Anyone watch last night's episode?  What did you think?

I liked it...but my god...it has taken some major liberities w/ the original books.  It's been years since I've read them but there is so much that is different. 

I really liked it.  But then I've made a conscious decision not to read the books at least until this season is over, so the difference between the books and the series doesn't bother me.

Lafayette didn't look like the same person, did he?  It took a while for me to recognize him in that dungeon.

I feel the same, Marie.   If you're going to re-create a series from book unto film, you should at least follow the storyline in a somewhat tighter fashion.  I understand you can't follow it completely because you have more detail in a book than a show, but come on.  My biggest disappointment is if they don't do the Eric-Sookie thing.  Also, I hope she doesn't start tailoring the books more towards the series or towards what the series fans "want."

You know that all series fans are Bill fans because that's the obvious choice via what they've seen.  Also, given the fact that Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer date off screen, so that may effect things as well.  We'll see.  The whole Jason in the fellowship crap annoyed me though, even the panther storyline was better than that.

I was a bit disappointed with the Eric killing route they went.  Even in the book he doesn't kill like that, or if he does, it is not out and out like that. Lafayette liked much better in that basement then he does when he dresses his "normal" way.

I didn't recognize Lafayette either. I preferred his gay, flamboyant self. :)

I'm another who didn't recognize Lafayette. I don't think I'm going to like the story line with Jason and the Fellowship of the Sun, since I didn't like the FoS plot in one of the novels. <Boring> Same with Maryann. (Not a big Tara fan anyway. Just get over yourself already!) My husband was excited about the half-naked Sookie at the end of the episode. I couldn't quit laughing at Bill's line about the recycling and Eric coming down the stairs with the foils in his hair. :-)

ETA: I thought Sookie already knew about her uncle and Bill in the previous season. Did anyone else get that impression or am I just misremembering?

I liked it!  I have yet to read the series, and I'm guessing my best bet is to wait until this season is over..lol..good thing I have a HUGE TBR pile to get through, so I won't be bored until then.

Jenni

ETA: I thought Sookie already knew about her uncle and Bill in the previous season. Did anyone else get that impression or am I just misremembering?

No, she hadn't found out yet. We just watched the whole first season last week. We were both a bit bewildered that Sookie never found out about her Uncle Bartlett. Makes sense now!

It does veer off from the books, but I don't mind. Both the series and the books are great so far!

Thanks, Colleen. I'll have to go to HBO on Demand and rewatch that episode with Bill & UB. Maybe I was just projecting my "Way to go, Bill!" opinion and assuming that Sookie knew about it.  

Wow-- talk about different from the book.  What was with the foil in Eric's hair????? that is just wrong somehow.  Lafayette still alive?  

  I don't think Sookie knew about Bill and her uncle last season -- but I admit to forgetting sometimes what happened in the books, and whether it has happened yet here. 

What is she? If we found out last night, I missed that part.

Even if you read the series, jenni7202, you will not ruin True Blood for yourself, the books are different. Some things in the books happen, but others don't. In the books, Lafayette was killed, not taking hostage. The dead body in Andy's car was Lafayette. And I do not remember Tara and/or her Mom being in the books that much, if the Mom was even in there.   Anyone remember if she is?

Mind you it's been years since I"ve read the books...but

Maryann wasn't in the book at all (right?)

Tara was white, not black...and there were no exercism

Tara's mom was not in the book as much as she is in the show

I don't remember the Jason's girlfriend who was killed at the end of the last season.  NOr did Jason hold a vamp hostage in his basement

Then there is all the other stuff...Lafayette held prisioner by Eric...etc... etc...

I don't think MaryAnn was in any of them...........unless she is that mainerad (spelling).

I do think Tara was black, though it has been awhile since rading the books.........no exercism.

I believe all they mentioned of Tara's Mom was that she was a drunk!

I never heard of the girlfriend Amy and Jason was not in the 1st books that much? He was not a horn-dog in them either??

Yes, Maryann is the maenad character. It was in the book but never really a "character" and didn't show up much until the party fiasco. Tara and Eggs were at that party in the book. But overall Tara is a very minor character in the books. Mostly Sookie just goes to her store to buy clothes for vamp events and trips.

Amy wasn't in the books. But Jason is described as a real player throughout the series.

Well Tara was always explained as a long leggy blond so I got the impression she was white!

Jason was always described as a horn dog. 

...but.. Eric's hair... that is just wrong! lol

but.. Eric's hair... that is just wrong! lol

yeah -- he's a viking -- they are already blonde they dont' need foils!   

