Day 22: Ode to the Plaid Shirt (via @Eric_NorthmanTB)
I do not understand why my progeny does not like plaid shirts. I think that I look rather good in plaid. There are so many different colours of plaid that you could not possibly get bored.
I think I look strikingly handsome in these two pictures.
Here I am helping a breather into Fangtasia:
Another example:
I think I wear plaid much better than the were:
Perhaps I should reconsider the leather and incorporate plaid into the uniforms at Fangtasia. What do you think Pamela? It would give you an excuse to wear the shoes that I have purchased for you.
Pomp and Circumstance (via @JBDuRoneTB)
Attending a teacup graduation exercise. Can’t help but wonder who were the valedictorians of Bon Temps high school?
Was there a Beta club? An International Baccalaureate program? From the pool of natives we’ve seen on True Blood it appears the smart ones left while they had the chance.
And to think, I can think of no better place to move to as a learned, lettered adult. I must be dumber than I think I am.
When Eric Northman Panics You Really Know The Shit Is Hitting The Fan (via @EricNorthmanSVM)
Pam: You never panic. Should I be panicking?
via When Eric Northman Panics You Really Know The Shit Is Hitting The Fan
IF YOU COULD GLAMOUR ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO? (via @Aly_x)
Bruno Mars
Why? – I’ve always wanted a song written about me, so I’d glamour Bruno Mars into penning a chart-topping, absolutely lovely and wonderfully sweet song about me. I’d then make him record it himself, his voice is absolutely flawless<3
I know this isn’t very strange/wacky/creepy/absurd but I think I’d feel super duper guilty about glamouring someone to do all of my bidding for me, or using glamour to cheat at anything. I’d be a shitty vampire, haha 🙂
via IF YOU COULD GLAMOUR ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO?
Enhacing Your View on the True Blood Blu-Ray (via @VampKingBill)
Yesterday I complained about what I perceived as laziness on the part of HBO in terms of the production of their calendar. You cannot say the same thing for the Blu-Ray version of Season 4 of True Blood, which came out this past Tuesday the 29th. HBO always outdoes itself for these productions and this year was no exception. In addition to the usual commentaries and featurettes, that have become the norm for this kind of thing, they have a great feature called “Enhanced Viewing.” These are various bits that play over the episode while the episode is running.
Let’s take a look at the main ones:
1. Text Boxes – hints, factoids or additional information that appear in a text box.
Although these don’t sound exciting, I’m a particular fan of these because you can really see the thought that went into them and they really add flavor to the world of True Blood. In watching the first two episodes you get biographies for the fangbanger that Jessica drank from in Fangtasia as well as Cullen, the bartender Bill fed on in 80s in the London and even Lloyd, the Faery Godmother. You learn (amongst other things) that Pam showed Eric the ad that lead him to buying Sookie’s house, that Bill employs a speech writer, has vampire security advisors and that his security staff was all vetted by the Authority and what lumiere fruit does for faeries. If you stop and read them you’ll be amazed at the amount of detail that can be packed into those few lines of text.
2. In character voice overs – characters (not necessarily ones that were in the scene) comment on the situation.
Sometimes they’re little one-offs, like Pam’s “And what the fuck is a Twitter? It sounds like something New Amsterdam prostitutes would do for an extra hundred bucks” and sometimes they’re more detailed – in one scene Arlene talks about how (while Sookie was missing) Bill would come into Merlottes and sit at [the table where he met Sookie for the first time] and order a True Blood. He never drank them, just peeled the labels off.” What a great way to show that Bill really did care for Sookie. She did say he eventually stopped -it was probably due to the whirlwind of appearances and speechmaking that was alluded to early in Episode 1 – but it would have been nice to have a reference to that in the series itself.
3. Flashback/Flashforward – just as it sounds. When the option pops up, click a button and it shows a thirty second scene of relevance.
Of the three these are probably my least favorite because they aren’t always that interesting or relevant. For example one is about Bill meeting the Mayor of Bon Temps at the Descendents of the Glorious Dead meeting. Still, they do occasionally help jog your memory. Best of all they’re completely optional so if it doesn’t sound interesting you can skip it entirely which is a wise move. Overall, the process is fairly seamless, but there is some load time as they switch back and forth.
All in all this is a great way to broaden your understanding of the True Blood. I would say this however: if you haven’t seen an episode yet (or are watching with friends/family who haven’t) or you’re fuzzy on the details I would skip this version for the initial viewing. The text boxes are somewhat unobtrusive, but they are opaque (so it’s easy to read the text) so can be a distraction and the voice overs completely dub over any dialogue in the scene at the time. I remember catching up on Season 1 with this option on and it drove me crazy so fair warning. That said, once you’re good and caught definitely give it a go, you won’t regret it.
