the most positive aspect of the drawn out approach the writers took to finally killing off the controversial character. Unfortunately, most of the characters we had come to love over the years did not show up until the very end of the episode, and although their storylines were somewhat wrapped up in preceding episodes, it would have been nice to know a little bit more about where characters we have been invested in over the last seven years ended up. Although True Blood's quality has certainly diminished over the years, this season did manage to invoke several episodes that were reminiscent of "old school" True Blood. It is these episodes I will remember in the years to come, and will miss immeasurably. Thank you to the cast and crew for seven years of fun, suspenseful and emotional television! 

True Blood - 10 Biggest Deaths

True Blood would not be True Blood without death! The writers have shocked the viewers time and time again with surprise characters deaths since season one. To pay my respects to the fallen, I have compiled a list of the "10 Biggest Deaths" in True Blood history.

10. Roman Zimojic

Although Roman was only with us for a short time, his death was both huge and shocking because of the caliber of actor who portrayed him- no one expected Christopher Meloni to sign onto the series and last only a handful of episodes as the Guardian of the Vampire Authority before being staked through the heart by Russell Edgington.

9. Adele Stackhouse

No one saw the brutal murder of Sookie's kindly grandmother coming! Few deaths have had such a lasting impact on the characters left behind, with Adele being perhaps the most referenced deceased character throughout the series.

8. Maryann Forrester 

The main antagonist of season 2, Maryann was mysterious, psychotic and seemingly invincible. Up until her final moments, it seemed unlikely that the people of Bon Temps would ever be able to destroy this crazy maenad!

7. Queen Sophie-Anne

Although no one really expected Bill to perish in his battle with the much older and stronger Queen Sophie-Anne at the end of season 4, it was a shock to discover Bill's decades old alliance with Nan Flanagan and the AVL which lead to the bloody death of the Queen of Louisiana.

6. Nan Flanagan

The highly sarcastic and witty spokeswoman for the AVL and Chancellor of the Authority, Nan Flanagan always seemed untouchable, until her position of power slowly deteriorated over the course of Season 4, culminating in her unexpected death at the hands of Bill Compton in the season finale.

5. Nora Gainesborough

This former Chancellor of the Authority and member of the Sanguinistas, was the beloved vampire sister of Eric and progeny of Godric. Nora has the distinction of being the first victim of the deadly Hepatitis V, and her death scene was among the most gruesome of the True Death's seen on True Blood, and one of the only moments seen to cause Eric to cry.

4. Alcide Herveaux

Poor Alcide never really stood a chance- he constantly put himself in harms way in order to protect his beloved Sookie, only to never have her truely love him back. If only he had of stayed in Mississippi, he never would have feel victim to the anti-supernatural vigilantes in Bon Temps.

3. Terry Bellefleur

One of the most emotional death scenes in True Blood history! Who didn't shed a tear as Arlene sung to her husband Terry as he slowly passed away from a fatal gunshot wound in season 6 or during the emotional scenes that followed in subsequent episodes?

2. Godric

The death of this two thousand year old vampire devastated his progeny, Eric, providing the viewer with the first glimpse at the Viking vampires capacity for loyalty and love and is one of the most memorable moments of season 2.

1. Tara Thornton

Tara has the distinction of being the first top-billed regular character to meet the True Death, and that is why her death was undoubtedly the biggest in True Blood history, despite the insulting off-screen nature of her demise and the bizarre storyline that followed this gigantic characters death in the season 7 premiere.

True Blood - 10 Best...Characters

Now that True Blood's finale is rapidly approaching, I thought I would mark the occasion by writing a series of "Best" posts, beginning with True Blood's 10 Best Characters.

10. Bill Compton

Of all the regular characters on the show, Bill's allegiance was perhaps the most in question. Although he began the show as the most human of the vampires we were introduced to, Bill switched from "good guy" to "bad guy" countless times over the seasons. His romance with Sookie has been the anchoring storyline of the show and has endured countless betrayals and even his transformation into "Billith" in season 6.

9. Sookie Stackhouse

The main protagonist of the entire series, Sookie Stackhouse, has been at the centre of all the drama and action that's taken place in Bon Temps over the years. Although she has made countless questionable choices and infuriated the shows loyal fanbase immeasurably, True Blood could never have been True Blood without this telepathic waitress.

