EDIE FALCO as Jackie in Nurse Jackie Episode 4.08, airing June 3, 2012 on SHOWTIME:
SYNOPSIS: Nurse Jackie Episode 8 - June 3, 2012:'Chaud & Froid' Season 4.8.
Jackie's coworkers are punished for covering up her addiction.
SYNOPSIS: Nurse Jackie Episode 8 - June 3, 2012:
Episode Detail: 'Chaud & Froid' - Nurse Jackie -
When Cruz learns about Jackie's rehab, he takes revenge on coworkers who have been covering up her drug problems. Meanwhile, Eddie is deposed by Kevin's lawyer; a dumped Lenny decides to take off for Europe; and Coop accompanies O'Hara to her ob-gyn appointment.
Showtime has released the full playlist of season 4 NURSE JACKIE webisodes, The Break Room on YouTube:
The next episodes of NURSE JACKIE will be airing after the Memorial Day holiday on June 3rd. Be there or be square.
After the jump: Have a look at this interview with the creators on last week's "Day of the Iguana": Bonus: added shots from episode 4.08, more.
Photo credit: Showtime
Photo credit: Showtime
AFTER THE JUMP: Recap Episode 4.07:
While we're on the subject of behind-the-scenes features, have a look at this interview with the creators on last week's "Day of the Iguana": http://youtu.be/YhxuGejnMTc
EDIE FALCO as Nurse Jackie and JAKE CANNAVALLE as 'Charlie Cruz' in Nurse Jackie, season 4.
Did you guess that Jake Cannavale (Jackie's rehab friend, 'Charlie) was Bobby Cannavale's (Jackie's boss, 'Cruz') real-life son? It was starting to to look very probably and in episode 4.07 it's now a known fact by Jackie, by Cruz and by Charlie.
"What happens now?' is the question. Jackie continues to struggle to stay sober. Her involvement with Charlie was at first positive for her--now what's to become of this huge can of worms that has been tipped out completely?
I'm curious too if Cannvale as Cruz is hired just for the season or has signed on beyond this, if there in fact is a NURSE JACKIE season 5 (hope so!)
A side benefit to Charlie and Cruz being who they are on the show is that we immediately understand what it must be like for Charlie to be Cruz's kid. Impossible. Maddening. And, visa-versa!
TRUE BLOOD SEASON 5 - PAM'S ORIGIN STORY (Finally) Kristen Bauer van Straten as 'Pam' and Alexander Skarsgård as her maker, 'Eric' in True Blood season 5 (Photo: HBO)
Season 5 of TRUE BLOOD premieres Sunday, June 10th on HBO and nowhere else!
Have you seen the NEW TRUE BLOOD Season 5 trailer #1, yet?
It aired just before GAME OF THRONES Sunday evening and it certainly packed many buzz-worthy quick shots and snippets of convo.
Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis - above) believes Sookie is the 'angel of death.'
Kind of interesting because I believe he used pretty close to the same expression on Jason in season one. He made Sookie (Anna Paquin) sad and I'm pretty sure she was already sad.
Both the group and most senior vampire, 'Roman,' played by Chris Meloni, 'are' The Vampire Authority.
Desperately needing a storyline now that Jessica is not his reason for existing in the Bon Temps-verse, Hoyt (Jim Parrack) has taken to guyliner, fishnet shirts and, presumably, fangbanging (no more eternal virgins for him!).
OTOH, perhaps Hoyt is an undercover vamp killer! (Would be cool to have him hold Jess in his arms once last time...and then...neck-snap!)
ALEXANDER SKARSGARD as Eric Northman in season five TRUE BLOOD (June 10) HBO: 'They. will. suffer.' - Eric (emulating Russell?)
Russell Edgington: "Ha.Ha. Haaa!'
Actor Denis O'hare is reprising his role as Russell Edgington. The actor does look thinner as some have noted, though wouldn't the character look worse for the wear after his near-true death burning/cement trauma/buried alive scenario?
On the subject of Russell, we've seen now a couple of times, a sequence where an unconscious-looking man is being effortlessly dragged to a small room by (presumably) a vampire, the door opens and the body is pulled inside by an unknown entity at vamp speed. Then we hear a man's cry and see a large blood splatter on the small window of the room. Could the 'person' 'procuring' the human be Steve Newlin? In the screencaps it sure does look like that Elvis-style hairdo he sports (even in death).
Several snippets seem to confirm actor Alexander Skarsgård's assertion that his and 'Bill's' (Steven Moyer) storyline this season is akin to "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
STEPHEN MOYER, ANNA PAQUIN and ALEXANDER SKAGSGARD in TRUE BLOOD season 5: It would be nice if Sookie did not have to be paired up with either Bill or Eric for a season. No 'shipper wars would be awesome. For my part I've always found the non-sexual, maker-child Eric- Pam relationship much more satisfying on an ongoing basis, though it seems we will see them get 'closer' in a flashback origin sequence for Pam (KRISTEN BAUER van STRATEN):
The kiss between Alcide (JOE MANGANIELLO) and Sookie? He's gonna be real busy with were-issues and she with vamp/other stuff so I'm thinking they end up in much the same place that they did in the books (skipping the romance, tho'). Alcide and Sookie = flirtation.
Terry and Patrick. Apparently something bad happened over in 'the war' they were in together and now they must remedy it. I like giving Todd Lowe something to do but this sounds like a second-string story that is going to elicit a big 'who cares?' (See: Anything to do with Jason's Hot Shot story.) It's what's going on in crazy Bon Temps that we care about!
The Vampire Authority: We've long known there was one. We even saw them in shadowy silhouette on a big screen at Fangtasia. Now we get to meet them.
Though Chris Meloni brings the network & cable teevee name recognition that some of his fellow Authority figures don't, he also brings the baggage of when he's dressed up in a suit, he looks exactly like the guy he LAST played on network TV. Would that he looked exactly like the guy he played in the HBO series 'Oz,' but alas, he would need to wear a wife beater (or nothing) and be 15 years younger.
The Vampire Authority in general looks, or at least dresses like a bunch of middle-aged executives (except Salomé--how could she?). Their look as we see it now, is so bland that it raises no expectations. Perhaps because the Authority is so conformist their suits are meant to echo that? If so, great but I was hoping for each of them to show more individual personality in their appearance.
No Tara (Rutina Wesley) in True Blood's season 5 Trailer #1 save for the season 4 last shot of Sookie and a brains-splattered Tara on the floor of Sookie's kitchen. The character of 'Tara' is a hot topic because fans seem to be about 75% wanting her gone forever and 25% arguing for her to 'come back' some way. The only plausible way within the life/death parameters that have been stated thus far in the HBO TV series are that she could reappear as a ghost. For the Tara haters this would probably be a bad thing as the options left to send her away for good then would seem null.
It would however just squeak by into the parameters that the actress who plays Tara, set. Rutina Wesley has interviewed when speaking of the series in general and her role in particular that she would be happiest if that with so many characters on the show already supernatural, that Tara could remain human. Killing her, then having her reappear as a ghost sort of gives the actress her wish.
And finally, we have...Faeries! After nearly no faeries in season 4 despite the huge consequences of Sookie being part -Fae, some fairies are back. Behold:
Above: 'Microwave fingers' (One should be a re-cast 'Claude,' brother of the late 'Claudine'.)
EDIE FALCO as NURSE JACKIE and BOBBY CANNAVALE as Cruz in NURSE JACKIE Episode 4.06 Sunday at 9 et/pt on SHOWTIME
Despite Jackie's (EDIE FALCO) managing to resist temptation even when it is thrust right into her hands, she still has to contend with problems continuing to dog her that go beyond staying sober. Pictured above is one of them: Dr. Cruz (BOBBY CANNAVALE) suspects something is not quite right about Jackie but no one has given him anything on her. Undeterred, he's embarked on a 'witch hunt' of sorts, determined to get to the bottom of Jackie's secret. Here, Jackie employs what she admitted to Zooey is a talent she is 'great at': Lying.
Even Jackie must suspect that with a guy like Cruz hounding her, it's only a matter of time before she and perhaps even those that have been covering for her go down.
Jackie dreams about sex (with Cruz) and drugs but no rock and roll, although Kevin rocks her to her core when he sues for full custody of their daughters. At the hospital, Cruz detects holes in Jackie's employment history, and she's surprised when she catches him exhibiting a kindly bedside manner to a trauma patient. Later, Lenny and Zoey get engaged, but Zoey still has questions about their relationship; Jackie, O'Hara and Akalitus treat a transgender teen.
Edie Falco and Eve Best in Nurse Jackie on Showtime
Nurse Jackie : Where's My Ring?
Zoey loses her engagement ring.
Nurse Jackie : Uncle Coop
Coop insists on being involved with O'Hara's child.
NURSE JACKIE: Episode 4.05 RECAP:
Jackie managed to withstand an-on-the-job-shoulder injury using only an ice-wrap instead of the painkillers that pre-sober "Jacks' would have reached for. She did weaken in her resolvewith Kevin however and he took full-advantage of it. He's now gotten the goods on Jackie's prior pill-taking by cowing Eddie the pharmacist then, feigning consenting to a lunch date with Jackie, instead has her served with divorce papers indicating he is suing for full custody of the girls. This new development leaves Jackie shattered and again, temptation rears it's head. Instead, Jackie stuffs her face with pie.
MERRIT WEVER as "Zooey" and EDIE FALCO as "Jackie" in Episode 5.05 of NURSE JACKIE on Showtime - Sunday 9 pm/et/pt:
Nurse Jackie: Episode 4.05 Synopsis: 'One-Armed Jacks': After realizing after she's whipped up pancakes in cute animal shapes that her girls are not even home to eat --they are at Kevin's--Jackie admits to O'Hara that she's really struggling living alone. Jackie calls Kevin, leaving him a message to meet her for lunch despite O'Hara's strong objections. While treating a gruesome trauma involving severed limbs, Jackie pops her shoulder out and must visit Eddie in the pharmacy so she can get it iced and wrapped up. Later, as Jackie waits for Kevin to show up for their lunch date, she is instead 'served'--divorce papers. Zooey, who had been soliciting a roommate, is invited by Jackie to live with her. That night they have pancakes for dinner.
RECAP Episode 4.04: Grace reveals to Jackie that she knows about Jackie's still in rehab propelling Jackie to Kevin's where in the presence of a nearly-nude woman, Jackie confesses the truth to Kevin. Suspiciously, he seems completely unfazed.
In dire need of some support, Jackie calls up Charlie to meet at an AA meeting. She find him drunk at the meeting and whisks him away. We learn that 'Charlie' is new hospital admin, Mike Cruz's son.
After meeting a charismatic, near death patient, Jackie is sorely tempted by "Jules'" offer to use heavy painkillers, going so far as to toss them in a Dumpster then reach in amongst the refuse, falling in, swearing and giving up on giving into temptation. Unbeknownst to Jackie, Kevin storms the pharmacy and demands from Eddie the names and exactly how much medications ("A lot.") Jackie used; he takes copious notes. Something tells me that we and Jackie are going to hear that list recited in a more formal setting...
Poor Jackie. This continues to be a very rough road to recovery.
Grace learns that her mother has been in rehab, forcing Jackie to race to Kevin's before she spills the beans to him. Later, Cruz docks Jackie's pay over some purloined items; and Jackie sets up an AA rendezvous with Charlie, who turns up in bad shape. Rosie Perez appears as 'Jules,' a woman with a condition that is the most bizarre that I've ever seen on Nurse Jackie. (You really do need to see it.) Jules and Jackie click in a profound way with potentially disastrous consequences.
Unsurprisingly Jackie left rehab early,'AMA,' because she desperately believes that troubled older daughter, 'Grace' needs her mom close at hand. In fact, Grace makes it very clear that the writing is on the wall--she wants to live with her dad.
Surprisingly, Jackie managed to stay in the recovery program for over two weeks, even making a connection with a fellow patient with whom she seems to have forged a very real relationship.
Though it probably was a poor judgment call on her part, she did return to the hospital, which in my estimation is both a boon and bane to her sobriety. In her favour, Jackie has a support system in place at work which she doesn't have at home and it's a medical setting. But the fact that the very substances which she abuses are right under her nose at work certainly sets her sobriety up for failure.
