bop_radar | True Blood 1.08 and 1.09

Current Mood: awake
Current Location: sofa of comfiness

Entry tags:

true blood

True Blood 1.08 and 1.09

I didn't get a chance to post on last week's True Blood episode but I did natter in

taragel's journal about it. And I'm still besotted with this show.

WOW is staking/vampire death disgusting in this universe! Wow. I don't know what this show is going to do to my nightmares, but I must say I was grateful for the comedic framing because otherwise I might have been hurling like Ginger... But with Pam standing by looking so bored, and poor Sookie all blood-soaked, it was hard to take it too seriously.

I have very conflicted feelings about Eric and Pam. On the one hand, I find Pam especially extremely charismatic and interesting. On the other hand they are SCARY. Glamouring Ginger so much she's got hardly any sense of self left... that's really creepy. They were cool in Merlotte's though, and very funny. I am interested in Eric's claim that they know who killed the vampires and can tell when someone has wronged one of their kind. It may be all talk, but it could have truth in it. And I'm beginning to wonder who among the vampires IS on board with the mainstream Nan Flanigan brigade... Eric's scathing retort about Bill being their 'poster boy' is interesting. He's the only 'mainstreaming' vamp we've met, but surely there must be lots of them if they've gone public? And they can't all be getting in trouble like Bill, can they?

Equally conflicted feelings regarding Bill. He is clearly lying to Sookie and that worries me. When he's with other vampires he capitulates completely and it seems like he's told Sookie next to nothing of the vampire politics which are evidently a Very Big Deal. I believe that he loves her, that he wants what he says to be true but in this episode we saw that his words are empty... things are NOT ok, and he doesn't have complete power to protect her.

How cool was it to hear Sookie saying she didn't like needing to be protected, that it made her feel like the helpless little girl again? I loved that and I also like that she's now haunted by her grandmother's death as well as what's followed it. It's much clearer now that she is barely holding it together and that losing herself in love for Bill was in part a coping mechanism. I'm glad she had Tara to turn to when Bill left but I do worry for her. Not so much because of the killer out there (though that too) but because of her emotional state.

So Sam IS the cute dog! YESSSSSS! \o/ I am very happy about this. I really loved him in this episode--he was being a gentleman all round. I love that he likes Tara enough to bring flowers, apologise and then give money for her exorcism. Tara is not an easy person to court and Sam could have given up. She expects that he won't accept her--but he showed he would by facilitating the exorcism. Question is: will Tara accept him when it's her turn to find out what shape Sam's 'fucked up' takes?

It seems to me that Bill knows about Sam--he so deliberately sought him out and asked him to protect Sookie. And, well, they did hang out on the lawn together that time. ;)

Loved the 'what can you stomach?' theme of this episode. Pam and Eric ask how Bill can stand mainstreaming and drinking Tru Blood. Sookie can 'stomach' a lot and wins Pam's admiration (with femslashy undertones) for that. And Jason struggles to stomach the reality of what he and Amy are doing to Eddie.

I am coming round to liking Jason. *sheepish* I mean, he's still one dumbass bitch (thanks LaFayette!) but now that he's paired up against a true psychopath he compares a little better. His conscience was showing and although he took the V and was initially angry at Eddie, I think it says a lot that he got drawn into conversation with him and that then he went and got him some blood. That conversation was absolutely classic too--with the 'we're meant to look like you' comment. I don't know how much I buy the 'a boy really needs a father around to learn how to be a man' argument, but since Jason lost both his parents, I do think the fact he lacks a role model is an issue. And in this context, the idea that Eddie worries about how his son might turn out--and the fact that Jason sees the disapproval in his eyes--worked really well.