8. Jason Stackhouse

Sookie's sex-crazed and lovable brother has produced much of the comedic value to be found in the show as he struggled to make sense of the crazy-happenings that Bon Temps has endured over the years. Jason has also undergone some of the most substantial character growth of any of the series regulars, transforming from a selfish boy to a responsible, if slightly thick, officer of the law.

7. Jessica Hamby

The shows resident baby-vamp, Jessica, has been at the centre of countless romances and the dramas that come with them since her introduction into the series. She has grown from a naive Christian teenager into a strong, independent vampire under Bill's watchful eye after he was forced to turn her at the end of season 1.

6. Tara Thornton

Sookie's best friend and the shows resident survivor, Tara, suffered tragedy after tragedy, culminating in a gun-shot wound to the head that resulted in her being turned into the thing she most despised- a vampire. Against the odds, Tara seemed to find some solace in her new life with her maker, Pam, only to meet the True Death in an insulting off-screen death in the premiere of season 7.

5. Sarah Newlin

Although certainly not the most threatening villain in the history of the show, Sarah was undoubtedly the best. Hilariously portrayed by Anna Camp, Sarah's downward spiral from religious zealot to full blown mental-case has been some of the most entertaining television provided by the show (who will ever forget her thanking Jesus after her murder of Ms. Suzuki at vamp camp?)

4.  Arlene Bellefleur

Although initially one of the more minor regular characters, Arlene's ability to invoke both overwhelming emotion and fits of laughter have made her one of the most beloved and important characters on the show. Here's to hoping this feisty waitress gets the happy ending she deserves after ensuring so much tragedy over the years!

3. Lafayette Reynolds

The flamboyant short order cook at Merlotte's Bar and Grill, Lafayette has endured, racism, homophobia, spiritual possession and the death of his boyfriend, all the while managing to deliver line after line of superb dialogue and never messing his make-up.

2. Eric Northman

This one thousand year old Viking vampire has been one of the most popular characters on the show for good reason. Eric has personified what it means to be a vampire in the world of True Blood since the beginning of the show, often in form-fitting sweats or with no clothes at all.

1. Pamela Swynford De Beaufort

Eric's progeny and only weakness, Pam has been True Blood's most compelling character over the years due to her snarky attitude, loyalty to Eric, impeccable style and most importantly, her ability to consistently produce the most quotable dialogue of any character on the show. If only there was a Pam-centric sequel in the works!

"Love Is To Die" - True Blood Season 7 Episode 9 review

SPOILER WARNING!!! Do not read ahead if you have not seen the ninth episode of True Blood's Season 7 "Love Is To Die".

The penultimate episode of the series opened in the all-to-familiar dungeon of Fangtasia, where Bill refuses to drink Sarah's blood in order to cure himself of Hepatitis V. Sookie and Jessica are left reeling from this twist and both react heatedly to his surprise decision. When Bill refuses to relent and attempts to leave, Jessica demands that Bill release her. The scene that followed was one of the strongest and most emotionally charged of the entire season, with Deborah Ann Woll's performance as Jessica being a true highlight, as she breaks down during Bill's releasing-speech.

After seeing Sookie home safely, Jessica instinctively seeks out Hoyt, who continues to argue with his frustratingly annoying girlfriend Bridgette. Jessica reveals that Hoyt and her were previously in a relationship, to both Bridgette and Hoyt's confusion. Hoyt and Bridgette break up, and Jessica tells Hoyt about everything that happened between them over the course of the series, before she glamoured him, and proceed to have sex and seemingly get back together. Bridgette stays with Jason after her break up with Hoyt and there is clear indications that the writers mean to push these two characters together, after the surprise twist of reuniting Jessica and Hoyt. I really hope this is not the case, as I find it highly unconvincing that Jason would find his "happily ever after" in an entirely new character and not somebody more meaningful like Jessica. On the other hand, I have always loved the Jessica-Hoyt combo and would like nothing more than to see the pair back together for good.

