Babies' sex, birthdate and names being withheld--for now.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Stephen Moyer's publicist said Tuesday the British actor's wife, actress Anna Paquin, has given birth to twins.
"The babies were born a few weeks early, but are in good health and both Mom and Dad are overjoyed," Moyer's representative said in a statement to E! News.
The "True Blood" co-stars married in August 2010.
No other details, including the babies' genders and birthday, were released.
Initially, when the Paquin-Moyer pregnancy was 'announced' inadvertently in June 2012 by co-star Sam Trammell (True Blood's Sam Merlotte) when he happily revealed that there would now be two sets of twins-of-actors on True Blood, himself (with Missy Yager) and Paquin and Moyer, it was indicated that the babies were due 'in the fall.'
The fall delivery date seemed a bit dubious given that Paquin was showing very early in the shooting of True Blood (around January 2012 was when shooting for the season that just ended, started). By episode 3 or 4 of season 5 it was ridiculously obvious that the un-pregnant Sookie was being portrayed by a very-pregnant Anna. By season's end Anna was being shot very tightly or from behind or sometimes it looked like they just said 'fuck it' and showed her in all her pregnant glory.
Here's how Anna looked just two weeks ago:
Anna was said to not be due until 'November' when the shot was taken. Boy, did I feel badly for her!
Turns out that 'due in November' probably was a fake date to throw off the paparazzi because as of today's statement by Stephen Moyer's publicist, the babies are a few weeks early. But we are not a few weeks from November and given all the photo evidence I'd say I was right all along that maybe sometime in early October was when the people in the know expected the little guys to make their appearance.
Regardless, it matters not. All are said to be happy and healthy. Anna and Steve will have until January as announced by Alan Ball to be full-time parents to the wee moppets, and Anna of course should feel a bit less pressure to get back down to her usual size 4 figure in order to squeeze back into her Merlotte's hot pants and supertight white t-shirt.
True Blood Season 5 finale - Stephen Moyer as "Bill" a/k/a "Billith" (Credit: HBO)
Q: So, is Bill God now? (Or, did you kill Bill?)
A: I don’t want to say if he is or he isn’t. Who’s to say what Lilith
really is? He is still Bill but he is something different.
Q: So there is some of the old Bill in there?
A: It is Bill, but it is a transformed Bill. He is not a completely new
person. It’s not like his memories or his experiences have been left out
and he’s just a baby.
Anna Paquin, who is carrying twins, as seen on August 27 2012 wearing a bright yellow sundress while going to lunch in Los Angeles (Credit: INFphoto.com, Pacific Coast News, AKM-GSI)
And now the question that has been looming ever-more largely, after Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer's bundles of joy arrive, will Mrs. Moyer be inclined to return to her job as "Sookie Stackhouse' on HBO's TRUE BLOOD?
First, I must be honest with you: I don't know.
Paquin is famously private and so has said very-little-to-nothing about her 'condition.' The timing of the arrival has been announced as 'in the fall' (of 2012) which means she and Moyer would have at least the traditional amount of time that the average working American mom has to enjoy her babies. Sadly, if she were in New Zealand, the country which she has referred to as where she calls 'home', she'd have a lot more time off to do all the things that a mother of newborn twins does, which is to put it simply, twice as much as a mom of a singleton. That is, if she were an average mum.
The upside is that much of True Blood's filming is done at night so once the babies have settled into a nightly routine it could be a bit of an easing up on the pressure that all new mothers face. I'm assuming that there will be a nursery on the True Blood set, that nannies will be involved, and of course, the bonus of both mom and dad working on the same television show. Even so, Paquin has the additional pressure of having to get back into pre-baby shape pretty darn quick. Hopefully, the costume department will help her out a bit there as well as the camera people, who seemed finally to get the hang of shooting a pregnant actress whose character was not pregnant by the final episode of season 5.
When all is said and done, most likely, though twins are automatically considered a high-risk pregnancy, Anna Paquin will give birth to healthy babies and because she has the resources she'll be able to cope with both work and the raising of two babies with the variety of help at her disposal, not the least of which is her husband, Stephen Moyer. His character on True Blood who has been dubbed "Billith," will be getting some serious face time in season 6, so unless they kill him off early in the season (doubtful) both Paquin and Moyer will return to work on True Blood as scheduled sometime in late 2012 or early 2013.
Anna Paquin, late August, 2012 (Credit: FameFlynet, Inc)
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) triumphs over Russell (Denis O'Hare) in the season 5 finale of True Blood (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #60 (Season Finale) 'Save Yourself' (VIDEO):
Go inside the season finale with Creative/Executive,Alan Ball and Director, Michael Lehmann.
Recap: True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #60 (Season Finale) VIDEO 100+ Screencaps (CR: HBO):
Russell (Denis O'Hare) is blasted by the Bon Temps faeries and then staked by Eric.
Luna (Janina Gavankar) shifts into Steve Newlin (Steve McMillian), giving Sam (Sam Trammell) the chance as a housefly to fly into Carolyn Hennesy's chancellor "Rosalyn Harris's" mouth after she drops fang and aims her sights on Luna. From within her fang-baring mouth (ew) Sam shifts into his real form and Rosalyn explodes.
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) try to stop Bill (Steven Moyer) from drinking Lilith's blood to no avail. Bill explodes--then resurrects as "Billith." Sookie and Eric flee.
Deborah Ann Woll as 'Jessica' in True Blood Season 5, recording her final vlog on her cellphone (CR: HBO)
Pam, quoting 'a friend' of her family's who used to read to her, Alfred Lord Tennyson:
'Love is the only gold.'
Any last words, Pam?
Pam: 'Fuck. The. Authority.'
True Blood Season 5: Jessica's Vlog (Season Finale) VIDEO:
Made while imprisoned in the bowels of the Authority alongside Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten), Jessica records what she fears may be her final vlog.
While doing so, she hears some surprising words of comfort from of all vampires, Pam!
Deborah Ann Woll as 'Jessica' in True Blood Season 5, recording her vlog on her cellphone (CR: HBO)
True Blood Season 5 Finale Bonus HBOGO scene (Spoilers) (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 6 Bonus scene (which you can view with other content through HBO Go--only in the U.S.).
HBO GO: True Blood Season 5 Finale Bonus Scene Interactive VIDEO SPOILERS:
This bonus scene picks up after the Authority HQ elevator with Jason, Tara, Pam, Nora and Jessica on it begins to ascend to the surface. They are to clear out the remaining Authority security vamps so they and hopefully Sookie and Eric and possibly Bill (probably not Bill, not now that he is 'Billith') can escape. (cont.)
Ryan Kwanten as 'Jason' in True Blood Season 5 Finale Bonus HBOGO scene.(Spoilers) (Credit: HBO)
On the way up Jason again hallucinates his parents, who earlier this season he discovered were both murdered by 'Warlow' a thus-far unknown vampire of at least several hundred years of age. Sookie and Jason discovered via her Bon Temps Fae kin that Sookie's distant relative 'promised her' to Warlow.
So far, Sookie has had just one spooky apparition-encounter with Warlow in her bathroom in which he declared that she was his.
The elevator ride banter included Tara hitting on Pam and Jason being goaded by his imaginary dad, who called him 'champ,' cheering Jason's 11 vampire kills, and encouraging Jason to kill Tara, Pam, Nora and Jessica as they were 'sitting ducks'. Before Jason could fully process his dead father's request, the elevator reached it's destination and all aboard went into kill mode. After Jason took out a random vamp, he uttered Warlow's name and Nora, looking extremely surprised, responded with "Warlow. What do you about Warlow?'
I'm just gonna toss out a guess that Nora is Warlow's maker because a. She's 600 years old and b. it would give her a reason to stick around in season 6 and would complicate all kinds of things between Eric and Sookie.
Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse in the True Blood Season 5 Finale, 'Save Yourself'
Watch a scene from Episode 60, the season finale, of True Blood Season 5:
True Blood Season 5 - Season Finale Extended Sneak Peek:
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) to Jason (Ryan Kwanten): 'Meatsack'
Jason to Eric: 'Deadfuck'
NEW Season 5 Finale #SaveYourself Screencaps!:
Speculation Update (8.23.12):
Based on what goes on here, we have a clear picture of why both Jason and Sookie willingly crawl into the vampire's nest that is the Vampire Authority HQ. For Jason, now that he knows the circumstances of the TruBlood factory bombings, he is pumped to save the world. For Sookie, there's no resisting the heartfelt appeal by Eric to 'save Bill', as she is the only one, Eric says, that can reach Bill (I wouldn't count on Sookie being able to do so--I smell a cliffhanger). Then there's the fact that Sookie does indeed 'owe Pam.'
Alexander Skarsgård and Anna Paquin in True Blood Episode #60 (Season 5 finale) Credit: HBO
Look! It's Eric and Sookie together once more! Do you think he saved her from Russell Edgington or did Russell get so drunk from ingesting faery blood that he simply vamp sped/flew away leaving Sookie behind? Being only half-fae, Sookie would be the equivalent of ground beef vs. prime rib, no? Why bother with her with so many full-blood faeries to chow down on--at least for now?
It looks like Sook and Eric are in Vampire Authority HQ. Who in this place would Eric look shocked by and Sookie shed a tear for?
Well, if you watch the new True Blood Episode 5.12 Sneak Peek you'd have to surmise that it is Sam, no? But OTOH, isn't that too obvious? What do you think is going on in the (above) photo?
Update: New True Blood Episode 5.12 Sneak Peek!
Ryan Kwanten, Lucy Griffiths, Alexander Skarsgård & Rutina Wesley in True Blood season 5 finale "Save Yourself' ( Credit HBO)
The True Blood season 5 finale "Save Yourself' is just days away but there are still many questions unanswered.
The photo above may help point us in the right direction in regard to what side Jason (Ryan Kwanten) comes down on in light of his statement in the promo video that 'the time for tolerance is over.'
In the first sneak peek spoiler-y photo from the season finale, it looks like Jason is sitting in Sookie's living room when in barged the vampire trio of Nora (Lucy Griffiths) Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) & Tara (Rutina Wesley). Vampires are notoriously bad at closing the door behind them. Anyway, despite Sookie living there, the house is now in fact owned by Eric, who purchased it during the year that Sookie was in faeryland and presumed dead. Jason couldn't pay the taxes on the house and so Eric bought it from the bank. So, like it or not, it's a vampire-owned home meaning anyone--supe or human can come in uninvited!
I have two questions about the photo: Is that "V' (vamp blood) in Jason's hand and what exactly is Nora staring at with that dumbfounded look on her face?
Be sure to check back here as there will be more sneak peeks and spoilers for the True Blood season 5 finale "Save Yourself' this Sunday August 26, on HBO!
Kristen Bauer van Straten and Deborah Ann Woll in True Blood Episode #60 (Credit: HBO)
MORE NEWTRUE BLOOD Season 5 Finale- Episode 5.12 - 'Save Yourself' Sneak Peek Promo photos after the jump!:
Deborah Ann Woll as 'Jessica' in True Blood Episode #59 (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Recap #59 VIDEO:
True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #59 VIDEO:
Go inside the episode with Creative/Executive, Alan Ball and Writer, Angela Robinson.
The Inside the Episode video interviews with Ball and Robinson are quite revealing about the thinking behind flipping Bill from a solid, moral, conflicted, flawed vampire to a one-note, evil power freak.
Ball says that 'in fiction' we prefer to root for the bad guy. Ball is wrong. We prefer to root for a well-written character that makes sense to us on an interesting and non-convoluted level. Bill is such a one-dimensional bad guy and unlike his former nemesis, Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare), he doesn't even seem to be enjoying himself along the way. Hence, we the audience aren't having fun, either.
'Wimpy Bill', as some viewers perceived him in previous seasons, at least had some complexity to his character. Egomaniac Bill is just what we see: a massive, demented ego running amok. It's not fun, the actor portraying him does not seem like he's having fun, and the sooner they bury this part of the storyline, the more likely there is a chance that the show can reach some kind of satisfactory conclusion.
It is really disappointing that no one in the True Blood writer's room recognized that this simply was not working. Maybe much like the Authority vamps, they all drank the same Kool-aid. And to be clear, Bill isn't getting lots of 'buzz' because we are so energized by the flipping of his moral center, rather we are appalled at how badly this notion was implemented.
AFTER THE JUMP: True Blood Season 5: Season Finale Preview VIDEO:
Alexander Skarsgård as 'Eric' in the True Blood season 5 finale 'Save Yourself' Credit: HBO
It seems a sure bet that True Blood's season five will go out on a very bloody note though despite solid acting turns by both the featured cast and the guest actors, Season 5 will not be remembered as the show's finest 12 hours.
