UK Third Installment of True Blood Season 1 – Mine

One of the vamps offered the male human (Jerry) for Bill to feed on, to which Bill agrees. As he is about to bite the human, Sookie hears the human’s malicious thoughts; he has “Hep D”.Sookie shouted “STOP!! he has Hep D” Bill stopped and the human pounce on Sookie and try to strangle her, but Bill broke Jerry’s hand and pushed him away. The other vamps grabbed Jerry and head out but one of the vamps wanted to know how Sookie knew about Jerry, however, Bill communicated with Sookie, letting her know not to say anything and the other vamps swiftly disappear.

Once they have gone, Bill apologized to Sookie for her encounter with the other vampires. Sookie asked Bill what Hep D is and Bill explained it as the only human disease that can affect vampires.  Hep D is harmless to humans but weakens vampires for about a month, it makes them weak, and easier to stake.

Sookie then asked Bill what on earth he meant when he said to the others that she was his. Bill explained that he was communicating with the others to let them know that he was the only one who could feed on her. Sookie was appalled and said that he “most certainly cannot” feed on her. However, had he not said what he had said, Sookie would have been fair game.

Sookie was angry with everything that she had encountered that evening. She explained to Bill that she found some contractors that have agreed to see Bill after dark. When she told Bill that she had to go home, Bill asked Sookie if he may kiss her good night. She refused, explaining that she “couldn’t stand it after them”.

Meanwhile, Tara and Sam as they finished their shift at the bar, they started to have a heart to heart. Tara knew that Sam was in love with Sookie and didn’t hold back when she asked why Sam has not made a move yet. Sam shot back at Tara about her love for Jason. It was like a tennis match between them, with comments being thrown back and forth.

Let’s not forget Jason, who we last saw tied to Dawn’s bed while she went to her shift at Merlotte’s.  She returned home after her shift to find her bed empty. Dawn was then molested, and forced on to the bed by an oddly dressed man. Dawn, at first thinks its Jason, but the man explained in a Scream-esque telephone voice that Jason was his starter and he was coming back for main course with Dawn. While Dawn is in a state of terror about the situation, Jason revealed himself from the mask. When Dawn realized that it was Jason, she lashed out. Jason cheekily told Dawn it was foreplay and he ended up getting his way with her again!

All was not well, part way through their very erotic sex, Jason lost his erection. Jason, being Jason, was understandably very upset. Dawn told him it happens to everyone, but Jason assured her that it had never happened before. Dawn returned from putting some clothes on with a gun, telling Jason to get our of her house.

He thought that she was messing around until she fired a warning shot at the floor. Jason made a run for it, while the neighbors came out to witness the commotion. While fumbling to get into his truck, Jason yelled towards the street that Dawn is a “crazy bitch”.

Back to Tara and Sam, who continued their heart to heart. Tara suggest that they should sleep together. At first, Sam flatly refuses Tara, but after persuading himself, he agreed to have no strings sex with her.

Tara returned home after her raunchy night with Sam, only to be confronted by her drunk mother who hit her with an empty liquor bottle. Tara left with haste and head straight to Lafayette’s.

Although Lafayette was ‘busy’ with a state senate (who pretends to someone he isn’t), he lets Tara in and gave her some TLC and a little extra.

The episode then jumped back to Sookie working hard on her grandma’s garden. Sookie has kept herself busy, trying to figure out her dilemma of what to do over Bill. She was not sure whether to follow her heart or her head.

She headed over to Bill’s and sat outside; it was midday, while Bill was fast asleep (or whatever it is he does when its daylight!)

Sookie thoughts take over her,  and she had a few ‘private moments’ before she was rudely interrupted by Sam calling her on the phone. Sookie was on her day off and she promptly told Sam that she was not coming in. However, all Sam wanted Sookie to do was to go and check on Dawn as she had not turned up for her shift. Sookie unenthusiastically agreed to go to Dawn’s.

Sookie arrived at Dawn’s, knocked more than once before inviting herself in. She walked in to find Dawn’s alarm clock  still ringing. Sookie made her way to Dawn’s bedroom only to find Dawn sprawled across the bed….Dead.

So yet again True Blood leaves you hungry for more.

This episode had a lot going on. I didn’t think it was as fast paced as the previous episodes and I kind of missed seeing Bill! However, we did get to learn a little more about Sam, Jason, Tara, and Lafayette.

More Bill in the next episode please!!!!

True Blood is on Every Wednesday at 22.00GMT on Channel 4.

The UK Second True Blood Installment – First Taste

Last week we were left high and dry with a cliff hanger. The episode throws you back to where the last episode left us; it’s at full pace from the start. The Rattrays are beating Sookie, to within inches of her life, and the mysterious dog from the first episode reappears trying to distract the Rattrays, but one of them pulls a gun on the dog.  Sookie makes a grab for the gunman, but something throws him up into the air and against the trees and slits his throat, closely followed by the remaining Rattray. You kinda guess that they are both dead.
You know it is Bill that has come to the rescue and he picks up Sookie, taking her to a secluded area, while she falls in and out of consciousness. He rests Sookie gently on the ground and Sookie explains that she cannot feel her legs. Bill then takes a bite from himself and tells her she must drink his blood. She refuses as she doesn’t want to become a vampire, however, Bill assures her that she won’t and he forces her to drink his blood before his wound heals.  Sookie reluctantly drinks Bill’s blood, and it turns into a very sensual moment. After the reluctance fades, you realize that she is enjoying it far, far too much.

