EXCLUSIVE Interview with Raelle Tucker
Posted: July 3, 2009 at 11:36 am by Mel
Filed under features, interviews, news
Raelle Tucker, True Blood writer, at the True Blood season 2 premiere/ courtesy of Raelle Tucker
As much as we enjoy talking to the actors who embody the characters on True Blood, the opportunity to chat with writer Raelle Tucker filled us with more excitement than we’ve had since Alan Ball agreed to an interview. Raelle wrote season 1’s “Cold Ground” and the season finale, “You’ll Be The Death of Me”. For season 2, she wrote last week’s “Scratches” and the upcoming “Release Me”. We had the opportunity to spend more than an hour with Raelle talking about all things True Blood, plus how she became an 11-years-in-the-making overnight success, her unusual childhood, and writing for Supernatural.
How It All Began
Raelle started writing as a child, running theater companies and writing plays. She moved to Los Angeles and spent 11 years working as a waitress – at a strip club no less – and working on her “great American screenplay”, before a friend suggested that she looking into writing for television. Her friend recommended that she watch Six Feet Under as an example of great television writing, and to her surprise she was hooked.
“I kind of had this film snob side to me that said, TV cannot be art! And I’m an artist! Then I saw an episode of [Six Feet Under] and my entire life changed.” It’s an amazingly circular story. Alan Ball is the reason that Raelle changed her focus to writing for television, and now she writes for him. She then entered HBO’s Project Greenlight where she and her writing partner were runners up to the winners in season 2. This led to gaining an agent and finally Supernatural.
Raelle brings a unique perspective to television, thanks to a very unusual childhood. She grew up on an island off the coast of Spain with her hippie parents, riding a pony to school. She didn’t have electricity for most of her childhood, so she’s still catching up on technology, including Twitter. “I’m so uncool, I don’t use Twitter. Who’s actually reading it? Who wants to know that you’re getting a pedicure? How is there that much to talk about?” Amazing, isn’t it?
This interesting upbringing does make its way into Raelle’s writing. The scene where Maryann rolls the enormous joint to share with Tara over the breakfast table is not unlike mornings Raelle enjoyed with her bohemian, f ashion designer, commune leader mother as a teenager. Now that she’s a successful television writer, Raelle is something of the black sheep in her family, she tells us jokingly.
Writing For The Genre
Raelle landed in the supernatural writing genre by accident. She and her writing partner had been offered several jobs and after looking at all of them, they decided that Supernatural was the one “with legs”, so they accepted that. Raelle recalls that she had to do a lot of catching up to write for the show.
“It did not come naturally, at all. We’d sit in the writer’s room and Eric Kripke would reference all these things that were foreign to me. It was like he was speaking Chinese!” She realized that it was not a good fit for her, so ultimately she decided to leave Supernatural and pursue something that she could “put more of my life into”. Raelle remembers that the decision was very difficult, especially with no other jobs lined up, but she knew “it was absolutely the right thing to do. ”
Alan Ball at the season 2 premiere of True Blood / Wireimage
Working For Alan Ball
She wrote a spec script called Special Geniuses, about a father and daughter drug smuggling duo, as a sample of what she could do. After taking several meetings, Raelle had a couple of offers, but she knew True Blood was in the works and really wanted to go after that job. She’d already bought the Sookie books a couple of years earlier, when she heard that Alan Ball was working on a television series based on the books.
“Alan doesn’t have very many writers, so the chances were really slim that I would even have the opportunity [to meet with him]. I was one of the few who did get to meet with him, and I got the job! It has been the greatest two years of my life. It’s the fulfillment of my dreams. Now I don’t know what to do, because me dreams kind of stopped here. I’m ruined! In every way!” Raelle can’t say enough good things about working with Alan Ball, despite his discomfort with all the praise.
“He’s an exceptional person. There’s nobody in this industry who’s so gracious to every person he works with. I could go on for hours, but really should stop. He hates it when I go on like this. My first week of work, he’s like, ‘Raelle, you have to stop with the gratitude. It makes me really nervous.’”
Writing A TV Show Based On Books
“I think we’re unbelievably lucky. It’s like we have a cheat sheet.” Writing within the universe that Charlaine Harris has already created is freeing for Raelle. She relates that Alan Ball is clear that nothing in the books is absolute when it comes to the television series. She understands when readers are upset about a storyline that is different, but there’s always a reason why the changes are made.
“It’s really important, when something is so beloved, to take that into account. We really, really want everyone who loves the books to love the show, and maybe be able to love them in a little different way. It’s like the dirty step-brother of the books,” says Raelle.
Raelle On Nelsan Ellis
Raelle is as happy as we are that Lafayette survived the first season, and she agrees that Nelsan Ellis should be on Supernatural. “He’s incredible. What’s most amazing to me about him is that if you meet him in person, he’s very quiet, and shy, and nothing like Lafayette. You can’t even recognize him. It’s truly shocking, it’s one of the greatest transformations I’ve seen in acting.”
Hoyt/Jessica
Although she can’t choose a favorite character or storyline, Raelle did confess that she particularly enjoyed writing the Hoyt/Jessica scenes in “Scratches”.
“I think they’re both such incredible actors and such lovely, lovely people. So much of that loveliness transcends to the screen and you see what sweet people they are. The process of working with them and getting to write such painful, bittersweet teenage love was a really wonderful moment for me as a writer and an artist. If it were up to me, I’d love to see a Hoyt and Jessica spin off show!”
Pam's pumps / screencap from True-Blood.net
What Is The Worst Thing You Can Do To Pam?
“I think getting dirty, for Pam, is probably the equivalent of throwing a cat in the swimming pool. It’s the worst thing EVER. Pam is so much fun when she’s miserable!”