As has been oft-repeated, there were just too many sub-plots with minor characters that made the overall feel of the show choppy and made viewing an exercise in patience, waiting for 'something' to happen to move the plot forward.
Even when the main plot, which was the goings on of the Vampire Authority, was front and center there seemed to be a great deal of dithering. We watched as the weeks progressed, vampire Authority members picking one another off (or in the case of Salome (Valentina Cervi) having Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare) do the deed for her). Implausibly, Salome maintained that 'only Russell' could take out the 500-year old Authority leader 'Roman' (Chris Meloni) (who was featured for less than half the season), despite being 2000 years-old herself in order to further her 'Sanguinista' agenda of reverting to feeding on humans and discontinuing 'mainstreaming' altogether. It actually became tiresome when one realized that yet another scene was about to go down in the drab Authority meeting room.
Anna Paquin (Sookie) and a crowd of faeries in the True Blood season 5 finale
So what to look forward to in the True Blood season 5 finale? The promo spells it out: Who will survive? but one could add 'with showrunner Alan Ball departing'? Ball doesn't do things in a small way--so will he finally 'release' one of his main characters? I have to come down on the side of 'no.'
I think that Russell will consume more faeries, that the remaining Authority members, Rosalyn (Carolyn Hennesy) and Salome will die at the hands of Bill and Eric and that Eric's sister, Nora (Lucy Griffiths) will be collateral damage and die as well. I also think Holly's (Lauren Bowles) son's are going to bite it via the hand of Maurella (Kristina Anapau), the spurned faery carrying Andy's (Chris Bauer) child.
I do not think Sam (Sam Trammell) is going to die but there's a 50-50 chance of Luna (Janina Gavankar) buying it. I notice Joe Manganiello ('Alcide') is listed as having 'guest star' status on the show so perhaps he'll die as well but more likely his old man, played by Robert Patrick will die in the course of saving his son, with whom in episode 11 he redeemed himself.
I'm on the fence regarding Russell's chance of surviving season 5, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the U.S. military/government takes him out since they've already stated that they are well-prepared to decimate the vampires. I'm pretty sure vampire headquarters is going to go up in smoke as hinted by both the title of the episode and Eric's urgent request that Bill leave the building.
So there's really no need to kill off the series' stars when the show is crammed to the brim with characters that were wedged into season 5.
Kristen Bauer van Straten ('Pam') Credit: HBO
Season 5 was a ho-hum season despite some stand-out performances, most notably by fan favourites Kristen Bauer van Straten ('Pam') and Deborah Ann Woll ('Jessica'). The reliably great Alexander Skarsgård (Eric) and the appealing Ryan Kwanten ('Jason') were also put to good use. It's hard to believe that Bill (Stephen Moyer) could become any more dour than he already was but he pulled it off. I like Moyer but I think his character was nearly insufferable in the second half of this season.
It would be nice if season 5 could go out on a high note with a well-crafted, season 1, 2 or even 3-caliber episode. Keep your fingers crossed.
In the fifth-season finale, Eric makes one last attempt to thwart the Authority and save Bill from losing his humanity. Meanwhile, Alcide prepares for another battle with JD; Sam and Luna try to escape the Authority; and Andy deals with the fallout of a pact.
Original Air Date: Aug 26, 2012
Guest Cast Lucy Griffiths: Nora Louis Herthum: JD Valentina Cervi: Salome Joe Manganiello: Alcide Herveaux (via HBO)
Slipping further into religious fervor, Bill (Stephen Moyer) gives Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) an order she's loath to carry out. Armed with a damning video of Russell (Denis O'Hare) and Steve (Michael McMillian), the military delivers an ultimatum to the Authority. Claude (Giles Matthey) and Maurella (Kristina Anapau) take Sookie (Anna Paquin) to meet the faerie elder, who may know something about an ancient family secret. Alcide (Joe Manganiello) reconnects with his father; Sam (Sam Trammell) and Luna (Janina Gavankar) hitch a ride into the Authority.
True Blood Season 5: Episode 59 Clip - A Very Expensive Meal (VIDEO):
Anna Paquin and Ryan Kwanten in True Blood episode 5.11 (Credit: HBO)
As you'll notice, Jason has already been attacked and bitten, most likely by Russell (Denis O'Hare) given that he drags Jason to the faery secret hideout/burlesque club (below):
(Credit: HBO)
'Bitten' (Credit: HBO)
So now I'm really wondering 'why' Jason would venture out from the faery sanctuary when he knows that Russell is on the loose and gunning for him and Sookie? How does he end up in the dirt, looking whiter than Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) who is lying next to him, apologizing.
Update: Well, I'm on the fence now that I've seen the 2 sneak peeks. Jessica could trick Jason--let's face it, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think she'd give him a choice; even if Bill orders her to turn someone, it doesn't have to be Jason. I'm going to say no, Jason does not become vampire. That was done already this season with Tara. And Jason fluctuates between not liking, tolerating, and hating vamps. Now that he believes both his parents were killed by one? I'm thinking no way would he consent to being made vampire.
(Credit: HBO)
Joe Manganiello as Alcide with his father (Robert Patrick) in episode 5.11 (Credit: HBO)
Deborah Ann Woll as 'Jessica' and Ryan Kwanten as "Jason" in True Blood Episode #58 (Credit: HBO)
Bill (Stephen Moyer) iStakes Molly (Tina Majorino) while Salome (Valentina Cervi) looks on in True Blood episode #58.
True Blood Season 5: Recap #58 VIDEO:
It's really hard to cobble together a cogent explanation of what I think may happen in the last two episodes of True Blood season 5. It seems pretty likely that whatever the coming war is, it will need to carry over into season 6 as two episodes are nowhere near enough time to finish up the myriad story-lines of this season. In recent episodes, former recurring characters like Sheriff Bud Dearborne and Mike Stephens the coroner, pop up only to get cut down--permanently. In episode #58 'Hoyt' (Jim Parrack) was spared death but was glamoured at his own request to forget Jason and Jessica completely and then set out for an oil-rig job in Alaska,
We've been promised a spectacular ending and most everyone seems to believe it will be a bloodbath--but who's blood will spill most? It seems highly implausible that the human race will succumb to the vampires. It's more likely that the faeries might be at battle with the vamps and the shifters and wolves will be coming down on various sides. Humans will simply be collateral damage until they have to get seriously involved.
It also feels like the war hasn't really even gotten started yet and that perhaps season 6 and 7 can really ramp it up as a unifying feature to the story, something True Blood desperately needs. Despite it's frequent liberal outlooks sprinkled throughout the show, it really needs to have an antagonist or group of enemies that the shifters, faeries, vampires, and weres can rally together (more or less) and take down. That or go back to the story centering on Sookie It's better not to weigh down the show with 8 different plot threads getting going, then being dropped either for awhile or completely. Just go with an overarching theme, bring on the good acting, writing and direction and True Blood can go out the way it came in--as a highly enjoyable, supernatural romp.
True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #58 VIDEO:
Go inside the episode with Director, Scott Winant and Writer, Alexander Woo.
After the jump!:Episode #58 Promo PHOTOS, True Blood Season 5: Jessica's Vlog (Episode #58) VIDEO:
Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica and Ryan Kwanten as Jason lie together in the dirt in True Blood episode 5.11 on HBO Sunday (Credit: HBO)
There are several very shocking True Blood images in the True Blood Season 5: Episode #59 Preview (VIDEO).
Does Jason die in season 5? Maybe--from the looks of the 'compromising position', that of maker and progeny, it appears that Jessica is in the process of turning Jason. The episode description for episode #59, (below) implies that Jessica is possibly forced to turn someone...so Jason drew the short straw? It appears too that Jason is at the mercy of Russell who wants Sookie for her fairy blood. Does Russell have a hand in Jason's ultimate destination in the dirt?
Denis O'Hare as Russell and Ryan Kwanten as Jason in True Blood Sunday on HBO (Credit: HBO)
'TRUE BLOOD 'Sunset' Season 5, Episode 11, (Episode #59) Synopsis: Sookie probes an ancient family secret with help from a faerie elder; Jessica is an unwilling participant in Bill's ongoing religious conversion; Alcide reconnects with his father; the military uses a video of Russell and Steve Newlin as ammunition; Sam and Luna hitch a ride into the Authority. Original Air Date: Aug 19, 2012 Guest Cast Robert Patrick: Jackson Herveaux Joe Manganiello: Alcide Herveaux Valentina Cervi: Salome Lucy Griffiths: Nora Kristina Anapau: Maurella
TRUE BLOOD Season 5 Finale Synopsis: True Blood Episode: "Save Yourself" Season 5, Episode 12 (Episode #60) Synopsis:
In the fifth-season finale, Eric makes one last attempt to thwart the Authority and save Bill from losing his humanity. Meanwhile, Alcide prepares for another battle with JD; Sam and Luna try to escape the Authority; and Andy deals with the fallout of a pact. Original Air Date: Aug 26, 2012 Guest Cast Joe Manganiello: Alcide Herveaux Lucy Griffiths: Nora Louis Herthum: JD Valentina Cervi: Salome
AFTER THE JUMP: True Blood Season 5: 2 Episodes Left VIDEO:
Jason (Ryan Kwanten) walks into an empty-looking Merlotte's and meets a distraught Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). Jason too, is disturbed: Where are Jessica's bodyguards? They quit because Bill stopped paying them, is the response. Also, they were 'lookin' tasty.' (haha)
At the oddly vacant Bon Temp's watering hole, they are both there 'to meet someone.'
And then, Hoyt (Jim Parrack), looking impossibly healthy, walks in.
Ryan Kwanten as Jason in True Blood episode 5,09 (Credit: HBO)
(Above) Watch a scene from Episode #58 of True Blood Season 5.
Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica in True Blood episode 5.09 (Credit:HBO)
True Blood this Sunday: A famous True Blood love triangle collides. Hoyt looks very healthy for a guy with such a serious-looking head wound. You don't supposes Jessica helped out in that department, do you? What is all the angsty stuff in the sneak peek video about then?
Yes. It's true. Anna Paquin is pregnant and showing in True Blood now, and will continue to. She even appears in True Blood episode 5.09 to be 'nesting' like a pregnant woman but alas, "Sookie Stackhouse" is not with child. All together now: Let's have fun watching Anna's tummy get huge in the next few weeks! It is fascinating to see how a woman carries (shows-carrying) twins. Very different shape and location of early pregnancy signs than in a non-multiple pregnancy.
Just WTH with Mike Stephens? He is uber-creepy and he is a coroner. Plus he probably saw her parent's bodies...
With vampire-on-human attacks increasing, the Authority attempts to woo public favor. Meanwhile, Nora tries to convert Eric to Lilith's gospel. Jason finds a mysterious scroll; Elijah, the new vampire sheriff of Area 5, pushes Pam and Tara to obey a new mandate; Sam and Luna search for Emma; Russell seeks a higher calling.
True Blood episode 5,08 Hoyt (Jim Parrack) lies unconscious and close to death in Jason's (Ryan Kwanten) arms.(Credit: HBO)
Alexander Skarsgård stars as 'Eric' in True Blood on HBO
True Blood Season 5: Recap #57 VIDEO:
True Blood Season 5: 'Only 3 Episodes Left' Promo VIDEO:
Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood on HBO
True Blood Season 5: Gone, Gone, Gone Promo VIDEO:
Episode #58: “Gone, Gone, Gone” SYNOPSIS:
Debut: SUNDAY, AUG. 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
With vampire-on-human attacks increasing, the Authority attempts to woo public favor. Meanwhile, Nora (Lucy Griffiths) tries to convert Eric to Lilith’s gospel. Jason finds a mysterious scroll; Elijah (Keram Malicki-Sanchez), the new vampire sheriff of Area 5, pushes Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) and Tara (Rutina Wesley) to obey a new mandate; Sam (Sam Trammell) and Luna (Janina Gavankar) search for Emma (Chloe Noelle); Russell (Denis O’Hare) seeks a higher calling. via HBO Publicity
Written by Alexander Woo; directed by Scott Winant.