She then loses consciousness, and the scene cuts to her waking up to see Bill licking blood off her forehead.  Bill asks her “what are you” to which Sookie replies that she is a telepath.  Bill asks if she can hear his thoughts but Sookie states that she can’t and that is why she likes him so much because it is so relaxing after a lifetime of hearing “blah, blah, blah.” As Sookie starts to move she realizes that she is healed. She is shocked and asks Bill if doctors know what “V juice” can do; he explains that it is indeed a secret between them. Whilst Bill is walking her back to her car, Sookie asks his age.  Bill explains that he became a vampire in 1865, when he was just 30 ‘human years’ old. Sookie inquires about whether he was in the Civil War, which he confirms that he was. Sookie asks him to come and speak to her Grandma about the Civil War. Bill thinks about this for a moment and agrees to go because it will make Sookie happy. Bill arranges to visit Sookie the following day…after dark.

Meanwhile, Jason is being questioned by the police over Maudette’s murder. The police wait twelve hours before showing him a video that they have recovered of Maudette and him being particularly intimate, including a snippet of what happens when Jason leaves the scene. It shows Maudette is only playing dead and once Jason has left, she unhooks herself from the position she was in and turns the camera off. The police release Jason, and he goes straight to see Dawn (a waitress at Merlotte’s). All Jason wants is his way with yet another women, especially after the day he has had and, inevitably, gets what he wants!  In the second episode you learn a little bit more about the various characters. You find out that Tara’s mother is a drunk and that Tara hates living at home with her. She has her cousin Lafayette to call on when she doesn’t want to be at home. I really like Lafayette; he is a wicked character, he is fun, hilarious, and brings people out of their shells.  I only hope we see more of him as the series progresses.

You also meet Sookie’s Grandma, who dotes on both her grandchildren as they are all she has left of her family and she is all Sookie and Jason have too.  Sookie and her Grandma seem to have a special relationship. Sookie’s Grandma is very similar to Sookie in her  acceptance of vampires and is very excited that Bill has agreed to talk to her about the Civil War.  Bill arrives at Sookie’s; however, not only is he meeting Sookie’s Grandma, he also has the pleasure of meeting Jason and Tara, who are extremely rude to Bill. Sookie’s Grandma puts Jason firmly back in his place; she will not tolerate rudeness in her home. Bill agrees to talk at the church for Sookie’s Grandmas club.

With the acceptance of Sookie’s Grandma, Bill takes Sookie for a walk. Sookie pesters Bill with more questions. She wants to know what effects Bill’s blood will have on her, to which he explains that her senses will be heightened, as will her libido, and his ability to feel where Sookie is (he will even know if she is in trouble). Sookie demands that Bill try and work his magic in influencing her, but is surprised when he is unable to take control of her. They both accept each others special abilities and start walking again. Bill takes her to his home, and explains to Sookie that he is renovating the place and she offers a lending hand in helping to find contractors.

Bill then takes things a little further and is overwhelmed as he tells Sookie that that he can “smell the sunlight on your skin”.  Sookie is so drawn to him and grabs onto to Bill and they kiss passionately until Bill’s fangs make a sharp entrance and Bill pulls himself away from her.  Bill is embarrassed about his fangs and decides to take Sookie home.

You really start to see that both characters are falling for each other when Sookie keeps having adult dreams about Bill. It’s clear that Bill is falling for Sookie as well; he understands that Sookie can only be herself around him because she cannot hear his thoughts.

The next scene between Sookie and Bill, Sookie arrives at Bill’s home to deliver the contractors details however, she is greeted not by Bill, but three not so friendly vampires, one of which looks strangely familiar.

What will happen to Sookie, will Bill save her again?

This was another cracking episode which left me scared for Sookie again; will the poor girl ever have an easy life?? We shall have to wait for the next installment of True Blood on Wednesday at 22:00 GMT on Channel 4.

True Blood UK Terrestrial Channel Debut

With the roaring success vampires have been having recently with the massive international success of the first feature length installment of the Twilight Saga and the vampire fictional worlds growing ever stronger, it was no surprise that True Blood would be any different; in fact, it has been a huge phenomenon in the States. With the eagerly anticipated UK terrestrial channel arrival of True Blood on Channel 4 and its raunchy ad campaign (which had you begging for more) I, for one, waited with baited breath as True Blood landed on our screens last Wednesday.  Within the first few minutes I was hooked with its catchy theme tune, which gets into your head and has you singing “I wanna do bad things to you” throughout the day (which to be honest is not a great thing in an office environment!!).  The show itself is based in a small town called Bon Temps, Louisiana, where everyone knows everything. Sookie Stackhouse is the lead female character (played by Anna Paquin), and is an ordinary girl who works as a waitress in Merlotte’s Bar. Except she’s not so ordinary; she has a special power. She can hear peoples thoughts. Her gift is sometimes a hindrance: she has not been able to have a boyfriend, not for the want of trying, but she hates hearing what they want to do to her and what they think of her.  Oh, and I should also mention that in this world vampires live amongst the humans, no longer in secrecy. They have their own rights, and no longer need to feed off mortals to sustain their needs; the new invention of Tru Blood, a synthetic blood, satisfies their nutritional needs. Sookie soon realizes that vampires cannot always take care of themselves. She ends up rescuing a vampire from the Rattrays (a pair of low-life trash) who are trying to drain him of his blood, which is very sought after by us mortals.

It all starts off with Sookie having a bad shift, her worse customers have arrived (the Rattrays). As Sookie puts it so very eloquently “no count, backwards, trash”.  As always Sookie is polite and deals with them as she does with every other customer.

Her world is turned upside down when Merlotte’s gets its first resident Vampire coming into thew bar. Sookie knows straight away what he is; she has no preconceptions and dives straight in, head first to introduce herself. She doesn’t care what people think: she is intrigued by the vampire, and confused that she cannot hear his thoughts, however, she hears the Rattrays’ thoughts and knows there is going to be trouble.

But will Sookie’s rescue land her in trouble??

So with the Rattrays taken care of by Sookie’s intervention and the vampire in debt to Sookie, he introduces himself as Bill Compton (played by Stephen Moyer). Sookie is amazed that she cannot hear his thoughts. She is at peace because for once she has no-one else’s thoughts to hear but her own! Sookie is not the only one who is taken by surprise; Vampire Bill is taken aback when Sookie refuses to take the blood that the Rattrays have drained.  There is definitely something different and unique about her that he has not expereinced in a long time. Sookie says her goodbyes and cannot secretly wait to see him again.

Sookie has alot of people looking out for her, she has her brother Jason who is the complete opposite to Sookie and keeps his brain firmly in his trousers. I think secretly we all wish we could bottle what Jason has and bring it out every Saturday night; he is a bag of fun and is one hell of a ladies man. His heart is in the right place when it comes to family and he loves his sister dearly.

Then there is Sookie’s boss Sam Merlotte (the owner of Merlotte’s bar, funnily enough) who is constantly looking out for her. Except he has his own agenda, he is truly in love with Sookie. Despite being a supporter of the vampire rights amendment, he is not too keen on them coming into his bar, especially the ones who have a keen interest in Sookie!

Last, but by no means least, is Sookie’s childhood best friend Tara Thornton. She is the punch first, ask questions later kinda girl! She loves Sookie like a sister and just wants to protect her.  All three do not want Sookie talking to Bill Compton; they are fearful for her and are afraid of change. They all think they know whats best for Sookie Stackhouse!

However, Sookie has a mind of her own. She arranges to meet Bill after her late shift at Merlotte’s. Bill thinks it’s a good idea to keep low as he does not want to rock the boat with the locals. He is already concerned that they are all talking about him. All Bill really wants is to fit in as best possible and live as much as a normal life as a vampire can lead.

Sookie leaves the bar at the end of her shift and gets into a spot of bother, to which point the episode leaves you high and dry!

Will Bill get to Sookie in time to save her……..

To sum up True Blood in five words (I could not narrow it down to three) would be, exciting, fun, sexy, different and down right RUDE! (I know its a little more than 5 words but it just had to be said!)

The opening episode of True Blood had me craving for more, it is probably one of the best openings to any series and I cannot wait to see episode 2 on Wednesday 2200GMT on Channel 4.

Season 2: Episode 12 – “Beyond Here Lies Nothin”

In the Season Two Finale, Bon Temps achieves peak mass hysteria with Maryanne preparing for a Looney Tunes wedding ceremony. Enlisting Sookie as Maid of Honor, Maryanne dons Granma Stackhouse’s wedding dress for the occasion sealing her new title of Miss Asylum Bon Temps 2009.

Sophie-Anne warns Eric to keep Bill from finding out too much about certain arrangements that are going on. Jason and Andy attempt to do good but end up becoming part of the revelry.

Hoytt ends up learning a few home truths that change the way that he and Maxine will interact in the next season, and leaves home hinting that Bon Temps Romeo and Juliet may be reunited next season. Here’s hoping.

Sam is forced to put his trust in Bill and make a risky move. Sam’s trust pays off and Maryanne is tricked into thinking that the God has come for her, thus bringing forth her downfall. Who said Maenads can’t be gullible?

Season two cliff hanger ends when Bill proposes to Sookie at Dinner. Overwhelmed, Sookie leaves to regain composure and when she makes the choice, on returning finds Bill gone.

Top 5 of Season 2 Finale

5. That huge egg turning out to be an ostrich egg. Way to put a red herring in there! Nice trick!

4. Maryanne wearing Gran’s wedding dress. Anyone who wears a dead ladies clothes is definitely CooCoo for Coco Puffs!

3. Hoytt telling his mother how it is. This is an amazing character development for him and it will be amazing to see him grow over the period of next season.

2. Sookies engagement proposal. The emotions that it stirred, and the questions that it raised? Brilliant.

1. The Number One best of Season Two Finale? Maryanne is Dead! Thank Goodness, now lets move on to something that is a little less… repetitive.

True Blood’s Unholy Alliance

HOLLYWOOD—Sunday night’s “True Blood” was titled “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’,” but was far from nothing. The season two finale was jammed packed with drama, deception, intrigue, poignant moments and true love. The series that Alan Ball and HBO have created and made a Sunday night staple ended by wrapping up some important storylines for the season and opened many more doors and questions for season three. Fans could barely contain themselves during the hours leading up to an episode that left few viewers unhappy or feeling cheated. I felt a payoff at the end of the season while also feeling excitement for the future of the series.

Maryann, Courtesy: HBO

One of the show’s loyal viewers was ready to start the show on time. Claudine Lombardo said on Facebook “Laundry in washer, check! PJ’s on, check! Snacks, check! HBO on, check! ‘True Blood’ in 13 minutes, check! I’m ready to go!” While Vinny Sanrocco stated, “Let’s get rid of Maryann tonight! Devour her!”

Fans got what they wanted. The episode started out with Maryann in control of everyone in the Stackhouse residence, all gathered at her orders in order to witness her wedding to Dionysus, the Greek god long dispatched. Maryann fought to control Sookie but realized Sookie is more than a mere mortal. She is a supernatural being who cannot be controlled by the inner demonic forces Maryann possesses.

Sookie and Bill Courtesy: HBO

While worrying about Tara and Lafayette who were both deep under Maryann’s spell, Sookie became highly upset when she realized her brother Jason had also been taken under Maryann’s spell. As Maryann was dressed in Sookie’s late grandmother’s wedding gown, she prepared for “the god who comes.” She had been building an altar for days and expected the sacrifice would arrive in the form of Sam Merlotte, played by Sam Trammel. Maryann calmly and chillingly explained to Sookie that she was simply the bait in a trap for Sam. Maryann, knowing Sam is a shape shifter, believed that by killing him and removing his heart, the god Dionysus would return and become her wedded husband.

