Hi Guys... Any and all True Blood Season #3 stuff is now open for business...

Great idea!!! 

This is a good idea!  I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.  I mean ... with Bill being kidnap I guess that means Mississippi ... maybe?!?  Although there is no indication that Lorena is the kidnapper or that Bill is working on some kind of database.

BUT .. somehow Sookie finds out about Bills deception now that Eric knows ... that Could be enough for the breakup.

I'm also going to speculate that we are going to venture into the short story of Hadley's story.

So what do you guys think of this?
 

They cast the King of Mississippi, so I'm guessing at least part of the season will be set there.  I can't remember the city.

Thanks Caroline. I was gonna make a new thread for this very purpose.

any one have any new thoughts on why the queen is selling V? this forum is perfect for next season

BUT .. somehow Sookie finds out about Bills deception now that Eric knows ... that Could be enough for the breakup.

Eric doesn't know fully that there is deception. There have just been hints dropped. He probably suspects something is up, but he doesn't know exactly what it is. If the deception is revealed next season, it won't be til late into the season, IMO. Maybe AB will have it so that the Queen does find out that Bill is missing, and that is how the truth comes out.

or maybe the queen will confide in eric, thus giving him the power of knowledge. IMO. could the queen have taked bill away to stop him from maybe revealing that eric does sell V?

if there is no database, the why would the queen need bill around?

and lets not forget, in the beginning of the finale, eric told the queen... "i will take care of bill compten, personaly."

could the queen have taked bill away to stop him from maybe revealing that eric does sell V?

She wanted Eric to take care of it, so I don't see her being the one. She didn't care enough to handle it herself. She delegated that job to Eric.

if so AB is retarded

Maybe Hadley will go home for a visit or contact sookie somehow and talk about Bill. Hadley seems to think Sookie  knows about her living with the queen and also the fact that she knows Bill..she said to tell Sookie hello..so maybeSookie and Hadley make contact? Or maybe Hadley will tell Eric she is Sookie's cousin I wonder If Eric knows that ..If she tells Eric maybe he will tell her about Gran? But, I don't know about that.. The best would be for Eric too find out about bill's betrayal..If AB goes that way with his beloved....though I don't know if i want Eric to be the one to tell Sookie about the betrayal if he's doing it as revenge to Bill and to break them up it will just make him look like a vilain again..AB did say things from the books would be happening sooner.. I hate to get my hopes up just so AB can stomp all over them..That bastard!!! (sorry..still a bit angry..i'm woking on it)

lol im sure AB regardless of how much in love with bill he is.. after the way it was setup with bill talking to hadley.. we know for a fact that he was sent by the queen.. how else would he have no hadley? and then he lied to hadley about gran.. hes such an ass

I was talkin to my friend last night that only watches TB hasn't read the books..he thinks as AB would want him to..Bill Hero and Eric Villain..I was having my angry fit last night.. and he was telling me the books are different..Bill is good in the show..So I told him how Bill was sent by the queen to become friendly with Sookie and was a spy for the queen and is probably hiding that secret on the show as well..he didn't flinch he was like so what he fell in love with Sookie when he met her and I don't see anything wrong with it.It wouldn't make him a bad guy or anything...It's crazy..I think the thing that would have caused the bill backlash would be Bill sleeping with Lorena and we all know AB will never allow that to happen... It's exhausting worrying about it..I'm kinda glad we get a 9 month break from it

AB said they have 4 episodes written already.I can only imagine what they are.. I have no faith in him or those writers.. I am glad though that they have the queen telling Eric to sell the V..

If AB wants to repent to book fans he needs to make sure Eric has NOTHING to do with Bill's kidnapping ..Plain and simple..That would be the first step..

Though apparently AB isn't very worried about repenting to us.. He tries not to listen to us as he doesn't want us to influence his cruel agenda to ruin an amazing character..

Can we use Steve Newlins Line on AB if he has Eric involved in Bill's kidnappping?

"THE WAR HAS BEGUN YOU EVIL WHORE OF SATAN!!! "   

okay...so i'm holding out a tiny bit of hope for season 3...i've been poking around hbo today, and there are a ton of people are mad over there too...but what i find interesting is that when you click on the fans page, it is eric's pic you see...i'm hoping that this means that even if AB isn't hearing what everyone is saying, that hbo is...and hopefully hbo has enough pull to influence AB a little bit...

If AB wants to repent to book fans he needs to make sure Eric has NOTHING to do with Bill's kidnapping ..

Agreed!!!  I am really hoping that it's really just lorena and somehow the timing is uncanny...

 "THE WAR HAS BEGUN YOU EVIL WHORE OF SATAN!!! " 

LMAO!!!! Brilliant YYY!!

Hey y'all, check out this interview Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files had with AB today.  They talk about a bunch of things for season 3.

AB Interview

I'm just excited that he confirmed Alcide will be in it.

aquene...you should check out the finale thread...there has been a lot of ranting about the article there...i believe war has been declared and members of the newly formed posse, SAVE (Stop Abusing Viking Eric), are currently infiltrating the hbo boards...

Okay, I'm a little scared to go on that board, to be honest.  I came back from class and there were like three hundred new posts,  it was a little intimidating.

lol...i hear you there...i logged on this morning after i'd finally seen it, and i was behind by 841 posts...it wasn't too bad though.  lots of 1 liners...

SAVE (Stop Abusing Viking Eric)

LOL! I love this!

Well now that TB has ended and we wait for DITF we may as well spend some time on HBO. It is scary there, I agree Aquene87. I gave up on another site after an Eric fan was well and truly abused in a four-letter way. What a cultured, genteel lot we are over here.

After reading the stories you guys tell, I have no desire to go to other forums.

Ok...just got my username and activation over at HBO...what do I need to do?  hee hee... 

Ha. There's a thread - Dear Alan Ball: Fan comments/suggestions. I am feeling the Eric love there and there's lots of venting about AB just not getting it. I will add my 10 cents worth.

You tell him, Diane!

Oh it's so funny over on that thread. It's like all the Eric/book fans have been taken over by Marianne and are creating hell. I really hope he reads them because there's serious discontent. Yipee. Vive la revolution!

LOL! That makes me happy!

YAY! I have never been to the HBO boards but, i''m heading over there as soon as i get home tomorrow night.. I can't wait to put my two cents in..I only hope AB or someone of importance at HBO hears us roaring at the gates!!! I'll post on there everyday for the next 9 months if that's what it takes to get through to AB!!

The S.A.V.E revolution has begun on this day September 14, 2009!!

A day to be remembered in history!!!

I signed up tonight for that website and have bosted some of my opinions and man they snap at you like they want blood. LOL But I'll keep the SAVE Alive. LOL

Amen sister!

I have politely suggested that Mr Ball re-reads the books with a group of women if he doesn't understand what the attraction is with Eric. And asked for more AS. Might ask Santa for that too.

I'll add it to my santa list. I'm sure he'll be checking that one twice. LOL And I hear you that forum. I totally agree. He is doing it from a man stand point (The whole ORGY thing kind of a clue) but he needs to be locked in a room full of women who have read this book and can write the script for him.

My new word for the day that AB must have had on his brain. (Orgy stravanganza). WOW.

I just saw this link on the HBO forum...freakin' funny!!

Eric, Sookie and Bill on Jerry Springer 

OMG that is the funniest thing I've seen all night. Thanks ItzKelly!

Eric, you claim to be the victim of a smear campaign. Can you elaborate on that for us?

Yes, Jerry, I'd be glad to. Bill Compton has self-esteem issues, obviously.

And this began over a blowjob you received from Sookie?

The alleged blowjob is just the latest example of how he overdramatizes everything.  It was simply a misunderstanding.

LOL! OMG
 

LOL!! Bill really does look dead.

Bill, can you tell our viewers what happened to Sookie's wheelchair-bound uncle?

LMAO!

What do you think about what Eric just said, Ms. Stackhouse?

"What did he say?  All I know is,  I look at him and wanna take off my clothes!"

Would you look at that...Sookie and I have something in common.  

The deleted scenes one is funny too. It is a link at the bottom of the page

What do you think about what Eric just said, Ms. Stackhouse?

"What did he say?  All I know is,  I look at him and wanna take off my clothes!"

LMAO

HAHA we must be thinking alike ashmarie

HaHa

that link is so so funny!!... bill the paranoid predator.. haha love it

"Another recent one, but hardly more flattering.  Sucker punching Eric on the very day his father commits suicide?  Poorly played, Bill."

ha whoever that of this was genius.. 

I think the thing that would have caused the bill backlash would be Bill sleeping with Lorena and we all know AB will never allow that to happen... It's exhausting worrying about it..I'm kinda glad we get a 9 month break from it

On the show, Alan Ball is setting Bill up for deceiving Sookie. It is not that the queen sent him, but the fact that he kept it from Sookie once he was in to deep with his feelings for her. He continued to wantonly deceive her after she gave him a million chances to come clean. Of course she is going to look back and see everything he did and not trust that it was sincere.

Sookie understood the maker called me thing, but was upset that he did not trust her enough to tell her that his maker had summoned him. Sookie's beef with Bill all along is that he is not honest with her...

So I think that is where AB is heading. It would be bad TV if it were really cut and dry. He is establishing nuance.

Very well said Caroline....that pretty much hit the nail on the proverbial head.....Nuance...that is great and I totally agree, it was never so much the fact that Bill was sent by the queen to seduce Sookie, he really had little choice in the matter, it was the fact that he continuously lied to her and never came clean especially after he started having genuine feelings for her....

that is the true deception that is the root of the problem with Bill and his betrayal.....the fact that he didn't tell her the truth... and when he did he was forced to and had to be at the end of his rope to do it then....if he hadn't been in New Orleans at the time with the Queen getting ready to reveal the secret he would have tried everything to keep the truth from her IMHO.

As for how closely AB will stick to this....who knows, but I do think that you (CMAC) are on the right track with this....the nuance has been set in motion....the subtle hints and clues dropped like bread crumbs in Hansel and Gretel are for us bookies I believe....show watchers only aren't really picking up on the clues....like my hubby who hasn't read the books, he didn't see any of this coming by the show alone....I had to tell him, so I think that AB will have to do some flashbacks to the scenes with clues in them for the plot to make sense to the fans who haven't read the books......

I agree Caroline. I can't really add anything to what you have said, Katherine has done that for me. Good thoughts guys!

u guys, i know i've said this before, but i am going to say it again.  we need to have the trunk scene in season 3.  i think that will totally DESTROY the bill lovers.

i agreed i kept talking about it on the season finale thread.. how if he rapes her in the car trunk.. it would  be all over for him and then we all discussed that he wont do it and why he wouldnt..

I don't remember on which thread I said this , but I already said that I think it is possible AB will do the trunk scene. I think I remember it was the Tara Lafayette argument over the fact she had bruises and Lafayette had hit her, but Tara claim it wasn't his fault, bla la bla bla.  But with the finale, where Sookie repeated over and over to Egg that it wasn't his  fault if he had kill all those people because he wasn't himself. I am more and more convince that it could actually happen. That it could be the purpose of all those scenes.

Hi Guys... There was a long discussion on one of the true bloods about this very thing... I am on the fence about it, but I think that if it did go down that it would be more ambivalent than the books. I don't think that it would be a "in your face" thing.

Through the series so far AB has done a lot to keep Sookie ambivalent. It is part of the frustration of the show, but something that would keep all the viewers coming back, even after that suck "A" last episode.

i would love the scene to play out.. i actually hope and pray to the Allan Ball God that he will put it in because its so important to the whole book series IMO.. plus i cant stand bill and his little halo over his head.. i want to freaking rip it off and stomp on it.. lol

i can imagine them doing it like where the screen is blacked out and you just hear fumbling around and her screaming and pleading.. and its still an all black screen, then like 3 minutes later hes like "sookie is that you"..  this is how i play it in my head..

That's a great visual.  Leaving it out would totally betray the trust we, as readers, and CH, as the creator, have put in Alan Ball.

This is a stretch and I am not sure that this is the case at all because CH tends to be more literal than I give her credit, but I don't think the rape will make it in the series...

I see the rape as being somewhat symbolic of Bill betraying Sookie... Bill's betrayal is in many respects beyond his control, but it does not change the fact that it is betrayal. Alan Ball may leave out the rape because it would alienate the viewer from Sookie who is still ambivalent about her feelings for Bill even after the rape. It would seem implausible or incredulous to the average viewer that Sookie could still struggle with her feelings after something like that and they might cease to identify with her. Visual is much stronger than reading what happened and it would be shocking and leave no room for Sookie to have any additional inner turmoil.. and she continues to struggle and have inner turmoil though less and less as time passes...

I can't figure out yet why Bill was taken but I do think Lorena and the King of Mississippi are be involved.  Now this sets up that Eric has to look and get Bill back, like in Book 3, because of the Queen.  He can't shut up Bill about the V dealing unless he can have a little talk with him and he can't let the Queen know that Billy is missing and potentially liable to spill the beans about the V.  Thus he can help Sookie find Bill and save his own behind like in Club Dead.

Or maybe Franklin Mott?
All good thoughts shantigel (shanti shanti?) I will be interested to see how Alan Ball pulls them all together and shores up / strengthens the plot from the books.... I love the books far more than I love the show, but I do look forward to what the show may bring (for the most part).

When you get a chance, check out the forum rules **IMPORTANT: Rules about Forum & Posting in TSSSF. PLEASE READ**
Also check in and introduce yourself on the Official Introduce yourself thread

Look forward to reading your thought and ideas on all things Sookie Stackhouse.

Did you notice the pic on hbo.com for the finale has pics of the cast from various episodes Bill is notably missing and Eric is lingering behind Sookie.. I really like your theory shantigel.. If AB follows that plotline I might actually stop cursing the day he was born. lol...He would be very unwise if he has Eric involved in Bill's kidnapping ..He will lose alot of viewers...Myself included..I get pissed off just thinking about it!!

 http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/season2/

Ok just saw this article and AB He's talking about Bill working for the queen and having a hidden agenda..

"It's certainly something that I found really compelling in the books," says Ball of Bill's deep dark secret. "I was like, 'Wow.' But I can't really tell you what I'm going to do story-wise. So much of the appeal of the show depends on the element of surprise."

 http://scifiwire.com/2009/09/will-true-blood-reveal-bi.php

AB better add it or something very similar....I'm beyond sick of his little love affair with Bill and SM for tht matter..I think he loves them both equally..Not that I have anything against SM at all..He seems like a great guy but, enough is enough already..

i think we are going to see this betryal.  we just don't know when, and i don't think it should be any time soon either.

This is the second article dated today that I see now with AB blabbing about Bill possibly havng a bad secret that would make Eric& Sookie fans happy...Could it be damage control on AB's part that this is coming out so soon after the finale?

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/09/16/true-blood-bill-sookie-bombshell-secret/?xid=rss-feed-tvwatch-%27True+Blood%27%3A+Bill%2DSookie+twist%3F

why doesn't AB just follow the books and make people happy?  why does he need to ponder about this issue?

AB says in the EW article:

“I try to stay out of how the fans are responding to the show,” says Ball. “I have to tell the story that  I  think is the most interesting story. Certainly, the main ingredient in drama is conflict and revelations. For every person who loves Bill and wants him and Sookie to just be in love always, there’s another person who’s like, ‘I’m sick of Bill. He’s such a wuss. I like Eric. He’s dangerous.’ Especially when you’re working on a show like this with the kind of palette and the colors you use; you want it to be continually surprising and shocking. Not for the sake of being shocking, but that’s part of the fun.” 

Hmm is that what you're doing AB looking for the most interesting story? because I would have never guessed that .. I would have guessed you were trying to destroy the books and enrage millions of people in your audience to the point of giving them high blood pressure..

So where did you hunt these comments down?

I think it is cute the way they go back and forth... bad grammar to, but can't throw stones at that... I wonder if they will feel the same this time next year... I guess it is all in the direction that AB takes things... He has shown that he is not "by the book" as far as the series goes, but he is still following the key(ish) points of the plot. I wonder....

Thanks for that interesting post Kelli.... That may confirm my thoughts on his purpose.. but also leads me to think that he agrees that Bill and Sookie always would be very vanilla.

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOLLOL

u know, i really wonder how many people started reading the books after seeing the first season???? hmmm?  gee i just wonder, coz i know a few.  myself included, and I am about to lend the books to someone else TODAY.  so, the way i see it, he better tell the RIGHT story.

Shoot, I started to read the books after the Godric episode - Eric was honestly my reason for reading them, as I wanted to see where his character went in the story and was tired of waiting for one hour per week to get a peek.  It was not Bill and Sookie's relationship that lured me to the books at all...

I was reading one of the interviews with AB and he said this about Eric:

And then in order to have him be a real, viable option for Sookie, you have to have some humanity there. She may be attracted to him physically, especially now that she’s had his blood, but she’s never going to go with somebody who she feels is evil or at the very least amoral.  

He implied here that Sookie was physically attracted to Eric before she had his blood. Thats straight from AB's mouth! The Bill lovers can't deny that. The interview has already been posted, but I'll put it up too so you guys can see where I got it.

http://www.televisionaryblog.com/2009/09/blood-bath-televisionary-talks-to-true.html 

You know I was just thinking about it..Eric fans really are asking so little of AB (at this point) and he STILL couldn't deliver..I would have been very happy with a small Eric fllirting with Sookie scene in the finale.. Possibly a scene of Eric talking to Sookie about Godric and thanking her for staying with him in the end..I think AB could have spared 2 minutes of MA time for that scene..Maybe Eric doing something nice for Sookie.. Perhaps her not acting completely repulsed by him..Also it would have been so nice if for once Eric could have at least shared in the heroism of helping rid the town of MA.It wouldn't make Eric seem soft because you know Bill lovers would argue that Eric helped for his own hidden reasons...I was content with Eric and Bill bickering over Sookie .. and Sookie being conflicted and confused.. That is what makes a love triangle and it is engaging T.V as well.In the finale if they had just one great Eric & Sookie scene with a little promise of what is to come down the line I would be ecstatic and replaying the scene for the next 9 months with a smile on my face..Not asking for too much I think..But, instead we get 3 minutes of Eric being mauled by the queen and playing yahtzee..I mean AB had a whole scene of Sam turning to Eric for help and Eric flying off to help sam and the town (and of course Sookie) and AB goes nowhere with it..Well actually where he goes is Bill showing up to sam and saving the day and nearly dying while he does it..that sounds familiar..oh that's right Bill did that last season too.. I mean for christs sake Eric fans are like abused people just praying for something so small like a flirty interaction from Eric to Sookie or a nice gesture from him ..and THAT still was too much to ask for..I get it AB doesn't want to tip his hand..he feels the anticipation is needed and he says we need to be patient yada..yada..yada..However in a finale where we need to wait 9 months what did he do to bring us back for season 3..It seems like he is slowly taking the characteristics of book Eric that make all the women fall in love with him and giving them to Bill. The pretty dress and love note.. from Bill?!?  Come on AB..REALLY?!? That started my anger..then the engagement ring started the rage..Then her gidy running out of the bathroomyelling YES Bill !!  Yes I will marry you !!! sent me over the edge!! I really have to wonder did he read the same books that I read?!?  I'm glad fans as well as the media are calling him on this and hopefully that will eventually make a difference..I just had to share when I realized how little I was actually hoping for and yet I was still disappointed (devastated) .  Thanks for nothing AB ..literally . 

I agree YYY. I read the comments after the Ausiello article and there's a lot of Eric love out there. AB would be foolish beyond belief not to take note. I started reading DUD again last night and realised pretty quickly that season 1 was better because AB followed the book so closely. The TB dialogue is straight off the page. Apart from more Eric and introducing Godric, season 2 steered away from the page and went off course badly. He failed big time when he didn't give us any post-Dallas moments. It was like the whole Sookie/Eric/Godric stuff hadn't happened. And those for me were the stand-out moments of the whole season. AB needs to re-visit the novels and stick closely to them, regardless of his man-love for Bill.

Yep, That's all we can hope for..Not sure if AB was planning on not killing Lafyette before he knew Nelsan Ellis was a fan favorite..but it shows I think that fans do have some influence over the show because not only is Lafayette still alive he's a pretty major character.. Though I think AB likes the character of Lafayette..It doesn't seem like he particularly cares for the character Eric..I just don't get that..You're right about him doing better sticking closer to the story in season 1.. Like he himself often says the books work so why change them.. Take your own damn advice AB..The finale looked like some horrible spoof video you might find on you tube.. UGH! I promise I will work on getting over being so bitter and angry about this..It's a process..hee..hee

My daughter, who was more of an AB fan than I am (I lost interest in Six Feet Under after the second year, but she insisted we stay on until the bitter end) was more eager to see TB than I was. I did have online friends who loved the books also being eager about TB. After 3 episodes and the off-putting violent sex I was ready to check out. But my online friends insisted I read the books. I figured that it would help me decide if the series was worth it. And of course I loved the books and read and reread and reread them until I thought maybe I needed an intervention to bring me back to reality.

Watching the show first had briefly put me on Team Bill, but that didn't last long once I read the books. Eric wasn't very compelling in DUD but once I got into LDID and CD I was definitely on Team Eric. Ah and then I read DTTW, holy cow!!!

Eric is such a complex and compelling character in the books. We started to get some of that with the TB Godric storyline. Even this new interview with AB doesn't indicate he understands Eric's appeal. He still thinks it's because he's dangerous. It was stated better in Sookie's dream--he's deep. Eric's emotional growth and personal evolution in the books is what is fascinating, not that he's dangerous. It's that he isn't really dangerous after all.

Season one had followed DUD better. Season two didn't follow LDID at all. I can live with Stan being completely different and dying. I like Layfayette. I liked what they did with Isabel. I love the Jessica subplot (as long as she doesn't go on a killing spree). I think it was very sweet, but AB doesn't really like sweet, so now Jessica is out there being evil. But then the disgusting MA depravity kept getting more depraved every week, as if we didn't get it already (Maryann is bad news and the people are being depraved). The stuff about season one was the off-putting rough sex which they toned down later on. This was worse and didn't get toned down, it got more and more revolting. It wasn't story telling: it was just an effort to see how much depravity and excess they could get away with. No creativity in that.

AP... I was so turned on by Eric in LDID that I skipped CD and went straight for DTTW.... Once I came of down from the hot high of that book, I cracked CD... Which quickly became my second favorite for the awesomeness take charge Eric and his promise to see more of Sookie's skin.

I can not wait / am chagrined to see how AB handles this Eric.... I agree that Eric's personal growth and burgeoning emotions are hugely compelling.

So far, we have seen the possibility of this, but like any anti-hero, it can change at any moment... AB could go where we don't want him to go... or not, but the suspense is boring / killing me.

