More True Blood season 2

[shapinglight]

So I'm still a rubbish LJ'er and have absolutely nothing intelligent to say about anything.

:sigh:

Have been watching more True Blood season 2, though. In fact, I've been racing through the episodes much quicker than I meant to because it's so addictive. I'm up to episode 10 now. Spoilers behind cut, and please don't spoiler me for the last three eps.



For the most part, I'm enjoying the show enormously. In fact, I love it. In fact, I suspect I've loved it from season 1 onwards. That said, I am sick to death of the Maryann plot. I want her to bugger off and stop getting in the way of the good stuff, and am very miffed that the Maryann story has monopolised Tara all season. I know it gave her her own storyline, rather than leaving her an adjunct of Sookie's storyline, but it's just not a very good storyline. The bits I've enjoyed of it most have been her scenes with Lafayette. I'd like more of those, please. I'd also like her to be a bit more proactive.

Of course, not everything about the Maryann storyline is bad, and it's not the only storyline either, but it has dragged on for too long, and I would rather that storyline had been wound up early than the Hunt for Godric one.

Loved that, btw. Got almost (but not quite) tearful over Godric's death in the episode I watched yesterday. However, I failed to get any slashy vibes off Eric and Godric, the way I do off Eric and Bill. Is my slashometer faulty or do others of you feel the same? This is not to say I didn't find the Eric/Godric interaction quite moving, and feel that the intensity of their relationship was well-portrayed.

Yeah, so all that stuff was good, as was Jason's exit from the Fellowship of the Sun. His heart's in the right place really, even if he is an idiot. Also, the final scene of the Reverend and Mrs Newlin arguing on TV was completely hilarious.

I loved the flashbacks with Bill and Lorena. In fact, I really like dear old Bill, and I like him more and more with every episode. My only regret with these latest episodes is that there isn't much Bill and Jessica. Jessica and Hoyt continue to be a delight, though. So much so, that I'm getting really worried for them. Should I? No details please.

As for Sookie, it's a good thing I like her, because with Eric and Bill fighting over her, it would be way too easy to write her off as a sort of Mary Sue. But I do like her, though she can be irritating.

In fact, I like all the characters - so much so that I don't know if I'd care that much if there wasn't much plot, as long as they all got to interact together. So let's have more of that, please, and less of the seasonal Big Bad stuff. The serial killer plot in season 1 was the least interesting aspect of it, and now in season 2, the Maryann plot is the same.

But (mostly) yay! True Blood! Love it!

And yep, I just re-read what I've written and it seems the very opposite of intelligent. :(

Comments

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

it seems the very opposite of intelligent.

Made perfect sense to me. Don't get me wrong, I love True Blood possibly as much as I loved Btvs but it's not the same sort of love.

Meh. It's hard to explain.

Also, Jessica/Hoyt = lots of 'awww' noises.

[shapinglight]

Made perfect sense to me.

Thank you. It wasn't very insightful, though. But maybe you don't need to be with True Blood? It may comment slyly on various social/political problems, via the vampires coming out of the coffin/religious fundamentalists stuff, but basically it's just a lot of fun.

And I think I love it almost as much as BtVS too, but in a completely different way, as you say. However, I don't think I would feel that way about it if I hadn't loved BtVS. I know Alan Ball says he's never watched BtVS, but it's hard for me to imagine this show existing without it. So much of it seems imbued with this sense of "We know it's cheesy and Joss Whedon made fun of it, but we're just going to go with it, okay?" Like the blood tears. I remember when having Buffyverse vampires cry blood tears in a fanfic was a surefire way to get yourself called a badfic writer, but True Blood just does it anyway. Even though it's ridiculous.

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

I loved the second season of True Blood. I think it was episode 9 I liked the most; the one where Sookie is dreaming of Eric and you get to see semi-naked shots of blonde hunky vampire (yep, my tastes don't change that much regardless of fandom - lol!).

I have to say Bill bored me a bit in this second season and so now I'm rooting for Eric to win Sookie. It's Spuffy vs Bangel all over again!