Stephen Moyer as 'Bill' in True Blood on HBO
Seems to me that the body count is going to continue to climb at a fast clip as True Blood winds up it's 5th and final season with Alan Ball as showrunner. Season 5 has been a pretty wild ride with much of the Vampire Authority succumbing to political agendas and power plays, culminating in the true death. Former Bon Temps Sheriff Bud Dearborne (William Sanderson) and Terry's Iraq war buddy, Patrick (Scott Foley) bit it tonight. How many more dead bodies are in store for us in season 5? Three more episodes. I'll call an even dozen, including a main character.
Anna Paquin as Sookie and Ryan Kwanten as Jason in True Blood episode 5.08 (Credit: HBO)
After the jump! - True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #57 VIDEO:
Watch a scene from Episode 57 of True Blood Season 5.
True Blood Episode #57 / 5.09 Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Lafayette (Nelan Ellis) discuss dead people. (Credit: HBO)
Very good Sookie-Lafayette True Blood sneak peek which confirms ***SPOILER*** in case you hadn't read ahead-- that Sookie and Jason's Gran is returning from the dead again in the very-same-as-the-original form of Lois Smith! So yay! But "boo!' because according to Lafayette, Gran, as well as other dead folk are unnecessarily 'cryptic!'
In her baby-vamp vlog, Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) rants about Jason shooting her in the head and Ginger (Tara Buck) empathises in an unnexpected way. Jessica is hungry and so makes plans for dinner. (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Episode #57 Preview (VIDEO):
Stephen Moyer ('Bill') and Valentina Cervi ('Salome') in True Blood Episode #57 (Credit: HBO)
Stephen Moyer ( "Bill") and Valentina Cervi (Salome) in True Blood Episode #57 (Credit: HBO)
Episode #57: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Synopsis:
Debut: SUNDAY, AUG. 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) As the Authority proceeds with Lilith’s plan, Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) plots his escape. Gran (Lois Smith) directs Sookie (Anna Paquin) to a clue to her parents’ murderer. Andy (Chris Bauer) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) search for leads to the identities of the people behind the shifter killings. Alcide (Joe Manganiello) recalls his pack induction; Arlene (Carrie Preston) gets caught in Terry (Todd Lowe) and Patrick’s (Scott Foley) crossfire; Steve (Michael McMillian) gets a new pet. Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by Dan Attias. via HBO Publicity
True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #56 INTERVIEW (VIDEO):
Go inside the episode with Writer and Director of episode #56, Mark Hudis and Stephen Moyer. (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Jessica's Vlog #5 (Episode #56) (VIDEO):
Jessica's commenters advise her to 'think before you drink'. A tad late--the video only went up July 30 2012, but Jessica survived both Jason and Hoyt. I wonder how far Bill will lead her? She is not going to recognize him next time she sees him and it's not like she loves synthetic blood. If anything, Jessica could've been a perfect candidate for the Sanguinistas but ironically, Bill set her on a 'moralistic' path mainstreaming and my bet is that Jessica couldn't for example, eat Jason any more than Hoyt could kill Jessica. There are some really nice screencaps of both Eric and Bill and as not-Bill, Director Stephen Moyer (above) this week so enjoy--I know I did!
After the jump: TRUE BLOOD Episode #56 Recap VIDEO!:
True Blood - episode #56 'Someone I Used To Know' Stephen Moyer as Bill and Valentina Cervi as Salome after their night out on Bourbon Street (Credit: HBO)
Watch a scene from Episode 56 of True Blood Season 5.
Alexander Skarsgård as Eric in True Blood - episode #56 'Someone I Used To Know' (Credit: HBO)
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) was in the midst of a blood frenzy with the rest of the vampires in a bar on Bourbon Street when his and Nora's (Lucy Griffiths) deceased maker,'Godric,' made an appearance and called him out as doing 'wrong.' Godric instructed Eric to reign in his sister in as though Eric knew better (than to go on a feeding frenzy), Nora did not. Unfortunately, all the other vampires are behaving as Nora, in a state of hallucinogenic blood-lust and they appear not to have any concerns about how many humans they consume. Even worse, Bill (Stephen Moyer) appears to genuinely be buying into their new openly-proclaimed 'Sanguinista' philosophy that humans are simply a food source for vampires.
True Blood Season 5: Episode 56 Clip - 'Glimmer of Hope' Sneak Peek (VIDEO):
True Blood Episode 5.08: Somebody That I Used to Know:
Despite some retconning on the part of True Blood writers regarding Sookie's faery heritage--she is now 'half Fae,' versus the 'one-eighth Fae' that she's been stated to be in the series up to this point, they would really have to pull a hat trick to have Bill be the vampire who attacked and killed Sookie's parents. Sookie is supposed to only be in her late 20's: her parents died about 20 years ago and Bill was shown in the 1980's already mainstreaming. The numbers just do not add up to be Bill nor does this guy look anything like Bill. This then, to have the story come full circle so to speak, is Russell--the vampire with the power to smell faery blood on a band-aid in closed car, in a driving rainstorm, from how many yards away?
True Blood Episode #56 'Somebody I Used To Know' - Extended Synopsis:
At Authority headquarters, the Chancellors revel in the afterglow of recent events; Eric gets a message from Godric; Bill is shaken by a distant memory. Helped by Claude and his sisters, Sookie and Jason visit the site of their parents' deaths, with shocking results. An emotional Luna tries to walk in Sam's shoes. Hoyt's new pals bring him a present; Lafayette leads a séance to purge a curse; J.D. ups the stakes of his fight with Alcide. Written by HBO Publicity
After the jump: True Blood's Lucy Griffiths on the "Aggressive" Vampire Civil War:
Anna Paquin as 'Sookie' and Lois Smith as 'Gran' in True Blood season 1 (Credit: HBO)
HBO has released summaries for the upcoming August episodes of True Blood!
And, these are not your garden-variety plot summaries--they are packed with SPOILERS!
For example, (I'll give you a small one) we are going to seeLois Smith again! If you recall, she was Sookie and Jason's irreplaceable 'Gran' who was killed off far too soon in the series' first season. I've long thought that the series would be richer with just a bit more human element to it. Gran was such a steadying force in Sookie and Jason's life. I think that they could have kept the crazy but given us some breathers in the form of Gran. And I simply adore Lois Smith. I'm so glad she's able to be featured in an upcoming season 5 episode of True Blood!
There are more spoilers ahead so proceed with caution (or if you are like me, just dive right in!)
Anna Paquin in season 5 True Blood (Credit: HBO)
Episode #57: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”:
Debut: SUNDAY, AUG. 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
As the Authority proceeds with Lilith’s plan, Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) plots his escape. Gran (Lois Smith) directs Sookie (Anna Paquin) to a clue to her parents’ murderer. Andy (Chris Bauer) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) search for leads to the identities of the people behind the shifter killings. Alcide (Joe Manganiello) recalls his pack induction; Arlene (Carrie Preston) gets caught in Terry (Todd Lowe) and Patrick’s (Scott Foley) crossfire; Steve (Michael McMillian) gets a new pet.
Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by Dan Attias.
via HBO Publicity
Episode #58: “Gone, Gone, Gone”:
Debut: SUNDAY, AUG. 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
With vampire-on-human attacks increasing, the Authority attempts to woo public favor. Meanwhile, Nora (Lucy Griffiths) tries to convert Eric to Lilith’s gospel. Jason finds a mysterious scroll; Elijah (Keram Malicki-Sanchez), the new vampire sheriff of Area 5, pushes Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) and Tara (Rutina Wesley) to obey a new mandate; Sam (Sam Trammell) and Luna (Janina Gavankar) search for Emma (Chloe Noelle); Russell (Denis O’Hare) seeks a higher calling.
via HBO Publicity
Written by Alexander Woo; directed by Scott Winant.
Alexander Skarsgård as Eric in True Blood Episode 5.08 (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Episode 5.08: Somebody That I Used to Know Promo VIDEO:
True Blood Episode #56 'Somebody I Used To Know' - Extended Synopsis
At Authority headquarters, the Chancellors revel in the afterglow of recent events; Eric gets a message from Godric; Bill is shaken by a distant memory. Helped by Claude and his sisters, Sookie and Jason visit the site of their parents' deaths, with shocking results. An emotional Luna tries to walk in Sam's shoes. Hoyt's new pals bring him a present; Lafayette leads a séance to purge a curse; J.D. ups the stakes of his fight with Alcide. Written by HBO Publicity
True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #55 VIDEO:
Go inside the episode with Creator/Executive Producer, Alan Ball, and Director of episode #55, Michael Rusci.
True Blood episode #55 'Lilith' (Credit: HBO)
Alan Ball confirms that Lilith is merely a (shared) hallucination and that Bill, despite his proclamation that 'mainstreaming' is what he believes is right, is now clearly on the 'cusp of change.'
Rutina Wesley as Tara in True Blood Episode 5.08 (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Recap #55 (VIDEO):
AFTER THE JUMP: Jessica's Vlog with Pam! True Blood Season 5: Jessica's Vlog #4 (Episode #55) VIDEO and True Blood Cookbook: Eats, Drinks and Bites from Bon Temps VIDEO
True Blood - episode 5.08 - Bill (Stephen Moyer) attempts to shield himself in the immediate aftermath of Russell's staking of Roman (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Episode 55 Clip - Sam's Got a Secret (VIDEO):
Kenya to a prone, floor-sniffing Sam: 'Is there something I need to know about you, Mr. Merlotte?'
Sam to Kenya: 'No.'
True Blood Season 5: Episode 55 Clip - Together At Last (VIDEO):
True Blood episode #55 - Salome (Valentina Cervi) begs for Russell's life to be spared.
True Blood Season 5: Episode 55 Clip - Disturbance in the Force (VIDEO):
True Blood episode #55 -Jason listens while a faery explains Sookie's powers to her.
From the True Blood (HBO) blog:
The True Blood cast has been coming to Comic-Con so long now that their panel has practically become an institution. And like any well-seasoned TV stars, they knew exactly how to deliver the hotness:
The True Blood cast with creator Alan Ball at SDCC 2012 (Credit: HBO)
Alan Ball dished out some faerie stripper action.
You’ve already seen the club – it’s not a strip club per se, as it is more a burlesque club. We will see other faeries and other people in various states of undress … Sort of playing off the strip club in Charlaine’s books, we decided to make it a club where faeries just hung out and had a good time, which sometimes means having their way with humans. We wanted to be more adult, more sensual … more sort of soft-core porno faerie.
Alexander Skarsgard and Stephen Moyer relived their trunk scene.
Skarsgard: That scene was originally probably six minutes long, and it ended up being like a 10-second scene because …
Moyer: We couldn’t do it without laughing. But we did rehearse it all weekend … We both received emails from Alan, the lord and master. So we ended up kind of going in to see the principal and getting our wrists slapped.
More True Blood at Comic-con 2012 Sound Bites and SDCC 2012 PHOTOS after the jump!:
Ha. Check this True Blood screencap for next week (episode #55):
Credit: HBO
Russell (Denis O'Hare) is out on the town wearing Roman's ring on his hand. Remember that Russell collects 'souvenirs" of his conquests?! And now he has a brand-new one.
Scroll down for the video preview of True Blood Season 5 Episode 7: “In The Beginning” which airs on July 22, 2012 on HBO:
Go inside the episode with Creator/Executive Producer, Alan Ball, and Director of Episode #54, Dan Attias.
In True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #54 (VIDEO) director Dan Attias explains how Roman's (Chris Meloni) death is 'not the typical goo-splat.' LOL. Here. Instead of the 'goo-splat' which people are complaining(!) is getting old (I think it is awesome--every time---vamps that go all splodey--what's not to love?) they CGI'd Meloni's face sort of caving in and rotting:
Chris Meloni as Roman in True Blood Episode 5.06 'Hopeless' (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Recap #54 VIDEO:
Vampire tech girl Molly, played by Tina Majorino: Was she in on it? (Credit: HBO)
My guess is, how could she not know? She is the sole iStake tech. She made such a big deal to Bill and Eric about not fiddling with them or trying to deactivate them and testing, testing, testing...she had to have put Russell's on--so I'm surmising that this look on her face is one of anticipation, albeit the super-scared kind of anticiapting, that the big, big plan is about to go down...or I could be wrong and she's gonna get staked, ASAP.
True Blood Season 5: Episode #55 Preview VIDEO:
The synopsis for True Blood Episode 5.07 contains spoilers!
