True Blood Season #4, Episode #3 - The Good, the bad and the *)#^% werepanthers **spoilers**

[LynneSin]

PLEASE NOTE THAT MY THREAD CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM BOTH THE BOOK AND THE SERIES. STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT DETAILS FROM ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE GENRES.





The Very Good: As always I can't get enough of Eric and Sookie together. Anyone who has read book #4 "Dead to the World" knows where this is going and are at the edge of our seats waiting for THAT scene to happen. And as much as Alan Ball strays from the script, he better know this is NOT the one scene from the book to overlook. I just hope it happens soon because Eric and Sooki give off enough heat to power a small country.

Along with those 2 vampires, it was really touching to see Jessica and Bill together again. I suspect that Bill will never turn Jessica into the cold heartless bee-yotch that Eric's prodigy Pam has become (although don't change one thing about Pam - I love that she has more screen time). They come across more like Poppa Vamp and his baby girl vamp.

As for Bill - that was pretty heartless with issuing the "True Death" to anyone caught feeding on video tap. BTW that idiot from the video with the tattoo on his arm - that's a real website. I'm sure more will be found on it. Kinda makes me wonder with Bill killing vampires caught on video AND his baby girl Jessica now figuring out how to cheat on Hoyt so she can feed on others - makes me wonder when she will be caught on tape. Bill seems like a heartless bastard at times but even he knows better than to mess with Nan Flannigan. I'd love to know Nan's back-story.

I also found it interesting about how Bill and Portia's relationship has progressed. For those of you who don't know who Portia is, she's Andy Bellefleur's sister and according to the book she was some hoity-toity chick who did all the debutante stuff. It seem Portia suffers from the same low self-esteem as her brother - to offer herself as a sex toy to a man who is clearly in love with another woman. Bill wouldn't even feed off of her.

BTW, although I'm a bit upset that they killed off Claudine (Claudine like Sophie, Queen of the Louisiana Vampires, had more storyline past the 4th book of the series. But Alan unloaded them abruptly) but I loved how the show ended with the very classic line "You Killed My Fairy Godmother". Only in Alan Ball's campy TV show could a line be said like that without seeming stupid.

The Good I'm really digging the witches but they slipped a notch with that bizarro scene where Marnie was attempting to summon the spirits by herself. It really came across as a time filler. But I love that the Witches are already showing signs of internal conflict with those who back Marnie 100% and the breakoff of Jesus and Lafayette. Lafayette already knows what it's like to deal with the wrath of Eric and really wants to do everything feasible to not cross that guy again. Bringing Tara into this fold means you have a woman who hates vamps with a vengeance. Watching Lafayette, Jesus and Tara interact is like watching a modern day "Road to Morocco" where Bing & Bob are lovers while Dorothy Lamour has a major chip the size of Montana on her shoulders.

The so fricking awful I wish I could fast forward thru this awful crap: There is just nothing nice to say about this whole Jason/Crystal/Inbred Were-panthers series. I really wish Alan had read the book and stuck a bit more to the storyline but unfortunately he killed one of the major players from the book storyline off last season (Calvin Norris) and now he's dug himself into a whole with this massively awful storyline. And although it's not uncommon to have rape a part of a TV show storyline, this was one that will go down in the record books as the absolutely WORST case of rape on a TV show EVER! What scares me is Alan is really going someplace where NONE of us want him to visit - which is having Jason father were-panther babies not just with Crystal (which happened in the book) but with every inbred female hick that lives in Hot-Shot. When they showed the rape scene (and yes it was rape - when one person is drugged and bound to the bed PLUS is saying "NO" - that is rape or what looks like Gang Rape). Do we really want a True Blood where Jason is the father of a dozen were-panther babies who all happen to be born around the same time but with different mothers? I hope Alan Ball finds a way to clean up this yucky mess and make ALL of the were-panthers go way except one - which would be Jason. Jason has proven his acting abilities with the great storylines he had the first 2 season (Season #1 where they thought he was the Bon Temp serial killer and Season #2 when he went to Fundie nut-job Christian Camp). Why would they waste a terrific actor with such a wretched storyline. My wildest fantasy for how this story ends is that Jason visits Sookie, bringing along the baby he had with Crystal while back in Hot Shot a massive Meth Lab blow up occurs wasting the entire town of Hot Shots with all the residents in it. I will admit that having Jason as a supe would be great plus him raising a baby will only be TV fun in the future - only if he does it without anyone else from that god-awful town.