Jason is definitely the funniest character this season and ranks with Britnay in 'Glee' for the delievery of the best dumb lines evah! I hope FX doesn't wait a whole year to screen Season 3 - I can't wait.

Sadly I don't seem to have a TB icon. This is tragic and needs rectifying *goes off to hunt for one* Edited to add new icon :)

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

Jason is definitely the funniest character this season and ranks with Britnay in 'Glee' for the delievery of the best dumb lines evah!

PERFECT DESCRIPTION IS PERFECT. Jason Stackhouse, theologian, is right up there with Britnay, philosopher as Scene-Stealing Dolt of the Year for me.

[shapinglight]

Jason Stackhouse, theologian

:snorfle: :needs a Jason icon:

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

It's Spuffy vs Bangel all over again!

LOL! TEAM ERIC!!! ;o)

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Team Bill!

Poor old Bill. Basically, he doesn't stand a chance.

[shapinglight]

I think it was episode 9 I liked the most; the one where Sookie is dreaming of Eric and you get to see semi-naked shots of blonde hunky vampire

Yeah, I didn't not enjoy that myself. :)

As far as the whole Bill vs Eric thing - I guess I'm on Bill's side so far. I do see parallels to Spuffy and Bangel, and Bill does have a lot of Angel-like qualities (brooding, dominant female sire etc etc), but in other ways he's more like Spike, in that he's very much the underdog. Eric is the alpha - way more powerful, and he could probably take Sookie any time he wanted, so far that reason I can't help rooting for poor old beta male Bill.

And if you want some good True Blood icons, bon_temps_icons is the place to look.

[sentine.livejournal.com]

You know, I followed your advice and watched True Blood! Except that I have absolutely no control and have already watched the two seasons :)

And yes, I liked it very much! Same as you, I couldn't care less for the Maryann storyline (they managed to make orgies boring, didn't they?), but kept on watching for the interactions between the characters. Bill grows on you, and I loved the flashbacks too. Lafayette is of course a favourite!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

they managed to make orgies boring, didn't they?

I know! It's mindboggling that they were actually able to reach a point where the reaction is "Another orgy? Yawn!"

[shapinglight]

Yay! So glad you liked it! I still have two eps left to watch (watched ep 10 this evening). Then I have to wrestle with myself about what I'm going to do about season 3. It'll be ages until it's shown here, and part of me would really like to wait to watch it rather than rush through the whole thing. We'll see.

And you're right. The orgies have got very, very boring. And Lafayette is just wonderful. I hope he gets lots to do in season 3.

[sentine.livejournal.com]

I already know I won't wait: here, the show's airing on an obscure cable channel I don't have...

[shapinglight]

Same here, though Channel 4 show it after the cable channel's done with it. Unfortunately for them, though, the DVD set comes out before that and there are probably lots of people like me who just can't wait to watch it.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

1. Maryann does get boring. And it's a sad day when town-wide orgies get boring, but Andy Bellfleur's wild-eyed confusion makes me highly amused.

2. The Hunt for Godric/Creepy Church Cult storyline was my favorite, too. I wasn't born with a slash-meter, so I rarely see slashy vibes between male characters (you have to hit me over the head with Angel and Spike for me to get it - I always thought they were supposed to be Joss's Woody and Buzz Lightyear dolls for grownups), but I only detected adoration and devotion between a - parent and child is the wrong phrase, but it seems the closest? (God and devotee? Mentor and advised? IDK.) for Eric and Godric. And it was a beautiful, filial relationship.

3. They've filled Bon Temps with so many likable characters that you don't really car who's on screen - it's all enjoyable, even the random (but consistent!) background characters you see at the orgies.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Andy Bellfleur's wild-eyed confusion makes me highly amused.

There was a PIG! (hee!)

[shapinglight]

but Andy Bellfleur's wild-eyed confusion makes me highly amused.

Yes, both Andy and Terry are very endearing. It did take me a while to put Frank Sobotka from The Wire out of my mind (in case you haven't seen that show, the actor who plays Andy played that character too), but I've managed it and I like Andy very much. And the sherriff. In fact, I can't actually think of a character I don't like.

Except Maryann, the world's most boring maenad.

I wasn't born with a slash-meter, so I rarely see slashy vibes between male characters (you have to hit me over the head with Angel and Spike for me to get it -

Mine is usually very well developed, so I was a little surprised to get no slashy vibes at all from Eric and Godric, but then, as you say, they did come across far more as God and devotee, especially in the scene where Eric begged Godric not to die. But come on, the scene in this icon? It oozed slashy potential.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Weirdly, I watched the same episode last night (I'm preparing myself for season 3). The Maryanne stuff does get a bit boring. In the book, Maryanne's role is teeny, almost an afterthought. I think the show's writers should have thought the plot-line through a little more. It felt like they dragged it out. Oh well, I still enjoyed it, but I liked the Godric stuff better. I sniffled. I do totally see the slash, but more that they had a wild and heavy slashy past rather than anything in the present.

[shapinglight]

I do totally see the slash, but more that they had a wild and heavy slashy past rather than anything in the present.

I didn't even get that, though possibly we were supposed to assume it. I just got this whole vampire redeemer/beloved disciple thing off them.

Anyway, since almost everyone seems to have disliked the Maryann plot, here's hoping they avoid anything similar in season 3.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I became quite frustrated with Tara's season 2 plot.

I will say that out of complete boredom, last night I was surfing HBO OnDemand and they had a little thing on Behind the Scenes of Season 3 True Blood, and I'm looking forward to what appears to be Tara's plot this season. Doesn't hurt that it appears to involve one of my favorite actors from The Tudors being a sexy (very possibly British) vampire coming onto Tara (his character on The Tudors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNteHoet7KU )

This has potential.

[shapinglight]

Ah, I recognise that actor, but have no clue what his name is. I hope she gets a better plot. I miss feisty, tell it like it is Tara.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

That said, I am sick to death of the Maryann plot. I want her to bugger off and stop getting in the way of the good stuff, and am very miffed that the Maryann story has monopolised Tara all season.
Believe me, you were not the only one. Everyone I know who watched it got sick of Marianne.

Got almost (but not quite) tearful over Godric's death in the episode I watched yesterday
Yes, the Danish actor really did an amazing job with that tiny role. I believe it really gave a boost to his career.

Jessica and Hoyt continue to be a delight, though. So much so, that I'm getting really worried for them. Should I? No details please.

Well...

[shapinglight]

Well...

:whimper: I just watched another episode (because I couldn't stop myself) and it didn't end so well for Hoyt and Jessica. :(

[calturner.livejournal.com]

I always knew you'd love this show! :D

And you're right, it really is a true ensemble show. I love the way the characters all interact with one another, and I have several favourite characters. Bill is definitely right up there with them.

Like you, I can't say I got a slash vibe from Eric and Godric (although I did cry at Godric's death). I just wish we could have got a few more episodes with him rather than the Maryann (yawn) storyline.

I adore Jason, even though he is such a dimwit. He's just so likeable!

And I'm not going to say a word about Jessica and Hoyt...

[shapinglight]

I always knew you'd love this show! :

I adore it. I think I always have. It's just taken me a while to realise it. That said, I've still no desire to go looking for True Blood fanfic. I'm happy with what we're getting in the show.

Bill is definitely right up there with them.

Yay! Glad you like him. Not that I don't like Eric. I do, but I have a definite soft spot for poor old Bill. Plus, Stephen Moyer was just so sweet on Jonathan Ross and I've really taken to him. Not so keen on Bill/Sookie, though. I do like them as a couple, but I enjoy Bill more with Eric and Jessica.

And I agree about Godric. I also wish we'd had more of him and less Maryann. However, I do think his story came across very well. Sometimes less is more.

And I'm not going to say a word about Jessica and Hoyt...

:whimper:

[calturner.livejournal.com]

I've still no desire to go looking for True Blood fanfic. I'm happy with what we're getting in the show.

I read a small amount of fanfic after S2 ended last year, but I think that was mainly because it seemed SO LONG until S3 at the time. But I don't think anything I read impressed me as much as what we'd already seen on the show, so I didn't read it for long.

Not that I don't like Eric. I do, but I have a definite soft spot for poor old Bill. Plus, Stephen Moyer was just so sweet on Jonathan Ross and I've really taken to him.

Stephen Moyer is so nice, isn't he? I actually love both Eric and Bill, just in very different ways. And I'm not for or against Bill/Sookie, but I'm definitely open for either of them to be with other people (or vampires *g*). Bill's scenes with Eric and Jessica are wonderful - and even I can see the slash vibes between Bill and Eric!

[shapinglight]

But I don't think anything I read impressed me as much as what we'd already seen on the show, so I didn't read it for long.

Thing is, we don't need to read fanfic about the characters getting it on, because they do that anyway. :)

I'm not against Eric/Sookie at all, in fact I see it as inevitable now. I just wonder how the show will handle it as opposed to the books, in which (so I understand) Bill/Sookie is not such a Big Thing. I also can't help wondering if the fact that Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin are a couple in real life will factor into the way the Bill/Sookie relationship is handled.

But I don't mind if they have a break. I could happily watch almost anyone in this show pair up with anyone else.

[calturner.livejournal.com]

I just wonder how the show will handle it as opposed to the books, in which (so I understand) Bill/Sookie is not such a Big Thing.

Bill/Sookie was a very Big Thing in the earlier books, but that slowly changed as the series progressed. I'll be surprised if Bill/Sookie don't always remain a big part of the show, but I do think other options will be explored. And there are some wonderful characters (that are also in the books) about to be introduced into S3 that I'm looking forward to seeing!

I love the books, but I'm glad the show is only vaguely following certain aspects of the plots. I like not knowing what's going to happen next! I'm not so invested in any particular ship that any changes will bother me - and so far I've loved all of the new characters they've introduced. I also couldn't be happier that they decided to extend the storylines of Lafayette and Tara, as I don't think the show would be the same without them.

[shapinglight]

I also couldn't be happier that they decided to extend the storylines of Lafayette and Tara, as I don't think the show would be the same without them.

Oh, I agree. I hope they get lots to do in season 3.

Are there any characters that are unique to the show and don't appear in the books at all?

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Glad you're enjoying, when the season was running, nearly all th reviewers complained about the Maryann story. And I agree it was the bad part of the season, while the rest was pretty brilliant.

Hm, I'll have to rewatch to talk about the Eric/Godric slashy vibes on the show. The whole crying blood thing pretty much did me in.
Also I'm not sure how much I'm mixing up the books and the show, because in the books it's official that they have slept with each other back in the day.

[shapinglight]

when the season was running, nearly all th reviewers complained about the Maryann story.

Ah. Hopefully, Alan Ball took that on board for season 3.

Re: the books - I haven't read any of them and have no intention of doing so, but is there any gay content at all?

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Yes, deffinitely. There's Eric and his Sire for one thing, and later on Sookie becomes friends with a bisexual witch, who dates Pam for a while.(There are others too, but they are mostly in the background)

I liked that character a lot, but I'm not sure if they'll have her on the show as Sookie has Tara here.

[shapinglight]

Sorry. I misread your original comment re: Eric and Godric. As someone upthread says, I could see it as having happened in the past, but didn't get anything current, if you see what I mean.

Also, should mention that another thing I like about the show is that not every female character is an 18 year old size 0. Pam, for instance, although Eric is her maker, is an older woman and looks older than him. I find that very interesting. Also, there's Arlene and the woman who becomes sheriff of Texas after Godric, and Lorena. They're all mature women. That's very refreshing after the Buffyverse.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

It is a rather nice thing that the show has women who aren't stuck in a perpetual nubile youth (unless that is their character - hay thar, Jessica!). The characters look like people rather than actors (again I bring up recurring townspeople we see at the orgies - and Hoyt's mom, for that matter), and even the vampires have some variety. Pam is totally the HBIC, Arlene is the flighty, irresponsible single mom with a heart of gold, Tara has rocking arms that could rival the Williams sisters, and the Fellowship of the Sun wife looks like a perfect example of Evangelical Barbie - it's a good, realistic mix.