In other news, Sookie seeks out Sam, only to find his trailer completely empty and a note left explaining that although he loves his friends in Bon Temps, he needs to be with Nicole and watch their daughter grow up. The major qualm I have had with True Blood this season has been its poor treatment of some of it's original core characters such as Sam, and of course Tara. These characters were a major part of the story since the very first episode, and yet they have been undeniably forgotten about this season and relegated to background character status. It is a slap in the face for major characters who's storyline you have followed for seven years to be killed off screen, or written out of the series via a goodbye note. Bad, bad writing!

Arlene attempts to drum up some business by throwing a party at her bar (which no one but the core cast attends). While there, Jessica and James finally make peace over their break up earlier in the season, and I was especially glad to see Jessica acknowledge that she had not been an entirely fantastic girlfriend. Arlene and Sookie have another uplifting chat that showcases Carrie Preston's fantastic emotional range, and Andy learns about Sam's departure from town and resignation as mayor. Something tells me that Sherrif Bellefleur will soon be Mayor Bellefleur.

After releasing Jessica, Bill returns to his home and receives a surprise visit from Eric, who attempts to convince the younger vampire to take the cure. Bill explains his belief that vampires are only capable of bringing darkness into peoples lives and this is why Sookie, a creature of light, is so instinctively drawn to them. He feels that the only way to protect Sookie and help her move on is for him to no longer be alive. However, he wants to explain this to her himself and so asks Eric to speak with her and convince her to give him a chance to talk to her. Eric grants Bill his last wish and manages to convince Sookie to speak with him, who proceeds to head across the cemetery to her house.

When Eric returns to Fangtasia, he surprisingly begins to seduce Ginger, who apparently orgasms within second of foreplay. After finishing with Ginger, he calls out to Pam, only to recieve no answer. He makes his way downstairs and finds Pam chained down with a wooden stake dangling over her. Mr. Gus forces Eric to admit that Sookie knows about Sarah being the cure- in order to save Pam as the stake is slowly lowered towards her heart. As Mr. Gus menacingly asks where Sookie lives, the camera zooms in on Bill as he knocks on her door (hinting that the Yakuza will attack the Stackhouse home in the opening minutes of next weeks episode). Although I'm not sure what role Bill will play in this final battle, I am convinced that Eric will manage to defeat the Yakuza and exact revenge for Pam's capture. In fact, I predict the maker-progeny pair taking over the Yakuza's plan to manufacture "New Blood" by the end of the series finale.

Overall rating: ★★★★½

This was a really strong episode of True Blood, that not only focused on character relationships and the core storylines of the season, but also had truely suspenseful moments that left the viewer unsure about what's going to happen next. The emotionally charged opening scene was especially strong, as was the finale scene where Eric was forced to choose between betraying Sookie or letting his beloved progeny Pam meet the true death. These last two episodes have definitely increased my excitement and suspense leading up to series finale, and can only hope that the show delivers once again!

Chelsea Handler - Uganda Be Kidding Me review

Over the last few weeks I have been busy reading several books at once in order to post a few reviews in quick succession. The first book I started reading and will be reviewing today is "Uganda Be Kidding Me" by talk show host/comedienne Chelsea Handler.

Quite a few of the people closest to me have suggested in the past that I look into Handler's TV show, Chelsea Lately, as they believed I would enjoy her brand of quick-witted, dry humour. Recently, I finally decided to get stuck into a few episodes (yes I'm aware that the show is ending this month after seven seasons on the air) and enjoyed them so much that I immediately downloaded an e-book of "Uganda Be Kidding Me" to soak up as much of Handler's exploits as possible before she leaves E! for Netflix, which is not yet available in Australia.

"Uganda Be Kidding Me" is Handler's fifth published work and the second of a three-book deal signed in 2010. The book is also Handler's fourth #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list and is being supported/promoted by a stand-up tour of the same name being performed internationally by the feisty comedienne.

As the titular pun suggests, "Uganda Be Kidding Me" is a collection of comical travel essays that document the outrageous events of Handler's personal life as she travels the world, from her experiences on safari in Africa to vacationing in the Bahamas. Handler's signature brand of humor is evident throughout the narrative and the quality of the prose is of the high standard one would expect from the fiercely intelligent and witty woman we have come to know and love from Chelsea Lately (although her intelligence must be questioned after reading about a conversation in the book where she asks her sister if the sun and the moon are the same thing).

