True Blood 1.04 - Escape From Dragon House

I think I have to accept the fact I'll see every TB episode after the next one has already aired. Which limits discussions. Oh well, I guess this really will be my no-wank fandom. I'll probably miss the wank during the happy-squee period of the new show. Oh well, I'll squee for Eric on my own while everyone else laments the lack of Eric in the next one. lol

I am trying my best to not spoil people on the books but since I've just read them and this first series is following the first book pretty closely, it's hard not to compare and wonder why they've made certain changes. Especially when the books are so fresh to me.

I am warning you now THERE ARE BOOK SPOILERS IN THIS POST. Don't say you weren't warned. Most points are only about the show. However, I do raise several questions about certain minor scene changes. Thus, they're not necessarily spoilery considering you already know basically what happens in the novel. But there are a couple of things that I can't help but know and I'm not going to pretend ignorance when I discuss a character, especially given that characters behaviour in this episode. Thus there are one or two genuine spoilers for the later books below. Read at your own risk, these spoilers won't necessarily occur on the show (one of them at least) but there were elements in this episode that struck a chord with those "spoilers" and I had to ask....

That warning couldn't be any longer and any more boring so if you say 'boo spoilers' to me *smack* Not that anyone will probably read this at this late stage. lol



- I didn't believe Anna Paquin calling for help, something awkward and not right about that delivery.
- Whoops. Ryan Kwanten's accent slipped. That twanging 'e' in "Meee??" could not have been more Australian. Still the southern accent is probably one of the hardest for an Australian to get given how much faster we talk naturally.
- Not a good start in the acting department but I already know it picks up.

[credits]