[shapinglight]

Evangelical Barbie? Hee! What a great description. And yes, the characters, both human and vampire, come in all shapes and sizes. Look at poor old Vampire Eddie from season 1, and there's that fat bloke who is one of Eric's hangers on.

Speaking of whom, after the revelation about poor Jessica being stuck as a virgin forever (which, though it's not nice for her, rather amuses me for slash fanfic writer reasons)I suppose the fat bloke is doomed to be fat forever.

And I found the perfect Jason icon.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, Jason. How your sexual olympics and obtuse philosophy amuse me!

Glad you finished the second season. Let me know if you need links for downloading season 3 (Emmie pointed me to the greatest LJ TV downloading community out there, for which I am eternally grateful. This is how I'll be watching season 3, so I know it works).

[shapinglight]

Oh, Jason. How your sexual olympics and obtuse philosophy amuse me!

The last episode of season 2 contains some glorious examples of both (as does the Jason minisode).

And thanks for the offer of d/l'ing links. I've never downloaded any show before but I may have to make an exception in this case. I can't wait a whole year to see season 3.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

Join the tvshare community for downloads. The tags all point to the shows, and you can get a whole lot of other good stuff there, too. Most of it is run through megadownload, so hopefully that works for you!

[shapinglight]

Thanks very much. :)

ETA: sadly, they say they're not accepting new members just now. Oh well.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to post all the megaupload links as they come. This is my gift to humanity: making television accessible to all. (No, really. My best friend was worried because she was going to be in Germany for most of Lost's final season, so I tracked down ways she could keep up with it there, and it turns out she shared it with her dad who's the military attache to the American Embassy in Berlin, so it turns out I was supporting the troops by linking to semi-legal Chinese streaming websites! Go me!)

[shapinglight]

Yes, go you! And thank you.

Do be careful, though. Don't share links that people have specifically said not to. They don't tend to like that.

and apologies if I come across as preachy or patronising, but I don't want you to get in any trouble on my account.

[makd.livejournal.com]

While I don't read the fanfic (okay, I read one) fanfic!), I do enjoy TB very much. It's such fun!

[shapinglight]

It is, isn't it? I just wish there were more episodes.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

True Blood rocks indeed! :-D I agree with you on Lafayette. There needs to be more Lafayette. :-D Eric and his vampiric daughter is a delight to... I laugh my fucking ass of each time she tries to speak swedish. X-D Alexander Skarsgård knows it, of course. It is his mother-tongue. But the actress playing Pam doesn't, I think she is american. And it cracks me up so bad every time. X-D To give her her credit though, she is doing a pretty good job for not knowing what the hell it is she is saying. X-D

[shapinglight]

Ah, that's interesting. I know Alexander Skarsgard is Swedish, of course (I understand he was once in the Swedish army), son of Stellan, but I can't at all tell the difference between the way he speaks Swedish and the way the actress playing Pam speaks it. I wonder if Alexander Skarsgard tries to help her with her pronunciation?

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Nearly all young man has been in the swedish army, and plenty women to, since in Sweden we have a military draft, so all young man has to go in the army at one time or another. Unless they are unfit or for any other reason can't do it. For women it is a free choice, though. And once you signed up and then refuse, you might end up in jail for a considerable time.

Oh, he must help her somewhat so she knows at least a bit of what the heck she is saying. :-) It should be impossible for her to act otherwise, I think. :-D Alexander seems to be a really nice guy, as is the rest of Stellan's kids. And he got a lot of kids. Six of them. Four are actors. One is a model. What the sixth one is doing, I have no idea. X-D

[shapinglight]

I suppose since Pam isn't of Norse origin herself, it doesn't really matter if her Swedish sounds a bit funny anyway. :)

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

That is true, I suppose. :-) It just amuses me to hear american / english people speak swedish. The accent sounds so awesome! :-D