It seemed almost inevitable that she'd succumb to temptation and almost immediately, her fragile state is shaken when Kelly Slater gives her a bag of Fentynal patches. In a wrenching scene, Jackie agonizes over the temptation to use only to instead turn the patches over to Cruz and rat Kelly out. Kelly beats a hasty retreat from All Saints.
Will she have the strength to stay on the wagon when temptation next rears it's head or will Jackie's leaving rehab be the beginning of the end of her struggle to stay sober? Perhaps we'll find out more in this week's episode.
NURSE JACKIE - Season 4 EPISODE 3 - "The Wall" - Edie Falco (SHO)
NURSE JACKIE - Season 4 EPISODE 3 - "The Wall" - Lenny Jacobson, Peter Facinelli, Edie Falco, Stephen Wallem and Eve Best:
(David M. Russell/Showtime)
As I've said before, NURSE JACKIE's season 4 debut episodes are really good.
Jackie and many other main characters are facing circumstances that would have seem unimaginable or ludicrous at least, just a season ago. But here we are with "Jackie' in rehab, OHara pregnant (and happy about it!). Akalitus has been demoted to working the floor at the hospital. Kevin is living separately from Jackie who (hypocritically) threw him out upon hearing his admission/confession that he'd had a fling. Jackie herself was flinging around with hospital pharmacy dispenser,'Eddie,' who like almost everyone else at the hospital, did not know that Jackie was married with kids. To say that Eddie is distraught over the turn of events regarding Jackie (and his job) is a great understatement.
There's new cast addition Bobby Cannavale who plays a sincere-sounding, but not really fully-comprehending, 'Dr. Cruz.,' Cruz represents the hospital chain that bought up 'All Saint's'.
Cannavale's IRL son Jake, has been getting as much face time thus far this season as his dad as 'Charlie', Jackie's compadre in rehab. I think you'll really like their story arc.
Going back to my original thought that the Nurse Jackie characters are facing unpredicted or hugely disruptive situations in season 4: Jackie now has alienated those closest to her, including Ohara and Grace, Jackie's eldest, long-troubled daughter. With no one to bare her in-recovery, detoxing soul to, Jackie's clicking with fellow drug addict, 'Jake' may make the differences in recovery for either one or even both of them.
Jake Cannavale as "Charlie Cruz':
NURSE JACKIE Episode 4.03 Synopsis: 'The Wall' - Despite her counselor's warnings, Jackie leaves rehab and returns to a much-changed All Saints, where working sober for the first time leaves her feeling easily rattled. Meanwhile, Zoey second-guesses her relationship with Lenny; Eddie reveals to Jackie that Kevin knows about their affair; and Grace presents Jackie with a list of demands.
Laura Silverman as 'Laura' NURSE JACKIE Episode 4.03
NEXT WEEK (4.29.12): Episode Detail: 'Slow Growing Monsters' - Nurse Jackie Grace learns that her mother has been in rehab, forcing Jackie to race her daughter to Kevin's before she spills the beans. Later, Cruz docks Jackie's pay over some purloined items; and Jackie sets up an AA rendezvous with Charlie, who turns up in bad shape.
Nurse Jackie co-creators/showrunners Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius are leaving the Showtime comedy after four seasons, Deadline reports.
A new showrunner has not yet been named, but Showtime is already in discussions with a candidate to work alongside star/executive producer Edie Falco and executive producer Richie Jackson, according to the site... Nurse Jackie kicked off its fourth season earlier this month and enjoyed a ratings bump, averaging 653,000 viewers.
AFTER THE JUMP: MORE SCENES FROM NURSE JACKIE EPISODE 4.03:
In case you noticed a) that the guy playing 'Charlie', Jackie's 17- y.o. friend in rehab, was not credited and b) that he looks an awful lot lot like new cast addition 'Dr. Mike Cruz,' Bobby Cannavale, you may have guessed the following: We have a on-offscreen father-son acting team on Nurse Jackie this season! The '17 y.o. drug addict' is none other than Jake Cannavale and this appears to be his first official acting job.
I've watched the first three of Nurse Jackie's season 4 episodes and I find Jackie's new friend quite appealing. He has charisma like his father but wields it very differently. His character seems like a very bright, very troubled kid who Jackie appears to instantly understand. What he understands better than Jackie however is the truth of addiction. Should be interesting to see how this plays out. Jackie is so used to being on top of everything--at this point in a world-weary way. Is she opened-minded enough to listen to the wisdom of a 17 y.o.?
The other new actor that stood out for me as extremely relatable was Jackie's treatment facility therapist, 'Laura' Played by Laura Silverman.
Laura Silverman plays Jackie's therapist, 'Laura' on NURSE JACKIE on Showtime
Season 4 Nurse Jackie spoiler. Don't be surprised if young Mr. Cruz shows up later both in his own and Jackie's recovery journey.
Nurse Jackie: 'Here Come The Clowns' SNEAK PEEK VIDEO:
Jackie's stint in rehab begins with her sharing a room with an irksome kleptomaniac and forging an alliance with a 17-year-old addict who's on his fourth stay at the facility. Back at the hospital, Coop is the only member of the staff who cottons to the new director's innovations.
Akalitus joins the rest of the nurses on the floor.
Next week (4.15.12):
Episode 4.03 Detail: 'The Wall' - Nurse Jackie
Despite her counselor's warnings, Jackie leaves rehab and returns to a much-changed All Saints, where working sober for the first time leaves her feeling easily rattled. Meanwhile, Zoey second-guesses her relationship with Lenny; Eddie reveals to Jackie that Kevin knows about their affair; and Grace presents Jackie with a list of demands.
Edie Falco as 'Jackie' and Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) as a drug buddy who dies while doing drugs with Jackie:
EDIT #2/So the opening episode was pretty great, right? Just the beginning! Here's a SPOILER about 2 characters for whom sharp eyes will draw a distinct connection!
'Nurse Jackie': Jackie wouldn't be Jackie if she put in her 28 days at rehab and it was smooth sailing from there. Of course she leaves early, and of course life conspires to make continued sobriety a difficult proposition. And, no, it's not a coincidence that her new boss and her new rehab buddy share the same last name -- on and off screen"
Synopsis: In the Season 4 premiere, big changes are afoot when Jackie, separated from Kevin, hits rock bottom and realizes she needs professional help, while All Saints is taken over by a corporation whose new director Mike Cruz (Bobby Cannavale) makes a shocking personnel change. Also, Kevin does not react well when he learns the truth about Jackie and Eddie, and O'Hara reveals a stunning secret.
Bobby Cannavale as Mike Cruz and Edie Falco as Jackie in "Nurse Jackie," Sundays on Showtime beginning April 8.
Nurse Jackie: 'Karma's a Bitch' Nurse Jackie Episode 4.01
Detail: 'Kettle Kettle Black Black' - As the fourth season opens, All Saints has been taken over by a multinational corporation and placed in the care of an innovative no-nonsense doctor who is revved up about making changes to the hospital and staff. Meanwhile, Kevin has moved to a new apartment, but is seeking to reconcile with Jackie. As for Jackie, she runs into problems when a guy she picked up has a heart attack in her home. Later, back at the hospital, Mrs. Akalitus is given an ultimatum by the new management.(SOURCE: TVGuide.com)
True Blood Season 5: Echoes Of The Past - "Merlotte's ..." (HBO) VIDEO:
The True Blood publicity machine must be overwhelmed by the Game of Thrones people cranking out sneak peek/teaser videos 'cos Merlotte's is not a 'house,' rather is is the Bon Temps local watering hole a/k/a Sam Merlotte's bar. Anyhoo, last night the Merlotte's "voices' video was released and it, like the previous three (below) has snippets of converstaons/exclamations that took place in this case, at Merlotte's in season's 1 - 4. Enjoy.
Colour me a tiny bit surprised by this trio of just-released True Blood Season 5 trailers. Each video focuses on a particular setting--Sookie's home, Eric & Pam's 'home', Fangtasia, and Bill's house. Over the four season of True Blood a lot has happened in these settings. The only one 'left out' is Merlotte's (Sam's bar) which has seen an equivalent amount of 'happenings, IMO. Small quibble, though. These teasers recap the entire series via 'tours' of each location with voice-overs from many of the cast. What they say illustrates seemingly innocuous comments like Sookie's first utterances about meeting Bill to Nan Flanagan's last utterance before she met her 'true death' (and a lot in-between so be sure to watch them!)
True Blood Season 5: Echoes Of The Past - "Fangtasia" VIDEO:
True Blood Season 5: Echoes Of The Past - "Bill's House" VIDEO:
Edie Falco as "Nurse Jackie" and Anna Deavere Smith as "Gloria Akalaitis." New Season Premieres Sunday, April 8 at 9 PM ET/PT on Showtime.
Oh, excitement! The first episode of season 4 Nurse Jackie is online for free to enjoy--already!
I've really been looking forward to this season--I think lots of 'Jackie' fans have because this will be the first time since the series premiered (can you believe we are on season 4?!) that Jackie is going to seriously take on an attempt at sobriety. Despite her often prickly demeanor, Jackie is a character that we truly care about. We want to see her sober as we've watched (helplessly) as her life spiralled out of control and finally she hit rock bottom. It's time to see this great character that the equally great Edie Falco has made her own, begin to get a grip on her life--just trying means a lot. Check out the newest Nurse Jackie, episode 4.01 'Kettle Kettle Black Black', and drop me a comment telling me what you thought!
NURSE JACKIE: Episode 4.01 Detailed Synopsis:
'Kettle Kettle Black Black' - Nurse Jackie As the fourth season opens, All Saints has been taken over by a multinational corporation and placed in the care of an innovative no-nonsense doctor who is revved up about making changes to the hospital and staff. Meanwhile, Kevin has moved to a new apartment, but is seeking to reconcile with Jackie. As for Jackie, she runs into problems when a guy she picked up has a heart attack in her home. Later, back at the hospital, Mrs. Akalitus is given an ultimatum by the new management. (TVGuide)
In the Season 4 premiere, big changes are afoot when Jackie, separated from Kevin, hits rock bottom and realizes she needs professional help, while All Saints is taken over by a corporation whose new director Mike Cruz (Bobby Cannavale) makes a shocking personnel change. Also, Kevin does not react well when he learns the truth about Jackie and Eddie, and O'Hara reveals a stunning secret. (Showtime)
Nurse Jackie: 'Into The Future'
Mike Cruz introduces himself to the staff at All Saints.
Nurse Jackie: 'Vacation Days'
Jackie asks to cash in her vacation days.
Previously on Nurse Jackie: 'Super-nurse Jackie Peyton reached the end of her rope at the end of season 3 of the Showtime Original Series, NURSE JACKIE. Her marriage was in shambles, her addiction was raging, and her friends and coworkers were more than suspicious of her antics and half-baked lies. It turns out karma's a bitch. Now out of tricks, out of excuse and out of control, Jackie finally has to seek help. But coming clean won't be easy. As Jackie's about to learn, the truth is a hell of a drug. Jackie returns for another hilarious season on Sunday, April 8 at 9 PM ET/PT.'
Nurse Jackie: Rehab (Nurse Jackie Spot) This April 8, it's time for rejoicing, reinventing, rebuilding, and rehab. Nurse Jackie returns for a new season April 8th at 9PM ET/PT
I take it that the portrayal of Jackie Peyton's 28-day 'Disneyland vacation'/stint in rehab will be rendered as honestly as the confines of a 30-minute cable comedy will allow. We've had many, many hours of Nurse Jackie leading up to this 'chose a path' moment in her life. However, if Nurse Jackie were an hour dramedy on the networks we'd just be winding down season 1. That's where I think it's important to be very careful of the timing on 'little shows' like this one.
Nurse Jackie has a powerhouse cast, wonderful directors (Steve Buscemi directed almost all of one season), and sharp writing but the audience is waiting years for some forward movement on Jackie's part and, after watching the Nurse Jackie Season 4 'Rehab' preview in particular, the payoff appears to begin very soon! That's the paradox though, if Jackie gets better, will she still be funny? One would hope yes, and that would be enough to enjoy a few more seasons. My guess is season 4 will be very telling about where Nurse Jackie the show, is headed as well as 'Nurse Jackie' (played by Edie Falco) herself.