I found Handler's ability to self-deprecate while detailing highly embarrassing personal events, such as the befoulement of a kayak in the Bahamas, extremely refreshing for a semi-autobiographical book as celebrities generally use this platform to promote themselves and their oft-times controversial actions. Handler's book has absolutely none of this, with the comedienne striving to make her reader laugh at every turn, whether at the expense of herself, a close friend or anyone else she encountered during her adventures across the globe.

If your looking for a read filled with deep underlying messages or revelations about a celebrity then you should probably give "Uganda Be Kidding Me" a miss and steer towards Hillary Clinton's recent release. Handler's book is much more a comical retelling of relatively minor events in her life than a hard-hitting autobiography and delivers exactly want you would expect- lots of laughs that leave the reader feeling much better than they did before they picked up the book. And really, what better reason is there to read than to lose yourself for a couple of hours and feel a little bit better about your real world problems at the end of it? This book is worth every cent and will definitely have any fan of Handler's in stitches throughout.

I enjoyed "Uganda Be Kidding Me" so much that I have kept my eyes peeled for a hard copy (I prefer physical copies to e–books) of it or Handler's other books ever since I read it, to no avail, and have come to the conclusion that they may not be published in Australia. However, the books are of course available online and Handler herself will be bringing the "Uganda Be Kidding Me" stand-up tour to Australia in November.

Overall rating: ★★★★

The final episode of Chelsea Lately will air on E! on August 26th with a special hour-long live episode.

Please visit www.chelseahandler.com for "Uganda Be Kidding Me" tour information.

"Almost Home" - True Blood Season 7 Episode 8

SPOILER WARNING!!! Do not read ahead if you have not seen the eighth episode of True Blood's Season 7 "Almost Home".

Picking up where the previous episode left off, Eric, Pam and the Yakuza track Sarah Newlin down to the Fellowship of the Sun camp. Sarah, encouraged by a hallucination of Jason, gives herself up willingly as she is under the impression that the cure running through her veins makes her a modern-day Messiah. Eric is intent on killing Sarah, despite threats of the True Death by the Yakuza, however, Pam manages to stop him by threatening her own life. Instead, Eric takes a sip of Sarah's blood and begins to laugh as the black veins of Hep V begin to disappear from his body. After capturing Sarah and setting up base at Fangtasia, Pam and Eric question Mr. Gus about how long it will take to synthesise Sarah's blood and manufacture a cure. Mr. Gus reveals that the process has already been completed, however, the Yakonomo Corporation plans on reducing the effectiveness of the cure so that infected vampires are forced to continue to buy their new product in order to remain alive.

Meanwhile in Bon Temps, Jason helps Hoyt and his new girlfriend sift through Maxine Fortenberry's possessions, before receiving a text with pictures of Adilyn and Jessica being held captive by Violet. After fighting with Hoyt, his girlfriend Bridgette storms out and joins Jason on his rescue mission. However, Jason is quickly subdued by his former girlfriend, who proceeds to inform the captive group about the myriad of ways she plans to make them suffer in order to make up for Jason's betrayal. Just as Violet seems set to begin, Hoyt appears in her doorway and shoots her through the heart, causing her to violently disintegrate as she meets the True Death. Unlike the psychotic Violet, I am not a religious person, but all I have to say now that she has finally been reduced to a simmering pile of vampire goo is: praise Jesus! I have been waiting for this moment since the very first scene she appeared in last season.

Jason drives Jessica home and the pair share a sweet moment as they discuss the nature of their relationship, deciding that it can only be defined as a "beautiful friendship". Later, Hoyt confides to Jason that he can't stop thinking about Jessica, and after learning that her maker, Bill, is dying from Hep V he heads over to the Compton house in order to offer fresh, untainted, blood for him. The chemistry between Hoyt and Jessica is absolutely palpable in this scene, reminiscent of their relationship back in season two. I'm not sure whether the writers are teasing us with the possibility of a Hoyt-Jessica reunion or not, but I am certainly open to the idea!

