One of the most talked about shows of the summer is True Blood, HBO's supernatural series about vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and all those eerie things we find both fascinating and horrifying. With the season two finale right around the corner -- "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" airs Sunday at 9 PM ET on HBO -- it's a great time to catch up with series creator Alan Ball (pictured, with Michelle Forbes, Rutina Wesley, and Deborah Ann Woll at the TCA awards in August). Read on for his thoughts on the future of Maryann, a Sookie/Bill pairing, and even a few spoilers on season three.
If you want to look at the full transcript of the wide-ranging interview, click here. The edited version starts after the jump. Oh, and read AOL TV's coverage of the show, as well.
I asked my TV Squad readers what they wanted me to ask you, and one of their main questions involves the books. Some feel the show doesn't follow the books closely enough. Your thoughts on that?
I think a book and a television show are two different mediums. If I were to follow the books, it would be all about Sookie, because Sookie narrates the story, and the other characters would rarely even show up. Jason would come into the bar and hug her in an attempt to make people think he loves his sister so he can pick somebody up. Tara wouldn't even have existed until this season, and she'd be white. Lafayette would be dead. So all I can say to those people is, it's based on the books, but it's not a literal adaptation of the books. I'm doing what I think is the best way to turn that story into a television show. Also, if I just stuck to the books, there would be no surprises. You could go pick up the books anywhere and know exactly what was coming. So personally, I don't see any benefit of making a carbon copy of the books for TV.
Will Eric be a bigger part of the show in season three? Will he and Sookie get together?
I can't tell you if they're going to get together, because that's going to ruin the anticipation. But, if you've been following season two, he's definitely been doing things to make her more vulnerable and more susceptible to him. And he does want her, he's just not sure why. I think it's deeper than just, "I want her because Bill Compton has her." Although that's part of it, because Eric is a total alpha-dog.
Yeah, that opening scene in "Frenzy" [of Eric and Sookie in bed together] was cool, but it kind of made me feel bad for Bill. I'm as big a fan of Eric as the next girl, but between him and Bill, it would be a tough choice!
They're both vampires, and they're both deadly, so there's that. It's the classic good boy/bad boy. The good boy, he's great, but the bad boy ... you can't stop thinking about him.
Yes, right. And we kind of all want Eric to grow his hair back, too. Seriously?
Oh yeah.
He wore a wig on season one, and we thought it looked ridiculous. I got a lot of e-mails saying, "Oh, I wish they'd take that wig off of him," so we did. We came up with the haircut just to get that ridiculous wig off of him. I think he looks so much better, and it's certainly loosened him up as an actor. It's like the wig came off, and he blossomed.
I'm always prepared to be shocked and awed every episode, and I am. Can you tell us anything about season three?
Well, the book is out there, so I'm not giving anything away when I say that we'll meet the Vampire King of Mississippi, Russell Edgington. And we'll encounter werewolves for the first time in the flesh; we've heard about them, but we'll meet them. I'm very excited about the character of Debbie Pelt. She's bad news.
Since I haven't read the books, who is that?
Debbie Pelt is the ex-girlfriend of a guy who's helping Sookie try to find Bill, and she is just hard ass, white trash bitch on wheels. She's so much fun. But there are other great characters, too. Everybody is struggling with identity in season three – What am I? Who am I? What is my life? Is it what I want it to be? How do I make it what I want it to be? What are my real values? And some people are like, "Am I human? I always thought I was, but maybe I was wrong." In one particular case, its like, "Yes, honey, you were wrong."
Is that Sookie? Is she part faerie? Can you tell me that?
I can tell you that Sookie is not 100 percent human. She is now aware of that.
After the white-light thing with Maryann.
Yes. She doesn't know what she is, but she knows that it's not totally human.
And people just love the story line with Sam and Andy and Jason. They're like, "Oh, they need their own spin- off show. Just put them on the road." Are Sam and Andy related at all?
They are not related; however, Andy is related to somebody in the show. He doesn't know it, but he'll be shocked when he finds out who it is.
Andy seems to be immune to Maryann's spells. Can you tell us why?
I would say he's been immune up until this point.
Ok. And Godric, is he really dead?
He is really dead.
That was such a tender scene at the end of "I Will Rise Up" between Godric and Eric and Sookie.
Yes, I loved that scene. However, Godric and Eric have a thousand years of flashback territory to be mined.
