True Blood Love Triangle

There is certainly an interesting “love triangle” of sorts developing on True Blood, however it is probably not the kind of love triangle that normally comes to mind.  Though it is not the one that appears to be developing between Sookie and two of the hottest vampires, it does involve heat – heated arguments, that is.  Yes, I am speaking of Hoyt, Jessica and of course, Hoyt’s mother.

Hoyt’s mother – the typical bitter, mad at the world spurned woman – and she is not going to make things easy for Hoyt, especially when it comes to his relationship with Jessica.  Now that she is under Maryann’s spell, there is just no telling how heated things will get.

Hoyt – what can we say about him?  He’s goofy, but sweet and has the best of intentions.  He’s brow beaten by his mother, to say the least – and he is totally enamored with Jessica.  Though he started out a relatively unseen character, he is certainly becoming central to the dynamics of the True Blood series.  Hoyt is growing up.  He is maturing and learning that he cannot continue to let the world push him around, or else he will never leave his mother’s nest.

Jessica is probably one of the funniest characters and very likely one to whom many young women can relate.  Her home life is not that different than those of a lot of other females – strong father/weak mother – and that can make for a bad combination when that female is finally let out into the real world.  Quite often, those types of girls become the prey for those seeking to corrupt everything and everyone around them.  And so it was with Jessica that fateful night she met the vampires.  It is truly interesting to watch Jessica mature as well.  She is finally leaving her shell and growing into her own.  She should be grateful that it is with someone like Hoyt; it is so obvious to see how much he cares for her.  He means her no harm and only wants to take care of her.  It will be fun to see how their relationship plays out.  Will she “make him”?  We know what just took place on Episode 10 – or do we?  We could see the attack coming.  We were pretty certain that Hoyt’s mother would anger Jessica to the point of attack – and who could blame her for lashing out?  His mother is a piece of work, to say the least.

Hoyt’s mother certainly can bring out that kind of uncontrollable anger.  She is the stereotypical, small-town/small minded, gossip queen that plagues so many of our communities.  She starts off sweet like honey and by the end of the conversation, one can feel the poison just oozing from her deepest, darkest places.  Though Hoyt is the quiet type, I have a feeling that he has the ability to flip his mother’s world upside down.  She would be wise to give Jessica a chance, but I think we all know that is not going to happen.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  As the end of Season 2 really ramps up, I have a feeling, Hoyt and Jessica will become one hot item – and his mother – well, what happens to her is left to be seen.  Suffice it to say, it probably will not be good.  She would probably make the most irritating vampire of all time, should it turn out that Jessica has “made” her.  I chuckle to think of that.

(Photo credit: HBO)

True Blood’s Soldier of Bon Temps Terry Bellefleur

“Uh huh. Remind me never to get stuck in a fox hole with you…coward,” is the clear and strong reply Terry Bellefleur gives to Sam Merlotte’s, played by Sam Trammell, decision to run from Bon Temps in episode 3, season 2 titled, “Scratches”. Terry Bellefleur is played by actor Todd Lowe, known for his role as Zack Van Gerbig in the Gilmore Girls.

Alan Ball has developed and nurtured many characters and plot ideas from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series in order to create an atmosphere that is current and addresses what is happening in the world in the present moment, while also adding the biggest conflict of the show: a coexisting world of vampires and humans. We have seen Alan Ball develop minor characters from the book, such as Tara, played by Rutina Wesley, and Lafayette, played by Nelson Ellis; for the show, Ball has given these characters conflicts and situations that they must overcome, allowing the world of True Blood to be richer and more complex than simply the idea of people for or against vampires. The conflicts these characters experience are based on human emotions. And while many of their conflicts have nothing to do with vampires, their struggles will be the lens with which they view vampires and the supernatural.

Terry Bellefleur is an excellent example of a supporting character’s experiences enriching the world of True Blood. In the show, he is an Iraqi war veteran who has come home from the war with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In Harris’ series Terry is a veteran of Vietnam, but I feel that changing the war Terry served in gives the viewer a feeling of the present. Everyday veterans of the Iraqi and Afghanistan war come home and must re-integrate themselves into everyday life. How do they stop being a soldier and start being a civilian? It’s a hard transition and it’s even harder because they carry all of these memories of the war with them…forever. Terry is no exception. As we see in his character, Terry must learn how to be a civilian again…a civilian amongst the supernatural. However, he is still reminded of Iraq and of being a soldier. Remember one of his first compliments to Arlene, a Merlotte’s waitress played by Carrie Preston, is making a connection to her red hair and a bomb exploding.