Criticism of AB's writing. It's a really good article:

Bill is portrayed as good, the white knight, the saint and there is no room for him to be anything but those characteristics. The moment his sheen is tarnished, his issues are either wiped away, forgotten or magically absolved in the writing. Hell, we even have characters telling us how awesome he is to further absolve and almost deify him. They make Bill cool and give him an edge for two seconds and then take it away! Eric is portrayed as the bad guy, the evil one, the devil incarnate, the villain, the manipulative one and similarly, there is almost no room for him to be portrayed otherwise. Even when he does something good, like saving Sookie’s life and Lafayette’s life, he gets no credit through the writing because despite the fact that he did a good deed, the characters do not give him gratitude, thanks or credit for his compassion, it’s brushed under the rug. If he’s trying to set up a character reversal and emphasize it, it’s making it all too obvious because we can all see it a mile away. 

http://bloodbonds.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/the-hit-list-and-the-shit-list-according-to-simba/

That was just an absolutely perfect summation of everything. Doesn't AB get any of this. It seems so obvious to most fans.

for some reason, in like every interview.. AB keeps calling eric's character "dangerous"... are we reading the same books? he needs someone to explain thebooks to him and i keep getting pissed of when he keeps talking about his appeal is because he is a bad boy.. no it isnt! i dont like him  because hes "bad'! i wouldve like bill then if i liked bad, deceitful men.. i liked eric because of his compassion and him falling in love with a human for the first time and having strong emotions for that human that hes learning to cope with..

IMO, his character is pure brilliance.. yet AB treats the character with disdain. im at a loss for words.

I keep telling myself not to interpret AB, but I can't help it. I keep looking for holes...it's part of my denial...Maybe AB is coming from a viewer standpoint. Many non-book viewers see Eric as "dangerous," "evil," and (as Sookie put it when she regressed back to childhood) a "monster."

He has not allowed Eric's character to really grow that much. And the one episode he did, there was no follow-up. So, you only get this hint of the true Eric - the one underneath the facade - and then you're back to "dangerous" Eric. So, as far as many viewers are concerned (and thanks to AB), the Eric they see is through a very narrow scope. He calls him "dangerous" because that is how we are supposed to see him at this point in the series.

Again, I am in denial...this is a defense mechanism...

At least we got the "teacup humans" moment out of AB before the season ended. And now that Bill is out the way, may AB will let the viewers see more of the Eric we know and love.

yeah. denial. i havent hit that point yet. im just very frustrated. it makes me so mad. i dont care if he wants to portray him one way and another on the series whatever.. but to talk in interviews acting as if the character is bad.. its bullshit the character isnt bad.. if it was a bad character NO ONE would be reading CH's books.. except for the few girls who like rapey-scenes..

i actually, even though it was funny, didnt like the teacup scene.. cause once again, i dont remember eric ever talking about draining children in the books.. he seemed to have more morals than most vamps did.. and the godric in thebooks was the one who drained and molested children...

once again.. his character, IMO, has a good heart.. and has more morals than most of the vamps in the books..

Well, some good did come out of this season...At least we got the dream sequence!!! I could watch that all day long... 

Perhaps theres some sort of resentment on AB's part towards "bad-boy" esque characters, since everyone, male or female, preferthem over the nice guy.  Maybe he identifies more with Bill

I interpreted the teacup bit as Eric in his own way fondly recalling children, not in a creepy way but more "theyre not all that bad, hey theyre kinda even cute" maybe thats just me being ridic, it was my time of the month when that episode aired.

ah yes the dream sequence.. him being shirtless.. (sigh).. yeah the scene was funny great writing but then i was like ugh godric ate children not eric.. lol the series is like a walking contradiction ha but once again, i gotta remind myself, its just a series

since everyone, male or female, preferthem over the nice guy.

Does it count if the "nice guy" is a liar and dating you under false pretenses?

I interpreted the teacup bit as Eric in his own way fondly recalling children, not in a creepy way but more "theyre not all that bad, hey theyre kinda even cute" maybe thats just me being ridic, it was my time of the month when that episode aired.

LOL! I actually took it that way too. It was not my time of the month...

yeah im thnking AB was bullied by a "bad guy" when he was a kid... hence hating eric just a thought.

since everyone, male or female, preferthem over the nice guy.

Does it count if the "nice guy" is a liar and dating you under false pretenses?

dont forget that this "nice guy" raped her in a trunk.. and the bad guy respectfully backed off quite a few times   

Hahaha I'm glad you took it that way too Ashmarie

Does it count if the "nice guy" is a liar and dating you under false pretenses?  

fair enough.  Maybe he has an odd-fascination with the stereotypical boy-girl meet-cute where one deceives the other but its ok it all works out. eh lol at this point I'm just trying to figure out why AB is doing this so my reasoning isnt the clearest

I was watching Disturbia last night and I could see David Morse as Franklin Mott.

I've liked his acting since St. Elsewhere.

i have some high hopes for season 3.  I heard HBO gave AS a huge pay raise for season 3.  Makes me hopeful, hopefully AB is not stupid and DOES listen to the fans.

I'm with you Vics (may I shorten your name?)  I am doing a lot of re-watching and catching nuances I missed before.  This happened with SFU, as well.

So IMDB is showing the title for the first episode of season #3 as Kill Bill... I wonder if that is set in stone and if so, what does it mean?

Let's keep our fingers crossed!  Of course, AB is known for screwing with his audience.

Well look at it this way... Sookie has no idea that Bill did not go willingly... For all she knows, he could have just taken off because she got up and ran from the table crying.

I wonder if that is set in stone and if so, what does it mean?

Kill Bill is one of my favorite movies. Speculating based on the possible title...Kill Bill is about revenge. It is about a woman, who was wronged by a man she loved and a man she thought loved her. Lorena's parting words to Bill were that she wished he hadn't said what he did to her. It implied that she would be seeking some kind of retaliation. Lorena is out to "Kill Bill." Not necessarily literally (at first), but mentally and emotionally. She is determined to break him.

Well look at it this way... Sookie has no idea that Bill did not go willingly... For all she knows, he could have just taken off because she got up and ran from the table crying

And left all that disarray?

Also, all the episodes are named after songs.  Is there a song 'Kill Bill' that any one knows?  At least it isn't titled 'Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?'

And left all that disarray?

Could be assumed that the disarray was left in anger due to the rejection. Bill is very emotional... 

hey guys, u think Sookie will be calling Eric immediately?

Not if she thought Bill ran off and left her... Eric will probably contact her to see if she knows where Bill is..

I'm not sure what she'll do.  She did immediately suggest calling Eric when they they returned to MA's Bon Temps.  I want her to call him so she "owes" him!  JK.  He should come to her so he looks less like a monster that AB has made him out to be so far.

LOL! Yes, it would. Considering I don't speak stupid, I can't really tell you where Sookie's mindset will be. But I could see her assuming he left and later finding out he was taken.

i am sure she is going to go looking for him, and when she doesn't hear from him she will call Eric.  and or Eric will go looking for Bill, and go find Sookie?

Well, yeah. I do think she is going to try to find him to speak with him. But I don't think she is going to jump to the immediate conclusion that he was kidnapped. I could see her going to his house, not seeing him there, and then later finding out - maybe through Eric - that something happened to him.

i think that it will be the next nite that Eric looks for her, or she for him.  she will probably spend the nite at Bill's house waiting on him to come home, and Jessica probably wont be coming home either.

That is very plausible.

i don't know where they are going with the Jessica character, At first i did not like her coz she was just sooo whiney.  But then as she started developing, she was so hilarious.  I totally love her, and I really like Hoyt.

are they going to have her going on a rampage of anger and bitterness?

At first i did not like her coz she was just sooo whiney.

She is Bill's child. It runs in the family...thankfully, she grew up.

are they going to have her going on a rampage of anger and bitterness?

That's what it is starting to look like.

She has been underfed.  Maybe she's getting her fill so she isn't tempted to kill Maxine or accidentally kill Hoyt.

How has she been underfed? It's called TrueBlood. She doesn't have to take out or feed on truckers. I think Jessica is going through some rebellion.

i also think she is rebelling.  You know, on top of everything that Bill lacks, he is also a terrible maker.

he really doesn't care for his child at ALL.

She said in Frenzy that she hadn't fed in days.

And she's definitely rebelling.

Yeah, but she could be easily remedied that without the trucker. Her actions weren't about hunger.

Maybe, but new vamps and teenagers have poor impulse control.  She's also led a very sheltered life, so she may use the hunger as an excuse for acting out.  And didn't she find True Blood gross?

Yes. New vamps do have less control. I think AB is demonstrating that through Jessica. She didn't like TrueBlood, but she was also told by Bill not to feed on humans. I definitely could see her using the hunger as an excuse. That is all it is - an excuse. She knows what she should and shouldn't do. If she is doing what she shouldn't be doing, she is acting out.

if i was her i would too... bill ignores her half the time, she cant see her family, eric and co. didnt want anything to do with her so "gave her back" to bill, hoyt is/was mad at her.. of course shes going to go on a rampage.. her situation totally sucks. i feel bad for her actually..

You know, on top of everything that Bill lacks, he is also a terrible maker.

Absolutely! Its not excuse he has never been a maker before or that he never wanted to be one. He is one now and he has a responsibility Jessica to teach her and help her through these changes she is going through. The only time we have ever seen Bill teach her anything was glamour. He hasn't had much interaction with her this season at all due to the writting, so of couse that doesn't help.

In that scene with Bill and Jessica in the finale I felt that SM's acting was pretty bad. DAW did a good job in that scene. But maybe SM's lacking preformance wasn't entirely his fault because the lines he was given made Bill seem very shallow. Generic, overused lines that only work when the 2 characters know each other well like a real father and daughter. I can't remember them exactly but you guys get what I'm trying to say?

If Bill is already doing a poor job as Jessica's maker, I wonder how bad its going get when (assuming they will) he and Sook break up.  I cannot see that helping the situation at all.

Even AB recognize Bill is a poor maker, the story has been made that way on purpose.

Maybe because we hadn't had enough seasons yet so we can't  see the purpose and the outcome of this, but surely AB had an agenda for making Bill such a lousy maker.

though he is a lousy maker, i dont think he can get punished in the vamp world right? arent they allowed to do whatever they want with their children...

Probably not if the child kills a human or draws negative attention to the vampire community.  Maybe Bill will get his fangs pulled out and Nan Flanagan can wear them as earrings after Sookie rescues his worthless butt in Mississippi.  Like some kind of Vampire Protection Services.

I could only see him being punished if Jessica does something that effects the vampires in general - like a killing spree. That wouldn't be good for press. As her maker and the fact that she is a young vampire, it is his responsibility to control and teach her.

Probably not if the child kills a human or draws negative attention to the vampire community.

Actually, I think they would compel him to punish her and "clean up his mess".. This might be another nail in the Bill and Sookie coffin... Think about it, Sookie feels guilty for the fact that Bill turned Jessica to begin with. How do you think she is going to feel when Bill is forced to punish Jessica because of her poor impulses and his inability to look out for her? I am sure she will find some way to blame herself for that one too. Bill could not take care of Jessica because of Sookie....
 

i was thinking the same thing CMaC... that sookie would get upset with him for not taking care of her.. i dont even think sookie realizes that he leaves her alone by herself all the time.. she didnt even feed for 3 days, whats up with that?? she obviously doesnt know how to take care of herself..

Maybe they will send them away to some sort of maker child boot camp for season four, instead of having him in Peru. LOL

ha ha.. i rather have him in peru.. im hoping a jaguar attacks and eats him.

i was thinking the same thing CMaC... that sookie would get upset with him for not taking care of her.. i dont even think sookie realizes that he leaves her alone by herself all the time.. she didnt even feed for 3 days, whats up with that?? she obviously doesnt know how to take care of herself..

And Sookie will blame herself for that too.. She will see that Bill doing whatever to keep her (Sookie) safe was the cause of his neglecting Jessica.. I wish Sookie would adopt a personal responsibility motto and see that Bill chose to neglect Jessica.

And yeah Samlover... That makes perfect sense... Bill and Jessica go to Peru to a vamp boot camp, Jerry Springer style.. That would be so awesome...

yeah sometimes, i know this sounds bad, but i think sookie likes to play the victim.. always blaming herself for everything.. and taking responsibility for others peoples reactions.. then getting down on herself all the time, saying shes a worthless barmaid. that girl needs to go to like an emotional-help workshop or something.. that last thing you need to do is to get self-esteem from a guy like bill.. which is what she does. she feels like shes worthless without a man

The burning season 3 question for me is will the red dress with the detatchable sleeves be making an appearance and will Sook and Tara dance to Love is a Battlefield. I would pay good money for that one! Can just see Eric heading for the hills along with the audience.

In this interview with AB  http://www.televisionaryblog.com/2009/09/blood-bath-televisionary-talks-to-true.html; he says the following:

"We are going to meet Sam’s blood relatives, we’re going to meet probably the nastiest vampire we’ve met yet", I believe we will see Andre in the next season.  I think he makes a very interesting character.

Robeal

I think AB mean Franklin Mott as being the nastiest vampire yet.

I assumed the nastiest vamp was going to be Franklin Mott (poor Tara!), but it could be Andre!  AB is the king of misdirection, so he could me leading us down a merry path w/ FM.

Then again, Andre is the vamp we all love to hate, and would AB give us two of those in the Louisiana "queendom"?  (SA being the other)

I swear I'll have nary a brown hair by the time season 3 comes around.

I would love it to be Andre, but even in the book Franklin and his attitude of passing human around was in  a way worst than Andre. I am unfortunately afraid we may not see Andre in TB.

I assumed the nastiest vamp was going to be Franklin Mott (poor Tara!), but it could be Andre!  AB is the king of misdirection, so he could me leading us down a merry path w/ FM.

I suspect that the TB Franklin Mott character will be a combination of the Book version of Franklin Mott and Micky....

If this is the case it will make for a good comparison for Eric.

You are right if we can see much worst than Eric than he might look not so bad. Though I hate using someone bad to make someone look good.

Amen to that....  But Bill is AB's good guy with a bad secret agenda... Eric is his bad guy with a good secret agenda and Franklin Mott is just bad?

Franklin Mott is bad with a dirty (McPeople) secret agenda...

LOL Maybe this is something like that.

Looks like SM agrees with us that AP & AS have good onscreen chemistry and that the love triangle is necessary for the show..Hmm now if only AB felt the same way..  check out his interview with Michael Ausiello at the Emmy's

 http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/09/21/stephen-moyer-on-sookie-eric/

i didnt see anyone post this but pretty funny from that guy http://bloodbonds.wordpress.com/beyond-here-lies-bullshit/ I love the Beyond Here Lies Bullshit.. great line lol

"I’m talking about how you find a severed finger in a meatpole…I’m talking about why a dead finger can be reattached. I mean…FFS, if you don’t ice a severed limb, it’s dead within 30 minutes or two hours and you can’t reattach it."

LOL   

Blondee I am still reading it... but it is fun to see all the scenes dissected like that. I thought the finale blew chunks but seeing it this way makes it seem like a waste of television space.

‘Yes, Bill Compton, yes! I will marry y…you.” You are officially dead to me as a character, Sookie Stackhouse.

Great review, good to know that it's not just us ladies who get frustrated with AB's Eric, Bill and Sookie.  

I guess I can put this in here - I am not sure...

Anyway Television Without Pity has given us some of the Tubey Results, here are TB picks:

Worst American Accent by a non-American: TWoP Staff Pick: Stephen Moyer was the TVWOP pick

Best Single EpisodeDrama : The True Blood episode "Cold Ground" earned second place in the reader voting.

yeah his reviews are a-m-a-z-i-n-g.. i love how he dissects everything frame from frame.. and yeah DiB.. i loved it when he was like "your officially dead to me" lol i also liked when he called Maryann bridezilla ha ha

Saw this on FB and had to share it.. It made me think of what True Blood would look like as a cartoon.. Love it..

LMAO! That's great!

How does anyone sneeze?

LOL! At first, I didn't know what you were talking about...no noses...I get it...

They're like chibis! I think that's Japonese for little or something.

I like how that Sookie actually has tatas.

I like the way she's looking at Eric.

Like he is the only vamp in the world...

All right fine ladies... I is out for the evening... you guys have a good night.

Nite. Say Goodnight to Don for me.

Don should be a 4 letter word... Nite again... Catch ya'll tomorrow.

Nite!

The Paley Center in Los Angeles is giving True Blood fans the chance to get up close and personal with the geniuses behind TV’s hottest vampire series.

This is your chance to hear scoop on the upcoming third season from the writers themselves, including show runner extraordinaire Alan Ball.

Tickets for True Blood: Inside the Writers Room will be available this Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Paley Center website.

True Blood: Inside the Writers Room happens Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.

Mobilize the S.A.V.E army! 

to bad it is in LaLa.... That is a world away for me...

Why does everything have to happen in LA?!

because it's where the queen is, duh! IDK. But all I know is LA is hot and sweaty, like where i am, florida. the more hot and sweaty AS we get the better!

I think they're talking about El Lay as in Los Angeles not LA as in Louisiana

yeah, that LA

Yep... La la land...

oh, sorry. la as in l.a. not LA ? how am i supposed to know? i'm off staring at AS bite sized nipplage. you guys should know me better by now!

I hope there's some Eric fans who go and give AB a bit of a hard time.

From today's Times online. Interview with AB. Sounds like he will be busy. Less involvement with TB or am I just hoping?

As for his career, Ball has signed a deal with HBO to do two more seasons of True Blood. He also has two other shows in the works, including an adaptation of the British series Bad Girls, along with several movie projects.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6853973.ece

I live in Los Angeles. I'm now trying to figure out how much the tickets cost. I can't find it on the Paley website. If I get a ticket, I'd like you guys to help me work up a list of suggestions and grievances.

I didn't go to comic-con since that's a long drive  for me (150 miles through dense traffic), and I couldn't be all that sure I'd make it into the panel discussion. I also hate crowds with a passion. Besides I recent kicked a rather expensive comicbook and collectibles habit, and this would have been like an alcoholic going to a liquor convention.

We’ll be saying goodbye to at least one character next season on True Blood, executive producer Alan Ball tells TVGuide.com exclusively.

“Somebody is going to bite the dust and it’s going to be really good to see them get what they deserve,” Ball says. The only clue the Blood boss would reveal is that “it’s a person we’ll be happy to see go.”

I've got a list of people I'd be happy to see go, and he's right at the top of it.

I've got a list of people I'd be happy to see go, and he's right at the top of it.

LOL!  

I agree totally.

Unfortunately, I think it's Lorena. We know she's already doomed. That's why Ball used the "them" when he said it was going to be really good to see "them" get what "they" deserve. The only problem I have with this is that we won't have the betrayal of Bill running off with Lorena, and when Sookie rescues him, they'll be all lovey dovey again. BARF

I've tried to look on the brightside when it comes to the whole Bill/Lorena/Sookie thing. Bill really dislikes Lorena, you might even say hate, heck he told her she was dead to him. But she is still his maker and I believe there is an emotional bond there that he can't ignore. So I've been telling myself maybe Bill will have a moment of weakness and he will sleep with her. That way when Sookie finds out about it her and Bill will definitely not be lovey dovey again. Probably not going to happen but I can hope.  (this is me hoping...with a halo)

Totally LOVE your theory..I really hope that happens..Though sadly I think if anything AB would set it up where there is some special force or spell of some sort that Lorena will use to sleep with him..Bill wouldn't know that he was under the spell and would get the chance for some deep self loathing..But, of course when they find out he had no control over it and that he would never willingly cheat on his Sukah then the super fluff that is Bill and Sookie will return once again in full force..**gag..puke** God I hope i'm wrong..

Just some random internet perusing on a dreary Sunday and I cam across this funny about Steven Moyer's hopes for next season

"In a recent chat with DS, the British actor, who plays vampire Bill Compton on the HBO series, joked that he is hoping for a bedroom scene with Alexander Skarsgård's Eric Northman. 'Alex is a good friend of mine and a fantastic actor and I love working with Alex and I don't get to do it as much as I would love to,' he revealed. 'You never know - whether they'll stick Eric and Bill in bed together, I don't know. But here's hoping!' Moyer, 39, also voiced his approval over the Bill-Sookie-Eric love triangle. 'One thing about great drama is that you can't watch two characters be happy for... well, sometimes half a season is too much. I think there has to be obstacles put in there way. I think the Bill and Eric characters are great.'"

To go along with this tasty tidbit, someone got all handy dandy with a picture... Gives me an idea.. 

Too funny!

Scared the dog again.  That is hilarious.

I agree very funny!

Ha ha ha

I hope it's not Lorena.  She's the obvious choice I guess, but I like her character and I'm not the only one.....I wouldn't find her demise gratifying at all really, but then Ball is obviously speaking as a Bill Boy - and I guess Bill fans will be glad to see her go and Sookie be the one to do it.

I note that he didn't say it was someone we already know.  My other bet would be Debbie Pelt - I suspect by the time she gets her comeuppance everyone - not just Bill fans - will hate her guts.  I'm already thinking he is going to bring some of season 4 in early (the V storyline is groundwork for the witch war, I'm convinced - and I can't see them keeping us in the dark for another full season with this). So perhaps Debbie will get it before the end of next season.

"Sookeh, Eric is mahn."

LMAO god your so kick ass at paint/photo shop. these pictures keep getting better and better..

Oh my god. That has me laughing so f-ing hard.

My first suggestion was going to be that Bill's head needed to be shrunk a bit, but then I realized he did have a swelled head.

The good news: AB acknowledges the importance of being Eric

While the rollercoaster relationship of Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) remains front and center, Ball revealed that several supporting characters will be sharing even more of the spotlight.“Definitely Eric has broken out and is a big important character now.Jessica and Hoyt are still trying to deal with everything that happened to them, and Arlene and Terry are going to have a little bit more of a life and more of a presence on the show.” 

The bad news:

There’s also room for guest stars, like Evan Rachel Wood’s vampire queen of Louisiana. “She’ll be back,” promised Ball.

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/news/sink-your-teeth-into-true-blood-scoop-2775.html

DiB, I love how you find all the gossip and what's happenings!

I have way too much time on my hands, omg.

when does the new season start

well if theyre trying to follow along the lines of the book-- you get a greater occurence of Eric in Book 3 and bill is pretty much MIA till the end.. then book 4 its ALL ABOUT eric and once again bill is MIA in peru or whatever..

Okay, I wasn't sure where to put this but on sookiestackhouse.com they have a video of Anna paquin on a talk show called Norton on the BBC and they show her a video of a band from south africa that is obsessed with her but they make fun of her squeenched up facial expressions that she often makes on True blood.....

when the host described this to her she got very defensive and more than a little snippy, then they played the song for her and the band was via internet live, she loosened up a little but you could tell that she did not appreciate being made fun of at all.....can't really blame her....but maybe she will take some hints and quit making those funky facial expressions......

also I noticed that she did the head tilt thing the whole time she was on the show so that isn't something she just does as Sookie....that is all her......you all should check out the video it is on the top of the web site as you log on......

but maybe she will take some hints and quit making those funky facial expressions......