Well I've read all the books (with MANY others in between) and honestly I probably wouldn't even remember whether teh first few books were "in line" with the series.I LOVE the series though(also love the books).And I though it was hilarious that Eric had foil in his hair.I think tehy do a good job of portraying Eric.It's Pam that doesn't jibe right with me.

PS-I bought a Merlottes Bar and Grill tshirt off Ebay for $9!!!

Stacy

I'm going to have to agree with Melissa.  I also enjoy the departure from the books. I've only read books 1-7.  I have 8 but refuse to read it and have politely declined the offers of book 9.

My roommate watched the show with me, he had only caught one epipsode before.  He was asking all sorts of questions in regards to who was a vamp/waitress/shapeshifter.  I have the 1st season on Blue Ray but have yet to open it - we might have to watch the previous season to get him up to speed

My SO (who got me hooked on the series to begin with) loved the episode - I'm sure Sookie being naked had to do with it

It took me a while to realize that was LaFayette.  I didn't get it was Eric until the end.

I remember Eric saying in Merlotte's something about "we know who has wronged us". Lafayette stole V and that other guy, the one that was killed, had something to do with the fire. I wonder who the other people were?

 Count me in as one of the group that like the difference between the series and the books- Dh and I started watching the series on DVD- (first season) but in increments as Netflix only sends out 2 at a time (the anticipation betwen disks nearly killed us, lol!).  At first, Dh interrogated me about what was going on, what was going to happen etc, but the series deviated from the book so much, I told him I had as much clue as he did, and that he should disregard most of what I'd told him as the show was so radically different.  I have now taken it as the two(books/show) take place in the same "universe" but are really different stories and characters.

That said- I have come to rather like the character of Jason in the show- Obviously he is supposed to be a doofus and is at times painted too broadly as such, but I think he is a more likeable character in the show than in the book.  My only quibble with his characterization is that in the first season, he is shown as a child, and some of the situations he is in (albeit not much shown) he displays a lot more brain and character than he does as an adult.  I wondered if they were going to attempt to build this into the story (ie- did something happen to cause him to 'dumb himself down?) but it seems not.  too bad- I think it makes him less multi-dimensional and intersting in the end. 

I love the character of Jessica, who isn't in the books at all.  I think she appeals to me as I teach high school kids and she is JUST like some of my students (even looks like a couple of them, lol- fashion sense and all). I hope the writers can maintain the snarky brat/vulnerable naive teen balance going.  Plus it has provided for some very funny interaction/lines between Jessica and Bill.  (The recycling line was a hoot, and I loved the scene where she and Bill are trying to work out a mixture/formulation of the different types of True Blood she will find palatable).

I don't like the characterization of Eric- he is too over the top comic evil villain.  In fact, I think if the show writers tried to turn things more towards the story line of the books, I'd have difficulty buying into a relationship between Sookie and Eric--the chemistry is entirely too much on the side of mutual dislike, and not indicative of dislike b/c they are fighting attraction or will fall in love.  Eric's interest in Sookie in the show appears entirely wrapped up in her ability to read minds and her usefulness.  In the book, it comes through that he uses this as an excuse to avoid (at first) acknowledging the uncomfortable feeling of attraction and respect towards a human.

I did read somewhere that the show creator, who has read the books, is in the Bill camp as far as who he thinks Sookie should end up with and I wonder if he isn't developing the show with that in mind, and taking it purposefully out of the trajectory of the books.

I'm with those who view the books and the series as totally seperate entities. It's more closely tied than Bones and the Kathy Reichs books, but that's sure not saying much. 

We never used to have HBO so I just finished catching up with the first season on demand. The only thing that really surprised me about the show was how, ummm, earthy it is. It seemed like throughout last season Jason spent more time without pants than with pants on--not a complaint, just surprised me. 

Overall, I think the casting was great although I'm still kind of on the fence about Eric. He'll probably grow on me though... 

ETA:  Am I the only one still in the Sam camp?

Well... book wise I am all Eric, but show wise it's Bill for me. I had so looked forward to Eric coming to life from the book to the screen, and so far I am very disappointed. Maybe he will grow on me, but I'm doubting it at this point. Bill on the other hand..YUM!! I wonder if the show will take the same route the books do with why Bill initially hooked up with Sookie. I'm actually hoping that it doesn't.

I am for sure in Sam camp. He is so in love with Sookie. Him and Tara are just not right!!