- Love the gossiping townsfolk, especially Rene and Arlene, out the front of Dawn's place. They seem so concerned for her well being, don't they?
- And I know it's silly but I really loved the transition between wanting to be a fly on the wall, then the fly sitting on Dawn's lips.
- OKay, I laughed when Andy smacked Jason against the car and then shoved him unceremoniously. Hahahaha. I can't help it, the Ryan Kwanten/Jason thing merged and now I like it when his character suffers. Great actor playing Andy too. I've seen him in several movies (Devil's Advocate jumps to my mind for comparable creep-factor) and if they actually did do the book two storyline, I'm happy with him in the role.
- Niall! Random book characters appearing! It gives me a little shot of glee everytime they say a name I recognize and I can add that face to my bank.
- I know why Jason did the V-Juice while he was in the car but it's still pretty stupid considering the side effects when he's about to go off to an interview.
- The sunblock! Bwah!
- Jason's erection in the interview room reminded me of that scene from Me, Myself and Irene. Thus not that funny.
- I like that Sookie defended Dawn. Sure, she was a bit slutty, but I kind of liked the show version of her. Good presence, bubbly and so ALIVE. Bad choice of word, I know.
- I like the little detail of Sookie correcting Bill when he forgot the social nicety of saying sorry when someone died. He doesn't give a fuck after all. lol I like that in the books and now the show we are constantly reminded that he's not just a human that hungers for blood, in a lot of little ways vampires operate and think in fundamentally different way from humans. Human values can't be forced on vampires, they become more separate from their human memories the longer they live. I can't remember half the shit I did when I was 15, imagine Eric straining back that far? Sookie has a real problem grasping that they've been vampires longer than they've been human and thus shouldn't be judged on human standards, in the same way humans shouldn't be judged on vampire standards (vampires are tied to tradition, hierarchy and honour more than most humans in the books).
- I still like Bill on the show more than Bill in the books but I think that's Stephen Moyer. I'm not jumping on the Bill/Sookie train any time soon but I'm really glad to be able to enjoy the relationship on TV because many times I get irritated with ships I don't like. I'm not feeling that at all with this show. *pets Stephen Moyer* I do want to mess up Bill's hair and give the boy a hug, while straining my beck away of course.
- I LOVED Bill's face during the non-date conversation. The way the mood changed in the scene due to his subdued triumphant expression when Sookie asked him to take her to Fangtasia. LOL Anna and Stephen are great at playing little facial ticks back and forth: the way it looked like Bill was trying to pull back and smother a smug grin, and she was slowly becoming aware of it and trying not to laugh. *LOVES* Bill actually AMUSED me in this scene and he's just not a funny character. *smooshes Stephen Moyer again* "As am I!" Heeeeee, it's all in the accent.
- Don't you think Sam has the perfect haircut for his "character"?
- After just reading the last book, I love the contrast between early Sookie who's naive and thinks she can handle the vampire situation (just walk into Fangtasia, no worries) and later Sookie who is almost trying desperately not to get tangled in their shit over and over again. Or, as she says, not to get beaten up this year. She just doesn't get how dangerous they can be even accidentally to a human. They aren't cute, fluffy Mickey Mouse creatures. From my understanding Sam copped some flack in fandom for coming on strong, warning Sookie off about going to Fangtasia where she'll get herself killed (like the other girls did) but I'm seeing it differently because of the books. I wasn't bothered by Sam here at all. It's good she has a completely different dynamic with Sam and Bill and that Sam essentially wants her eyes to stay shut to such a dangerous place that is bound to irretrievably change her character. Sam's like a big warm security blanket when they aren't trying to make him creepy on the show, whereas Bill is simmering, tempting danger.
- I love that Pam called Sookie a DOLL because that's exactly what I thought when I saw her in that sweet little outfit. And she wonders why Eric was a little condescending in saying, "Aren't you sweet?" Um...check the outfit. She might as well come in a box with a pull string.
- I love the actress that plays Pam, she's great in the role, I love that she's so tall and has such presence. I thought Pam was turned when she was 19 though so the age is a little off for me. But I don't really care. She's great.
- LOL. Bill's face when Sookie committed the faux pas of trying to shake Pam's hand. It's like he looked around pretending she hadn't come with him. lol It's great that Pam asked for ID right after that too, like she needed to know what kind of cherry fool would think a handshake was appropriate.
- They just had a neverending erection situation on Packed to the Rafters so I didn't find the gigantic needle as amusing as it could have been but I have to admit it's probably the worst thing that could happen to a guy like Jason. Then he starts breathing like he's pregnant. lol
- I loved the guest doctor. Wonderful understated comedy. Casting has been really good on this show, even the minor parts.
- The actor that played young Jason was really strong too. It's bizarre! "Well, I know her!" lol
- I liked Bill when he was being creepy and using his glamour trick on the cop. Plus, it revealed the predator underneath the gentlemanly exterior that Sookie had forgotten about. That was more than just being protective, that was getting off on putting the cop in his place. He was also being superior to the common man. That action was unnecessary. Sure, the cop was being a dick but it wasn't necessary to scare him and steal his gun and basically tell him the thought of killing him had seriously crossed his mind. The sadistic pleasure he gets from the hunt is the same as any other predator, including Eric, and I don't think she'd seen that before; she was out of it when he killed the Rats.
- They certainly introduced this side of Bill earlier than it was in the books, since this scene in the novel starts passionately - a kiss in the heat of escape - and then Bill meekly lets Sookie charm the cop, they both show their neck and then go on their way. Instead we have Bill reacting possessively to some guy seeing her neck, snapping out a crude suggestion of looking between her legs (and that's the second time Bill has mentioned his fetish for that artery to unnerve someone) and then putting a glamour on the cop and stealing his gun. Scaring him to the point of pissing himself (although I have to say, this is such an obvious way to show fear and I wish TV and movies would stop doing it, not everyone pisses themself out of fear in the same way not everyone faints). But it's all about Stephen Moyer. He moved very little and though I didn't think he was that good at the start, by the time the standover portion started and he had the gun in his hand, he was AWESOMELY CREEPY. The guest deputy held up his end too. Go guest casting!
- I find Bill's fetish for the artery in the leg strange because I'm sure I read that Eric is the first vampire to bite her there and she was used to Bill just biting her neck. Hmmm, is that going to change for this series, I wonder?
- Anna's performances are probably the most spotty out of anyone - though I still think she's doing a good job. I think the accent bothers her out of everything. Her face as Bill turned back to the wheel was wonderful. Vulnerable and frightened and lost for words. What do you say when you were just about to make out with the person who freaked the fuck out of you moments later?
- THe little whimpering noise the cop made was amusing . . . what? I'm sorry! I'm a messed up person.
- IT's clear they're setting up Sam as a red herring or a suspect but what was up with the sexual rustling he was doing with those sheets in Dawn's bed? It looked like he was sniffing, investigating the scent of the person who had been with Dawn, but then it was like he picked up the scent of sex and went horny puppy on us. It was definitely more sexual at the end which was kind of creepy but I'd also be interested in what made him react like that - sexed up beyond his control. Another case of good acting though because it reminded me of a puppy rolling around asking for his tummy to be scratched. It's not the way I'd expect a human to move when sexually aroused. Great song closing out the episode too.




I'm just going to copy and paste my Fangtasia/Sookie/Eric thoughts from my other post.

I got impatient to see how Alex did in the role and thus looked on YouTube for his scene. Which meant I couldn't help but see the dunderheads from You Tube discussing him. Complaints ranged from how stupid it was for him to speaking modern Swedish when he's meant to be 1000 years old, to why his name is Eric Northman when that doesn't sound that old either. That his accent was bad - or his voice weird. One of them, oddly, said he didn't look like he could have been a viking.