However, Terry’s time as a soldier has given him a strong personality; he speaks his mind and uses the skills he has learned as a soldier to stand his ground against injustice. He has become a soldier for the discriminated in Bon Temps. One of the best examples of this is when Terry stands up for Lafayette against Andy’s brutal verbal attack. Andy, played by Chris Bauer, overreacts in his search for answers over the recently discovered dead body outside Merlotte’s in the second season. After firmly sending Andy off with his own verbal jab, Terry sits with Layette and comforts him. Terry proves to be strong and understanding, which has won viewers over. From the moment Terry’s character was introduced, we, as viewers, have seen the vulnerability and strength our troops come home with. We respect Terry; we want to look out for him. I can’t count how many times I’ve jumped out of my chair to applaud something Terry has said. I wonder if Alan Ball knew that fans would fall in love with Terry the way that they have.

Right now Terry, like most of the people in Bon Temps, is under the influences of the Maenad Maryann, played by Michelle Forbes, which has caused many to let go of their inhibitions and give in to extreme pleasure and anger. However, each person under Maryann’s influences acts differently. Terry has been able to express his interest in Arlene with more confidence, but he has also closed up from her because he isn’t sure of what he has done when he blacks out. In the last three episodes of the season, we have to wonder what will happen to Terry and his already fragile mind. What will another war, this time with the supernatural, do to him?

The decision to develop Terry as Iraqi war veteran has given the Iraqi veterans air time on a popular show. How many people watch True Blood every Sunday night? How many people are being reminded of the newest veterans our country has? In a world where television has forgotten veterans, True Blood has pushed the issue forward. Now that these men and women have come home, how can we help them? How can we make the transition easier for them? Because, as Terry has proven to us, they have so much knowledge to give us. Terry expresses to Sookie in Episode 12 of Season 1 titled, “You’ll Be the Death of Me”,

“Nobody ever listens to me, but they should.”

Well, Terry, maybe the people from Bon Temps aren’t listening to you, but you’ve got fans upon fans listening.

Source: imdb.com

(Photo credit: TrueBloodGuide.com, HBO  Inc)

Bill and Godric: Kindred Spirits

For someone who appeared in only four episodes of True Blood, Godric managed to make quite an impression on us. The 2,000-year old vampire showed himself to be a gentle, compassionate soul, and as his body dissolved in blue flames on the hotel roof, I found myself wishing he would stay a while longer, even though I knew he was “full of joy.”

Watching the towering Eric fall to his knees at the feet of his Maker and tearfully beg him not to leave was an emotional thing to behold. Allan Hyde, the young Danish actor who played Godric, exuded wisdom beyond his years as he comforted Eric: “There are centuries of love and faith between us.”

But what happened next between Godric and Sookie was among the most poignant and beautiful moments of the entire series. He was weary of life and of the perpetual fighting between humans and vampires. In the end, he found peace. He was ready for whatever awaited him after he left this earth.

Sookie, waiting for the sun with him, began to cry. Certainly, she was grateful to him for saving her from Gabe in the church basement. What one writer for the Boston Globe suggests is that, on another level, Sookie’s tears were also for Bill:

She will probably never get to witness Bill’s “end”– she will probably die first. So she had an opportunity to shed tears for a gentle vampire like Bill while he left the world.

This connection was probably intentional. When Sookie told Bill that she needed to be with Godric, she said, “You of all people should understand how he feels. What if it were you, Bill? What if in 1,800 years, you were Godric?”

Bill has proven that he still has a heart, even if not the literal, beating one. Though a vampire, he cares for humanity. It must have been a great relief to him when synthetic blood became available. He no longer had to feed on humans to survive. He willingly cut himself off from the vampire community — which he knew to be a corrupting influence — and began “mainstreaming.” He regained some semblance of his former humanity. And all of this was magnified further when he met Sookie. He fell in love with her. She was his miracle.

So it is easy to picture Bill, a thousand years or more from now, becoming like Godric. Sookie would be long gone, but he would have held onto the goodness that she awakened in him. If he ever became a vampire leader, he would probably try to calm the animosity between humans and vampires, knowing that it was possible for them to live peacefully if they would only let go of their prejudice. For Bill, protecting humanity would be like protecting Sookie because of humanity’s connection to her.