Doubt it.

also I noticed that she did the head tilt thing the whole time she was on the show so that isn't something she just does as Sookie....that is all her

I noticed that she does it in real life too. She does it in her films as well.

i also noticed that.. i watched that video last night on the vault or something... her mannerisms come out in her acting..

Perez is getting over-excited about SM's comment about him and AS having a sex scene together. Poor man.

Right now, our head is filled with sweet, HAWT images of True Blood vamps Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård together…in bed!!!

And guess what?! We're not the only ones. Stephen is TOTALLY game!!!

Yes!

Stephen was recently asked about his delish Swedish costar and how he felt about working with him. This is what he said:

“Alex is a good friend of mine and a fantastic actor and I love working with Alex and I don’t get to do it as much as I would love to…You never know — whether they’ll stick Eric and Bill in bed together, I don’t know. But here’s hoping.”

Hoping and wishing and praying and dreaming!!!

Do it! Do it! Do it!

Who wouldn't want to see this happen?

OMG

LOL a 3-some would be interesting.. though id prefer Sookie Pam and Eric... just cause bill is a bit too pasty for my taste

I'm pretty sure it's SM's sense of humour. He's like Robert Pattinson, says things to get a bit of a laugh and they get taken seriously.

ha i doubt he was kidding lol.. i bet he wants a piece of AS.. everybody wants a piece of him..

theres some man-love going on there

What would AP's face be like if she saw that going on?

LOL

a creased forehead with possibly some wanky arms doing whatever they do... and a slight head turn as well..

There's plenty of comments on Perez saying that SM looks like a homeless man in a suit. Bless him!

HA HA HA HA HA jeeese

that poor man, i heard he just turned 40 as well.. the pastiness isnt doing it for him and neither is the orangey colored hair.. boy needs a makeover says lafeyette

so i read through the comments and yeah so many people said he looked like a homeless man.. thats so sad lol

Didn't he SM play a homeless man in Starter Wife with Debra Messing?

Am I the only one still bummed that "Bubba" isnt going to be on the show. I get why AB said he didn't want to have him but he is mentioned more than enough and even is involved in the negotiations in CD. I was thinking at first that maybe the presence of Jessica might be there to take place in Bubba's duties but that obviously isn't the case. I just hope they cast someone suitable as Alcide and mostly that he isnt a well known actor.

“Maybe Zeljko Ivanek, who played the Magister in Season 1 – he might be back.

I sure hope so.  Zeljko Ivanek is awesome and was a phenomenal magister.  He just looks like a really old vamp, to me.

Yes, i agree he was awesome as the Magistar.....I loved his line...."to quote the humans that you love so much, more than your own kind, back your shit down"   He was very intimidating and totally owned his role.....I really hope he comes back to the show.....

The tribunal was one of my favorite scenes from S1. Zeljko Ivanek nailed that character. He was indifferent, but had a sense of humor and just plain scary. He scared me!

I was so stoked to read Ball say the magister might be back...he was just awesome.

"Back your shit DOWN.*...oh man he owned it didn't he.

Got me wondering who will screw up and why to have him back on the scene.

That picute of AS and SM is the funniest/creepiest thing I have ever seen! It's a good analogy for their characters, Bills is always all fangs ready to kill, and Eric is like "Calm down Billy". Haha I got a pretty good laugh out of the picture, if I could high five you, I would.

I would definitely prefer to see Zeljko Ivanek over ERW, maybe he could replace her authority on the show, they could use him instead of the queen. One can dream right? I love SA and was excited about her, I hate not enjoying her character on the show. Though ERW grew on me a bit, I didn't find her as annoying as I usually do, when I think about SA in the book, she didn't do her justice.

It bothers me that AB is going to portray SA as being insane. Totally not book SA.

Yea, I think book SA was very dignified, and I just don't see that class on the show.

I agree. Also, she's not insane at all! Where do AB get that idea? I know that it's his show and if that's how he wants to interpret the character he can do it that way. But its nice to vent on here.

I agree. Also, she's not insane at all! Where do AB get that idea? 

On sale - at the same place he got the idea that Eric is the devil, Bill is romantic boyfriend material, and Sookie is tenderhearted.

Pfft.  I'm hating Ball today.  Been rewatching season 2  *sulks*

It looks like he likes his female characters a bit mad or just plain dopey. Then he can kill them off in a gruesome way like MA.

Yeah it's terrifying actually where he could go with an insane Sophie Ann.

I hope he kills her off quick and minimises the carnage.  You know he won't.  Ugh.

Well we can all hope that some of the feedback has reached him and he takes note. If season 3 turns out to be a car wreck I guess that's it all over for TB.

If season 3 is anything like season 2 I can't say I'll be too upset about that.

I think it has finially entered into his brain that he can't leave out Eric for any reason for the next finale. I think all the fans would go wild and chase after him. It sounds like many of us are about ready to do that now.

That's the one piece of good news. He can't ignore Eric. He knows he has a legion of fans. I really think we'll see a lot more of the Viking next season. Might not be how we want to see him, but we will see.

What I really, really want to see is Eric walking around without a shirt on. Have you noticed that we have had several scenes with him shirtless, yet we never see his whole chest? They're killing me! Thank god for those other movies AS is in where he's nude. But I want to see Eric shirtless! I know why they're holding off though, the longer they make us wait the more we'll appreciate it.

Thank you!!!! You don't know how many times I've thought that! It's like they're keeping us all chomping at the bit having him half turned on the bed and wearing those vests. I want the chest scene. Opening scene, episode 1.

Yea I think AB is starting to realize that if he doesn't at least give us some decent AS time, we will go all "Misery" on him.

I would be very pleased if he stuck close to the book because CD is one of my favorites, but I'm not sure how because he already used the whole "Bill hates Lorena" thing which obviously was not the case in the books. Knowing him it will end with "Eric made me do it!" because on the show, Eric is the root of all evil. LoL.

I re-read CD the other day though and if he even wants to stay remotely close to the book, there's going to be some serious Eric time, everytime he appears in  that book (which is often) his scenes are loaded! My main hope is that Bill actually does something wrong for once and that Eric saves Sookie life and gets to use the line "I don't like having feelings".

Aaine- I couldn't have said it better.

I'll probably keep watching the show with hopes for a better future, I'm just happy they cleaned it up a bit. I'm a big girl, sex scenes and dirty language don't really get to me. But I would much rather watch this story than Jason getting layed.

Maybe they will keep improving. I hope AB realizes that we love the books for a reason, and that he doesn't have to change the general story a bit, which really starts to lean toward Eric and Sookie.

Thank you!!!! You don't know how many times I've thought that! It's like they're keeping us all chomping at the bit having him half turned on the bed and wearing those vests. I want the chest scene. Opening scene, episode 1.

S3, the opening scene should be Sookie running into Eric's office to ask for help finding Bill and Eric's standing there changing out of his gray suit. Oh yeah, what a way to start the season. *sigh*  

Phoenix2- Why aren't you writing this show again? LoL.

Eric's standing there changing out of his gray suit.

Oh yes. That's it.

I'll probably keep watching the show with hopes for a better future, I'm just happy they cleaned it up a bit. I'm a big girl, sex scenes and dirty language don't really get to me. But I would much rather watch this story than Jason getting layed.

I'm happy they cleaned it up too. Except for the zombie sex. But it was excessive in S1. S4 should have a lot of Eric and Sookie sex because that's exactly what happens in book 4. Kind of reminds me of Buffy S6 with all that Buffy/Spike sex. And then they toned it way done in S7.

Maybe they will keep improving. I hope AB realizes that we love the books for a reason, and that he doesn't have to change the general story a bit, which really starts to lean toward Eric and Sookie.

Ok, here's another optimistic view of mine. True Blood is a very young show. Only 2 seasons so far, so when Eric and Sookie's relationship changes, which I'm sure it will with all the fans urging the writers, it will be meaningful and much deeper than the interactions they have had so far. We will be glad they took it slow, even though we hate it right now.

Phoenix2- Why aren't you writing this show again? LoL.  

I tried to infiltrate the writing room and give them ideas but they are all so Bill crazy they wouldn't listen to me.  

At least we can be sure AB won't have the obligatory sookie/bill eye watering sex scene in the first episode thanks to the kidnapping. Thank heaven for small mercies.

Haha seriously! They would say, "Hmm those are some great Eric ideas, but how about we let Bill do that!"

I would love her busting in on Eric changing, then maybe once Eric gets some info, on a later episode or something, Sookie could wake up to Eric in her bed. I love the snuggling scene!

And yes, it's a young show, books have the advantage of having more meaning behind the words, shows and movies are kind of "what you see is what you get" it will take longer to develope their story, but (this is high hopes), maybe it will just be worth it because we will finally get to see it. And honestly, I could be alright with the sex scenses in season four. Afterall it DOES happen in the books (wink) and we would be guarenteed a shirtless AS *swoon*. Besides, maybe it's just me, but when Sookie and Bill have sex on the show I feel screaming "Get a room!" Even though they are already in one, it makes me feel pervy. Like I walked in on something very presonal.

Something personal and just gooey. When they get started I'm like oh no, here those two lovers go again...

"Hmm those are some great Eric ideas, but how about we let Bill do that!"

Yep. I think that is exactly what happens during the meetings. From Longshadow to Bill saving the day with MA to the dress during the finale.

Besides, maybe it's just me, but when Sookie and Bill have sex on the show I feel screaming "Get a room!"

I can't even look. I automatically zone out. I was never voyeuristic and watching them go at it is creepy...

When I rewatched ep.1 with my mother I walked out of the room to get more water during that scene.

I did something similar. All of a sudden, everything else in the house became more interesting. I went on an exploration around my house.

Haha seriously! They would say, "Hmm those are some great Eric ideas, but how about we let Bill do that!"

LOL!!! Thats exactly what they're doing! No wonder TB fans love Bill, they should be loving Eric because of that.

I would love her busting in on Eric changing, then maybe once Eric gets some info, on a later episode or something, Sookie could wake up to Eric in her bed. I love the snuggling scene!  

Snuggling scene definitely one of my favorites. And I think we may actually get that scene. Has anyone noticed that, esp. in S2, there are a lot of scenes where the characters are just in bed talking or snuggling? Jason and Sarah, Tara and Eggs, and *gag* Bill and Sookie. I know I'm being really Bill bashy here but I'm venting a bit. And I'm talking about TB Bill not book Bill...(I'm trying not to be so mean to him for the sake of the Book Bill fans.)

But really, that ep. in Dallas at the vamp hotel with Bill and Sookie talking in bed was just ugh! Could they're acting be any worse?  

I did something similar. All of a sudden, everything else in the house became more interesting. I went on an exploration around my house.

Haha! Let me guess, your curiosity ended just in time for the Eric basement scene right?

It's hard for me not to bash TB Bill. I can give book Bill a break, but TB Bill just annoys the hell out of me.

Could they're acting be any worse? 

Ugh! I know! I feel like they try too hard in their scenes together. It never comes out natural. It's just bad acting. Really, really bad!

Haha! Let me guess, your curiosity ended just in time for the Eric basement scene right?

Hell yeah! I was grinning like an idiot. It was a waste of time watching the episode until he walked down those steps. They should have showed that first, then I could've turned the channel.  

Haha yea their scenes are pretty gag worthy. You're in love, you're going to have slow motion, passionate, candlelit sex, blah blah blah. LoL. I always watch it with one of my sisters and we use that moment to discuss what's happened so far or just make disguisted/gagging noises.

Funny we always shut up when Eric appears =)

I have always noticed since reading the series that if Eric does something exeptional in the book, Bill does it on the show. What the heck? Or if they even allow Bill to mess up, it's all Eric's fault. I'm ready for Bill to put his big boy pants on and make his mistakes all by himself so that he can finally be accountable! Sorry, slight rant. I don't mean to bash Bill, I couldn't bash the one on the show (he's perfect), I guess I'm bashing AB lol.

there are a lot of scenes where the characters are just in bed talking or snuggling

Maybe AB is trying to assure us that he loves snuggling and there's just no way around it lol. One can hope!

Tangler just eat my reply! Sorry, I'm going to have to start over...

Ok, this is generally what I wrote couldn't remember exactly.

I don't mean to bash Bill, I couldn't bash the one on the show (he's perfect), I guess I'm bashing AB lol. 

By all means bash TB Bill, we all know he's keeping the SA thing from Sookie. And who enjoys a character that is a saint? Me: What are they, let me hear it! Other people: Boring!!!...........But bashing AB always makes me feel better.

Maybe AB is trying to assure us that he loves snuggling and there's just no way around it lol. One can hope!

I love all the snuggling scenes with Eric in the books. I don't think she has ever snuggled with Quinn though, and lately the only cuddle scenes are with Eric. The last time her and Bill cuddled was in DAAD in the hospital. But if AB keeps going with his snuggling fetish we should be getting lots and lots of Eric/Sookie cuddle scenes!  And kissy scenes... (No one ever uses that smiley and I really wanted to)

Haha Eric is big on cuddling, maybe AB will grow more fond of him when he sees they have a common interest lol. And I love bashing TB Bill because he's so stinking perfect. It's like those sex scenes, I just want to gag! I know that he's supposed to be perfect and sweet, but it's just not working for me.

If by perfect you mean whiny and annoying, then yeah...he's "perfect" alright.

Haha good point. But that's how they try to make him. For some reason when he shows up my heart just turns to stone. I get very cynical, sarcastic, and a little sick lol.

Same here. I roll my eyes in every scene he is in. I'm right there with you on the cynicism and sarcasm. I'm already a very sarcastic person and he just ups it up a notch.

Totally! He gives me too much material to work with... Oh when he proposed I bursted out laughing I was so angry! I was just like I can't believe they went that far, really?

Yeah, I was staring open-mouthed at the screen. A bunch of us ranted for hours on here after the finale. We ranted so much we seriously clogged the thread. I was very angry and disappointed. I kept waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop up, so I would know it was only a joke...it never happened.

The only upside to the proposal by "perfect" Bill is that it will make his fall from grace that much more delicious to watch!  He's been built up so much that as soon as it is even slightly windy, he's just going to fall down. It'll be glorious! AB better not screw that up!!!

When I read that last part I imagined an evil laugh "It'll be glorious! Mwahahaha!" Seriously, I love it. Sookie will be all "I was going to MARRY you!" I can just imagine her face when she says it (that expression after she sucks the silver from Eric's chest and is talking to Bill about it in the hotel room. You know one? "I sucked his chest!" with that squenched up face and head bob thing. Wow I'm not being very nice lol. You know I kid though

When I read that last part I imagined an evil laugh "It'll be glorious! Mwahahaha!"

LOL! That was my mindset. I was seriously channeling the Wicked Witch...

I can just imagine her face when she says it (that expression after she sucks the silver from Eric's chest and is talking to Bill about it in the hotel room. You know one?

Yeah. She only has a limited set of facial expressions. That's one of the 3...

Haha if I could find the clip online and "snip it" (I don't even remember how to do that) I would have put it there. But you're right, that face is her "Shocked/disgusted/confused" face. Since she only has 3, they have to work for multiple emotions lol.

A bunch of us ranted for hours on here after the finale. We ranted so much we seriously clogged the thread. I was very angry and disappointed.

I remember that night. Boy were we p*ssed. Most of us started out pretty downcast and then it quickly morphed into anger. I was so upset with the ending that when I got on here I was mostly writing one sentence posts that were pretty glum. But after hearing that other people had felt the same way as me, I started getting angry too. Wow, what a night that was!

It'll be glorious! Mwahahaha! 

LOL!!! This made me crack up!

How long do you guys think they will have Bill being tortured? I doubt they'll have him locked in one room for all 12 eps. Oh, how I wish, but alas AB would never do that.

Wow, what a night that was!

What a night, indeed. I remember telling someone that we started out really depressed, then got angry very fast.

How long do you guys think they will have Bill being tortured? I doubt they'll have him locked in one room for all 12 eps. Oh, how I wish, but alas AB would never do that.

Good question. I wish that he is tortured at least 10 out of 12 episodes. It's not like he won't have any face time. Those will probably be one of my favorite scenes. He should be held hostage most of the season because it's going to take some time for all the clues to come together. Once he is discovered (maybe during the finale), Bill and Sookie have to have a conversation...and by conversation, I mean they break up.

Yeah, I definitely think they are going to break up by the end of S3. He'll probably be held kept in the dark about who his captors are for all of ep. 1. And then at the end when Bill is all tied in silver to a chair we will hear Lorena voice saying something like "Well now William, what a predicament you find yourself in." Don don donnnnn!!! Then they'll jerk us around for 5 more eps and like you said we will slowly find out who is part of the vampnapping.

I'm already predicting how S3 will end, and I've had it in my brain for a while. I think at the very end of the finale Sookie will be driving home from work see a blond guy running down the road, pull over and then OMG! Its Eric! *gasp* She'll say "Eric, what are you doing out here?" They'll talk for a few seconds more and then he will say "Who am I?" Close up on Eric looking confused, shocked Sookie. Cut to black.

Lorena voice saying something like "Well now William, what a predicament you find yourself in." Don don donnnnn!!!

Sounds good. That's what I was thinkin' too.

I think at the very end of the finale Sookie will be driving home from work see a blond guy running down the road, pull over and then OMG! Its Eric! *gasp* She'll say "Eric, what are you doing out here?" They'll talk for a few seconds more and then he will say "Who am I?" Close up on Eric looking confused, shocked Sookie.

That's perfect! Seriously. Really good. Now, we just have to contact AB...

Well, its pretty much straight from the DTTW and we know that they take things from the next book and use them to set up the next season. So, he should already know. Its all right there in black and white waiting to be put on film. Seriously, if it doesn't end like that or something close to it (or an equally satisfying cliffhanger with Eric that sets up his role in the next season, because book 4 is all about Eric) I think I might have to throw something harder than my plastic cup at the t.v. lol

Straight out of the book. I don't mind AB blurring the lines when it comes to unimportant details...wait, I take that back...the whole freakin' season was unimportant details (MA, orgies, Tara, etc.). So, yeah. I do mind. I just wish that when it came to the basic/heart of the story, AB would just follow what's written on the page. He can still switch things up to keep us guessing. But don't do a complete 180 with the characters.

Book 4 is all about Eric. Hell, this series is about Eric. AB better get a clue...

Book 4 is all about Eric. Hell, this series is about Eric

Bill and Quinn fans would disagree with us, but for right now I say they are wrong! This series is about Sookie and Eric. But when it comes to TB and from what AB said a while back about Bill and Sookie remaining the core of the show, it def. seems like he doesn't get it. And also, the CH comment about Eric, that she doesn't know why people keep misinterpreting him, and that she is really "laying it out there with Eric." This implies to me that to know Eric you just have to look at his actions and his actions say a lot. 

AB says Eric is dangerous....ok....but so is Bill! There both vampires! How did he get from reading the books that Eric is the dangerous one and Bill is the sweet, innocent, misunderstood one?

How did he get from reading the books that Eric is the dangerous one and Bill is the sweet, innocent, misunderstood one?

Either he is attempting to present complete false impressions to later turn around (We hope and suspect this is the case) or like I said before, he is reading fanfic and got confused.

AB says Eric is dangerous....ok....but so is Bill!

And so is Sookie.

Very true.

LOL all this ranting reminds me of after the season finale.. when all of us pretty much went ape shit on TB

That is a fond memory to me (the ranting, not the finale, oh god not the finale). You all really made me feel so much better.

Phoenix.....I loved your idea for the finale of season3 that would be great.....however, I am really nervous that AB will just skip the whole amnesia thing all together.....

I really wouldn't put it past him.....I don't see how that he could, but I think he may screw that whole season up.....it is my fave book of course just like all of you, because of the Eric scenes, so I am just terrified that it won't be shown the way I have imagined it....

I mean if Tara is living with sookie how is she gonna have all of those lovely moments with Eric???  Also, do you really think that AB will send his beloved Bill off to Peru and not let him be in the show till the very end???

I just don't know how they are going to maneuver the show around now to fit the scenario since they have changed it so much.....I know I am being a buzz kill but season 3 if going to have to do some major changes in order for everything to fit like it does in book 4....

Also, here is another season 3 finale for ya......they show Eric and chow and Pam arguing with the witches and Eric just disappears....then the Season 4 will open with Bill leaving for Peru and at the end of the first show Sookie will see Eric running down the road!!  Here's hoping for something similar like this....

But if they make Eric Bill's kidnapper I fear that all hope is lost......TB Sookie will NEVER forgive him for that.....

It just has to be Lorena for the sake of an E/S hook up to be legit..

And I think that Lorena is the one to die next season, seeing as how AB said we would be happy to see them go and if she is the one torturing Bill then that would make the fans of Bill happy to see her die......this makes sense and leads me to believe that she is the kidnapper.....but who the hell knows...right??

Do you all think they will include the trunk rape????  I am seriously doubting it......that would kill a lot of Bill Love but I'm not holding my breath on that one!

i wish they did do the trunk. its suh a pivitol moment in the books IMO. and yeah i agree, if tara is living with her, how the hell is eric and sook supposed to have there shower scene, and there fire place talks? uh thinking about it makes me depressed already because like you, i LOVE book 4, its my favorite out of all of them and if AB screws it up, there will be a shit storm coming his way..

When I watched the season finale I thought "Oh heck no! That better not be Eric!" I was already planning a flight out to wherever AB was to just beat the crap out of him. But then I was like, nope it's not Eric. That's exactly what they want you to assume. Especially for those who have not read the books.

They're probably going to let us think it was Eric for a while, maybe half of the season. Really build up how awful he is. They're going do drop little hints, and Eric is going to be all flirty with Sookie, and even be good to her. But Eric won't get the credit right away, Bill lovers everywhere will say "That snake Eric got Bill out of the picture so that he could come between their epic love story!" Boo hoo, Bill is a douche. Anyway, back to what I was saying...

I think Sookie may even be a bit suspicious, but when she finds out the truth, she will see that Eric was genuine. I could see her thinking the whole time that Eric has some hidden agenda, but when she finds that he doesn't she will see him in a different light.

I think that may be the one thing that raises doubts with her relationship with Bill since we know that he isn't going to just leave her for Lorena. Which is some BS, because Eric is devious, ruthless, but he is not desperate. He would have never summoned Lorena. In the books Eric just lets Bill screw up on his own. In the end, even if it is Lorena, it will still lead back to Eric. I'm hoping that maybe somehow, Bill made up with her. Maybe he felt guilty? Ugh, I doubt it though.