Amy is scary as hell. And completely hypocritical. According to her, everything in the universe is perfect and connected... except vampires, which exist to be fed-off. Yikes! That scene with them having the idyllic picnic with the screaming in the background was crazy. She's dangerous because she is actually good for Jason in some ways. She has got him to open up, she's got him to admit his feelings and hey, the good diet thing can't do any harm... (though her reasons are crazycakes!). It's going to be hard for Jason to shake lose from her because she feels like such a good thing. But ultimately she is bad news and her 'live in the now' ethos hides some horrible actions. I loved Jason's initial reaction to that: his 'I've gone entire months without thinking about shit' (hahaha, I believe you!) 'but this now is shit'.

Bill playing golf on the Wii?! Adorably hilarious!

And now Sookie is going to find out about Sam. OH MY GOD! I laughed and yet I'm actually on the edge of my seat to see how this one works out...

Oh, shoutout love for my favourite support cast members:
- Poor Rene!! OMG, he didn't need crazy Jason nearly killing him! :(
- Poor Hoyt, who also got his head bitten off by Jason. He's such a good guy.
- Not much LaFayette in this ep though... I want him to beat Amy's ass when he finds out what she did to Eddie.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, ITA on wanting Lafayette to come down on psycho Amy like a ton of bricks - that woman is truly scary. At first I thought she was just a V junkie, but Eddie's right - she is a psychopath.

And my only problem re: Sam is the dog is - for heaven's sake, we have seen them together! Or was that a decoy doggie? That really threw me off the scent.

I'm thinking it's either a decoy dog, or that there's more than one of them (dog people, that is). Either way, awesome. :)

Yeah, Amy has the psychopath's total lack of empathy. Also, in her story about bad things having happened to her therefore she deserves love, I think we saw a hint of how she justifies the attrocities her hedonistic lifestyle demands. It may be true that she's suffered, but she's definitely turned it round on others and her sense of entitlement is huge.

I'm going to have to go back and see again... I'm thinking decoy dog, and maybe it really WAS Sam's brother? *lol*

Yes, clearly he comes from a naturist family. Of canines.

And yes, that bad things happened, I deserve love - methinks bad things happen around her for a reason - like, perhaps she makes them happen.

I wouldn;t be surprised if her family had perished tragically, you know, in some mysterious fire.

God, she really creeps me out now.

She creeps me out SO much! She's now my most hated/creepy character on the show, even more than Pam and Eric, which is saying something.

Oh, I rather like Pam and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard? He is just hotter than a thousand fiery suns, dude) and their uber evil ancient viking vampire routine.

But yes, Amy? Eeeeeew.

Hee! I seem immune to the hotness of Alexander Skarsgard so far. But I do love Pam... their routine is far more fun though, true. I guess i'm just wary until I see what their full deal is.

But Amy I am free to dislike fully already.

This was one of the first eps I didn't immediately have a hundred things to say about. I really liked it though.

The Eddie/Jason interaction was really awesome (is Steven Root ever not great?) and I like that the show is emphasing his limits in regards to Amy. Still worried for my boy thought that he will get in even deeper and not be able to extricate himself. Amy's on a dark path for sure. (That picnic scene was kind of hilarious in its irony.)

The staking/blood dousing Sookie scene was seriously gross. And I am still not loving Eric or Pam. They need to do more.

I was glad that Sookie had her moment where she explained to Bill she doesn't want to have to be protected. But then I was annoyed again when he went to Sam and asked him to protect her (not this part, this was pretty natural instinct) and THEN TOLD HER (this bit was the problem). Why would you tell her you did that? She just told you she doesn't want to feel she has to be protected. I found it a tad disrespectful of her wishes.

I think the age difference between Moyer and Paquin kind of squicks me out to begin with, fitting though it is for Sookie's past/character, and that's making me really dislike the scenes where she's being patronized and coddled (whether she knows it or not).

Still annoyed/confused as to why Sookie should be beholden to Eric just because. The hierarchy and politics of Sookie being something he can just take because she's Bill's is both offputting and somewhat baffling. Does Eric usually just kill humans he can't bend to his will? Is Sookie the only one ever who has managed not to bend? I think they might have underplayed Eric's intrigue with her. He seems mildly bored all the time.