Bwuh?

Meet many vikings?

He has long blonde hair, chilling blue eyes, he's atheletic and he's six foot something tall. Looks tough enough to me. Plus check the bone structure on his face! He couldn't look more like a Norseman if he was wearing a giant viking helment and swilling beer before he goes out to pillage. Unless they pictured someone fat with a beard.

I want to say *THUMBS DOWN* to all naysayers, I fully support him as Eric Northman. I spent the last couple of days reading the books and I've read his sections several times because he's the character that really appealed to me. Which normally means no actor could possibly live up to my expectations. Well...he's just perfect. I have nothing negative to say *GASPSHOCK*. I don't even care that I think his hair is meant to be longer in the books because he'd probably look like he'd stepped off a bodice ripper if they did that. Alexander Skarsgård seems to have inherited his father's talent but is much prettier. lol

My rebuttal goes like this:

1) On Accent: He's meant to have a slight, mixed accent and modern phrases are meant to sound awkward coming from him. The only reason I can think he sounds strange is because he is speaking in a very different way to everyone else. I LOVED the way he stretched his words as if forcing out perfect enunciation. Many of his words seemed deliberately slowed down or bitten out sharp and slow - I loved that attention to detail.

2) On Language: Eric speaks twenty-five languages in the book so I don't see the point of asking why he speaks modern Swedish rather than an older variety. We don't know how often he studies or when he left Europe or what those other languages are. I don't get the point of quibbling over which dialect he speaks because I think even Alexander said in an interview that it's not like the guy had been sleeping for a thousand years and was thus still thinking like he did back then. He's had to adapt to society, he learned different languages in different places. It's natural for him to still be familiar with a language from the region he originated from. Plus, Alexander the actor is fluent in this language and it was his idea to include the aside, it makes sense for them to use the language he's fluent in. A damn good idea if you ask me because how else is the audience meant to discover this guy is such a cunning linguist? (Okay, totally in bad taste, but I had to say it. Heh)

3) I love the slightly disdainful way he said 'mainstream' like it stuck in his mouth, and the patronising way he kept saying 'Bill', especially when he asked if he was very fond of his 'friend'; he wasn't even looking at Bill for most of that dialogue. Constantly putting him in his place. And Bill did look cowed by him most of the time which was perfect. The only thing I was unsure about in that section was Bill's threatening tone and body language when he told Eric Sookie was his (taking a step forward, grtting his teeth). In the books he says it much more meekly in comparison to when he said it to the other vamps in Mine. Granted, there's no specific description but I just didn't think he'd have the gall to use that tone with Eric, especially when he kept cautioning Sookie on her headstrong responses.

4) On sexuality: God damn, hell yes. My favourite part on this subject was when Sookie handed him the photos and as soon as he recognized Dawn, he made a little sound like a pleased growl. (After seeing all that graphic Jason/Dawn sex, I WISH we'd seen the Dawn/Eric sex....now THAT would have been hot. We all know he's the best sex she ever had, she said so and Jason shits me too much to find anything he does hot.) But he also licked his lips subtly when he looked at Sookie. I sort of wish they'd kept him trying to glamour Sookie away from Eric like he did in the books, but I understand why they didn't since Eric does not know about her telepathic abilities in this scene. I hope they're saving it for another occasion.

5) On Ruthlessness: He kicked a fangbanger across the room for daring to touch him without permission. It took no effort, the guy went flying and it was damn well orchestrated. My favourite part of the show continues to be the fights, I think they are really well choeographed and shot. His nonchalance in the face of that kind of violence says it all. You don't want to piss this guy off. Plus, Bill was clearly edgy around him so props to Stephen Moyer too for helping to establish who Eric is.

6) On movement: Loved the economy of movement. Even when he beckons Bill, he barely moves. Just lifts his hand, moves his fingers - the head and body remain perfectly still. It's like he's utterly aware of his own physical presence, utterly in control of it.

Sookie and Eric's Relationship (DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT BOOK SPOILERS)

I'm glad she's so disdainful and edgy of him in this first interraction because that's completely canon - her fear of his power and his lack of shame about the decadent thrill he gets form being a vampire. In the novels Sookie seems unnerved by Eric's age and how that feeds into his ambitions and priorities, she seems to be her most insecure with him too because every time he seems to desire she seems to slot in a disclaimer that he's not feeling what she is, and she knows it (even though she doesn't). For example, from book four:

We whispered some heartfelt (on my part) mutual compliments, and I was just out of it.