And yea season 4, maybe by then Tara will get the feeling that she wants to stand on her own two feet, or maybe she can live with Lafayette, they could really use the emotional support from one another.

I just had an idea! It would be great if the trunk rape was about to happen and that's when Eric shows up! He prevents it, but barely. Sookie would know what he was going to do and it would basically send her running to Eric, at least for that moment.

BTW  Pheonix2- You have got to get a job writing this show! AB does always end the season with the begining to the next book... And if Bill is still there in the begining of season 4, maybe he will have to leave while AE is there and when Sookie is sad AE will be her shoulder to cry on haha I'm cheesy I know...

if tara is living with her, how the hell is eric and sook supposed to have there shower scene, and there fire place talks

I wonder if Tara is going to continue to live with Sookie... Maybe on down the road she might, but I see all of the crap that went down because of the douche bag Meanad stuff as being a catalyst for her to maybe move back in with her mother? Or maybe she will have a boon and come into her own some way and open the dress shop?

Oh that would be great! I would love to see Tara do someting right for a change! Haha I love her sarcasm on the show, but her story is getting a little out of hand, kind of over-bearing you know?

Has TB Bill actually talked to Sookie about the maker / child relationship?

I don't think they've really gotten a chance to talk about it, because once they left that house and they were in the hotel they were talking about Sookie and Eric. Although Bill did say "You will be more attracted to him sexually" (as if you couldn't be without the blood, yea right). That is true, but I was hoping that maybe that thoughtful look on his face was him having a fantasy of his own about Lorena haha I'm sure that's just wishful thinking though.

Oh but I think Sookie has a good idea from Eric's relationship to Godric.

But.... But, Sookie may see the compulsion a vampire has to help out...

What I am thinking though is that she will not understand how Bill can be compelled to obey or that she will be angry that Bill did not inform her that this was the case... Granted he has not had a whole lot of time, but there was plenty of time while at godric's that he could have told her something and did not... He also did not raise a hand to stop Lorena from biting Sookie (after Sookie provoked her). It was Godric that stopped the attack....

Even if Sookie does forgive Bill because instead of willing going to Lorena he was nabbed by Lorena, Bill attacking and maybe coming close to draining Sookie (and potentially raping Sookie) after being tortured for days and days will freak her out enough to push her away and be a more dramatic way for her to say "I am done with vampire shit!"

Caroline, I see your point. There were a bunch of little hints that pointed at Bill's inability to resist Lorena.

Even if Sookie does forgive Bill because instead of willing going to Lorena he was nabbed by Lorena, Bill attacking and maybe coming close to draining Sookie (and potentially raping Sookie) after being tortured for days and days will freak her out enough to push her away and be a more dramatic way for her to say "I am done with vampire shit!"

This is good. I can see that happening.

Ashley you're right. When Sookie told Eric "You have a lot of love for him" she could have never said that to Bill because that clearly was not the case. Therefore it is a different dynamic, but she saw how close he came to killing those guys but didn't, therefore she witnessed the compulsion.

Caroline, you're also right. Bill should have further explained this, because he didn't see what happened in the FotS, so for all he knows, Sookie has no understanding whatsoever.

We can only hope that first off, Eric has nothing to do with the kidnapping (like I said, he is ruthless and devious, but he is not desperate). Secondly, for Bill to screw somehow, preferably the rape. and thirdly for Sookie to see Eric differenly, take his blood, and for him to give her a driveway. I loved that in the book and in the episode Scratches when she demands money she says "I need a driveway" in front of Eric. Maybe some foreshadowing? Clearly she got busy and never got a around to getting one, maybe her money will be spent and Eric can do it.

BTW am I alone in liking TB Lorena? I think she is so pretty and mean! I love how she plays it lol. She has that soft voice and accent yet you know she fights dirty. I think she is great, I hope it was her that grabbed Bill so that we can see more of her.

Pheonix2- "Well now William, what a predicament you find yourself in." Don don donnnnn!!!" I could just see her saying that!

Aye.....I really like Lorena too.....I hope that it is Debbie Pelt that they kill off and not her.....AB seems to think Debbie is bad news so I can see the audience really wanting her to die too......

I have a question.....on TB since Lorena "Released" Bill, does that mean she has no control over him anymore??? Can she still not "CALL" him and him have to heel??

IN the books Eric releases Pam but she still has to "Heel"  Does this stand true in TB....or was Bill just able to defy her because she wanted to love him......

Also, they were in the hotel together for 2 days....and Lorena states "We were together in your hotel room getting re-acquainted" which sounded like they were having sex....do you think they did or would Bill be able to resist her???

He certainly acted guilty at Godric's house and was trying every way in the world to avoid that conversation....if he was really only HELD prisoner then he shouldn't have tried to avoid telling Sookie....it just looks like more took place to me......Maybe he started to have feelings for her again when they were having sex (if they did) and that is why he looks guilty

I have a question.....on TB since Lorena "Released" Bill, does that mean she has no control over him anymore??? Can she still not "CALL" him and him have to heel??

I've been confused about that as well. In the books, your maker ALWAYS has control over you. It can't be "released." I'm not sure if AB is switching that up, but TB Bill seems to think so. But then again, this is TB Bill. I'm not sure I trust what he says or if he even knows what is going on.

do you think they did or would Bill be able to resist her???

I think Lorena just wanted to imply that they did, but I don't think it happened...at least not yet.

He certainly acted guilty at Godric's house and was trying every way in the world to avoid that conversation....if he was really only HELD prisoner then he shouldn't have tried to avoid telling Sookie....it just looks like more took place to me......Maybe he started to have feelings for her again when they were having sex (if they did) and that is why he looks guilty

I think his guilty looks were a result of him not being completely over Lorena as he would like to be. He still feels a connection to her and that would be tough to explain to Sookie.

Wow I really like the theory that he and Lorena hooked up. He looked a bit bemused when he was telling Sookie about the sexual attraction when they shared blood... That always stuck with me. It's likely that Lorena was only implying it, but there is definitely a possibility there. Reguardless, I think we can all agree that Bill still has something for her.

As for being "released". I'm under the impression that they can still call and have control, but I think it's more like they have to really inforce it. Like when they release someone it's kind of a respectful thing. Like letting them have their freedom, as long as they can manage without them.

For example with Pam and Eric he released her, but he called her years later, I think they have always had a great relationship so he didn't make her feel compelled. If she didn't want to come, I don't think he would have forced her, though he could have. I'm having difficulty explaining what I mean, forgive me. But I think when someone is released it's kind of like they have no obligation to their maker until they are summoned or called.

Maybe that's why it was different with Eric and Godrick on the show, he technically had no obligation (that is to say he was officially released) but he loved him and respected him.

Here's another maybe: We believe that Bill is not over Lorena, maybe she does summon him, but maybe he willingly goes.

Here's another maybe: We believe that Bill is not over Lorena, maybe she does summon him, but maybe he willingly goes.

I really like this!!

MAYBE..........if she kidnaps him he will willingly be with her for a while....then she turns all evil when he wants to leave.....

But what I am having a hard time with is why would she kidnap him???  In the books it was for the database, but we haven't seen anything like this on the show so I am assuming they aren't going to incorporate that into the show,

so the only other reason she would have is for revenge or that she really does just love him and want him back.....and thinks that if she can get him alone for a while she can change his mind????

But, I think that the Jackson vamps want Sookie and they are using Lorena to nab Bill so that they can use him as leverage to get to Sookie.......and at the same time Lorena gets what she wants, which is Bill??????????  I think Lorena Blabs to Russel and Mott what an asset Sookie is and this makes them want her for their own??

He looked a bit bemused when he was telling Sookie about the sexual attraction when they shared blood... That always stuck with me.

Yeah!! But I read his face like..instead of bemused more like...in spite of himself, you know? Like he knew 1st hand that it caused that despite the fact he didn't want it to!

Yea Laura you are so right! I said bemused because it was almost as if he was remembering something, focusing on his own experience. But yea, definitely in spite of himself.

Maddeybird- You are on top of this! Such great speculations! The last we saw of her on TB she said something like "I wish you hadn't said that". He said he doesn't love her, and I see that as her saying oh really? We'll just see about that.

I love the theory about the Jackson vamps! That seems totally plausible! And in the book is was never answered why Lorena was there does it? Maybe we are to asume that considering everyone views Sookie as an asset. They wanted Bill's database but they did want info on Sookie, it could be that everyone assumed to use her as leverage over him to get info, but they may have planned on using her once they had her. It would have been leverage over Bill because he doesn't want them to have her, but it's possible that Bill is leverage for her as well. Sorry if I'm not making much sense, it's so hard to say what I mean lol.

I'm hoping they include the scene from near the end of Club Dead where Sookie recinds both Eric and Bill's invitations to her house and then laughs her ass off because she has all Bill's computer and his special "project" safely stowed away in her house, and none of the vamps can do anything about it.  Love that scene!  Especially when Eric thinks she's just going to recind Bill's invite, but then she goes straight to recinding his too and he's all pissed.  LOVE it.

Haha I do love that! Especially that split second when Bill is leaving and they both think she's going to let Eric stay. I always wonder what Bill was thinking then.

LOL, me too!  It would have been great if she let Eric stay just a feeeew minutes longer...so Bill could go home all broody and thinking the worst! 

OH, and I also REALLY REALLY hope that they include Eric's line, after Bill says (for the umpteeth freaking time!) "Sookey is myyne" and she shoots him the bird: "I think Sookie is trying to tell us she belongs to herself"

That would be a good "redeeming Eric" moment and confirm the fact that Eric does indeed "get" Sookie better than aaaanyone else (sometimes even better than herself, I'm convinced!).  He is older and wiser, after all.    ;)

I know! Even if she just stood there in silence for 10 seconds then told Eric, it would have been even funnier. I think Eric could have appreciated the humor in that as well.

Yea I really want Sookie to shoot him the bird, it shows how uptight Bill is, he was all shocked and Eric just laughed. Also when Eric is carrying her in the mansion and Sookie says "Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink" and he laughs. She even tells herself that he gets her.

Oh, I love the "water water everywhere..." intereaction between Sookie and Eric.  That's why Eric loves her so much, she's so quirky and cute and has a sense of humour...even at the worst of times!

Yea I really want Sookie to shoot him the bird, it shows how uptight Bill is, he was all shocked and Eric just laughed 

I seriously get more pleasure reading the ingrediants list on my cereal boxes than I do reading about Bill.  Ugh.

For real! Every once in a while he does something I like, like in DTTW when he said "What is Debbie Pelt doing here?" But usually I'm just like here it goes. However I think TB Bill gets to be a little funnier. Not anything he does, but more how he reacts to others around him. It's like the show kind of mocks how uptight he is.

The recycling thing in Season 2, and when he and Eric are in the mall and that girl thinks their gay. He totally doesn't get it! When Eric is in his bathtub and says "I texted you 3 times. Why didn't you reply?"   "I don't like typing with the number keys." I laughed out loud when I heard that. If the show is getting anything right it's Eric's sense of humor vs Bill's. Or the fact that Eric has one and Bill doesn't. There are so many scenes when Eric cracks a smile and Bill just straightens his back a little more.

LOL those are perfect examples. i loved when he was in billys bathtub.. it was one of the finer moments of TB script writing,

Well AB isn't going to hang about. We find out who took Billy-boy straight away in S3

From TV Guide
How soon before we find out who took Bill on True Blood? — Dyan
MICKEY: "We will discover who has Bill right off the bat in Season 3, but it's going to take the people on the show a little bit longer to find out," executive producer Alan Ball tells us. Sookie will even consider the possibility that he left of his own volition. "It's not easy for her," Ball says. "She feels really bad because she's not sure whether he just left because he was upset because she didn't say yes right off the bat. But in her heart she believes he was taken and she doesn't know who took him. She's going to fight to find him."

The recycling thing in Season 2, and when he and Eric are in the mall and that girl thinks their gay. He totally doesn't get it! When Eric is in his bathtub and says "I texted you 3 times. Why didn't you reply?"   "I don't like typing with the number keys." I laughed out loud when I heard that. If the show is getting anything right it's Eric's sense of humor vs Bill's. Or the fact that Eric has one and Bill doesn't. There are so many scenes when Eric cracks a smile and Bill just straightens his back a little more.

ROFLMAO!  Oh, I absolutely looooved those parts!  It's been interesting to watch the show with my roommate who hasn't read the books, because she doesn't really like TB Eric and I am always pointing out the awesome, funny, redeeming things she misses (becuase they are far too underplayed in the show!!!), for example:

1. "Pam, those were nice pumps" scene.
2. Getting all menacing but backing down after telling Sookie he doesn't like threats when she gets in his face about Lafayette being locked in the basement (even though he actually was showing mercy by not killing him!). I think there was a moment there when Eric was fascinated by Sookie's refusal to be intimidated by him.
3. Telling the "willing donor" in Dallas to tell her manager she was magnificent and he'd back up her story.
4. "Don't use words I don't understand" (in response to Sookie saying he had a "great deal of love" for Godric)
5. Telling Sookie "trust me" when she was worried about him facing the fanatics with stakes (he meant it and she knew it)
6. Eric offering himself as a safricice in place of Godric and Sookie (he didn't have to include Sookie in that).
7. Coming to see if Sookie was alright after the fight at the fellowship ended and everyone scattered.
8. His willingness to reduce himself to tears down on his knees, begging Godric to stay alive, even in front of Sookie.

There are more, but I can't remember them all!  Anyway, until I pointed them out, she wasn't seeing the good parts of TB ERic at all.  I told her to read the books or I wouldn't speak to her anymore.  She's started!  Only on book 2, but already starting to view Eric differently (i.e. elevator scene in Dallas, etc).

I really really really hope that Alan Ball does some major character development with Eric in TB Season 3.  Actually, I hope he ingests Eric's blood and starts lusting after him fiercely and seeing him for the amazing vamp God that he he!  PLEASE ALAN!!! PUULLLEEEEEEEZE!

i just realized... on your number 5 where he tells sookie to trust him... that kinda reminds me of the lines when shes about to go to the sex party.. and sookie and eric talk about trust.. i know its not word for word but Ball seems to cherry pick from the books.. and i think he cherry picked that scene when she said she trusted him in the book and made it to eric saying to sookie in the church for her to trust him...

Ooh!  Good point.  I think you may be onto something.  I notice that Ball does include things sort of randomly placed that connect to parts of the books and the overall important themes.  When Sookie and Eric were in the Fellowship together it toally reminded me of some of what they experienced at the sex party toward the end of Living Dead in Dallas.  And when Sookie leaves Bill's arms straightaway to unravel the silver chains from Eric from the alter he was laid out on, there was the resonating of "things to come" in my mind.  We all know how many times Sookie helps or saves Eric in future books.  There was something about the urgency of her action in that scene that (I hope) was meant to send a message to viewers!

its too bad he didnt include eric and bill and the maenad all together.. i actually liked their camradarie(i have no idea if i spelled that right) when they are helping eachother clean up the maenads mess..

What I DID like (and I hope AB added this in purposefully as foreshadowing) was the part in the frist Eric/Sookie dream sequence when he looks at her longingly and says "this it the beginning". Hmmmmm....the beginning...which means???  I like it! 

Wow, so much to catch up on...ok here I go!

However I think TB Bill gets to be a little funnier. Not anything he does, but more how he reacts to others around him. It's like the show kind of mocks how uptight he is. 

I laughed so hard at his facial expression to Maxine when she was playing his wii. Lol, I'm laughing thinking about it now.  

Sookie will even consider the possibility that he left of his own volition.

When I watched Sookie coming out of the bathroom saying yes to Bill and she saw the chair turned over with Bill gone, my first thought was that next season she is going to think that he left on his own.    

i just realized... on your number 5 where he tells sookie to trust him... that kinda reminds me of the lines when shes about to go to the sex party.. and sookie and eric talk about trust..i know its not word for word but Ball seems to cherry pick from the books

Yes, most definitely. I didn't even mind that they had Eric saying it to Sookie instead of Sookie saying that she trusts him. He said it so sexily I became a puddle everytime I saw that part.

What I DID like (and I hope AB added this in purposefully as foreshadowing) was the part in the frist Eric/Sookie dream sequence when he looks at her longingly and says "this it the beginning". Hmmmmm....the beginning...which means??? 

A lot more of those scenes to come, I like to believe.  

I am really nervous that AB will just skip the whole amnesia thing all together.....  

Oh god!   He better not! The entire series will be compromised and dramatically altered to the point I don't think it will resemble the books in any way except the characters names. But that has crossed my mind too, briefly.   

I love what both of you have written!

Oddly my sisters and I got into the show before the books, but when we saw Eric we were like, Wow! I like this guy. We liked him from the get go, then we read the books and we loved him. But in that episode on Season 1 when Bill is saying goodbye to Sookie Eric says something like "Ahh I think I'm going to cry." He and Pam were just openly sneering. They always made me laugh, I think the whole Pam-Eric relationship was done perfectly (casting, acting, lines, and all). That's where AB nailed it.

And yea I love that part in LDID with the maenad (the book) because it shows that even though Bill doesn't always like Eric, he respects him. As opposed to him hitting Eric on the show, that just made me mad, it was Bill kicking him while he was down because he knew Eric would whoop his butt any other time lol.

And yea, I saw that line "this is only the begining" as some serious foreshadowing! Sookie only dreams of Eric in her bed but *fingers crossed* it won't be long before he's actually there haha.

I really want to see Eric and Sookie making out trying to get to a bed but keep running into things on the way. And then decide just to do it against the wall, lol. Maybe that will happen in S4? Hopefully we will get a real kiss next season. Heck in CD we got an "almost sex scene." The least AB could do is give us a few real kisses between them.

I laughed so hard at his facial expression to Maxine when she was playing his wii. Lol, I'm laughing thinking about itnow.  

oh me too....he really nailed that.  It's the only time I ever forgot for a minute how much I loathe Bill and I wasn't wishing  him off my screen.  That was the best WTF look ever.

Amnesia Eric - I also think that a half naked Eric running down the road looking scared and dishevelled as hell, and then going all vampy on Sookie because he doesn't recognise her just has cliffhanger written all over it.

I remember reading an interview with Ball ages ago talking about the writing process (I didn't think they had a "process" but I digress....*tsk*) and he said that they go through the books and pick out the parts that would make good episode/season cliffhangers and then write around that.  If that's true then I think this scene as a S3 cliffhanger would be a fair call.

I can see alot of reasons for them to do this storyline - with the total badass they have managed to make Eric, cursed E will be a huge shift in his character that will make for an impact that is even more dramatic than it was in the books.  It would be great TV.

I think that the V plot is leading to Hallow's appearance down the line, and I'm wondering if we may even see this start a bit early.  I'm a bit skeptical that they can drag this V thing out for another season without it starting to go somewhere.  Perhaps Eric on the road will be an episode cliffhanger in the latter half of season 3 rather than a finale c/h.

That said, I absolutely would not put it past Ball to leave this storyline out.  I really wouldn't.  He will probably have the witches curse Bill just after he gives her a new driveway, and Eric rape Sookie in the trunk of the car.  Honestly nothing would surprise me at this point.

But in that episode on Season 1 when Bill is saying goodbye to Sookie Eric says something like "Ahh I think I'm going to cry." He and Pam were just openly sneering. They always made me laugh, I think the whole Pam-Eric relationship was done perfectly (casting, acting, lines, and all).

I love that part! Their lovey dovey scene was seriously annoying me and when Pam made that comment and Eric said: "Not me." I was laughing! Definitely needed the humor in that scene because the "love" just didn't do it for me.  

I really want to see Eric and Sookie making out trying to get to a bed but keep running into things on the way. And then decide just to do it against the wall, lol. 

Nice. Maybe we will even get to see the sex that occurred outdoors...

really want to see Eric and Sookie making out trying to get to a bed but keep running into things on the way. And then decide just to do it against the wall, lol. 

Nice. Maybe we will even get to see the sex that occurred outdoors...

For someone who is supposedly such a creative and unforgettable lover he is awfully fond of the good ole bed in the books

What sex outdoors!  Did I miss that??!  Was that in DTTW? (I'm re reading that right now but I forgot?)

Yep, DTTW. They had sex in every room. I'm sure they weren't always on a bed...

Kitchen table too...

I remember reading an interview with Ball ages ago talking about the writing process (I didn't think they had a "process" but I digress....*tsk*) and he said that they go through the books and pick out the parts that would make good episode/season cliffhangers and then write around that.  If that's true then I think this scene as a S3 cliffhanger would be a fair call.

I read that one too and it gives me hope for my fantasy S3 cliffhanger. But I think if they end it that way they'll have to show all the Hallow events leading up to it. Which I think could work if done right. Hallow is probably going to be the major villian for S4, so we'll see her at the end of S3.

That said, I absolutely would not put it past Ball to leave this storyline out.  I really wouldn't.  He will probably have the witches curse Bill just after he gives her a new driveway, and Eric rape Sookie in the trunk of the car.  Honestly nothing would surprise me at this point.

Stop! Please stop, you're making me want to cry just imagining these things.

Kitchen table too...

I love the scene between them that led up to that bit. Eric was listing off all her good qualities.

That said, I absolutely would not put it past Ball to leave this storyline out.  I really wouldn't.  He will probably have the witches curse Bill just after he gives her a new driveway, and Eric rape Sookie in the trunk of the car.  Honestly nothing would surprise me at this point.

Hahaha honestly, if that happened I would laugh. That seems to be my reaction to awful things. I laughed when Bill proposed, I laugh when Bill and Sookie have sex, speak to one another, declare themselves (repeatidly) etc... I consider TB "Bill and Sookie" a big a joke.

This may sound weird but my family and I laugh a lot, so when we watch something really serious we say "Haha what if this happened.." Something that would completely defy the story so that we could get a laugh. It's hard to explain, but anyway AB seems to be doing that for me on TB. He does such crazy, opposing things to the story that I just laugh at how absurd it is. Maybe it's just me going into hysterics lol...

Ashley I had that mixed it up, you're right it was Pam because Eric says "not me" Hahaha I always watch this show with my sisters and we eat up every word Eric says. He's really knows how to lighten the mood.

I can always count on Eric and Pam to roll their eyes for me.

I think we all laughed when Bill proposed.

Well, I laughed after I finished picking my jaw up off the floor, swearing a blue streak at my best friend and throwing everything that wasn't nailed down at the television.

Man, that sooooo sideswiped me.  I just did NOT see it coming.  I nearly had a heart attack.

It's the reason why I absolutely put nothing past Ball anymore.

Optimistic, optimistic! I must stay optimistic if I am to continue to watch TB with any hope of Eric and Sookie. I like think that the proposal scene is actually a good thing, because they got that out in the open and we probably won't see something like that again between B and S for a while. Make room for Eric!