Elsewhere, Reverand Daniels is called by the current owners of Tara's childhood home to find Lettie Mae and Lafayette digging through the front yard. James arrives shortly afterwards, and allows Lettie Mae and Lafayette to drink his blood so that they can reunite with the spirit of Tara and learn what it is she wants from them. In an emotional plea, Lette Mae manages to convince the Reverand to join the pair on their spiritual journey. The V somehow shows the trio a vision of the past, where Tara's father beat Lettie Mae for wasting money by throwing Tara a birthday party. Unknown to her parents, young Tara is shown holding a gun at her fathers back, however, she can't bring herself to pull the trigger. The spirit of Tara begs Lettie Mae for forgiveness for not pulling the trigger, however Lettie Mae believes she is the one who needs forgiveness for her failures as a parent. Tara tells Lettie Mae that it's time to move on and live her life, and that she needs to let her go. The pair hug, and the spirit of Tara walks off into the distance and finally disappears for good. I have been highly critical of this storyline since it began earlier in the season, however, I enjoyed this plot lines conclusion. Tara's death and the traumatic life she lived were finally handled with the emotion and respect that the character deserved, and the plot itself did not feel like a hastily put together side-storyline for the first time this season.

Finally, Sookie receives a visit from Eric and is amazed at his sudden recovery from Hep V. Eric promises to return the next night with a cure for Bill, however, in typical Sookie fashion she makes her way over to Fangtasia anyway and reads Mr. Gus's mind, learning that the Yakuza are keeping something in the basement. Sookie manages to break into the basement and finds Sarah Newlin being held captive. After reading Sarah's mind she learns that her blood is the cure and then returns to the Compton house where she tells Bill and Jessica about what she has discovered. The trio then break into the basement, where they find Sarah, as well as Pam and Eric who were in the middle of stealing some of Sarah's blood for Bill. However, Bill decides to throw a spanner in the works by refusing to cure himself! Queue credits! I felt that there was quite abit of foreshadowing throughout the episode that Bill would choose to refuse the cure, so I was not particularly surprised by this turn of events, especially now that the suspense of Eric's illness has been removed,

Overall rating: ★★★★

Two problems that True Blood has suffered with in recent years have been a focus on minor characters and a tendency to produce exposition episodes (such as the previous one) that simply fill the gaps from one episode to the next. However, fortunately, this episode was everything the previous episode wasn't: it had  action, it answered questions, several storylines were wrapped up nicely and some new ones began in the lead up to the ultimate climax of the series. Let's just hope that the final two episodes keep up the pace and end the series on a high note! 

Look Book: Jeans/Chinos

Today I am going to start a new section of my blog that I have been slowly putting together over the last few weeks, a Look Book. Basically, I will be putting different clothing items together and posting them on here to create looks and outfits that I think are great.

To start off, I want to make a point of saying that one of the main things I look for when initially buying an item is whether the item has the versatility to be worn with a range of other pieces. Versatility is important, as it means you can wear an item you love without the embarrassment of constantly re-wearing the exact same outfit.

Today I am going to choose a single item that I think is an essential piece of every guys outfit rotation because of how well it goes with so many different clothes:

    Dark coloured chinos/jeans.

A pair of dark coloured slim-fit chinos or jeans are an absolute essential of any wardrobe because of the versatility they allow. Dark coloured chinos/jeans allow for a more dressed up look than regular coloured chinos or standard denim jeans, and shades such as black are really easy to match with most other colours.

I always have at least one pair of black jeans in my closet, and recently purchased a pair of dark-dyed slim-fit chinos from men's fashion store Connor. In fact, in preparation for the first edition of my Look Book, I actually planned my shopping selections around this pair of chinos because of how many different outfits can be put together using them as a foundation. I found a whole different variety of clothes that go great with the dark jeans/chinos (unfortunately I could only afford so many) and have collected a few examples here:

Brighter colours, like purple, pink or red, look great when teamed with a pair of black jeans/chinos. The bright colours contrast fantastically with the dark shade of the pants. Personally, for a more dressed up look, I like to make use of contrasting colours in the form of checkered shirts.

To further enhance this look, I like to wear a short, slim fit leather jacket over the top of the checkered shirt or even a simple Chambray shirt (see below). This not only adds another layer to the outfit, it enhances the  contrast of the bright shirt in between the dark leather and jeans.

For a more casual look, black chinos or jeans can be paired with any standard white tee, with a simple printed design. For the more adventurous, choose a tee with a brightly coloured print to contrast with the plain white and black.

