True Blood episode reaction
Aug. 10th, 2010 01:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ishtar79-Russel and the werewolves work better for me as villains than Maryann (whom I would have found unbearable if it wasn’t for Michelle Forbes), so for the most part, I like this season. What I haven’t been enjoying has been the ramped up violence against women. It’s nothing new for the show (S1 was all about the strangled waitresses and rapey sex), but when it happens to characters I’m invested in (Tara) or when it’s perpetrated by those the show presents as sympathetic (Bill), it bothers me that much more. And it’s the context it happens in as well-Bill setting Lorena on fire didn’t bother me too much, but that sex scene between them is something I could have lived without ever, ever seeing, you know?
-As bad as the canon can be in terms of misogyny and other offensive stereotypes, the fandom can match that, and then some. I just spent an hour looking at True Blood icons (and I still don’t have one) and came out with the following not terribly original and entirely predictable conclusions:
a) If one tried to guess at the plot of True Blood judging by the overall icon output, they would conclude it was a show about a blond dude and his rivalry/ust with this unhealthy-looking brown-haired dude, with this perky blond going back and forth between them.
Secondary characters are this statuesque blonde woman who appears to be named “HBIC” and this pretty redhead, while there might be this black male character who appears to be there to make “girl, please!” faces.
b) That is if you can make out any of those faces after they’ve been across approximately 1000 PS filters. Though to be fair, that’s an issue in ALL fandoms.
c) Apparently posting a long-ass post dedicated to a het a ship, while including some icons that bash the female half of the ship, makes total sense in some parallel universe (I wish I could say that logic was new to me, but I saw it enough in Spuffy fandom).
d) Anyone with a delicate constitution would have given up this show somewhere during, oh, the pilot, and I’ve become fairly desensitized to the violent/squicky/disturbing scenes-partly because I expect them. That said, I will never, ever understand the shots some people chose to icon. Lots of shots of Tara bound and gagged from the abduction arc, Sookie looking terrified/brutalized from…take your pic, women being fed on with some cutesy caption….the hell? But I have to say the icon that takes the bloody fucking cake is This is a link to an example website from this entry. Because making an icon of Bill turning Lorena’s head 180 degrees is not quite enough, you need to add the words ‘die, bitch, die’ to get your point across.
Now, about the episode itself:
-I never had the Sookie issues many do, partly because Anna Paquin’s earned a lot of goodwill with me by playing X-Men movieverse!Rogue. But I’m getting to the point where I’m wondering the point where I’m wondering how somebody can be so EPICALLY self-centered and still have friends at all, or how somebody with such bad judgement and lack of foresight survived for so long in a place like Bon Temps. Seriously, the family resemblance to Jason is getting uncanny, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. The freakin’ break-up couldn’t last one episode? One lousy episode? I wasn’t even surprised when she and Bill started going at it again, because my expectations of her are so low.
-Bill is creeping me the fuck out this season. More so than usual, even. He’s manipulative, violently unpredictable and paternalistic/controlling-basically, he’s
Edward from Twilight with worse hair. What I can’t get my finger on is whether like in Twilight the narrative is selling him as a romantic hero or whether there’s in-text acknowledgement of his creepiness. At this point, EVERYBODY in canon is telling her to get the hell out, not just people whose argument is somehow undermined (Sam by his feelings for Sookie, Arlene by her bigotry and Jason by…well, him being Jason). Tara’s speech to Sookie this episode particularly hit the spot, even if it fell on deaf ears.
-Despite my full-on Bill squick, I find him surprisingly watchable in his scenes with Jessica. I was practically screaming “Worst vampire dad EVER!” when he attempted to kick her out (presumably so he could wallow uninterrupted in his MANPAIN), so I liked that they had their training session. I’d totally watch the hell out of a show about teenager vampire Jessica and her prissy vampire dad. It would have so much potential! Jessica’s dates getting a prim lecture from Bill about ‘courtin’”. Hilarious hijinks with Jessica calling to ask help with the Unexpected Drained Corpse. Cool auntie Pam!
-LOL, how hilarious was Russel, of all people, casually pointing out Bill’s sexism? I was relieved that Jessica made it though and strangely gleeful at seeing her drain the werewolf.
-Ugh, I cannot describe how much I do not care about Crystal Meth (tm Hoyt) or Jason’s newest fixation on a woman that will end up with him being in mortal danger and miraculously escaping unscathed through sheer dumb luck (or what’s known in the Stackhouse household as ‘an average date’). I would like to thank whoever makes these decisions for the lack of Jason
-The above decision-making person gets a swift kick in the shin for doing the ‘tasteful fade-away’ for the Lafayette/Jesus scene and no, this isn’t coming from a shallow place. Well, not just from there anyway. Really, show, when it comes to your only gay couple you discover RESTRAINT, REALLY?