But when Bill proposed that was when I started throwing things too. The whole ep was horrible but that scene just set me off. And venting is something I love doing but deep down I'm and optimist.  

And venting is something I love doing but deep down I'm and optimist.

Me too. I have vented so much, but I am going to give TB a shot and I keep hoping that it gets better. But seriously, as soon as AB does something remotely close to the things listed (like Eric the rapist), I'm done! I can only take so much.

I too am an optimist, I guess you could say I have a cynical sense of humor. Like I said I laugh at things that I don't like... And hey if AB even follows the books the least bit, I will be pleased. As long as Bill was sent there for a job in the end, all will be well. The higher he climbs the bigger his fall you know? Bill is getting all of this major points for being close to perfect (gag) but in the end it will all be a lie. Eric is the real deal.

The engagement was the cherry on top of a mountainous sundae of lies. (Wow that was an incredibly cheesy analogy.) But you get what I mean.

aye in my saner moments I do believe that as well.  I do I do I do *chants furiously*.

I think coming so soon after that giftboxed dress being delivered to her at Merlottes...I just couldn't take anymore.  I really couldn't.

I know! That was such an "Eric thing" and they completely stole that from him! However, Eric sends it to her house so that she knows he did it, but noone else has to. He has nothing to prove lol.

Also, I think Eric would have picked out a prettier dress.  It wasn't awful it just wasn't great, I think it was the color.

Yep Eric's dress would've been fire engine red

Definitely.

BTW this reminds me of something, it's off topic, and I'm sorry. But it's small... Anyway, as Sookie gets closer to Eric she leans toward red anyway. The first time they sleep together she wakes up the next morning and points out that she wore a bright red long sleeved shirt, then in DAAD when she goes to talk to Eric at Fangtasia, her nails are painted red to match the coat. I thought of that a while back and probably had more examples, but that's all I remember off of the top of my head.

Lilac seemed such an odd colour to pick - I suppose it would go with blond hair?  Bill did buy Sookie his first gift ever towards the end of LDID (to butter her up after their falling out?), but she originally gave it back and I agree a dress is far more of an Eric thing to do and it would be red!

Anyone else think Bill is being rather boringly human offering Sookie a ring like that? A friend and I had fun thinking what more suitably vampiric or unusual betrothal gift could be offered under such circumstances.

I was horrified and amused when I finally got round to watching that scene and discovered that Sookie's wearing my earrings.

I just can't get my head around the whole proposal thing. What's AB thinking. Does he need to do that to make Eric even more evil when he lusts after Sookie or is it to reinforce just how much Bill and Sookie are in luuurve.

hi Guys... Random thought... Do you think Alan Ball reads the discussion threads about the books? I am sure he reads the fan wiki on the series, but he should really be reading our site... Not just for the Eric love, or hell forget the Eric love... But real in depth looking at the book series. Not a bunch of yes men who agree automatically, but real readers who look into what is not written...

I would love it if AB read our site. We have very in-depth discussions that go beyond what is written on the page. We look at the books as a whole and reassess the story and the characters. That's why I joined this forum. I would go to CH's site if my only post was "Eric is awesome!" I don't feel like they do deep discussions there, not really.

I've thought of that before, before I joined I was thinking it would be great if someone involved in the show read this just so they could see how we interpret the little things. Not to mention the countless ideas we would give them *caugh caugh* Pheonix2.

I know that Eric is my favorite character and my pick for Sookie, but that's not to say I don't love the other characters or the story itself. I love all of the speculation and theories on this site. I think it would benefit them significantly if they saw this because I get the vibe that AB doesn't want to like Eric sometimes because he feels like all of these girls are "I love Eric he is sooo hot!" When that is clearly not the case. I think he could really gain some perspective on here, not just about our favorite viking, but about the series we love.

Aye, I couldn't have said that better myself. We have over 100 topics on this series each of them contain well-thoughtout ideas and explainations about the characters an the plot. We speculate, but nearly all speculation can be backed up by canon events. Yeah, its pretty Eric heavy here, but we give good, valid reasons why we love this character. I don't think I've ever seen a post here that just said "Eric is so hot!"

If not AB then at least one or two of the other writers should read this site. Like Alexander Woo. He wrote ep. 8, can you guys imagine what he or any of the other writers would do if they just read one of our "Connecting the Dots" threads? They'd be like "How did we miss all of this???"

Not to mention the countless ideas we would give them *caugh caugh* Pheonix2. 

Awwww! Thank you.  But truthfully nearly all my ideas come straight from the books and I just modify them a little. I'm not terribly original.

Oh, and everyone can call me Sam. Though Sami would probably be better, because there already is a Sam and I would most likely get confused.

test...

I think they would definitely gain a new perspective. I know that this is technically AB's show, but I think it belongs to the fans just as much as him. We wouldn't have the show without both it's creator and it's viewers. I always feel like he is so bent on making the show how he interpreted it that he comes across as narrowminded.

As I've said before, there's no reason to change the heart and the general outline of the story if that's what we love. Don't fix something if it's not broken you know?

You're welcome Sami, I think it takes a very creative person to take something as it is and adapt it to something else. Where the lines of the book be without your special "Dom dom dom" to follow it? Haha

As I've said before, there's no reason to change the heart and the general outline of the story if that's what we love. Don't fix something if it's not broken you know?

Thats nearly exactly what AB said at one time or another. Def. on the panel at comic con. But he has yet to act on it, I mean just look at S2. The last thing that was remotely similar to book 2 was the bullet sucking scene and Bill and Sookie's talk about it.

 Where the lines of the book be without your special "Dom dom dom" to follow it? Haha 

You make me smile! LoL  

I agree, he didn't follow the book closely enough. Tara's and Jason's stories were just blown way out of proportion in my opinion. I know that it can't be all Sookie all the time on a show, but jeeze, it is called The Sookie Stackhouse Series a.k.a Southern Vampires. And the vampires did not get enough face time.

I would have liked to have seen more business conducted in Dallas. And definitely more Isabell, heck all of the Dallas vamps, I just loved them! And in the books, I loved the shifters finding Sookie, and Eric waiting outside the hotel. Granted I loved that Eric came for her, AB gave him another motive, finding his maker.

I guess I just feel like AB picks on any vampire that isn't Bill. And his love for Maryanne, wtf? I think she's a great actress, she's gorgeous but I think his favor toward her affected the story and that is just rediculous. He should have casted her as Caludine and kept her around (I always pictured her as Caludine). Who knows ghe may not even introduce the fairies...

Anyway, I think sometimes he has the right idea, but he lets his personal feelings toward an actor or character get in the way of the story being told. Let's just hope he shapes up while there's something to slavage. Otherwise I'll just watch this show on mute for AS lol.

BTW Glad to hear I made someone smile. I smile and laugh all the time on this forum. I just love it! LoL.

i sorta imagined her as claudine as well.. maybe a few years younger but the long dark brown hair..shes tall.. she kinda reminded me of her as well.. the maenad that i pictured in my head def did not look like michelle forbes..

OK ladies...what are we to make of THIS.

Sookie and Eric: Sookie's been seeing visions of her and Eric getting — ahem — friendly. Will their romance actually progress, not just in her head? "I can definitely tell you [we'll see that] in the show. I don't know if it will necessarily be in Season 3. Of course they're going to come together, it's fated. It's not something that's going to happen right off the bat."

New TV Guide interview with Alan Ball.

Also says that Godric will definitely be back in S3 for a flashback.

Isn't it sad that when he actually comes right out and says that Eric and Sookie will happen...and that they're "fated" no less...I still can't believe him.

I feel like a dog that's been kicked one too many times.

Fated.  Maybe he really does get it.

I think he does get it, and he's teasing us with the "I don't know if it will necessarily be in Season 3" bit.  AB is notorious forplaying tricks on his audience.

I feel like Muppet dancing!

I think Michelle Forbes would be a great Claudine.  When I saw her as Maryann I was disappointed, but other HBO series have reused the same actor as different characters in the same series.  Garrett Dillahunt playedFrancis Wolcottand Jack McCall.  So conceivably, she could play Claudine.  A reoccurring role would be great because she's a great actress and we'd get to see her fairly often.  Ina role far more palatable than Maryann.
 

It's fated. See? It's fated.

I told you guys he was fucking with us!!!! Yip!

Of course they're going to come together, it's fated.

I let out a shriek of happiness when I read this! I'm so happy now!!

And yeah, I think he's just effing with us about their romance maybe not being in S3. Pu-leeze! The fan base for this couple is huge, and its not just the bookies that love them. HBO won't want to miss out on the money. But they will probably take it slow between them, build them up at a gradual pace. Like in the books...but not exactly. 

Yay! I feel like doing a happy dance or something! I'm so excited, AB actually did read the series! Not just the Bill parts... Wow, I'm impressed.

And Michelle Forbes would have been great as Claudine because when she was Maryann she seemed so crazy, spacey, and emotional. Like when she's talking to Tara and Eggs one morning at the breakfast table she's almost in tears. She seems absolutely nuts which would have been perfect lol. Not to mention she is gorgeous but in a very different way you know? I think they actually took some Claudine elements and put them in Maryann, like when she goes into Merlotte's everyone is almost hypnotized. I know that the maenad was capable of doing something like that, but it just made me think of Caludine.

Oh well, honestly if AB does this Sookie/ Eric thing right I'm going to be pleased as can be. =)  I agree Sami, it's going to take some time to acheive that relationship on the show, I mentioned on another topic I think, that you can do more with books than tv or movies. Books have a lot of meaning behind each word we of all people know that, while tv is more what you see is what you get. So I do think it's going to happen, but it's going to be a slower process to acheive that depth.

Since the main concern of the TV-PPl is to get as much audience as they can I am sure he AB HAS TO bring them together, cause I know for sure that even ppl who only watched the Show without reading the books are looking forward to seeing Sookie and Eric together.

While we are at it:

I wish they would replace Bill I hate his acting-skills he's so stiff and seems to have difficulties to talk with the fangs lol. I know many of u might say it's his character but in the books though Bill is serious and "cold" ( like Sookie often describes him) he doesn't seem incapable like on the Show. If I hear him scream Suuukayyy one more time I think I will have to scream.

Anna Paquinn isn't my first choice as Sookie too but at least i appreciate her efforts. She does seem like ppl see Sookie ( crazy and abnormal) but sadly its not cause shes a great Actress it's cause shes a not so good one.

I love Eric they did a great Job casting him!! Pam, Sam, Jason, Tara, Terry, Hoyt and Arlene are not so important for me but their Cast is also good.

Yes! I agree about the successful casting. I'm glad that they got such good people because even if they are less significant, it makes the whole story more believeable is everything is well-acted.

Sam and Jason are great because their accents sound very southern, but very natural. Eric is the greatest thing ever, AS is Eric in the flesh. He's a great actor, and is exactly how Eric is described physically. Pam is hilarious, she needs more screentime How many people could have pulled off the line "There's vampire in your cleavage"?.

Tara is funny I like her, sometimes her accent is a little over the top, but nothing too bad. I loved Arlene from the get go, I live in GA and I promise you she sounds exactly like those preppy girls I went to school with. Lafafyette was also a great find, he is the only guy I could take seriously in a fight while wearing false eyelashes lol. And once again, I have to mention the Dallas vamps, love them! Godrick was fantastic as well.

If I hear him scream Suuukayyy one more time I think I will have to scream

Haha my sister and I laugh all the time about this! I think he sounds like Elvis. We just say it when the oppertunity arrises (which oddly is more than you would think) and we get a good laugh out of it. Sometimes I think SM is perfect, but I get what you're saying he comes across as imcapable as opposed to just cold.

I mentioned on another topic I think, that you can do more with books than tv or movies. Books have a lot of meaning behind each word we of all people know that, while tv is more what you see is what you get.

I remember that post and you're absolutey right. With books the narrator (whether it be in 1st or 3rd person) can comment about the reactions of the other characters and give thoughts about what is going on in a certain scene. T.V. is very limited when it comes to this, esp. in a 1st person book.

 I wish they would replace Bill I hate his acting-skills he's so stiff and seems to have difficulties to talk with the fangs lol.

Yeah, did you notice that whenever Bill is upset or trying to explain something he takes a deep breath and gestures excessively with his hands? Exampe: When Bill and Sookie talked about the bullet sucking, when Bill was with the queen and a lot with Jessica.  I did't notice the fang thing so much. I was too distracted by his hands!

How did i forget to mention Lafayette??? I am so happy they didn't kill him off in the Show cause he really got potential.

Yeah, did you notice that whenever Bill is upset or trying to explain something he takes a deep breath and gestures excessively with his hands?

Seriously, he's a bad actor and thats why he needs his hands to make himself clear... And did u notice how he gets uglier? I mean his first Episode when he enetered the bar he counted as handsome but now I only see an exhausted old man.

Actors that I love and accept completely on TB: AS, Ryan Kwanten (Jason), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette), Kristen Bauer (Pam), Chris Bauer (Andy), Jim Parrack (Hoyt), Todd Lowe (Terry), Michelle Forbes, Deborah Ann Wolf (Jessica), Sam Trammell (Sam; though his acting can be over the top), Carrie Preston (Arlene), Allan Hyde (Godric), Ed Quinn (Stan; he was entertaining to watch!), Valerie Cruz (Isabel) Anna Camp (Sarah N.) Michael McMillian (Steve N.), Jessica Tuck (Nan Flanagan).

Actors I don't love and accept but some of them are ok: Rutina Wesley (Tara; I really loved her in S1 but she had a really bad fake accent and now its a little better but her story this year was so boring I didn't care about her character at all. Thats why she's on this list.) And everyone else I can take 'em or leave 'em.

I think I got everybody I thought was great on that list...

I mean his first Episode when he enetered the bar he counted as handsome but now I only see an exhausted old man.

Yes, yes, yes! What the heck?!! His make-up artist should be fired. Or its just the natural process of his aging...if so what's Bill going to look like in S5? I don't want to think about it...

I've always noticed that. On the first episode I thought Bill was pretty sexy to be honest. I think now he is just too clean cut. I don't know he just seemed so different then. I have to blame his make-up artist because they can do amazing thing, I mean look at the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, they made Brad Pitt look 17 at the end of that movie! LoL. I think they've gotten lazy or maybe they are trying to make Bill less appealing.

I didn't notice it at first but I found him less and less attractive and that's because he is! Maybe they are trying to sway us, because look at Eric now. Woah. I am glad he got his hair cut, the bob just wasn't doing it for me. he was still gorgeous, but I think he's come a long way. Didn't he start out in all black (a wifebeater maybe?) with that long hair, and it ended with his hair cut and tidied wearing a suit. (Gosh I hope we see that suit again!)

Didn't he start out in all black (a wifebeater maybe?) with that long hair, and it ended with his hair cut and tidied wearing a suit. (Gosh I hope we see that suit again!)

Haha! The clothing transformation of Eric! You're right, he started out wearing leather jackets and black tank tops, which he still wears in S2, but then it ends with him in a nice suit. Also, I noticed during ep. 9 when Godric dies, everyone (except Bill I think) has new clothes because of the bomb. Eric is wearing all black and the clothing is pretty tight on his form, it reminded me a lot of the ep. in Buffy when Spike tried to rape her. The parallel I see here isn't sinister though. In that ep in Buffy, Spike is very remorseful and conflicted with himself, angry too. Basically he's feeling a lot of hurtful emotions and he was wearing clothing identical to AS's. When Godric dies Eric is so upset I think they purposely put him in tight black clothes to emphasize his grief for Godric.

He looks dashing in a suite you are right!

Funny you refer to Spike, cause when I first watched the Show I thought they could have recasted Sarah Michelle Gellar as Sookie and James Masters as Eric. Now I am happy they didn't take James but I still wish Sarah MG were Sookie..Don't u think she would have done a great job?

I think Sarah Michelle Gellar is a wonderful actress, but I really couldn't stand the character of Buffy until the later seasons. Spike was the reason I watched. I would be afraid she would take the character of Sookie and interprete her like AP has. But maybe not if SMG actually read the books.

What I liked about SMG was her ability to cope so yes I think she would have been able to adapt Sookies Character and make a great performance. Well whats done is done I guess I will get used to Ap one day or not. As long as Erics on the show i don't really care..

I love Todd Lowe, and I like how AB changed Terry's character a bit.

The costume people are really good, except for some of the clothes Sookie wears.  They really make her look too much like a rube.  Maybe she'll grow up a bit in season three and start wearing big girl clothes.

I'm not really a SMG fan, and sometimes I like AP, she has her moments. The girl can cry and scream I'll give her that. And I think she has more chemistry with AS onscreen because when they have scenes together I feel like she's really Sookie, she kind of sticks her chin out and her shoulders back. She just gets that strength and feistyness that Sookie has without being hostile.

And I love Eric's leather jacket! I think that was very "Eric" to wear that on a mission, because when he is standing there with Isabell they both have their leather jackets on they look so hardcore. You do not want to cross him in that jacket lol. You still want to jump his bones, but I would feel safer if he were in the suit haha.

i actually really liked SMG character as buffy.. she wasnt as winy as they made AP in TB.. i like my female characters strong.. not winy and bratty like AB has made her, and how she listens to everything Bill tells her to do ugh its so frustrating. SMG was more believeable IMO as a strong woman until she had a crisis later on in the season but thats irrelevant>... though I do agree that AP and AS have GREAT chemistry when theyre together.. maybe its just when AP and SM are together. its annoying as hell i have to look away from the tv..

I never really got into Buffy so I can't say anything about her on that show, I've seen some of her movies and just never saw anything special... Who knows though, I may actually like her if I saw her as a character I liked you know?

And I am looking forward to seeing Sookie without Bill next season because since I've read the books I realized that on the show Sookie has no interests outside of Bill. It seems that way at least, she seemed more independant in the series. That was one thing I liked about the series, Sookie had her own stuff going on, even if it was just going to the library on her off days, it was something she did. On the show Bill dictates her every emotion or action almost. It's disgusting.

I think since TB Sookie is not too fond of Eric it will be great to see them together because she will stand on her own two feet, like the real Sookie we know and love.  I really believe that Eric is going to bring out that strength in her because she is so bent on not being dependant on him. And hopefully when she gets staked and is forced to, he will prove that she can. I think things will pick up from there, and the conflict inside of her will be the conflict from the book, she just doesn't want to count on Eric because she's afraid, though she knows she can, it's a battle to hold onto her independance. (In the shows case this battle will be much deeper because Sookie will have just re-gained this independance that she lost when she was with Bill). Just my theory.

Ok, so here's what I was talking about their cloths being similar. Sorry these were the best I could find. These pics just show you that they both have black shirts, but if you can remember what Eric looked like in the ep with the black pants and everything, thats how Spike looked too. Maybe its just me, but when I saw "I Will Rise Up" and Eric was dressed like how he was it reminded me immediately of this.

 It seems that way at least, she seemed more independant in the series. That was one thing I liked about the series, Sookie had her own stuff going on, even if it was just going to the library on her off days, it was something she did. On the show Bill dictates her every emotion or action almost. It's disgusting.

Oh I completely agree! I try to just blame it on the fact that S2 basically took place in a week and a half and she really didn't have time to do anything else, but still! Its a T.V. show, shouldn't they have their main character be more independent without clinging to her boyfriend all the time?

Absolutely! But yea I hadn't even thought about the time, that explains it a little, I suppose I'm just hoping for some one on one time with Sookie because I feel like we don't get enough. And when she isn't alone, she had better be with Eric haha.

I get what you mean about the clothes, that was a very intersting observation. Kudos!

they are very similar arent they.. some same parallels.. how theyre both are always wearing black.. they both have blonde hair blue eyes.. are in love with a girl and refuse to admit it (spike admits it at the end of the series) and well eric, we have yet to find out because CH hasnt put it in her books though we pretty much know he loves sookie..

god and that picture of spike brings back memories.. lol i loved buffy!

I've been watching True Blood Season One and Sookie was much more Sookie-like, much smarter and stronger, much less vapid/insipid. The vamp makeup wasn't as bad, and she and Bill had better chemistry. I like Hoyt, Terry, and Arlene better in Season Two. But Sam and Tara (especially Tara) were much better in Season One. Jason is better in Season Two because of the comedy. Lafayette was great in both seasons.

That's ignoring the obnoxious Season Two Maryann storyline, since there is nothing more that needs to be added to the general disgust and outrage at that subplot. Of course, Season One followed the book more closely, and there was more time for decent character development.

I can understand why Ball modified both the orgy plot and the Godric plot since both involved negative stereotypes for homosexuals. And actually the Godric plot was the best thing in Season Two with the Newlins coming in second.

I actually hated every single scene with the Newlins, they were kind of offensive, overdone, and cheesy. They were laying it on a bit too thick in my opinion. I admit that I skipped them a lot until the latter part when they were involved with the vamps.

But I agree about Godrick. He was fantastic actor, and much better character than in the book. I also love that it made Eric a bit more humane to see him as a subbordinate and actually care about someone that much.

Great catch on the homosexuality, I would have never noticed that, but that is exactly how they see things like that in TV.

I thought the Newlins were satire of the highest order.  They were so dead on right wing Bible thumpers.  His hair and flashy suits and her girl next door looks were perfect.  I loved to hate them!  I sincerely hope they come back next season.

Great observation on the stereotype thing, Judy.

I suppose if the overall goal was to hate the Newlins, he succeeded. LoL.

AB is an overacheiver in my book lol.

I saw season 1 and 2 about 5 times by now and ofc after I watched them the first time I started to skip all stories besides Sookies. I hated the Newlins. I hated Sam being so important cause Maryann was after him. I hate Tara and I hated that AB gave so much importance to other story lines than Sookies.

I hope the next Season is more about Sookie, Bill and Eric ( and Alicide ofc). I don't need all the other stories and characters to be of importance.

Yes! My feelings exactly. Everyone else's story just exploded and it had nothing to do with Sookie. The characters ran off with a life of their own, and not in a good way. By the end I was like what was the point? They created a problem, allowed it linger, and solved it. It didn't plant any bombs so to speak. The only thing that's going to work in the future that involved all of that crap in Bon Temps is Tara's and to be honest, I don't think that girl needs another reason to be miserable.

The show is about Sookie and I get that everyone else needs to have thier own lives, but I don't think it should get half of each episode. I only care about what affects Sookie, because she is the center of the story.

i agree.. and its about the vamps as well.. which took a back seat to freaking maryann.. god i hated that story line. ugh it was wayyy too much wayyy overdone.. why couldnt godric have more time than maryann? he was WAY more interesting and people werent always humping eachother naked on front lawns around him

Seriously! Oh my gosh I felt exactly the same way! They cleaned this season up a lot, but of course they had to go and do that pointless crap. She was rediculous, AB really created a monster with that one.