Eric did not understand what Godric meant when he said that the very existence of vampires was wrong. “You taught me there is no right or wrong. Only survival… or death.” This has been Eric’s truth for 1,000 years. It’s not his fault that he believed his Maker, but Godric lied to him. So Eric held the fundamental assumption that surviving is the only thing that matters. Bill, however, knows that survival is not the most important thing. He has proven many times that there are things worth dying for: he would have staked himself to be free of Lorena and the cruelty she made him inflict on humans; he would rather have spent years in a coffin with silver chains than turn Jessica into a vampire; and he would have allowed himself to waste away in the sunlight trying to save Sookie from Rene. Bill is only 173-years old, but he already has a gentleness that Godric acquired after 2,000 years of living.

SOURCE: www.boston.com

(Photo credit: HBO Inc.)

Can True Blood’s Vampires Love?

HBO Producer Alan Ball has taken the ageless question of love flourishing between different ethnicities or cultures to a wider stance as he closes the second season on his award winning series “True Blood.” Each week millions of fans explore love and humanity trying to flourish between species or, to be more exact, between humans and the un-dead. After her first close encounter with a vampire, Tara Thonton, played by Rutina Wesley, looks thoughtfully out a window and asks,“ Do you think they are capable of loving a person?”

Alan Ball has challenged fans with what may be the central core of the show, an important dilemma in the search for our souls. How much morality and humanity is needed for love to flourish?  Must some seed of morality and humanity be planted or can one will themself to evolve into new dimensions? The AVL (American Vampire League) advertises, “Vampires were people too.” A handsome and remorseful Bill Compton insists, “I am not human” yet professes his undying love for Sookie Stackhouse. Conflicting messages given throughout HBO’s “True Blood” leave me wondering, “Are vampires susceptible to and capable of human emotions? Can their morality evolve toward the humane? Or, like their physical appearance are they doomed to the limits of their emotions as they were when turned?

True Blood’s three sexiest and intriguing male vampires, Bill Compton, Eric Northman, and Area 9 Sheriff, Godric (Godfrey), give us mixed views.

Bill Compton, dark and brooding, played by Stephen Moyer was turned a hundred and forty years ago. He is merely a teenager in the immortal life span of a vampire. In Bill’s thirty human years, he was an honorable family man. His high moral character, religious beliefs, and patriotic duty led him to a military position. Having survived the horrors of the civil war, his family reunion is tragically destroyed by Lorena, an old vampire who is immediately drawn to Bill’s morality and sensitivity. Lorena, although intrigued by Bill’s humanity, leads him into decades of death and destruction by feeding off the lives of humans. It may have taken years for Bill’s remorse to will out his blood thirst, but ultimately, his suppressed morality wins and he becomes the repentant and loving creature that has captured not only the heart of True Blood’s favorite waitress and telepath, but millions of fans throughout the world.

Our sexy controlling vamp, Eric Northman is played by the long, lean 6’4” Swedish import, Alexander Skarsgard. Eric, a former viking, was born in 1047. Most Vikings of that era did not live past 40 years old, thus it was common for men before they were  20 years old to marry brides as young as 12.  If we are to apply the common life of Vikings in the 11^th century, we can assume Eric chose the life of a soldier and left his family at a young age. Given that vikings were well known as sailors, he would have traveled to many parts of the world. Our speculation is strengthened by the scene of Eric being turned in 1077 at the age of 31. Fresh from a viscous battle, fellow soldiers try to comfort a gravely wounded Eric, who makes the comment “wherever I am, there will always be women.” Now, we have the vision of a sailor with a girl in every port. Our conclusion is drawn that Eric was what we would refer to in today’s world as a “player” Not to suggest that he was of low moral character, but more to the idea that, although Eric had many women and sexual encounters, there was never love.  With a thousand year afterlife under his belt, Eric dresses, talks, and has the strut that he is undeniably a “player” with no outward display of regret.

Danish heartthrob, Allan Hyde plays Godric, sheriff of Area 9, and the newest vampire on the scene.  Having been turned early in his human life, he still has the look of a teenager. Godric, however, is well over two thousand years old. He is the oldest vampire in North America. With an afterlife so lengthy, he implies that the thirty three years of Jesus’ life is a mere moment to him. True Blood’s creator has left much of Godric’s past open to speculation. We can infer by his Ancient Roman tattoos, he may have been a gladiator or soldier. Both of which would have started training as early as 14 years old. Strong in his conviction, absolute in his authority, Godric fans have little problem with this conclusion.

Our first image of Godric is at the turning of Eric Northman. Unlike Lorena’s savage and unwilling turning of Bill,  Eric’s turning is kinder, with a promise of love, companionship, and family. After brutally killing Eric’s companions, Godric gives a near death Eric, the choice of an afterlife.  Godric must surely have fulfilled his promises, seeing the respect and loyalty Eric, after a thousand years, still shows for his maker. We know of only one instance, but being vampire and having survived over two thousand years, we can only assume Godric has had many moments of savagery and taken his share of lives.