Sam and Tara. These two make my heart hurt. I want these kids to just work it out. They were so cute in this episode and sweet. What will happen now that his otherness has been (partially) revealed? Will Sookie freak the fuck out? Will Sam lie? Will Sookie tell Tara what she thinks? When are they going to tell the rest of Sam's story if there's only 3 eps left?

Hmm, guess I had more to say than I thought. :)

I am still not loving Eric or Pam. They need to do more.
Yeah, we get tantalising glimpses of them but it's not enough. I do like Pam but in a very superficial way.

and THEN TOLD HER (this bit was the problem). Why would you tell her you did that?
Honesty? I guess I understood it from the perspective of Bill thinking it's better he tell Sookie upfront than have her find out after he left and be mad at him in absentia. Also, this way, she can't take it out on Sam so I saw it as gentlemanly.

I'd never really thought about the age difference between the actors--but I also don't have a strong age gap squick so it may not affect me.

Still annoyed/confused as to why Sookie should be beholden to Eric just because. The hierarchy and politics of Sookie being something he can just take because she's Bill's is both offputting and somewhat baffling.
I'm more confused/chilled by it. I don't think we're meant to think it's a good thing, so I find it successfully creepy. But I DO want a proper explanation of how these things work soon. Is this system just in this area? Because surely vampires aren't going to successfully integrate if they view human beings as chattle? That's just crazy.

Does Eric usually just kill humans he can't bend to his will? Is Sookie the only one ever who has managed not to bend?
No... it seems like they use humans (like Ginger) callously, but I don't think he kills unnecessarily. At least that's the sense I get. I imagine most humans that come his way are more 'into' vampire culture generally and also maybe know what they've signed up for? Like those humans we saw grovelling in the club seemed to know that Eric was at the top of the ladder.

He seems mildly bored all the time.
Hahaha, that is true. I have bought into Pam's interest in Sookie more than Eric and find her to have way more life to her.

I worry that Sam's revelation will cause a rift with Tara. :((( There's also a danger that Sookie and Sam will have more in common with each other now she knows about him, and Tara will be on the outside.

The intricacies of vampire politics are being kept away from Sookie, by Bill, who is supposed to be looking out for her. That, is a very irresponsible move on his part. True, he doesn't want to scare her off, but I would like to know if I was considered fair game because I belonged, in any sense to one group or another.

Eric and Pam show repeatedly just how removed from humanity they can be, and how they are ready to use people and other vampires in order to accomplish tasks. They are beautiful, but so very dangerous. For Sookie, it's like being close to a large predator and realizing that unlike Bill, these two are just as apt to bite as smile, and they wouldn't feel the need to apologize.

They are, unsurprisingly two of my favorite vampires, ever.

The intricacies of vampire politics are being kept away from the audience as well! It works well for taking us on Sookie's journey but I'm beginning to be frustrated with it. I just want to know what the real deal is so I can understand what the hell is going on.

I would like to know if I was considered fair game because I belonged, in any sense to one group or another.
Absolutely! Bill seems really deluded to think that he could keep that from her.

Hee re. you loving Eric and Pam! I'm not really finding Eric attractive yet, but Pam seems very cool. However they've also successfully grossed me out so I'm in a weird place with them.

Heh, well, yes, I bet you do want to know what the story is. Having read the books gives one a bit of an advantage, but I also bet that Alan Ball is going to do some variation on what Charlaine Harris wrote.

It's like belonging to a really well organized gang, and having gone through the initiation WITHOUT HAVING BEEN CLUED IN. As in 'hey, this is a very significant thing we are doing'. Even that would have helped a lot.

Eric and Pam also get more time and storyline as the books go on, and I admit to having a weakness for characters who are ruthless and efficient and snark at one another. The two of them actually are in one of the most functional relationships EVER in the books. They are awesome, together and apart.

Oh, re: your icon - I saw a music video for Twilight at the U today and I almost choked on my drink. PAIN AND LOVE AND OMG, SPARKLY VAMPIRES.

It's like belonging to a really well organized gang, and having gone through the initiation WITHOUT HAVING BEEN CLUED IN
Ha! That's a cool description. It's beginning to feel a bit like that... I really don't like how it disempowers Sookie and combined with Bill's hyper-protection approach to boyfriending in the first place it's pretty dreadful of him to have left her in a position where she doesn't realise what she's getting into. I don't quite understand why he hasn't told her--does he really believe he can escape the greater vampire community? is it just that love has overwhelmed him? is he a naive idealist? I'm not completely sure.

I've gathered that Eric and Pam have more time and space later on. I look forward to that! I'll be interested to see what Alan Ball does with them.

I saw a music video for Twilight at the U today and I almost choked on my drink. PAIN AND LOVE AND OMG, SPARKLY VAMPIRES.
HAHAHAA! Oh lord, it's going to be EVERYWHERE soon. Well, it is already, but the movies will make it ten times that...

I have issues with Bill. You will learn some of the reasons soon, I bet, but the ones you mention are also off putting to me. In a lot of ways, Bill is naive, and in others, he is being condescending and thinking that Sookie shouldn't be TROUBLED with the facts. *facepalm* As though her feminine fragility (wtf) will help when she is in a bad situation without knowing what is going on.

Thankfully I could not really HEAR the music, but I was snickering. OMG, I cannot believe how many grown women I have seen reading that book so avidly. It frightens me.

I am coming round to liking Jason.
Me too, though I feel like an idiot for saying it. Half way through this episode I realized that I was actually concerned for Jason's safety, which made me realize I actually care what happens to the dumbass, so I must like him a little. And damned if I don't feel sorry for his little boy lost routine now when I was determined to hate him! Agh!

I have very conflicted feelings about Eric and Pam.
God, they are all kinds of fascinating. I really think Eric is being underplayed, but it's making the non-mainstreaming vampires seem that much more creepy. Pam was always creepy to me in the books whereas Eric was fun with creepy undertones, mostly when he wanted to intimidate someone. But the comment Bill made about Pam living so far up Eric's ass was pretty priceless and so true. Vampire politics are too frakking fun! :)

I'm so glad Sam has been revealed as the dog finally! He is my personal hero for continuing to pursue Tara in the face of all the fucked up-ness and generally being a nice damn guy. Am I the only one who felt like Sookie had no business being huffy after she discovered Sam and Tara in the back room? No business, but it was quite human of her to be jealous.

Pleeeeease lets have Lafayette have some words with psycho Amy! Like you, I'm afraid she's going to be hard for Jason and Bon Temps to shake loose.

I realized that I was actually concerned for Jason's safety, which made me realize I actually care what happens to the dumbass, so I must like him a little.
Same! I couldn't believe it. I blame the actor. He's too uncannily brilliant at the role. Whyyyyy did I fall for the little lost boy? I don't view that as an excuse--he has a brain, he should fucking well use it. And yet... ;)

Eric is being underplayed, but it's making the non-mainstreaming vampires seem that much more creepy. Pam was always creepy to me in the books whereas Eric was fun with creepy undertones,
Oh, that's interesting. I do feel Eric is underplayed because Pam comes off as the stronger character so far. Also, I'm finding her cooler than Eric and don't really understand why she's up his ass (though that line was pretty funny). I hope Eric kicks into gear some time soon. But yes, I'm finding them conceptually VERY very creepy.

Am I the only one who felt like Sookie had no business being huffy after she discovered Sam and Tara in the back room?
Oh me too. I am glad she didn't actually express her feelings verbally--it was bad enough seeing her storm off. I get why that would throw her a bit--she wasn't expecting it. But I really have no sympathy if she's jealous for longer than a brief moment.

Yeah, Amy's worked her way into Bon Temps, what with impressing Sam as a good waitress too. She's very charismatic--another psychopath sign!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

True Blood 1.08 and 1.09

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject