True Blood - 1x11 - Frenzy
Aug. 31st, 2009 06:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fembuckIt's been a while since I made a True Blood post, but with the return of Pam and ERW making her entrance I couldn't resist!
1. Moar Sophie-Ann. I'm glad she's going to be around next season, because I'm hooked now.
I felt that Evan Rachel Wood (ERW) was a little bit off in the teaser part of the show (maybe the fangs made it hard for her to speak properly), but very soon the performance became really captivating (in fact, she's won me over so much that I actually will refer to her as Evan Rachel Wood, instead of Rachel Evan Wood, which is what I called her during the Marilyn Manson phase because it bugs her and her dating himfucking creeped me out bugged me.).
I want to watch the episode again, because I think that she put it a really nuanced performance, and from what I've read on other boards people seem to really be hating on her, but after the teaser where she did seem a little off I thought it was a damn good performance and that the affectated nature of it was intentional. Almost like Sophie-Ann is putting on a show for people and so ERW's performance as Sophie is broader than she would usually play it.
I appreciated that she had some energy as well, the monotone boredness and/or brooding stoicality of the vampires on the show is a bit much to take sometimes. I liked that Sophie was energetic and well lit. Also, her style is amazing. I loved that sitting room, and her outfit and her hair and her general are of affectation so much. Glamorous sexy bitch. Since the creaters are probably going to continue to do nothing with Pam, I hope that Sophie-Ann gets a good amount of screen time next season. "I haven't been attracted to a man since the Eisenhower administration", lol! Also, loved how Sophie-Ann is a total slash writer, telling Bill that he and Eric should just do it already and then philosophizing on the joys watching menfolk touch each other.
Also, Sophie-Ann feeding from both of Hadley's femoral arteries was hot. And I won't feel bad about saying that, because when Sophie-Ann dipped her head down, Hadley sounded like she was hella enjoying whatever was going on off-screen.
2. Speaking of Pam ... hello darling! Oh my god, that outfit was so amazing. Only Pam could pull off something like that. Kristen Bauer is so good, they really need to utilize her more. That eye-roll she gave when Eric asked if Sam could give him Sookie was amazing. And then her bitching about the kids for the rest of the visit, insulting them in Swedish made my day.
I also really liked Eric in that scene. "Teacup humans", lol. Eric is always at his best when he and Pam on or screen together being snarky and fabulous. Honestly, I find him really amusing when he's not acting above everything (and when's he's not around Sookie). Both Bill and Eric are greatly improved by not being around Sookie, and Sookie by not being around them.
I still don't get all of the Eric swooning though. I mean, even though it was funny he was discussing children as a delicacy. That's just not okay. I can be amused by him, but I don't think I'll ever really be able to see him as a love interest for a human when he would consider any of her offspring to be a tasty snack.
Also, speaking of Eric, not only was his windswept look when he arrived at Sophie-Ann's hilarious, but I liked that he called Bill out on giving Sookie his blood the second night he met her. You have no right to be all up on that high-horse Bill.
3. Tara, thee is dumb girl! I'm sorry, it's true that Sookie has done stupid shit for Bill, but just because someone else acts like a moron it doesn't mean that you should act like a moron too. And Tara's complete lack of a plan running back for Eggs, is far stupider than anything Sookie has done, and Sookie has done some pretty fucking stupid shit. So, bascially, Tara continues to break my heart.
4. I liked that we got confirmation that Lafayette was having sex dreams about Eric too! Seriously, this episode was full of ho!yay and les!yay.
5. Gran's house it a goddamn nightmare these days. I felt like I was watching "Blindness" as Sookie entered the complete wasteland that had once been her grandmother's house. I felt for her when she was talking about the defilement of the place because I've been thinking the same thing the whole time, and it really became clear this episode how much Maryann and her followers had wrecked the place.
Speaking of Sookie, I actually really liked Sookie this episode. In fact, I generally enjoy Sookie when she's not interacting with Bill. The Sookie/Lafayette tag team was funny (fur-lined handcuffs), touching (Sookie's concern for how traumatized he was, and their talk about Eric being in their heads), and you know ... creepy as hell at the end there.
6. Poor Jessica. There wasn't too much of her this episode, but what there was was heart-breaking. Normally, I would love a man being that dedicated to his mother, but Hoyt's mother is such a nasty piece of work. The only thing she has going for her that makes her better than Lettie Mae is that she isn't an alcoholic. She's just a really hateful woman, and it's not Maryann's influence. She was a nasty piece of work before she got under Maryann's influence. Jessica does need to work on her control, but having her and Hoyt separate because his mother is a spiteful hatemonger is too heart-breaking. Jessica and Hoyt have got no one else they can really count on, so at least them be able to comfort each other!
7. Jason Stackhouse is an amusing moron. I usually never agree with Sam, but he was right this episode. As much fun as it was to hear Jason speculating about whether Sam ever turns into a dog and then does it with a lady dog, or whether he could turn himself into a chicken and lay his own eggs was funny, but Jason is a shit planner. Honestly, if he and Andy are Bon Temps last chance at survival then I'll just wave goodbye to Bon Temps now. I really, really hope that he's heading for a life lesson here. Going half-cocked into situations is not behavior that should be encouraged.
8. I don't even want to know what that guy in the sink was playing with. *full body shudder* Sookie having to snuggle with Dr. Phlox was also way creepy, though it was made way better by the scene ending with Sookie hitting him over the head with a frying pan.
I'm sure there's more that I could say, but I can't think of it at the moment if there is.
*is sad we have to wait two weeks for the season finale*
1. Moar Sophie-Ann. I'm glad she's going to be around next season, because I'm hooked now.
I felt that Evan Rachel Wood (ERW) was a little bit off in the teaser part of the show (maybe the fangs made it hard for her to speak properly), but very soon the performance became really captivating (in fact, she's won me over so much that I actually will refer to her as Evan Rachel Wood, instead of Rachel Evan Wood, which is what I called her during the Marilyn Manson phase because it bugs her and her dating him
I want to watch the episode again, because I think that she put it a really nuanced performance, and from what I've read on other boards people seem to really be hating on her, but after the teaser where she did seem a little off I thought it was a damn good performance and that the affectated nature of it was intentional. Almost like Sophie-Ann is putting on a show for people and so ERW's performance as Sophie is broader than she would usually play it.
I appreciated that she had some energy as well, the monotone boredness and/or brooding stoicality of the vampires on the show is a bit much to take sometimes. I liked that Sophie was energetic and well lit. Also, her style is amazing. I loved that sitting room, and her outfit and her hair and her general are of affectation so much. Glamorous sexy bitch. Since the creaters are probably going to continue to do nothing with Pam, I hope that Sophie-Ann gets a good amount of screen time next season. "I haven't been attracted to a man since the Eisenhower administration", lol! Also, loved how Sophie-Ann is a total slash writer, telling Bill that he and Eric should just do it already and then philosophizing on the joys watching menfolk touch each other.
Also, Sophie-Ann feeding from both of Hadley's femoral arteries was hot. And I won't feel bad about saying that, because when Sophie-Ann dipped her head down, Hadley sounded like she was hella enjoying whatever was going on off-screen.
2. Speaking of Pam ... hello darling! Oh my god, that outfit was so amazing. Only Pam could pull off something like that. Kristen Bauer is so good, they really need to utilize her more. That eye-roll she gave when Eric asked if Sam could give him Sookie was amazing. And then her bitching about the kids for the rest of the visit, insulting them in Swedish made my day.
I also really liked Eric in that scene. "Teacup humans", lol. Eric is always at his best when he and Pam on or screen together being snarky and fabulous. Honestly, I find him really amusing when he's not acting above everything (and when's he's not around Sookie). Both Bill and Eric are greatly improved by not being around Sookie, and Sookie by not being around them.