Sam/Sookie
“If I was Sookie? I’d pick Sam. He’s the perfect guy! He gets her. He’s stable. He’s got a good job. He’s a nice guy. He’s got those fabulous little sideburns.” It’s not a popular pairing, but given complete freedom, Raelle would put Sam and Sookie together. If this were real life, then Sam would absolutely be perfect for Sookie. But this is TV and we need the drama, so Sookie continues to overlook Sam.
Eric/Sookie
“I think fans forget how slowly that starts out. It takes a while for that to happen, with Sookie and Eric. It’s not an immediate thing, spread over several books. We’re getting there.” Still, while Raelle understands how eager fans are to see Eric and Sookie get together, but cautions that “there’s no guarantee to anyone that we’re gonna go that route.” That’s right, Eric/Sookie is not a given just because it’s in the books. (And this paragraph is what will garner the most comments, hands down.)
Humor And Pathos On True Blood
Raelle feels that she is better at the “big, sweeping emotions” than the humor that pervades the series. She loved writing last season’s “Cold Blood” because it was “one of the most serious, sad episodes the show has ever done”. She was able to put something of herself and her life into the episode, which excited her about writing that episode. Still, the lighter moments, being able to derive humor out of the death and gore, are what make her a huge fan of the show.
Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hambly / copyright HBO
The Surprise That Is Jessica
Jessica was originally only supposed to be in two episodes last season, and then possibly brought back “some day in the future,” but Deborah Ann Woll impressed everyone so much that the writers knew they had an amazing opportunity to tell more of Bill’s story by watching this new vampire. Plus the chance to watch Bill and Sookie try to be “parents” to Jessica was “too good to pass up.” Raelle predicts that Deborah has a very successful career ahead of her and is excited that True Blood is launching that career.
Coming Up…
Raelle’s next episode is 207, “Release Me”. She can’t tell us anything specific, but the theme of the episode is “about all of our characters being trapped.” This season is going to be “crazy” as they push the stories as far as they can. She is also writing a pilot script called Bad Girls for HBO. The show is based on a British series, telling the story of women in prison. We hope to see that go to series as Raelle’s star continues to rise!
Thanks again to Raelle Tucker for joining us to talk about True Blood. Listen to the full interview, including her advice for writers, the pitfalls of listening to the buzz about True Blood, and more on True-Blood.net Radio.
OMG I hope that she is not implying that eric and sookie won’t be together! that would be disasterous! What would be the point, if they strayed so far from the books? Its one thing to have different story lines, like lafayette, tara and even Jason but its a completely different thing to alter the basic story. I think that would be a huge mistake on Alan Balls and the writers part. Seriously!
I agree. When you look at the entire book series on many levels the tension that makes the love story portion interesting is because of Eric. Honestly, that is not a series loosely based on the books of Charlaine Harris that is a entirely different story all together. Why in the world would they so that?
A couple more thoughts…The romantic connection between Eric and Sookie is essential to the plot development for so many reasons. I think the reason they are afraid to tell fans that may not happen is because of how many of us are watching for that very reason. I know I sound like a broken record but the Eric/Sookie relationship is one of great complexity and interest to me personally—it drives the plot forward in the book series and kept me reading all nine books. I often wonder if because Bill Moyer and Anna have great chemistry and are together in real life if that changes anything. But then again their ACTORS—it shouldn’t be an issue. Who knows? I am disappointed –time for a early pre-4th happy hour to drown my sorrows! ; )
Exactly, I just can’t see the writers diverging from the main plot because she does eventually have that relationship. It would not be True Blood without thaa
t. Now having said that, I think that it will be next season that we really see the sparks fly between Eric and Sookie. But we will see.
You ladies said it all for me…that writer made my heart skip a beat! Alex S. is too hot a commodity for HBO and they know it…they better not deny us Eric and Sookie….because if they do…its “Hello Showtime!”
Well the first sentence is about how the connection builds slowly over a few books and they are getting there. So I am sure that will make it too the series later on, I think she just throws in the line about not being guaranteed because they can’t let it slip already.
Maybe they should just tells us that sookie and eric will not hook up on the show!!!
couldn’t agree more! i hate it when they pull our legs. eric and sookie’s relationship isn’t some MINOR plot, it’s a MAJOR plot. if they’re not going to stick to the skeleton of the book(s), at least be frank about it! at any rate, i’m sure none of us will actually stop watching, but we will at least be able to stop with the wishful thinking. oh bloody hell- july has started off terrible! first anna says she prefers bill, and then raelle says this. jeez.
My cousin and I were discussing this last weekend and we were saying that they might not put Eric & Sookie together romantically like the books. Now after reading this interview its just proof to the pudding!
What a shame…I was desperately hoping for the shower scene in the future. But it doesn’t matter bcuz show Sookie is annoying I rather she stays with Bill (i don’t care) the Only Reasons I watch True Blood is bcuz of ERIC, LAFAYETTE & PAM!!!!
Well, you were right, that paragraph is what is garnering the most comments.
Like Maggie wrote there is no point in straying so far from the books. Then it would be a completely different show. I like the books so much, for anyone who hasn’t read it watch out… maybe it’s my interpretation but the books are about Sookie and Eric as far as I see it. I’m watching the show mainly for that reason and if I see that they start changing the story too far from the books I don’t think that I will stayed this interested in it.
I so agree with your interpretation of the books. Bill is what Eric was in the first season…a glorified extra. It is really not until the 9th book that he has a bigger role in Sookie’s life again. When I first heard there was a show based on the books, it was Eric that I looked forward to seeing the most, then the Sookie/Eric saga. I also agree that if the writers do start drifting from the main plot, I dont think I will be as interested. It is already happening with season 2. I really, really just want to see Eric in some compromising positions that require his clothes to be off! I think everyone else has been naked or half naked except for Alex! WTF?
Thanks for the interview, very insightful.
Did everyone miss the part where Raelle says, “We’re getting there”? (Checks the interview again.) Yup, that’s what she said.
Counterpoint–she said no guarntees.
Yep, that is what she said, I heard it with my own ears!! PLUS, I do not feel the books are only about Sookie & Eric. They are about Sookie Stackhouse!!!