If you don’t have a Blu Ray player now you still might want to consider the combo pack. For only $5 more than the DVD set you not only get the DVD, but digital copies of all twelve episodes (in the format of your choice) and the Blu Ray. The digital episodes are worth it by themselves and if/when you make the leap to Blu Ray you’ll be able to access the features and the higher quality video. Just a thought.
via Fang-A-Thon Day 22: Enhacing Your View on the True Blood Blu-Ray.
True Blood Season 5 Finale Episode Title and Casting Call (via @vs4as)
The season 5 finale episode will be titled “Save Yourself” according to a casting call below:
TRUE BLOOD, Episode #512, “Save Yourself”
Writer: Alan Ball
Director: Michael Lehmann
Location: L.A.
Start Date: Approx. 6/13/12
[VAMPIRE AUTHORITY GUARD] Male, mid 20s to mid 30s. Imposing, powerful Vampire Authority guard. Guest Star.
via True Blood Season 5 Finale Episode Title and Casting Call
Eric Northman-The Emperor and The Dragon (via @TrueBloodMame)
The Emporer
We meet Sheriff Northman in episode 4 S1. We find in S3 that Eric was born to King Ulfrik and Queen Astrid, thus Eric is of the royal blood. The character of the Emperor corresponds to the Tetrad (4), which is the reduced isopsephos of two of his titles: O KRONIDHS (Ho Kronides, The Son of Kronos, i.e. Zeus) and QEOS O ANDRWN KAI QEWN PATHR (Theos Ho Andron kai Theon Pater, God the Father of Men and Gods). The Tetrad is the principle of stability, tranquility, of four-square, solid structure; the Pythagoreans call it Justice and Perfect Harmony.
The Emperor, symbol of earthly authority is the most powerful representative of the outer world in Major Arcana. He complements the Empress, his concerns are with the authority and justice (Eric wears a ring on the middle finger that corresponds to Saturn-authority, The Balance Wheel, sense of right and wrong, the law, search for truth, propriety, self-analysis, secretiveness). The Emperor is stern but objective. As well as standing for earthly power, the Emperor represents courage and determination, emphasising the will in the outer world. He is the ideal of the wise and strong earthly leader but like the Empress he can be cruel as well as kind. Masculine power can come to dominate but also show the need for self knowledge, an awareness of the real motives behind the actions. His crown rests on the soft hat-justice must be tempered with mercy. His shield carries an eagle, suggesting that his power resides in his own self, his castle represents his security and being unyielding.
The Emperor reflects the characteristically masculine aspects of consciousness, solar illumination, which demands clarity, but may be harsh and withering. He is the archetypal pater familias, the head of the clan, with both authority over the group and responsibility for its welfare. It is his burden to set down laws and maintain order, both within and without. Further, he is the executive, for he must ensure that his plans, laws and judgements are translated into action.
The Emperor is the source of conscious spiritual and moral principles, in contrast to the High Priest, who is the source of spiritual and moral intuitions; they are the light and dark sides of the Eternal Masculine, the bright sun and the dark sun, the conscious and subconscious masculine minds. The Emperor does not, like the Empress, flow with nature; his fiery spirit leads him to impose his will on nature and to force her to conform to his artificial standards of order. As a consequence he is fundamentally alienated from the dark, Titanic forces of nature, and therefore vulnerable to their attack. Inevitably the Emperor will grow old and sick and require rejuvenation at the hands of the Empress. The potent word of the Emperor is symbolised by the burning air, the upper luminous sky (aithêr), the celestial illumination. Luna gives birth to Sol, the daylight of the psyche, the conscious rational mind, who goes his way alone, unlike Luna who has the other planets and fixed stars for her companions. The conscious Sun cannot see himself by his own light, but he can be seen clearly from the perspective of the Moon and her companions. By allowing himself to be overcome by Luna, Sol ensures his own rejuvenation, for the ego-consciousness becomes stale, dried out and parched from being too long in the light; sunlight is harsh, and the King becomes sick and the ego-conscious sterile. Therefore Luna knows she must unite with Sol in the Liebestod (Love-Death); she knows she must bathe Sol in her waters, quench his thirst, heal his wounds, and ultimately dissolve his unbending limbs, stiff with the rigor mortis. She is both the vessel and the solvent in which he disappears, for ego-consciousness must return to the womb from which he was born, the subconscious, and from it win his rebirth. He will be resurrected with renewed vigour, for the fiery spiritus (breath) of the Emperor has become too rarified, and must be balanced by the dark waters and solid earth of the Empress. Balance will be achieved when each consumes the other’s substance. (Jung, MC 308-10, 331, 357-9). The colour red symbolises the Emperor’s fiery nature. Likewise the Emperor’s red eagle represents the alchemical tinctura rubea (red tincture), which has the solar nature of gold. Red is also the imperial colour of ancient China.
The Dragon
In ep 4 S1 Eric wears a belt buckle that represents a dragon. This mythological creature is a symbol of imperial power in ancient China. Chinese dragons traditionally symbolise potent and auspicious powers. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck. According to Chinese legend, both Chinese primogenitors, the earliest Emperors, Yandi and Huangdi, were closely related to ‘Long’ (Chinese Dragon). At the end of his reign, the first legendary Emperor, Huangdi, was said to have been immortalised into a dragon that resembled his emblem, and ascended to Heaven. The other legendary Emperor, Huangdi’s brother, Yandi was born by his mother’s telepathy with a mythic dragon. Since the Chinese consider Huangdi and Yandi as their ancestors, they sometimes refer to themselves as “the descendants of the dragon”. Dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. In many Asian cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature, religion and the universe. They are associated with wisdom and longevity. They are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernatural power. The blood of a slain dragon is depicted as either beneficent or as poisonous in medieval legend and literary fiction. Where dragons hide, dragons being mysterious, fierce animals are always difficult to see. Dragons are usually guardians of a great treasure and have a weakness for beautiful princesses. They watch over their treasure day and night. The Greeks linked them with Athena, the goddess of wisdom, because wisdom is always watchful. This trait of wariness and alertness has saved many dragon lives.
Where did the SVM/TB vamps come from? (via @mswriteok)
Here’s a poser.
What is the mythology of vampires in the Charlaine Harris/Alan Ball universes?
There are several back stories of how vampires came to be in literature and movies that I know, but most authors now make up their own origins for their bloodsucking men and women.
The Fellowship of the Sun I believe go with the Judas myth.
After Judas betrayed Jesus, he hung himself, flinging the 30 pieces of silver on the ground around his hanging corpse. He was not, however, allowed to die, but was forced to walk the earth, sustaining his life by living on the blood of others. His weakness to silver was caused by the “blood money” he was paid to betray Christ. The one thing missing is the fear of the cross.
Still, Harris makes clear that is just what the FOS believes, not how they really came about.
Now, in some stories, a vampire can only be killed by the same kind of tree that Judas used to hang himself.
Anne Rice went even further back to create her vampires. She used Egyptian deities Akasha and Enkil. Now, from what I remember, Enkil was cut into pieces and when he was reassembled, his penis was not found, which is why no male vampire from the Rice universe can have sex.
Now that’s a big trade off: you can live forever, but you can never have sex again. Can you see Bill or Eric agreeing to that?
I now must admit I’ve never read any of the “Twilight” books (I have seen the movies) so I have no idea where those vampires come from either, or why they sparkle in the light.
I only know that “Vampire Diaries” vamps can walk in the sun if they own one of those rings.
As for Vlad the Impaler, aka Count Dracula, take your pick. I go with the story that he drank so much of the blood of those he killed it turned him in some fundamental way, making him both immortal and a creature of the night, hating crosses, garlic and stakes of wood and robbing him of his reflection in mirrors.
As for True Blood and the Southern Vampire Mysteries, I have no idea.
But, since those universes contain all kinds of other supernatural beings as well as us lesser mortals, they can come up with any story they like and it will be just fine.
Scratches (via @QueenFaeMab)
I love the way the camera zooms in on Daphne’s back and we hear this song directly afterwards. Perfect song for that moment
via Scratches
The Only True Blood Mystery Left (via @TB_PamR)
Before they became the Sookie Stackhouse novels, the series of books by Charlaine Harris on which True Blood is based were the Southern Vampire Mysteries. No one really seems to remember that. The writers at True Blood certainly don’t.
The first season of True Bloodis, arguably the only one that actually had a mystery at its heart. Did anyone, who hadn’t read the books first, suspect Rene was behind all the killings? Let’s be honest, Jason made a much better and more obvious suspect. I’m really glad he turned out to be innocent by the way. One killer in a couple is plenty. -smirks-
After that, however, the mystery quotient has slowly but surely vanished from True Blood.
It made a token appearance in Season Two as fans wondered what Mary Ann was and what happened to Godric. Both questions were answered in fairly short order and replaced by other curiosities like what was Sam’s connection to Mary Ann and was Jason really stupid enough to join a religious cult?
Season Three started out strong, with the mystery of Bill’s kidnapping. That too was resolved fairly quickly. The question of what was Sookie with her telepathy and microwave fingers lingered for a while but it was never really a mystery or of pressing importance to anyone but Sookie and Bill. Even that question was answered by the end of the season.