What's that "on my part" she has slotted in there after sexing up the viking? She clearly in insecure about Eric's capacity to feel for her and this is when he has no memories of his loooooooong life so imagine what goes on in her head when he's himself.

Thus she can have sex with Eric when he has amnesia but thinks she would have been able to summon the strength to reject him if he was himself because of his ancient intellect and how she suspects he uses that cunning. I think she's a bit of an unreliable narrator when it comes to his motivations but I'm glad to see they're laying the groundwork for that in these early scences. It's also why I hope they intend to have Eric attempt to glamour Sookie like other vampires have. It would show she's right not to trust him because at this early stage of their interraction, he doesn't much care for her free will as opposed to his own desires.

You can see Sookie doesn't completely get how dangerous he is yet in the way she talks back to him and Pam disdainfully. Like she believes they won't hurt her for her insolence even though Bill is worried they will. Or she thinks Bill has the power to protect her. Either way, it's great she has the guts to snap back at him and gain his interest when most people would be cowed by him.

LOVED all the little reactions as they spoke to each other, how Eric kept staring at her even when he was asking Bill if he was very attached to her. My favourite moment was when he said it was a pity she was Bill's...for him and then licked his lips slightly. Sookie visibly looked unnerved for a second. Heh.

Most importantly: He's as beautiful as the enthralled fangbanger said he was. There's nothing more irritating than having someone universally praised for their mystical beauty when you don't agree. (*cough*Lana*cough*) Thus, I feel sorry for the people who are disappointed in the casting of Eric because the show is just not going to be the same for them.

Seriously, the only casting I'd question out of Bill, Sookie and Eric is Sookie. But then I think Anna is a great actress and has been doing a good job making me like Sookie in scenes where I wasn't necessarily wild about her in the books. She earned my respect when she really WENT for it sucking on Bill's blood in "First Taste." I don't want to keep drawing comparisons, but the bloodplay in True Blood is far more convincing than Moonlight. I always felt, especially when Jason Dohring was biting, that it looked a bit awkward or unnatural. Maybe they were being too pretty about the bloodsplatter. But Anna really sunk her mouth over that fake blood, she had it EVERYWHERE, which makes me hope that they do include the bulletsucking scene from the books (oh god, PLEASE, PLEASE). That would be sweeeeet but I'm not holding out hope because there's no guarantee they'll even follow the storyline of the second novel that closely. Dexter didn't.

Stephen Moyer couldn't be any more Bill if he was really undead. Hence why I loved the interaction between Bill and Eric. Two perfect pieces of casting mostly nailing the interaction between these characters. I think there's more hate in that relationship than love and it's only going to get worse as Eric becomes more intrigued by Sookie so YAY for good acting and coming drama. *Crosses Fingers*

I can't wait until Eric finds out how Sookie knew they had to get out of Fangtasia.

Oh and Pam is kickass too. Casting is not how I pictured her but she's still awesome and I think she has the character of Pam down, so who cares about the physicality of her?

*LOVES*

FANGTASIA

Loved Sookie's comment that it was like a Disney World attraction. Because it totally is and there's never been a more apt description. The bar was set up to exploit human fascination with vampires, not vampires themselves. There are bars where vampires go by themselves, but when they're at Fangtasia they are acting vamp to bring in money from tourists. They sell T-Shirts there (and I wonder if HBO is selling those too, heh). I think Sookie was right but Bill was right to warn her that it gets more organic later too. I wonder if they'll have an actual vampire bar on the show, set up to please vampires, a more underground thing. If that will be more imposing to enter.

I liked the look of Fantasia too and I did like Eric's set up, like he was sitting on a throne. The only reason I'd question it was because Bill's slightly bitter "you noticed him?" comment seems really stupid in that context. Eric is basically sitting on a stage under a spotlight, all by himself, gazing out his groundlings. Anybody would notice him, it has nothing to do with how enthralling Eric is in that situation. I wonder if they should have just sat him in a booth like he sat sometimes in the books so that her noticing him meant something.