In Other News
Only one scene with Terry, Arlene and the crazy baby and it was actually interesting. I knew that the baby doll toy that was shown at the end of season #3 would be back in the picture. It might be interesting to see how it all turns out since Jessica and Hoyt mentioned how the dolls keeps reappearing after it's been thrown away. Makes you wonder what Mamma Fortenberry is up to. Perhaps she has a collection of these dolls and just puts another one in the house when one is destroyed. BTW nice to see Jessica is still working there. As much as I rag on the current Arlene storyline, I do love the Chemistry between Bon Temps two favorite red-headed Merlotte Waitresses.

Seriously, please do a flashback with how Tommy ended up with Maxine Fortenberry. I mean the story is starting to get annoying and I feel it's a big waste of talent with Tommy playing this brat that screams "Please love me" and then does sneaky crap behind everyone's back. For those that didn't see next week's previews - seems like Mamma Micken's is back in the picture. This woman could really turn the whole Maxine/Tommy/Sam storyline around. Plus, Dale Raoul (Maxine) is another one of those very-talented but way underused actresses that is on the show. We all knew a Maxine in our lifetime, that noisy neighbor that annoys the bejesus out of you, and Dale Raoul just brings this woman to life. Very talented actress!

Chris Bauer is one of the most underrated actors on True Blood. Even though this year Andy Bellefleur isn't a part of any major storyline, I can't get enough of him when he's on TV. He's the type of guy that can fit well with any group of Supes and I love how pathetic he's become now that he's a V addict. Give me more Andy PUL-LEASE!!!

Strangely absentNot much storyline with all the new shapeshifters (and potential girlfriend) friends of Sam Merlotte. But it was nice to see Sam and Tara together again - those 2 have a ton of chemistry together and I kinda wish they would hook up again.

FINALLY Joe Manganiello gets his name in the opening credit. I mean how can you use this guy as a major promotion for your show but then keep his name in the closing credits for all the bit players. Although we only had a short glimpse of Alcide this week, having moved from Jackson to Shreveport, it was a good view. And it's nice to see Debbie Pelt back in the picture. Even though she's clean of V, you know she's still pissed at Sookie for killing her Cooter. I guess with Joe's name in the opening credit and Alcide living local to Bon Temps - we'll see much more of the hunkiest werewolf on TV.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

[nolabear]

1. Oh HELL yes! (spoilers here too)

I agree on almost every point. And I am incredibly appreciative of Alexander Skarsgard's acting ability. Eric is every bit the lost puppy that he was in the book, and it's going to be really interesting to see the relationship shift.

I looked up that vamp-kill web site as soon as I saw it though I didn't watch any of the videos. They also have put up a site purportedly looking for the missing Fellowship of the Sun (I think that's the url) minister. Clever infiltration of media/reality.

Bill, Bill, Bill...*sigh*. Love me some Bill but he's getting as self-righteous as that OTHER Bill on Big Love. Like him and Jessica a lot though.

I don't like the new witch. She reminds me too much of the mynad. Good actress, though. Maybe I'll warm to her.

Lafayette...aren't you just delighted they didn't kill Lafayette? And clearly Jesus knows or suspects things he isn't copping to.

And I completely agree about those panthers. EW. Although this has been a rape-happy show, just not a guy and not on camera (I'm surprised Tara's not playing with her toes). I may be more creeped out by the meth-head look than anything else on the show. Wonder how they plan to handle the tigers.

Fun all around.

[LynneSin]

2. Love the comparison

Yes Bill Compton acts just the way Bill Hendrickson did on "Big Love". Both Bills always thought whatever belief system they had was the right belief system even when everything was falling down around them. Bill Compton really thinks he's doing the right thing by the AVL but deep down inside he's the biggest hypocrite of them all. How soon until Nan & Sookie cross paths and Nan gets a good whiff of that Vamp Crack that Sookie gives off. I'm sure Nan has had a few fairies in her lifetime and probably won't be too happy with Bill when she finds out what he knows. And I swear that whole video site/true death scene was nothing more than a precursor for Bill having to deal with someone he cares about being caught on video. Obvious the vampire closest to Bill's heart is his vamp-daughter Jessica - I'm guessing he's going to have to do alot of back-pedaling to save Jessica from the True Death. But since Jessica never existed in the books - killing her off could open up a big can of worms with Hoyt Fortenberry. And even though Hoyt and his mother Maxine aren't on speaking terms - I could see Mamma Fortenberry going after anyone who causes her baby Hoyt to cry. I mean we know Maxine bought a shotgun - I'd love to see Bill Compton battle it out with Maxine Fortenberry; my money is on Maxine!