Emmy winner Edie Falco returns for season 4 of Nurse Jackie.
Edie Falco and Anna Deavere Smith in Nurse Jackie Season 4
Edie Falco is back in her Emmy®-winning role with a bitingly funny new season of the Showtime Original Series, NURSE JACKIE. Out of excuses, out of tricks and out of control. The healing begins for Nurse Jackie April8th at 9PM ET/PT!
I haven't missed 'Nurse Jackie' as much as I've missed Edie Falco, Eve Best, Anna Deavere Smith and the rest of the stellar cast of the show. Also, I don't think it is unfair, as I noted in my last Nurse Jackie post, to say that season 3 ended in a slightly disappointing way.
But, by all accounts as you'll hear in the behind-the-scenes interviews with the core cast members, season 4 will differ quite markedly from the previous seasons. It's my guess that instead of a show about a drug-addicted nurse, Nurse Jackie will be more about a nurse struggling to conquer her addiction and achieve sobriety.
It is a testament to Edie Falco's deft acting skills that despite Jackie's acting in rather despicable ways to support her habit, we the audience still want to see her survive and thrive--to clean up her act.
I'm really looking forward to the season 4 premiere of Nurse Jackie on Showtime in just under 2 months--April 8th at 9PM ET/PT! Please check back here as I'll have more Nurse Jackie news (and probably some spoilers) as it becomes available and of course, I'll be covering Nurse Jackie week-to-week when the season gets underway.
This season the shift hits the fan. Get a sneak peek look at season 4 of Nurse Jackie. #KARMASABITCH
Somewhere between the beginning of season 4 of HBO's True Blood and now--True Blood lost me:
I still find many of it's characters compelling but a significant number over the last two seasons were not remotelyso. They include the deceased 'Tommy Mickens', shapeshifter and brother to the owner of the local 'Cheers'-type-establishment Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell). Let's not forgettheir trailer park-stereotype parents (mom was a shifter, dad just an abusive drunk) were mercifully were given little screen time i season 4 and better, were swiftly killed off.
Anytime they were onscreen I was drifting off:
Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwantan) and Crystal, the werepanther and the entire 'Hot Shot' storyline. It seems that the producers of True Blood figured out in Season 3 to not take this cringe-worthy story much further so they didn't. Unfortunately, they dropped the story like a hot potato at the very beginning of season 4 after a big season 3 build-up so it felt very abrupt. Literally, it felt dropped--though the ultimate goal was met quickly which served the story despite it's other flaws.
They did the same to the "Fae' storyline, pretty much. The audience was not really receptive to the faery godmother thing and the rest so--poof! Gone. (And, they killed off Claudine, those bastards! She was so cool in the books.)
The witches' invasion was OK. Certainly casting Fiona Shaw in the lead was a good choice but the outcome of the witches' Bon Temps takeover was so that Eric would lose his memory and embark with a clean slate, in an affair with Sookie Stackhouse. Beyond that, did anyone really fear Marnie/Antonia or care all that much except for Eric getting his memory back?
And that is probably NOT the worst of it about things not-great in season 4. After so much hype about Sookie and Eric the romance just went pfft. Though I thought it impossible, beyond flirtation Alexander Skarsgård and Anna Paquin don't have the chemistry that makes for a believably hot, intense romance. I don't know why--or maybe that is exactly why but their lovemaking scenes never came near the hotness of some of the 'Sookie and Bill in love'-action.
Finally, they still haven't figured out what to do with poor Tara (Rutina Wesley). The season-ender of True Blood had Tara getting her brains literally blown out.
Too bad this scene (above) never happened. It looks like it has potential.
EDIT/Oh yeah. This too. The reconciled werewolf couple Debbie Pelt and Alcide Herveaux. Except when Joe Manganiello as Alcide has his shirt off, this was another wasted effort that show a complete lack of...IDK, caring? on the writer's part. It made no sense whatsoever that Debbie attempt to murder Sookie as she and Alcide have not even made it beyond hugging. Just the same, true to form Debbie tried to kill Sookie in her own house only his time she got both herself and Tara shot. (Tara's brains spattered so far that if she comes back as anything but a ghost I may-- though I almost never threaten this--I may say to hell with the show.)
Tara's (Rutina Wesley) brains in True Blood - Season 4 Episode 12
Sookie (Anna Paquin) reacting to Tara's sacrifice, screams for help (guess who will respond first? The list is ever-growing).
So where will the series pick up next season? Right after this moment? Would you feel cheated if it didn't pick up on this moment if somehow Tara still 'exists?' I think I would.
Vampires have feelings, too:
Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) shown with 'Ginger' (Tara Buck) is as upset as we've seen her, again for the same reason--her maker, Eric. This time in disgust (and still bedding Sookie) he ordered her away after she disobeyed a direct order (and said screw the safety of the humans, essentially). But he and Sookie (and Bill) are kaput so I'm thinking it will be easier for Eric and Pam to resume their very smooth relationship as boss and the boss's 2nd in command. Let's hope so!
Despite my numerous quibbles I am curious about season 5 True Blood so read on about some of the first tidbits of True Blood Season 5 info. spilling forth as the TB writers 'break' season 5.
So far, we have had official confirmation--as well as duh! the big hole where Russell Edgington used to be in episode 12, that Denis O'Harewill return to season 5 True Blood as the former King of Mississippi. I'm sure his story of escape will be intriguing. I'm guessing one of Russell's other 'progeny' finally found him(?) due to the signal of 'maker in trouble' getting through--but truly, I have no idea.
True Blood Season 5 NEW Character Announcement and Descriptions:
As the producers promised, True Blood is introducing several new characters in season 5 — and EW got the early word on two of the roles.
Creator Alan Ball and his team of scribes have put out a casting call for someone to play Nora, a beautiful and intelligent 25-to-35 something who plays a double agent within the Vampire Authority. What’s even better than that? She’s got a big history with Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) because she too is a progeny of Godric(!). Nora will be a series regular role that may (or may not) involve a little nudity...
Meanwhile, Co-Executive Producer Raelle Tucker told EW that they’ll include a “very significant, strong, mysterious woman at the center of one of our main stories next year … a very familiar and compelling character. It may be someone you’ve heard of before.” Especially if you’ve read the Bible: The True Blood team also put out the call for someone to play Salome, as in THE Salome, daughter of Herodias.
She’s a powerful ancient vampire (hmm, don’t remember that part from the New Testament) and a world-class seductress who’s also a little mad. So she’ll fit right into Bon Temps.
True Blood's Season 4 finale was very uneven--much like most of the season:
It's easier to rattle off the 'misses' than the hits so that's where I'll start.
Misses (in no particular order):
1. Alcide's (Joe Manganiello) 'Let's use our brains instead of hearts' chat with Sookie (Anna Paquin). What a way to approach asking a lady out! Having dumped his adulterous, V-addict wife, Debbie Pelt and disapproving of Sookie's choices in men (vampires) he suggests that Sookie start using her head and give him--a werewolf a shot.
This was probably among the longest bits of convo that Joe Manganiello as 'Alcide Herveaux' has had and though others have criticized the actor for being 'wooden,' I did not see it. Until now. Not only did Alcide seal the deal that he will NEVER 'have' Sookie but he pretty much guaranteed that the Alcide storyline is going to evaporate in season 5. Hopefully, Alcide's ending won't be as as brutally abrupt as Jason's stint with the dentally-impaired denizens of Hotshot because let's be honest, he is one fine male specimen. Sookie is going to be man-free for a time--and then--who knows, but at most, a short stint with the wolf-man is all there will be. Too bad.
2. OMG, Marnie (Fiona Shaw) no! Not again with the 'I've been a freak all my life and people are mean, POOR ME.' This has got to be at least the third full-blown pity poor me speech they've given Shaw as the mousy palm reader turned revenge-seeking uber-wiccan. Was her crappy life supposed to justify her behaviour? It would have been better to simply go with her being driven mad. Instead Marnie simply became a harpy. Waste of Shaw's abilities--at least as the season wound down.
3. WTF?! with the long, lingering suckling sounds then wider shot of both Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) feeding on Sookie's wrists?! All three are snug on the sofa with Sookie, as Jason would put it, using Sookie as their own private soda fountain. Just ugh and OMG how freakin' cheesy is the fact that both men were in matching robes? No wonder she dumped them! She knows that a big bromance is brewing between them! Did you see some of the eye-fucking going on between Eric and Bill in the last couple of episodes? I'd love a nice Eric & Bill adventure if only to stir up both sides cheering for Sookie to pick one. The scene though was just icky on all kinds of levels though I think it was meant to be slightly campy and amusing (before Sookie got all traditional and decided she just could. not. love. both of them at the same time).
4. Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Hoyt's 3-minute "I'm doing Jesssica' scene: a total waste of three minutes intended simply to give Jim Parrack as Hoyt some season finale face time. I like the actor but this was totally superfluous.
The rest was typical Jason and the one line of any significance was repeated by Jason to Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) after their tryst--no need for Hoyt to have been in this episode--at all.
5. Speaking of a waste of time. Kevin Alejandro got plenty of face time. He did not need to engage in the interminable back and forth with the possessed-by-Marnie, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis). It went on forever...could have trimmed that by at least a minute with less candle-lighting and chest slashing. RIP 'Jesus', BTW. Kevin Alejandro did a very credible job this season and became a character that the audience grew fond of. That's the point of course, when you know that you will off him before season's end.
6. Luna (Janina Gavankar) & Sam (Sam Trammell). How long did it take them to say a whole lot of nothing and then goodnight? And haven't they been all about nothing? Does anyone care about them? Anyone? I like Sam--who doesn't?--but there is zero chemistry with this pairing and speaking of zero chemistry let's take on the Jason and Jessica storyline that is brewing:
7. Jessica and Jason (above). We get it: they are both really into sex. What else do they have in common? Immature, selfish behavior, punctuated by occasional bravery and selflessness. I'm willing to give this pairing some time in season 5 but what I'm not willing to do is watch the mind-numbingly awful attempts at keeping the actor who play's Jessica, Deborah Ann Woll's, boobies under cover. And by 'boobies' I mean nipples. We get cleavage, we get side boob and maybe even underboob but in the two times we've seen Jason and Jessica make love when her breasts are in camera range she clutches them in an obvious attempt at modesty. Did no one tell her that there is simply no room for modesty on True Blood? The same goofy camera angles and weird use of sheets was employed by Rutina Wesley as well in the two seasons she had a boyfriend. It's very distracting on a show that otherwise is pretty liberal in it's nudity (it is after all, NOT television, but HBO).
There were some great moments in the True Blood season 4 finale but not enough--by a long shot--to make a great episode:
Maxine Fortenberry's (Dale Raoul) quips about Sam's shifty bro Tommy's deviousness and thievery which segued into comforting Sam were a nice touch.
Nan Flanagan's (Jessica Tuck) comeuppance at the hands of Eric and Bill was spot on-- though I will miss her.
Pam's (Kristen Bauer van Straten) tirade-to-tears about Sookie's 'fairy vagina' and stupid name only to have Ginger (Tara Buck) uh, gingerly slip an arm around her in comfort was really quite a sight (you just know Pam is going to glamour that memory out of Ginger given the first chance). Scroll down after the jump for the video of the scene.
The return of dead-since season-one Gran (Lois Smith)! It was totally awesome to see her in all her glorious badassery when she literally tore Marnie's spirit out of Lafayette. (The resultant tedious and trite convo between Marnie and Antonia (Paola Turbay) took some momentum out of the scene, however. )
Debbie Pelt's (Brit Morgan) reappearance was no surprise to the 'bookies. With a few change-ups this was how she died in the Sookie Stackhouse series. In the book series however, Sookie took her out alone. 'Book' Tara is a minor character and was in no way involved.
What True Blood Tara did was pretty cool though--but ultimately pretty stupid. She got half of the side of her skull blown away. I think this was done to telegraph to any doubting audience members that yes, at last, the never-written-well character of Tara Thorton is finally over.*
But will Rutina Wesley be back? She, as you can read below, is unsure but 'trusts' Alan Ball and she reminds us, this is True Blood (so anything can happen). Other than short otherworldly-type visits I'm thinking the majority of the audience want Tara gone. We've long since realized that the True Blood writers are incapable of giving the perfectly capable Wesley a storyline she can sink her teeth into. RIP then, Tara and Jesus. I'm assuming though, that the bad guys won't be resting in peace.
