True Blood Guide, Season One: “Cold Ground” with Commentary from Alan Ball

Sam comforts Sookie after a tragic event.

Numbed by tragedy, Sookie looks for refuge from the cacophony of her friends’ and neighbors’ inner voices. After lashing out at his sister and decking Andy, Jason wrestles with withdrawal symptoms from his V juice habit. Tara resists the overtures of her mother Lettie Mae (Adina Porter), who’s trying to rid herself of a demon and needs her daughter’s help. Sam and Tara make a connection in their mutual search for “something real.”

Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by Nick Gomez. This episode airs  at 10 p.m.in the UK on Channel 4.

ALAN BALL: That was a really difficult episode. We had a director who was really not a good match with the material and the sensibility of the show, and we had a cinematographer who again was not a great match for this show. And the two of them despised each other. I refer to that show as the hate sandwich, but we did do some re-shoots, and I think we really salvaged something in editing. I think it’s a powerful and emotional show. I love the moment where Sookie eats the pie. I love the moment when she and Bill come together and he bites her, that’s what she’s been wanting the whole time. That’s what everyone’s been waiting for. And that’s really like a big romance novel at the end. I loved the music that Naybar composed for that. That was a tough episode to produce, but it’s really strong. And what Jason is going through… the withdrawal – is heartbreaking.

Obviously in the world that Charlaine has created, feeding and the world of sensuality are deeply connected for vampires. Vampires are and have always been metaphors for sex. So what’s with the abstinence thing? What’s the point? She was willing. And that’s part of what being with a vampire is all about, that’s what all these fang-bangers crave. And there are tons of people out there who have these vampire sex fantasies. One of my AD’s is from Texas, and she had gone back and was having this reunion with her girlfriends from college. And one of their husbands came up to her and said, “I just want to thank you for that show.” And she said, “What do you mean?” And he said, “Well every Sunday night I have the best sex I’ve had in years.” Now I don’t spend a lot of time on the web sites, because I just don’t and I think that would be too confusing… I keep that stuff separate… but I have to admit I’ve gone a couple of times, and I can’t remember which web site it was, but each character has their own page, or their own board. Sookie’s is eight pages, and someone else is six, and Bill’s like 28 pages. And you go on and you read: “I fantasize about Bill when I’m having sex with my husband, and we’re having the best sex we’ve had in years.” And I told Steven, I hope you know, you’re helping to put a spark into some tired marriages in this country.” It seems to be a big fantasy for a lot of women. And look at Charlaine’s books. Why are they so successful in the first place? And it’s not just her books. There are a bunch of series of supernatural guy fiction – lady porn as we call it. (SciFiTVZone.com)