"Whatever I Am, You Made Me" - True Blood (S5E3)

   Eric Northman called it correctly. "An honorable Vampire and an intelligent Whore." Such is the beginnings of Pam and Eric. These long awaited answers to the fan questions of how the duo became Maker and Progeny are slowly unfolding via flashback this season. Pam was a sassy turn of the century American Madame. Eric was...well Eric, Sheriff of the Area. After coming to her rescue in a back alley, their dance of eternity began.
   As we have begun to learn, Pam was as witty and powerful in 1905 as she is now. I believe that is what drew Eric to her in the first place. True, he floated around the brothel for a meal or two, but he was drawn to her. She walked a fine line between mortified and electrified by his being a vampire, but last night she took the situation at hand by pleading with Eric to make her or let her die. We all know how that turned out.
   It was interesting to see newly made Bill and Lorena in the flashback sequence. If you add the new maker/progeny relationship of Pam and Tara to this mix, it gives a rich explanation of how these relationships begin, and often times falter. Lorena loses control of Bill. Eric is seeing the unraveling of his relationship with Pam in modern day. Pam, whether she wants to or not, has to deal with newly made Tara out of control.
  "Whatever I am, You made me." is the vampire equivalent to "You reap what you sow." It remains to be seen how Pam and Tara will develop. I am predicting that Tara will be a pawn in Pam's game of survival. There are traitors in the Vampire midst. Everyone will be jockeying for survival. We still have not seen Russell Edgington...yet. Who are the other vampires in secret alliance with The Sanguinistas? Can we really deal with the new "Nan Flanegan" a.k.a Rev. Steve Newlin?
   So many questions. A big one remains for me. When will Sookie begin to reap what SHE sows? Every one has had serious consequences for their mistakes and bad behavior except her. The last time Sookie really had to recover from a huge setback was in Season One with the death of "Gran". We all know that Russell is coming straight for her when he regenerates. And, now that she has murdered Debbie, she will have the werewolves after her too. She may not be able to count on Lafayette any longer. After all, she is responsible for having Pam turn Tara instead of letting her die. Alcide, who is usually just around the corner to defend her, is realing from the knowledge that she killed Debbie. Eric and Bill are off having their bromance and dealing with Roman. Who is protecting Sookie? Sookie may have to finally start protecting herself.

Here is a sneak peak to next weeks episode "We Will Meet Again" on HBO:

True Blood (S2E2) There Is Nothing Civil About This War

    It is obvious to me, after watching episode 2 (season 2), that there is an undercurrent running thematically through True Blood...CIVIL WAR. I could write a play by play run down of last night's episode like many do every Monday. It would be easy to pick apart the various story lines and wax poetic about the spectacular twists and turns. But, I feel there is a greater need to expound upon this theme because it is the spine of the series at this point.
   Bill Compton, according to the books, fought for The South in the Civil War and was made Vampire by Lorena shortly after. We all know the history of this War. It was an ugly, brother against brother blood bath over the secession of the Southern Confederacy from the Union of the North in response to Abraham Lincoln's Presidency and the issue of slavery. Where we learned a bit of Bill's history through the book and the show, there is a lot that we do not know in reference to what he thought and endured at that time. This vagueness is something the writers of the show have only briefly delved into and expanded.
   Clearly, there is Civil War in the Vampire culture. ( I will stick mainly to as it is played out in the show, rather than the book series because of how much it has already deviated from the original story.) What we had in the start was a fragile harmony. Vampires peacefully coexisting with and within human culture. It was an uneasy acceptance. But, we have come to watch that disintegrate over the seasons to the powerful jumping off point when Russell Edgington came undone, insisted the vampires live like regular vampires and was quickly put into the ground. It rearranged everything the vampires had worked so hard for.
   Enter "The Sanguinistas", a rebel faction in the ruling group of vampires, "The Authority". Their core belief is that humans were made for their consumption and survival. The Authority sees them as rebels in complete disregard for the centuries worth of work and, as of this season, are out to keep them from further destroying things. In the middle of it all is Bill Compton. Even as a centuries old vampire, he can't escape this divided dynamic.
   Let me line up history with the vampire story line. The Authority represents The Union. The Sanguinistas represent The Confederacy. Roman vs. Russell - Grant vs. Lee. Hanging in the balance are the humans, which represent the slaves. Are the humans going to be forced into a fight for freedom and survival or are they going to continue to live as they always have. Ultimately, whichever side wins decides.
   Unlike the Civil War, this societal dynamic is unique in that it has an infusion of international cultures. Eric was a Viking and much older than Bill. We also have vampires that were made after the Civil War who are American and had the benefit of seeing how the Civil Rights Movement unfolded over time. This war is not easy to put in a historically limited box. It has many facets and can draw from a multitude of personal experiences. This is why I feel the bromance between Bill and Eric will end eventually with Eric coming down on the side of The Sanguinistas. His historical experience in his premade life was more of survival of the fittest. Bill's, even though he did fight in the American Civil War, was many shades less primal than that.
   The unknowns are many. How will Russell come back and reassert himself. Is Roman powerful enough to keep his primal urges in check for the betterment of the vampire society? Will Bill take anything he learned from his experience before being made and, combined with what he has lived since, remain a champion as someone in reverse of what he was before? Instead of being pro-slavery (Sanguinista), will he be able to fight for The Authority ( The Union)?

Here is a sneak preview of next weeks episode courtesy of HBO

   

"Turn Turn Turn" - True Blood Season 5 Premier

   The wait is over. Season 5 of True Blood began last night. After 4 seasons, I have my character loyalties. #TeamPam was in full effect from the start. Back are the caustic one liners that the fan base count on.

  "If you can use your magic hands or your super snatch, whatever power it is you have over Eric to fix what's broken between us, and you'll still owe me one, you have a deal."

That had us at the start, with Pam making a deal with Sookie to help the head blasted Tara by turning her into a Vampire. Into the cold ground they went for Pam to hasten the transition. Who knows what Tara will turn out like. But, you can bet that Pam has some sneaky sinister motives against Sookie for this. Tara has now become a weapon.


   I was giddy with excitement enough to ignore how typical Sookie's distress is in the storyline and how hollowed out Lafayette is becoming. I want to see my sassy gay spirit guide not a depressed and bewildered sap. Clearly the death of Jesus the Brujo last season is not going to be the character suck of Lafayette. Tell me it isn't so! 

   The bromance between Eric and Bill is stronger than ever, but we had an addition to the cast that set Twitter on fire last night. Nora, Chancellor For The Authority, sister by maker to Eric, made her first appearance. Vampire Incest? It was on in a storage container on the docks as Eric and Nora go at it with Bill standing watch. Sookie who? Poor Sook. It seems as though she only has her sweet love sick Alcide left to defend her. Both Eric and Bill sensed trouble with her but did not go to her aid. Even Lafayette is tired of her being a magnate for disaster.
  I felt the best surprise of the evening was the return of the good Pastor, Steve Newlin. 

"I'm a gay vampire American, and I love you Jason Stackhouse!"

That was a nice twist to the storyline. He was not at all irate over Jason sleeping with his wife a few seasons back, but merely wanting him for himself. My husband and I both were screaming at the TV for Jason not to trust the poor new Vampire routine Newlin was dishing out. Yet, again, Jason's common sense handicap got the best of him and he found himself glamored. I am intrigued as to who made Steve a vampire. Lorena? He hinted that it was a female. Could it be Pam? Regardless, it is someone out to shake down the Stackhouses.
    I think I may be the only viewer not enchanted by the Werewolves. I am interested to see what direction the introduction of Martha will play into pack dynamics. It is very crude yet complex the way these packs run. It turns out that Martha is the mother of Marcus. Alcide killed the pack leader. But, Sam is taking responsibility for it to protect Luna and her daughter. Sam was tortured first, which leads me to think Alcide will be indebted to HIM for a while which will complicate the transition of the leadership of the pack even further.
   The whole "Were" storyline could be a show of it's own. It takes time away from the Vampires and I can only hope they will sew them together before the season is over. Regardless, it is clear that Russell Edgington is back, although we have not seen him yet. THAT storyline is what we are waiting for. His anger, revenge and need to live as a true Vampire with no regard for mortals is the fire underneath the burning catharsis of "The Authority", ruling class and the coexistence of vampires and humans. It could ruin EVERYTHING for Bill and Eric while affording vamps like Pam and the newly made Tara higher rank in the pecking order.
   Not a bad start to the season. I realize that series move and change during the seasonal unfolding, but I am still stubborn in my love for the old Eric, Sookie in better control of herself, Jason as a sex crazed dumb jock, Lafayette as the flamboyant gay centerpiece and Bill...well he hasn't changed all that much. Here is a look at the coming season:

 

Waiting Sucks And It Is Over Tomorrow

Season 5 of TRUE BLOOD kicks off on HBO tomorrow night. I will be tweeting during the show @TeletuffyUpdate.

Let me just throw this out into the universe. If you can watch or are DVRing it to watch at a later time or if your time zone is behind East/Central... stay off social media. People gripe and moan about "spoilers" for these insanely popular shows. Really, I can almost sympathize with the time zone dilemma. Otherwise, if it meant that much to you not to have your experience spoiled, then you'd be watching with the rest of us.