Tonight’s episode of True Blood was the second-to-last of the series, and it largely felt like a setup for the finale.

There weren’t many big shocks on True Blood season 7, episode 9. Instead, the show set up a finale in which Bill will try to explain himself to Sookie in the hopes that she can find peace after he passes.

Bill’s choice

The episode kicks off exactly where we left off last week when Bill refused to drink Sarah’s blood, the cure to the Hep-V infection that is killing him. Bill says he’s accepted his fate (death). “All you have to do is drink this cunt’s blood!” Jessica reasons. Pleads from Sookie and Jessica don’t do the trick, though he does agree to release his creation.

Sookie and Jessica go to Sam’s old home to find that he’s vacated the premises and moved to Chicago. He left a note for Sookie in which he explains (over a montage of his move out) that he loves Nicole and wants to raise his child in a safe place.

Sookie heads to Bellefleur’s where she breaks the news to everyone of Sam’s departure. Sam’s letter to Andy is a short and emotionless resignation – one of the show’s classic lighter moments.

A group dinner set up at Bellefleur’s is hurt by Sookie, who’s upset about Bill. After a heart-to-heart with Arlene, she joins the group and sits in a peaceful family atmosphere that warms our heart. Perhaps she will find solace in these folks after Bill departs?

Eric heads to Bill’s to try to convince him to save himself. Bill reveals that the reason Sookie is so attracted to Bill and vise versa is because she’s fae. He also opens up about the dream he had on the last episode in which he couldn’t see the baby Sookie was holding. “It was a black void. Sookie had given birth to death,” he says. Eric’s surprised by this (“Fuck.”) and agrees to bring Sookie over so that Bill can try to explain himself.

Eric successfully talks Sookie into speaking with Bill again. Mr. Compton comes to her house (walking through a cemetery along the way to see his family – how symbolic of what soon may happen) and knocks on her door. We’re left on this cliffhanger that, honestly, did not feel like a big place to leave off ahead of the series finale next week.

Jessica and Hoyt

Jessica talks to James, who says he and Lafayette are happy together. It’s one of very few glimpses into the James/Lafayette relationship we’ve seen throughout this season, unfortunately.

She then goes to Hoyt’s, who is having another fight with Bridget about the baby and about Jessica. Their argument ends just as Jessica knocks on the door.

Jessica tells Hoyt that she and him used to be together. This, of course, shocks Hoyt, who was glamoured before he moved to Alaska. Bridget issues an ultimatum, and unsurprisingly Hoyt sides with Jessica.

After explaining her situation with Bill right now, he asks that she catch her breath then tell him “the story of us.”

Left for dead, Bridget calls Jason for support. He comes over and is immediately dealt a punch to the face by Hoyt. Bridget and Jason drive to his place, so we can imagine where this is going…or do we? Jason establishes that they’re not going to have sex tonight, and Bridget agrees, reminding him that she just broke up with Hoyt so she’s not in the mood for anything sexual. “Trust me, Bridget, it needed to be said.”

Jason helps Bridget get her flight back to Alaska adjusted and tries to stop himself from hooking up with her. He tells her the story of his and Hoyt’s friendship over a quick montage of Hoyt and Jessica shacking up.

Bridget brings him into his bed to “show him how not to have sex.” They lay in bed together, not touching each other, and chat. When asked to reveal a secret, he reveals he likes pink. When asked to dig deeper, he says he wants to have a kid but worries he’ll have a girl who’ll meet a guy like him.

Ginger gets what she wants

Ginger had a big moment on tonight’s episode. Eric returns to Fangtasia after dealing with Bill and Sookie’s relationship problems and immediately faces Ginger, who’s angry because she didn’t hear that he was cured sooner. But Eric has a way to apologize: “We’re gonna fuck.” They have sex on his throne, just as she has always fantasized. Is this revenge sex because Eric’s not getting Sookie?

He rips off her panties in one quick pull and starts to have sex with her, but the lovemaking brings her to the ground and she appears to finish after just a few seconds.

Surprised by how quick it was over, Eric goes downstairs to find Pam tied up while Gus and his men stand with their guns drawn. A stake dangles above Pam so Gus can find out the truth about what Eric’s been up to with Sookie. He admits that she is aware of the cure, so Gus asks where Sookie lives.

Unrelated side note: Does Big John have the best role on the show? He stands in the kitchen making an occasional witty comment. During today’s episode, he stepped out to eat dinner with friends. We love him!

What did you think of ‘True Blood’ season 7, episode 9?

Do you think we’re set up for a good finale? Is Sookie about to be killed by Gus and then saved by Bill with his infected blood? We’ll be back later this week to make series finale predictions.