Dark jeans/chinos are also extremely versatile because of the wide range of footwear that can be worn with them. If going for a dressed up look, black jeans simply need to be paired with a pair of boots or high tops. For an everyday look, any standard casual shoe can be worn with dark pants and matched to the style of shirt being worn as well. 

"May Be The Last Time" - True Blood Season 7 Episode 7 review

SPOILER WARNING!!! Do not read ahead if you have not seen the seventh episode of True Blood's Season 7 "May Be The Last Time".

The episode picks back up at Amber's house, where Eric, Pam and Mr. Gus have chained the young vampire down with silver, and interrogate her as to the whereabouts of her nefarious sister Sarah Newlin. Although Amber begins to co-operate by revealing that Sarah's blood is the cure for Hep V, Eric is overcome with rage and stakes Amber causing her to suffer the True Death, much to Pam's chagrin. Seeing an opportunity to make money, Mr. Gus devises a plan to synthesise Sarah's blood and sell it under the brand name "New Blood" as a cure for all infected vampires. Gus offers Eric the position as New Blood's spokesperson, as a means of persuading the vampire public to trust his company again after the Hep V fiasco. While Eric and Pam catch some shut eye, Mr. Gus uses the Japanese government's surveillance to pinpoint Sarah's location and when our two favourite vampires rise, they take off to capture her. I, personally, am really over the whole Mr. Gus/Yakuza storyline, and feel that Eric's uneasy alliance with them is unnecessary- surely he could take off at vampire speed with Pam to capture Sarah on their own? I suspect the Viking vampire may have a plan to punish the Japanese for their involvement with Sylvie's death in the 1980's.

In Bon Temps, Jessica and Sookie are devastated by the realisation that Bill has mere days to live. Sookie promises Jessica that she will find a miracle to save Bill, and calls Doctor Ludwig hoping to get some answers as to why his infection is spreading so rapidly. Doctor Ludwig seems to indicate that Sookie's royal-fairy blood is the cause, and Sookie resolves to seek out Niall for answers. Sookie's side-adventure with Niall seemed entirely pointless, as all he manages to impart, in an extremely roundabout way, is that death is a necessary part of life. Later that night, Sookie runs across the cemetery in a flowing white dress, reminiscent of a similar scene in season one, to Bill's mansion, where the pair have sex in front of the fireplace. I assume the episode's title is a reference to this possibly being the last time the pair have sex, which seems likely considering the appalling black veins spreading across Bill's body during the scene. 

Also in Bon Temps, Arlene reopens Bellefleur's, however, business is far from booming after the infected vampires attack there a week ago. She does, however, talk to Sam about Nicole leaving town and delivers an inspiring speech about refusing to give up on the belief that she might just be able to be happy again one day. Later, Keith appears after having sensed her emotional pain, and invites Arlene to dance. This was undoubtedly the most beautiful moment of the episode and cemented my belief that Arlene has become one of the core characters of this show, and has probably undergone the biggest character growth of any of the series regulars over the course of the series. 

Elsewhere, Hoyt arrives back in town and stops by Bellefleur's for breakfast before heading over to the Sherrif's office to pay his last respects to his mother. The scenes shared between Hoyt and Jason were wonderfully executed  and rife with underlying emotion, however, I found the new inclusion of Hoyt's girlfriend jarring, and did not believe that Jason would lust after ANOTHER girl in Hoyt's life after the Jessica-fiasco.

Andy and Holly continued to go on a wild goose chase in search of their missing children this week, and of course have absolutely no success! However, they did share a great moment together during their adventure, which showcased the rarely-seen emotional side of Andy, and the iron-clad strength of Holly, which I enjoyed, despite the lack of plot progression.

Meanwhile, whilst their parents searched frantically for them, Adilyn and Wade hid out at Violet's extraordinarily creepy house, whilst the clearly unhinged vampire slept the day away. However, as expected, at the very end of the episode, Violet unveiled her true colours by knocking Wade unconscious and handcuffing Adilyn to their bed (causing Jessica to immediately awaken in Bon Temps and take off to come to the half-fae's rescue). I can only hope that next week will finally see the end of Violet, who's character has served to irk me unbelievably since her debut last season.

