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
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