The biggest mystery of Season Four was WTF the writers and Alan Ball were thinking. Ignoring the curiosities liek the giant mexican midget wrestler and the lady haunting Lafayette, there were enough dropped storylines to make a book of.
It’s difficult to tell from the trailers and teasers we’ve seen so far what the central question of Season Five will be. Personally, I’m putting my money on “what are all these extra people here for?” though I hope the writers will draw out the mystery of just who helped Russell escape for most of the Season. Then again, I’m hoping Russell survives the Season as well. Yeah, I don’t have much hope for either. Still hope springs eternal, even in vampires.
Fangathon Friday (via @LuvBONESnTBlood)
A New villain for True Blood: I know we are going to be having the Authority stepping in with all their new friends and the fairies and theirs but I’m looking for something different as well.
I thought of Seigbert and Wybert they would be some serious Vamp Mountains to have to go thru! Maybe in revenge towards Bill for killing Sophie Anne!
I love a (fan)fiction villain I’ve been reading for a while now…
I obsessively follow this A-mazing tale Written by TexanLady & beta’d by nycsnowbird called The Arrangement.(you can click the link or find it on livejournal under tex_nyc) It is an excellent (sort of dark) love revelation story between Eric and Sookie and all characters we love and hate and some new ones she created and their future together. The author had created this villain that is an ancient hybrid vampire of sorts because he is also a phenomenal witch that is also beyond a technical genius. He wants Sookie (as any other man in True Blood or SVM) and uses technology to mastermind and one up every Vampire King and Queen in the World and all their underlings. Even Eric is stumped at the moment…
So, I think if Bill on True Blood became anything like Book Bill it would be his technical savvy with his computer and bring every supe “online” so to speak. This would be a great way to knock King Bill off his high horse a smidge by having a villan come in and just be always 10 steps ahead driving everyone on edge of insanity trying to defeat him. Thus King Bill finally knocking that chip off his shoulder, wiping that smirk off his face and teaching him a thing or two.
Either way a villain needs to step in that isn’t trying to mainstream, or cover up a problem Bill made, or even get in Sookie’s pants. Just someone that wants plain old revenge!…and with King Bill being the target!
But of course like that great story I’m reading Eric and Sookie would save the day!
Talbot: [to Russell, in a heated argument] You can’t buy your way out of everything!
Russell Edgington: Of course I can. This is America!
via Fangathon Friday.
Casting Call: True Blood Season 5, Episode 12 “Save Yourself” (via @EricSookieLover)
For my fangalicious (Day 22) Fang-A-Thon post, we have some more News From The Casting Couch! This time it’s a casting call for the last episode of True Blood Season 5!
There has been a new casting call issued, and probably the most interesting part of this casting call is…we now know the name of the title for this episode and we know who will be writing and directing it!
WARNING: If you don’t want to know – don’t read below!
TRUE BLOOD, Episode #512, “Save Yourself”
Writer: Alan Ball
Director: Michael Lehmann
Location: L.A.
Start Date: Approx. 6/13/12
[VAMPIRE AUTHORITY GUARD] Male, mid 20s- mid 30′s. Imposing, powerful Vampire Authority guard. Guest Star.
Source: IMDb.com
This shouldn’t come as a shock to some of you, but it looks like Alan Ball will be writing the season 5 final episode. I’m going to go out on a limb by saying that he will more than likely want to go out with a bang. Expect this episode to either have a major cliffhanger or something intensely shocking happen during it. There will probably be a few moments when you will literally gasp in shock, disgust or in awe. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing for us, but we’ll have to wait and see.
At this point, we can only imagine what it’s going to be about. As for the episode title, “Save Yourself”…there are many possibilities which comes to mind when trying to figure out what’s going to happen at the end of the season. It’s too soon to tell, but I definitely think someone is going to attempt to sacrifice themselves for either someone they care about or for the greater good for whatever cause they are in pursuit of.
Who, where, what, why and how; is all merely speculation at this point.
Let’s see what you come up with! Feel free to share your thoughts and speculations via Casting Call: True Blood Season 5, Episode 12 “Save Yourself”.
S if for… (via @TrueBloodMame)
Sookie Stackhouse – Eric Northman’s one true love
“Tell her I was born the night she found me. And because of her, I went to my true death knowing what it means to love. Tell her, ‘Thank you’.”
– I used to think you had no sense of humor.
– I used to think you were made of cold, hard stone, and empty inside.
– And now?
– You’re a big faker. You’re deep. You feel. There’s love in you.
– Only for Sookie.
via S if for…
fangathon.wordpress.com 