SUNDAY, JULY 22 Episode #55 (5.07): “In the Beginning”: Salome reveals her true allegiances; Sookie embraces her human side; Sam sniffs out some perps; Alcide braces for a fight. (Written by Brian Buckner; directed by Michael Ruscio.) Season 5 Episode 8 Airs 29 Jul. 2012. Plot Summary for "True Blood" In the Beginning (2012) Bill and Eric get a powerful taste of sacred blood. A revelation at Hot Wings (the faery burlesque club) causes Sookie to wonder what her life would be like without faerie powers. Meanwhile, Sam sniffs out several shifter shooters; Hoyt finds camaraderie in a new group of friends; Alcide prepares for the worst in his faceoff with J.D.; Andy attempts to reconnect with Bud; Lafayette finds an unlikely ally searching for Jesus' body in Mexico; Lettie Mae pays Tara a visit; Arlene takes a sentimental journey as her concerns for Terry deepen. Written by HBO Publicity
Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin at the San Diego Comic Con 2012 for True Blood (CREDIT: AP)
Published on Jul 14, 2012 by trueblood What secrets were spilled? Preview the second half of True Blood Season 5 in this exclusive trailer revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2012. Tune in to a new episode every Sunday night at 9PM, only on HBO.
True Blood Season 5, part 2 - Kristen Bauer van Straten as Pam
SAN DIEGO (AP) — There's more supernatural wackiness in store for the sex-crazed residents of Bon Temps. The Saturday presentation at Comic-Con for HBO's "True Blood" kicked off with a trailer teasing the remaining episodes of the campy HBO vampire series' fifth season. The fast-moving footage showed Lafayette (played by Nelsan Ellis) channeling spirits, newbie vampire Tara (Rutina Wesley) working as a burlesque dancer (looked like she was pole-dancing at Fangtasia--I think the 'burlesque' dancing is being done in Fairyland), Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) going wild and old-school vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer) seemingly sucking down on Sookie (Anna Paquin).
"True Blood" actors Paquin, Moyer, Wesley, and Woll were joined by their co-stars Alexander Skarsgard, Christopher Meloni, Kristin Bauer, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell and Joe Manganiello, as well as "True Blood" executive producer Alan Ball for the high-energy panel attended by more than 4,000 con-goers. Other than the spoilery footage, the cast kept the biggest secrets about the current season under wraps. Paquin called the final scene in the fifth season finale "very, very crazy," while Ball hinted that the audience will learn more about Sookie's parents, and there would be three new romances. "There's also a lot of people having sex, but those don't really count as romances," Ball added. The panel descended into a howling frenziness at several points during the hour-long presentation, including when "Magic Mike" co-star Manganiello empowered Ball and new cast member Meloni to perform the "body roll" stripper move, and when Kwanten was dared to walk on his hands across the stage inside a mammoth ballroom in the San Diego Convention Center. Saturday's panel ended with a standing ovation for Ball, who is stepping down as the showrunner of "True Blood" next season. SOURCE: AP___ Online: http://www.hbo.com/true-blood
Update #2 (July 24, 2012) AFTER THE JUMP: The Buzz: Comic Con - True Blood Joe Manganiello, Kristin Bauer van Straten on 'True Blood' (VIDEO)
Alexander Skarsgård as Eric, Stephen Moyer as Bill, and Denis O'Hare as Russell in True Blood Season 5, Episode 6, "Thank God, Russell Finally Showed Up!' (j/k) i True Blood (HBO)
Remember, earlier this season, True Blood's Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) were held captive & tortured by The Authority? When Authority 'chancellor' Salome (Valentina Cervi) was bullshitting reporting to leader Roman (Chris Meloni) her assessment of Eric and Bill as possible "Sanguinistas?"
Of Eric, Salome said that he had no allegiance but to (anyone but) himself. Of Bill, it was quite different: Though not Sanguinista, he had not made a choice, 'yet.' (paraphrase).
Of the tripe Salome periodically has fed Roman this was actually a pause in the shoveling of untruths/distortions. It was clear to us the audience, that she wanted both Eric and Bill alive (but for different reasons). Now that the thumbnail synopsis of the final episode of True Blood season 5 is out (scroll down) I'm going out on a limb and saying that Salome is a Sanguinista and by season's end, if he isn't yet, Bill will be, too. Obviously, Eric will not be.
I don't know if Alan Ball is going to do what everyone dared him not to--kill Bill---but it would surprise me not as the scuttlebutt was he got a semi-public tongue-lashing from the creator of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris, who, years ago of course, sold her rights to Sookie to Alan/HBO. She has yet to wind up her Southern Gothic book series but apparently the blogosphere relates, Ball got wind of Harris's plan to kill 'book Bill' and he promptly spilled the info. That is not a great way to shock your Sookie Stackhouse readers so my current guess is that Charlaine had to scrap the killing of book Bill--but that does not preclude Ball, the departing show runner of True Blood (HBO), from killing off 'our' Bill, played by Stephen Moyer, as the show moves into it's 6th season.
Anna Paquin as 'Sookie' in True Blood episode 5.06 (HBO)
SYNOPSES-SPOILERS True Blood Episodes 5.11 and 5.12:
True Blood Episode 5.11 - 'Song of the Dead Faerie' Bill slips into religious fervor; Sookie seeks insight from the faerie Elder.
True Blood Episode 5.12 - 'Save Yourself' Eric tries to save Bill from losing his humanity.
Don't miss episode #54 on Sunday, July 15th at 9PM. For more on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/HAObVp or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #trueblood.
Denis O'Hare as Russell and Anna Paquin as Sookie in True Blood - Episode #55 - 'Hopeless' (HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Episode #54 Preview (VIDEO) Screencaps:
SUNDAY, JULY 15“Hopeless”
The aftermath at the asylum leaves Sookie with an eerie sense of foreboding. At Fangtasia, Pam breaks up a vamp-girl fight, praising Tara for her tenacity. Lafayette visits Ruby Jean (Alfre Woodard), who also received a disturbing message from Jesus.(cont.)
'Jesus's" disturbing appearance in episode 5.05
Fearing for his family’s safety, Terry blames his curse for his troubles with Arlene (Carrie Preston). Alcide challenges J.D. (Louis Herthum); Sam offers to help Andy investigate the recent shootings; Roman lays out his plans to take out Russell. ALSO: Episode #54 (5.06): “Hopeless”: Bill and Eric are retrieved by the Authority; Roman lays out his plans for Russell. (Written by Alan Ball; directed by Dan Attias.
True Blood Season 5: Jessica's Vlog #3 (Episode #53) (VIDEO):
Baby Vamp No More: Jessica and new Vamp Tara pal around in the Fangtasia ladies room/cafeteria. (VIDEO)
Quotes from episode 5.05:
"We say goodbye, and the next thing, you guys are back in my house and a 3,000-year-old vampire wants to suck my blood ... Must be Thursday!" - Sookie
Rutina Wesley as Tara and Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica in the Fangtasia Ladies room
"Listen close. I saved your fuckin' life and lent you some truly exquisite clothes, but if you do anything to mess with Fangtasia, I will silver you and stick you in a coffin to rot until the next millennium." - Pam to Tara
TRUE BLOOD - Deborah Ann Woll in Episode 5.05 Sneak Peek, 'Immortal'
Here we have two sneak peeks from the upcoming episode 5.05 of TRUE BLOOD in which teen vampire 'Jessica' enthuses about the coolness about being a vampire--namely 'immortality,' to baby vamp Tara.
Meanwhile while on the hunt for Russell Edgington, Bill and Eric, who are riding in the back of Alcide's work truck, receive a call from the Authority's tech-geek vampire, 'Molly' (Tina Majorino) informing them that their lives are ticking away by the minute and that the 'i-Stakes' attached over their hearts are set to activate at dawn, rendering them both, despite being cute, to goo.
Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård in TRUE BLOOD Episode 5.05
True Blood Season 5: Episode #53 Clip - 'Immortal' (VIDEO):
True Blood Season 5: Episode #53 Clip - 'The Final Countdown' (VIDEO):
SYNOPSIS:
SUNDAY, JULY 8 “Boot and Rally Alley”Episode #53 (5.05): With time running short, Bill and Eric enlist Sookie to probe for clues on Russell’s hiding place. Unable to deal with the demon magic inside him, Lafayette calls out to Jesus’ spirit for help. Patrick Devins (Scott Foley) and Terry are held hostage in a bunker belonging to their Iraq War buddy Brian Eller (Brian Geraghty). Jason wakes to a disturbing dream; Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) gives Tara advice on adjusting to vampire life; Sam visits Luna (Janina Gavankar) with bad news. ALSO: Episode #53 (5.05): “Let’s Boot and Rally”: Bill and Eric turn to Sookie for help with Russell’s whereabouts; Jason has a disturbing dream. (Written by Angela Robinson; directed by Michael Lehmann.)
Hoyt (Jim Parrack) challenges Tara (Rutina Wesley) to bite him in TRUE BLOOD episode #53 (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Recap #52 VIDEO:
True Blood Season 5: Boot and Rally Alley Promo VIDEO and Extended
SYNOPSIS:
SUNDAY, JULY 8 “Boot and RallyAlley”Episode #53 (5.05): With time running short, Bill and Eric enlist Sookie to probe for clues on Russell’s hiding place. Unable to deal with the demon magic inside him, Lafayette calls out to Jesus’ spirit for help. Patrick Devins (Scott Foley) and Terry are held hostage in a bunker belonging to their Iraq War buddy Brian Eller (Brian Geraghty). Jason wakes to a disturbing dream; Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) gives Tara advice on adjusting to vampire life; Sam visits Luna (Janina Gavankar) with bad news. ALSO: Episode #53 (5.05): “Let’s Boot and Rally”: Bill and Eric turn to Sookie for help with Russell’s whereabouts; Jason has a disturbing dream. (Written by Angela Robinson; directed by Michael Lehmann.)
TRUE BLOOD Episode #52 (July 1) RECAP:
Can someone please tell me where the heck TRUE BLOOD season 5 is going?
Episode #52 opened more story-lines up while others are being rendered seemingly pointless:
Debbie Pelt's parents served to give Alcide (Joe Manganiello) more screen time and to give him an excuse to see Sookie (Anna Paquin) repeatedly...and then blammo! Jessica (Deborah-Ann Woll) mindwipes Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) who was 'on the case', as they say, and Alcide tells the Pelts that the now-dead packmaster killed Debbie and tah-dah! --Sookie's Debbie problem goes away.
Sam (Sam Trammell) & Luna's (Janina Gavankar) shifter friends from last season show up wanting to 'go for a run,' having gone to Luna first and having her refuse them, they 'pick' Sam. Sam shows up at the appointed place to find both shifters with bullet holes in their heads. It was made clear that Sam had no contact with them whatsoever prior so the immediate suspicion of wolf-pack intimidation makes no sense whatsoever...
Nora (Lucy Griffiths) rats out the child Authority chancellor vampire and Roman (Chris Meloni) makes a speech about the pretty stake-in-a-box with it's point made from Judas's melted-down silver coins. Then Roman stakes the kid--though they showed none of the kill. True Blood won't stake a kid vamp on HBO? Russell Edgington would consider that pretty spineless though I'm sure there will be no one mourning the loss of that snarky little fanger. Frankly, I'm finding the lot of the Authority tedious and that includes Meloni.
Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) is still turning into the blue demon every time he gets really angry; this time he cursed Sookie's car (will this be a final goodbye to the '81 Honda?) causing it to accelerate coupled with brake failure. Sookie bailed when it was going 60 mph and escaped unscathed(!)
Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) are still at the mercy of the Authority though they are (for now) set free to pursue Russell. They end up staring in Sookie's window, where a drunk Sookie is on the sofa making out with Alcide. It appears that they are about to engage in some faery/telepath-werewolf interruptus.
Pam and Tara (Rutina Wesley) bonded after Pam retrieved Tara from self-immoliation by tanning bed. Kristen Bauer van Straten as Pam is still the most compelling reason to keep watching season 5.
Because he believes he's going to meet the true death, Eric made up with Pam and then released her.
Bill believes he 'did well' with Jessica though he did not reveal to her that he too, will probably meet the true death.
Terry (Todd Lowe) and Patrick (Scott Foley) found their former military buddy in a hideout underground; he appears to be more batshit than even Terry due to their shared traumatic war experience.
I have no idea why but Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Andy were blindfolded and willingly accompanied a bunch of faeries and that geriatric judge with questionable ethics to a faeryland nightclub complete with circus-like performances. The judge claimed he went there every weekend. Andy and Jason were none the wiser and things seemed to be rolling right along until Sookie & Jason's cousin Hadley, who has taken refuge in faeryland, saw Jason and begged him to bring Sookie there for her safety. There was a kerfuffle and Jason and Andy were booted out, where they landed in the field where Jessica chased Claude the faery, the guy that smelled really delicious in the previous episode, and both promptly got zapped by the bouncers, presumably to mindwipe them.