-And yes, I know, the Eric/Talbot scene. But given how it ended, I don’t think it counts. It’s kind of when you only showed homosexuality onscreen if it ended in death.
-I’ll kind of miss Talbot, even if straining my ears to make out the stream of insults in Greek he often unleashed was distracting and oddly embarrassing.
-I don’t know what Eric’s end-game is, but I’m officially bored. I think the character is suffering from over-use. His motivation this season is avenging his dead-for-a-millenia parents? Since when do vampires, especially millennia-old ones who’ve probably slaughtered the population of a mid-sized city, work that way? Also, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…I don’t find him so hot anymore. I blame the baby-blue sweater. It’s kind of hard to sell the ‘sexy mysterious vampire’ vibe when you look like a Ralph Lauren ad.
-That’s ok though, because the hotness gap was filled (and then some) by Alcide. Not that his fashion sense is better but thankfully, he seems to have an aversion to wearing shirts too long.
My insta crush on the actor is kind of embarrassing, really. I’ one shirtless scene away from changing all my icons to shots of his abs and drawing hearts around his name. And yes, the character is a nice if a little boring character, but my shallow enjoyment is so strong that I care not for such details! I just get engrossed by his ridiculous hotness-there may even be some swooning involved.
-Tommy is such a likeable character he almost makes for the cringe factor of watching the Mickens. Though nothing will ever make up for the unspeakeable horror of Joe Lee’d drawers. WHAT WAS SEEN CANNOT BE UNSEEN.
-Well, I’m glad they’re spending some time showing how Tara was affected by her ordeal, as it got sidelined last week by Sookie in peril take 876876 (and good thing that Lafayette and Sam show her support, as Sookie is too caught up in her own drama to even manage a sincere show of concern for her friend’s mental stage). It’s realistic that a person wouldn’t just bounce back from a horrible and traumatic experience that probably warrants years of therapy. Of course, given the show’s timeline (I think it’s been a few MONTHS since the pilot), I don’t think it’s plausible that those people are so relatively unscathed.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 08:52 am (UTC)I can't like either Bill or Eric much any more, and I actually like Twilight a lot. Edward has ISSUES from hell, but his brain chemistry's permanently frozen at age 17. What are Eric and Bill's excuses!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 09:30 am (UTC)Mind you, that makes him still being hung up on the deaths of his human family all the more perplexing. I wish the show (the books) come up with a clear definition of how vampires think.
I don't mind Edward in Twilight being a sociopathic little creep, but the narrative presenting his ways as romantic skeeves me.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-11 12:04 am (UTC)Here's the thing: amoral or not, I simply totally hate people with a passion if they take their beefs with someone out on the people that person loves, who haven't done anything to them, particularly when (as in the case of Talbot) that person wasn't even born yet at the time and couldn't possibly have been involved.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 10:59 pm (UTC)what a load of bullshit.
I like Tommy. I actually warmed to Sam this season as well.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 12:39 am (UTC)The stripper murder was BRUTAL-I remember watching the whole scene in 'really, they're going there?' disbelief. Bill has done so many horrible things this season, I honestly don't know what the show runners are thinking, if that's their idea of a show romantic lead. It's different with a character like Russel or even Eric-they're predators and never try to act human/show compassion. Bill just...fails.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 01:07 am (UTC)I don’t find him so hot anymore. I blame the baby-blue sweater.
This is going to sound very odd, but some of his facial expressions this season just make him look like my baby-blue-eyed, gingery blond Siamese cat (anything where he looks bored and slightly petulant in particular). Needless to say, I don't pine for Eric Northman now. But I do find him hilarious.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 11:43 pm (UTC)I'm also beyond sick of Sookie's self-involvement and how horrible a friend she's been to Tara after her trauma.
And I'm going to get REALLY tired of chaste sweet fade to black Lafy/Jesus scenes. As I was saying in my own post, queer relationships should be treated the same way as all the other relationships, and not just when they're fake or dysfunctional - or yes, when they end in death/murder.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 12:53 am (UTC)There's absolutely no excuse for Sookie's callous indifference to the trauma her supposed best friend went through-NONE. It'd be one thing if it was partly about her processing her most recent brush with death, but all she seems to be thinking about is her breakup with Bill.
I'm very wary about the Lafayette/Jesus relationship. It'd great that it's there, and I think they could really work as a couple, but the show's treatment of it is already a bit iffy, and I'm of course terrified it will end in a horrible and/or gory way.
I must get caught up on your post now, didn't get the chance before!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 01:52 am (UTC)But your idea for vampire dad sitcom is inspired
no subject
Date: 2010-08-11 08:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-11 08:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 11:28 am (UTC)I saw someone else mentioning somewhere that Bill/Sookie reminded them of Edward/Bella. And while I have no first-hand knowledge of Twilight, it seems others have spotted the similarity as well. ;)
Btw, I stumbled across a True Blood/Twilight crossover (http://stoney321.livejournal.com/377337.html) last night. Pam and Edward exchanging letters and messages. I didn't read it since I couldn't get half the references, so I don't know if it's good but you might like it? It seems like funny crack.
I wasn’t even surprised when she and Bill started going at it again, because my expectations of her are so low.
I saw an explanation that maybe Sookie couldn't resist Bill because she had ingested too much of his blood in the hospital and maybe that's why there was this shot drawing attention to the blood dripping on the floor. Hopefully, if that's the case, Sookie might come to her senses? Not that I'm holding my breath.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-11 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 11:59 am (UTC)There are a lot of fucked up and unhealthy -- if not downright abusive -- relationships this season. So much so that I think it's has to be deliberate. Sookie & Bill. Tommy's parents. Debbie, V and her dead werewolf boyfriend. Crystal Meth & her fiance/boyfriend/whateverthefuckisgoingonthere. I'm a little hesitant to mention Franklin here, because that would imply his relationship with Tara was consensual (which it most certainly was not), but he is the most extreme, stark example of what I'm talking about. I don't think any of this is presented as positive.
Currently the healthiest sexual relationships on the show are Lafayette/Jesus and Arlene/Terry, even with the whole baby drama thing. Actually, the Queen and Hadley(?) were probably pretty solid as well, despite the whole interference from Russell.
Oh, and Eric's clearly just in it for the jewellery. He wants his shiny crown back. He will wear it like some kind of Viking HERO and ignore all Pam's snide remarks.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-11 08:58 am (UTC)I didn't see it, personally, but I think you're possibly on to something.
There are a lot of fucked up and unhealthy -- if not downright abusive -- relationships this season. So much so that I think it's has to be deliberate. Sookie & Bill. Tommy's parents. Debbie, V and her dead werewolf boyfriend. Crystal Meth & her fiance/boyfriend/whateverthefuckisgoingonthere. I'm a little hesitant to mention Franklin here, because that would imply his relationship with Tara was consensual (which it most certainly was not), but he is the most extreme, stark example of what I'm talking about. I don't think any of this is presented as positive.
Yes to all of the above-we can only hope the show's blind spot when it comes to Bill and Sookie is nit as blind as it seems.
Oh, and Eric's clearly just in it for the jewellery. He wants his shiny crown back. He will wear it like some kind of Viking HERO and ignore all Pam's snide remarks.
*sporfle* The prettiest blonde princess in the land!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 04:40 pm (UTC)I hear you and I'd like to add that I'm getting a little tired of Tara never getting a break. I agree that it's nice to see her affected by it in a realistic way, but I hope to god that they're done using her a punching-bag for a while.
Russel and the wolves are not bad villains, but I do feel that this season, so far, seems a little too split by many small storylines that at this point, at least, seem unrelated, and it's making me lose interest in the show.
But I’m getting to the point where I’m wondering the point where I’m wondering how somebody can be so EPICALLY self-centered and still have friends at all, or how somebody with such bad judgement and lack of foresight survived for so long in a place like Bon Temps. Seriously, the family resemblance to Jason is getting uncanny, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. The freakin’ break-up couldn’t last one episode? One lousy episode? I wasn’t even surprised when she and Bill started going at it again, because my expectations of her are so low.
Yeah... I've always liked Sookie, and so far I still do, and given all the things that happened, I'd cut her slack for being self-centered, too, but it's just... SHE'S A MINDREADER! That ability only seems to get used when it furthers the plot, however.
I've liked Bill, too, actually, up until this season, at least, mostly because the writers never used to miss an opportunity of making fun of him. But lately he's been way more creepy than unintentionally funny. But his scenes with Jessica were sweet, more of that, please.
I don’t know what Eric’s end-game is, but I’m officially bored.
Me too, there's another character who used to be fun but now seems to be all serious business. I just can't take his pain seriously, even if I'm supposed to. The viking flashbacks might have something to do with that.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-11 09:08 am (UTC)God, you have no idea how much I agree. I just want to give the character a hug.
I agree that the storyline is somewhat splintered this year, but maybe it will come together coherently by the end.
Yeah... I've always liked Sookie, and so far I still do, and given all the things that happened, I'd cut her slack for being self-centered, too, but it's just... SHE'S A MINDREADER! That ability only seems to get used when it furthers the plot, however.
She's not exactly making the best out of her mind-reading ability, is she? I'm shocked she still hasn't learned Jason killed Eggs, it's not like the boy has a lot of thoughts in his head making it hard to read.
I was never a Bill fan, but the unintentionally funny thing you mentionned made him bearable. He's horrible this season.
Me too, there's another character who used to be fun but now seems to be all serious business. I just can't take his pain seriously, even if I'm supposed to. The viking flashbacks might have something to do with that.
It's like the PTB looked at him and thought: 'You know what will make this badass and fun character better? Some traditional emo angst and daddy issues!' I mean, what?