We find Godric as a willing hostage to the Fellowship of the Sun Church. He is fully aware that he is to “meet the sun” and his ultimate destruction. Why is he so willing to end it all? Is it that he has evolved into humanity, or was the morality always inside him, thus gradually making him remorseful for the lives he has taken? At what point did the remorse begin? How many, decades as with Bill, or centuries did it take for Godric’s evolution to humanity? Having freed the human traitor, Hugo, and showing respect for his lieutenant, Isabel’s feelings, we clearly see that he not only recognizes, but also understands the concept of love. Actions, which have endeared Godric to his own legions of faithful fans.

Now battle lines have been drawn,  Sookie & Bill vs. Eric. Millions have seen the interest Eric has shown in the telepathic barmaid. Is it just her special abilities Eric wants? Many would argue that there is something there. Bill sees it, and even Eric may admit, there is something…. But what? Eric admits he does not understand the concept of love.  As a player, does Eric see Sookie as just another of his many conquests? Conquering Sookie would certainly put the hierarchy of sheriff planted firmly in Bill’s mind. Is Eric’s toying with Sookie a game, pure entertainment, or is it rooted in an unknown emotion? Eric takes pleasure in teasing Bill’s “love” for Sookie. Is Eric’s taunting simply to hide the fact that Eric himself has been bitten. A feeling with which he clearly, is not accustomed.

What is behind Eric’s desire for Sookie? Many fans would cheer for Eric to realize he love’s Sookie. But, is it possible? Can a thousand year old vampire who has never understood love, evolve to enough humanity and morality to accept the concept?  Does Eric secretly thirst for the ability to love?  Can he will the evolution of his feelings? Must the seeds have been planted before he was turned? If the latter is the case, Eric’s dalliances with Sookie will be looked upon as pure physical lust and sport, thus, crystallizing his bad boy persona.

Many of Eric’s fans will vote for the evolution of his humanity.  This evolution will, however, bring a new set of problems. Will he know how to act and react with his new found feelings? His 31 human years and thousand year after-life may not provide him with enough emotional experience to carry an adult relationship. Has Eric’s recent flirtation the resemblance of pulling a little girl’s pigtails so she has to look at you? Is it too late for Eric? He may find that his new feelings will bring him more anguish than happiness.

Do we have enough facts to solve our dilemma? Bill knew love, knew what it was to lose his humanity. He fought very hard to get it back and find love again.  Eric, we can determine, although he may have had some sense of morality, true love most probably had always been a foreign concept to him. We only have hints of Godric’s level of morality before he was turned. We can, however, see that he now has a clear understanding of morality, humanity, and love.

Unfortunately, we have no concrete answers. After all, humanity, morality, and love are the most complex of human issues. Maybe that’s why Vampires prefer the unemotional lifestyle. We will have to wait and see what Alan Ball has in store for Eric and his Fans.

Is Maryann A Maenad?

Greek Mythology defines Maenads as the female followers of Dionysus.  A literal translation of the name means “raving ones” In Wikipedia the Maenads are said to be inspired by Dionysus “into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication. In this state, they would lose all self control, begin shouting excitedly, engage in uncontrolled sexual behavior, and ritualistically hunt down and tear animals (and sometimes men and children) to pieces, devouring the raw flesh. During these rites, the maenads would dress in fawn skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped by a cluster of leaves, weave ivy-wreaths around their heads, and often handle or wear snakes.”
If you remember the first time we saw Maryann she was in the woods, naked carrying a staff which would be her “thyrsus”. In the previous two episodes of  True Blood we saw Maryann influence the patrons at Merlotte’s into an uncontrolled “frenzy” of dance, also putting a kind of aphrodisiac type spell over the crowd. Now the party at her house  in the third episode made the party at Merlotte’s seem tame.
In the following paragraph from the hermetic fellowship it describes many of Maryann’s personality traits.
“The Maenads are called nurses and foster mothers — they not only nurse and mother the young God (referring to Dionysus), but young animals in the forest as well.
They have the power to make the Earth bloom and the wild animals come to them.”
The same document also lists the power of maenads as such:
· To awaken the God
·    To run with the God
·    To share His attributes
·    To tame wild things by nursing them
·    To call forth water and wine and milk and honey from the Earth
·    To fight and not be harmed
·    To destroy
·    To prophesy
We have seen the nurturing side of  Maryann in her relationship to Tara and Eggs. These are two people who were strays of society to some degree, we learned Eggs was homeless and Tara never had a mother who was emotionally there for her needs, she was left her entire life to fend for herself then re-abandoned when her mother saw herself as “saved”.  We also saw Maryann’s interaction (which more seemed like communication) with the pig at her house. Briefly we saw a picture at her pool which showed Pan with his human lover, maenads were known to be lovers of Pan and the Satyr which is described as a half man half goat creature.