Season 4 Finale Grade: B-. Out of the four True Blood seasons so far, I rank Season 1 and Season 2 in that order and Seasons 3 and 4 about on par with one another. Both suffered from sloppy, self-indulgent writing and extremely bad editing. Please, in the name of good screenwriting Alan Ball, please ditch Raelle Tucker. If you have any doubt about this women's rationalle whist writing True Blood, listen to her explain Jessica's sexuality in the 'Inside The Episode' HBO clip (embedded in this post). Tucker explains that she wanted "Jessica' to flaunt her sexuality unashamedly (like a man could). We, the audience however, see Jessica in flagrante, seemingly ashamed of her own body (the breast-clutching). Huge disconnect there. Tip of iceberg in Tucker's writing skills-issues. Don't even get me started on her apparent non-acquaintance with healthy sexuality.
From the 9.12.11 exclusive interview with Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton):
Q: In your mind, is Tara dead?
A: Well I mean half my head is missing.
I’m just gonna keep saying that. You know, it’s True Blood. I feel like anything is possible. If anything, it is the golden hour though. If she is able to be saved, it’s like she’s got 20 seconds. It’s not a lot of time. I’m curious to see what they’re going to do with all of it. I hope I’m back. But again half my head is missing [laughs] ...
I don’t know what their plans are for next season. I know that Alan has said there are “big plans,” but I don’t know what that really means, and things can always change. I’m not for sure, but I trust him completely. At the end of the day, it’s hard to see how I’m coming back, seeing as half of my head was just blown off. I don’t know. They may figure something out. I mean it’s True Blood. There’s always flashbacks. There’s phantasms.
True Blood Season 4 - 'Alcide Makes His Pitch to Sookie' (VIDEO):
Uploaded by trueblood on Sep 8, 2011
For The Love Of Sookie:
'Watch a clip (above) from the season finale of True Blood which premieres on Sunday, September 11th at 9:00 pm.'
Poor Alcide! (Joe Manganiello) Gorgeous, sweet hunk of a guy just can't seem to get any good lovin'!:
Now that he has divorced demented Debbie--wolf-style ("I abjure you!') after finding her in their home in her underwear with now-dead Shreveport packmaster Marcus, Alcide finally turns to Sookie (Anna Paquin) urging them both to not follow their hearts but instead--their brains! It is a highly unlikely prospect for either one of the notorious 'fools for love,' but still, hafta give Mr. Herveaux props for trying. Sookie could do a lot worse than Alcide Herveaux but if her TV counterpart !!!BOOK series SPOILER!!! follows her Sookie Stackhouse series self, Alcide shall only have a brief interlude of happiness with our fair Sook.
Let's face it, Sookie is on team fangbanger all the way. It's either Eric Northman (played by Alexander Skarsgård) or Bill Compton (Paquin 's real-life spouse, Stephen Moyer). No other human, faery, shifter, shifter-werewolf or wereother, truly has a chance for the love of Sookie.
Joe Manganiello is a very likable Alcide whose physical attributes need no touting. Clearly, Sookie could make a go of it with this hot-blooded man-creature. But <sigh> Sookie still has much to learn and the kids question has not been addressed between these two yet, (mostly 'cause Sookie keeps shutting him down).
Episode #48: “And When I Die” (season finale) Debut: SUNDAY, SEPT. 11 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
It’s Samhain, Wicca’s greatest holy day, and spirits of the dead surface in Bon Temps, giving Sookie (Anna Paquin) valuable allies to combat Marnie’s (Fiona Shaw) newest incarnation. Lafayette’s (Nelsan Ellis) latest medium encounter imperils his relationship with Jesus (Kevin Alejandro); Jason (Ryan Kwanten) finds confession good for the soul, but not the body; Alcide (Joe Manganiello) makes a heartfelt appeal to the woman he loves; Terry (Todd Lowe) receives an unexpected visitor at Merlotte’s; Sam and Luna (Janina Gavankar) envision a storybook ending, for once; Nan (Jessica Tuck) wears out her welcome with Bill and Eric. Debbie confronts Sookie and Tara(Rutina Wesley) with deadly consequences, and the denizens of Bon Temps brace for a new crisis with a familiar face.
Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by Scott Winant.
'How many times has Sookie saved your life, letting you drink from her like your own private soda fountain?' - Jason to Bill:
True Blood Season 4: Eric, Bill, Pam, Jessica, and Jason Clip (Effing Sookie Clip):
Bill (Stephen Moyer), Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) and Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) are about to blow up the Moon Goddess Emporium when Jason (Ryan Kwanten) intercedes, informing them that (in addition to Tara) Sookie is now held hostage inside as well. So commences a chorus of exclamations from the vampires beginning with Eric, of 'Effing Sookie.' Jason takes great umbrage at this display of disrespect and ungratefulness and proceeds to stand up to them, ticking off a list of the many ways that Sookie has pulled the vampires' collectives butts out of the fire on multiple occasions.
'Fuck you chump, it's her home!' - Jason to Eric
True Blood Season 4 - Sookie, Marnie, Lafayette, Jesus, and Tara Clip:
'Marnie just puked the bitch out.' Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) the medium, after witnessing Antonia leaving Marnie's (Fiona Shaw) body.
True Blood Season 4 Episode 11 (4x11) Promo - 'Soul of Fire' (HD)
True Blood - Season 4 - September 2011 - Episode #47 Synopsis:
As the Wiccan-vampire standoff reaches a critical juncture, Sookie (Anna Paquin) summons her faerie powers to prevent Marnie (Fiona Shaw) from bewitching Bill (Stephen Moyer), Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) into a suicide march, while Jesus (Kevin Alejandro) casts a secret spell designed to un-bind Marnie/Antonia and break the witch’s deadly defenses. Sam (Sam Trammell) settles a score with Marcus (Dan Buran); Alcide (Joe Manganiello) confronts Debbie (Brit Morgan) about her allegiances; Andy (Chris Bauer) finds unexpected passion in the forest; Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is consumed by the past. Written by Mark Hudis; directed by Michael Lehmann.
"There have been times for me when it has occurred to me that I could put my career on hold and become a maker but these last several hours with you have erased those thoughts forever." - 'Nan Flanagan' to a bloody-tears-streaked, broken-hearted-in-love 'baby vamp' Jessica - True Blood Episode 4.09 - 'Let's Get Out Of Here!'
Nan and Jessica play so well off one another! Kudos to actresses Deborah Ann Woll(Jessica Hamby) and Jessica Tuck (Nan Flanagan).
True Blood Season 4 - Jessica and Nan Clip - [VIDEO] [SCREENCAPS]:
True Blood Season 4: Hoyt and Lafayette Clip [VIDEO] [SCREENCAPS]:
True Blood Episode #45 - 'Let's Get Out Of Here'
After the jump: True Blood Season 4: Let's Get Out of Here PROMO:
True Blood Season 4: Marcus and Tommy Clip
[VIDEO]
True Blood Season 4: 'Let's Get Out of Here Promo.'*
Anyone else wondering where True Blood is taking the the Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) storyline?:
(Cont.)
Or is 'Jay' that great of a BFF to Hoyt (Jim Parrack)? Also, there was that little matter of Jason's nearly-life-wrecking 'V' (vampire blood) addiction, too. Jessica would be quite a package of temptation. Pretty sure Jason would be gone in a flash even if he attempted to succumb to temptation. You just know Hoyt hasn't talked about it -- 'Jessica's problem' -- to Jason. Jessica's eternal vamp virginity is going to be a big shocker for him--if the two ever even get that far.
We haven't seen this scene yet (as of pre- 8.21.11), right ?
Isn't Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) (Episode 8 spoiler) possessed in this shot by the lullaby-singing French lady who is obsessed with poor little Arlene's (Carrie Preston) & the season 1 Bon Temps serial killer's baby, 'Mikey'?
Cool! There are some shots that are from next Sunday or beyond here! Sort of spoilers. I'm pretty sure that is a possessed Lafayette in the (current 8.24.11) shot above.
Your thoughts (about any of these shots)? Note:Be sure to click to enlarge and look through the slideshow. There are many more of the entire True Blood cast--wth several stills of not-yet broadcast scenes).
On Sunday - HBO True Blood Season 4, Episode 9: 'Run' Original Air Date—21 August 2011:
Synopsis True Blood Episode 4.09 -
Convalescing after her latest near-death trauma, Sookie envisions a world where there's room for both Bill and Eric. Jesus tries to purge the restless spirit out of Lafayette; Marcus enlists Alcide to help him deal with the Sam situation; Bill and Nan Flanagan clash over their agendas; Hoyt asks Jason to make a delivery to Jessica; despite Tara and Holly's misgivings, Marnie plots her next move against the vampires, during a "Festival of Tolerance" event at Shreveport.
Next US airings: Sun. Aug. 21 9:00 PM HBO Sun. Aug. 21 11:05 PM HBO
The premium cable television series True Blood, is based on the book series by Charlaine Harris about a telepathic waitress in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps and her fairly speedy realization (after 20-something years) that she is not the only one with special powers, that in fact, Bon Temps is a sort of mecca for all things fang-tasticly supernatural.
Even Sookie herself is less human than she once thought.
The scene in question took place in book four of the Sookie Stackhouse series entitled 'Dead To The World.' It was the first time that Sookie, having found out about her first vampire lover Bill Compton's deception/betrayal, took the Viking vampire, Eric Northman into her bed--or more correctly, shower, where they made crazy-hot, passionate love.
The fans lapped it up and for years have been looking forward with great anticipation to the 'Sookie and Eric shower scene'. Well folks, this is it.
Did it live up to the sky-high expectations that all the waiting and and especially talking up of the scene had generated? In a word, no.
As show-runner (and writer of this episode) Alan Ball had hinted that the shower scene on True Blood wasn't going to play out like the shower scene from the book.
Boy, was he right! Fact is, Sookie and Eric never actually even got wet in the shower. They both were taking the equivalent of "V" trips (vampire blood--humans get high on it) and instead of water emanating from the shower--snow began to fall from above. Then Sookie and Eric found themselves in some kind of Viking forest fantasy world--complete with comfy bed where they hopped in and went to it.
And that, along with some trippy, you-had-to-be-there dialogue , was that. Ball has been knocked--even before this non-shower scene, that he favours the Sookie and Bill (Stephen Moyer) pairing over the Sookie-Eric one. If so, this scene would seem to give further evidence to that assertion. For my money, all the Sookie-Bill scenes have been hotter than whatever heat Sookie and cold, dead lover Eric have generated.
Anna Paquin as Sookie is still very beautiful to look at but for my (cable bill) money I'm more satisfied with Sookie and Bill and in fact, look forward to the day that they reunite. Whether they stay that way is a big question but I have no doubt that before Alan Ball departs, there will be at least one more go-round with Bon Temps's sexiest twosome.
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) has a "Russell Edgington' moment after he rips out the throat of a Wiccan (HBO credit).
HBO True Blood Season 4, Official Episode 4.09 Promo: 'Run':
UPDATE! Episode 4.08 VIDEO Recap with Screencaps:
Joe Manganiello as True Blood werewolf Alcide Herveaux, carries a limp, gutshot Sookie (Anna Paquin) to safety.
This is NOT a promo--it's only a tease. My bet is there will be more coming up this week--longer, better (maybe) but still I agree with other disappointed #trueblood fans, we absolutely got shorted on the promo for next week's True Blood episode "Run" (4.09).
Season 4, Episode 9: 'Run'
Original Air Date—21 August 2011 Convalescing after her latest near-death trauma, Sookie envisions a world where there's room for both Bill and Eric. Jesus tries to purge the restless spirit out of Lafayette; Marcus enlists Alcide to help him deal with the Sam situation; Bill and Nan Flanagan clash over their agendas; Hoyt asks Jason to make a delivery to Jessica; despite Tara and Holly's misgivings, Marnie plots her next move against the vampires, during a "Festival of Tolerance" event at Shreveport. Next US airings: Sun. Aug. 21 9:00 PM HBO Sun. Aug. 21 11:05 PM HBO
True Blood Season 4 -: Episode 8 "Inside The Episode" with Screencaps:
Inside the Episode #44: Writer Alan Ball and director David Minahan offer their insights:
After the Jump - Recap True Blood Episode #44 'Spellbound' [VIDEO]:
Stephen Moyer as 'Vampire Bill' the King of Mississippi
Witches vs. vampires - whose side are you on?:
The war between the two factions escalates on tonight’s episode of HBO’s “True Blood” (at 9 p.m.). In “Spellbound?,” written by series creator Alan Ball, Marnie/Antonia (the sublime Fiona Shaw) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) face off in a cemetery.