I still don't get all of the Eric swooning though. I mean, even though it was funny he was discussing children as a delicacy. That's just not okay. I can be amused by him, but I don't think I'll ever really be able to see him as a love interest for a human when he would consider any of her offspring to be a tasty snack.
Also, speaking of Eric, not only was his windswept look when he arrived at Sophie-Ann's hilarious, but I liked that he called Bill out on giving Sookie his blood the second night he met her. You have no right to be all up on that high-horse Bill.
3. Tara, thee is dumb girl! I'm sorry, it's true that Sookie has done stupid shit for Bill, but just because someone else acts like a moron it doesn't mean that you should act like a moron too. And Tara's complete lack of a plan running back for Eggs, is far stupider than anything Sookie has done, and Sookie has done some pretty fucking stupid shit. So, bascially, Tara continues to break my heart.
4. I liked that we got confirmation that Lafayette was having sex dreams about Eric too! Seriously, this episode was full of ho!yay and les!yay.
5. Gran's house it a goddamn nightmare these days. I felt like I was watching "Blindness" as Sookie entered the complete wasteland that had once been her grandmother's house. I felt for her when she was talking about the defilement of the place because I've been thinking the same thing the whole time, and it really became clear this episode how much Maryann and her followers had wrecked the place.
Speaking of Sookie, I actually really liked Sookie this episode. In fact, I generally enjoy Sookie when she's not interacting with Bill. The Sookie/Lafayette tag team was funny (fur-lined handcuffs), touching (Sookie's concern for how traumatized he was, and their talk about Eric being in their heads), and you know ... creepy as hell at the end there.
6. Poor Jessica. There wasn't too much of her this episode, but what there was was heart-breaking. Normally, I would love a man being that dedicated to his mother, but Hoyt's mother is such a nasty piece of work. The only thing she has going for her that makes her better than Lettie Mae is that she isn't an alcoholic. She's just a really hateful woman, and it's not Maryann's influence. She was a nasty piece of work before she got under Maryann's influence. Jessica does need to work on her control, but having her and Hoyt separate because his mother is a spiteful hatemonger is too heart-breaking. Jessica and Hoyt have got no one else they can really count on, so at least them be able to comfort each other!
7. Jason Stackhouse is an amusing moron. I usually never agree with Sam, but he was right this episode. As much fun as it was to hear Jason speculating about whether Sam ever turns into a dog and then does it with a lady dog, or whether he could turn himself into a chicken and lay his own eggs was funny, but Jason is a shit planner. Honestly, if he and Andy are Bon Temps last chance at survival then I'll just wave goodbye to Bon Temps now. I really, really hope that he's heading for a life lesson here. Going half-cocked into situations is not behavior that should be encouraged.
8. I don't even want to know what that guy in the sink was playing with. *full body shudder* Sookie having to snuggle with Dr. Phlox was also way creepy, though it was made way better by the scene ending with Sookie hitting him over the head with a frying pan.
I'm sure there's more that I could say, but I can't think of it at the moment if there is.
*is sad we have to wait two weeks for the season finale*
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 04:17 am (UTC)Yeah, she's really interesting so far. I really got a feeling from her like she was playing at being a grown up as well, and I got a kick out of the teenager showing through in her every once in a while. I'm also glad they have ERW playing her as well, because she's a good enough actress that she can keep Sophie from becoming a caricature.
I get the feeling that Pam could wear just about anything and we would still be in love with her.
This. I just love Pam. She can really do no wrong. I even found her hatred of children amusing (even though those kids were cute as a button!)
The girl has no guidance, so she's really on her own.
This. Bill really is the Worst. Maker. Ever. He has completely screwed Jessica over again and again. You'd think he'd feel a bit more responsibility to her considering he's the one who ripped her life away from her. He has left her to coast so much.
Really, Bill has been such a douche lately. I feel like he's heading for a major comeupance where he's going to be called on a lot of the shit he's been pulling.
A scene with Pam, Sophie-Ann and Jessica.