Check out the #53 promo video and screencaps from next week's episode as well as the video recap of episode #52 (above) and Inside the Episode (below).
Go inside the episode with Writer and Director of episode #52, Alexander Woo and Romeo Tirone.
SUNDAY, JULY 1 “We’ll Meet Again” - Episode #52 Description:
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) have doubts they will survive the search for Russell (Denis O’Hare). Sookie (Anna Paquin) drowns her sorrows (and) opens up to Alcide (Joe Manganiello). An irate Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) unwittingly puts Sookie’s life in danger. At Authority headquarters, Roman (Christopher Meloni) and Salome (Valentina Cervi) continue interrogating Nora (Lucy Griffiths) about the Sanguinistas – and a possible the traitor within the Council. Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) forces Tara (Rutina Wesley) to toe the line; Andy (Chris Bauer) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) go to a burlesque party; Sam’s (Sam Trammell) shifter friends invite him for a run; Terry (Todd Lowe) flashes back to a deadly night in Iraq; Hoyt (Jim Parrack) tests the fangbanger waters. ALSO: Episode #52 (5.04): “We’ll Meet Again”: Eric and Bill fear for their lives; Lafayette puts Sookie’s life in danger; Roman and Salome root out a Council traitor. (Written by Alexander Woo; directed by Romeo Tirone.)
Anna Paquin - Aug 27, 2012 - (Credit: Pacific Coast News)
ANNA PAQUIN and STEPHEN MOYER stroll in LA on 06/09/2012 (PHOTO) Above:
The numbers were just not adding up! Specifically, how was it that Mrs. Steven Moyer's baby belly was growing so quickly when in April ANNA PAQUIN and STEPHEN MOYER confirmed a fall delivery date?! Doing the numbers, Paquin should have been about 3 months pregnant when announcing the long-away impending blessings(s) but when she showed up to both the White House Correspondent's Dinner on April 28, 2012 and attended the True Blood premiere event at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood on May 30 and struck her traditional glam pose, many of us were perplexed as how the otherwise tiny Academy Award-winning actress had such an incredibly big tummy!
JULY 16 UPDATE:
Anna Paquin at the True Blood (HBO) wrap party (July 7, 2012)
JULY 16 UPDATE:
Stephen Moyer on having twins with Anna Paquin (JULY 16):
Now we know: TRUE BLOOD'S Sookie and Bill are having twins!
Stephen Moyer thinks having twins with Anna Paquin is going to be ''crazy.''
The 'True Blood' actor - who is married to his co-star - already has two children, Billy and Lilac, from previous relationships and the 42-year-old star anticipates that fathering duties are about to get dramatically more hectic.
He said: ''I love my kids beyond anything. They're the best things ever, and having two more is just going to be even more crazy, but that's cool!''
Moyer's 29-year-old wife has continued to record their vampire television series throughout her pregnancy.
The couple got married on August 21, 2010 and their hit series was recently renewed for a sixth season by HBO.
ANNA PAQUIN in Herve L. Laroux cutout gown) and STEVE MOYER attend the White House Correspondent's Dinner on April 28, 2012
After an insider confirmed that Paquin 29, and husband of nearly two years Moyer, 42, are expecting twins, costar Sam Trammell -- father to 11-month-old twins Winston and Gus with girlfriend Missy Yager -- shared with Us magazine recently when (they) chatted about the double baby news. "We sent them a special gift. It's so interesting that True Blood has become, like, the 'twins' show."
Sam Trammell with his partner of 8 years, Missy Yager, at the June 2011 True Blood premiere when Yager was 7-8 months pregnant with their twin boys (born August 9, 2011)
And though Moyer has two children, Lilac,10, and Billy, 12, from a previous relationship, he's been listening intently to Trammell's advice on the ins and outs of raising multiples.
"It's harder, having twins, but it's all we know. So we're trying to impart some decent wisdom," Trammell added. "I told them to hold on tight!"
But Moyer is up for the challenge. "It's always amazing," he told Zap2it in May of his wife's pregnancy. "I love my kids so much. And I think that the fact that Anna is pregnant just adds more crazy to the bundle of fun."
Looking as lovely as ever, Anna, she of super-toned body and great fashion sense, even clad in 'slimming black' looked at least 5 months pregnant in June (remember, stars don't show the way we mortals do). Between the pregnancy announcement in April and the announcement of a multiple pregnancy yesterday, I searched through shots of Paquin and Moyer and became convinced that the baby was 'older' than reported--but why not fess up to the actual due date?
Now comes the answer to the big mystery via a TB 'source' but confirmed by Sam Trammell, who co-stars in True Blood on HBO as Sam Merlotte, Sookie's ever-loyal (and loving?) boss.
True Blood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are expecting twins, reports revealed Wednesday (6.27.12). Paquin and Moyer, who have been married for two years, follow in the footsteps of co-star Sam Trammell, whose girlfriend Missy Yager had twins 11 months ago.
However, Paquin's expanding baby bump is causing problems for the show's writers because they are trying to conceal her pregnancy.
Creator Alan Ball explained: ''So, in the last few episodes, Sookie's holding a big purse in front of her at all times.
''I actually heard from the costume designer about midway through the season, she went, 'Sookie can't wear a Merlotte's [restaurant] T-shirt anymore.' And I went, 'Well, it's a good thing Sookie isn't really at Merlotte's anymore, she's basically trying to save the world.'
''So, we'll put her in loose-fitting, save the world outfits.''
Anna also confirmed that her pregnancy won't be reflected on screen.
She said: ''At this point, [Sookie] doesn't have a boyfriend on the show.''
Joe Manganiello as 'Alcide' and Anna Paquin as 'Sookie' in TRUE BLOOD Episode 5.04 - Sunday on HBO
SUNDAY, JULY 1 “We’ll Meet Again”- Episode #52 Description:
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) have doubts they will survive the search for Russell (Denis O’Hare). Sookie (Anna Paquin) drowns her sorrows (and) opens up to Alcide (Joe Manganiello). An irate Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) unwittingly puts Sookie’s life in danger. At Authority headquarters, Roman (Christopher Meloni) and Salome (Valentina Cervi) continue interrogating Nora (Lucy Griffiths) about the Sanguinistas – and a possible the traitor within the Council. Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) forces Tara (Rutina Wesley) to toe the line; Andy (Chris Bauer) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) go to a burlesque party; Sam’s (Sam Trammell) shifter friends invite him for a run; Terry (Todd Lowe) flashes back to a deadly night in Iraq; Hoyt (Jim Parrack) tests the fangbanger waters. ALSO: Episode #52 (5.04): “We’ll Meet Again”: Eric and Bill fear for their lives; Lafayette puts Sookie’s life in danger; Roman and Salome root out a Council traitor. (Written by Alexander Woo; directed by Romeo Tirone.)
Giles Mathey as "Claude' and is that the shifter chick that hung out with Luna and Sam one evening and wenting 'riding?' (click thumbnails below)
Sookie, You're Being a Very Stupid Girl (VIDEO) (TRANSCRIPT)
I thought this little video nugget from True Blood season 1 was apropo to now--as it is sinking in for Sookie that she has been making some ill-advised choices--like, maybe she should have listened to Sam long ago? (Funny too, how Sam has now dropped most of his Southern accent!)
Transcript:
Sam: Sookie, you're being a very stupid girl. Sookie: Who asked you? I-I can take care of myself. Sam: I don't think so. Mack could have cut you up. Sookie: How do you know what Mack would've done? Sam: Now you're setting a date with a vampire? What do you have, a death wish? Sookie: No, I don't. I happen to think judging an entire group of people based on the actions of a few individuals within that group is morally wrong. Sam: Well, I will not let you put yourself or this bar in danger. I won't. Sookie: A-am I fired? Sam: No. But next time you think somebody's being harmed in the parking lot, pick up the phone and call the police. Do not go out there alone like a goddamn vigilante!
Description
Sam is upset because he thinks Sookie could have been hurt when she went into the parking lot to rescue vampire Bill.
When Eric turned Pam - TRUE BLOOD Episode 5.03 'Whatever I Am, You Made Me'
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) in 1905
So many storylines and still no Russell!
Sookie must assume that Tara is brain -damaged to put on the lame-o: 'Vampire, what vampire?' act.
Tara (Rutina Wesley) went to her former fuck-buddy/boss Sam (Sam Trammell) and told him she was hungry. She chugged about 2-dozen bottles of 'Tru-Blood' and promptly passed out. Sam put her in the Merlotte's kitchen freezer so she could sleep it off.
When Tara awoke she faced off with the entire Merlotte's staff plus Alcide; it was a very brief encounter as she expressed her desire to rip their throats out and they graciously stepped aside.
Arlene (Carrie Preston) does take direction well.
Note to Sookie: apparently it isn't 'like they are dead' when vamps 'go-to-ground' for the day--they too, dream--and even cry in their sleep.
While Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) was 'at rest' she dreamed of when Eric turned her. It turns out (no pun) that Pam sort of guilted him into it. They bedded down and in an 'afterglow' moment she asked to be turned. He got miffed, explaining that she had no idea of the grave responsibility of being a maker. She pulled on her robe and promptly slit her own wrists telling Eric he had a choice: turn her or let her die.
Pam was serious...and Eric knew it
Sookie fessed up to Alcide (Joe Manganiello) that she killed his ex-wife Debbie Pelt, who had twice broken in to Sookie's house trying to kill her. Alcide seemed more hurt that she kept it a secret than that she did the deed.
Terry (Todd Lowe) and Patrick (Scott Foley) left for their encounter with their ex-Iraq buddy who is now 'off the grid.'
We didn't have to endure Luna (Janina Gavankar)!
We did have to endure the oddly unsexy Salome (Valentina Cervi) seduce Bill (Stephen Moyer) and (presumably) Eric (Alexander Skarsgård), then Roman (Christopher Meloni). High ick factor goin' on by the time the sloppy thirds rolled 'round.
We saw Nora (Lucy Griffiths) tortured as her 'brother' Eric and Bill were--silver IV injection. (This torture technique has in no way grossed me out--it's too subtle. Anyway,) Nora 'confessed' to being a "Sanguinista" to Rosalyn Harris, the middle-aged lady vampire with the faux-Texas accent (Carolyn Hennesey). She annoys me as much it seems as she does fellow Authority member, 'Kibwe' (Peter Mensah).
Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) was out buying 'togs' when in walked the yet-to-be re-introduced character, "Claude." We only saw him briefly before in the land of the Fae (Fairyland) when he saved Sookie and her granddad. He was in 'ugly' faery makeup then so I don't see a problem with switching the actors. Claude is now played by Giles Mathey. Jess picked up his pure-fairy scent whilst she was updating her wardrobe and he was picking up 16 (?) dresses. Why yes, Claude is a gay, male faery and I'm sure he's proud, but the dresses are for his 'sisters.'
Giles Mathey as "Claude' and is that the shifter chick that hung out with Luna and Sam one evening and wenting 'riding?' (click thumbnails below)
Jessica chased him down to an open field which looks a lot like the one that Andy and Jason are in next week. She couldn't locate him but she was really turned on so she visited her current eff-buddy Jason (Ryan Kwanten), who unfortunately for her just had an epiphany about being molested by his high school teacher and becoming a sex addict forever after. Jason told Jess of trying to fill an emptiness within and she put away her fangs and insisted they talk as friends about his problems. I have a strong feeling that Jessica is going to really be focusing on 'friendship' this season.'
Finally, Tara broke into the local BonTemps tanning salon, climbed into a tanning bed and prepared to "curl up and fry." Pam, down in Shreveport, doin' the books at Fangtasia, sensed Tara's distress, uttered, "That stupid bitch" and...stayed tuned.
TRUE BLOOD EPISODE 5.03 Promo #2 - Roman comes to a decision about Eric and Bill
The Vampire Authoritys' bickering is almost as tiresome to watch as it must be for the Roman character to endure. I have no idea why the child actor is there because he's bringing nothing but comic relief with his high-pitched, 'Noooo!' blah, blah... "Apostates!'