Bill claims he wants peace, but he’s brought a small army with him, including Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård). Things get violent fast, and Sookie’s life - and love life - just be taking yet another dramatic swerve.
“There’s no such thing as forever,” Sookie tells Eric earlier in the episode, and those words seem prophetic. The two take their intimacy to even greater - bloodier - levels.
Alcide (Joe Manganiello) vows to stay away from Sookie, but that’s a promise he cannot keep. Sam (Sam Trammell) makes a new enemy, while his brother Tommy (Marshall Allman) walks in a woman’s shoes. Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is no longer himself - literally.
Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Hoyt (Jim Parrack) experience not one but two wrenching break-ups. But Jessica discovers moving on with Jason (Ryan Kwanten) will not be that easy.
True Blood featured vampire cast including Deborah Ann Woll as "Jessica' (far right)
In re: DEBORAH ANN WOLL - A primer on how to SPELL HER NAME:
In journalism, which I thought was what we were getting from the Boston Herald, it is a cardinal sin to misspell an actor's name (a book or movie title, etc) wrong even just ONCE.
The Boston Herald gets Deborah Ann Woll's name wrong EVERY time they mention her, insisting it is WOLF instead. Ironic, given that they are singling her our for praise.
It _would_ be funny but how low are we going to set the bar for spelling an actor's name correctly, the title of a book...a website?
I always misspell SpoilerTV when I credit them--this post's source, but I go back and fix it before hitting 'publish'.
Do we no longer have time to even get the basic stuff right? A person's name is spelled the same in every language. Not trying to be an English as first language snob or spelling police. I am the typo queen myself (see, levity!!) but I try mightily to get proper names spelled right.
Vampire Bill glamours his way onto the evening news:
Best clip of the three.
In the aftermath of the vampire suicides (under the spell of the witches) 'Vampire Bill' Compton a/k/a the 'Vampire King of Louisiana', (Stephen Moyer) glamours his way onto the TV news after the reporter's initial refusal to allow him to make a statement.
True Blood Season 4 - Marcus, Alcide, and Debbie Clip:
Marcus (Dan Buran), the packmaster of Shreveport, says the word 'f*ck' or a variation of it about 15 time in 60 seconds whilst discussing the witches vs. vampire situation with his pack.
True Blood Season 4 - Antonia and Tara Clip:
Tara (Rutina Wesley) listens intently to Marnie/Antonia (Fiona Shaw) ranting that their efforts to kill 'all vampires' were almost for naught as just 'a single vampire (Maxine Fortenberry's neighbour) burned.' She insists that the vampires must be 'snuffed out, once and for all.'
After the jump: HBO RENEWS HIT SERIES TRUE BLOOD FOR FIFTH SEASON:
True Blood (HBO) Season 4 Eric & Sookie 'Best Of' Scenes Episode 4.07 "Cold Gray Light Of Dawn':
This compilation video is a really nice effort to bring all things Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) & Sookie (Anna Paquin) together from episode 4.07 in which Eric and Sookie make love for the first time (versus the previous 'blood fantasies' with strong sexual overtones which Sookie experienced from ingesting Eric's blood).
In addition, the possessed Wiccan palm reader Marnie, casts a spell on all vampires which compels them to 'walk in the daylight.' Vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer), now 'Vampire King Bill of Louisiana,' has ordered the extremely harsh measure of 'silvering' all vampires to prevent them from going up in flames to their 'true death.' Sookie stays with the bound and heavily silvered Eric while they wait for the call of the witches. (If video is unavailable please see this post which has overlapping content and should remain available.)
Eric reacts to the witches' call to walk in the sunlight:
True Blood Season 4 - Inside The Episode: Episode #43 (HBO):
Go inside the episode with Writer Alexander Woo and Director Michael Ruscio.
True Blood - Eric & Sookie Make Love VIDEO & PHOTOS:
True Blood Season 4 - Episodes 6 and 7, 'I Wish I Was The Moon', 'Cold,Gray Light of Dawn' Screencaps & Video.
Sookie and a devoid-of-memory but totally smitten Eric, finally give legions of Truebies (True Blood fans) what they've been waiting for--carnal knowledge. HBO copyright.
People often remark about how beautiful Deborah Ann Woll is. I agree completely--especially about the porcelain skin--she has a flawless, creamy complexion though ironically, as a kid she got teased for it.
She was blond then too, and became a redhead and a self-professed 'theatre geek' about 13 years ago. She's one of the actors I most enjoy on True Blood as she brings a magnetism to the screen that is irresistible. (Poor Hoyt and now, Jason. No chance at all! LOL)
SPOILER ALERT:
Bon Temps' witch's coven led by the possessed "Marnie" (Fiona Shaw):
The undead face their greatest threat in tonight’s episode of HBO’s “True Blood” (at 9 p.m.).
In “Cold Grey Light of Dawn,” Marnie (Fiona Shaw) is gone. Her body has been taken over by the 400-year-old witch Antonia, who, as flashbacks revealed, died a gruesome death during the Spanish Inquisition and has good cause to want payback. With her powers, she can compel vampires to walk into the sunlight - to their own fiery doom.
Bill (Stephen Moyer) quickly realizes she could massacre them all. His plan to save his subjects is almost as deadly as the sun itself.
Meanwhile, Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) take their lovemaking to just about every part of Bon Temps it seems, much to the distress of Alcide (Joe Manganiello). Eric decides he doesn’t want his memory back if the price is losing Sookie’s love.
Tara’s (Rutina Wesley) life is saved by TMZ - sort of. Sam (Sam Trammell) uncovers his brother’s deception. Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) realizes the sad truth about her relationship with Hoyt (Jim Parrack), who has no idea his best friend Jason (Ryan Kwanten) is also lusting for the red-headed vampire.
Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) begins to learn just how powerful he is. Could he be key to fighting Marnie? Trouble is, she makes a great case for wanting to rid the world of vampires, one even Bill acknowledges.
At hour’s end, one familiar vamp cannot resist the siren call to daylight …
Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hamby in the last moments of her human life
At the tender age of 17, True Blood's quasi-innocent vampire Jessica Hamby has studied up on carnal knowledge, killed a horny trucker, and attacked her boyfriend's mom. But this works out just fine for Deborah Ann Woll, the actress who plays her, who gets to live out all her unfulfilled adolescent angst. Woll spills more details on her character's season-four exploits, then got to the bottom of other pressing matters, such as her favorite flavor of blood and her policy on biting folks for a photo op.
Q: Part of being a vampire is being loyal to your maker. How would you defend your character's maker, Bill Compton, who's become a jerky politician?
He's under incredible pressure. And he has some incredibly powerful people making decisions for him. I think Bill is as disappointed with that as we are. Bill is really alone now. He doesn't have a family except Jess, and I think it's really wonderful that this season they get to [bond] quite a bit. Because things aren't going so great with [her human boyfriend] Hoyt, [Bill] is all that she has.
Q: So … Jason Stackhouse and Jessica? Didn't see that one coming. I'm actually really excited about that story line. The thing is, Hoyt is such a great guy, but the really sad part of it is that his mom was right: She told Jess all those years ago that Jess can't give him what he wants. While Hoyt is more open-minded than his mother, Hoyt really wants conventional things. He wants a wife and a normal life. And that's not something Jess is capable of, nor does she want it.
Brit Morgan as were 'Debbie Pelt'. I'm really surprised she is not shifting and showing big fangs at this moment as the subject is her husband, 'Alcide's' obsession with "Sookie."
True Blood Season 4, Episode 7 - 'Cold Gray light Of Dawn':
Original Air Date—7 August 2011 With Marnie empowered by spirits of the dead, Bill issues an unpopular order to save vampires from the light. Eric embraces his amnesia; Luna discovers Sam is not the man she thought he was; Lafayette expands his consciousness; Pam gets a body peel; Andy's date with Holly doesn't go as planned; Jessica has doubts about her future with Hoyt; Alcide and Debbie join a new pack.
From the looks of the promo for True Blood Episode 4.06 "Cold Gray Light Of Dawn,' the vampires are going to take a real beating--and that is if they are lucky!
Throughout the clip we see vamps in silver, vampires with the bleeds (due to extended periods of awake-ness) and vampires either attempting to go into the full sun or actually blazing away in it.
The burned-at-the- stake-witch, 'Antonia' has taken possession of Marnie's (Fiona Shaw) body and she, in her words, is seeking 'vengeance.'
It's pretty clear that vampire King Bill of Louisiana's (Stephen Moyer) solution to stopping the vampires from being compelled by the witches to walk in the "light of dawn' is to order them to SPOILER/speculation chain themselves in silver. Pretty harsh but Bill is obviously out of other options--and things only look to get worse in the coming weeks. Can't wait-- because it looks fangtastic!
SNEAK PEEK VIDEO UPDATE 8.04.11 - Alcide and Debbie Get Initiated - Jason and Hoyt Talk Jessica:
True Blood Season 4: Debbie and Alcide Get Initiated (HBO)
Alcide is stoking the flames of jealousy in Debbie with his obsessing over Sookie. Even off 'V' (vampire juice to which she was addicted), Debbie is a loose cannon and he knows that. He needs to 'wolf up' and either follow his heart or put thoughts of Sookie on the shelf...because there's a bad moon rising if he does not.
True Blood Season 4: Jason Counsels Hoyt (HBO)
Hoyt has been Jason's best friend forever. Arguably, he is smarter that 'Jay' (isn't most of Bon Temps?) so how is he NOT going to see that Jason's innocent act is just that? (SPOILER) The promo shows a shirtless Jason being knocked around. I think buddy Hoyt has had just above enough--of everything-- and Jason's prevarication regarding Jessica is the last straw.
After the jump: The Buzz: True Blood Season 4 - Comic Con VIDEO & SCREENCAPS (SPOILERS)
Though most all of the True Blood behind-the-scenes interviews are well worth watching, this video clip of episode #41 'I Wish I Was The Moon,' is not to be missed:
In this season 4.05 Inside The Episode segment, writer Raelle Tucker makes mention of what I thought was the show's most outstanding acting sequence(s)--all done by Sam Trammell as 'Sam Merlotte,' personifying the character of his brother, 'Tommy' (Marshall Allman).
Tommy, who was attacked the prior night by both his shifter parents, kills them in self defense and the next morning inadvertently shapeshifts into his older brother. Trammell nails everything from Tommy's swagger/limp to his voice inflections-- as well as his overall mannerisms. It's really hugely impressive, so much so that I immediately watched the "Tommy as Sam" scenes before I re-watched the whole episode the next night. Trammell set a high bar for the rest of the cast and they really stepped up.
"I Wish I Was The Moon," was easily the best episode of season 4 (I may have chosen another 'best so far in S4' but that was then--and it doesn't diminish either eppy). If season 4 continues offering the caliber of this episode's writing, acting & direction it is on track to being the best season since True Blood's very first. It is fan-bloody-tastic to be truly pumped for the next episode and beyond and we haven't even yet gotten to the Sookie - Eric shower scene!* (From book 4 of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, which this season of True Blood is loosely based on. We don't know yet if the show will actually feature it but Eric and Sookie fans have been clamoring for it for years. Fingers crossed for them that their wait is rewarded!)
VIDEO Clip from True Blood episode 4.06, 'I Wish I Was the Moon':
In which Layfayette (Nelsan Ellis) expresses his dismay at goat tongue for breakfast, eliciting a scowl of a silent 'STFU' from Jesus (Kevin Alejandro).
Jesus then tries to engage his powerful shaman grandfather in a dialogue about being in trouble, need of protection, cowardice and the powers that supersede small talk about both.