The Question is why would she attack Sookie? Also why would she have killed Ms. Jeanette? The two things these women have in common is Tara. As for Ms. Jeanette I feel  Maryann believes she was avenging Tara , in her confrontation with Tara’s mother she may have not physically ripped Tara’s mother’s heart out but her words were meant to.  I am sure their is a whole other reason for her attack on Sookie we will have to watch more to find out(I love and HATE  that everything in this show is a cliffhanger.)

And watch out Tara this women may be nurturing when you are on her good side,the other side well  NOT so good.

To read more on Maenads and Dionysus information is available from the following sources

hermeticfellowship.org

meanad on wikipedia

Dionysus on wikipedia

(photo credit: HBO inc.)

Sookie Stackhouse and Eric Northman: What Is In Store For Them?

Sookie Stackhouse is the unbelievably popular bar maid heroine of Charlaine Harris’s series: Southern Vampire Series. The book compilation (currently nine books) has become more popular recently. The best thing to come out of her works has been the show True Blood. Because of this blazing hot HBO show, more people are grabbing her books to read up on Sookie, the back story and the future of Bon Temps.

Outward appearances can be deceiving, Bon Temps seems to be just your average town, housing average people who do average things. Sookie Stackhouse is a young woman who resides in Bon Temps and is anything but average. Sookie Stackhouse is in her twenties, sports luscious long blonde hair, a large chest, and a spit fire personality all rolled into one tanned package. She works as a bar maid at Merlottes, the local lunch eatery and bar. She enjoys her job there , but it comes with it’s own set of obstacles for her to overcome.

Sookie was blessed, or as she would think cursed, with an ability to hear other peoples minds. She can actually tap into the mind and listen to what they think, in their own voice . She knows this is an intrusive ability and tires to control it, especially around her loved ones. Sookie has learned to harness her power when she is around people like her brother Jason, or her dear friend Sam Merlotte.

In book one, Dead Until Dark, we meet Sookie and explore the relationship between her and the Vampire Bill. Sookie is a virgin, and it doesn‘t bother her one bit. She considers her self a proper lady and a bit prudish. When she meets Bill, it is the first time she starts to explore her own sexuality and what it means to her. She’s never been able to be interested in human men before because their thoughts were always to human for her. While out on dates she could hear how interested they were in her, what they thought about her body, and other private, rude thoughts. When she meets Bill, she’s shocked to learn that because he’s dead his mind doesn’t emit a signal and therefore she can hear nothing with him. It is her quiet time, her peace. Bill becomes Sookie’s hunky, vampire solace.

Being in love with a vampire really has its issues for a human. In Dead Until Dark we learn about Bill’s allegiance to Eric Northman, the sheriff of their area in Louisiana. In further books the relationship between Sookie and Eric is explored and this really becomes the heart of the series. Fans who have not read the books, may not understand that element yet, but it really is the heart of the entire story thus far.

Eric Northman is a stunning, beautiful, ancient and powerful vampire. In the world of the living dead the older you are the more powerful, stronger and revered you are. As a vampire ages, it also needs less blood to sustain. Speaking of blood, in this world that Sookie inhabits there is a prosthetic blood. Yes, vampires no longer have to feed off of humans, they can use an engineered blood that is provided at most bars and restaurants, and local stores. It doesn’t satiate the vampires at all, really. It is like feeding them beef stock when what they really need is a big steak. However, many vampires, including Bill, choose to mainstream it and use this synthetic blood and not feed on humans. Eric, on the other hand, he needs such little blood it is not made quite clear what he chooses to use. The rebel vampires in the series often still use humans who, some are willing, are often not willing.

Sookie is first introduced to Eric in Dead Until Dark. She notices him immediately not because of his gorgeous looks, but because everyone at Eric’s club Fangtasia, seems to worship him. Bill explains to her the attraction that Eric has to these patrons and she soon realizes that his power is immense. And soon, like others, Sookie finds herself obligated to do work for Eric.

By the end of book one we see that Eric has a thing for Sookie. It isn’t anything in a major way yet, but he is interested in this toy that Bill has and wants to play with it himself. Bill is protective over Sookie and knows that if Eric really wanted Sookie he could take her, and so they must do what they can to help Eric and keep him happy. Bill and Sookie end up doing a lot of telepathic work for Eric, and this gives Eric an excuse to be around her even more. He uses this to his advantage and begins to get to know Sookie a bit more.