As much as i would love to see Eric/Sookie together, i think there will only be little hints and flirts between these two. The main love line right now is Bill/Sookie. I hope im wrong because i would love to see a full blown love affair between Eric/Sookie.Thats why i love this show so much. You are always on the edge of your seat.You are always guessing on what this person is. You can talk for hours about one show and still not cover everything. Its like “V”, you have to have more and more and more.For one hour you are in their world and isn’t it a beautiful world to visit.
OML! Whats the point to TB if theres no Eric/Sookie???
I’m tired of AB glorifying Bill and pushing him on us.
Bill is a liar and cheater, thats his story and to change that would mean that he is not Bill.
As a woman seriously it bothers me that he is being glorified. Sorry SM but Bill is Bill.
Ya got that right! So far the show has stayed fairly true to the books, as far as Sookie goes so I think that Eric/Sookie will have a relationship especially after Bills betrayal.
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?! “there’s no guarantee to anyone that we’re gonna go that route”
NOOO They can’t do this to us!
sh** if they don’t do the eric and sookie love affair then i ain’t watching this show anymore!!!
yeah that’s right allan ball i ain’t watching your show anymore
haha how immature. i’ll probably watch it anyways but i’mma be frowning throughout the whole season. and how can you not do the eric and sookie relationship? it’s like the MAIN thing in the books!!! you might as well kill eric now if he ain’t gonna get the girl >:[ blah this should count as some sort of blasphemy!!
LOLOL Teresa well I couldn’t agree more!
oh,come on people. You know you would still watch. How would you know if Lafayette becomes vampire. What about Jessica & Hoyt. Tara,Sam, hopefully a werewolf or two.I as much as anyone want to see a love story between Eric/Sookie,but if it don’t happen it don’t happen. I wont stop watching because of it.I want to see whats in the shadows. I want to see Sam finally get someone. I want to see Jason wise up,hopefully.I love that edge of your seat ,that funny feeling you get in your stomach feeling, that i got to have more.This is a wonderful show,with a wonderful world for one night a week. Could you really walk away and not look back?I know i couldn’t.
I understand what you are saying, yes it is exciting and I love that feeling too but my point is that True Blood is truly a “love” story and eric is the guy! And that should be recognized by the writers. I can understand if they dont want to do that but dont call it True Blood. Call it something else. I would still watch it. Even if it takes a season or two for them to get together at least point us in that direction. It’s too heartbreaking to think that they would not have that relationship that truly guides the story.
I think it will happen. The writers just like to throw us off!
Good! Eric gets on my nerves! I think Bill on the show is better anyways. Maybe because Stephen Moyer is amazing!
I agree. I don’t trust the character Eric at all. I prefer Bill.
As actors, I think both Steve and Alex are great.
The Eric and Sookie relationship is essential to Sookie’s character evolving and growing. Whether or not Ms. Harris decides to have Sookie end up with whomever, that part of the books is important. Therefore, ignoring it would greatly changing the “Sookie Stackhouse” story. And it wouldn’t be True Blood anymore.
And can you imagine if Bill and Sookie just goes around with their “fight-then kiss and make-up” merry-go-round for another 3 or 4 seasons… I would definitely stop watching. Bill and Eric or Bill and Jessica or Bill and Pam in one scene has more fireworks and snarks to make me watch the show.
True Blood is True Blood, and it will keep being it as it is Alan Ball adaptation. Maybe it won’t be The Sookie Stackhouse novels, it will be just a different thing. and hell there’s people hoping to keep seeing the “fight-then kiss and make-up” , i couldnt ever get tired of seeing them together. But ok, any love story (any “True Love” story) needs drama and suffering. So i’m ok with that. And btw. I think Alan was very clear about his intentions when he named the show like that.
I don’t want to imagine that much merry-go-rounding either. I really don’t.
Plus, what about characters like Alcide and Quinn? I want to see Eric and Sookie’s relationship developed as much as anyone else, but there are other characters HBO will have to consider too. Either way, they can’t possibly hold onto Bill/Sookie forever. I think. I hope.
As of now, without reading the books, we do not know that Bill is a liar and cheater. As of now, in the series, he is still honorable. I’m sure that as the series moves forward, his true nature may be exposed. But right now where the series is in relation to the books, Bill is still a considerably good guy – well, vampire. So for now, he is with Sookie. And maybe the Sookie/Eric thing will happen in the future on the series, but only when the TV series is at that point in the book series. Patience will most likely be rewarded!!
Ok, I really hope the writers are just trying to throw us off. Maybe they want to see how many people freak out about Sookie and Eric possibly not being together. Or maybe it really won’t happen and if it doesn’t I will be so disappointed…I’d still watch it for the side characters. But I wouldn’t get as excited about True Blood as I have been.
For me, Eric was the most entertaining character in the books. And Alexander S. is doing a great job portraying Eric. But a Eric/Sookie relationship is essential to Sookie’s development throughout the books (I think someone else said this too). Espcially in book 4, the entire plot is about Eric and with the side story about Jason. How would the writers get around that if they chose not to have Sookie and Eric have an affair?
yikes. y’all are freaking out! I kind of hate whenever there are interviews where Eric/Sookie are mentioned because it makes the fans far too nervous. I am very confident that they “will got that route.” It just may not happen as fast as everyone wants and in exactly the way they want.
Great interview! She sounds so lovely and personable. Lots of thanks to HBO for being so generous with their talent and allowing all the wonderful TB fansites to talk with all the amazing people behind the show! HBO is the most gracious network. No other networks reach out to fans quite like they do.
Great interview with Raelle, thank you for posting it. “Cold Ground” was my favorite episode of the first season, and I thought she did an amazing job with it. The episode showed that True Blood could be more than just the sexy vampire show on HBO – it also has a lot of heart. “Scratches” was awesome, and “Release Me” sounds very intriguing from the information I’ve read about it. I definitely look forward to the Raelle-penned episodes, almost as much as I do the ones written by Alan Ball!