Oh please, let him be the one to be staked when Roman finally loses it!(see below)
TRUE BLOOD Episode #51 ; 'Whatever I Am, You Made Me' SYNOPSIS:
TRUE BLOOD - Episode 5.03 - Whatever I Am, You Made Me- SYNOPSIS: Bill and Eric barter for their lives with Roman, the head of the Authority; Jason reunites with his old high school teacher; Sookie searches for Tara. (Written by Raelle Tucker; directed by David Petrarca.) (TV-MA) June 24 Premiere
Q: What's coming up on True Blood? TVGuide.com: You know that creepy story we heard this week about Lilith, the first vampire, for whom Adam and Eve were supposedly created as food? Well, guess what? We'll actually meet her this season — but not everyone will believe that she is who she says she is. "I don't know if Roman believes it," Christopher Meloni tells us. "He puts on the garb of a spiritual leader, possibly with a wink and a certain cynicism, so he's willing to take that bet now that [she] isn't real."
" Goddess Lilith"
Babylonian or Sumerian Moon Goddess, patroness of Witches, demon Goddess to the Jews and Christians, Lilith represents primal feminine sexuality. Lilith is the protectress of all pregnant women and of children and mothers. She is the Goddess of wisdom, regeneration, enticing sorcery, erotic dreams and feminine allure.
Q: The previews for True Blood seem to spell doom for Arlene (Carrie Preston). First Andy seems to be questioning someone about her whereabouts, and now Tara’s attacking her in her freezer.
Ausiello: There’s a pretty dramatic death in the next couple weeks, but Arlene is not the victim.
TRUE BLOOD SEASON 5 - CHRIS MELONI AS VAMPIRE AUTHORITY HEAD, 'ROMAN'
After plowing through the four new TRUE BLOOD videos released today and reading the Kristen spoilers (below) I'll add just a couple more thoughts (the others are in my previous TRUE BLOOD post).
I can now see why they are splitting the Pam origin story into two episodes . It gets rather...complicated.
I am really curious to know if it is an Authority member that Chris Meloni's 'Roman' goes all stake-y on (see above).
Fangirl's mini-rant:
Is it me or is TRUE BLOOD dumbing things down this year? Jason's (Ryan Kwanten) sex addiction has been crystal clear to us practically since we met him five seasons ago. Even so, in just the first two season 5 episodes, we've had him ponder at length (at least in Jason-speak) about changing his ways after declining to take a girl home from Jessica's party and had him taunted by a table of guys including ex-BFF Hoyt as a 'girlfriend-fucker.' Then we got the pointless scene at the Bon Temps police station where a teenager comes in and punches him, declaring Jason has 'ruined' the kid's life by bedding his skanky mother. And, just for good measure, Jason congratulates Andy on his one-nighter with waitress Holly (for 'getting a piece of pie without buying the cow') even though Andy is concerned that he did something wrong to turn her off. Now, via the Kristen spoiler we find that in episode #51 we are going to find out why Jason is a sex addict, despite the perfectly good explanation offered that his bit of faery blood makes him irresistible to the ladies. Do the writers of True Blood actually watch the show? No explanation necessary! (Please, please, please make it short and...short.)
True Blood Season 5: Recap #50 VIDEO:
Take a look at a recap of episode #50 of "True Blood."
KRISTEN SPOILERS #51:
The New 'Nan':
Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) isn't just showing up in Bon Temps to make himself an unwanted party crasher, he'll have a whole new role at the Authority. He's the best person to take over the old face of the Vampire Authority now that he's a vampire and a smooth-talking religious nut spokesperson. No Biting the Merchandise: As you will soon learn Lorena (Mariana Klaveno), Bill, Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Pam have a very long, sordid and interesting history. Bill and Lorena were out sowing their wild oats when he and Eric clashed before. This fun flashback also explains why Pam isn't the biggest Bill Compton fan.
Sex Ed Teacher: We find out that Jason's (Ryan Kwanten) former teacher (Melinda Page Hamilton) is the woman who sent Jason down a sordid sexual path. The gist of this big reveal is that Jason has so much baggage he'd need a whole cargo truck to go on vacation.
TRUE BLOOD Episode 5.03 - Vampire Tara (RUTINA WESLEY) appears to be about to enjoy a good meal (It is Arlene.):
True Blood Season 5: Whatever I Am, You Made Me Promo VIDEO:
TRUE BLOOD Episode #51 - Sam finds Tara in the bushes, in tears (and possibly feeding).
Extended Synopsis: TRUE BLOOD Episode #51: “Whatever I Am, You Made Me” Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m.):
Bill and Eric barter for their lives with the Authority Chancellors and their leader, Roman (Christopher Meloni). Salome and Roman enlist a new ally in the face of Russell’s return. Sookie goes to Fangtasia to ask for help from Pam, who is still caught up in her memories of Eric and the strange murders at the Comstock Brothel. Andy’s dalliance with Holly (Lauren Bowles) comes back to bite him in the butt; later, Alcide (JOE MANGANIELLO) is visited by Gordon (Steve Rankin) and Barbara Pelt (Linda Purl), who are searching for Debbie. Jason bumps into an old high school teacher, but their reunion brings up conflicting feelings. Written byRaelle Tucker; directed by David Petrarca.
'Well hell-o stranger.' Claudette's twin, Claude (Giles Matthey) is about to meet Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll)
What I'm most intrigued by in the promo for TRUE BLOOD episode 5.03:
Pam's origin story = More Pam & Eric (and SPOILER!!! apparently Bill and Lorena!)
A new faery in town. It seems Sookie's faery godmother's twin has shown up in Bon Temps and Jessica is really happy to meet him and we are again treated to the line, previously used on Sookie, 'What are you?.' In episode 5.01, Jessica recycled Bill's line from season 1 --'She is mine!' when Sookie was about to be fanged (unwillingly); this time was when Steve Newlin was about to do the same to Sookie's bro, Jason. Recycle, reuse, I suppose.
Are Sam & Arlene reacting to vampire Tara in the brief shot we see of them in Sam's office? The look on Arlene's face says they are. How big of a body count is Tara going to wrack up before she can be subdued (again)?
Why is Pam being so super-extra bitchy at Sookie besides the fact that Sookie is whining about Tara again? (This is gonna get old fast--the Tara being like a wild animal phase of her new vampiric state. Even teenage Jessica didn't go off the deep end like this and her turning was pretty horrific.)
What I don't care about:
Alcide and his wolfie issues.
Anything Luna. She can leave. Now. Another chick not good enough for Sam.
Terry and Patrick and the origin of Terry's PTSD. Terry is a minor character. We have plenty of his story, we don't need to examine it closely. Enjoy the 'caps!
'Caught' Kristen Bauer van Straten as 'Pam' in episode #51
TRUE BLOOD CASTING NEWS (JUNE 15) TRUE BLOOD - ROBERT PATRICK TO GUEST ON TRUE BLOOD AS ALCIDE'S DAD:
True-Blood.net has confirmed with HBO that Robert Patrick will guest star on True Blood season 5 as Jackson Herveaux, Alcide’s father. We’ll meet him in episode 5.09, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, when we flashback to when Alcide and Debbie Pelt were teenagers in the 1980s. Back then, Jackson was “powerful, inspiring, and heroic”, but in present day he’s pretty much given up on life. He’ll be a recurring guest star. Source: http://true-blood.net/2012/06/14/casting-news-robert-patrick-joins-true-blood-season-5-spoilers/
Sookie: 'Grab her.' Lafayette: 'How?' Sookie: 'There's some TruBlood in the cabinet.'
True Blood Season 5: Episode #50 Clip - Lafayette's Going In (VIDEO):
'Grab her.' This little scene is epic. It's absolutely perfect. Please give Nelsan Ellis an award. Give him several, actually. This is my guess how "grabbing" vampire Tara is supposed to work out:
Notice that Eric and Bill's hair are both perfectly styled after being taken captive via silver nets, being blown up all kinds of ways in a car explosion, and sleeping in a cargo container? Oh, the benefits of being a vampire!
The Vampire Authrority re-take Bill and Eric--and now Eric's 'sister' Nora into custody
Vampire Authority HQ?
Valentina Cervi as 'Salome', a chancellor of the Vampire Authority
CASTING SPOILERS: Episode 5.11 and 5.12:
TRUE BLOOD, Episode #512, "Save Yourself" (Additional Role) Writer: Alan Ball Director: Michael Lehmann Location: L.A. Start Date: Approx. 6/13/12
[SOOKIE STACKHOUSE DOPPELGANGER] Female, Caucasian, Long Blonde Hair, 5'5", 115 lbs. size 4, 34 B. Waist - 25-26" Hip - 34-35". No Lines
Kristen Bauer van Straten plays Pam Swynford De Beaufort on True Blood (HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Cast Favorite Moments VIDEO:
(Don't miss season 5 of True Blood on Sunday nights at 9PM.)
OMG. It's too hard to pick a favourite scene from the entire series! How about one from each season? Wait. Nope. That's too hard too!
Season 1, episode 12 in the cemetery after Sookie survives Rene's attempt on her life but not before Bill has gone out into the full sunlight in an attempt to save her. Ultimately, a combination of Sam and Sookie take out Rene. Bill is burned to a crisp; Sam realizes that they must get him underground so he gingerly picks him up and deposits him in a freshly-dug grave. As Sookie weeps, Sam buries Bill. Now, Sam literally hates Bill for being a vampire but for Sookie's sake, he does his best to save Bill. At that moment, I really saw the depth of love that Sam has for Sookie. It sounds odd but the gesture was incredibly sweet and meaningful.
There are many more. I'd love to hear about your favourite scene(s) from True Blood!
Q: I still can't believe Tara is a vampire! Any scoop on what's coming up for her on TRUE BLOOD? A: Sookie and Lafayette will certainly have their hands full this week, but lest we forget, Pam is her maker, albeit begrudgingly. Still, there may be opportunities for Tara to find allies in the vampire world. They may have been sparring in Sunday's promo, but Jessica and Tara could find a friendship. "Jessica is very lonely," Deborah Ann Woll tells us. "She's looking everywhere she can for someone to understand her and maybe there's an opportunity there with Tara."
Q: I absolutely loved the True Blood premiere! Any scoop on what's coming up in Bon Temps? A: Jason Stackhouse fans, prepare yourselves for some pretty bad news courtesy of True Blood stud Ryan Kwanten. "Jason's going to be lucky to survive. In fact, he may not survive this season," he teases. "It's been a rather brutal season for Jason." True Blood without Jason? We shudder at the thought!
Just a thought. Despite the True Blood teevee show veering away from the Sookie Stackhouse novels, perhaps if Jason dies, Kwanten will remain--as a twin faerie verson of himself. He _does_ exist in the books--and he looks exactly like Jason Stackhouse and we already know there will be faeries in True Blood season 5.
Steven Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård in True Blood season 5 (Credit:HBO)
TRUE BLOOD SEASON 5 SPOILERS (JUNE 11, 2012):
In the next episode #50, 'Authority Always Wins,' we will meet all the members of the Catholic Church-emulating Vampire Authority (their leader's name is even 'Roman' --subtle, huh?). As I mentoned earlier, while not appearing initially to be the most bloodthirsty bunch, their methods of extracting information should be quite persuasive (silver injection in the vein, anyone?).
Says E!: 'Think you are most looking forward toseeing Chris Meloni as a vampire? Well, actually our favorite Authority member is played by Christopher Heyerdahl. You might recognize him as The Swede from AMC's Hell on Wheels. He scares us in all the best ways.
Wolf Pup:...Next episode we will meet the most adorable of tiny werewolves. Seriously cute and possibly a huge complication when it comes to keeping her away from an unwanted pack.'
Despite four seasons of True Blood having gone by where we bore witness (in flashbacks) to the making of both Bill and Eric, my favourite vamp's begnnings have been left a big "?"--until now!
True Blood Season 5: Episode #50 Preview VIDEO:
TRUE BLOOD - Episode 5.02 - Authority Always Wins - SYNOPSIS: Tara resurfaces in Bon Temps; Pam recalls her human life and first encounter with Eric; Bill and Eric meet Salome at the Vampire Authority headquarters. (Written by Mark Hudis; directed by Michael Lehmann.) (TV-MA) : June 17 Premiere.
True Blood episode 5.02 'Bill' (Stephen Moyer) in the clutches of the Vampire Authority (Credit:HBO)
Authority member Dieter Braun, played by Christopher Heyerdahl (Credit:HBO)
Ever wonder how Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) started their 'partnership'? We'll get to flash back to Pam's life pre-vamp in 1905 San Francisco in episode 2 of season 5.
True Blood Season 5: RECAP #49 (Season Premiere):
See what happened on episode #49 of "True Blood." Tune in to the new season every Sunday night at 9 only on HBO.
