True Blood (Season 3, Probably Spoilers Within! Beware!)

[Tawmis]

Did anyone watch it? And what did you think?

[DeadPoolX]

I think we taped it. I don't like True Blood, but I know Maia does.

By the way... I think it's funny that Maia and I use the term "tape it" when referring to a DVR. What tape, right? I guess we just got too used to VHS.

[AndreaDraco]

I'm watching it tonight! Tomorrow I'll post my thoughts!

[Maiandra]

I watched it and I'm interested to see where the season goes. Since it's the beginning of the season, I don't really have a whole lot to say, other than that scene with Eric in the basement of Fangtasia was a bit disturbing. I don't know why I was surprised really, given the character.

I didn't have any other particular revelations, but I wonder why the author makes werewolves out to be all bad when shifters are supposed to be good (or at least more likely to be good).

Do I need to use spoiler tags in a thread with spoiler in the title? I'm never quite sure.

Did you have something particular in mind, Tawmis?

[Collector]

I think it's funny that Maia and I use the term "tape it" when referring to a DVR. What tape, right? I guess we just got too used to VHS.

It took a while for people to stop using the term "dial" to refer to the tuner on a TV or to dial someone's phone number. I imagine that there are some that still refer to a TV remote as a "clicker", even though it has been a long time since TVs were manufactured with a rotary tuner dial and motor activated sonically by a "clicker".

[Tawmis]

Do I need to use spoiler tags in a thread with spoiler in the title? I'm never quite sure.

I would, just cuz folks like Andrea are a day behind, or someone who hasn't watched it yet, may stumble in... Just better to be safe. Sort of like when you had Spoiler tags over the QFGIV game references in a recent thread, despite how old the game is!

Did you have something particular in mind, Tawmis?

I wasn't sure if anyone here watched it. I am not the biggest fan of the show, but it's entertaining. Disappointed about how the Werewolveswere treated... already, according to the previews for the next episode.

And it looks like once again, I am going to hate the character Tara... Shewas tolerable last season... but I simply can't stand - as in, not like, "Oh, she'sfun to hate!" - but I physically can't stand the character - as in it ANNOYS the FLUSK out of me...

[AndreaDraco]

I've seen it!

First of all, I'm so glad the show is back! I absolutely love everything about True Blood and I honestly believe that it is one of the best shows on television!

Anyway, I really liked the episode: I'm no fan of Sam's or Jason's storylines, since it seems to me that they are (at least for now) pretty much detached from the rest of the story, and Sam in particular sometimes bother me. Let's just say that the quest for his real parents is not a storyline I'm very interested in. The scene with him and Bill, moreover, was somewhat awkward, and I don't think Sam Trammell can play a gay character very well. There was a sort of missing chemistry between the two, but the scene was nonetheless amusingly fun.

For now, I'm really liking Jessica's segments, Sookie's and Bill's ones and, of course, everything with Lafayette and Eric in it! And the scene in the basement was, simply put, er... can I say mesmerizing? Bravo, Alexander! Bravo! Jokes aside, I love vampire politics and the bits with the Queen of Louisiana and the Magister were really perfect: Ivanek plays the Magister with a listlessness and yet with a subtle ferocity that I found spot-on for the character, and the scene where the Queen attacks Eric with her fangs bared took me by surprise so much that I actually jumped from the seat.

About Tara: I generally like her, but in this episode I barely tolarated her, and only because Lafayette and Little Mae were in almost every scene with her.

About Werewolves: from what I know about the future of the season, these creatures are more shaded than simply black or white, and I, for one, am really interested to see where the show goes with them.

The thing I'm most excited about, though, is meating the King of Mississippi!

[Tawmis]

I am going to have to disagree on one part...

About Sam not being able to play the role of a "gay" character... I think it was SUPPOSEDto be awkward... so that the viewer - like my wife and I - were like, "Wait? How did he find him? Wait? WTF is going on?" - so that if he had been right up in there all kissy kissy, it would have IMMEDIATELY been obvious it was a dream - I think the point was that Sam was supposed to be confused... so that the viewers would also be like, "What the heck??" If they had gotten all smoochy immediately that entire moment would have instantly come off as a dream and easily guessed... because he seemed so hesitant... it was like,"Is he under the vampire sway/hypnosis thing? Why is he doing it? What is going on?"So I am glad it went down how it did - I don't think it was the actor not being able to pull off gay so much as making sure the audience was confused at that moment so it wasn't obviously a dream ...and I rambled because I am at work and multitasking and I am sure I have repeated myself several times because a client is rambling in my ear destroying my train of thought!

(And I had silly fun with spoiler tags... now off to help the client... joy...)

[Maiandra]

I actually had the same impression as Tawmis for that scene. It seemed to me that it was supposed to be a little off. I had the impression that the dreams were induced by the blood-connection alone and not by some desire or inclination of the dreamer.

By the way, the reason I was somewhat disturbed by the basement scene was because it didn't seem immediately apparent that it was consensual. If it was, then great.

One thing I see as interesting in how werewolves are often portrayed is that they emphasise the ferocity of them and under the guise of them being "animalistic". This usually means more cruel, violent, sadistic, etc. However, I think a more interesting take would be someone that was perhaps intensely protective of their pack, but less inclined to indulge in cruelty or sadistic behaviour than a human. After all, animals don't do that kind of thing and if they're more animalistic, then they'd be less likely to have human failings as well.

[Datadog]

I looked at the werewolves, the Germans, and the castle, and kept wondering if Wagner would play into this season at all.

[Collector]

However, I think a more interesting take would be someone that was perhaps intensely protective of their pack, but less inclined to indulge in cruelty or sadistic behaviour than a human. After all, animals don't do that kind of thing and if they're more animalistic, then they'd be less likely to have human failings as well.

You haven't seen a cat play with a bird or mouse that it just caught? But there is no need to get into a debate about whether or not that assigning such attributes is anthropomorphizing werewolves or not, but if we are talking about werewolves, we are talking about mythical beasts (ones usually considered monsters), not animals.

[AndreaDraco]

How awesome is the King of Mississippi? The three courses of their dinner made me literally laugh myself out.

[Tawmis]

Well, I am not a fan of the current turn of the series... in regards to the Werewolves.

Why are Werewolves bitches to the King of Mississippi?

And I don't get their aggression towards Bill initially? If they were sent to get him, why the aggression? And I dislike that Bill managed to take down three (well technically five) werewolves. One on one, I would give it to Bill. But against a pack of werewolves? How would he have survived? Sure, he "just fed" - but it's a friggin' pack of werewolves!

Season 3 has taken a drastic turn downwards for me.

[AndreaDraco]

Funny, because for it's upward!

I'm so glad that, for a turn, werewolves are weaker than vampires, and the different storylines of this season have really grabbed me so far. Certainly better than the whole Maryann thing (although Michelle Forbes was outstanding).

[Tawmis]

Funny, because for it's upward!

I'm so glad that, for a turn, werewolves are weaker than vampires, and the different storylines of this season have really grabbed me so far.

Well, it's fine. You can be as misguided as you want.

(I hope you know I am just razzing you, as Wolves are by and far, my favorite animal, so I am very keen on werewolves)...

Which, is ironic... for all the crap that Twilight gets from all the "Haters" out there... I think it's perhaps the first time - EVER - I have seen Werewolves done right (in my eyes, for the movies, that is - not read the books myself - but the way the werewolves look in wolf form - I love that they're OVERSIZED wolves and look huge, muscular and fearsome, etc).