I never read the books for Eric/Sookie, and I certainly don’t watch the show for them. The show has made me a Bill/Sookie fan, as it has so many others, so I’m looking forward to seeing that storyline explored further. Anna and Stephen’s chemistry is amazing to watch.
First of all hey everyone, I read this site on a regular basis and love it
What I wanted to say is that I’m one of those people who never read the books, and after this interview and the comments I’m sort of glad I didn’t because it seems to ruin the show for the people who’ve read it and expect certain things to happen.
I love Sookie/Bill relationship and I also love Eric where he is at right now. What I’m trying to say is that at this point I’d actually dislike Eric and Sookie as a couple so I’m definitely team Bill all the way.
I guess that means that I kinda hope that there won’t be Eric/Sookie but hey, if the writers make a good story out of it I guess anything is possible.
This is all about the characters it has nothing to do with the actors. So let’s keep them separate. I for one wouldn’t like to see AP with AS in the real world (got my own reasons). But I do want the characters Eric/Sookie to get together!
So AB is gonna have to suck it up and give us their story hehe.
And I belive it will happen
Just some food for thought….maybe Allan Ball does not have to use every single book in True Blood. So let’s way the life of an HBO show to the amount of books….I would be the first one to stick with the show right up past 10 series but decisions will be made. Eric may have his time but Bill will be back. Just like Eric had his time after book 4, there is a very good possibility that Bill and Sookie will be back after book 9.
As an aside: I see the development of the characters so differently from what some people see. I’m noticing different underlying ranges…from what I see, I hope that in the end, Eric and Sookie never end up together. I prefer Bill.
Oops, typed too fast and mispelled weight..
*Is weeping not so silently of the possibility of not seeing the shower scene*
AB will have made a MAJOR miscalculation if he does not deliver ESN! He will lose a huge number of TB watchers. I’m willing to go along with Bill being squeaky clean and Eric seeming to be an evil douche, if AB begins to turn the story more toward the relationship in the book,
The best aspect of the SVMs is the Eric/ Sookie and the writer is not totally correct about the buildup. There was chemistry from the first boo, by the second book we had the orgy and the bullet sucking, and by Club Dead we had some serious ESN. By taking out all of the critical ES moments, AB has eviscerated the whole Eric/ Sookie story. Too bad , because I’m part of several threads and I know how disappointed the Eric fans will be if AB decides to drop the romance between Eric & Sook.
I totally agree with you.
It’s going to be difficult for Ball to keep shippers of the Bill team and Eric team happy all the time.
http://true-blood.net/2009/06/04/alan-ball-answers-fans-questions/
Listen to how he answered Stace34’s question about satisfying Bill and Eric fans without completely dissapointing one of those groups.
i guess when actors start dating offscreen, writers think twice before separating them onscreen. good to know.
That was a nice little interview, someone alerted me to it, but I see the crazy shippers have arrived to throw a tantrum about one tiny piece of it. It never ceases to amaze me the complete and utter delusion demonstrated by some Eric fans. Read the books properly for crying out loud, its not a love story between Eric and Sookie, its a couple of sex scenes and a whole lot of plotting and scheming and manipulating. I would be a happy girl if I didn’t have to endure watching it unfold on the show, as it will make Sookie look like a complete idiot and she’s my gal. But if it does, I will keep watching, because I love the show, and I don’t just watch it for one hot vampire or another. This Team Eric/Bill stuff is getting real old now.
Yes, this is a nice interview. I’ve only been visiting this site the last several weeks and then quietly move on. However, the last several days I felt the need to respond to some of the incredible comments being made. Everyone is entitled to their opinion yet I am in awe as to how people interpret the characters in the novels. I like the fact that there are changes in the show from the novels so people need to get over this. These changes will not stop me from watching the show. When I was in school and if I had to analyze characters, I learned to not allow my opinions to be prejudiced and try not to be subjective…to delve into the psyche. Really take a good look at the “character”. I tried to mention this on numerous occasions. I agree with you when you say that, “its not a love story between Eric and Sookie, its a couple of sex scenes and a whole lot of plotting and scheming and manipulating.” Wow, I don’t know why people are deluded? I am watching this show because I love what they are doing to the characters and the story lines. I am not siding with Bill, just because the actor is ‘hot’. All the main actors are ‘hot’. It is obvious that I speak to those that have read the novels. I truly question if some really understand the characters Eric and Bill?
That’s funny, in reading the books, I felt all Bill and Sookie had was a bunch of sex scenes and of course the manipulations. Bill never really talks or listens to Sookie (she says that time and again in the books), meeting her and developing a relationship with her was a manipulation. Whenever he shows up on her doorstep in the early books it’s to have sex. Do I believe he eventually fell in love with her? Perhaps, but it also looks a lot like “dog in manger” too.
Eric, I interpret is fascinated by her, amused by her, becomes fond of her, begins to admire her, becomes enamored and finally in love with her. Seems to me with Eric she can really be herself. Also, Eric has a sense of humor about himself and a sense of irony that Bill just doesn’t.
Subjective yes I am. Because I love the characters. Even Bill in his way. I hope we have a little romance with Alcide. Quinn, I was never fond of but I think it’s part of Sookie’s story, so I’d suffer through it.
But I’m one who likes my “Harry Potter” movies to follow the book storylines, which they have and it makes me happy. I like seeing the stories I love come to life. Surprise me with the lives of the other characters, but please keep the spine of the story real or truly I will lose interest. That’s just me.
You make sound like Eric and Sookie were lovers through the books, and we all know they only got together because he had amnesia..and in book 9 she was tricked in to marriage, then when she was unconscious he gave her blood then wanted to screw ..she still isn’t happy about being forced to marry…so when you go pointing fingers at another Vampire for betrayal, look closely at Eric..he did the same thing.. she needs to be with Sam.