I would love this too, but I doubt it. They don't care enough about Pam on the show, and Jessica meeting Sophie-Ann would require Beel to remember that she's alive (well, not really but you know what I mean.)
Honestly, I wish the show would go to interactions between female characters as much as they focus on the interactions between male characters. We get a bajillion Bill/Eric scenes, and Eric/Godric scenes, but very little female/female scenes, not even really with BFFs Tara and Sookie. I really liked the interactions between Sookie/Jessica and not even really in a femslashy way. Let the girls talk to each other dammit!
no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 05:11 am (UTC)And this is really why I can't ever get behind the guy. I mean when you think about it, if there is anyone out there who would know how not to treat your childe, it's him. He hates the way Lorena made him, so you would think he would do whatever was in his power to do right by Jessica. But to me the guy is just one selfish little douche.
You make a great point here. I swear a lot of the time the main interactions are either male/female or male/male. Like with Jason and Andy in this episode. But rarely do I ever see any good female/female interaction on any show really. Which just sucks ass when you think about it.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 02:14 am (UTC)Oh, I know. Me too. I bet he takes notes! It's a credit to Ryan Kwanten and his portrayal that that reveal made go 'Oh, Jason'. He's such a lovable oaf.
AND yes ... we do hate you Jason because you get a lot of pussy.
Truth.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 02:13 am (UTC)Exactly. Bill's treatment of Jessica shows what a selfish dickwad he really is. Horrible as Lorena is, at least she didn't abandon Bill after turning him. It's like Bill was a grown ass man when he was turned, and he's been around for a long time since then, he should understand the concept of responsibility. He was forced to turn Jessica yes, but he did it, and you'd think he could take a few minutes out of eternity to show her the ropes.
But rarely do I ever see any good female/female interaction on any show really. Which just sucks ass when you think about it.
Exactly. Or, when you see female/female interactions they are not positive but catty (i.e. Pam/Jessica, Lorena/Sookie, random females at Merlott's, Hoyt's mom/Jessica) or destructive (i.e. Tara/Maryann). I like Sookie's friendships with Tara and Arlene and her mentorship (kind of) of Jessica, but none of these relationships get all that much time, which does suck ass.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 03:07 am (UTC)Absolutely. I think people tend to gloss over the fact that Jessica is still a 17 year old girl just because she's a vampire now. And one that was very sheltered. So she really needs double the guidance. I wouldn't mind seeing Lorena taking Jessica under her wing as some sort of way to get back at Bill, but since the the jerk doesn't give a damn I don't see that ever happening.
And I totally understand that us ladies can so bring on the drama, but seriously we aren't like that 24/7 and with all the women in our lives. This is why I always gravitate to what little positive female/female relationships that I can find. I'll be dreading the day when Morgana/Gwen aren't being all cute together.
Tara, Tara, Tara
Date: 2009-09-01 06:41 pm (UTC)I really don't know how to feel about these criticisms of Tara because yeah, she's smarter than that. But all too often they look at her as a tough, smart Black woman and forget that beneath all that she's actually very lonely and vulnerable. She doesn't get to be special like Sookie. She's just Tara Thornton. Then here comes somebody (first Maryann, then Eggs) who treats her like she's special, like she deserves good things in her life, and she's just supposed to drop them like that?
Human beings don't always work that way.
Re: Tara, Tara, Tara
Date: 2009-09-02 01:59 am (UTC)I can see why she would want to rescue Eggs. I like her and Eggs together, but rushing back to Gran's house without a plan to get him back was stupid. She was hysterical and not thinking clearly and her friends were right to hold her back. Eggs wasn't in immediate danger from Maryann, but by rushing back to Gran's house Tara put herself right back into a situation her friends and family had worked hard to get her out of.
I wanted Tara to be a part of taking herself out of the cycle of abuse she's been in, but when she had the opportunity she just thrust herself back into it (granted it was with noble intentions, but noble stupidity is still stupidity) again.
So, her actions don't mystify me, they just sadden me.