True Blood Season 3: Who Is Franklin Mott?
This is part 5 in our series of features about the new characters coming to True Blood in season 3. We’ll be taking a look at these new characters using both information from casting calls and from the novels on which the show is based. Beware, spoilers ahead!
Who Is Franklin Mott?
James Frain will play Franklin Mott
Sookie’s best friend, Tara, has been reluctant to participate in vampire culture so far, but this season she’ll be changing her tune when vampire Franklin Mott sweeps her off her feet. We meet Franklin in Club Dead, the third novel in the series, and probably in the first episode of season 3. In the book Sookie describes him as having gray hair and a mustache, looking to be in his 50s or early 60s, and as “vigorous and very masculine.” He also has an Italian accent in the books. From the casting call, we know that he’s tall, dark and handsome, and “sexy, sexy, sexy.” The casting of (sexy) James Frain in the role suggests that he’ll be portrayed as younger and probably won’t have gray hair.
On True Blood Franklin meets Tara when she’s confronted by some racist rednecks. Although we know Tara can give as good as she gets, Franklin swoops in to come to her aid, drawing her attention. However, a later comment from Alan Ball describes the character as “not just crazy, [he's] evil.” In the books Franklin is alternately generous and abusive with Tara, and it sounds like we’ll be seeing something similar on the show. The novels have Sookie helping Tara out of the relationship, with the aid of Eric. The question is, how is Franklin entwined with the rest of the vampires on the show? Is he affiliated with the King of Mississippi or the Queen of Louisiana or someone we have yet to encounter? And just how long will it be until Tara finds a good man?
Franklin Mott In Brief
Sex: Male
Species: Vampire
Age: Unknown
Status: Single, then attached to Tara
Relatives: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Location: Louisiana
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Small correction: In the books Sookie and Eric save Tara from the evil and abusive Mickey. Franklin is never seen as abusive in “Club Dead” and is only considered bad in “Dead as a Doornail” because he has passed Tara, for some reason, on to Mickey.
Agreed, Kathy. That’s how I read it in the books too. Mott wasn’t evil in the books, just way too old-skool Vampire for AVL-era relations with humans. *However,* I think I’m going to prefer the way things work out in the show! Franklin Mott as evil, hooray! (Maybe they’re combining Franklin and Mickey, just the way I hope they absorb Quinn’s character into Alcide! Have I mentioned I had NO interest in Book Quinn?) I usually do prefer the show when it comes to show-book discrepancies. The show is much more interesting and the characters much better developed. Hooray Alan Ball and True Blood!
I would be very disappointed if they combined Quinn and Alcide. One’s a Tiger…hello?
I hope Alan decides to keep the characters how they are in the books and not merge them in anyway. Doing that would just take away so many of the storylines and mess up how Sookie lives her life without Bill being there. Wish there was someone to make a couple suggestions to Alan but it seems it’s too late seeing the filming for season 3 has started or ended. I don’t know, just a thought. Go TRUEBLOOD!
I enjoyed his role on the tutors, sadly Henry had his head as well. I’m certain this role will be perfect, the more vampires the better.
I agree with you sindririune!
He was brillant as Cromwell! He had thought himself so powerful above others.
I also really thought him very sweet in the movie Where The Heart Is.
He also played in Elizabeth and The Count of Monte Cristo.. He is handsome with all that dark curly hair.
But, yeah I wonder if he and Rutina Wilson will be having any love scenes! I am so ready!
By the time the show actually comes back I am just going to be so grateful to have it that whatever Alan Ball decides to do with the storyline I am going to roll with it. However if I had a preference I would like to see the book playout with the search for Bill with Sookie, Eric and Alcide. I think it would be entertaining for TV and it would open up the story for many situations or variations on it. I agree that Season 1 was alittle better than 2 but keep in mind it was still brand spanking new to some of us and it blew our minds! Season 2 I think we were expecting a big bang, but it was the season setting the foundation for the good stuff to come but yeah- If I never seen an orgy again in my life I’ll be satisfied! lol.
Not TOO MUCH longer now Trubies!!!
Alan Ball usually is on the mark with what he does. Sic Feet Under was usually without much fault, esp the last episode. Totally etched (and heart-wrenching) in my mind; except for what song Claire was playing on the CD.
Sorry that was sorta off topic, but it is related to AB.
A lot of the fans have not read the books….and they could care less if characters are combined..honestly, AB is trying to make 12 episodes out of a 6 episode book…cut him some slack, and I really don’t want a copy cat of the books…two different things….books and series.
Alright, I love my Sookie Stackhouse via Charlaine Harris – but I’m not crapping on the show or making an opinion over the combined characters or whatever else is going on until I see the show. Maybe they’ll do it right and I will love it.
I know a lot of fans have been disgruntled because the show isn’t exactly like the books, but that is fine with me… I like the element of surprise. haha. I don’t mind not knowing everything exactly as it will happen.
And because I am sill and have not mentioned our dearest Franklin Mott, this dude was in the Tudors (I think?) … and I think we will do a great job. He was a jerk in The Tudors, but at least he played the part well.
I didn’t care for Quinn ethier.. He wasn’t a very nice in the end!
But, I think will be good. Due to James Frain!
The guy is a good actor.. In the tudors, he was amazing! I loved him and he is sexy!
But, as this vampire FM he looks really evil from the promos.. So, I loved how’ve they have cast his role. And I can’t wait.