I hope they do guves us the whole Eric/Sookie.Because It Is A VERY Important part in the book’s.But we will have to wait & see.
I agree with the poster above who said that the focal point of the books is NOT, nor has it ever been, a romance between Eric and Sookie. The fact that some readers can’t get that isn’t Charlaine’s fault and it certainly isn’t Alan Ball’s. I will be perfectly content if I never see anything romantic play out between those two on screen. I hope that we don’t see Sookie bed hopping from Bill to Eric and back again because that would just be wrong. I will watch the show, regardless, because there’s enough going on with the rest of the cast to hold my interest. Now, if Sookie has a little thing with Sam, that wouldn’t bother me a bit. I like Sam.
I liked the interview where Tucker actually infers we may not see Eric & Sookie together. In the books, it’s this plot line that starts Sookie looking like a whore, skipping from man to man. I think the writers of TB are doing a great job of translating book to screen & the more changes the better.
That was a great interview. I’m glad you guys were able to obtain that.
The vast majority of fans do believe that the heart of the books is the relationship of Eric and Sookie becuase it has been written like that. I’m sorry but that many people aren’t delusional. It would be extremely disappointing not to see that onscreen because their relationship is important for Sookie’s character and growth. We know how slowly the relationship develops. It’s been developing for 9 books now, but the writers are making it develop slower. At the end of book 2 Sookie trusted and appreciated Eric. I don’t see how they can progress to that point with where they are on the show now. I do think Eric and Sookie will have a romantic relationship onscreen, but what kind and when is the question.
I disagree that the majority of fans believe that the ‘relationship’ between Sookie and Eric is the heart of the books. Those fans are just the loudest voices in the room. I have hooked most of my friends on these books, and while some throughly enjoy the Viking, none of them think that romance is central to these books. It just isn’t.
I don’t neccessarily agree that it is the central issue, however, Eric after book 2 is much, much more of a central character than Bill. I think that is something everyone can agree with. Eric/Sookie’s relationship is a big part of the series but not in just a romantic way and that to me is why it should still be shown on screen. I think the big problem with Bill/Eric is you have great actors portrying these characters and it would be very difficult to just cut one of them out completely like in the books.
You know this is talked about as much as what Maryanne is.LOL.Like i said before somewhere, you can talk about 1 show for hours and not cover everything.You are watching,waiting and so intent on everything,oh the joys of true blood. Agreed or disagreed,everyone talks TRUE BLOOD.
the point is alan named the show true blood, not the sookie stackhouse vampire mysteries, for a reason. the book fans are an important faction of true blood viewership, but despite what many want to believe, they are not the majority of fans. the rest of the viewers are just watching and enjoying and wether they read the books. it is silly to put pre-conceived notions about characters and relationships from the books onto the development of show storylines, especially when it has already been said not to expect that verbatim. i say this is setting yourself up for disappointment. regardles of what team you are on, none of the characters and their motivations are presented exactly like the books. bill, sookie, and eric in true blood cannot be expected to have the same exact plotpoints. you might as well stick to the books then, rather than get aggravated.
I know i’m gonna get called on this. Everyone who has seen what i write,knows i’m a big fan of true blood. I’ve read all 8 books sofar haven’t got the ninth yet.I’ve enjoyed the books. The books are really good and i really like. But if i’m honest i like the show better. Even with them taking so much from the books,the show brings a new light to them. They still in so many ways stay true to the books. The show is more in your face,more sexy,more dark,and just plain good.True Blood stands on its own. It doesnt need to follow the books word for word.I’ve heard more people talk about True Blood than i ever did the books. You have things to agree or disagree on, love,sex,life,death, whats makes us human and whats makes us evil.I as much as anyone would like to see Eric/Sookie have a love story,but its not the end of the world if they don’t.How this show grows and changes is going to be very much what makes True Blood what is it and has become,something that has everyone talking even if we dont always agree
Should read makes True blood what it is,not is it. sorry
any good show should stand on it’s own. the books are not necaessary companions to the show. the characters, motivations etc. already are not like the books, so why make assumptions about these things when they are not presented the same from the beginning. first there is a huge assumption among book fans that they are the majority or most important faction of the true blood audience and have to be catered to. most people watching the show either have never read the books and most will not. millions of people have not read the books as millions have watched the show. not to say the book fans aren’t a large and important portion or that the books do not deserve to be respected as the source material. but that’s it. alan doesn’t owe anything to anyone. it’s kind of silly to think the book fan interest should control the direction of plotlines. that never happens in real life. alan ball named the show true blood, not the title of the books, for a reason.that said the development will not play out exactly like the books. you have to let go and just watch the show as it happens. if not you might as well just be a book fan, not a pissed off true blood fan. they are seperate things and it’s already been said that is the case.
the books are the basis of the show, but not everyone likes them. there is no pre-requisite that you have to be a fan of both. there are show characters, motivations, and relationships. and there are book characters, motivations, and relationships. i choose the show version because i am true blood fan. a lot of people are book fans who happen to watch the show. a lot of people are show fans who happen to read the books. there is no right or wrong. what is wrong is people thinking one has to follow the other no matter whose team you are on.
If they don’t have the Eric/Sookie relationship. What are they going to do with Season 4? I’m also upset that Bubba won’t be on the show. Come on Alan, please stay true to the books!
I’m kinda disappointed about Bubba too, but perhaps finding an actor who looks that much like him was difficult. Honestly, I think Stephen Moyer could have pulled it off, but he’s already playing Bill (and doing a damn good job, I’ll add)
Raelle Tucker is proving her skills as a great writer. I loved Cold Ground last season and loved Scratches this season. I wish her every success!
I am a “show” person first! I have read all of the books and I don’t think that it’s necessary for the show to mimic the books at all. In fact, I am kind of glad they aren’t. Alan Ball, while respecting the books, isn’t tied to them and shouldn’t be. Even Charlaine Harris has recognized this and commented about it.