Dead Until Dark really provides this blank canvas for Sookie and Eric’s relationship. We see at the end of the book he sends her flowers when she is hurt and checks on her outside the hospital window. Is there something that Eric knows, that Sookie doesn’t? Why does he care?

Book nine of the series, Dead and Gone, is to be released May, 2009. So what has happened with Eric and Sookie in the last eight books? The best question to ask is what hasn’t happened! Eric is a rock for Sookie when she finds out that Bill has abandoned her for the vampire who turned him, a past lover. Seriously flirting ensues from Eric through the entire series, as he tries to sway Sookie from Bill, and fails. But when Bill disappears and Eric has to tell Sookie that he’s left her for another woman, you can see the relationship change in dynamic ways. Bill has gone missing, Sookie is determined to find him. Sookie realizes she can’t do this on her own (even though she would try) and learns to trust Eric with her life.

The real binding element between Eric and Sookie is the fact that they have exchanged blood several times through the series of books. Everytime Eric and Sookie exchange blood (but for once) they are doing it to save Sookie’s life . After exchanging blood with a vampire you become connected. Although their blood heals any and all injuries and makes you stronger than you can imagine, it ties you the vampire from who it came. When Eric and Sookie find Bill and Sookie saves the day, Bill re-enters Sookie’s life. He doesn’t fulfill the capacity of a lover or boyfriend anymore. He desperately wants her back, but Sookie is one smart cookie, and keeps him as far away as she can. She remains pretty bitter about the whole situation.

Dead to the World is a pivotal book for the relationship between Eric and Sookie. This is the book where Sookie finds Eric running down the road, with his memory erased. He has no idea who he is, who she is or what is going on. He doesn’t have any knowledge that he is the owner of Fangtasia, or the most powerful vampire in the entire area. Sookie Stackhouse brings him back to her home and what she finds out is that Eric is really old fashioned at his core, and that she could love this man. This book shows the vulnerable side of Eric and definitely not the arrogant side of Eric. Without his memory Eric is unsure, needs Sookie around to feel safe and humble. Sookie begins to fall in love with him, which leads to a steamy love making scene in the shower. As with all good things, it does come to an end when Eric regains his memory. He eventually (books later) does find out that they did make love. He becomes quiet towards her and doesn’t know how to act around her. Many fans hope that Dead and Gone, book nine, will shed light on if Eric regains memory of what happened at Sookie’s while he was incapacitated. Could that be why he acts almost shy around her? Eric has never put anyone first in his life, but himself. Could this be his battle ? Falling in love with Sookie would mean putting her first in his life. He has never been the type of man who would give his life for another, could Sookie Stackhouse turn Eric Northman into a better man?

The relationship between Sookie and Eric takes another interesting turn when they attend a very important vampire convention and gathering together. Though Sookie is there to serve the Queen of Louisiana, she is near Eric the entire time because he serves the Queen, too. This is where some are speculating that Eric and Sookie may have the equivalent of a marital bond with vampires. Eric was performing a vampire marriage ceremony where you each use a knife to let blood into a cup and exchange the blood orally, at the convention. The Queen’s side kick decides that he will force Sookie to take his blood so he can be connected to her at all times, because she has been such a valuable tool for them. He wants that strong bond to her so he can be in control. Just at the right moment Eric enters and convinces him that she and he have exchanged blood and it would be best for them to do it because then the bond would be stronger. After all, Eric owed the Queen fealty so if it made Sookie happy, why not? He uses the same ceremonial knife to cut himself and then her so they can exchange the blood quickly and efficiently. This really tightens their bond and even in book eight, she is feeling the bond stronger. The bond is so strong that when the hotel is about to explode she can’t help but save him, instead of just saving herself. She had her chance to run away and let him die in the sun and rubble, but she doesn’t. He feels extremely strong and tied to her, and he doesn’t handle it well. Eric portrays some awkwardness in this book.

Eric and Sookie don’t have relations again, because Sookie does have a short romance with a Were-Tiger named Quinn. By book eight, From Dead to Worse, Sookie realizes that a relationship with Quinn isn’t going to materialize. Eric steps in and shows a softer side when Sookie finds out she has a relative . This is a huge shock for Sookie, and a huge turn in the series. Sookie’s only relative, that she knows about, is her brother, Jason Stackhouse. Her family is all dead. But, this new relative isn’t an easy one to introduce and almost leaves Eric speechless. Niall is her great grandfather and has known Eric for years. He is full blooded fairy and perhaps one of the most powerful other worldly beings in the world. Even more powerful than a vampire. If Eric is scared of him, you know he’s got some clout.