AFTER THE JUMP: True Blood Season 5: Inside the Episode #49 (Season Premiere) VIDEO,True Blood Season 5: Jessica's Vlogs Promo VIDEO:
Rutina Wesley as "Tara Thornton" in Season 5 TRUE BLOOD
True Blood Season 5: Authority Always Wins Promo VIDEO & Screencaps:
True Blood Season 5: Weeks Ahead Trailer (VIDEO):
Take a sneak peek of what's ahead on the new season of "True Blood." And make sure to catch a new episode every Sunday night at 9 only on HBO.
Rutina Wesley as Tara and Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica in True Blood season 5
RUTINA WESLEY as TARA and ANNA Paquin as Sookie in Episode 5.02 - True Blood "Authority Always Wins"
In TRUE BLOOD episode 2, it looks like Tara who has been made vampire at Lafayette's request, woke up very hungry and has set her sights on Sookie for her first post-turning meal. Assuming that since both Lafayette and Pam are on the scene that Sookie will not in fact get her throat ripped out by her life-long best friend. But will Tara every be anything like the tara of old again? It took Bill about 150 years to finally start acting civilized; I can't imagine Tara getting her act together so fast.
So< what did you think of the TRUE BLOOD season 5 debut?
It's LATE so I'm for now gonna break it down to what I liked and disliked:
LIKED: I was surprised that I enjoyed the Jason and Steve Newlin scenes. I think I may like the vampire version of Steve Newlin. He seems much more fun. Sample:
"I think that that's why I started acting the way that I did—all murderous and whatnot."
"I finally have the strength to say, I'm a gay vampire American."
LIKED: Anything Pam. Sample:
"I am wearing a Walmart sweat suit for you all. If that's not demonstration of team spirit, I don't know what is."
LIKED: Jessica and Steve Newlin: They have more scenes in episode 2 which look to be really fun.
MEH: Nora and Eric banging away in the storage container. It was obvious that they lusted after one another but in this life and death situation? Really?
And yeah we get it, Eric is so. over. Sookie.
MEH: Sam and Luna: They just don't do it for me.
Andy and Holly in bed and the introduction of her teenage misfits.
Terry and Patrick and the PTSD story rearing it's ugly head. NO.
Alcide and his pack. NO. In the words of Lafayette (to Alcide):
"We're done with all the supernatural bulls--t. You heard me? No vampires, no witches, no ghosts, no maenads. And no motherf--cking werewolves."
Really, Alan Ball, I am so over almost all of the 'supernatural bullshit.' Tara turned vampire is fine. Bill and Eric's most excellent adventure is too. Sookie and Lafayette doin' what they do--groovy--and I'm pretty certain that bringing Russell Edgington back will be worth it. The Jason-Steve Newlin-Jessica triangle looks yummy. And sure yeah, give us some Vampire Authority. But that's enough!
The wolf pack story never worked and still wont. It's only a shade better than the 'Hot Shot' story that blessedly got dropped like a hot potato at the beginning of season 4.
Sam and Luna just don't have chemistry. And the CG on the wolves is so poor. Let's just stop.
And please, just NO to the Terry and why he has PTSD story.
RUTINA WESLEY "TARA" ON TRUE BLOOD at the EW photo shoot (MAY 2012)
"Tara is still a part of the show. I'm sure fans have a lot of different ideas of how that could be possible, and one of those ideas is correct."
- True Blood creator ALAN BALL at the True Blood Season 5 premiere party
One theory is that vampires Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) would somehow help shared love interest Sookie (Anna Paquin) (even though she dumped them both).
"I can tell you that Bill and Eric can't come running to the rescue," Wesley told TVGuide.com.
"They just killed a member of the Authority, so they're going to have a big mess to clean up themselves, so Sookie's going to have to figure this out on her own. But, you know, she's strong and resourceful and doesn't need a man to figure out her problems."
However Tara returns — whether that be as a ghost, a vampire or back to her human self, revived by vampire blood — Wesley says the once sisterly relationship between Sookie and Tara will be significantly different after that night.
"That's going to be the interesting part to watch: Tara's reaction to Sookie and Sookie's reaction to Tara," she says. "All I can say is it's charged."
In the fifth-season premiere, Sookie and Lafayette are reeling from Tara's shooting, but there is also the matter of cleaning up Debbie Pelt's blood. Meanwhile, Bill and Eric face a new threat from the Authority; Marcus' disappearance sends his wolf pack after Sam; Jessica parties with her human peers; Jason has a reunion with Rev. Steve Newlin; a visit from Terry's war buddy brings back his PTSD; and Alcide warns Sookie about Russell Edgington's return.
Original Air Date: Jun 10, 2012 Guest Cast Dale Dickey: Martha Bozeman Aaron Howles: Rocky Lucy Griffiths: Nora Joe Manganiello: Alcide Herveaux Denis O'Hare: Russell Edgington Kelly Overton: Rikki Rachel Sterling: Trish Noah Matthews: Wade Dawn Stern: Cat Ingerslev Louis Herthum: JD Conor O'Farrell: Judge Scott Foley: Patrick Devins
DEBORAH ANN WOLL AS JESSICA AND MICHAEL MCMILLIAN AS STEVE NEWLIN IN TRUE BLOOD SEASON 5 (HBO)
Lafayette (NELSAN ELLIS) has lost his lover Jesus, but he can still see him so that will make things a little weird. We haven’t seen the last of Kevin Alejandro (Jesus). It will get very creepy very soon as evidenced by this shot that keeps popping up.
Since Bill is dealing with the impending vampire civil war, Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) will have the run of Bon Temps. "She's starting to grow up, she's not really a baby vamp anymore," Ball says. "She's going to do what any teenager would do when her parents are out of town... party!" It won't be all fun and games this season, though. Jessica will have to navigate her new relationship with Jason (Ryan Kwanten) — with ex-boyfriend Hoyt (Jim Parrack) watching from the sidelines. "They're extremely attracted to one another, and there's a natural chemistry there, but it was born out of this guilty thing that they did," Woll says. "That's rough and they're going to have to overcome that somehow."
So, it would seem, that Lafayette puts down the stake.
It's an open secret that Rutina Wesley remains a cast-member on True Blood despite her grievous head would at the hands of the now-deceased Debbie Pelt in the season 4 finale.
The lingering question is how is that possible? That will be answered in the season premiere.
"We will see a lighter side to her," Wesley promises. "I hope we do get back to that Season 1 Tara where she has that flippant sense of humor that we all love. I just think she's guarded and I know sometimes it comes off as being angry at everyone in the world, but it's all earned."
Get ready for a Pam-tasm! We've seen how Godric made Eric how Bill became a vampire via Lorena, but this season, it's Pam's (Kristin Bauer van Straten) turn.
"We're going to see how Pam and Eric found each other and we learn how Pam became a vampire," Ball says. But Pam isn't the only focus of this year's flashbacks. We "even get a glimpse into some of Sookie and Jason's past," he adds.
CHRIS BAUER as Andy Bellefleur and LAUREN BOWLES as Holly Cleary in TRUE BLOOD Season 5:
Do you beleive in magic?
Marnie (Fiona Shaw) may have been vanquished but much magic remains in Bon Temps. According to Lauren Bowles (who plays Merlotte's waitress/Wiccan Holly Cleary), "Those powers are definitely going to be utilized because it's kind of a free-for-all this year. The power of the goddess can be used in many ways and will be relied on."
Sookie's faery godmother Claudine, after Eric finished snacking on her.
How about faerie tales?
Sookie's faerie family will be back in full force this season, but they're 'different' from what we saw before, according to Giles Matthey, who plays Claude, the brother to Sookie's now dead faerie godmother, Claudine (Lara Pulver).
"The role that my character plays is a mentor figure and he cares about Sookie," he says. Still, there are some who aren't pleased that Claudine was drained by a vampire.
AFTER THE JUMP: READ A SCENE FROM TRUE BLOOD SEASON 5 PREMIERE plus the SYNOPSES FROM EPISODE 5.02 & 5.03! :
Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood season 5 (Credit: HBO)
Eric and his sister - True Blood season 5 - Lucy Griffiths as 'Nora' and Alexander Skarsgård ('Eric') (Credit: HBO)
True Blood Season 5: Jessica Thanks Bill on #MakersDay:
Q: Tell me about my favorite pair on True Blood: Eric and Pam!
A: Well, if you paid attention to yesterday's scoop-filled post, you know that according to Alexander Skarsgård, Eric still has plenty of love for Pam. And Kristin Bauer van Straten promises that Pam is on a mission to get back in Eric's good graces. "Pam will go to any length to be reunited with her maker. Any length," she tells us forebodingly. "And we're going to see it. Pam has an amazing arc because we get to see her backstory and how she was made. It explains why Pam is the way she is and also why Eric is her one person that she can't live without." We've seen the first four episodes of True Blood's fifth season, and trust us when we say that Pam will more than likely be your favorite T.B. character this year.
See the whole article as well as more screencaps from the promo after the jump:
JOE MANGANIELLO as Alcide and ANNA PAQUIN as Sookie in Season 5 TRUE BLOOD on HBO Sunday nights:
See the whole article as well as more screencaps from the promo after the jump:
Q: Any scoop on any possible Alcide/Sookie romance?
It's definitely possible. Assuming of course that Alcide could get over that whole "you killed my ex-wife" thing. Alcide's confession last season to Sookie and his desire to protect her is very much present in the season premiere, but like all things in Bon Temps, romance is on the back burner until the bodies are buried. Oh what? Yep, multiple bodies need to be disposed of. Don't worry, there is a terribly sexy growl from Alcide in there too.
I’ve actually already screened the first four episodes of True Blood‘s new season and, based on what I’m seeing so far, I feel very comfortable declaring Season 5 the year of the Pam. Between the origin stuff with Eric and her present-day storyline with [SPOILER], Kristin Bauer van Straten’s vamp is practically in every other scene — and the show is the better for it. I’m starting the 2013 Emmy campaign for KBvS now. The woman is a national treasure! Question: Anything else you can share on Tina Majorino’s True Blood arc? Love her. Ausiello: Her first scene is with Eric and Bill. A shirtless Eric and a shirtless Bill.
Question: Can’t wait for True Blood this Sunday! Is it safe to say Russell is back to exact revenge on Bill and Eric?
Ausiello: ”Russell doesn’t forget anything, but he’s also smart enough to know when to let bygones be bygones — for tactical and political reasons,” the king’s portrayer, Denis O’Hare, tells TVLine. “There may be a greater good.”
ANNA PAQUIN and NELSAN ELLIS in TRUE BLOOD Season 5 on HBO starting 6/10. TRUE BLOOD SEASON 5 NEW Countdown: 5 Days:
In re: True Blood Season 5 Countdown: 5 Days VIDEO
Woo-hoo: A NEW photo still (screenshot) from the latest TRUE BLOOD promo (June 5) that clearly shows a cleaned-up Sookie and Lafayette, at night, standing over freshly dug, human body or two-size dirt, Lafayette with a 4-pack of TruBlood in his hand(!) and both of them looking very intense. I adjusted this one to try to bring out the TruBlood 4-pack.
Update: June 6/ True Blood Season 5 Countdown: 4 Days VIDEO - No new scenes!
The 'eterternally' gorgeous KRISTEN BAUER van STRATEN toasts her very favourite vampire, her maker, Eric Northman.
Ausiello says that PAM is featured prominently in the first four episodes that he's seen to which I say 'Yay!.'
Bauer van Straten with more screentime, STEPHEN MOYER getting a chance to direct (later in the season) and a baby on the way for MOYER and ANNA PAQUIN. All is right is the TRUE BLOOD world, IMO.
True Blood Season 5: Pam Thanks Eric on #MakersDay
The wait is almost over, "True Blood" Season 5 premieres in exactly 5 days! For more on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/HAObVp or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #trueblood.
MORE New scenes from season 5 TRUE BLOOD (Screencaps):
ALEXANDER SKARSGARD as Eric and KRISTEN BAUER van STRATEN as Pam in TRUE BLOOD Season 5 (HBO):
'Celebrate Maker's Day and the Season 5 premiere of True Blood on Sunday, June 10th. For more on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/HAObVp or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #trueblood #makersday.'
Fun clip of many of the True Blood vampires' day of making--being nearly drained and then feeding on their maker, then 'going to ground' together and waking up (a) vampire. I gotta say, it looks mighty painful with the turning of Jessica by Bill being the one that gets me every time. Here's a video of that memorable 'maker's day', too (second clip):
True Blood S01E10 "I Don't Wanna Know" Sentencing Clip:
This scene, which came in the next TRUE BLOOD episode 1.11, 'To Love Is To Bury,' contains Bill's awesome line to Pam and her equally awesome comeback!
