Once again, we’re back for another look at sex and gender issues in HBO’s True Blood. If you haven’t been keeping up with our series of articles, make sure to go back and check them out, including a discussion of the show’s sexual conservatism, a closer read of the series’ witches and more.

This past week’s episode of True Blood continued to develop the growing relationship between Sookie and Eric. We’ve already expressed our concern about “memory-wipe” Eric, but for now at least, it looks like we’re stuck with the (relatively) kinder and gentler vampire Viking. Of course, that’s all the better for Sookie, as the two were able to elevate their relationship to the next level: Drinking one another’s blood.

When one person allows another to drink their blood, even in a vampire setting, it’s difficult to avoid religious-based comparisons to Jesus and the Last Supper. But the parallels go further than just drinking someone else’s blood, as in a very real way, both Sookie and Eric have now given one another part of themselves. For Sookie, allowing Eric to feed on her was a huge risk and sacrifice, considering just how damn delicious her fairy blood is supposed to be. In the past, Sookie has seen Eric unwittingly drain a fairy for her blood and also been nearly killed by a starving Bill, who generally speaking, is a much nicer vampire than Eric.

But the scene contained a sacrifice by our favorite Nordic bloodsucker as well. In previous seasons of True Blood, we’ve been told time and time again that the vampires see their blood as something holy and special, which explains their moral revulsion at it being used by humans as a recreational drug. Yes, we’ve seen both Eric and Bill allow Sookie and others to feed on them in the past, but it’s almost always been a life-or-death situation, where their vampire blood was needed for its healing powers.

In this week’s episode, however, there was no pressing reason for Sookie to drink Eric’s blood, except for the fact that both she and her new beau wanted to share it. Thus, Eric quite literally gave Sookie some of himself – his very essence – an incredibly intimate act for two people to share. We’ve seen the two have sex before, but this goes a step beyond, as the two lovers’ very identities mix and blend with one another.

Just as significant, however, is what happens after the two drink one another’s blood: They trip absolute balls. By exhibiting such a sense of trust, willing to give of themselves to one another, they fall headfirst into a dreamy, romantic, erotic, lovey-dovey world, blending the magical nature of the fairyfolk with the cold, icy beauty of Eric’s Nordic peoples. The two of them are high off of one another, just like any two people who have just recently given enough of themselves to fall properly in love.

What do you think about Eric and Sookie’s quickly escalating relationship? Has it surpassed the bond that Ms. Stackhouse and vampire Bill once shared? Tell us all about it in the comments below, then make sure to watch True Blood this Sunday at 9pm on HBO, and catch us back here next week.