HBO Canada has added some season 2 promotional photos to their website featuring the cast of Alan Ball‘s hit HBO TV vampire series True Blood. Here are episode stills featuring Sookie Stackhouse, Bill Compton, Eric Northman, Jessica Hamby, Maryann Forrester, Steve Newlin, Sarah Newlin, Hoyt Fortenberry, Pam, Hugo, Isabel and Lorena.
SOURCE: HBO Canada Inc.
Alright, we waited two weeks for “Shake and Fingerpop.” Ken Tucker from EW gives us his True Blood season 2 episode 4 recap after last week expressing his annoyance at the mini-marathon instead of a new episode. Ken starts his recap by examining Bill‘s and Sookie‘s roles as surrogate parents to (as Ken refers to her) “the delightfully bratty Jessica.” [Author’s comment: my take on Jessica (played by Deborah Ann Woll) is that she rocks at playing the part of a hormonal teen vampire. Watching Bill pop out of the coffin to save Sookie, then Jessica screaming, “How the hell do I get out of this thing?” as her coffin bounced around on the ground while she tried to get out was hysterical.
Ken talks about the relationship of Bill and Sookie taking on new dimensions:
“It displayed a new side of the Sookie-Bill relationship, showing that they’re not just lovers making goo-goo eyes at each other — they can see each other’s strengths and flaws. Sookie may be a tough country gal, but she’s still naive about the nature of both evil and adolescence, and thus prone to being too permissive. (And, really, is there much difference between a teenager and a leeching vampire?) “Two travel coffins instead of one,” sighed Bill, ordering an additional for Jessica even as he knew knowing nothing good can come of this.”
We all know plenty of good fun can come out of this and it did. Bill showing Jessica how to glamor Sookie’s would-be abductor was a great scene. Sookie‘s look radiated her emotions, seeming to say, “What a great dad he is.” Sadly, I must admit, even as an adult I would have played with this man’s mind in the some way or another. Who knows what I would have made him do in public, but I would have had fun with it.
Alright now as Ken puts it here a SPOILER on who was behind the foiled kidnapping.
“A pivotal connection was made in this episode, as we found out that the people behind the attack on Sookie upon arrival in Dallas (with the limo driver played by Dean Norris, who’s so good in Breaking Bad), are the Soldiers of the Sun, the elite group of anti-vampire fanatics headed up by Rev. Steve Newlin and whose newest recruit is our dear sap Jason Stackhouse.”
In all the spoilers that I had read concerning the “Eric and Lafayette” scene, it was discussed as being homoerotic. The scene was anything but erotic. If anything, Eric looks bored while Lafayette is drinking his blood and mildly bemused by Lafayette‘s dancing but not interested enough to even stick around. Lafayette dancing around was hysterical, but NOT homoerotic!
Then of course Ken points out the hysterical debate between Jason and a few of Fellowship Of The Sun worshipers on the first vampire:
“The debate among the Fellowship of the Sun stooges about who was the original vampire, Jesus, Lazarus, or Cain, was priceless”
Then of course Jason’s final words on the derivative of the word Evil and its meaning “explain Europe.” I couldn’t tell if they were confused or actually thinking hmmmm he’s right.
To read Ken Tucker’s recap go to:
watching-tv.ew.com
(photo credit: scifiscoop.com)
E!Online’s Kristin is adding to the spoiler frenzy for tonight’s new episode of HBO‘ s True Blood [and you SOOOOOOOOO KNOW!!! she got to view season 2 episode 4 Shake and Fingerpop.] Not only is there a Q&A with Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby), Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte) but with the man himself: Alan Ball, True Blood’s writer and executive producer. To add to the suspense there are three spoiler videos for Episode 4 “Shake and Fingerpop” and if you haven’t seen it yet you can view it here. Yes, I have said it before. It is a well planned plot to make us crazy… Well, we had our break and we are definitely ready for some more.
First up: in the Q&A is Deborah Ann Woll (newbie vamp Jessica Hamby). As Kristin points out, Jessica did not want to become a vamp and she is having a bit of an adjustment problem.
“Absolutely. It’s a whole new world. She has to deal with everything you have to deal with as a 17-year-old girl, and on top of that, she can kill people, which is maybe not such a good thing to add with a teenage temper.”
And as to having Bill Compton as a Dad [Editor’s Note: I have to add Vampire Bill is much better than Jessica’s human dad, NOT in the Vampire Bill, sexy kind of way but more in the functional father way. Her dad was an abusive jerk; Bill is a much better dad.] She could not answer too much of the question but she did add this tidbit:
“It settles down as much as a father-daughter relationship ever does. Is that mysterious enough for you?”
Next up, Alan Ball answering questions about the genre of the show (if he had to classify it) along with Kristin’s questions on whether the core of the show will remain in Bon Temps. As for genre, Alan Ball says:
“We don’t have an actual sign in the writers room that reads, “It’s the emotions, stupid,” but we might as well. We feel like we have to keep these characters rooted in some sort of emotional reality because otherwise, it’s a parade of special effects and set pieces.”
On whether True Blood will remain grounded in Bon Temps [Editor’s Note: Ok I could be snarky here and say DUH but I won’t]:
“The show gets a little bigger in scope this year, but it always remains rooted in Bon Temps. That’s where Sookie lives, that’s where Bill lives, that’s where all our major characters live. They may go out of town for this reason or that reason, but they’ll always come home.”