True Blood S1 E11 - To Love Is To Bury (VIDEO):
Bill: "I find myself doubting if you were ever truly human."
ALEXANDER SKARSGARD as Eric and STEPHEN MOYER as Bill in TRUE BLOOD episode 5.01, 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' on HBO Sunday June 10.
Michael McMillian as the fomer Rev. Steve Newlin in TRUE BLOOD episode 5.01:
I'm not kidding about the episode 5.01TRUE BLOOD SPOILERS that came out of the red carpet premiere! The TRUE BLOOD cast was present and participating and there are brand new images which answer a few burning questions we've had about certain character's fates. Like, what happens to Jason, who at the end of season 4 answered his door thinking Jessica had returned only to find vampire Steve Newlin!
There also seems to be definitive evidence about who saves Tara. It's already been established that Tara--in some form--is saved. It really, really looks like Pam drew the short stick and was tasked with turning her (see blow/watch the video).
DEBORAH ANN WOLL as Jessica Hamby and MICHAEL MCMILLIAN as Steve Newlin in TRUE BLOOD Episode 5.01.
We have 2 new shots from scenes featuring Steve Newlin and Jessica so it looks like these two may be tangoing a bit. I would love to see Jess use some of the fighting skills Bill taught her to kick Newlin's butt --then stake him.
There's more exposition from Chris Meloni's 'Roman' (head Vampire Authority figure) to the captured Eric and Bill as well as a much clearer shot of a recuperating Russell Edgington (who, who, who, is helping him!?)
The Buzz: True Blood Season 5 Premiere (June 2) VIDEO:
Go on the red carpet with the Buzz and the cast of "True Blood" as they talk about what to expect in the new season. And don't miss the season premiere Sunday, June 10 at 9pm only on HBO.
Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skargard and more of the cast of HBO's vampire drama attended the premiere event at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood on May 30. Its fifth season kicks off on Sunday, June 10 at 9 p.m. on HBO. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/true-blood-season-5-premiere-red-carpet-331708
ANNA PAQUIN (Sookie Stackhouse) and STEPHEN MOYER (vampire Bill Compton) in a cast interview summerizing TRUE BLOOD Season 4 prior to the June 10, 2012 premiere of True Blood Season 5 on HBO (CREDIT: HBO)
TRUE BLOOD Season 5:Conjuring Up Season 4 Show CAST INTERVIEW (14 MINUTES):
Catch up on all of the action from last season with a recap of Season 4 and commentary from the actors. And don't miss the season premiere Sunday, June 10 at 9pm only on HBO. For more on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/HAObVp or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #trueblood.
TRUE BLOOD Season 5:Conjuring Up Season 4 Show CAST INTERVIEW SCREENCAPS:
The TRUE BLOOD cast is a seriously gorgeous group of actors. Here they sit for a 14-minute interview/commentary on the happenings of season 4 through the moments leading up to the premiere of season 5 TRUE BLOOD on HBO on June 10 @ 9pt/10et. I tried to get at least one screencap each of the TRUE BLOOD castmembers 'speaking with their hands' as they recounted last season's events; some are more expressive than others with the big, wolfie dude being by far the most animated, perhaps because he runs the hottest?
STEPHEN MOYER as Bill Compton and ALEXANDER SKARSGARD as Eric Northman in TRUE BLOOD Season 5, Episode 1, Turn! Turn! Turn!
TRUE BLOOD Season 5: Eric and Bill VIDEO Clip:
Clip from episode 5.01: Turn! Turn! Turn!
Joe Manganiello as Alcide and Anna Paquin as Sookie in TRUE BLOOD Season 5, Episode 1, Turn! Turn! Turn!
True Blood Season 5: Alcide and Sookie Clip:
Clip from episode 5.01: Turn! Turn! Turn!
Carrie Preston as Arlene and Scott Foley as Patrick in TRUE BLOOD Season 5, Episode 1, Turn! Turn! Turn!
True Blood Season 5: Arlene, Terry, and Patrick Clip:
Clip from episode 501: Turn! Turn! Turn!
In these three clips from the season premiere, airing June 10, Alcide (Joe Manganiello) makes Sookie an offer after she learns that Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare) is back from the "dead": The studly werewolf invites her to live with him!
Unfortuneately, Sookie's been keeping something pretty important from Alcide-- that she killed his ex, Debbie Pelt (albeit in self-defense. Pretty much.)
Scott Foley's character Patrick, was Terry's (Todd Lowe) platoon leader when they served in Iraq together. That's all we know about him, so far.
He seems a bit strange and his reation in the clip to the news that Terry & Arlene's home burned down is not let's say, a typical response of the average person.
Lastly, it seems like season five will be the season of the bromance, which Alexander Skarsgård (Eric) has decribed as similar to "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' between Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric! Finally!
TVGuide: We literally can't answer this question, lest Alan Ball has us all staked. But we can tell you that the title of the season premiere is "Turn! Turn! Turn!" which is a song of Biblical extraction about profound change, like, say, dying, becoming a vampire or declaring your true sexuality. All three of these things will happen during this hour, but the question is: To whom? (Answer: Not all to the same person.)
Pam and Sookie have words. Sookie gets the last one in.
Season 5 of "True Blood" premieres Sunday, June 10th. For more on True Blood, go to http://itsh.bo/HAObVp or jump in on the Twitter conversations http://twitter.com/truebloodhbo #trueblood.
Just went through the TRUE BLOOD season 5 Preview VIDEO. It's pretty cool.
Contrary to some grumbly comments where the vid is posted, there is in fact some new shots of new scenes. Most are not completely 'new'' as we have seen snippets of them before except for those of Russell Edgington, who for the first time we see being discovered in the concrete, rehabbing in a hospital bed, and looking completely healed and feisty as ever (though he appears to be bound). We also see Sookie, Bill, Eric and some burly guy discover Russell's 'hiding place' and come upon his 'leftovers' being nibbled on by rats. Yum. There's plenty more in my Picasa album including shots of Jason, Hoyt, Terry, Arlene, Patrick, Lafayette & Pam--pretty much the whole gang, minus Tara. Click thru and check 'em out!
Russell Edgington (DENIS O'HARE), worse for the wear after his 'nap.'
"A 3000-year-old vampire wants to suck my blood? It must be Thursday!' - Sookie to Bill and Eric
Jessica (DEBORAH ANN WOLL) and Steve Newlin (MICHAEL MCMILLIAN)
Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) speaks with a member of The Authority
True Blood starring Alexander Skarsgård, Chris Meloni and Steven Moyer:
NEW True Blood Wallpaper and Posters (HBO.com):
True Blood Season 5 "Everything Is At Stake" Promo (HD):
TRUE BLOOD - Season 5 - TV Guide Magazine Scans: Tara as Pam's progeny
All signs are pointing that way. See the video up top and here's another (read above TVGuide snippet).
SOURCE: TV Guide Magazine
Click through Picasa slideshow (below) for more/full sizes.
This is either proof of many people long ago calling this right or a complete foiler.
I don't wish to believe that vampire Pam (Kristen Bauer van Straten) has had the power to resurrect dead people and convert them to vampires because this is the first ever I've heard of this vamp power in the Sookie-verse.
If this is true, I commend them for trying to do something for the Tara (Rutina Wesley) character. Being made vampire she'll really be able to let loose with all her rage--snap a few necks--maybe of her fellow vampires! And any excuse for more Pam since it seems her maker Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) will be off bromancing Bill (Steven Moyer) in season 5 is fine by me.
Bringing back a guy that writes True Blood comics and used to be the Reverend Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) though it may have been easy to do, is hard to understand, 'cause I hate the guy. He's bloody annoying and over-the-top cheesy.
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'.)
You may have already heard that Stephen Moyer is trying his hand at directing this season, taking the reins of episode 8 (written by Mark Hudis). I asked Michael McMillian, who plays Steve Newlin, what it’s like to work with Moyer in such a different capacity and he had quite a bit to say:
"It's clear Stephen has a deep appreciation for these characters and a need to dig into things a little deeper than usual to find the truth in each scene. He has a natural talent for directing. He's really in his element behind the camera and brings a playful and wicked sense of humor with him. It was fun working with him. I felt like the parents had left town and our cool big brother was in charge of all us kids. He took his role seriously, but still managed to throw us a party."
This newly-available TRUE BLOOD CASTING CALL is so descriptive, so exacting in the detail of the the creatures being cast, that it qualifies for a SPOILER label.
First, this Casting Call is for episode 11 of TRUE BLOOD season 5--the penultimate eppy. It should be a big setup for the finale and, from the variety of characters that are being cast for episode 5.11, I'd say True Blood is going to end the "Alan Ball as showrunner"- era with a bang.
Vamp security guard. Check.
The Minister of the European Vampire League--which explains the need for the guy above.
A middle-aged werewolf 'elder' warns Alcide of a new breed of vampire(!)
Feral evil teen-girl vampire,
Feral, evil "businessman" vampire.
Feral, evil biker 'baby' vamp. Travels wit the teen-girl and businessman vampires.
Authority guards, vampire most likely.
It sounds like the faeries, who everyone thought were pretty funny anyway, are being played for laughs in this scene:'The ANGRY FAERIE gets into an argument with the Belligerent Faerie and the Pissed Off Faerie in a faerie free-for-all.'
This also sounds really goofy: [FAERIE BOY, FAERIE GIRL] 'This Faerie boy and girl get all amorous and excited as they pull Jason into their Faerie Club. '
So at a minimum, you have Alcide still up to his neck in vampires and still breathing which is good!-- as well as Jason alive and well it seems, and tangled up (sexually) with a couple of faeries! Go Jason. Though if he's gone to faeryland will he too, be away from Bon Temps for an extended time (ala Earl and Sookie)?
[GONDRY] Mid-30's, slimy and conniving, with slicked back hair, Gondry is a Vampire Security Guard. He has a sort of amused contempt for his assignment. Guest star.
[BERTRAND] A swarthy Frenchman, authoritative, confident, he is the Minister of the European Vampire League. Guest star.
[MURPHY ROLLINS] Mid 50s, a werewolf, strong, a man who speaks his mind, he brings a warning about a new breed of vampires to Alcide and Jackson. Guest star.
[TEEN-GIRL VAMPIRE] This teenage girl vampire with a ravenous, feral, just plain evil look about her. Co-star.
[ANGRY FAERIE] This angry faerie gets into an argument with the Belligerent Faerie and the Pissed Off Faerie in a faerie free-for-all. Co-star.
[AUTHORTY GUARD(s) #1, #2] These rough Authority Guards at the prison help keep order. Co-star.
[BIKER VAMP] This newly formed vampire with a feral, ravaneous, evil look is traveling around with the Teen-Girl Vamp and the Businessman Vamp. No lines, 2 scenes. (40)
[BUSINESSMAN VAMP] This businessman vamp with a ravenous, feral, just plain evil look. Co-star.
[FAERIE BOY, FAERIE GIRL] This Faerie boy and girl get all amorous and excited as they pull Jason into their Faerie Club. Co-star.
RUTINA WESLEY as TARA THORNTON in TRUE BLOOD Season 5 premiering on HBO June 10:
Despite reassurances that 'Tara' would again be a featured player in TRUE BLOOD season 5, some viewers were skeptical on account of her final scene in Sookie's kitchen. Wesley herself has said 'half her head' was blown off when Tara flung herself between (now dead) Debbie Pelt's shotgun blast and Sookie. Didn't look survivable.
However, through what can only now be attributed to mystical/supernatural forces of which there are many in Bon Temps, Tara looks fairly intact in this headshot (no pun) poster art, though to be fair, we are only seeing half her head.
CLICK TO Enlarge these TRUE BLOOD Season 5 Character Posters (May 10 2012)
Question: Do you have any True Blood scoop? The wait is seriously killing me!
Ausiello:
Terry (Todd Lowe) will spend much of the season on the road with his ex-military buddy Patrick (Scott Foley). “Most of the time we are out in the greater 50 states tracking down other members of our platoon trying to get some closure to this event that happened over in Iraq,” reveals Foley of the duo’s hush-hush storyline, which required “a lot of running and fighting and jumping. There’s a lot of physicality.”
The beautiful women of Showtime's SHAMELESS like Emmy Rossum in NSFW VIDEO scenes and screencaps FROM THE SHOW as well as magazine scans from other sources. (Copyright: Showtime)