And you're right about it being about Sookie and her involvement with vamps (and sometimes other supes) afterall (I may have put this on another threat, heck it may be this one) it is called "The Sookie Stackhouse Series" and is otherwise known as "Southern Vampires Series". Not "Tara's Issues" or even "The psychos named Newlin". Sheesh AB should just let us fan make the show (though I would be guilty of setting aside some time to simply admire AS hehe).    (the last one is me drooling)

i actually didnt mind Tara in season 1.. but in season 2.. she became all needy and dependent and whiny.. i miss the girl who used to yell and do what she wants..

Oh and I too loved Godrick, I think he was a hit with everybody. It was nice to see a calm character, played by a talented actor (one reason I love AS as Eric and Kristen Bauer as Pam) in the midst of the chaos/crap AB was doing in Bon Temps.

That's why I love the Dallas vamps, and favor all vamps, I even liked Lorena. They are so cool about everything, and even when they busted in FotS, they were so bad it didn't matter. And I was excited that someone was shutting up Steve Newlin.

i remember specifically when tara asked if eggs could go with her and she asked maryann? i was like why would you ask her, shes living in sookies house who is YOUR best friend, not maryanns best friend.. i didnt get it at all..

yeah about the dallas vamps.. i was pretty pissed that they killed of Stan Davis.. hes pretty important in later books.. i found it odd..

I was pretty angry that Tara brought Maryann into Sookie's house and acted as if she had to run everything by her Maryann first. Who does she think she is? All that crap that happened was her fault, I'm finidng it hard to like her. Sookie ought to kick her sorry butt out. She is weak-minded and I know that book Tara was kind of like that, but we didn't have to constantly read about it. I'm just not sure what AB's motives are, am I supposed to hate her? Or is he just being an idiot?

And yea the death of Stan, what the heck was that about?

Actually, Stan isn't that important. His main purpose (so far) was in LDID. In ATD, his purpose was to bring Barry along. It wasn't about Stan at all. He is out of commission after the hotel explosion anyway. Isabel could easily replace Stan without much problem.

I do love Isabel, and if I had to choose between the two it would be her, so that is a good point. But I did like him on the show, kind of a hot head, but still entertaining. I just didn't see it coming because I didn't really see a cause for it, besides clearing the way for Isabel.

I saw Tara in a totally different way.

When MaryAnn told her they were planning to stay at Sookie's, Tara said no, pretty vehemently.  Then MaryAnn causes Tara to have a crappy night at work and she feels very unloved and unappreciated.  She gets home to find MaryAnn dressed as Adele, the only adult that ever loved her unconditionally and protected her from her mother.   MA butters her up with how wonderful she is and gives her a guilt trip about how they'll leave even though they haven't found a place yet.  Tara concedes and MA takes every chink in Tara's armor to weasel her way in, until all that poison inside Tara comes out in a frenzy of debauchery and debasement.

Tara wanted a mother and MA became one, caring for Tara, rescuing her from jail, and building her self esteem. Having never had any frame of reference, she followed MA fairly blindly.

Sure AB carried it too far, but I didn't hate it like so many people did.  MA was very insidious and sneaky.  A lot of the people she bewitched were pretty disenfranchised (Jane Bodehouse, Terry, etc.)

An hour long show that had Sookie in every scene just won't work on TV.  They had to develop other characters, and not just to kill time.  Jason is precious and stupid, a great comic relief, and much more likeable than book Jason.  Same with Andy and Terry Bellefleur.  Sure, I wish Eric was better represented and we see more Pam, but we got more Lafayette which was a definite improvement.  And Laff not dying had to change the whole sex club story line dynamically.

The thing I find so odd about most of those that complain about how the show should be just like the books, at least in Sookie's story line, don't complain about the changes to Godric, or Jessica's invention from whole cloth.  I realize they changed who staked Long Shadow to add her in and I would have done it differently.  (Eric stakes him and has to turn Jess, but makes Bill raise her since he was ultimately responsible?  It still makes Eric out as a dick.  I'll work on it.)

I have to quote myself, to a friend that picks apart every detail of the Harry Potter movies: Different media must call for different methods.

I realize they changed who staked Long Shadow to add her in and I would have done it differently.  (Eric stakes him and has to turn Jess, but makes Bill raise her since he was ultimately responsible?  It still makes Eric out as a dick.  I'll work on it.)

I don't have time to really comment on the things you ladies have been saying, I have so much homework to do, but I did want to add to this.  I read in an interview with AB that the reason they had Bill stake Longshadow instead of Eric was because Eric wasn't really a character yet. He was only introduced to be an "add on" (I can't remember his exact words) character for Bill and Sookie. So if Eric were to stake Longshadow we wouldn't have followed him to the tribunal and wouldn't have seen Jessica turned. But now in S2, as AB said Eric has become a character in his own right.

I have a love/hate relationship with True Blood! LOL! I am totally obsessed by it yet very disappointed with it. I know you can't revolve it around Sookie( and trust me the way AB has written her I wouldn't want him too). I also wanted to see more of the Vamps. There wasn't sny reason why they couldn't have given us more Eric and Pam, even in the first season w/o it impacting Sookie/Bill. I would have LOVED to see Jessica running amock at Fangtasia and see just how annoyed Pam and Eric were! A couple of scenes like that would not have affected the other story lines. I liked the Dallas scenes the best but really they were poorly developed. Bill/Sookie had to leave immediately for Dallas but get there and do nothing but have sex the first night! They don't see the Dallas vamps until the 2nd night there. It would have been great to see more of the Dallas vamps and crazy Stan. That story  line had a ton of holes in it, but it was still enjoyable.

I have never seen Six Feet Under but I have heard how crazy it gets. Seems AB just wants to keep doing the same. In recent interviews he said we will the same craziness next season. So I don't think he will be following the books much at all. I am not looking forward to seeing my favorite book  hacked to pieces, but the sad thing is I will be tuning in( at first) stupidly hoping I will see some semblance of the SVM  universe that I love.

I don't blindly love True Blood.  I can just separate the two somewhat.  I think AB is using the books as an outline and I'll give up if he deviates too wildly.  He had sophomore blues. I think.

From what I read when I still participated in the HBO forums, a lot of the fans had very similar problems with season two.  We can rest assured that even if AB isn't reading them, HBO is and I'm sure they will make sure AB doesn't kill their golden goose.  It is. after all, the best rated show they've had since The Sopranos.

I don't blindly love True Blood.  I can just separate the two somewhat.  I think AB is using the books as an outline and I'll give up if he deviates too wildly.  He had sophomore blues. I think.

I feel the same.  I don't want to see a carbon copy of the books, and I'm ok with the expansion of other characters, as sano mentioned above it's essential for the medium.

While I didn't like the MA plotline it wasn't because it deviated from the books (although I was royally pissed that Bill helped kill her and Eric did nothing and will be forever lol).  It was always a gamble to make that a focus for a full season, and it was one that just didn't pay off.

I don't mind him experimenting with the story like this but there are certain things about the books that are not up for negotiation as far as I'm concerned.  Bill's betrayals and Eric/Sookie are at the top of that list.  I also want him to stick with the spirit of the characters and their interactions.  Within that framework, he can do whatever he likes because if he sticks to that, whatever else he conjures up will be probably work in just fine.  If he continues to screw up the three main characters like he has, I'll be done.  It's torture.

We've seen evidence of Bill's betrayal already, and Eric's uncharacteristic interest in a mere human like Sookie.  It's pretty subtle, I'll admit, but is there a whole lot of foreshadowing in DUD and LDID about Bill that anyone picked up on the first time they read it?  I'm not going to get all worked up about a potential failure from AB, just like I don't get worked up about what CH might screw up in DITF.

I've said before that I'm a heretic, and I rather enjoy being one.  I just can't work up a head of steam about potential failures because it would consume me and practically guarantee that I won't be happy no matter what the end product is.  The bottom line is that I love True Blood, and it led me back to the books which I love even more.  I guess it's like putting up with a pretty bad friend because she introduced you to your husband.

Sure I have complaints.  I just don't let them overshadow what I generally enjoy.  If I gave up on TV series because they had a bad season, I'd be missing out on a lot of good stuff.  Heroes and Lost come to mind, along with The Sopranos and Six Feet Under.

I know that it can't be an hour long of Sookie. That wouldn't work. I know that television is very different than books. However, when you start warping a story to fit the show as opposed to shaping the show to fit the story, then you have problems. They didn't use some costume they had lying around as Sookie's work uniform for convinance, or even personal taste. They followed the books because that's part of the look and feel. It was small but it mattered. The books were there first, he should take advantage of the fact that he practically has blueprints, and respect the story along with the fans. I don't want the book on television, verbatim. But I don't want the story butchered, or misrepresented.

I understand that every viewer should get to enjoy the element of mystery and surprise, book fans and those who have not read the books. So I'm okay with changes. Afterall, I love Lafayette and I'm glad he's alive. But he's not there without a purpose, he and Sookie share a thing with the vamps now which is cool. It makes him relevant because he has a purpose of his own, but somewhere along the line it links to Sookie. The same with Jason and the FotS, I don't like Steve and Sara, but it's relevant. That relationship change didn't affect the story negatively. It gave Jason more of a purpose, along with surprise, and that was fine, because he shares that with Sookie. In the book Jason just hangs out with Sookie sometimes, and that would be boring television, so they gave his story some excitement to justify his character. That relationship with Steve and Sara was created for the show and though it often irked me, I liked Jason being in Dallas when Sookie was, I always wondered when they were going to see one another. It added some surprise for me and since I had read the books that was good. The same with Godrick and Lafayette, it added mystery and new knowledge. It developed the story, as well as the characters.

I know that technically Tara's story did lead to Sookie. But I feel like the overall story was not affected by Maryann. Mostly Tara's character was and I just don't like that. Everything should contribute to the story in the end. I felt like that was killing time. Maryann did claw Sookie's back, move into her house, trash it, and wear her gran's wedding dress. However, I just felt like the connection was weak. What was her motive again? Sam? That meat monster? I just never cared or wondered what happened next with Maryann. There was no element of wonder or mystery. It drifted further from Sookie as opposed to closer as a story should do when it is progressing.

And I think it's time that Tara grow up and get over the fact that she had a crappy childhood, a crappy life. I know it's different than Sookie's but Sookie was molested by her uncle, lost her parents suddenly at a young age, grew up a telepath to become "Crazy Sookie" the barmaid, saw her grandmother slaughtered, got blamed and slapped for it, and then felt guilty for it. But Sookie just took her lemons, said "Screw it" and moved on. Tara is just being burried in them and I think it's immature and selfish, especially since she's dragging others down with her.

Sam tried to warn her about Maryann saying she didn't really know her, but Tara presued her own selfish desires and only enabled Maryann. Regardless, I'm hoping that Tara gets some of her personality back next season. She used to be so cynical and funny, I can't deal with manic-depressive Tara.

I guess it's like putting up with a pretty bad friend because she introduced you to your husband.

I love that analogy! I completely agree! I'll always appreciate True Blood for that even if one day I somehow didn't like it.

So the hubby and I watched TB over again- season 1 (on blu-ray- totally recommend it! LOTS of extra stuff in enhanced viewing and a different cut) and season 2- has anyone else noticed Bill's little looks when it seems like he's holding back or he's going to get busted- CH described it as 'desperate' when they were getting ready to go to NO in the book. Anyways- anyone else see those sort of looks in the show?

I think they're going to unmask Bill for who he is in the 3rd season. I hope they do anyways.

I am grateful to TB because it led me to the books, which are, to me, 100 times better, and the books are the reason I'll keep watching- I wanted to quit the show several times before I started reading ( am not into vampires or romances or even  fantasy- although LOTR , "Golden Compass" trilogy, "Hitchhiker's Guide" and  good Sci Fi are among the books I value. )"6 feet under" was fabulous for a very long time ( not all the way though, IMHO), so I'll certainly watch for the mix of Alan Ball and Sookie.

I myself loved the Newlins. I guess any time a show can introduce a good satire rather than more sex and gore is going to be a plus for me( nothing against sex, I love sex, but season 2 Maryann sex was tedious!)  . I started that I am not normally into vampires, but I did love Buffy.

jeram- That is a great observation! I have noticed him looking as if he's on the verge of saying something, bad acting or foreshadowing? LoL. We shall see...

 (nothing against sex, I love sex, but season 2 Maryann sex was tedious!)

Maryann sex! The girl definitely deserves her own version, because that stuff that went on was pretty crazy lol.

I just noticed that there was some major foreshadowing in TB Season One about Eric not knowing about Bill's arrangement with the Queen.  After Bill kills Longshadow, Eric asks Bill if he loves Sookie,and Bill responds by saying "sookie must be protected" and eric says "now that sounds like an edict, but it couldn't be, because I would have to know about it." and Bill just stays quiet.  I know this doesn't necessarily pertain to Season 3, but I couldn't find an appropriate thread to put it on, and I don't think it deserves a New Topic.

I noticed it the other day when I was re-watching Season One, and I do think it was foreshadowing. The foreshadowing in Season Two was more obvious.

No lie, I noticed that too recently. Definitely foreshadowing.

That was major foreshadowing.  I think it's pretty clear by this point that just as in the books, Eric doesn't have a clue about Bill's intentions.

Ball throwing us a bone pfft.

Well everyone has been off this topic for a little bit, but I just wanted to say that I can't imagine a way for AB to not include the trunk scene in season 3. He's already pretty much ruled out the possibility of Bill actually cheating with Lorena (and even if it happened while she was torturing him, that's forgivable), so I think the rape and near-draining are the only way to ruin their relationship (and hopefully set up the events of DTTW for season 4). Even if Sookie could find it in herself to not hold Bill responsible for that, it's huge enough for her to not be able to feel the same way about him romantically.

Or who knows, maybe AB will just go straight to her finding out that the Queen sent him...but I really feel that particular betrayal is more suited to being the final nail in the coffin preventing her from ever regaining feelings for Bill.

you know what, i used to care about the rape scene and was like damn AB if he doesn tput it in the series, but now, i just hope he puts in the shower scene... out of everything in all 9 books, nothing comes close...

and though i would be disappointed if he didnt do the trunk scene, i would be absolutely infuriated if he didnt do the shower scene

I've basically convinced myself that we won't see either the trunk scene or the shower scene...so if we do it will be a nice surprise.  Ball has scarred me ...just call me the dog kicked one too many times.

I've been thinking alot about how he's going to deal with the violence against Sookie in CD next season.  She gets bashed to within an inch of her life twice, staked, drained, raped....I just wonder if he thinks TV audiences will have the stomach for watching a female heroine go through all of this in one season.  That, and his hard-on for Bill are the main reasons I fear the rape will be left out.  The rape basically puts Bill out of the running in the romantic stakes and I can't see Ball doing that.  It will be very hard for him to redeem Bill for a large portion of the audience after that incident, (and it will seem like an even bigger betrayal than it was in the books - considering the way he's built Bill so much higher than CH did).  I can't see him going that far but I may be wrong.  I think the staking will happen and that will be it.

We better see Eric in his boxers getting to third base is all I can say.

That, and his hard-on for Bill are the main reasons I fear the rape will be left out. 

For real! AB  needs to get over it and stop letting his personal preference for an actor or character get in the way of the story being told.  But hey maybe AB really doesn't like Bill, maybe he is making him as great as he can so that he can be that much worse when the secrets come out. Perhaps we are all thinking what he wants us to think (I know it's far-fetched. But I've gotta stay hopeful).

 We better see Eric in his boxers getting to third base is all I can say.

Hahaha! I wouldn't care if he was doing a crossword puzzle in his boxers lol, but AB better not leave that out.

I want third base in the boxers and the blood donation that follows. I'm greedy.

I'm concerned that the whole amnesiac storyline might not be done! That would be a true travesty.

hey everyone.how is everyone today

Fine - just going through both True Blood and Souther Vampire Mysteries withdrawal.

i have a ? how do you think the next season of true blood will start

i have seen all of true blood and read all the books but i can't wait for more

Hey Kathleen, scroll up and read. I think we'll immediately see Sookie going to Eric for help.

i have a ? about true blood. at the end of season 2 who took bill?

No one knows who took him. But the villain was wearing gloves, and in movies that usually means a woman. Also they didn't keep the camera on the hands either. Admittedly a male vampire might also wear gloves, but they certainly didn't let the camera linger on those hands. I suspect it was Lorena, assuming the story follows the book somewhat. Besides she was really pissed at him when he kicked her out.

We better see Eric in his boxers getting to third base is all I can say.

think we'll see up the leg? =) it IS hbo after all.... ha, wishful thinking. 

I'm pretty certain that Lorena is involved, if she isn't the instigator of the kidnapping, then she's definitely an instrument. I think it has also to do with V Sales. Possibly a spy in Queen Sophie-Anne's court sees that he's the weakest link, and vampnaps him for information.

Well, casting calls out for the first few eps of season 3.  A few of the more interesting ones:

[TOMMY MICKENS] 18 to 25 years old, dirty but good-looking, with a scar on his face from ear to cheek, he is Sam's (Sam Trammell) long lost younger brother who works at a Tire Depot in Arkansas. Tommy's family has a bad reputation for skipping out on their rent and owing money all over town. When Sam approaches him, Tommy hides his identity and claims to be someone else. He's unaware who Sam is. BACKSIDE NUDITY...SERIES REGULAR (31)

[YVETTA] Female, 20's, gorgeously hot Eastern European is Eric's (Alex Skaarsgard) new dancer at Fangtasia. She speaks Czechoslovakian with subtitles and knows how to work a stripper pole. She and Eric have a sexual relationship...2 lines, 3 scenes / POSSIBLE RECUR (36) Actress must be able to dance and be comfortable with nudity.

[TALBOT] Male, 20s - 30s. This "intensely beautiful" male vampire has the buff good looks of an underwear model and an acerbic and sarcastic manner. Full of dishy sarcasm and cheerful prattle, he shows Bill around a magnificent mansion where Bill has been "invited" to stay for a spell...STRONG RECURRING (11) THIS ROLE FIRST APPEARS IN EPISODE 302

The whole lot is at spoilertv.com

Basically looks like Bill is being held at Russell Edgington's and tortured by were's (all the bikers) who are partial to drinking V from the source.

As far as Eric/Yvetta goes....really not sure how I feel about that.

It's not so much of a stretch I guess, him having a fling since we can probably safely assume he was having sex off page with other women at this point of the books.

But I just don't really want to *see* it I don't think.  And Sookie better not either *hmpf*

As far as Eric/Yvetta goes....really not sure how I feel about that.

well, if it's only 3 scenes, hopefully we won't actually *see* it and it won't last long.

actually, i take that back. I would watch AS sex anyone pretty much. 

Oh I reckon we'll see it.

Ball's not stupid...after the reaction to the dream sequence last season, he knows that he'd better get Askars in the buff again and soon.

Since he's not ready for Sookie/Eric for real...this will be to shut us up in the interim.

Well let's face it, as a teaser the finale of Season 2 was a bust unless you're a Bill fanatic (though for the resolution of the Meanad storyline it was pretty good ) and even some of my friends who like Bill (on TB) thought the proposal was a step too far and made Sookie look like a bling struck idiot.

Most TB Eric fans out here were seriously pissed off at the length and content of his footage looking at the various comments about the finale - the thought of a continuation of that wasn't going to have them queueing up to watch ( and there are an awful lot of them). So, here we have a bone to tempt them (assuming that they enjoy AS's version of Eric and seriously what's not to like?). I assumed from the books that Eric was still getting some elsewhere (no reason why he wouldn't be) at this point but it would feel a bit of a cheap shot to see it, though AB seems determined to keep the bare ass count up.

I too would watch AS do almost anything, he's a fantastic actor  - as well as steaming up my personal windows, but, I do worry that as well as the storylines getting bent, the characters I love are getting bent so far out of shape. AB has taken all the thoughtfullness from Eric and plonked it onto Bill to suit his own take on things.

I enjoy TB but I guess at heart I'm more attached to the books. Bill and Eric in the books are now at least as interesting to me as Sookie is and it's almost as much their story as hers because of the changes she triggers in them.

I agree geefull.

The whole thing about Eric and the stripper just irks me.

If AB is giving Eric someone to sleep with purely for the fact to shut us up, then I'm insulted. I love me some AS, and I love Eric. But I love what Eric does for the story, and for Sookie. And I love AS's portrayal of Eric. AS is gorgeous but if I want to admire him strictly for his looks, then I'll google photos or something. Eric isn't there just for sex appeal, I like the character. I wish AB would persue his story, versus shutting us up with some nudity.

I'm afraid that AB thinks the Eric fans are shallow. If he wants to make us happy then he needs to just stick to the story and stop making Bill so stinking perfect and Eric so desperate. I don't care if he's in the nude or not, just stick to the story. Besides, our Eric scenes will come in time if he does that.

I mean really, does he think that giving us screentime of him screwing some stripper is going to satisfy us to the point of silence when he decides to butcher the story? Does he think that will enhance the story? These books have a lot of material and a lot of story to tell, and I understand if AB has to alter that from time to time for the element of time, surprise, or just good TV. But I think there are enough useful things and useful characters that he doesn't have to resort to throwing some stripper in there with 2 lines and 3 sex scenes.Especially for a character as strong as Eric. He did that for Jason because that was how he was defined in the book, but there's a whole lot more to Eric, I just can't help but think what's the point?

I like that CH never really lets you see how often and who Eric is sleeping with. It's almost as if it paints a cleaner picture subconciously, because we know that Bill cheated on Sookie and was rough with her. To me that was significant. It made Bill more animalistic, to the point of not caring about privacy or dignity. While Eric kept his personal life his personal life. You didn't look at him and think about what a man whore he was, even though you knew that he had been with countless woman you just didn't see him in that light. I don't like what this does for his image. It rubs me the wrong way.

I feel like AB is turning Eric into a shallow model, or an object. He's not allowing the character to evolve and shed some of his layers, instead he's just shedding clothes. Yup, I'm insulted.

Lastly, when can I audition? Hahahahaha.

Kidding.

BTW Sorry for the rant  

Just had to get that off of my chest. LoL.

Rant away!  That was a great rant, anyhow, and I agree with you!  I had such a hard time digesting TB season 2 because I felt like AB performed character assassination agaist Eric!  He kind of stripped Eric of his good qualities and glued them to Bill.  There were some TRUE Eric moments that came through (thank God!) but there were few and far between and hard to pick up on unless you've read the books and know/love book Eric well.  The scene I hated the most took place after the bombing at the Dallas vampire headquarters when Bill chases the FoTS humans who are trying to get away, grabs the one guy, bites him, then says something to the effect of "tell your people that a vampire showed mercy where humans showed none!".  I vomited in my mouth a little after that, because in the books he did EXACTLY the opposite and that was one of the issues between him and Sookie -- his lack of mercy.  So yeah, TB Bill is quite out of character.