Now what’s up for our favorite shapeshifter Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell)? Kristin asked Sam, “What’s up with Maryann (Michelle Forbes) and does Sam Merlotte get a girlfriend. On the mysterious Maryann:
“I did. I knew Maryann; you’re going to find all of that out. A lot of Sam’s history is explored this year, and you find out how they know each other. My storyline this year is very much entwined with hers. She’s a very, very intense creature for Sam.“
As for a girlfriend [we all saw Daphne getting ready for that warm night swim, along with the BIG claw marks on her back]:
“Yes, Sam has some new romance this year. And he’s got some other stuff going on this year. Sam really opens up this year. He becomes more vulnerable than he was in the past. He shares more of himself than he has.”
To finish up my part and to lead you into Kristin’s full E!Online article, I will leave you with Sam‘s response on his favorite scene shot this season:
“We did a scene recently that was so crazy. I don’t even know how to describe it. I don’t know how it’s going to come out, it’s just insane.”
To read more: Watch with Kristin on E!Online
(photo credit: Jaimie Trueblood / HBO Inc. )
Deborah Ann Woll is making a name for herself as the the newly turned and unpredictable vampire Jessica Hamby in Alan Ball‘s hit HBO TV series True Blood. Although Deborah is a relative newcomer she is definitely creating a buzz among both fans and critics regarding her portrayal as vampire Bill Compton’s (Stephen Moyer) new “daughter.”
Director/Photographer Tyler Shields created a video portrait featuring Deborah Ann Woll and captures the allure and intrigue of this fascinating rising star.
SOURCE: tylershields.com
(Photo credit: tylershields.com)
In season 2 of Alan Ball‘s fangtastic (couldn’t resist saying that) HBO TV series True Blood, Bill (Stephen Moyer), Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) travel to Dallas to help find a missing vampire. But where do vampires stay when they are out of town? As we saw last season they can always head underground when they are not near home, however once they rise they will need to find someplace to wash up (remember Bill was covered all in dirt after spending the day underground though Sookie didn’t mind at all).
In comes the need for vampire hotels as we see in the following photos from FilmingDirect.com the lobby of Sofitel LA located in West Hollywood was the backdrop for the Carmilla Hotel, a vampire hotel set in Dallas for season 2 of True Blood. According to the website it took 18 hours one day and another 24 hours the following week to shoot the necessary scenes. Bottles of TruBlood lined the concierge desk and guests of the hotel had the opportunity to see the stars of the show up close as they shot the scenes. Below is a set of before and after shots of the scenes and a glimpse of the vampire hotel.
Vampire Hotel Concierge
Vampire Hotel Front Desk
Vampire Hotel Before and After
SOURCE: FilmingDirect.com
(Photo credit: FilmingDirect.com)
There are many editorial comments from last night’s True Blood episode on the web. Starpulse gave the best break down for those of you (VERY BAD fanpires who missed last nights episode). If you did this would be a SPOILER ALERT; just warning you now. So just like the directions on bleach bottles that say do not ingest (obvious but people still drink it!).
The humorous insights fit my sense of humor. In the first paragraph there is one that I love, it discusses last week’s cliff hanger when Bill arrives at Jessica’s house “to clean up Sookie’s mess”:
“Bill only had to glamour her family. Tch! Very disappointing, “True Blood.” I promise, we’d still love Bill even if he murdered an entire family … probably.”
That’s OK I would Too!
I also like Pam’s reaction on not wanting to ruin her pumps when asked to go searching for, In Eric’s words “The Bull head creature”. In another paragraph the author humorously discusses the relationship with Bill and Sookie and some of her not so smart stubborn choices: “Anyway Bill and Sookie have their usual OMG I HATE YOU OH WAIT NO I LOVE YOU YAY OH NO SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED back and forth relationship this week. It’s as strangely endearing as ever. They fight over Sookie’s choice to bring Jessica to see her family Bill snaps at her (rightfully), and Sookie (stupidly) goes stomping out into the darkness. Because she apparently doesn’t watch this show. And of course something bizarre pops out – half bull half man? – and cuts her open. I love whenever something weird happens to Sookie; her reactions never disappoint. This time she just goes “what the….” and then runs like hell.”
Now of course we know this is leading to enlisting Eric’s help to save her which introduces us to the straight forward fun little doctor, Dr. Ludwig played by the talented Marcia deRousse [See the TBN interview here], then putting her in debt to Eric. Those damn vampires and their nothing are for free politics, they are like working for a crime syndicate!
So next episode (IN TWO WEEKS!) off to Dallas they go. I only wished the Starpulse article had included the Sookie’s line to Eric when he implies he might grow on her: “I prefer cancer”.
To read more the full recap is available at:
starpulse.com
By the way not only was Eric flirting with Sookie, but check out Eric’s little exchange with Lafayette! And what about Bill’s fit when finding Jessica and Hoyt together? Was that an “overprotective dad” moment or what? When next we see them we’ll find out if Bill‘s growl is worse than his bite!
(photo credit: HBO)
A very creative True Blood fan by the name of FlowerBite allowed us here at TrueBloodNet.com the pleasure of posting her creative take on the new HBO True Blood Season 2 Posters using Pam, Queen Sophie-Anne, Jessica Hamby, Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball. Please remember these are not from HBO but FlowerBite’s rendition of Season 2 Posters.
(Photo credit: HBO Inc., creation: FlowerBite)