Back to Viewing New Scenes

- When did Bill learn to speak Cambodian? Or why did he pick that music?
- I've never understood why Sookie stayed in the bar once Long Shadow confirmed that both the girls had been there. She was never going to read the minds of vampires and if they suspects a vampire had been with both and maybe killed them, she was never going to find out. Unless she got lucky. Maybe she was trying on the off-chance but it didn't seem that Eric could give her information beyond what Long Shadow did. Unless she thinks because he tasted Dawn, it could be him.
- There are some things from the scene in the novel I wish they'd kept. Largely when Pam looks surprised that Eric indulges Sookie's interrogation. In the show, Eric is the one that tells her to ask him the questions, answers them freely and Pam shows no reaction. In the book she seems shocked that Eric would unbend to a lowly mortal and I think that could have helped to establish his interest beyond what she tastes like and fucking her (which he clearly wants to do by the lip-licking).
- I love the shot form underneath Pam and Eric when he smiles for the first time, that wide disobey-me-and-die smile. Slightly psychotic and beautiful. It's the first time Sookie gets a wary look on her face because she'd been pretty insolent before that. And the camera angle is great to catch the intimacy between Eric and Pam. I love how their minds work and play off each other, I like that she's standing behind him rather than the man standing behind the woman like you often get in old photographs. It shows her off to be a strong, supportive, loyal character and also shows his rank. Nice staging. But really, I would be that insolent to someone who had lived 100 years, but 1000?? Sookie, Sookie.
- Sookie looked even more like a little porcelain doll when Bill picked her up at the end there.



"V" Juice - Vampire Blood

This is especially inspired by the back and forth complicated nature of blood bonds established in the book. Bill has told us on the show that drinking vampire blood establishes a bond whereby the vamp can know where you are very quickly and access your feelings. It also has automatic healing properties if you drink enough. Sookie took a lot when she healed herself. Yet they showed none of the increased strength or whatever once Sookie had healed. I think it was a weakness to show no difference in Sookie even if she said she felt different, unless it has less effect on her.

But V Juice complicates matters. I was under the impression that V was just vampire blood but do they lace it when something like ecstacy too? Two drops gives you the same feelings as viagara, a driving need to fuck someone's brains out. It's all about the libido. Sookie had it directly from the source and didn't seem more effected by Bill than she already was without it.

I had to give this it's own section because I've had a bunch of questions since I read the books too. What's the difference between drinking V Juice from a vial and drinking blood straight from a vampire? I'd think straight from a vampire would have more magical properties if there was any difference, perhaps the magic wanes the longer it's not connected to a vampire body. But the different effects have never been explained to my satisfaction so I hope they establish some clear lines on the show.

- If the vampire drained to create the V-Juice was still alive, would they become aware of the humans who drank their blood in the same way Bill is aware of Sookie? If that's the case, it would be easy to track down and kill those who profit from your torture, wouldn't it? Or does some magic happen when lips touch skin and the vamp makes a willing offer? Because this is magic, as stated by Bill, it could be more than just the ingestion of a liquid.
- The above is more interesting when you think about blood bonds which hasn't come up yet on the show but probably will. Lafayette said that he gets his V from one vampire, willingly. Over and over. So the same users are drinking the same vampire blood over and over. Is that vamp getting a whole bunch of little human underlings without their knowledge or is it just not the same as direct drinking?
- Does V juice effect everyone differently and because Jason's such a slimy prick with legs he had a never ending erection? Or are vampires constantly in a state of arousal? Heh.
- If you drink blood straight from a vampire while NOT in mortal peril, does it have the same effect as V-Juice as an instant aphrodisiac?
- Is Sookie's libido not as effected as Jason's because she's different, or because she was injured? (Then again, I don't think she became aroused every time she drank vamp blood in the books - usually she was icked out, she actually says ICK a lot in the books)

Blood is blood to me but clearly that cannot be the case in this universe or there'd be blood bonds all over the place. I'm curious to see if they try to draw the line or if it will all get increasingly blurry and confused like I feel it does in the books. It could be intentionally confused because the vampires themselves don't know but...confused nonetheless.

Favourite Lines

- Ain't no 23 year old in the world whose time has come. (I'm bias!!!! That's my age, lol)
- I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof . . . that's from a play. (*snerk*)
- "My sweet, sweet baby..." (Jason said unto his penis, the deepest love of his life)
- "Would you listen to me?! I've got GOUT of the DICK!" (Okay, God help me but Ryan Kwanten is cracking me up over dick jokes. Brain, you're officially dead to me.)
- "Penny for your thoughts?" / "I thought you liked not knowing what I'm thinking." . . . "You look like vampire bait." (Eric-bait. lol)
- "Don't say Uh-Oh, vampires are not meant to say Uh-Oh." (My feelings exactly.)
- "Main-streaming. I heard. . . I see that is going well for you." (That line is nothing on paper - how charged with meaning was it when he said it, eyes roving over Sookie? Droooool)
- "Aren't you sweet?" / "Not really." (I would have liked Eric to crack up laughing in appreciation like he did in the book, but the understated smirk and aside in Swedish was cool too. Maybe they aren't going to make Eric as "lively" as he is in the books, or wanted to start out at a lower level)