Sookie, played by Oscar winner Anna Paquin, cried in horror as she watched her friends and neighbors doing evil deeds under the possession of Maryann, a maenad, and was horrified to see Sam brought by her boyfriend Bill Compton, who is played by Stephen Moyer. “Maenad, I brought your sacrifice,” said Bill, who handed Sam over to Maryann’s minions, who immediately tied him and placed him at the altar for Maryann.

Sam, Courtesy: Link 81 Collection

She ordered Eggs to kill Sam, as Eggs shoved the knife into Sam’s chest, using his mind to talk to mind reader Sookie, Sam told her, “Destroy it, all of it.” She ran over to the altar and with superhuman strength she managed to topple it. Maryann was furious and was about to attack Sookie and the others when Sookie ran through the woods away from the carnage that was occurring at the hands of evil Maryann. Just then, Maryann buried her hands into the ground in a rage and when she brought them out of the dirt, her hands were claws. Maryann chased Sookie until Sookie fell to the ground. Just as she was about to murder Sookie, there was a bellow and loud sound coming out of the dark woods. Maryann forgot about Sookie and walked quickly towards the bellowing sounds. Just in the night came a beautiful white Brahma bull with horns.

Happy to see it, Maryann started talking about “the horned god, the god who comes.” She begged the bull to come to her, destroy her body and the vessel she is and come into the world. The bull gored Maryann in the heart and within seconds she was almost dead, when amazingly and to viewers’ joy, it was Sam who was not dead, but had shifted into the bull. Maryann’s last words were, “Was there no god?” Questioning what she’s believed for centuries living as an ancient demon or maenad.

Bill arrived barely alive. He’d given much of his blood to shape shifter Sam in order to be able to heal from the stabbing and almost murder he endured. The next morning came with no one but Sookie, Sam and Bill aware of what had transpired the night before. Hoyt was sorry for leaving Jessica, who later killed a truck driver at a truck stop, who was trying to have sex with her. Hoyt waited at Jessica’s door with roses in hopes she’s arrive to accept his apology, but Jessica’s turned to the dark side.

Queen Sophie was revealed to fans and viewers as the one who was behind Eric’s decision to sell “V,” which is an illegal substance known as vampire’s blood. Fans don’t know why the Queen would do such a thing and Eric only promised her that he’d be taking care of Bill Compton, so that he would not reveal to anyone what Eric was up to. While many were trying to get back to their lives with amnesia of the past few weeks, Eggs was still devastated. He couldn’t figure out how he had blood on his hands and with Sookie’s help, Eggs remembered the lost memories of killing the voodoo woman for Maryann and then Daphne, played by beautiful and talented Ashley Jones, who is also Bridget Forrester Marone on CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Not being able to live with his deeds, he later begged Deputy Andy to arrest him. Jason, played by Aussie star Ryan Kwanten saw Eggs standing over Andy with a knife, so he shot and killed Eggs. Andy was stunned, he told Jason to give him the gun and leave. Jason left sobbing, “I’ve never killed anyone before.” While employees and patrons of Merlotte’s Bar and Grill ran out to find Eggs dead. Tara played by Rutina Wesley was devastated.

By the end of the evening viewers witnessed Sam going to the home of his former foster parents who ran him away nineteen years ago as a child upon witnessing his shape shifting abilities. Sam demanded to know who his real parents were. His former foster mother warned him, “You don’t want to know. They are very bad people.” While his invalid former foster dad gave him a piece of paper, which is a clue to how he can find his biological parents.

Why did they give Sam up? That’s what viewers were left wondering about. Then Bill asked Sookie to marry him. She was too emotional to give him an answer right away. She ran into the ladies room and wiped away her tears. She was very emotional because she didn’t really understand her supernatural powers and therefore doesn’t know what she is—surely a lot more than just human.  Within a short time she composed herself and realized how lucky she was to be the one Bill loved. Before she could come out of the lady’s room someone very strong and powerful had attacked Bill, had a silver chain around his neck and dragged him out of the door. Sookie came out and said, “Bill, the answer is yes, I’ll marry you.” Then she looked around in horror as the man she loved was gone.

Fans were split on who kidnapped Bill. “True Blood” Facebook devotees Peter and Debbie Blomert said, “We think it was Lorena, [Bill’s maker] she’s stronger than Bill, even though Eric had told the Queen he would deal with Bill personally. Season three will have Eric in a bigger role, we’re sure.” While Bobby Head’s assessment was the following, “Just sensational. It tied up a lot of loose ends, but left you praying that it wouldn’t end. So glad Maryann got the big horn that she wanted so badly. I was really panicked when Eggs drove the knife into poor Sam. Don’t want him to leave and seeing the deer was heartbreaking. Poor Sam. Too bad about Eggs. I didn’t want him to die, but I knew he had to go. Now we have to worry about Bill. I just know Eric and the Valley Girl Queen are behind this madness about him disappearing.” Finally, Krista Lou said, “Seeing Maryann’s demise was SO gratifying. Yeeehawwwww! [sic]”

Fans are ready for the season to become available on DVD. You can check the status by going to the “True Blood” official Web sites. The season finale was an absolute must-see. Incredible acting, brilliant writing and top notch special effects. Maryann may have died by the bull’s attack, but the series is still very much alive and pop culture shall never be the same.

The “True Blood” official Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/TrueBlood. Join us in discussing the pros and cons of the series.

“True Blood” is an unholy alliance between Alan Ball and the viewers, much like that of Bill, Sam and Sookie during the finale, which brought an end to Maryann’s reign of terror. Or did it?

Television’s Three Best Villains

HOLLYWOOD—Television has always had enduring villains. In the early days of television they were men who rode horses and wore black hats on westerns. In the ‘60s and ‘70s we had the robber on a television cop series like “Policewoman,” “Colombo” or “Quincy, M.E.” Then there is that enduring vampire Barnabas Collins who started out on “Dark Shadows” as a bad guy and ended up becoming a sex symbol to women of all ages from teenagers to the elderly on the soap genre.

Since that era, television has been trying to equate wicked and bad people to exciting and fun entertainment. The episode of “Dallas” that featured Bing Crosby’s daughter Mary as Kristin Shepherd, who shot her brother-in-law, J.R. Ewing was perhaps the most famous episode of any show on television to date. Then we had Aaron Spelling who decided to make Joan Collins his vixen and his villain on the hit series “Dynasty.” Fans remember the first cover of TV Guide that referred to Collins’s Alexis Morale Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan as a [bitch] was censored by some store managers who refused to put that issue out at the checkout stand.

How times have changed. What hasn’t changed is that for today’s producers and writers women still make more exciting villains on television than their male counterparts. On ABC’s hit daytime drama “General Hospital,” we have Helena Cassadine, played brilliantly by award winning actress and former movie star from Columbia Studios Constance Towers. Though Constance is the classiest and most wonderful person on the planet her character Helena is far less so.

Helena has attacked, shot, stabbed and even murdered people on the show. Those crimes were committed just against her family. As for Helena’s deeds against Luke and Laura, they have become infamous. Freezing the earth, bringing dead son Stavros back to life, throwing good son Stefan off a yacht leaving him to drown are just some of the crimes which make Helena the all time top daytime villain of television. Robert Guza’s behind Helena’s powerful descent into darkness.

We have Bill Bell, Sr. and Bradley P. Bell of CBS’s “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” to thank for bringing us the Queen of Darkness in Sheila Carter. Kimberlin Brown created one of the most lethal killers of daytime history. Sheila’s rap sheet reads like a Russian novel. Not even Rasputin could have survived her deadly clutches. Sheila Carter kidnapped a baby, killed a man with bees, shot Stephanie Forrester on “B&B” leaving her for dead, shooting Brooke Logan and Dr. Taylor Forrester on the same show and we will never forget Sheila’s poisoning of Stephanie with mercury or kidnapping her psychiatrist Dr. James Warwick and tying him up in her Bel Air, Calif. dungeon. All in the name of love. That’s one of the constant excuses for the dark haired psychopath. Love is what she does it all for.

Now to HBO’s hit show “True Blood” where there are any number of villains that include vampires and just mean old rednecks from Louisiana. Leave it to director Alan Ball who created the series to choose a former soap actress in Michelle Forbes who was on the long running drama “Guiding Light” to be tapped as the resident villain for Bon Temps.

Forbes plays Maryann, an ancient maenad that has possessed the souls of the innocent and stupid in Bon Temps. Forbes plays the role with a supernatural twist. The scene where she used her mind to emit a razor cutting pitch that scattered the evil minions she was livid with for screwing up her chances of having Sam Merlotte as the deadly sacrifice is one of the things Forbes gets to delve into and play.

Eating people’s hearts is a bit over the top, but that’s what makes “True Blood” and television’s villains so fun and exciting to watch. Seeing women, who historically have been the caregivers in society and rarely the warriors, become warriors of darkness is a sexy image on the small screen and these three ladies in Towers, Brown and Forbes have epitomized what beautiful young women in Hollywood can do as bad girls on TV.

Source: Tommy Garrett at Canyon News

(Photo credit: Constance Towers Courtesy: Icons PR; Kimberlin Brown Courtesy: CBS TV; Michelle Forbes Courtesy HBO)

“True Blood” Is Unstoppable

HOLLYWOOD—Last Sunday night we didn’t have an original episode of “True Blood,” because of the Labor Day holiday. However, on this Sunday night’s episode we will see the season finale for season two of the series. Viewers have enjoyed some of the best acting and writing in television history since Alan Ball brought this show to HBO. Fans want to know if Maryann, who is an evil maenad, will finally be killed and who will she be taking to hell with her?

Bill and Sookie, Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin Courtesy: HBO

In a very anticipated season finale, vampire Bill Compton is back in Bon Temps in order to save his love Sookie, her friends and the community at large from the maenad that is looking for a sacrifice in order to welcome the “god who comes.” Maryann has possessed so many residents who are running around unable to control their bad behavior and whose eyes are black as coal. Not excluded from the possession is Sheriff Dearborne, played by character actor William Sanderson.

Maxine is out of control and son Hoyt’s hands are full in trying to contain her madness and desire to go meet up at Maryann’s. Jessica’s heart is broken and her life in shambles after she lost control of her anger and vampire desires, then bit Maxine on the neck. Tara convinced her mother to help her escape from Sookie and Lafayette’s protection in order to go over to Maryann’s and save her love Eggs from the maenad who in turn took possession of Tara’s mind and soul once again. Now Tara and Eggs are in an upstairs bedroom building a nest for a large-sized egg in the middle of a bed. Fans are wondering if that egg hatches what on earth could it be?

Sam is over at his bar Merlotte’s waiting when finally Bill arrives. Sunday night Bill forces Sam to go over to the ceremony in which Maryann has prepared to welcome “the god who comes” and finds a devilish mess on his hands. Will Eric be able to break away from Queen Sophie long enough in order to fly back to Bon Temps to help save Sookie, who is Maryann’s top choice to be involved in the ceremony she has planned? Will Tara and Eggs snap out of their trance long enough to save themselves from the demonic powers Maryann has unleashed on them and other residents of the town?

Fans did not like the August 30 episode as much as previous episodes. “Time Bomb” was perhaps the best episode of the season, with the arrival of Godric, the ancient vampire who had such a spiritual connection to Eric. Pastor Steve and his slutty wife were sensational in their almost overbearing moral sanctimony. Also, that episode featured Jason, played by Aussie star Ryan Kwanten in one of the best storylines the hunk has had in two seasons. It was his awakening and maturity that was so much fun to viewers, while wondering if the vampires would indeed kill all of the church members in their efforts to save Godric, who had been kidnapped by Pastor Steve and his church, The Fellowship of the Light.

“Time Bomb” was an episode that mixed vampires, shape shifter Sam, who early in the episode escaped from Maryann by imprinting on and then turning into an owl in order to fly out of the reach of Maryann who was chasing him in the form of a horned demon and a full ensemble of characters and cast made it very exciting to the viewers.

Here’s hoping that Sunday night’s episode ends similarly to “Time Bomb” in a bang. “The show’s fans need that,” said Bobby Head. “We need to see a major cliff hanger for the season in order to make up for the last two episodes which were good but not the best Alan Ball has done in the past,” said Head.

Fans are excited about this week’s finale. Elaine Bailey said on the ‘True Blood’ Facebook page, “I am ready to devour the final hour of ‘True Blood’s season finale. Sunday can’t come soon enough.” While earlier in the week, Jamie Diaz stated, “I think I am going through some kind of withdrawal,” speaking of her desire for a new episode on Sunday night.

Fans seem to want an end to Maryann, who is played by Michelle Forbes, former actor on CBS’s longest running drama “Guiding Light.” Renee Frerichs summed up the sentiment of many when she said, “I too am sick of the whole Maryann direction the show has taken. The show is suppose to be about Vampires. Enough Maryann Already! [Sic].”

Forbes is proof that a very powerful actor playing a villain can be so despised by viewers. From a critics take however, hats off to the actress who has made Maryann someone that fans won’t ever forget. Her abilities as an actress are incredibly well formed and so are those of Anna Paquin‘s, who plays Sookie. Sookie, who is a mind reader finds herself in jeopardy on Sunday night when the character tries to save her family and friends from a maenad who has up until now been unstoppable.

The Season Finale is titled, “Beyond Here Lies Nothin.” Surely nothing will be the same. Join “True Blood’s” fans on Facebook on the show’s official page after the episode and tell us all what you think of the season finale. Go to http://www.facebook.com/TrueBlood.

Here’s an exclusive HBO montage of clips from this season’s “True Blood” in a music video format by the band Depeche Mode’s which performs their amazing new hit song “Corrupt.” http://truebloodnet.com/true-blood-promo-video-depeche-mode-corrupt/

Source: Tommy Garrett at Canyon News

(Photo credit: HBO; Ryan Kwanten Courtesy: Link 81 Collection)

“True Blood’s” Dynamic Trio

HOLLYWOOD—Sunday night’s episode of “True Blood” was titled “Frenzy.” With characters running in every direction and the storyline going solidly in the direction of the demonic Maenad, Maryann, played brilliantly by the talented Michelle Forbes. Fans finally are getting to learn the secrets of this diabolical woman. A maenad is a female follower of the Greek god Dionysus. Who knew that could be so deadly? Maryann’s rein of terror over the town of Bon Temps is coming to a bloody conclusion. However, it will not be this week.

As the episode began Bill Compton played by Stephen Moyer was at the palace of the Queen of the Vampires in Louisiana, who is nothing short of over the top, beautiful and kinky to say the least. She’s a strong woman who has a mind of her own and it’s fascinating to see how Alan Ball can bring in new characters who interact so well with the other characters in the storyline. This lady is powerful and intelligent. After toying with Bill like a cat does a mouse, she finally explained how to kill a maenad. Maryann has to be close to killing her own prey before you can do so, which left Bill worried about Sookie, who is in a grave bit of danger as well.

Sookie and Lafayette were keeping Tara hostage while Tara managed to convince her mother to help her escape so that she could get back to the love of her life, Eggs and save him from whatever Maryann had planned. Tara’s mother has never been a role model or a strong person. She’s spent years drinking and neglecting her child. These weaknesses in Mrs. Thornton is what Tara used in order to convince her mother to help her escape. Her mother pulled a rifle on Lafayette and Sookie and demanded that they let her daughter go. Lafayette immediately struggled with post traumatic stress and began seeing vampire Eric’s face. Eric held Lafayette in a dungeon for weeks while feeding off of him earlier this season. Lafayette seeing a gun pointed at him became weak and timid.

Once Tara escaped Sookie threw an object at Mrs. Thornton hitting her on the side of her head and then she and Lafayette ran to hopefully stop and save Tara from becoming Maryann’s minion again. While Hoyt and his mother Maxine left Jessica heartbroken and in bloody tears. Jessica could not stop herself from biting Maxine who in the previous episode was very cruel to her. Hoyt had been the love of Jessica’s life and he turned on her when he realized that she could not control her vampire urges and attacking his mother was the final straw. While back home Hoyt battled with his mother who was determined to head for Maryann’s to see the arrival of “the god who comes.” Still under Maryann’s possession she told Hoyt that his father had not been killed by a robber decades earlier, that he’d committed suicide and was a whining coward. Those words crushed Hoyt who had grown up believing his father was a hero who was killed trying to save his family.

Some fans were not very impressed by Queen Sophie. Colleen Squeglia Tarara said, “I thought this episode was good. I am extremely excited that it’s nothing like the books, because I am in suspense every time I watch. I was a little disappointed with the way Rachel [Wood] is acting, but I’m sure it will get better with time. She’s suppose to be a young adolescent and so she’s acting like one [sic].” While Jean Summers questioned, “I know she’s only 15, but could Dakota Fanning have played Queen Sophie-Anne better?”