(Airs 7.31.11)
SPOILERS For 'If I Was The Moon' True Blood - Episode 4.05:
True Blood Season 4 Episode 6 'I Wish I Was The Moon' Preview:
TRUE BLOOD, Episode 4.06, 'I Wish I Was the Moon' Sneak Peek Screencaps - Synopsis
Director: Jeremy Podeswa Writer: Raelle Tucker
Synopsis - True Blood - Episode 4.06 (#42) : Sookie searches for Jason under a full moon; Marnie connects with spirits of the past; Arlene and Terry cope with a suspicious inferno; Debbie urges Alcide to join a new werewolf community; Tommy trades places with Sam; Lafayette feels the spirit in Mexico; Eric surrenders to his rival, the vampire king of Louisiana's will.
(Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by Jeremy Podeswa.)
Airs: July 31
Catching up with The True Blood season four, witch-infused storyline and accompaniing images via HBO, Inc.
True Blood Season 4: Jessica's Vlog - The Worst Spa Night Ever:
True Blood Season 4: Mythological Creatures - Were-Panthers:
Alexander Skarsgård ('Eric Northman') & Anna Paquin ('Sookie Stackhouse') True Blood Season 4
San Diego 2011 Comic Con True Blood VIDEO & Screencaps:
I think I snagged a few more intriguing screencaps that I've added to the Picasa album but bewarned--they look super-spoiler-ish.
I realize that some scenes (most?) have been rearranged to insinuate something. Even so, certain stuff is right in your face and clearly actual scenes, not dreams. The rest of True Blood - Season 4, as rumoured, looks like a very bumpy ride, particularly for the vampires of Louisiana.
True Blood Season 4: Comic-Con Trailer (HBO):
See what's to come in the upcoming episodes of True Blood Season 4.
Jessica Tuck as 'Nan Flanagan' TreuBlood (HBO) Season 4 2011
SPOILERS Season 4 Comic Con 2011:
Jessica, with wrist's already showing deep silver chain burns, runs through Bill's mansion in the daylight and throws open the front double doors to the bright sunlight.
Also The Authority mouthpiece, Nan Flanagan, King William of Louisiana (Vampire Bill Compton) and Eric a/k/a Amnesia!Eric are, or have been in custody of captors bearing the same silver chain restraints.
Sookie and Eric get it on. I hope she fell this hard and fast on account of his blood that he tricked her into ingesting. She got all moony-eyed over him pretty quickly, like he was a rescue puppy in Adonis form.
Were-bitch Debbie Pelt confesses to were-husband Alcide Herveaux her insecurities regarding Sookie.
She's shown at Sookie's door, being let in--and pulling out something that was clearly being held behind her back like "Surprise!"
I'm thinking maybe sewing scissors?
The Shreveport pack leader harassing Alcide to join up...is Luna, Sam Merlotte's new girlfriend's, -ex. He looks to be tangling with both Sam and Alcide.
Sookie is shot in the gut. It is implied that Alcide carries her to get help as there is a very fuzzy screencaps with tiny Anna Paquin (Sookie) in Joe Manganiello's (Alcide) massive arms.
Deborah Ann Woll as 'Jessica Hamby' True Blood Season 4
Jessica's (Deborah Ann Woll) body language is screaming, "We are over, Hoyt.'
It seems she cannot bear to be with him now that she's 'kissed' another man. When she confessed her singular transgression, Hoyt (played by Jim Parrack) had complained that he would 'taste' the Fangtasia fangbanger-blood donor when he kissed her.
True Blood Season 4: Jessica, Jason, and Hoyt Clip:
Oh, now this is what were are talking 'bout when we Truebies talk about how awesomely funTrue Blood is. Here, we have 'Eric Northman's' (Alexander Skarsgård) ancient, now dead maker 'Godric' (Allan Hyde) back to re-teach Eric the ways of a 'creature of death.'
Godric: <grabs Eric by throat> You. You are incapable of love. You are damned.<forces Eric to his knees>
Eric: She can redeem me!
Godric: You cannot be saved. You are a creature of Death and the living are only good for one thing...and it is not love.
Godric: <forces Eric towards a peacefully sleeping Sookie>
Drink now.
Stop fighting your nature.
DRINK!
Screencaps for True Blood 4.05, 'Me & the Devil'
True Blood Synopsis Episode #41 (4x05): “Me and the Devil”:
Sookie nurtures Eric; Bill gets involved personally in the necromancy crisis; Pam takes the veil; Sam becomes Tommy’s accomplice; Arlene and Terry look to religion to solve their problem; Jesus and Lafayette head to Mexico to harness a shaman’s power; Jason convalesces. (Written by Mark Hudis; directed by Daniel Minahan.) July 24, 26, 27 and 30 (Credit: HBO, Inc.)
Eric's Maker, Godric - Devil on Amnesia!Eric's Shoulder?:
I'm fairly certain, based on the HBO promo for True Blood Season 4 Episode 5, 'Me & the Devil' that the 'devil' in question is Godric (Allan Hyde), Eric's (Alexander Skarsgård) maker, who appears as a 'devil' on Eric's shoulder metaphorically, urging Amnesia!Eric to attack the sleeping Sookie. It makes sense that bits of Eric's memory are seeping into his semi-consciousness, first when speaking in his native tongue to Sookie, now when remembering his maker with whom he had a 1000-year relationship, until Godric's suicide near the end of season 2.
As with many True Blood episodes, there make be other devils (possibly literal ones --yikes!) in episode 5 but from we see so far, Godric is getting the starring title song credit by getting there first in the HBO official promo with this fun little scene.
All in good fun--until someone gets bitten.
True Blood Synopsis Episode #41 (4x05): “Me and the Devil”:
Sookie nurtures Eric; Bill gets involved personally in the necromancy crisis; Pam takes the veil; Sam becomes Tommy’s accomplice; Arlene and Terry look to religion to solve their problem; Jesus and Lafayette head to Mexico to harness a shaman’s power; Jason convalesces. (Written by Mark Hudis; directed by Daniel Minahan.) July 24, 26, 27 and 30 (Credit: HBO, Inc.)
Nude Amnesia!Eric To Sookie Come. Come Play With Me!:
OOOh, cannot wait to see what the pic-spam people come up with from this scene...and those that follow!
That man is such ...how many times does one need to repeat this? Ad infintium? He is just so super-appealing on a way more than just the physical level. Remember Eric Northman, season 1? Compare. Alexander Skarsgård is really doing GREAT things on True Blood this season! I'm having so. much. fun. watching the series this year with his and Sookie's storyline NOT disappointing! Cannot wait to see MOAR.
"In the episode "I'm Alive and On Fire," Sookie can't control Eric, who is drunk on SPOILER (Claudine's) fairy blood. She can't even stop the playful vamp from pinching her butt. She soon loses him in the woods. With Alcide (Joe Manganiello) in wolf form, she finds him, hours later, in the sunlight, enjoying a naked dip in gator-filled waters."
This 3-second True Blood Episode 4.04 clip is a tease in every sense of the word!
Oh my goodness. Looks like Joe Manganiello, True Blood's werewolf 'Alcide Herveaux,' is so front and center, a new high for the bar of Sookie's (Anna Paquin's) sexy suitors has been established. Holy...is that pubic hair peeking out?...it's got to be a shadow, RIGHT? Just. Wow.
True Blood Season 4: Alcide Comes To Sookie's Aid (HBO):
Scroll down for some pretty breathtaking screencaps of the longest pants removal interlude in True Blood history:
TRUE BLOOD Episode #40 (4x04): “I’m Alive and on Fire”: Alcide helps Sookie hunt for Eric; Marnie searches for guidance to break a spell; Bill discovers a common bond with the Bellefleurs; Jason begs for liberation from Hotshot; Sam penetrates Luna’s inner circle; Arlene sees the writing on the wall; Tommy returns to his roots. (Written by Nancy Oliver; directed by Michael Lehmann.) (Credit:HBO, Inc.)
True Blood Season 4: Jessicas Vlog - The Ethics of Glamourin
After the jump: True Blood 4x04 - "I'm Alive and on Fire" Promo
and True Blood season 4: Marnie is asked to reverse the spell :
Vampire Pam to King Bill: 'All of your subjects are learning how ruthless you really are':
Vampire Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) all but admits she is withholding information from 'King William' a/k/a Vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) about the whereabouts of her memory-wiped maker, Eric Northman- yet the king of Louisiana though exasperated with the Viking vamp's loyal-to-the-true-death progeny, exits 'Fangtasia' without meting out any consequence to her--not this time, anyway.
Hey fellow Truebies! I just now had time to rewatch (most of) True Blood Episode 3, 'If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin'? on HBOGo, and I was wondering if y'all were left pondering like me:
Why kill off Sookie's faery Godmother NOW?
If you are not a 'bookie' (a reader of the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse novels upon which HBO's True Blood is based) then it may have only been a surprise not a shock when Claudine (played by Lara Pulver) was murdered by Amnesia!Eric right before Sookie's and our eyes.
Claudine had returned to 'our side' to implore, then demand that Sookie return to 'Faery' with her. When Sookie declined her faery godmother's invitation, then stated firmly that she wished Claudine to take a flying leap...she couldn't have known that Eric was listening and would, with his hypervamp-speed snatch Claudine up and proceed to feed on her--fatally. (Scroll down for more HBO copyright screenshots that I clipped---plus the official promo photo stills from this episode.)
In the book series, which I'll gingerly tred around as best I can (some people may interpret this as SPOILERS so be forewarned), Claudine is one of a trio of faery triplets---2 girls and a guy. We've met Claude in the True Blood Faery as a rebel fae who helped save Sookie from Queen Mab. In the books there existeda 2nd female triplet who is dead when Sookie's world and the Fae's 'collide.'
However (and I hope this is making sense) in Alan Ball's True Blood, so far we know of only twin faeries who are related to Sookie, which would leave one with the impression that Claudine is indeed gone forever dead.
But, the HBO True Blood 'Fae' storyline has not yet been fully written (if it ever is to be) with Ball switching up and adapting the story, as he explained to EW.com (scroll down for link to full story).
Just off the top of my head, he and/or the True Blood writers could very well bring back 'Claudine,' if they so chose by simply switching her up with Claudette, her 'dead' faery-sister.
It would be fun to bring faeries back as they were very well-integrated with the Sookie storyline in the novels. OTOH, it costs nothing to imagine the land of the Fae when reading a Harris novel and True Blood as we all know, is 'only' television. Given that season 4 True Blood is featuring witches , werepanthers, werewolfs, (shape)shifters and vampires, there just may be no more room in the FX budget this season for faeries.
Still, I thought that episode 4 was very entertaining. Of course, anything with the memory-wiped Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) is incredibly fun to take in but his competition for Sookie's attention, the new King of Louisiana, William Compton (Stephen Moyer) is pretty darn awesome, too.
Anticipating Season 4 Vampire Bill, most of us it seemed, were lamenting the likelihood of watching him mope due to his breakup with Sookie but he's changed so much--outwardly, anyway. Some Truebies thought Bill Compton 'abandoned' his only sire, Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Woll) despite her choice to move in with boyfriend (toy?) Hoyt, but a nice little scene in this episode showcased their continuing mutual affection and support--while also giving us a glimpse of super-cautious, sort-of-uptight Bill that we've come to know and love from previous True Blood seasons.
There was lots more--notably where my girl-crush, Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) got tossed by her maker Eric, across Sookie's living room after verbally threatening Sookie (sense a pattern, here?). When Pam stood up and began to approach Sookie again, Amnesia!Eric cautioned her to 'be nice' to Sookie.
The Death Of Sookie's Faery Godmother [PHOTOS]:
Click to enlarge
Sookie: 'You just killed my faery Godmother!'
Amnesia!Eric: 'Sorry.'
EW EXCLUSIVE: 'True Blood': Alan Ball and Charlaine Harris discuss Sunday's shocking death of [SPOILER] --
Entertainment Weekly’s EW.com has spoken exclusively to True Blood executive producer Alan Ball and author Charlaine Harris about the death of Claudine in this past Sunday’s episode. Many fans of Harris’ original novels were surprised by the death scene, which doesn’t occur until much later in the book series. But there’s more left to see in Sookie’s fairy world: "After everything that was going on with the fairies in the first episode, I think we wanted to sort of put a pin in that, but obviously it’s not over," says Ball. "I felt it would have more impact if it was someone we knew as opposed to just a random fairy."