Having said that...I think there is room for TB Eric to be redeemed!  The stripper girlfriend thing doesn't bother me much because I think it may be used as a ploy to further reveal Eric's interest in Sookie.  He might be with this vamp stripper only to realize that he doesn't want to be with anyone but Sookie, and perhaps other vamps (the stripper included) will notice this as well.  Also, I know that in the books there is no mention of Eric bedfellows or meals (except I think in FDTW when Sookie calls Fangtasia for Eric, there's a delay to him coming to the phone which Sookie questions, and he says kind of hesitantly "I was having...supper").  But it is understated in the books, definitely, for a reason.  This is largely because the book is told from Sookie's perspective and we don't get a chance to see/hear what Eric is doing unless it's with/around Sookie.  If CH was to write a few chapters from Eric's POV, I'm sure we'd hear more than we needed to!  Eric is a vampire, so obviously promiscuous until he chooses to commit to Sookie.  The great part of TB is that we are given a glance into the lives of the other characters outside of Sookie's brain, outside of her knowledge really, so it's a totally different creative playing field.  Seeing Eric having sex, IMO, is consistent with the books and necessary to paint a clear picture of who he is.  Eric is potent sexually, desired by many, in a powerful position where women offer themselves to him -- there's no doubt he gets a lot of action!!!!  If we see that in TB and then see him give it up to commit to Sookie, that'll be a good thing, a redeeming thing.  And, maybe we'll get some character development with Eric just in the relationship between him and his vamp girlfriend...see more of his soft side, gentle thoughtful side?  MAYBE.  I hope.  I realllly hope hope hope!

This could also be one of AB's famous red herring spoiler curve balls.

After all the machine got the hype going on about the supposed homosexual tendencies & sexual chemistry between Laf. & Eric & it really amounted to over hyped BS. Esp. when we watched it all in context. It made sense & wasn't like we were lead to believe.

You're right Amber, it could be redeeming. Perhaps AB is only making Eric appear the "bad guy" so that he can become an even better one. And Bill vice-versa. It could work, I just hope AB makes it work.

I really don't mind Eric sleeping around so much as I mind AB using his screentime for that.  I don't want that to be all we see of him, because there's more to him than that. AB doesn't give him very much screentime to begin with, I'm sure we will get more of him next season (we better) but I feel like there's a lot to be done, said, and fixed as far as his character on the show goes.

It could easily be implied about how sexual he is, I mean look at him, the man is sex. LoL. I just hope that it's not the only thing we end up seeing from him in so many episodes or something. Like the episode where we only see him with SA playing Yahtzee, I thought it was pointless and that if he was going to give him such a small amount of time he should have used it.

AB has already done some things very wrong about Eric, like summoning Lorena, that are going to require explanation and redemption. There is a lot to unfold about him in this season and I feel like they should use his time wisely because they are so many other characters. He won't have the equal amount of screentime as pages in the book you know?

CD IMO was crucial for the Eric and Sookie storyline, even Bill's. It was the turning point. This season may be the most crucial. Eric was funny, sexy, and interesting in the first two, but in this one he completely turned into the guy you were rooting for. I started rooting in LDID but I didn't really see him as a big competitor because Sookie and Bill were so locked down.

Suddenly in this one you start to see these men for who they really are. Which brings me full circle, maybe AB has a brain and knows what he's doing lol. This could be his big grand scheme, Eric is a sex-crazed, lying monster only to turn into an honest, caring, and complex man. Bill is now an honest, caring, and complex man, but maybe it won't be long until he is the sex-crazed, lying, monster. This could work.

The rape in the trunk has to happen though, if we started out seeing Eric sleeping with "some stripper" (I don't care if she has a name, that's what I intend on calling her) then he evolves to point of telling Sookie toward the end of the season "I don't like having feelings." While Bill is Sookie's missing fiance, only to end up raping and draining her in the trunk of a car. Perfect.

THAT WOULD BE PERFECT!!!!

It would completely reverse the roles, which is what needs to happen. Thank you =)

Having said that...I think there is room for TB Eric to be redeemed!  The stripper girlfriend thing doesn't bother me much because I think it may be used as a ploy to further reveal Eric's interest in Sookie.  He might be with this vamp stripper only to realize that he doesn't want to be with anyone but Sookie, and perhaps other vamps (the stripper included) will notice this as well.  Also, I know that in the books there is no mention of Eric bedfellows or meals (except I think in FDTW when Sookie calls Fangtasia for Eric, there's a delay to him coming to the phone which Sookie questions, and he says kind of hesitantly "I was having...supper").  But it is understated in the books, definitely, for a reason.  This is largely because the book is told from Sookie's perspective and we don't get a chance to see/hear what Eric is doing unless it's with/around Sookie.  If CH was to write a few chapters from Eric's POV, I'm sure we'd hear more than we needed to!  Eric is a vampire, so obviously promiscuous until he chooses to commit to Sookie.  The great part of TB is that we are given a glance into the lives of the other characters outside of Sookie's brain, outside of her knowledge really, so it's a totally different creative playing field.  Seeing Eric having sex, IMO, is consistent with the books and necessary to paint a clear picture of who he is.  Eric is potent sexually, desired by many, in a powerful position where women offer themselves to him -- there's no doubt he gets a lot of action!!!!  If we see that in TB and then see him give it up to commit to Sookie, that'll be a good thing, a redeeming thing.  And, maybe we'll get some character development with Eric just in the relationship between him and his vamp girlfriend...see more of his soft side, gentle thoughtful side?  MAYBE.  I hope.  I realllly hope hope hope!

 The rape in the trunk has to happen though, if we started out seeing Eric sleeping with "some stripper" (I don't care if she has a name, that's what I intend on calling her) then he evolves to point of telling Sookie toward the end of the season "I don't like having feelings." While Bill is Sookie's missing fiance, only to end up raping and draining her in the trunk of a car. Perfect.   

Aye17 and Ericfeind - Everything you said!  DITTO!

OK after season 2 call me a pessimist(sp)?. I am not convinced that AB "gets" Eric ( or really even Sookie). But after reading the casting call sheet itmakes me nervous for several reasons.

1. Eric, of course! But I'll take him anyway we get him so sex with someone else is ok. Maybe Sookie will even see him with her and feel jealous! Yeah right-prolly not in AB's world!

2. The Weres-It looks like we are going to get Bill's torture scenes( intertwined with the V storyline). I just hope AB doesn't overdo the torture scenes soooo much that we feel so sorry for Bill, that if we get the trunk scene of course we cannot blame him. The poor thing. he was starved, tortured, obviously a lot of his own blood drained!  And you know AB after Hard Hearted Hannah- Bill was absolved of all blame because of his leaving Lorena. So I can see AB and all the Bill lovers absolving Bill of any blame because of the severity of the torture. If Sookie leaves Bill ( and esp. takes up with Eric eventually) she will be the unsympathetic character and Bill will have all the sympathy. Uggggghhhhhh---i can already see/hear it now!

3.The huge cast of characters--AB has already said it will be a crazy and wild ride  ( again)  and it looks like, it but there will also be A LOT of characters next season ,all needing air time. It makes me worried the stories will be all over the place, with none of them being given the depth they need to truly develop.  I soooo want to like this show, the potential is there to be great but I am afraid  AB is going more for the shock and awe!

OK-my rant is also over!

The stripper girlfriend thing doesn't bother me much because I think it may be used as a ploy to further reveal Eric's interest in Sookie.  He might be with this vamp stripper only to realize that he doesn't want to be with anyone but Sookie, and perhaps other vamps (the stripper included) will notice this as well.

This is how I'm hoping it will be played out as well. Again, the really limited screen time/lines makes me think that their sexual relationship can't be a huge plot point & is more of a background/framing device to set up something between Eric & Sookie. Perhaps to show, once again, that Eric doesn't hide who/what he is, but that doesn't change his feelings about Sookie.

Or, the other thing I was thinking is that perhaps she will be used to provide an alibi for Eric during the kidnapping...since he may not want to come out and say that he was with the queen.

Do you think that Bill's little facebook-for-vamps project will come up at all in the show? Or is that basically being replaced by the V plotline?
 

 So I can see AB and all the Bill lovers absolving Bill of any blame because of the severity of the torture. If Sookie leaves Bill ( and esp. takes up with Eric eventually) she will be the unsympathetic character and Bill will have all the sympathy. Uggggghhhhhh---i can already see/hear it now!

Wow, I hope that doesn't happen. Sookie is the main character, so I assume that Ball and Co. will do everything possible to make her sympathetic. I think Bill's facebook for vampires is going to be saved for another time, perhaps, I think season 3 is going to be V sales all the time.

none of them being given the depth they need to truly develop

the potential is there to be great but I am afraid AB is going more for the shock and awe!

You are so right. Those are my fears exactly. AB needs to tame it down a bit. I think it would have been best to explore certain characters more in certain episodes or seasons rather than dividing time up each episode. Even if it evened out in the end, I feel like the affect would have been stronger had it been done differently.

A good example is Heroes, that show has so many characters. But by the end of season 1 I completely knew them. I understood them, and saw their depths. How low and high they will go. But those writers did what worked best for the strongest affect of understanding and connecting, in season 1 there is one episode that is all about Claire and her family. It was amazing because something so sad and big was happening that it would have weakened the affect had they skipped over to even one other story, so they didn't. Some episodes have more of certain characters and that's okay, because it is best for the story. Whatever character has the biggest story going gets the most time pretty much, Claire is the main one and usually gets the most time, but not always, and that's because she is the one who is best connected to the others. She is the center and is linked to everyone else, so they work around her. But when things are calm for her, we don't see much of her. Sorry to go off in detail but that just seemed like a good example to me on a show with multiple characters that successfully gave them depth.

On TB so much has happened so quickly that I know how everyone of these characters react in a crisis. But it's been so long since I've seen any of them happy or truly at peace. Things need to calm down I think, even for just one episode because their reactions in a crisis are definitive but so are their reactions to serenity. That's how you give a character depth. You see them in all kinds of situations, settings, and positions, not just bad, exciting, scary, tramatic, or uncomfortable.

Another part of the problem is that when things are really heating up for Sookie, they are also heating up for Sam, Tara, Jason, and almost every other character. It loses the reality when every single character is fighting for their lives at the same time and they're not even in the same state. I mean really, what are the chances? I've always heard that one of the main rules of fiction is to not rely to strongly on coincidence and I think that's what AB is doing. He tries so hard to make it exciting that he just stuffs it in there, everywhere he can. He needs to make it a bit more sublte, and not be afriad of a little suspence.

Another thing I would like to see is more symbollic storytelling. If they chose a theme for each episode, or a moral, they could use that to represent what some characters are going through physically and others emotionally. Next season is going to be a bit crazy for Sookie, so I'd like to see things in Bon Temps fairly normal,on the outside at least. I know Tara will be torn up, but I don't want another Maryann you know? It's good to balance the excitement with normal. It can be symbollic, like what Sookie is physically going through after being staked could help represent Tara's emotional turmoil over Eggs. If we saw Sookie laying in the bed all bloody, it could clip to Tara lying down exactly the same way (without the blood of course) and you would know that they're feeling the same amount of pain. Sookie is feeling Tara's hopelessness like she'll lose Bill like Tara lost Eggs, and Tara is feeling heartbreak to the physical extent that Sookie is feeling that stake in her side. I doubt it will happen that way, that was just the first example that came to mind.

 Sorry for such a long post, you guys know I just can't shut up sometimes.

It can be symbollic, like what Sookie is physically going through after being staked could help represent Tara's emotional turmoil over Eggs. If we saw Sookie laying in the bed all bloody, it could clip to Tara lying down exactly the same way (without the blood of course) and you would know that they're feeling the same amount of pain. Sookie is feeling Tara's hopelessness like she'll lose Bill like Tara lost Eggs, and Tara is feeling heartbreak to the physical extent that Sookie is feeling that stake in her side.

That is a beautiful example. I love it when a T.V. show does that, it adds a lot of depth and emotion to the characters involved. I love what you said about a moral for each episode too. To some extent I think AB and co. try to do that for some their eps. but fall short. But I'm hoping the get some new writers on the team who have a really good understanding of the books but know when to take creative liberties for the show.

Like we we're saying above, most of us love "I Will Rise Up" and everything in that ep. except for two scenes was different from the books. We book lovers aren't all sticklers about wanting TB to be a carbon copy of the books, we accept and love the differences between the two as long as (as AB keeps saying) the "spirit" of the books is respected. We have more than proven that we are not without reason when it comes to the translation from page to T.V. But I feel AB just doesn't see it the way the majority of the fans do. Still, since this is only the second season he still has time to fix that.

Things need to calm down I think, even for just one episode because their reactions in a crisis are definitive but so are their reactions to serenity. That's how you give a character depth. You see them in all kinds of situations, settings, and positions, not just bad, exciting, scary, tramatic, or uncomfortable.

So true, so true. Slow episodes can be the best too. When the show takes a step back and the characters evaluate what has happened to them so far. That was how "I Will Rise Up" was like kinda. It dealt with the aftermath of "Timebomb," there wasn't much action.

Sometimes I get scared at how fast AB is moving things. how long has it been since the very first episode ("Strange Love")? Two months? Two and a half? If I'm right, wow...when are these characters going to get a break...

Sorry for such a long post, you guys know I just can't shut up sometimes.

I love your long posts Ashley! Your rants are always fun to read!  

Thank you Sam!

You're right about the timing. Things need to slooow down.

And yes "I Will Rise Up" was probably my favorite episode ever. Like you said, it wasn't about the action, the surroundings or the circusmtances, it was about the characters, it was them just trying to deal with it all. It had heart, not just a lot of sex, dialogue, or action.

One of my favorite scenes in Season 1 was after Sookie's gran dies and she's lying in bed, it shows Tara and Lafayette just sitting in the living room thinking and then it shows Bill standing outside of Sookie's window, playing "Lulllaby" in the background.

I am not a Bill fan, but that scene was beautiful. It was sad, and sweet, all at the same time without them having to tell us. That was before I read the books so I didn't know Bill,  and as far as that episode I liked Bill, and in that moment I believed he loved her. I felt like that was more genuine than all of the scenes of them declaring themselves.

I hate when TV treats us like we're stupid, like we can't pick up on things that are implied. Bill didn't tell Sookie he loved her in that episode (not that I can recall), but I sure as heck believed it at the time. Certain TB writers have a talent for the subtle and deep apparently and I really wish they would take that route more often.

BTW I really don't want to sound like a Bill lover, I was merely complimenting the feel of that episode. The genuineness of it. Just like in "I Will Rise Up".

And...because I love you guys...

A discussion between Alan Ball and the writers at the Paley Cente from earlier tonight!

The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills is hosting a True Blood writers panel this evening, featuring Alan Ball, Alexander Woo, Nancy Oliver, Brian Buckner, Kate Barnow, and Elisabeth Finch. The panel is being moderated by PopWatch’s Alynda Wheat. As usual we have operatives in place to report back to us with juicy tidbits in advance of a full report coming later. The panel begins at 7PM PT; keep refreshing for the latest and beware of spoilers!

On the Red Carpet

* Raelle Tucker’s favorite character to write for – currently – is Jessica.
* Alexander Woo says that the scenes at the Fellowship of the Sun when the vampires and humans are fighting were among his favorites to shoot.
* Alan Ball claims that all of the characters are his “babies”, but he especially likes writing for Jason. Alan also reveals that his favorite parts of season 2 include “the growing sexual attraction between Eric and Sookie, the Dionysian revelry, and Jason watching Sarah.”
* Alan confirms that Alcide will appear beginning in episode 3.03. He has not yet been cast.
* Regarding Bubba, Alan says that he loves the character in the books, but “because he’s Elvis there’s no way we can do it” on the show.

The Panel

* Alan says he’s not a fan of stunt casting. Looks like Snoop Dogg won’t be getting his wish.
* Alan thinks episode 1.05, “Sparks Fly Out”, is where True Blood hit its stride.
* Alan: “I will admit to oftentimes saying, ‘Come on, can we just get his [Ryan Kwanten's] shirt off?’”
* Nancy Oliver feels lucky to be on pay cable because pretty much anything goes. “We can do a story about priapism.”
* Our girl Raelle Tucker on Sookie: “What makes Sookie an amazing character is that she feels as though she has a disability, she feels hopelessly flawed.”
* Alexander Woo says True Blood fans are the best looking fans in the world. (Yeah we are!) Brian Buckner says he has to hide from fans, Alan appreciates the enthusiasm, and Raelle thinks True Blood fans have great costumes.
* Raelle reveals a soft spot for Lafayette: “I am a dirty little slut for Lafayette, even if I’m not his type.”
* Expanding on comments made on the red carpet, Alan says he enjoys writing for Jason and Lafayette, Raelle enjoys writing for Hoyt and Jessica, and Brian likes writing for Eric.
* Alan knows what the fans want: “Alexander Skarsgard appears without most of his clothes in the very first episode of S3.”
* We find out where Bill is in episode 3.01.
* Fans in the audience are expressing their unhappiness with Evan Rachel Wood as Sophie-Anne. Alan takes it in stride.
* Nothing new coming out of the fan part of the Q&A: lots of new characters in season 3, including possibility of the Newlins; Maryann is totally dead; the theme for season 3 is “identity”; Sookie will be driven to find out more about what/who she is/
* Ah, some reassurance for Team Bill: “Bill will not be marginalized. Bill and Sookie will have troubles, but Bill and Sookie have a connection that will not die.”
* And something else for Team Eric: Alan confirms that Eric will get amnesia in season 4.
* The fans gave Alan a standing ovation for the last scene of Six Feet Under.
* Alan says we’ll see more Pam and Nan Flanagan in season 3, groans at mention of pink spandex.
* Godric’s death scene was partially live, partially green screen and they got it in only two takes!
* Alan confirms that we’ll see Godric again in flashbacks in season 3.
* Alan also confirmed that season 3 will launch in June 2010.

I thought about getting tickets to this event, but they were too expensive.

And what's this most of his clothes business. Couldn't they get all of them off.

He's going to do the amnesia storyline....oh lordy I zoned out after that.  I'll start running the water lol.

I know! I'm super happy that Eric will be getting amnesia! Maybe no shower scene, but still amnesia as a major character development plot point!

How insulting is it that AB assumes all Eric and Eric/Sookie fans want is to see Alex Skarsgard without his kit. I'll admit it's a bonus, but I'd far rather he had 10 mins. that showed his acting chops than 10 mins. that just showed his ass. Mind you that's assuming that AB leaves us anything of Eric's character to develop. Given the changes that he's already made that's got to be a worry.

Hmmm, true. Alex is a very good actor. I would like to see him act more, but also be naked. Hmm... how to balance the two... could he possibly be performing a Shakespearian sonnet in the buff to Sookie while in the shower with the pink spandex hanging in the background? HAHA!

Well we could settle for 7 mins. of one vs 3 mins. of the other.

in which proportion? Haha! I Will Rise Up did such a good job with balancing all the requirements!

geefull- My thoughts exactly, I actually have a post very similar somewhere around here. AB thinks we're shallow, when really he's the shallow one. I love AS, I love looking at him, but he is a good actor he has other assets and they need to let him use them.

Detailed report of the Writers Paley Panel-  The Futon Critic 

Saw this on IMDB:

  Twitter update from the Paley Center...Alan Ball: "Alexander Skarsgard appears without most of his clothes in the very first episode of S3."

As much as I love seeing AS with not much on..I would guess it may be a scene with him and the queen..I doubt Sookie is in the mood for Viking love or Viking dreams with Bill being kidnapped..But, I guess only time will tell..Damn you AB and your wicked ways..

Maybe it's with that pole dancer AB is going to add to the show.

AB will be offering to go on the honeymoon with Stephen and Anna next. Yuk!

It all sounds promising. At least he's giving us sex with Eric even though he seems totally against Eric/Sookie pairing up any time soon. Personally I liked this casting call bit:

COOTER AKA "COOT": In his 30s, menacing, the ringleader of the F*ck You Crew, he and his biker thugs take turns stabbing Bill and feeding on him. Coot hates being told what to do...VERY STRONG RECURRING  

I will have a sick bucket ready for the scene where Bill and Sookie reunite though.

yes, gross. it will be uber schmoopie. and i will share that bucket with you.

Maybe they won't have much time together, maybe they will be in a hurry like the book and their time together will be in the trunk when he's draining her and raping her. We can only hope... But knowing TB Sookie she'll just smile and tell him she still has the ring on her finger *gag*.

We know that Bill can move and stay awake during the daytime because of hat crap he pulled in season 1, running in the sunlight to save Sookuh. It may be difficult, but surely he could make it to the trunk. It kind of takes away from the urgency since we know that he won't die immidiately and that he actually can stay awake.

I don't know what AB could possibly mean about Sookie and Bill still having a lasting connection if he is doing the amnesia storyline...I think he HAS to do the trunk scene (even if it's just draining and leaves out the rape) so that he can set up why they're apart even if Sookie still thinks she has feelings for Bill.

But then again, it also seems like he's ramping up to reveal about Bill and the Queen sooner than later, so maybe that will happen instead of the trunk. I will now spend hours debating this with myself.

Sookie and Bill still have a connection in the books, but it isn't a love relationship.

Has this been posted yet? AB says that Bill won't be away for long. Shame.

  So what about Bill's big secret, that he only went to Bon Temps and became close to Sookie on the orders of Queen Sophie-Anne? Will that ever be revealed? Ball says yes. "I can't say when it will be discovered, but it definitely will be," he says. "We are definitely aware of that as we're breaking the stories, and have been from the beginning of the show."

Ball says that marital bliss is not in the cards for Sookie and Bill. "There is somebody who wants a wedding, but it's not who you think it is," teases Ball. "I don't think you'll see that wedding actually happen."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/True-Blood-Sookie-1011357.aspx

"There is somebody who wants a wedding, but it's not who you think it is," teases Ball.

  Is Eric dreaming of wedding bells? Hahaha kidding.

It's probably just AB dreaming of marrying SM.

All his teasing drove me mad last season and most of the stuff he teased us about amounted to nothing.

It's probably just AB dreaming of marrying SM.  

LOL. Too true.

the wedding bells is probably Arlene again. boring.

also - i find it ridiculous that they still haven't casted Alcide...isn't filming starting in December?

"There is somebody who wants a wedding, but it's not who you think it is," teases Ball.

or maybe referencing jason/crystal? 

Yea, Jason is probably it. Afterall, he is such a slut, the people who just watch the show wouldn't see it coming.

and we know they're casting Calvin for this season if I recall correctly...so having Crystal in there wouldn't be too far off I suppose.