Book nine, Dead and Gone, will be interesting, because we are promised that there will be major changes for Bill and Sookie. He has been a bit absent in the latest books, however in this book Charlaine has promised there will be a lot of Bill. She also said that we would learn more Eric and Sookie’s relationship in Dead and Gone. Who will Sookie end up with? Will it be either of them or will we be surprised with someone new? Speculations have been heated that Sookie and Bill will end up together while other fans want to know if Dead and Gone means that Eric or Bill will die. I just know that I can’t wait for May so that I can dog ear each page that Eric Northman makes an appearance on!

Sarah Woods is an author on TrueBloodNet and regularly contributes to the Editorial and Review pages.  Please visit her website at http://greyblood.com/ to view more of her articles.

To Meet Sarah please visit her Author page: http://truebloodnet.com/meet-sarah/

True Blood’s Tara Thornton: Breaking Free From the Past

One of the most foul-mouthed individuals on “True Blood” is Tara Thornton played by the wonderful actress Rutina Wesley (who is nominated with her co-star Adina Porter, Lettie Mae Thornton, for the Tressie Souders Award. You can see my post and a link to cast your vote at this link: “Two True Blood Actresses Nominated For The Tressie Souders Award” ).  In “True Blood” Tara plays Sookie Stackhouse’s (Anna Paquin) best friend, perhaps her only friend. Tara has a lot of emotional baggage that prevents her from developing close relationships with anyone. She hides the hurt, her fears and disappointment by the façade that she creates.

Out of the anger words that come out of her mouth is a woman plagued by hurt and uses these defense mechanisms to protect herself. To understand this character better and know what makes her tick you have to put yourself in her shoes. The show examines the hurt emotions that most of us experience in our lives and how we cope. It allows people to explore within themselves and ponder whether they can learn something from their experiences or do they use them as a crutch to keep them from moving forward?

Tara is a product of an alcoholic, absent-minded mother who was and still is incapable of providing the nurturing that she needs. Tara seems to take the path of self-depreciation which in turn becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for her. In her mind she believes that if her own mother could not love her why would anyone else even herself. With all the darkness that surrounds her past and her own views of herself and the world around her you still see a glimmer of hope inside of her.

As she tries to open herself up to others and move forward by letting others in, fears grips her and takes over. The end result is she shut the doors to any possibility of happiness. When we look in our own lives we can see that we can relate to Tara on some level and understand her fears. If we have been hurt too many time we tend to take the stance of “I‘m never going to let anyone hurt me again”.  At first the idea seems to be perfect but in the long term the person becomes more bitter about life and of people to the point that they create their own prison that is difficult to escape from. Disillusioned by everyone and everything life is not lived, just merely a passing of time.

Without giving out any spoilers to the many readings who still have not seen Season 1 or will be tuning in once “True Blood” premieres in their country, sometimes it takes life changing events to make you re-examine your life and what you want out of it. Tara seems to grasp at this concept and finally realizes that the current path that she is taking is leading to a downwards spiral, out of control and if she doe not take that control back she will never be able to. Once she is able to take some control back in her life and take responsibility for her life she starts to see that all this time it was within herself to make the changes. All she had to do is take the chance and let go of her fears. Tara’s character demonstrates so well that nothing is impossible and no matter how bleak our lives may be at times it is within ourselves to take control and ask “Am I going to let my emotions control me or am I going to control my emotions?” Which one is chosen will define whether you will look at life with an air of contentment and acceptance or live in a self-imposed prison of emotions heartaches.  It seems that Tara has chosen to take control and to take a chance.

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(Photo credit: HBO Inc.)

True Blood – Escape Television With a Message

Anna Paquin’s win this week at the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Drama was a crowning accomplishment not only for her but for bringing attention to “True Blood” to the media. A show with so many varying layers of metaphors that it was a surprise to me that it didn’t win for Best TV Drama. However Anna Paquin’s performance was acknowledged for her capacity to relay in so many ways the complexities that exist in human relationships.

One of the most compelling aspect of this show is its ability to dwell into the intrinsic nature of the human need to feel a sense of belonging. Anna Paquin’s character Sookie Stackhouse lives a life of being the outsider whether it is self-imposed or forced upon by others in her town who refuse to accept her for who she is. Her natural abilities to read other people’s mind has been a prison for her throughout her life barring her from having a normal existence. Although she had almost come to terms with living a life of keeping her distance from people and not developing close relationships with anyone does not mean that she doesn’t want to have them. Although she wishes to be normal and feel that she belongs, others come along and push her aside to remind her how different she is and perhaps unwelcome. The constant need to keep your guard up to avoid getting hurt creates an individual incapable of opening up which we can see in both Sookie and Bill’s existence.