I think the show is moving in it’s natural direction. This is shown by the fact that they saw how wonderful Nelsan was as the Lafayette character and decided to keep his character alive, and are also extending Jessica’s presence. It proves that the show it taking on it’s own life. I like that!
Whether the Eric and Sookie storyline comes about, who know, I trust Alan Ball to take it in the right direction!
i’m glad you say this from the perspective of a book reader. there are as many interpretations of the books and how they should relate to the show as there are people who have read them. nothing has to be committed to and no fan is owed anything wether you prefer the show or the book. people who recognize the differences present already should know it’s futile to expect the same things verbatim or close to. book bill, sookie, eric, sam, etc. are not the same bill, sookie, eric, sam, etc. in the show. characters are already being held accountable for things they may or may not do or may or may not have different reasons for. it’s quite bizarre. the heart of the show has been described by alan from a different perspective, so the same things aren’t necessarily essential that were in the books.
What I like about the books is that they are NOT romance books. I want Eric/Sookie together,I mean I’m not going to lie. BUT, I want Sookie to be independent like she is in the books and I want her to DATE AROUND. I don’t want this to be the Bill and Sookie love hour. This isn’t Twilight. I like the reality in the book where Sookie dates around and some relationships work and some don’t. I want to see that in show. What’s bothering ME is that so far I feel like this show is coming off as a corny-love-story and it bugs me. In the books, Sookie doesn’t run back to Bill all the time like she does in the show and that is starting to get really…really annoying. I want a strong, independent lead not this.
“The vast majority of fans do believe that the heart of the books is the relationship of Eric and Sookie becuase it has been written like that.”
I don’t think it’s the vast majority of fans who think this at all. It’s just that they’re the loudest voice in the room. Some Eric fans are getting a bad name for themselves always complaining and saying they’re going to stop watching the show or stop reading the books. Charlaine Harris even had to blog about readers’ sense of entitlement because some Eric fans on her website said awful things about her and the last book simply because they didn’t like the way things went for Eric. She wasn’t so specific, but everyone who frequents her site is well aware of the posters who were the problem and they were all Eric fans.
Come on. The books are about SOOKIE. They are NOT romance novels. The show isn’t even specifically about Sookie. She’s a main character, but so is Bill, so is Jason, so is Sam, and Tara. Those are the main characters right now. Even AS says he’s a glorified extra. He’s getting more screen time this season….for the better, he’s been great. But there isn’t any need to copy everything in the books. An Eric/Sookie romance is not essential to the show.
Hey!Ann K , if the eric/sookie doesn’t play out like everyone hopes, and we are left with hints and flirts. Could you really walk away from such a sinfully sexy it should be a crime vampire. I couldn’t. He’s too HOT to walk away from. I would take hints and flirts instead of leaving.
I read all of the Sookie Stackhouse books after the first season of TB. Yes, they are not romance novels; it’s Sookie’s life and interaction amongst a world of the supernatural, and how she responds to it. Like Bill, Eric is a big part of her story as is Quinn, Sam, Amelia, Barry et al.
The argument from AB has been if the book plot line is followed that there would be no surprises, but that’s only true for people who had read and loved the books; to everyone else it would be new.
Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy many of the changes both in plot and in character. I like the Jessica character a lot. Eddie from last year was a favorite as well. I’m really glad Lafayette made it since Nelsan Ellis was simply amazing in bringing that character to life. I loved the inclusion of Tara in the first year and her storyline. Making Terry a Gulf War vet instead of a Vietnam vet was brilliant. TB’s depiction of Mary Ann/the Maenad as an affirmation spouting self-appointed social worker is more interesting than as the naked woman with a pig cruising the woods looking for lust or drunkeness in LDID.
But personally I do think the basic premise of the books needs to be followed, which would include an Eric-Sookie love story/hook up or however anyone interprets their relationship and eventually a Quinn relationship, if the series goes that long. If not, it would be the equivalent of adapting Pride and Prejudice and settling Elizabeth with Mr. Collins and telling fans of that book it was done to keep them surprised. Fine, we would be surprised but not in a good way.
“If not, it would be the equivalent of adapting Pride and Prejudice and settling Elizabeth with Mr. Collins and telling fans of that book it was done to keep them surprised. Fine, we would be surprised but not in a good way.”
Beautiful! I certainly haven’t said it as well as that! Perfect! Exactly!
One reason to hold back on an Eric/Sookie romance would be if the actors don’t have any chemistry. I’m not saying they don’t–they haven’t had much screen time together thus far–but if it turns out that they don’t, I’d rather see the story go in different directions for both of them than see a forced romance storyline where there’s no heat between the actors.
I also think that the characters as they’ve been written and portrayed on the show would take a very long time to warm up to one another romantically, and so far, the show isn’t working with that kind of timeline. By the time we’re done watching the second season, we’re going to have spent less than 2 months of show time in Bon Temps with these characters. At the rate they’re going now, even a few seasons would only be 6 months or so in Bon Temps. I wouldn’t find it believable that these two people (namely Sookie) could, in such a short amount of time, develop enough on a personal level and spend enough time together to change their opinions and give in to a mutual attraction.
Assuming AP and AS do have chemistry, I’d actually be really interested in a drawn-out romance with Eric and Sookie: seeing them change and develop, seeing them challenge one another, finding out what it takes for them to fall in love. But unless Ball starts expanding the show’s timeline, I don’t think there’s enough time within the show’s world to do it justice.
Moving away from that, “Scratches” is my favorite episode so far, and I think Raelle Tucker did a wonderful job with writing a richly textured, multi-layered episode.
Louisiana girl, Bubba can’t be in the show because of problems with the Presley estate and because sometimes, what works on paper just doesn’t work on screen…but mostly the former. So you can’t blame Alan Ball for that one.
I don’t get the Bill hate. I have read all the books and I felt for Bill all the way through. He was put in a bad situation and there really wasn’t a good way out of it for him. Besides, we may not see some of the things that readers felt so strongly about on the show. Yes, it appears the Queen is involved, but perhaps Bill has been sent to protect Sookie, not to recruit her….??? The blue ray extras seem to indicate such.
alan has already said in the fan question segment he did for hbo that sookie’s love life will change and then change again. to me this is implication that she will break up with bill, she will get with eric, she will not stay with eric, and from there who knows what happens. that is pretty much loosely following the books. i believe he is putting his own flavor on how these events develop though and each characters true feelings. bill is not the same bill, eric is not the same eric. so what drives these events to happen may have a different twist on them. the problem is people putting what happens in the books as the ultimate reality for true blood. sookie can develop as a character in many ways and alan will choose how that happens. even as a bill fan i agree the eric relationship is inevitable and a good twist, but doesn’t mean it has to be the most important plot point for her or the show.
The thing i love most about True Blood is the fact that everyone talks about it. You have those that agree and those that disagree. I can’t wait to see how the storyline will go. If nothing else that is agreed on, you have to agree that this is a wonderful show to watch.
If the Eric Sookie relationship doesn’t go down i will stop watching the show. I love the books..love them… I’ve read them multiple times. And Sookies relationship with Eric makes the story.
would you not miss watching Eric that so sexy so sinfully hot vampire?
I don’t get it, I really don’t get it. So many want to stop watching if Eric/Sookie are not together. I know this is in the books. I started watching True Blood when it came out on dvd. Then i went and got 8 books at one time and in a week i was done. I know the storyline in the books,but i love the storyline in True Blood.If you like/dislike bill,he is a sexy vamp. Then there is Sookie who stands on her own 2 feet. Then you have Eric who is such a sexy bad-ass vamp,that makes you go “oh he could bite me anyday”.Then you have Sam who is just a sweetheart. True Blood and the books are alike in ways and they are not. True Blood has taken the best parts of the books and made a wonderful storyline. I like that they are the same yet they are not.True Blood has given life to these people in a way that shows you the human side and the vampire side and other things that go bump in the night.I like the hints,flirts and the things in the shadows. Sometimes flirts are more sexy than a full love story. If they don’t give Eric/Sookie that love story,as much as you love Eric, could you really stop watching that sinfully sexy vampire called Eric?
To those who believe that the Sookie/Eric relationship wasn’t a love story nor that Bill was a betrayer, I have to say you may not have been reading the same books that I was. As to Alan Ball, changing the story line, like I said in my first comment, the side stories(i.e. Tara, Jason, etc.) just add flavor to the show, I get that. But to change the core of the story which IS Eric/Sookie, would be wrong and again it would not be True Blood. And he should not have based the show on the books. Oh and FYI it is ERIC that is the constant in Sookies life, it is he who helps her get over Bill and Quin and it is he who has been honest with her. She may not like what he says or how he goes about it but he is honest and he does in the end protect from other vamps and their desire for her telepathy and helps her with other supes.
I know Maggie. I just want to know if people could really stop watching Eric.Just Eric. As much as i like the Bill/Sookie story, I really want Eric/Sookie love story.Since day 1 for me I like/dislike Bill,but my heart is all Eric. He is just the most sinfully sexy vamp there is. I want the love story between these 2, but if they don’t follow the book on it and get them the love story, i couldn’t stop watching.I love Eric enough to stay and watch,heartbroken yes,but i would still watch.
in my heart of hearts I dont think I could stop because, like you, eric/alex is just too damn sexy/hot/dangerous to not watch but I too would be heart broken. My point was that True Blood is a love story just not with Bill, but with Eric and I hope alan ball and the writers follow that story, the story that Charlaine created.
That is sooo not true!!! If you wish to call the novels a love story then, Bill is part of the love story. It’s just not the kind of love story that our subconcsious prepackages in a nice box. Since you pick Eric over Bill, then it seems that you would insist that Charlotte Bronte’s novel is not a love story…There will be many that will jump on you for that. As for the poster that stated that Eric was honest, LOL:) I don’t call manipulation honesty.
I really like the fact that AB is following the novels loosely…The show and the novels are two different entities.
The show is suppose to be loosely based on the books yes. BUT–a BIG, BIG part of Sookie’s journey is Bill and Eric. Having Bill be a part of her story and not Eric is not following the story loosely–it is a completely different, new story. The entire nine books Eric’s prescence is made known in a variety of different facets. To negate that relationship and the strength of it would no longer make it based on the books of Charlaine Harris. FYI–I may have been the one who called Eric honest. And in that case I misspoke–I think he is unwaveringly loyal and relenteless in his pursuit of Sookie and I appreciate both of those atributes.
Hummgh! If this is a love story, then it is a love story with Bill not Eric. A poster above claimed that Eric is honest LOL:) Manipulation is not honesty…I don’t see Eric/Sookie a relationship. Bill was a true love relationship.
I like the direction that AB is taking with True Blood…I don’t feel the need to have to watch the novels unfold on t.v.
O FYI a relationship built on lies is not a relationship, which is what the bill/sookie thing was, lies and betrayal. So we will see what AB has in minde.
Maggie–
As always, I agree with you. I certainly believe Bill is a huge aspect of Sookie’s journey and I would never refute that aspect of the story. I also believe she loves Bill and has a strong attachment as we all have had with our first love experience. This being said, Eric is a constant throughout the entire series. He is there with her through the horrible injuries, attacks, Bill’s lies, her financial problems, Quinn’s sudden disappearance–he is always there, waiting, healing, supporting. Am I saying the vamp is perfect? No. I think at times he uses his savvy to his advantage and I think he is incredibly selfish. Then again aren’t we all? I love TrueBlood and probably would not stop watching it either–it makes for fascinating televsion. I also can appreciate AB’s creative vision and the fun additions that make the story more interesting. My only point is that the Eris/Sookie relationship is a huge part of Sook’s story and a very important part of who she is. For it to be overlooked would be not only a shame but a completely different narrative all together.
BTW–All you Eric lovers–GOOD NEWS! Check out the spoiler section on this site. A couple days ago there were spoilers revealed on the Korbe website. The article entitled something about Jason and Layfayette. It also talks about Eric/Sookie and the future of their relationship. All I will say is BM jokingly said he was a little jealous of what is coming in the future! It put a big smile on my face!
Sarah, as I said below, thank you for so eloquently expressing your opinion. I appreciate it so very much as my attempt at explaining my own thoughts have been clumsy at best.
It’s because it’s shocking! I will leave it at that.
I guess what I mean is that sometimes it is difficult to be eloquent when you feel passionate about something. The two do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.
HAHA well I will leave it at this….u are right.
Hey Maggie–Check out the spoiler section on this site. There is an article entitled something like Lafayette and Jason–follow the link to the Korbe site. Bill Moyer reveals something about the Eric/Sookie relationship that is not only interesting but very exciting to all of us crazy Eric fans.
I agree, and for me when I get excited and want to voice my opinion, I tend to speak before I think instead of slowing down and thinking about what I want to say. But regardless, you deserve the praise and I am happy to give it, especially when you are right.
Hasn’t the whole Eric/Sookie romantic relationship been a huge question mark… even through the latest book?
Sure, they have a great physical relationship (sizzle) but they’re not really like the original Bill/Sookie relationship where Sookie really picks Bill out of love and desire.
I wouldn’t say that Sookie “picked” Bill out of love initially. Love developed, but the whole attraction/attachment to Bill was that he was the first vampire she met, first peaceful silence she experienced. Bill was Sookie’s *first love*, so yes, the relationship between him and her and Eric and her is going to be different. But time after time, Sookie states that with Eric she had more than just the “sizzle”, there was also laughter and companionship. Did she ever note having that with Bill? Not exactly.
And this is more directed to people who think Eric/Sookie or Eric/Bill is or is not essential to the storyline of the show and the books. -Both- relationships are significant to Sookie. I don’t think either the show or the novel revolve ENTIRELY around the love stories, but they are definitely important for Sookie’s character and the plot.
To everyone that has said they would stop watching if the Eric/Sookie love story doesn’t happen.Will you think about 1 thing before you fully walk away?Will this be fair to Alexander?He brings Eric to life in such remarkable ways.He is such a sexy bad-ass Eric.If you are a fan of Alexander’s how can you not watch him be Eric?I would be heartbroken if the Eric/Sookie love story doesn’t happen,but i would stay and watch because first i am fan of Alexander’s,then i am a fan of Eric’s,just think about it.
as I said earlier, I dont think I could because I just love Alexander/eric not to watch and would be heartbroken if the sookie/eric thing didnt happen.
Oh, I agree with this! It wouldn’t be fair to Alexander.
I do admit I would be somewhat disappointed, but I’d also be interested in seeing where True Blood’s story was going. And whether or not anything romantic happens between Sookie and Eric, Eric’s character would still be worth watching.
I could not think of a more perfect Eric than Alexander. Alex has made Eric into the multi-faceted, powerful, sometimes selfish and always unbelievably sexy vamp that Charlaine set the ground work for in her books. So, yes I will continue watching because of him and the rest of the very talented cast. I only think it would be a miss if they left the relationship aspect of Eric and Sook out completely.
sarah ya said it so much better than I did! Thank you.
Oh Sarah! lol,you know you really know your Eric. After watching Alex become Eric,i don’t know of anyone who could do him as well as Alex has.Alex has brought Eric to life in such remarkable ways.He has to be one of the most sexy vamps on tv today.
Agreed. He is remarkable. I am a avid reader and so many times when a book is adapted from page to screen is disappoints. Eric is a fascinating character in these novels and when I heard about the adaption I was morbidly curious who they were going to get to play him. Alex is exactly what I pictured in every way. The short hair had me a little taken back in Season 2 but Alexander even makes that work. I sit on the edge of my seat waiting for the next scene that he is in. LOL!
I swear he was made for the part. I did try to think of other big blond actors who could give the part the sexy, scary, brilliance that Alex does and there is just isnt anyone out there who could do it.
I can’t either–especially the way Charlaine describes as a 6′4, Nordic Viking. Physically he embodies the part perfectly and then to top it all off the man can act–his faces alone make me quiver. But I think the casting for the show is general is awesome–I think Jason, Sookie, Bill, Lafayette, Andy, Sam, Arlene and Pam are really great choices!
It’s true about some of us Sookie and Eric fans. For this fan anyway. If we reach a point of no return in the show and there is no possibility of Sookie and Eric, my TV gets turned off and I’ll begin reading the books all over again. As it was, after “Scratches” I picked up “Living Dead in Dallas” and read it for a fourth time. Reading it lifted my mood, as I relived the story and characters as Charlaine wrote it. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind the side stories and fleshing out the other characters, but for me to continue to watch I require the spine of each Sookie book to be followed.
Amen, sista! I am with you there!
Well many of you have said it for me. This show will not be the same with out some hot Sookie and Eric action. I know it goes slow so am gunna just bank all my hope this season on just a taste of the to be romance that is to come or so I hope and wait on the ’sucking bullet’ secen… you all that read the books know what am talking about.
“We’re getting there.” and then “There’s no guarantee.” ??? What a mixed message! The fans will be forced to live through their books if Eric and Sookie aren’t written as they’re meant to be.
I think if people wanted to stop watching the show if it doesn’t happen, then let them. Heck, I’ll probably be with them. Eric and Sookie are one of the main reasons that helped us fall in love with the book series, and if we’re forced to watch them take away that spark that already exists, then there’s no wonder fans will stop watching. I can’t sit through the show and watch them give Bill some of our MEMORABLE Eric/Sookie scenes. If you want to give Bill his own material and story, that’s great. But if you have to take away Eric and Sookie material to tone down their relationship…that should tell you something. They’re a force to be reckoned with. =P