And Harris is okay with the change. "If [Ball] can be gracious to me, I can certainly be gracious enough to wait and see where he’s going."
As the King of Louisiana, Vampire 'Bill Compton' now has some serious responsibilities including 'meting out' some serious consequences to an 'idiot' vamp.
True Blood Season 4: Bill metes out punishment (HBO).
While Felton glowers in the background, Crystal, who you may remember Andy Bellefleur referring to as, 'Crystal? As in crystal meth?', attempts to comfort a bloodied, battered and bound Jason (Ryan Kwanten).
True Blood Season 4: Crystal comforts Jason (HBO)
True Blood Season 4: Tara and Lafayette discuss Eric (HBO)
With Amnesia!Eric having left the building, 'Lafayette' (Nelsan Ellis) shares his knowledge of the powerful 1000-year old Viking vampire and his advice about how to proceed after Eric's murder attempt on Marnie.
I just totally dig the material that Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette is getting so far in season 4 True Blood. In interviews the writers and cast have hinted strongly that this year's cast of familiar faces will be taking on new 'roles' within the show and this clip is a really great example of a completely different side of Lafayette. He also looks fabulous, don't you think?
Below: Awesome Official Promo Photos from upcoming Season 4 True Blood episodes including 4.04 - "I'm Alive and On Fire":
Kristen Bauer van Straten rockin' it harder than ever as vampire Pam, True Blood Season Four.
True Blood - Episode 4.04 - I'm Alive and on Fire - Promotional Photos:
After the jump - True Blood - August Episodes Synopses:
HBO True Blood, please have a little mercy on the besotted:
New season 4 clip of Eric and Sookie
Something really has to be done about the plethora of 'OMG! He's SO CUTE!' video clips of Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) currently swirling about the Internets. He's putting so many woman (and a few guys, I would imagine) over the top I fear the sheer quantity of orgasmic reaction to him shall rock the planet.
True Blood Season 4: Red Carpet with the Buzz (HBO On Demand):
After the jump:
True Blood: Season 4 - Inside The Episode: Episode #38 (HBO)
A Series of 'Cute' Amnesia!Eric Clips' & Screencaps:
True Blood Season 4: Sookie, Claudine, and Eric Clip:
On True Blood it is 'cute' when someone kills your SPOILER! faery godmother --according to some of the YouTube comments/'Eric Northman' fans. (In fairness, this clip from the scene is played pretty comically). It appears that Sookie's Fairy Godmother, Claudine, returned to 'our side', obviously deliberately, but didn't anticipate (quickly enough, anyway) 'Amnesia!Eric' and his faery bloodlust. From what we know thus far, Claudine was ordered by Queen Mab of the Fae to kidnap Sookie to bring her to the land of the Fae permanently to 'breed' as the vampires had almost wiped them out (see Eric and what is left of Claudine in the video above). Sookie escaped with the help of Claudine's brother , a rebel Fae named Claude. In the books they are the surviving 2 triplets, with a another female having previously been killed. The Fae it turns out, are not what they seemed. Here's Claudine in her 'Earthly' form:
Pam (distraught): I believe Bill set Eric up and sent him into that coven... knowning it was a trap...wouldn't be the first time he tried to get rid of Eric...
Sorry Truebies, That Shower Scene Will NOT Be (cont.):
Just as the more intuitive True Blood fans suspected, telepath-part-faery 'Sookie Stackhouse' (played by Anna Paquin) and nice guy werewolf 'Alcide Herveaux' (Joe Manganiello) will not be involved in a romantic relationship in Season 4 True Blood (*pause here to digest this distressing news*), according to TV Guide (scroll down for link).
It seems, as in the books, Alcide gets back together with his werebitch V-junkie ex-girlfriend, Debbie Pelt (have to love that name!). Truth be told, I'm unsure if Alcide will ever get involved with Sookie given that HBO bothhas not yet renewed True Blood for season 5 nor has Alan Ball inked a deal with the cabler, despite the sky-high season 4 debut ratings. Seems likely that the two situations probably go hand-in-hand. Ball has dropped hints in various places including Issue # 1113 of Rolling Stone magazine, in which he says:
'I am negotiating for a season past this one...but I don't believe True Blood is 100% dependant on my participation. It has a very strong following and a really strong cast, and there could be future where I step back and the show would continue.' - Alan Ball, True Blood creator & showrunner
TV Guide SPOILERS:
Q: Loved the True Blood premiere, but where the heck is Alcide? TVGuide: He'll show up in Episode 3, but he will be "spoken for," as they say, which will provoke an interesting reaction from Sookie. Nevertheless, Sookie will need his help. "The great thing about Sookie is that she drags him off on all these adventures," Joe Manganiello tells us. "She's the key in unlocking that reluctant hero inside of him and he recognizes that as a good thing."
Ausiello Spoilers - 'The Eric & Sookie Shower Scene':
Q: I have to know — will this season of True Blood have the smokin’ hot Sookie/Eric shower scene featured in the book?
Ausiello:Yes… and No.
“There is a shower scene,” explains exec producer Alan Ball. “But it is not a direct re-enactment of the shower scene in the book. It goes to a slightly different place.” “Sookie and Eric are in the shower together,” confirms Ball, who assures me that, “Everybody who’s been waiting for Sookie and Eric to hook up, this will be a very good season for them.”
Q: Any more details onScott Foley’s True Blood role? Ausiello: “He was Terry’s platoon leader in Iraq,” says Ball of Foley’s character, Patrick. “So they [share] a military history.” ...Foley will debut in the Season 4 finale and then recur throughout Season 5. Ball, meanwhile, confirms that a deal is not yet in place for him to return as showrunner for a fifth season. “I’m negotiating,” he says. Of course, HBO hasn’t renewed the show itself — but Ball isn’t worried. “There are no plans for this show to end,” he assures. “I’m pretty sure there will be at least one more season, if not more. It seems like it has a lot of life in it still.”...
New Season 4 True Blood Scenes Video and Screencaps (6.28.11)!:
True Blood Season 4: Critics Spot (6.28.11) [VIDEO]
This NEW True Blood tease is kinda cool because it, as is True Blood's way, answers some questions (sort of) and raises a few more. Like for example, what is up with Eric (Alexander Skarsgård)?! In the clip, 'Eric' has dropped fang, looks angry and/or distraught, has a pretty ladder beside him and someone has just shut him inside...whereever he is--his luxury 'hidey hole' at Sookie's rehabbed home, perhaps?
I also dig seeing the beginning of the end of SPOILER!!! witch Hallow Stonebrook in the 1700's as she is being burned (I presume) at the stake. I'm pretty certain that that scene will entail torture preceding the actual burning--my cue to cover my eyes. 'Hallow' is the present day malevolent spirit inhabiting Marnie's (Fiona Shaw) body--giving her crazy strong black magic powers. Enjoy the video and be sure to scroll down for the screencaps from this and another very recent True Blood promo video--and click through to my True Blood screencaps, photo stills, wallpapers and screensavers albums for hundreds more.
Catch the new season of True Blood on Sunday nights at 9pm. For more information on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/ibzU7X or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #TBWITHDRAWAL.
Watch True Blood online at HBO GO® http://itsh.bo/hWfz80. Free with your HBO subscription through participating TV providers.
Vampire 'Jessica' (Deborah Ann Woll) and human roomie, 'Hoyt Fortenberry' (Jim Parrack) in a scene early in season 4 True Blood: Sam Merlotte's (Sam Trammell) new shapeshifting honey, 'Luna,' (Janina Gavankar). Sam told her he'd enjoyed the view and would try to take her from behind--when they next shift into horses and race wild together.
Plus! Episode Three True Blood Preview - 'If You Love Me,Why Am I Dyin?':
True Blood Season 4 Episode 3 "If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin?" Promo:
Having just watched episodes one and two of Season 4 True Blood on HBO and HBOGo, I think the character that surprised me most was the generally composed, very self-assured vampire sherrif Eric Northman, with his frequent displays of emotion. And this is before the big 'thing' happens near the end of episode 2! (cont.)
Warning True Blood Episode 2 SPOILERS:
Is it the vampire backlash in the wake of Russell Edgington killing the news guy on live TV killing Fangtasia business 'cos Pam seems very snarky as well?
Could Bill's !SPOILER! assendence to being the King of Louisiana be chaffing Eric just a bit or has Eric truly missed Sookie?
Not only is Eric more sentimental- sounding in eppy 1 but he's sort of mood-swingy as well. This sets the stage for the SPOILER totally new Eric not being such a jarring change from the bad boy Eric of (in Sookie's mind/time-frame) just a week ago.
She needed a plausible way to segue into bedding this guy and as of episode one we have him buying and refurbishing her house whilst she was "away"...to control her he says, but we know he means (too), protect her. He's made it clear to his second in command, vampire Pam, that he has significant feelings for Sookie-- feelings of the almost human kind. And Pam makes Sookie aware of this, causing eyebrows to be raised.
Episode 1 of True Blood went fast and was very amusing. Episode 2 has a different pace. I want to watch it again not on my HBOGo before I have a real comment on it.
True Blood Season 4 - Recap s04e01 (#37) - 'She's Not There'
Jessica - A House Is Not a Home [VIDEO]:
Babyvamp Jessica Soliciting Homemaker Tips?!
After the jump: Synopses for True Blood Episodes 1-6:
Stephen Moyer,'s True Blood Season 4 'In 3 Days Promo: Here are the some screencaps (new scenes/angles):
Check out the screencap albums for lots more:
True Blood Season 4: 3 Days PromoStephen Moyer (Bill Compton) 'Vampire Bill', 'Sookie Stackhouse's' former paramour.
True Blood Season 4: 4 Days Promo Rutina Wesley ('Tara Thorton')
OK. One question. Did Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) just throw Lafayette across the Fangtasia dungeon floor and if so, is he now putting the whammy on her? Her fierce look is getting sort of unsure--bewitched?
We've seen her dispatch with Lafayette previously in this scene and she looked very confident.:
I can't even believe how fast the season 4 premiere of True Blood has come! (pause) Kidding!
True Blood Fans have endured the sucking, waiting since August 2010 for a fresh full-length episode of True Blood to savour. But here we are, teetering on the very brink of the Sunday, June 26 9pm E HBO offering of a brand new episode and (if you signed up for HBOGo) the second episode shortly thereafter! It should pack one helluva one-two punch in the space of 24-hours or so and with any luck, the sky-high ratings will shake up 'talks' between the most brilliant Alan Ball and the 'one true premium cable network,'HBO, so that our man remains on board with the show for season 5.
I'll have more on that later--in the next couple of days--but if you have not read it before be aware this could be Alan Ball'slast season at the helm of True Blood! (again, quote attribution from the source--Ball himself) a bit later. I have both a spousal birthday and other deadlines that must be attended to ASAP!
OK. Here we go with the fishing contest in the pool full of Spoiler-ish/ True Spoilers material that Source: TVGuide has unleashed upon us! 'EDIT's are MINE!
"True Blood has brought witches, werewolves and vampires to life over the last three seasons, but everything you think you know about the supernatural beings will be upended this season.
"Everything you thought you can count on, you can't," executive producer Alan Ball says. "Vampires are not stronger than certain humans, shapeshifters can do things other than shift and there are ghosts."
Here are 10 things we TVGuide knows do know about what's coming up, straight from the cast of True Blood:
1. It's all about the witches (EDIT: Duh!): A band of witches tap into a new form of power, causing Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) to lose his memory. At the head of the coven is Marnie (Fiona Shaw), a (formerly mild-mannered, now possessed by a 1700's) vengeful witch coming into her powers and out for revenge. Unfortunately Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) will be dragged into the increasing vampire vs. witch tension. "Lafayette loves his boyfriend, [Jesus, a practicing brujo], so he's trying to deal with [magic] in stride, but it keeps sucking him in and he doesn't know what's going on," Ellis says.
"He discovers who he is in the middle of all this stuff."