I happen to disagree with most people. I thought Ms. Wood was excellent in the role and offered an upbeat, offbeat nymph type demeanor to a role that we all would have been expecting regal and elegant since she is a Majesty in the series. I think director Daniel Minahan handled it perfectly this evening with a new actress coming on at the end of the season who has to be different yet still fit perfectly in her new spot amongst the other characters.

If the show had one deficit it was the bad language. Sure it’s fine to use a bad word in the dialog from time to time. Though tonight fans were taken aback by the overuse of such vulgar language. Bobby Head who is a devoted follower of the show and by no means a prude tells Canyon News, “Tommy, I watched the show Sunday night. The storyline was fine, but I never heard so much cursing since ‘Deadwood’ went off the air. It was like the writers were too lazy to put decent dialog in the script, so they just threw in the ‘F’ word every chance they got.” Other fans felt the same way. It’s the end of the season and maybe the producers and writers are riding high on the popularity but laziness in this manner fans don’t like very much or appreciate.

Bill was finally able to break away from Queen Sophie when Eric arrived, but the two men had a very tense moment when Bill admitted to Eric that he knew who had started Lafayette back to selling V. Eric thought his secret was safe and the expression on actor Alexander Skarsgard’s face was amazing. Eric is angry and feels betrayed. Bill went on back to Bon Temps where things are in a true frenzy. The town’s residents including Sheriff Dearborne played brilliantly by character actor William Sanderson are all running around in a trance with eyes blackened with evil. Maryann was furious that her minions had stupidly been fooled into believing they were turning over Sam to “the god that comes” last episode, when they were only turning him over to Deputy Andy and Jason Stackhouse who were in disguise as the god that comes. When she got furious with them, there was a high pitch sound she emitted from her mind and they were sent screaming and crying into the other room like kindergartners running away from spinach.

Jason and Andy had very poignant scenes as they prepared for the holy war which they are embarking on against Maryann. Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse only improves by each episode. He was very funny on Sunday night when Sam Merlotte played by Sam Trammell explained his abilities as a shape shifter. “You mean you can turn into any animal?” said Jason. “Yes, once I imprint on them,” said Sam. “That’s cool,” stated Jason. Fans were in hysterics over how Kwanten an Aussie has adapted and mastered playing the southern American redneck to perfection.

Sookie arrived at her home which Maryann has taken over as her coven to the surprise that Tara has been taken over once again by Maryann. Sookie watched in horror as Tara and Eggs showed signs of demonic possession while dancing around her bedroom. Then a hand on her right shoulder. Lafayette who earlier had shot at Maryann, who blocked the bullet with her bare hand was able to take possession of Lafayette as well as everyone else in town. The episode ended to a horrified Sookie viewing Lafayette’s black eyes.

Fans are excited about the ending. This week “True Blood” takes Sunday night off. But on September 13 the season finale arrives. Who will be Maryann’s sacrifice? Will it be Sam, Sookie or Lafayette? I am not telling. You’ll have to watch HBO to find out.

Source: Tommy Garrett Canyon News

(Photo credit: HBO, Link 81 Collection)

True Blood Season 2: Episode 11 – “Frenzy”

Bon Temps, once an idyllic little swamp side town is now in shambles and spiraling into debauchery, growing more violent by the second. In an attempt to put an end to this rapid decline Bill leaves town to consult the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne – only to find that getting information from her majesty is like pulling teeth. After spending the night in Sophie-Anne’s gaudy beach themed palace, Bill receives some cryptic information that might help the doomed town.

On waking Tara from her zombie possessed mind, Lafayette and Sookie find that it is harder to keep Tara alive when she is at full consciousness, than when she is posessed. On sweet talking her mother to undo her binding, Tara escapes in order to save Eggs and ultimately walks back into trouble.

Sam, with Arlene’s children in tow, seeks help from Eric out of shear desperation. Eric obliges and leaves to obtain information from Sophie-Anne and in the process crosses paths with Bill. In a strange twist of events, Hoytt protects Maxine from Jessica, leaving Jessica alone at Bills house, completely heart broken.

Sookie and Lafayette attempt to rescue Tara again from harms way only to discover that Tara is once again back under the control of Maryanne and is making a nest with Eggs for an oversized Egg.

Top 5 of Frenzy

1. The song Frenzy! I hadn’t heard that song since Songs in the Key of X – The X-files soundtrack came out in 1996!
2. Yahtzee! Wow what other game would Vampires like to play poolside? It helped make the scene more kitsch and human. Great choice!
3. Jessica’s heartbreak when Hoytt choses to leave with his posessed mother rather than stay. Fingers crossed they make up soon.
4. Sookies determination to save Tara even though it was a stupid choice. Sookie steps up as one of the stronger characters of the show at times when needed.
5. Sam asking Eric for help and Eric’s reaction. With the recent spate of Eric chasing Sookie around and showing vunerability – it is nice to see the colder side of his character coming through again.

“True Blood’s” Handsome Crusaders

HOLLYWOOD—“True Blood’s” Sunday night episode, titled “New World In My View,” was pulse pounding excitement with shocking twists and turns that kept the viewers on the edge of their seats. This episode featured Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte and Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse as whole new men. Jason’s tired of being the town nitwit and when he showed up in Bon Temps with sister Sookie and vampire Bill, they were all shocked, stunned and prepared to become crusaders to save their hometown. Sam Merlotte, on the other hand, was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of his community, but did manage to shape shift into a fly once again in order to get away from the possessed citizens who were prepared to hand Sam over to the “god who comes.”

Even before the episode aired, fans of the hit HBO series were expressing their excitement about the upcoming “New World In My View” episode. Karin Aletter said, “Oh yes, 45 minutes to go. Jason, use your brain and kick some ass.” LaDonna Giron chimed in with, “Almost time folks. I want Bill, Eric and Jason to kick Maryann’s butt.” Almost all “True Blood” fans wanted to see the end of Maryann Sunday night, with Lace Piotrowski saying, “How do you think Maryann can be killed? Maybe like the wicked witch of the west? Throw something liquid on her!”