And finally, the delightfully crazy Sarah Newlin attempts to seek shelter at the Light of Day Institue, which had served as her training ground for members of the Fellowship of the Sun back in season two. However, Sarah's mental state appears to be deteriorating rapidly as she hallucinates figures from her past (Jason, her former husband Steve, Governor Burrell and her Buddhist mentor) who all adamantly tell her that she is going to die tonight. Unaware that she has been tracked by satellite, Sarah is shocked to see Eric, Pam and the Yakuza appear at the camp.

Overall rating: ★★★ 

Although I did enjoy this episode, as I do any viewing of True Blood, I believe that it was merely a filler episode designed to slow down our march towards the ultimate climax of this series (or as a friend of mine put it, "nothing really happened"). The storylines showcased in tonight's episode were mostly side-stories that dragged on, with nothing happening until the final moments, eg. Sookie and Bill having creepy Hep-V sex, Violet finally showing her true nature to the naive Adilyn and Wade and Eric and Pam finally catching up with Sarah. We can only hope that with only three episode of True Blood left that the writers still have some classic True Blood-esque drama and action left to wow its viewers as it did in its earlier years.

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Kim Kardashian: Hollywood Game Review

Before I begin I should probably own up to the fact that reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine. I'm not talking about Masterchef, I'm talking about the stuff that most people publicly call "trash TV", but secretly watch behind closed doors; eating up the myriad of shallow problems and relationship dramas as if they were pop corn. Keeping up with the Kardashian's epitomises this brand of reality TV as the most successful and long running of the genre.

Despite my addiction to the Kardashian family, I did not expect that I would be sucked into Kim's latest venture: Kim Kardashian: Hollywood (KK:H), a game that allows the player to follow in her footsteps and rise up the ranks of Hollywood from relative nobody to Kardashian-esque A-Lister. How wrong I was to doubt the power of the Kardashian empire!

Simply put, this app is the greatest thing that has ever happened to the world EVER. Not only is it simply designed and the game mechanics easily mastered, it has captured that certain something that the Kardashian family possesses that causes otherwise sane members of society to obsess over them.

The Storyline:

Much like Kim herself, the player begins as a nobody (or in KK:H speak, an E-Lister) living in Hollywood. The players ascent to the A-List begins when a chance encounter with Kim Kardashian occurs at the store you work at and the rest is history!

The game encourages the player to create a wannabe-celebrity alter-ego that travels the same path that Kim did to fame (minus the unfortunate sex tape). The player traverses around a fictionalised version of the Kardashian mother land (LA) completing tasks set by Kim and your manager, Simon, such as photoshoots, appearances or promoting brands or products.

By completing these tasks, the player earns money, which allows for the purchase of anything from clothes to fashion accessories to houses, and depending on how well the task is completed (through a simple 5-star rating system) the player also earns fans, which determines what celebrity list you belong to- I myself am currently a B-Lister.

Additionally, KK:H features an unusual feature for a free App Store game: the ability to interact with friends through Facebook and Game Centre (because the only thing better than being in a feaux-photoshoot by yourself is being in a feaux-photoshoot with a friend)! On the other hand, I don't think I have ever felt so ferociously competitive with my group of friends before. The thought of them being more "famous" than me is enough to throw me into the game for hours straight, or irrevocably destroy over a decade of friendship.

Overall rating: ★★★★★

A simple gaming style is always key when it comes to an App Store game, and KK:H is probably the best example of this that I have ever seen. Not only are the game mechanics easy to get the hang of, the design of the characters, the fashion choices and myriad of background locations are absolutely beautiful!

It's also worth noting that KK:H clearly acknowledges that Kim Kardashian is only famous for being famous. Surprisingly, the game does not go out of it's way to glaze over this fact or attempt to make Kim into something she's not- it actually seems to embrace it which I found highly refreshing. The game also clearly pokes fun at the ridiculousness of modern-celebrity with shockingly comical and witty dialogue, which makes many tongue-in-cheek references to the Hollywood of today.

KK:H combines that special something innate to the Kardashians, with a simple and rewarding gaming style in order to create the most addictive App experience a player is likely to ever have. Watch out Candy Crush!