This leads us to vampire Bill Compton who walks into the bar one day and changes Sookie’s life forever. Bill is a creature of the night, forever forced to live out his “undead” life on the outskirt of society remaining distant to whom he comes into contact with. Until that night when he meets Sookie and finds another who too had “given up” in every living a normal life. Their mutual “differences” within themselves became the string that linked them to each other and with that found with acceptance with one another and the joy of feeling that one feels wanted, needed and belongs.

The sense of belonging is one of the most nature and basic instincts in humans. Without it a person develops a wall around themselves and causes varying negative attributes. So here we have Sookie craving to belong and a vampire seeking acceptance for who he is. Both individuals who seemed disillusioned with their existence and the world around then and now allowing themselves to open up to possibilities.

Sookie and Bill’s encounter with each and discovery of a mutual connection emphasises to all of us not to give up hope when life seems to have closed the door on us from everyone. The despair and the loneliness that ends up consuming us is not etched on stone never to be eradicated but a temporary barrier wall that needs to be taken down. In today’s society many feel disenfranchised by the world and live their lives as island on their own, seeking refuge in their isolation to avoid disappointment and hurt. However, the show explores through its metaphors that regardless of how hopeless and separated we may feel from others that the natural instinct to feel a sense of belonging is strong. To realize that by allowing yourself to open up a little of one’s self imposed prison that possibilities may be just around the corner waiting for you to encounter.

Therefore my admiration for the actors and for the show is its ability to touch on core human emotions in such subtle and entertaining ways without feeling someone is preaching to you. Sometimes blatant in-your-face tactics have the opposite reaction, however in this case, I believe that although it is presented in a fun, escape form of television it drives home a message to the audience that the human need for acceptance and a sense of belonging is not an impossibility even for people who seem “lost” to the world.

Therefore Anna Paquin’s win was an acknowledgment of her superb work but at the same time the judges missed out on recognizing the show and Stephen Moyer‘s performance as a masterpiece of entertainment. I truly hope that at this year that “True Blood” will receive an Emmy and be recognized for its contribution to the developed of thought provoking and entertaining television. We can only wait and see.

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(Photo credit: HBO Inc.)

Examining Vampire Bill on True Blood

Since the beginning of “True Blood” I have found myself intrigued with Stephen Moyer’s portrayal of vampire Bill Compton. As I watched the series I found myself more and more drawn to the character’s internal turmoil between what he is and what he wants to be. Then I started to realize that perhaps part of his appeal apart from his incredible good looks and sex appeal was how we can relate to his torment and feel for his conflict.

As we watch the series we see that Bill tries to change and fit in, however, his past seems to catch up and throw him off track. Yet he doesn’t give up and is determined to fight and struggle for what he desires to have in his “undead” life. How many time have we found ourselves trying to change our behaviour, habit or image of ourselves to only find someone, something or even ourselves preventing us from reaching our goal for change. Regardless of what the situation is, it doesn’t let you forget your old ways and tries to control you to keep you from changing. Bill struggles constantly to “mainstream” and change who he is and how he chooses to live his “undead” life as obstacles are placed before him to make it difficult. Without providing any spoilers to those who will be just tuning in to Season 1, all I can say is the urges that he feels are so strong that at some points he has to follow them even if they go against the “moral” fibre that he strives to regain. Regardless of his current “natural” state I cannot help not feel compassion for him and root for him as he struggles for a new beginning. Too many times people get stuck in their own self-destructive behaviours that even when given the chance to change they don’t take it out of fear. I see the potential for him to change and redeem himself not only in my eyes but in his own eyes as well. A chance, an opportunity, a hope that perhaps he will make it and things will work out for the better.

It is probably why my heart aches when Bill is faced with another obstacle that gets thrown in his face. You want him to have a break, a chance to be happy. We are all too aware when we are trying to change that if we get knocked down enough we will give up and revert to our former selves. So I tuned in each week to watch Stephen Moyer convey so many emotions with the slightest movement of his body, his glance and expression to make me care about this character as if he were real. However, in some ways he is real because we can see a little bit of ourselves in him and wishing the best of luck for him. I look forward to season 2 to see what lies ahead for him and hoping that the “demons“ within him and outside are conquered and he finds peace.

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