Fans were treated to the return to Bon Temps with Jason and Deputy Andy helping Sam escape the mob whose eyes were black and souls were demonic possessed. Sookie, played brilliantly by Anna Paquin, was front and center. During her battle with Maryann, we saw another power of the beautiful blonde heroine. Sookie has the power to fight whatever evil entity Maryann seems to be. Sookie, however, was not strong enough to force Maryann out of her home. Maryann and her legion of demonic possessed cronies were faced with Sookie’s return and demand that the evil woman leave her home, which she did not. Yet Maryann was also attacked by Bill, who is the vampire lover of Sookie. Bill was also no match for this diabolical force. He became extremely ill after biting Maryann, who laughed at the gesture and was very perplexed and inquisitive about Sookie’s powers as well.

Paquin was amazing as Sookie while being choked by Maryann and she was having a psychic vision while realizing that Maryann was the horned demon that chased her down and attacked her weeks earlier. Sookie is finally coming into her own and the character is finding the storyline revolving around her, much like the series of books have done. She is constantly fantasizing and dreaming about Eric, which viewers love. I’m in the minority who believes Sookie needs to be with Bill, not Eric. We’ll see what happens when Eric returns to Bon Temps next week and is enlisted to help fight Maryann.

At Merlotte’s bar, Jason Stackhouse showed up with full mechanical gear and within minutes managed to get the black eyed zombies out of the establishment in order to save Deputy Andy and Sam from the mob, which wanted to turn him over to the “God that Comes.” Only Jason Stackhouse, Andy and Sam managed to put on a light and sound show that confused the wandering souls, who collectively were convinced that Jason was the god who was coming for Sam’s soul. The mob quickly dispersed then giggled as fiends and left, while Sam had Jason and Andy confused about how he was able to disappear and reappear later. Sam promised to explain his shape shifting abilities to his new allies.

Jessica and Hoyt were back at Hoyt’s home, which he shares with his often devout religious mother, who was also under the demonic spell of Maryann. She was all over the house behaving like a teenage girl in heat instead of the sixty-plus-year-old lady she had always been. She was lusting after Jason Stackhouse when he visited and calling her son Hoyt and his girlfriend, vampire Jessica, all sorts of nasty names. By the end of the show, Jessica could not contain her rage any further. The lady told her son Hoyt, “You are half a man just like your father. A half a man and she’s a dead whore,” referring to Jessica, who leaped on Hoyt’s mom, threw him across the room and like a vicious hungry vampire began feeding on her prey.

Viewers wanted Maryann finished on Sunday night. She was not. They did, however, enjoy the witty lines and dialogue that the show’s creator Alan Ball is known best for. Carlito Carlos Carlo said he loved the line Lafayette had for his demonically possessed cousin Tara: “If there was ever a time to listen to a white man Tara, this would be it.” That was during the scene when Bill was trying to charm Tara into opening up her heart and soul and releasing herself of Maryann’s spell in order to accept the help of her best friend Sookie.

The scene in which an exhausted Lafayette and Tara’s heartbroken mother had done everything they could to help break the possession Satan had over Tara was amazing to watch. Just about the time they were at wit’s end, in came Sookie, who used her mind reading powers and her lifelong friendship with Tara in order to break the spell. The mindreader Sookie and the vampire Bill were able to achieve what Tara’s mother and even cousin Lafayette had prayed so hard for. Tara immediately came to herself, her eyes returned to normal and after apologizing to her forgiving mother, who prayed to Jesus to save her daughter’s soul, she wanted to head over to Maryann’s evil lair in order to save her boyfriend, Eggs. Luckily for Tara, Sookie and Lafayette stopped her from leaving the house.

My longtime friend Bobby Head, who loves “True Blood” and should be writing for the series, can’t get over his affection for the deceased character Daphne, who was played by my friend Ashley Jones. Jones also stars on the most watched show on the planet, “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Bobby tells Canyon News, “I can’t believe only two shows are left. What are we to do? If there was someway they could bring Daphne back to life, let her kill Maryann, we could see your gorgeous friend on the show again. I hope Maryann’s death is slow and they do lots of close-ups!” Maryann is a hotly hated villain on primetime television. The actress who plays her is incredibly talented. Diane Correia had two of the best quotes on Facebook. They were: “Don’t give me your 12 steps, just give me 12 more episodes.” Then she concluded the obvious, “Alan Ball is an evil genius.”

Jessica Snyder said, “Jason looked hot, once again with his shirt off [sic].” Well, thanks to Link 81 Collection, we have a very sexy never seen before photograph of both Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse and thanks to them for the handsome photograph of our heroic shape shifter Sam Merlotte, played with Emmy worthiness by handsome Sam Trammell.

When the episode ended, Bill was approaching a mysterious woman who we didn’t get to the face of, but had a clue who she must be because he referred to her as, “Your Majesty.” Fans went wild on the “True Blood” official site with excitement over the one person on earth who may be able to stop Maryann’s rein of terror over their favorite characters in Bon Temps.

“True Blood” is a ratings winner for the HBO network and season three is already being planned. Sam and Jason proved to be crusaders for the citizens of the tiny Louisiana town that is under the spell of Satan, known to viewers as Maryann. Here’s hoping that both men survive what is expected to be two deliciously exciting but bloody episodes left this season. Anna Paquin, Ryan Kwanten and Sam Trammell proved on Sunday night that they are capable of carrying the show even when the vampire storyline is on the backburner.

Source: Tommy Garrett on Canyon News

(Photo credit: Link 81 Collection)

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