SPOILER: You knew already that Lafayette is a witch, right? There have been no clues or anything. (snicker)
2. Sookie, independent woman: After discovering that Bill (Stephen Moyer) was working for (his) Queen Sophie-Anne, to gain information on her, Sookie is "learning to stand on her own," Anna Paquinsays. "At the end of last season, she was at a point where she was willing to walk away from everyone and everything, particularly those troublesome boys. It's not that she doesn't want or need anyone, she just isn't dependant anymore." That's OK for Bill, though. "Bachelorhood kind of turns out all right for Bill," Moyer says. "He's decided to enjoy it while he can."
3. Vampires in trouble: Eric's unfortunate run-in with the witches will send his lieutenant, Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten), into a downward spiral, which is bad timing in the current vampire climate. "The post-Russell Edginton world is hard for Pam," Bauer says. "It's a political environment this year, so she's supposed to be doing what the other vampires are doing — holding babies and shaking hands — but she's incapable. So we see her cause some trouble."
Pam in a downward spiral? Our vicious, beautiful, font-of-sarcastic quips Pam?! Progeny of Eric Northman, Pam? I have not been privileged as the Almighty (j/k)TVGuide to get the first three episodes of season 3 to watch but if Pammy wasn't 'downward spiralling last season when she thought Eric Dead for Sure (I suggest this as the final title in the SookieStackhouse series) and after she'd been horribly tortured by the Magister, I don't believe she's gonna 'spiral downward' in the human sense. She may act out. And when vampires act out...look out!
4. Tara returns as a new woman (EDIT/ Sorry: snooze): After getting out of Dodge in the season finale, Tara (Rutina Wesley) will return to Bon Temps hoping to turn over a new leaf, but will immediately find herself in a mess of trouble. "She gets swept back into the world of vampires so quickly," Rutina says. "She doesn't want it, but she has no choice." Fortunately, there may be hope for her yet. "If there was to be love for Tara, I think she's ready for it because I think she's learned to love herself and has opened up in a way."
Holy double-entendre, Batman! As my favourite source, "Spoiler TV" put it, (a character) is 'turning gay.' True Blood could step on a landmine with this one but I'm going to assume, given the open-mindedness in portrayal on the show of the sexual preference spectrum that this will not feel forced or cliche.
My one concern as far as I can care about the character of Tara and TBH, I don't really (but I do care about the True Blood narrative) is that in three seasons she has shown no hint at all in being attracted to women. Also, she's not particularly at an age (late 20's) where one discovers this. On top of all that she's been written as having a not-so-secret crush on Sookie's brother, Jason for most of her life. Maybe 'turning gay' is the right term but oh, they'd best be careful in making this seem, as they like to say, 'organic.'
5. Shifty shapeshifters: The days of Sam (Sam Trammell) turning into a dog or bird are child's play compared to what he'll do this season. "My character explains the full-range of capabilities that shapeshifters have, and a lot of people that she's talking to at the time don't even know some of that," says Janina Gavankar, who'll be a love interest, 'Luna,' for Sam this season. "There's a really dark side to shapeshifters as well and that's something we'll explore this year. There's potential wrongdoings that can happen."
6. Jessica, domesticated? Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Hoyt (Jim Parrack) will make a go of living together, but a human and a vampire cohabitating isn't going to be easy. "Jessica is a vampire and I'm not quite sure that domestic life is really what she's in for or what she desires," Woll says. "She's still gotta figure that out because they moved into this very quickly." Helping her navigate this life is Pam, who acts as a "big bad" older sister, says Bauer. "Pam is a very different kind of mentor for Jess than Bill is," Woll adds. "The things you might not want to tell your dad, you may tell your cool aunt."
7. Jason's growing up: Once the older slacker brother of Sookie, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) has now stepped into a role of responsibility that will get him into even more trouble. "This is the season of the biggest growth for Jason, where the young boy turns into a man," Kwanten says. "He's forced to try and raise a tribe of people and eventually fight for his life."
8. PD's into V: The end of last season teased impending trouble for Andy (Chris Bauer) when it comes to V, otherwise known as vampire blood, an addictive drug that can ruin your life (See: Jason Stakchouse, Debbie Pelt and the rest of the werewolves from Season 3). "It's like old demons, new problems," Bauer says of Season 4 for Andy.
"At first V does a lot of good. He had that cast on forever, but after a couple of drops, all of a sudden he's ready to box. He's a guy who we know has issues with substance, and he keeps saying he's done, but he's not done."
I love Chris Bauer so I'm hoping that the 'V' that he gets into (he's a semi-recovering alcoholic) gives him many juicy scenes in S4! (Get the pun? Wasn't even on purpose!)
Arlene and Terry tackle parenthood: As if Arlene (Carrie Preston) could ever be the voice of reason, she's especially on edge this season. "I wouldn't be playing Arlene correctly if I wasn't playing her fully, fully stressed out," Preston says. "When you're talking about a child or potential child, and you're talking about it having a father that was a serial killer, in Arlene's mind, she's absolutely justified in freaking out. Luckily, Arlene has found Terry [Todd Lowe], who will put up with all her insecurities." On a possibility related note, Preston adds, "Arlene is going to come face-to-face with something that we haven't even seen on the show yet." (EDIT/ Common-sense?)
10. Debbie's back, baby: Alcide's psychopathic, V-addicted ex-girlfriend, Debbie Pelt (Brit Morgan), will return this season with a new prerogative. "You're going to get to see a different side of Debbie," Morgan says, adding that Debbie will attempt to make amends with Sookie and find some normalcy. But the werewolf in her isn't gone. "You're going to get to see cool things with some of the wolves that you didn't get to see last season," she says."
Season 4 Role of 'Caroline Bellefleur', the grande dame of Bon Temps Cast and Terry's Army Buddy is in Town!:
The first thing that sprang to mind when I read that the luminous Katherine Helmond was set to appear in two episodes of True Blood in Season 4 was, 'She's still alive? Yay!'
Though folks who are not in my age demographic may not recall her as far back as 1977, one of the best television roles she had (that I've watched from start to finish) was as 'Jessica Tate' in the 30-minute TV series soap opera spoof, 'Soap" which ran from 1977-1981.
Katherine Helmond's most memorable scene in Soap--one that not only was sidesplittingly funny, but was truly a useful piece of 'life' or perhaps 'love' advice, was when Jessica coached her slightly-younger, albeit into-her-forties sister, 'Mary Campbell' (Catherine Damon), on what lovemaking position to use after you become a woman of a certain age so as not to not appear of a certain age.
After completely sincerely trying to describe it to her sister and failing, Helmond's Jessica hopped atop the kitchen table to demonstrate her point. I will not ever not be able to picture that scene in my mind, it was so funny and done so well. And dare I say, it's actually crossed my mind during, well, you know. (The gist is assume a position that allows for less 'hang' or droop of the lady's sagging parts--'nuff said?)
BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD - PROCEED WITH CAUTION:
Now the ginger-haired Ms. Helmond is set to take on a role which, though alluded to fairly often in some of the Sookie Stackhouse novels was more of a bullet point-type character--not fleshed out. (Old Mrs. Bellefleur, Andy & Portia's grandmother, was 'famous throughout Bon Temps' for her 'award-winning chocolate cakes', for being from old money-old Bon Temps, and for being short on humour.)
Helmond will guest star as Caroline Bellefleur on HBO's True Blood as grandmother to Bon Temps sheriff Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) and his sister, Portia (season 4 role cast, Courtney Ford). The actress is set to appear in two episodes of Season 4, which premieres Sunday.
In the Charlaine Harris novels, Caroline Bellefleur isn't a fan of Sookie at first* and it's later revealed that Bill is Caroline's great-grandfather.
Ms. Helmond was most recently part of the voice cast for the character of Lizzie for Disney/Pixar’s Cars and it's sequel so I'm really hoping that her voice lives on forever as part of the gargantuan 'Cars' attraction going up next to Disneyland.
It should be fun to see what the True Blood writers give Caroline Bellefleur to do. I believe she was infirm in the novels, too--at least wheelchair-bound(?). The character in the book series is quite old. I want to say in her 90's(?)
*Note: Ms. Bellefleur isn't a fan of most everyone not family in the books.
In Response to True Blood Casting Call, Scott Foley Cast As Terry’s Army Buddy Patrick:
Description of character:
[PATRICK DEVINS] 35 to 45, tough and ruggedly attractive, he served in the military with Terry Bellefleur, and they share a serious history: Terry saved Patrick’s life twice. 7 out of 13 episodes next season.
'A little bird' told Eric of Marnie's coven and he demands that they no longer meet--ever (or else).
True Blood Season 4: Eric Clip:
True Blood Season 4: Jessica and Hoyt Clip:
Hoyt, just home after a grueling day fixing Bon Temps infrastructure complains that his dinner is not made (like mama used to?)
'Do understand how gross human food is to a vampire? It's all dead! - Jessica to Hoyt
Then Hoyt blows it by making it too personal: 'Do you think bleeding out into your mouth wasn't gross for me at first?!,' he retorts.
True Blood Season 4: Lafayette and Jesus Clip
Just a little bedroom banter about light and dark magic... Jesus assures Lafayette that he (Laffy) is 'light.'
Lafayette worries that they may be 'steppin' in on a place... where (they) don't belong.'
Update 6.24.11
'True Blood: Season 4 New 8 Clips (HBO) '
Vampire Pam goes further in her conversation with Sookie about Eric...taking a surprising tone with the part-faery telepath.
“I did some crazy stuff last year. I almost had sex with a Greek man and I was covered in his goo. Everything from here on is pretty childish. Everything’s quite innocent.” - Alexander Skarsgård:
Eric fans could have plenty to salivate over this season, which begins June 26 on HBO. This year, True Blood is inspired by book four of the Stackhouse series, Dead to the World, which features a steamy shower scene between Sookie and the tall, light and handsome vamp. Unfortunately, Skargard isn’t in the mood to kiss and tell. He will say, however, that sex this year is, um, a little more down to earth. -
Though these covers look fun, I'm more interested in any tidbits that can be gleaned from the 'behind-the-scenes' True Blood preview within. Hopefully, my (free) copy will be here um, later today.
*There's Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux, too, but I still sort of feel that he's not going to get much time with the 'sunshine in a pretty blond bottle' girl--this season anyway (just a feeling, not a spoiler).
After the jump - The Eric and Bill True Blood Season 4 EW covers:
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Eric (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Eric from the Season 3 finale.
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Jessica (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Jessica from the end of
Season 3.
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Lafayette (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Lafayette from the
Season 3 finale.
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Sookie (HBO)
True Blood Season 3: Cliffhanger - Bill (HBO) Take a look at a clip of Bill from the Season 3 finale.
The new season of True Blood premieres on June 26th only on HBO.
Here are a couple of screenshots which I maintain positively show Bill (Stephen Moyer) using his vampire super-speed to leave Queen Sophie- Anne (Evan Rachel Wood) behind instead of waging a battle--which he would surely lose--with her. I don't know, obv., if Bill locks her in and burns down the place or runs away or what...but he leaves (and his home in the new season is completely refinished or rebuilt). My guess is that the 'fight' between Vampire Bill and Queen Sophie-Anne is very short.
Check out the sceencaps from this scene and from the other characters cliffhangers!:
Seems a foregone conclusion--Bill is going to leave the Queen behind--and destroy the mansion!
More True Blood Season 3 Cliffhangers Are After the jump!:
Everyone in the regular cast of True Blood here at the Dome at the Arclight Hollywood season 4 premiere event looks really nice of course, but pretty much themselves (meaning their real-life selves) except Sam Trammell ('Sam Merlotte') who, though he often has the lovely Missy Yager at his side, has not to my knowledge appeared by her side whilst she was blooming, soon to be a mother! Congrats to both of them!
This photo is just the best!
(Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup.co)
Todd Lowe 'True Blood' Season 4 Premiere: Red Carpet:
(Image Credit: Tina Gill/PR Photos)
I just wanted to again note how much Todd Lowe transforms himself into the character 'Terry Bellfleuer', the shell-shocked Gulf War vet-short order cook on True Blood. "
He is one fine-looking man and I think more pics of him---maybe in his band would be really nice in addition to the MANY shots of the "big three." Love them too, but oi, they are everywhere and there are only so many poses and facial gestures they can make for variety (and it's been 4 years!) So more Todd Lowe, please?
Finally, for looking her age (early 20's) and adorable:
