True Blood season 3 - ep3

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Watched this earlier today. Spoilers behind cut.



That was a busy episode, wasn't it? So much going on. I think I agree with one of the reviewers petzipellepingo quoted, that it was a little too busy, and one of the storylines I could currently do without. This was the Sam one. Really not interested in his horrible family (well, his mum's not horrible but his dad and his brother are), and when they walked through the door into Merlotte's, my heart sank rather the way Sam's probably did.

The episode also contained, as noted in other people's posts, a couple of very dodgy sex scenes. Both were consensual -in True Blood terms - and the Tara/Brit vampire with enormous earsFranklin one just about passed muster, in that both seem to have wanted the sex and enjoyed it, though Mr Elf Ears has nasty ulterior motives. The Bill/Lorena angry sex scene, on the other hand, was utterly, utterly horrid in every way. It made the the Angel/Darla angry sex scene in Reprise look like a lot of soppy kissing and cuddling.

Mind you, what with the neck twisting and how silly Lorena looked with her body facing one way and her head the other, in the end it passed beyond the realms of horridness into outright farce. I ended up snorting with laughter. Not sure I was supposed to because they certainly tried to build up sympathy for Bill beforehand with the flashback about his wife and son. Maybe we were supposed to find it horribly angsty and sad? For me, it kind of worked because I like Bill, despite this scene, and I find Lorena pretty repellent, but it was still ultimately rather silly. In fact, all the vampires in True Blood, except maybe Jessica, are repellent in their own way, even Bill. But that's part of the fun. :) It's very unlikely that any of them can ever be made to do anything that upsets me the way the AR did in BtVS, because, though I like them, I don't care about them the way I do about Spike, and, frankly, if any of them were shown trying to rape someone firstly, it wouldn't come at all as a shock, and secondly, it couldn't terminally damage the character the way the AR almost did Spike, because they're all so horrid (in a fun way) anyway and we've seen them do far worse.

I think that Eric and Queen Sophie Ann are going to get themselves out of the spot of bother they'll find themselves in when the creepy Magister finds out they've been dealing in vampire blood by revealing to everyone that the King of Mississippi (forgotten his name) is letting werewolves drink his blood, and that the plotline about Eric and Godric and the Nazi werewolves will tie in that way. It's significant, I think, that Eric and Godric were trying to find out who the Nazi werewolves' master was and that the king has never heard of Eric Northman. What do you all think?

Other characters' plots just chugged along, but there was some good stuff, notably the Pam/Jessica scene, containing yet another deathless line ("Lie back and think of Estonia."), the Eric/Lafayette scene ("Hello, sweetheart.") and the Sookie/Tara scene at the graveside. Speaking of Sookie, she was great. I really like her. Am anticipating bucketloads of angst when she finally catches up with Bill. Also, I am now resigned to the fact that Mr Big Ears Franklin is evil (the Brit accent is a dead giveaway, sadly), and thus very worried about Tara. :(

Comments

[chase820.livejournal.com]

I'm with you that they could cut the Sam's family storyline and I wouldn't miss it. I don't think most viewers would. There's nothing interesting about it: just trashy and sad, and sure to have a horrid ending.

The only vampire on the series I love unreservedly is Godric, and he's not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead. I figure he's safe from too much tinkering by the writers.

I'm holding out hope that Franklin isn't evil. I've loved James Frain since I saw him on The Tudors, and it's really time for Tara to catch a break.

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There's nothing interesting about it: just trashy and sad, and sure to have a horrid ending.

The one good thing about it is that, unlike the Maryann plot from season 2, which most people seem to have disliked, it's not likely to become the major arc of the season. At least, I hope not.

The only vampire on the series I love unreservedly is Godric, and he's not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead. I figure he's safe from too much tinkering by the writers.

Yep, very powerful scene, that. I think I could say I love Jessica unreservedly, but that could change. At the moment, I miss interaction between her and Bill because it made me laugh, though it's quite amusing too to see Pam get stuck so unwillingly in the surrogate mother role.

I'm holding out hope that Franklin isn't evil. I've loved James Frain since I saw him on The Tudors, and it's really time for Tara to catch a break.

It would be nice but he's acted pretty evil so far, so I'm not sanguine. :(

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

I'm finding myself loving every scene with Pam or Lafayette or Jessica more and more. I winced over the arrival of Sam's family, too. And I'm curious to see what happens to the Bill/Sookie thing, now that Bill's done what he has, and Eric has shared some sort of sweet moments with Sookie (whi hardly blinked when he tore out that wolf's throat).

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I'm finding myself loving every scene with Pam or Lafayette or Jessica more and more.

Yes, they're all wonderful. Lafayette has so much heart and is so deeply moral in his own unique way. :loves him to pieces: I wish we could see some of his dreams about Eric, though.

with Sookie (whi hardly blinked when he tore out that wolf's throat).

I know. She didn't even say, "Eww!"

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

I liked it too and I think it's lovely to be a casual fan for once and don't have to dig into every moral implication the show makes.

I'm also worried for Tara, I really don't want to see her be the abuse victim all season again.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I liked it too and I think it's lovely to be a casual fan for once and don't have to dig into every moral implication the show makes.

I'm wondering if this is why I am enjoying this show so dang much this season. I love it, and I love analyzing it, but I'm not as emotionally invested in it. It doesn't feel like an act of gross disloyalty to Eric if I suddenly find myself liking Bill; I can admire Sookie from afar and not feel the need to defend her at every moment because I project so much of my own life onto her, and I don't feel the need to question what the fuck Alan Ball is doing to my brain when he goes for the pain. That's a nice feeling; to not have that sense of dread that if anything goes well, pain is sure to follow. Joss' use of that trope sure does get exhausting!

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and I think it's lovely to be a casual fan for once and don't have to dig into every moral implication the show makes.

I agree, though I'm enough of a not-casual fan to be rather worried about Tara. I don't want her to be raped on top of everything else. And if that happens, I will of course loathe Franklin, and I would rather not have to do that since I find the character fascinating, in spite of his enormous ears. :)

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

I'm just hoping that there's a reason behind the nasty Sam family because otherwise I'm going to be really annoyed.

all the vampires in True Blood, except maybe Jessica, are repellent in their own way, even Bill. But that's part of the fun. :)
Nods. Not a teddy bear with fangs in the entire bunch.

notably the Pam/Jessica scene, containing yet another deathless line ("Lie back and think of Estonia."), the Eric/Lafayette scene ("Hello, sweetheart.") and the Sookie/Tara scene at the graveside
Nods. And I'd add Arlene at the Physician's Office, Arlene and Terry at Merlotte's and Sheriff Bud resigning.

I am now resigned to the fact that Mr Big Ears Franklin is evil (the Brit accent is a dead giveaway, sadly), and thus very worried about Tara. :(

Hmm... maybe. But he doesn't seem that sinister to me - yet.

[shapinglight]

I'm just hoping that there's a reason behind the nasty Sam family because otherwise I'm going to be really annoyed.

At least they can't take over the show the way Maryann did. I hope. :(

Not a teddy bear with fangs in the entire bunch.

Heh! Also, I agree all those other scenes you mentioned were great, plus Jason and Hoyt. Nice to see Jason talking to Tara too. It's been so long that I'd almost forgotten she had a thing for him back in season 1.

Hmm... maybe. But he doesn't seem that sinister to me - yet.

I dunno. I thought he was plenty sinister. I hope he's not going to do anything awful to Tara. :(

[sentine.livejournal.com]

I ended up snorting with laughter

Exactly the same here. Too much gore kills the gore!

I'm not that sure about Franklin (except for the fact that his ears are out of this world) - i guess the question in the following episodes will be if he feels something for Tara.

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Too much gore kills the gore!