You know, as glad that I am that Lafayette was spared in the book, I'm a bit disappointed with the people that Alan Ball has killed off prematurely. Calvin Norris was suppose to have some sort of creepy crush on Sookie but he was killed off last season. Alan also killed off early Sophie and Claudine. I mean in reality there is no way True Blood will manage to do all 13 books (how many Harris claims she is going to write), so I suspect some books will be doubled-up or Alan is just going to end the series his own way. (most good HBO series last 5-8 years tops PLUS how would explain the vampires aging. I think they could get away with it with Bill, Eric and Pam but Jessica would obviously look much older if she was doing this show for 13 years. Deborah Ann Woll is already 26 years old, playing a 17 year old girl. She won't be able to pull it off when she's 40).

[nolabear]

5. And don't you wish, even for a little while, that Bubba had been around?

The idea was hysterical.

[LynneSin]

8. It was but I read it was a licensing issue to put Bubba in the show

I think Alan Ball would love to had have Bubba in the show but having a character that supposedly was the King himself required getting permission from the estate. The other thing I read was doing something like "Home Improvements" where you would never really see Bubba but hear of him or see bits of him.

[solara]

3. I want to keep this kicked until I have the time to answer in full

But I gotta say, I think you nailed everything. And I am quite disgusted with the Jason SL plus I have seen this before.. "A Boy and His Dog" comes to mind.. not a fresh take on male- rape by any means, nor is there anything remotely interesting about the people involved. Someone must save Jason from this terrible SL!!!

.. also the Tommy SL.. just bugs..but then, I really don't like the character.. gahh I can't get started - I am at work..

More later.

:kickety:

[LynneSin]

4. I think Tommy SL deserves a flashback

I like the guy that plays Tommy Mickens but I feel they are holding back on some of the storyline about Tommy and his new founded relationship with Maxine Fortenberry. I'd rather we cutback on that damn werepanther stuff and work more with Tommy/Sam/Maxine and see how that turns out. The storyline has rich potential because it could bring in so many other characters and have great depth to it like Jessica & Hoyt or the Mickens.

I think the problem with Jason's SL is it involves it really doesn't involve anyone else except perhaps remotely Andy Bellefluer. Alan Ball tried putting Jason out there on his own with the Fellowship of the Sun SL and it really worked. Jason was a perfect fit with the Newlins, you had some crazy sex with Jason and Mrs Newlin plus the storyline eventually tied back in with the Dallas Vampire storyline.

At this point there is no connection to any other storyline whatsoever and I think that's why the story is sinking badly. The Newlins from the FOTS were creepy but in a funny way that made you want to watch them. But the HotShot folks are just creepy as in your 'creepy uncle touching you someplace where you shouldn't be touched' creepiness.

BTW some perplexing questions:

When Eric ran away from the Coven with his memory erased he was fully dressed. In fact they had one scene where Eric used the tip of his boots to put out a candle at the coven. And yet a few hours later Sookie found him he was wearing only his pair of jeans. Although I am not complaining, what the hell happened to Eric's clothes - when he ran away did he just decide to start taking off his clothes? Or did part of the witches spell compel him to strip down to his jeans. And serious Alan, why did you stray from the book? In the book he was butt naked and let's face it - Alexandar Skarsgard's butt is a ratings bonanza!

Also, Ryan Kwantan is 5'10. Alexander Skarsgard is 6'4. How did Sookie find any clothes of Jason's that would fit Eric is beyond me?

[nolabear]

6. MY vote was definitely for the book version of Eric's transformation too!

Yu-um.

[solara]

9. Yeah, even though I don't much like Tommy, I would like to see how that pairing happened

Hoyt mentioned that his mother shot at them, and I don't remember that happening in the series, so maybe we will see how things transpired in a flashback.

"And serious Alan, why did you stray from the book? In the book he was butt naked and let's face it - Alexandar Skarsgard's butt is a ratings bonanza" I couldn't agree more. The missing clothes thing has me puzzled too, unless the curse left him like a baby.. naked and alone, then he just happened to 'find' some jeans that fit? I don't know.. Ball hasn't shied away from showing other male nakedness, I think it's just down right mean to cover Eric when there was really no need. At. All.

The doll thing is really irking me, the set up is starting to feel like "Chucky" and I kept waiting for the doll to wink or smile or something.

I am glad Lafayette is still around too, but Tara is so unrelentingly pissed off it is getting tiresome. I know she has good reason, but there has to be another dimension to her by now.

I really didn't get the whole Alcide thing, either. Was it just filler?

The Jason SL is so disappointing and disturbing - what a waste. I could not agree with you more. It is just plain messy and awful and has no apparent relationship to the actual series.


Maybe Ball just keeps writing checks he can't cash.

[Liberal Veteran]

7. I'm just glad Aunt Petunia ended up with her own coven.

Take that Lily Potter!

[Duer 157099]

10. Sookie? Don't you mean Snookie?

:snort: :rofl: