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October 9th, 2009
10:46 PM ET
"True Blood" creator Alan Ball gives up the goods on Season ThreeDon't you hate it when you see a story about your favorite actor, TV show, or movie, and you want just one question answered, but you have to sift through unimportant crap to get what you want? Well, I'm not going to do that to you when it comes to "True Blood." I recently had a long chat with the hit cable show's creator, Alan Ball, and I got straight to the point early on in the interview. I asked the questions that are on everyone's minds: What is going to happen in Season Three, AND what is up with our favorite characters - Bill, Sookie, Tara, and Sam? Well, I won't lie: he didn't show me the script or give me a play-by-play of each episode in the upcoming season. BUT he did dish a little to me:
Season Three of "True Blood" begins filming in December, and won't hit the screen until the middle of next year. So until then... you'll just have to feast off of those few morsels. |
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No in the book, Eric is not behind Bill getting snatched. I bet he will in the HBO series.
i love true blood... im so anxious to see who they pick as alicide i loved him in the books. but it will always be sookie and eric.... and i am so excited... but seriously why so long away...
to d osullivan, wrong blog, nobody is talkin about the Kardashians here. and to Brittney.... yes True Blood is definately worth watching, probably one of the only shows I know of worth watching! For Kim (St. Louis) , it's a summer show, which means it only shows in the summer. That's just how it goes.
For all of the folks who say read the books, They aren't following the books exactly. If you have read them, and expect to see the book exactly on HBO, then you will be disapointed. But if you expect to see the story, with a nice HBO twist, then your in for a treat! Do the book readers actually expect HBO directors to follow them completley? If that was the case then nobody would watch the show, we would already know the answer to everything! Come on people, I know we know better than that!
Corbett–I'm the youngest in my family and I'm in my mid 20's. It'd be rather silly to avoid watching a show because it has "R rated material" in it. It's fiction. I introduced Six Feet Under to my family years ago and now they're all Alan Ball followers– so it only makes sense that we get together Sunday nights to hang out and watch his new show.
Reading the comments here about the books in comparison to the series is something I hear about often (i.e. the show doesn't follow the book.) Having read the books and watching the show, I don't really see it that way. While I agree that it doesn't completely follow the novels, I think it's done with good reason.
As much as I love and enjoy reading the books, I think it's safe to say that there are a lot of holes in the story line, especially the last one. Harris tends to tip toe around something that seems important to the story or character, but alas, it's never brought up again and you're left there hanging. Naturally as a reader, you get frustrated and I think Alan Ball saw this as an opportunity to build on a more elaborate, detailed story of his own.
I can't wait to see what happens in the third season. They're leading viewers to believe Eric is the one that kidnaps Bill (he tells the Queen he'll take care of Bill personally), but something tells me that'd be too easy.
Possible show spoilers!!!
I believe in the third book Bill was kidnapped by his maker and brought to her sheriffs house (he was making some vamp profile software?)–I don't entirely remember (Oh darn, I might just have to read it again!) but clearly Bill's maker was not pleased in the last season and isn't finished with him yet. Godric banned her from his area but he is no longer alive to enforce it. Eric might be behind it in the show, but I don't think he was in the book. I really look forward to see how it all plays out. The anticipation is delicious, I hope it'll last! 🙂
Okay folks, feel my pain, I live overseas, season two hasn't started, and I can't get the new dvd's yet. Eric RULES!
BTW: Love all of Charlaine Harris books.
you can know how the whole story plays out if you read the books.
Becky – Jason did end up a werepanther, but he was born part fairy.
I just finished "Touch of Dead" and got a quick Sookie fix, but can't wait for the next book and the next season of True Blood. One request...more Pam please!
does this mean in the next season Bill will run off with a new love like in the books? get tortured and be rescued by Sookie?
If you like the series so much go buy the books and read them. The story is so much better!!!!
Becky – Yes, Jason IS part fairy. It manifests itself differently. He is ALSO a bitten were later on. Its in the books, read them again 😛
Also disappointed the show doesn't follow the books, but its still an awesome show regardless 😀
Can't wait for Quinn! *purr*
I don't know anything about the books, but True Blood is one of my favorite shows! Glad that Mary Anne is gone! I feel sorry for Sam. I hope he finds another of his kind to be with. Eric can be erotic, but I can't see Sookie with anyone but Bill
mdobson – Jason is not part fairy. I have read the books. In the books he is a werepanther. (bitten, not born) I highly recomend the books as well. Different from the show.. but then you get surprised by both the books and the show!
I am just happy I have Dexter on Sundays!
Complain and whine about the economy....but hey at least you have premium cable so you can watch your HBO!!!! Plain hilarious. Even only people bickered and went on about characters in books like all of you above. Alas, it'll never happen before you depend on someone else to paint your pictures.
p.s....again, if they go by the books....a were-tiger should be coming into play
I highly suggest reading the books. They're 100x better than the series, though I will admit I am hooked as well. I will give a hint about Sookie, if they go by the books, she has fairy blood. Just when you thought it couldn't get much weirder huh?
Even if Alexander Skarsgard was not playing Eric Northman, I'd still be Team Eric all the way – simply because he is the most complex character in the book. It'd be easy to classify him as a jerk and the bad guy, but there's a lot going on underneath.
And Mr. Skarsgard does a fantastic job. I hope they give Eric the proper exposure on Season 3 so everyone can see how well he plays the character.
I can't wait for Season 3 to start so the romantic tension can begin!
I'm an Eric fan all the way. Can't wait to see more of him, especially with Sookie. And I have read ALL the books. Waiting for the new one to come out.
Anne, good news...Book ten is actually going to be out in May of 2010, not November.
BP, I don't get the Eric-love at all, either. In the books he's funny and interesting. On the show, he looks terminally bored and there's no humor in him. Plus, Alex has no chemistry with Anna Paquin . It's all about Sookie and Bill. Anna and Stephen are terrific together. I'd rather see Sookie with Sam than Eric, if she can't be with Bill. Eric and the Queen should get together.
AMAZING SHOW!! AMAZING WRITERS!!!!! AMAZING CREATORS!!!!!! AMAZINGLY HOOKED ALL AROUND!!!!! However from one fan to the next I am as well very let down to the fact that we are to wait nearly a year to view season 3..... Disappointed in michigan>>> ;(
and jason IS part fairy. his and sookies grandfather is one of the king fairies, thats how their parents died.
yay! quinn! if youve read the books at all you know whats coming up. the books are AMAZiNG! and i agree eric is definetly the best character. it sucks that he comes off so bad in the beginning. you really need to read all the books before watching the show, i love how the director followed the books story lines so closely, that rarely happens these days
I would think that all the book lovers who are disappointed that True Blood doesn't closely follow the books, well, I think they would just quit watching. It must be curiosity.
ok, yeah, i wanna see who is gonna play Alcide, but what about Quinn?! HOLY COW!!!! There are a total of 10 books so far, I have become such an addict, started reading them halfway through season 2 and am alrready through book 9!!!! Book 10 doesn't come out until november of 2010!!!!
Love, love, love this show! I'm sure glad that HBO reruns the shows between seasons, and I also do "On Demand" a lot as well as reread the books. I actually enjoy the difference between the books and the series. It's been fun y keeping up and sorting out.
I'm between Bill and Eric. Sometimes it's Bill, the romantic, and sometimes Eric, the bad boy. I wish that Godric somehow, someway comes back. If I recall the books, Jason finds out he is a Were and falls in love(?). And then there is Alcide... yes, who will they get to play Alcide? An Antonio Banderas type I think. I, too, think that the Marianne stuff was over done and spoiled the feeling otherwise created by True Blood.
WHAT ABOUT ERIC!!!!!
So sexy!!!
Maybe is season three they can fix Bill's make-up.. OMG if you watch S1 and compare to S2 you will see the difference. He looked horrendous in S2..all the vamps did. They are supposed to glow, and be unrecognizable to some not look like ashen freaks.
not to mention the dialogue from S1 to S2...Alan Ball was not hands on with S2 as he was in S1 and you can tell....some of the words coming from their mouths was just incomprehensible.....that scene when Sookie and Jason were lying in bed watching the FOS couple...OMG, its unwatchable.
Hopfully next season, Ball is in all the way and they get back to the real Sookie Stackhouse......we can only hope.....including Eric being the smartass he is, working off of Sookie
Watcha-actually, Jason is part fairy, it just manifests itself in different ways than with Sookie (his irresistability to woman is much the same as his father's-also part-fairy)
As for Eric running naked in the woods-CAN'T FREAKING WAIT!
Jason is part fairy in the books. Alan Ball may have made an error in having Jason fall under Maryann's spell. That doesn't happen in the book. In fact, most of the Maryann story is not in the book.
I'm interested to see what will happen in Season 3.
I don't really understand the fascination that some (99.9% female) have with Eric other than his looks. His character isn't that deep and he's extremely childish for a 1000 year old vampire. The only time I liked Eric at all was during the Godric episodes in season 2.
I was sad that Godric had to die. I thought they could've incorporated him into the story more deeply.
So glad Lafayette is still around. He brings some color and vibrance to the show that most other characters don't.
I can't wait for the werewolves to be introduced...going to be awesome!
Bill's shtick got old fast. He's about as mysterious and interesting as a mattress label. Eric has much more depth and ambiguity. Bill's so good and stoic that he (ironically) seems way less human than the other vampires.
I'm glad to see they're continuing to play the "vampire rights" movement as comedy. It would be pretty hard to take it seriously in light of constant revelations that the vamps are bloodthirsty killers who pretty much hate humans. "Give us equal rights even though we kill and despise you!" somehow lacks the impact of MLK's "I have a Dream."
No, Jason is not part fairy. If he were, he would have been able to resist Marianne like Sookie did. Also, the show is very different and in some ways (IMO) better than the books because the books are only from Sookie's point of view, whereas the show let's us see what's happening from all sides. And I'm glad that in Ball's version, Lafayette is still around rather than being the one in Andy's car at the end of season 1.
Read the books, she is part fairy.....
Forget all of the Bill anr Eric stuff. Who's going to be the new waitress at Merlotte's?
Bring on Quinn!!!!
Bill, Sookie, Tara, and Sam? NO WAY!!!!!
Tara, no way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill, no way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Team ERIC all the way - everyone knows this!
Sookie is part fairy..if they follow the books!
ARRRRGGGGGG!!! I need to know what happens now! I love this show and next summer seems so far away damn it! Why is he messing with Sookie & Bill?!!! I was so sad when they killed off Eggs, he is so fine, good googa mooga!
We know Sook is not human, remember when she touched Marianne?
@Joie, bite your tingue Sookie belongs to Bill, Eric cannot play!!!
Spoiler – although I doubt the show will follow the books because they make Bill into a much better more important character than he really is or should be. Sookie dumps Bill's a$$ after he cheats on her in the 3rd book – she does start to eventually see Eric in a different light and hopefully the 4th season will mirror the 4th book because Eric lovers would be pleased!!
Sookie and Jason are part fairy as some have said before. Jason will be changed in another way also.
The waiting is nearly unbearable but we have to. I feel like something is missing on Sunday nights, even though I'm a football fan also and can enjoy Sunday Night Football. But it isn't the same. Just feels so empty.
But for those who can access it, HBO has started replaying True Blood from the beginning on Saturday nights on one of those many HBO channels they have. I accidentally found it Saturday night. They showed where Bill and Sookie first met. I guess the Saturday night replays will have to nourish me until next year.
I totally get why team Eric is stoked about Eric. And I understand the "Bill and Sookie forever" fans. But my favorite character is Jason. He's SO cute, and absolutely hysterical. My favorite moment from both seasons, is when he tells the sheriff and deputy "Ya'll know I aint that smart" Truer words were never spoken!
If you read the books you will know what she is.....
Andrèa...
I thought Lafayette was part ..................fairy!
Yes, the show is totally worth it. Every person i've made watch is now hooked. the whole horned godess thing got old but everything else was good.
Sookie is part fairy... so is Jason!
I have the same sort of problem with HBO's series, that everyone else does: the season is only about 3 months long, then they go off the air for 9 months, and then come back with another 3 month season. At least with network shows, you have your Fall premier, then the "after the holiday's" return to finish out the season at the end of Spring.....so, you're really only without your show for a few months. With HBO shows, you're without so long, that you have to be reminded of why you like the show by the time it begins airing again. Either A) Make the season longer, or B) shorten the time between finale, and season premier.
For anyone who can't wait to know... pick up the books... They are WAY better anyway.... then the TV show will just be icing and not the meal...
Minners.... you had me at "Eric running naked..."
Team Eric!!
'A Touch of Dead' is NOT a new Sookie novel, it's a collection of previously released short stories, gathered together in a single volume and put in chronological order. The new Sookie novel, Dead in the Family (most likely title) will be released in May, 2010.
That's alright, having to wait a year for Season 3 of "True Blood".Maybe the show will be bigger and better than ever by then!
You all don't have to wait to see what happens in Season 3. Just read the Southern Vampire Series of novels written by Charlaine Harris. True Blood is based on those books.
I can't wait. I haven't been so excited over a tv show in years.
Interesting that Alan Ball doesn't mention Eric. Good to know he isn't everyone's favorite the way the internet polls would lead you to believe.
I, for one, hope Eric and Sookie never get together outside of her dreams. He held Lafayette prisoner and called Lorena to hold Bill hostage which almost got Sookie raped or killed. He's probably behind Bill's kidnapping, too. Sookie would never forgive him or voluntarily enter a romantic relationship with him if she knew all that he's done.
Well, now I know when to re-order HBO . . . only time we get it!!
Ditto more Eric please!!!
For all of you who say "read the book" . I think most of us have already read the books . The point is the tv show is not following the books. There are alot of differences between the show and the book. Cant wait for Season 3!!!!!!! Also don't forget the new Sookie Stackhouse novel – A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris ws released 10/6/09
I am SO not happy we have to wait so long! I am going to have to get the books I guess...!
I haven't decided if I want Sookie to leave Bill. I love how he says her name...it makes me melt! However, Eric is so freaking sexy it's not even funny! They would make a pretty hot couple!
I don't think Sam and her should get together at all. I think he is a little too needy for her.
I am SO sad I have become a Tru Blood freak...it's killing my patience!
More Erik please!!!
Minners – You do not watch True Blood with your family! That is some R rated material!
Hey... I have an idea... read the books!
Hmmm, I hope season 3 is better than the last few episodes of season 2...I could hardly watch it due to the over-the-top/jump-the-shark garbage added to an otherwise wonderful set of stories. We're happy at my house that the Maryanne story-arc is over (at least, we hope so). Still, MORE ERIC needed *drool*.
Well, was Eric responsible for Bill being gone at the end of Season 2? I do not remember this happening in the books, and we all know the show isn't playing "fair" when it comes to portraying the books. (But I love the show anyways.)
I, for one, think the romance between Sookie and Bill is the most boring thing ever. Her flirtation with Sam and esp. Eric are WAY hotter and tons more interesting. Having Alcide enter the picture (and hopefully Debbie Pelt!) will make things even better.
Season 2 was so much richer and better developed than Season 1 – I hope that trajectory continues and Season 3 beats them all. Hurray for TruBlood!
No offense to fans of the show, but I'd rather stick with the books. I know I'd spend entire episodes complaining about how many liberties Ball is taking with Charlaine Harris' stories.
Sookie and Bill!!! Love that Bill has that mysterious edge and I don't care what happens in the books Bill was her "first"!! They didn't get engaged in the books like the tv series so don't think it will remain that true.
Amen, Michelle. Eric is bar far the best and most entertaining character on the show. Too bad the director hasn't kept with the real storyline, otherwise Eric and Sookie would be together:)
I love, love, love True Blood! For all of you who cannot wait, Read the books! They are awesome! A bit different from the show, I loved six feet under so I knew Alan Ball would do an awesome job with this show... They are different enough that i don't think reading them will ruin the show for you at all... just a glimpse into what may come. Alan Ball has been mixing it up! I love the show, especially Eric! So I'm really looking forward to season 3!!!
Bill and Sookie forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty sad that people now 'have nothing to do on Sunday nights'. Ever heard of reading a book? Spending time with humans beings and NOT having the TV on?
True Blood Sunday nights with the family are the best! My entire family is also bummed that there's a wait. We've switched to Dexter now. I found it funny that Dexter's season premier this year was pushed back a couple weeks after True Blood finished–it used to run at the same time (thank god for TiVo/DVR's.)
"Um my favorite character is Eric not Sookie, Bill, Sam or Tara……how out of touch are you?"
Hahaha! My thoughts exactly. Team Eric for the win, people! I am also pretty curious to know who'll be cast for Alcide.
Leigh, they most likely will do the Eric/Sookie thing in season 4.
Spoilers!!!
For anybody that has read the books, I have an idea how they might end season 3–it'll end with Sookie driving down the road to her house from her work shift and she'll see Eric running naked towards her house. I'm putting my bets on that.
My favorite character is also Eric. I'm ready for Sookie to be with Eric too!
Sookie really doesn't become Eric's love interest until book four, however she does have a little something for Alcide in book 3.
That is what I want to know.. Who will play alicide and when is ball going to make Eric her love interest like in the books....
Um my favorite character is Eric not Sookie, Bill, Sam or Tara......how out of touch are you?
Yeah but who is playing Alcide?
Sookie is....
*SPOILERS CONTAINED BELOW*
Part.....
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
fairy.
Never really watched TrueBlood...
Is it worth watching?
Why is it important to know that one of the unmarried Karashians is having a boy baby. What kind of role model is this unmarried, untalented girl for young people? In fact, none of the Kardashians have any talent except self promotion and dating and marrying quickly or not marrying and getting pregnant. Why do we need this kind of person on television?. Isn't there something better than this to talk about.These are the most self absorbed, useless people in the world, from the parents to the children. They just want to look beautiful and do nothing.Find some people who make a difference in this world to talk about. Get them off television.
Hmmm...not entirely human...alien? Demi-god? Hmmm...
Hello! What about Lafayette?
I really hate that I have to wait until next year to see season three. I got my kids, my dad and cousins all hooked on True Blood and everybodies always asking me when season 3 is coming out. Now I hate to break all of them the bad news and tell them not to next year. You guys really dont know what you have done to my family. Now we all will have nothing to do on Sunday nights. But really we love the show and cant wait to see what happens on season 3. Truely a big fan Kim from St.Louis.