Maybe that's what they were going for?

I hope Franklin will turn out to be genuinely interested in Tara, but I'm not that hopeful, I'm afraid. Brit accent. Plus, ears. :)

[sentine.livejournal.com]

So, in TV language, Brit accent=beware:fiend!, like French accent=beware:slut! ?

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Yes, that sounds about right. ;)

[cafedemonde.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that neck twist scene was a big WTF moment for me. I was glad it was over just then and needed a break from that weirdness.

Sam's family makes me wince. Not sure where they are going with that storyline, but it feels painful and awkward.

Otherwise, the epi was pretty good for. Love the Lafayette and Eric moment.

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I was glad it was over just then and needed a break from that weirdness.

Yes, I was watching it going, "What? No? Oh, what?"

The Lafayette/Eric moment was great. I loved the way Lafayette stood up to Eric in his own quiet way. :needs an icon:

[cafedemonde.livejournal.com]

Lafayette always says something to Eric or Pam, then thinks about it after like "What is wrong with my mouth?" but it's already said.

Make him a vamp already!

[shapinglight]

He would make a good vampire, wouldn't he? I know the actor wants that. Something tells me, though, that they won't go there.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

In fact, all the vampires in True Blood, except maybe Jessica, are repellent in their own way, even Bill. But that's part of the fun. :) It's very unlikely that any of them can ever be made to do anything that upsets me the way the AR did in BtVS, because, though I like them, I don't care about them the way I do about Spike, and, frankly, if any of them were shown trying to rape someone firstly, it wouldn't come at all as a shock, and secondly, it couldn't terminally damage the character the way the AR almost did Spike, because they're all so horrid (in a fun way) anyway and we've seen them do far worse.

I have so much WORD for this entire paragraph. It describes my thoughts completely. I really wonder what it is about the worldbuilding that makes the repellant behavior something that doesn't shock or morally damage the character the way the AR worked in Buffy. Maybe Joss' emphasis on souled vs. unsouled behavior made any abhorrent actions by the vampires have that much higher stakes in terms of moral high ground? In True Blood, we aren't much discussing how vampire morality (or lack of) is imposed upon turning, because we aren't outright labeling said vampire a "demon." The actions of said vampires are their own responsibility, and there's no "lack of soul" to blame for the morally abhorrent actions. I think this is why I'm finding this show so incredibly satisfying; there's no grey area for a complex character like Spike to muck up, forcing the writers into character assassination in order to keep the mythology accurate.

Oh, and the entire episode, while I found myself really liking Bill for the first time, I kept on thinking how proud you would be of me. Look! I'm enlightened!

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I really wonder what it is about the worldbuilding that makes the repellant behavior something that doesn't shock or morally damage the character the way the AR worked in Buffy?

It would probably take a big, long essay to explore it fully, but I think what you say is essentially correct. It may help that many of the characters came to Alan Ball fully formed (from the books), as did the 'verse. He isn't entirely making it up as he goes along (or only certain things) and thus there isn't a character who can throw a wrench in the works the way Spike did.

Oh, and the entire episode, while I found myself really liking Bill for the first time, I kept on thinking how proud you would be of me. Look! I'm enlightened!

Hee! Bill's okay, even if he does get a bit wound up (in vampire terms) sometimes. In truth, though, I like all the vampire characters. Even Lorena.

[wackinessensues.livejournal.com]

What's interesting to me is to read comments from people who haven't read the books. I think those of us who have are all sitting around wondering when this scene and that scene will happen, and if they will rush this plot, or play up that one. But overall, the show has been true to the characterizations in the books. So, that said, I won't spoil anyone on the whole is he/isn't he evil question, but it will be fun to watch the season unfold and to see reactions from those who read the series and those who are just now finding it :)

[shapinglight]

I'm probably not going to be reading the books any time soon, but it is interesting to me to learn how they differ from the show.

Or, I should say, how the show differs from them.