Jason's back to whoring about. There's a three-some for him. Maybe the wedding is Jane Bodehouse's. After all she got nearly as much screen time as Eric last season.

Jason's back to whoring about. There's a three-some for him.

Seriously? I am so sick of seeing that boy get laid. I get it! He is a whore. He sleeps around a lot. Ugh give that boy a story or get him off the screen.

 After all she got nearly as much screen time as Eric last season

And yea, that's downright insulting to AS's acting ability, and CH for the character she created.

K.  I just read this: http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b151421_attention_true_blood_fans_youll_get.html

Does anyone ever wonder what AB/TB writers were aiming for when they had Godric ask Sookie if she would "take care of him (Eric) for me"?  That was major foreshadowing to me, something I don't think AB would have allowed unless it lent itself to the plot further down the road.  So. Hmmmmmm.  Also, this whole "Bill and Sookie will have a rough patch that lasts longer than some fans would like" doesn't mean that they are going to stay together in the long run.  Maybe Sookie will help find Bill and they will reunite, but she's still going to get the bomb dropped in future seasons (maybe season 4?) when she discovers Bill's manipulation of her and his efforts to seduce her for the Queen.  I dunno.  UGH.  I just want June to be here already! 

Maybe the wedding is Jane Bodehouse's. After all she got nearly as much screen time as Eric last season.

Oh god, you're right. Jeez! The town drunk who is only mentioned in every other book got almost equal screen time as one of the male leads. What has T.V. come to?

Jason's back to whoring about. There's a three-some for him.

Seriously? I am so sick of seeing that boy get laid. I get it! He is a whore. He sleeps around a lot. Ugh give that boy a story or get him off the screen. 

Couldn't agree more. Really? A three-some? I get bored watching him have non stop sex with one girl how will I bare two? Maybe if its implied sex, like they did with Bill and Sookie this past season. Jason can keep having sex but it doesn't have to take up the precious minutes for the other storylines. We can see a sex scene or two with him and the rest can be implied. I could live with that until his panther story.

yes the whole jane bodehouse cutting her finger off.. i couldve gone for a little more eric over that nasty sheett

Just read the previous posts.. WOW!! I missed alot.. Didn't know about the stripper Yvetta  when I saw the IMDB posting.. I really think AB does not understand Eric fans at all.. It's a love story between Eric and Sookie that is so sexy and enticing..not how often can we see Eric (or AS) nude..Yes of course we all want to see AS nude..But, if that's all he thinks draw us to the character of Eric I am scared.. The fact that he says Bill fans won't like the lenth of time they will be broken up is annoying..Hell yeah it should be long time.. so far it should be up to season 9 that they are broken up.. and what's this about rough patches..he needs to cut the Bill and Sookie love feast and start doing his damn job..Which is bringing CH's books to television in a way that she and book fans can be proud of.. I get so mad everytime he opens his mouth about the show it seems..grrr.. But on a positive note glad to see they wil follow the amnesia storyline.Maybe if AB throws us a bone he will give Eric & Sookie a chance to bond during that time.. Glad to hear we'll get more Pam. Thank god.. and also that Bill will be in the mansion..But why on earth would Eric be naked with a stripper when Sookie and the whole town is in danger? ..I know AB thinks Eric only cares about himself.. but, that's a bit much even for AB..I mean he said we will find out where Eric was during the Maryann part of the finale in the first episode and we couldn't see it in the finale since it would give things away.. Maybe Eric is with the stripper after all that goes down..but i'm assuming Sookie will run to Eric after Bill gets kidnapped so after she goes to Eric when will he have time to be with the stripper?..Ahhh.. unless when Sookie gets to Fangtasia to ask Eric for help he is with Yvetta..that of course will disgust Sookie and make Eric act defensive and cold towards her..AB loves that.. Once again I am willing to hold out some hope that AB won't screw us Eric lovers over in season 3.. Am I nothing but a fool?

As much as I would love Sookie to run straight to Eric from the resturaunt, I'm not sure it's gonna happen. (Though that is her reaction in trouble, call Eric haha). Anyway, who's to say that Sookie will even know Bill was kidnapped right away? She may think he left. I'm working on a theory I have, it's pretty long, but I'm trying to work out to make sense. Anyway it starts there, I'll post when I get a chance.

I have no hope for AB to do the books justice. And if he tries to out do this last season, what kind of fucked up mess are we going to be subjected to? He doesn't seem to get Eric at all.

He doesn't seem to get Eric at all.

Or the fans of Eric.

Absolutely true.

I was thinking today about what AB said that Sookie and Bill will have a lasting connection that will never die. I think this could be a very clever statement. In AB's world the blood bond appears to happen the 1st time the human drinks the vamps blood ( not anything like the books). So if you go by that of course they will always have a connection, just like Eric will always have a connection. So AB could take this in any direction( and not be lying). He can and probably will have them as his HEA. But if he doesn't and Sookie ends with someone else, she still has a connection with Bill( and whoever else she drinks from). Am I making sense?

And he's her next door neighbor, and even in the books they are remaining friendly (while he lurks in the forest listening to her have sex).

(while he lurks in the forest listening to her have sex).

I guess Sookie thinks that's what friends are for hahahaha.

But yes, LKC, you make a good point. I like that because it goes perfectly with what I think of AB, he's a big trickster. He's very crafty in his statements.

At Paley the other day, Ball was asked a question about the blood bond between Eric and Sookie. The person asking referenced "a blood exchange three times like it is in the books" or some such and Ball was surprised.  He said "I thought a blood bond was just when the human takes the blood of the vampire" (Can he really be this stupid?  I doubt it, I think he's just reading what he wants to read).

So in his mind Bill and Sookie, Eric and Sookie, and Eric and Lafayette all have a "blood bond" and the show is not going to differentiate between a bond as we know it in the books, and a tie.

It is also inherently obvious to me after hearing him say that, that Alan Ball has no effing clue what he is doing.

I agree with you AP - in view of that statement there is little hope that he will ever do the books justice, and I also think that Bill is the HEA in his world and Eric will never be anything more than a fling and a pain in Bill's arse.

It's painfully obvious that he didn't read the books. He probably had an assistant read them and give him a summary. That's why he doesn't understand Eric...or Sookie for that matter. Maybe he read the first book which is why he has a hard on for Bill.

There's also the blood bond between Sam and Bill as well. Cue loads of pervy dreams in season 3. AB's driving the bus but doesn't really know where he's going.

I'm especially looking forward to Sam and Bill's bond.

I expect it will be conveniently forgotten about. Can't have St Bill appearing in homoerotic dreams now can we?

Oh of course how could I forget about Sam and Bill?!  My bet is that it will be forgotten about as well.

Can't have St Bill appearing in homoerotic dreams now can we?

I don't think AB would have any problem with that. 

In defense of TB and AB, the man lies like a rug and screws with his audience.  A lot.  I can't get too worked up about what could go wrong, unless we get a bunch of back to back episodes with no plot forwarding and a wussy Sookie.

That is really my main complaint about the series.  In Six Feet Under, all the strong women were crazy as shit house rats and the others would come off as shrewish or hysterical when they put their foot down.  I think his Sookie is following the same path.  Book Sook is impulsive and immature, but not a hysteric (usually) or a nut case.  The other stuff (Bill vs. Eric, especially) I can reserve judgment on until I see either being canonized or completely vilified, neither of which either deserves.

That made sense in my head at least.

Book Sook isimpulsive and immature, but not a hysteric (usually) or a nut case.

The writing team REALLY needs someone to stick up for Sookie...in that Paley Center talk several of them mentioned their favorite characters to write for, and if I recall correctly not a single one of them said Sookie. She's the main character! Come on!

The writing team REALLY needs someone to stick up for Sookie...in that Paley Center talk several of them mentioned their favorite characters to write for, and if I recall correctly not a single one of them said Sookie. She's the main character! Come on!

Damn. That's just lame. It shows though. It so totally shows.

But here's a questions - do you think it's more b'c of the actor behind the part? That they enjoy writing Jason (for example) more b'c Ryan is such an amazing actor & it's not about the character as much as what the actor is giving to the role via the words & actions dictated?

I mean that must be a huge since of pride & achievement as a writer to see an actor embrace your material & not only grasp the nuance you intended but make it better & enhance it so your work shines.

wow, i've just found out about the Yvetta girl.. Now I know what I'll be dreaming about tonight because I'm from Czech :-D its a pity that they dont know that Czechoslovakia split 16 years ago.. (or maybe she is a vamp?)

What I really dislike is their accents I can testify as a person from the south they really are over-loaded and make the characters look too hick imo.

ita w/ sanomara AB said in the commentary on the DVD that they were going to be true to the plot that Bill has another "interest" in Sookie so I can see him changing things up after that is revealed...but who knows he's screwed up quite a few Eric/Sookie moments already.

eric is not in the show as much as he is the book

But here's a questions - do you think it's more b'c of the actor behind the part? That they enjoy writing Jason (for example) more b'c Ryan is such an amazing actor & it's not about the character as much as what the actor is giving to the role via the words & actions dictated?

I think you're right, I'm sure the actors have a lot to do with it...it just stuck out to me when I think about how disappointed a lot of fans of the books are with Sookie's portrayal on the show (how she's lacking in depth and is very dependent on Bill etc.), to hear that none of the writers counted her as a favorite to write for. 

Yeah, I hear you. It's very revealing.

I think the only female I've liked has been Isabel. Tara was good in the first season, awful in the second.

You know what bothers me is Jessica, i was really upset when they brought her in.  And during an interview at comicon her and Alex Skarsgard "hinted" at a potential relationship btw those two, now i dont know if that is true or not.

I've hated Jessica, liked Jessica, and may be hating her again. It's the uneven writing.

I just don't think Jessica has much of a purpose anymore. Sometimes her story is entertaining, but come on what is Bill? Mr. Mom?

I agree Ancient Pythoness, Isabel was great. And Pam of course, they couldn't have done better.

i would HATE to have her with Eric.  I guess she was fine with Hoyt...but i still dont like how they added her.  I love Pam and I cannot wait to see her on a killing spree on TB.  Hopefully!

I like Jessica as she stands now at the end of season 2...at first I found her quite annoying, but she grew on me. BUT I would have a serious problem with AB creating a romantic relationship between Eric and any of the other main characters. I wouldn't even mind so much for Eric to be involved with some random person the bring in (see: the stripper), but it would really upset me and destroy a lot of what i believe to be Eric's fundamental character for him to get romantically/sexually involved with someone else from Sookie's life.

But then again, they could have a non-romantic "relationship." Bill is locked up all season so SOMEONE has to watch out for her, right? Or maybe that's why she's of on the killing spree, b/c no one thought to check up on her...

I'd be happy if Jessica ran away, she was entertaining sometimes while she was there, but there is enough story to be told in the next season that I'd rather them not waste any time on her. BTW am I the only one who thinks she is way to old to play a teenage girl?

I don't know how old she is, but she just doesn't look young enough to me.

Yes I would agree she does not look like the little high schoolers running around in my neighborhood.

And sometimes I think she overplays "immature" because she's trying to compensate for being entirely too mature. That drives me crazy when actors do that. You're a teeanger, not a toddler. (Though sometimes there isn't much difference) usually, there is.

I just really dont like her though, and I really hated the whole MA thing and getting the town crazy.  I just dont rember in the book that creature being so obsessed with Sam.  I know they have to go off the story but i wish they would stick the story lines from the book for each character..maybe i am alone on this one

I don't know how I could have forgotten Pam. I need to punish myself immediately

Actors in their 30s sometimes play teens. It's always silly.

its ok, we all forget someone sometimes

Haha I guess it goes without saying that both TB Pam and book Pam are awesome. No punishment required for what is assumed lol.

And yes, I remember watching shows when I was younger, maybe 13, and it was completely believable (appearance wise) when I was younger than those characters. But now that I've been their age it's completely hilarious. I'm thinking okay no sixteen year old looks like that! Haha.

In defense of Jessica (as a character), keep in mind that she was extremely sheltered.  That can lead to extremely immature rebellion when the reins are loosened.  I personally thought that things were starting to get better for her and "losing" Hoyt brought that rebellion back, not to mention the fact that St. Bill left her (a new vamp with poor impulse control) alone with out any blood.  Duh!

I liked Jessica early in S2 (after hating her for the mere fact she existed at the end of S1) but now I am indifferent.

Her fate is tied to Bill's and because I don't care about him, I find it hard to care about her.

Harsh, but true.

HAHA well I suppose that is true.  I just think that whole having to be a creator for payment was dumb, I really dont see how she "adds" to the show b/c I think ti is just one more character they are going to have to keep up with and take away from the E/S Love

I agree sanomara I grew up the way she did so I can totally see her actions being relevant.  At first I didn't like her, then I did, now I just don't know I guess time will tell.  I thought the scene with her and the trucker was a projection of Hoyt's imagining what she would do.

That's how I feel EricLover, no matter how her actions or feelings are justified, in the end her presence is just getting in the way because like Aaine said, I just can't care too much about what's going with her. I've laughed some and caught myself interested, but overall, I'm just not crazy about her being there. I personally feel like she doesn't fit well enough with the overeall story.

Last season I felt like we saw way more Jessica than Eric or Pam, and I hate that. It's because Jessica lives with Bill but still, they of course branched off into her own story, and what do you know? Jessica is yet another character with another story who is taking up time.

patriciao02173- That's a really cool idea. I hadn't even thought of that. Though I wouldn't put it past her character to actually do it, that's a cool theory.

I just want to skip to season 4 *insert smiley with fangs and dripping blood*

Haha I am pretty excited about Season 4.

I know, I love the idea of AE on TB...GOD can you imagine the shower scene!!!!!

I wanna know if we will see Bubba in S3?

Also can they can they get rid of eggs please?  He is just more trouble then he's worth.

Ball said no Bubba =(

david ball is a douche!

He is just screwing up a great series.  This is the problem with Hollywood.  Did we really need Mary Anne?  Hell no!  There was so much good stuff in

the second book he could of just used the source material, and it would of been awesome!

12 'new' season 3 spoilers from AB and the writers.

 Ball confirmed that the arc of Bill's kidnapping will last "about six episodes. 

As for Eric, he's still not listening apparently.

Fans keep demanding more screen time for Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), but the writers won't indulge them. "You know, what's funny is that he's in the first two books; he's a fairly minor character in Sookie's universe," Tucker said. "There's a lot of fan pressure that they're supposed to be this big romantic thing, which actually in Charlaine [Harris]'s books doesn't happen until much, much further down. I think if we did that, we'd probably bore them all to death. I think part of the magic of Eric is some of the mystery of Eric and the inaccessibility of Eric. I think you don't want to turn them into the nice romantic love interest who's in every scene. I think his danger is important, so not just throwing him up whenever somebody wants to see his bare chest is actually a more disciplined approach."  

http://scifiwire.com/2009/11/12-big-ass-spoilers-for-t.php

OHH wow!! Well hopefully during those 6 episodes Sookie will learn to hate Bill

Funny how AB has no problems throwing up everyone else's bare chest though.

I think if we did that, we'd probably bore them all to death.

Like they are doing now with Bill?

I think his danger is important, so not just throwing him up whenever somebody wants to see his bare chest is actually a more disciplined approach.

Sooo not getting it! Who said I wanted to see the man naked (I do, but that isn't the point)? I just want to see him act.

I agree Bill is boring...he is in the show way to much, if they are changing everything write him out!!!

I think if we did that, we'd probably bore them all to death.

Because we weren't bored by the maenad story at all AB. As if any of the fans will be bored by Eric. Good grief, someone needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

Maybe this is actually kind of a good thing. They have Bill and Sookie all romantic and deep right now, so I doubt once they break up (which I am suspecting they do this coming season) the writers will give them that same relationship again. It would be even more boring if they did that. Them wanting to wait on the E/S relationship is better for us in the long run.

Now that being said, they actually have to give them some scenes together that are real!!! Not all these dream sequences, which are great but not furthering them in any kind of friendship or romantic interest, because its one-sided on Sookie's part. For them to build up these two characters we need to see them together and interacting with each other! Not just in the same room but not really talking to each other like they had them do several times in S2.

Ughh! Just saw this on the Vault. AB just does not get it or dose not  care. Dosen't anyone from the writers team check out the internet? How many more Eric sites are there vs. any other character? I know for myself I don't care if he hooks up with TB Sookie-cause face it, she's a mess.But you could still give us Eric and we will be happy. But if he keeps playing this shit there won't be a season 4 because a lot of fans won't be sticking around. And doesn't he know how many Eric fans there are out there now who aren't bookies?

Does he realize how many "trubies" are being converted into "bookies" once they read the books? My research tells me: No, he has no idea.

I'm not too bothered about seeing Eric and Sookie getting it on as I really don't like AP's terrible version of Sookie. I quite like the knowing looks he gives her and the remarks. We know something is brewing, but what I want to see is more Eric on screen because AS is the best thing in the show. I don't really care about the two of them together as a couple. I still don't think AB gets that. He just sees it as fans baying for them to get together.

After reading this statement about Eric (yet another one where the writer/AB are moaning about us irritating them with Eric and Sookie) I have come to realize that no matter what we say, or what we do, they are not going to change their 'tude about Eric. It seems they are pretty hell bent on him and Sookie not becoming a "thing" or even a love interest until much later in the series. Idiots. Our only hope is to make our voices heard enough that HBO will pressure them into revealing more about Eric than what's under his clothes.

So, what are they going to do about season 4? I mean after all these statements about E/S not getting together anytime soon are they just not including all the episodes Eric will have amnesia?

I guess we also have to keep in mind how much they love to throw us off so there will be tension.

Also not liking how they describe Sophie Anne and then in contrast they have Russel the King of Miss. as mature, a thinker, powerful. Does AB have any idea how to write/portray strong female characters who are NOT psychotic, snarly bitches, alcoholics, co dependants, delusional, etc.?

I think AB has mommy issues...

Sooo not getting it! Who said I wanted to see the man naked (I do, but that isn't the point)? I just want to see him act.

I second this. 

is there a way we can petition HBO to possibly get rid of AB or convince him you need to give the fans what they want?

Wow, just finished reading that article....all of that just sounded so terrible, I don't even know where to start.

I guess off the top of my head, the SA comment is the most ridiculous. Seriously, even if she ACTS like Lohan, there has to be more to her underneath or else she wouldn't have risen to such a position of power. Unless Ball has decided that the vampire Queendom is determined by some sort of reality TV competition?

OMG that article is a joke.  WTF are they thinking.  Adding a new character INSTEAD of Bubba?!?!?!  Teasing with Eric?!?!?!  How does he not see that in the books Eric and Sookie have sexual tension HELLO AT RUSSEL'S HOUSE!  Ohh they make me want to scream!!!  I wish I could slap some sense into AB.

and why cant they at least give Eric time with Pam..he is so much better than Bill and we are going to have to watch the interaction of Bill's capture, why not learn how Fangtasia is run?

also just don't get me started on Sookie having "more powers"

Oh I know...i did not know the fae had magical powers like that. And what about Jason...he was influenced by MA but not Sookie...can we say CONSISTANCY!!!!

Adding a new character INSTEAD of Bubba?!?!?!

If I recall from the casting calls I've seen posted here & elsewhere, "Tommy Mickins" is Sam's little brother. Not sure if he'll be a shifter as well, since who knows how Ball will interpret the way CH has that passed... 

Woo is writing the new character of Tommy Mickens, who will make a huge impact on our favorite characters. "Tommy Mickens is someone I don't want to reveal too much about, because I don't want to ruin the surprise," Woo said. "He's a completely new character, but he plays very prominently in the emotional life of at first one and then, later, several other of our characters. He'll be the first domino to push the rest."

 Still, why have him and not Bubba?  I mean who is going to kill the were and leave him in the closet?   

HAHA this is true, we definitely need to see "Bill's" Sookie hide a body, right?

oh TB i think is ruining everything CH has developed...changing it all

They are prob going to have Tommy fall in love with Sookie just to screw with us more

I mean...I can handle the changes when they make sense. The thing that drives me nuts is when they do things that are just sensational and don't make sense in the broader context of the story or in terms of developing the characters. Like MA...nobody even remembers that, so what was the point of having it happen? It was just filler.

You are right, it is just for filler.  SOmetimes I think the "shock" factor they are attempting, but i do not think it is really compelling people to keep watching the show.  If they wanted to increase the ratings and the fan bases and what not then they should stick to the script.

And what is up with the helmet stuff...that just seems like it is going to be dumb also

i was planning to just never acknowledge the helmet thing. that is absurd. although, the one they have pictured is kinda badass ha

And what is up with the helmet stuff...that just seems like it is going to be dumb also

That is an example of when writers indulge themselves. If they can pull it off, cudos. But really, this is them admitting that they're little inside jokes can have a major influence on the show.

LOL I just cant imagine how a helmet could be a freaking theme!  I still think that SA dealing V is just crazy and I dont see why they are making her so out there in the show and not afraid it is going to bore us more than "eric/sookie".

If they go too crazy I'll be SO disappointed.  I really don't know what else to say.  Why would they not want to please fans though?  That's just dumb.

I still think that SA dealing V is just crazy

About the only way I can imagine this playing out *well* is if SA is selling the V as a means of tracking users or something along those lines.

Since Eric told SA he would "take care of" Bill on this matter, I'm hoping that will be the motivation for him to send Sookie to Jackson (and follow her there...and give her his blood in a sexy way ha). He doesn't want to tell SA that Bill is missing, in the same way he didn't want her to know he was missing in the books b/c of the Facebook-for-Vamps.

facebook for vamps?  I guess i dont rememebr that

the database =) I like to think of it as vamp FB ha

Just playing devil's advocate here...but maybe...hopefully, AB will do the new character Tommy Mickens the justice he did Lafayette.

And the facebook for vamps is the database that Bill was working on for the Queen.  I think Zavrrr....it would make sense that the dealing replaces the database as the reason why Eric would not want to tell the queen that Bill is missing

sorry - meant to say *i think you are right Zavrrr

Yeah, sorry when I was saying that about him being Sam's brother I meant that hopefully he will be a good character...actually help develop Sam's character and teach us more about shifters in the TB world etc.

that would be great if they do that.  Something good to come from all the crazy.  I dont remember Sam being adopted in the books, maybe I just over looked that fact.

No he wasn't...if you remember in DAG his mom is remarried but he goes to TX to visit her after she is shot by her husband and sees his brother & sister as well.

i do rememerb thats why i get confused.

I think they could expand on Sam more by dealing wiht his mom and his secret from his bro and sis

ha np...ok i have to do three job applications now before i am allowed to check back here...sigh

goodluck!!!!

I think if we did that, we'd probably bore them all to death.

 Nope, but I really appreciate the writers