People haven't really been liking the Maryann storyline. What's your reaction to that?
I'm baffled because I think she's a fantastic character and a fantastic actress. I also know a lot of people who really love her. I think people are impatient, you know what I mean? When her story pays off, it is really, really gratifying.
Will she be in season three?
Maryann is not going to be in season three.
When I watch True Blood, I'm sort of prepared to be freaked out, and I usually am, but in a good way. When you're researching a lot of this stuff, is it kind of freaky to think about and write about, or is it just fun for you?
You mean researching people who eat other people's hearts?
Yeah, supernatural stuff.
Well, my approach for the show is to make the supernatural something that is a deeper manifestation than nature, than perhaps we are equipped to perceive. But in my own life, I think legends of supernatural, mythic things are really just a manifestation of the collective unconscious. So I don't really get freaked out. I mean certainly, you read about things people did to each other in the pursuit of some mystical or occult goal, and it's horrifying. But that's just human nature. That's just psychology. Psychopaths exist everywhere, and have existed all throughout history.
Do you believe in the supernatural?
I certainly believe that what we perceive as humans is just the tip of the iceberg. I don't necessarily believe in vampires or werewolves or that kind of thing, but I believe there is definitely a realm we don't necessarily have access to. I don't know what it is, and I hesitate to articulate it further than that, because I have no idea what it is, but I know it's there.
Why do you think people are so big on vampires right now?
Well, honestly, I think it's a bit of a coincidence that several vampire movies, TV shows, and books all happened at the same time, but I also think vampires are hot. Vampires are sexy. It's a very primal depiction of sexuality. It's also fun to fantasize about this creature that's stronger than we are, taking us against our will in a very sexual and savage way, whereas it's not fun to fantasize about a human doing that. It makes a certain sort of fantasy about surrender and being ravaged safe, because you know that a vampire is never going to come after you.
Right, and they're protective, like Bill is of Sookie. Well, some of them are anyway. That's appealing.
We're going to meet a vampire in season three who's not very protective at all. Those who've read the books will recognize the name -- Franklin Mott.
Can't wait for season three! Thanks so much for all your time, Alan.
Absolutely. My pleasure.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-11-2009 @ 3:17PM
Sarah said...
That was a fantastic interview! Thank you for sharing.
xoxo TRUEBLOOD FAN!!!
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9-11-2009 @ 4:22PM
Laura said...
"Yes, right. And we kind of all want Eric to grow his hair back, too."
Haha, WHAT? No one wants that God-awful wig back.
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9-11-2009 @ 5:43PM
0megapart!cle said...
It might have been better if someone who wasn't quite such an ardent fan of the show interviewed Ball. Just a thought.
True Blood is a good, occasionally very good show. That's it. It absolutely does not deserve the record ratings it is getting, and it makes me so mad to think of the many, many much better shows that were cancelled before their time.
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9-11-2009 @ 6:01PM
Bubbameister33 said...
Anything you don't like is stupid and people shouldn't enjoy it. Bring back Small Wonder!
9-11-2009 @ 6:03PM
0megapart!cle said...
I would be quite a dick if I said that. Thankfully, I didn't. I like the show and enjoy it. But I also have the appropriate taste to recognize its objective quality, and lament the fact that much, much better shows never made it to a second season, much less a third.
9-11-2009 @ 7:30PM
Bubbameister33 said...
Yeah, but this is HBO so they don't need the same number of ratings that say ABC or Fox need to keep a show from being canceled. Some people just don't like intelligent shows, look how popular reality shows are for no reason.
9-11-2009 @ 6:18PM
kit-kat said...
Awesome interview! I can't wait for season 3, and I hope that Alan doesn't take your advice on Eric's hair... it just looked really weird :P .
I don't know why everyone hates on Maryann. I do think her story has dragged on a bit too long, but Michelle Forbes is just so fantastic as Maryann I just don't mind too much when she is on screen. I usually only mind after the episode is over and I think that nothing much happened. It looks like she will be over soon, and I think I will miss her... well at least Michelle Forbes.
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9-11-2009 @ 7:25PM
KillMaryannAlready said...
THE NAME SAYS IT ALL! And don't grow Eric's hair back, he is sexy without it, now if its his real hair that grows back okay, but that wig had to go! It took away from his beauty. Good interview, asked and answered good questions...my question was answered: No Maryann. I really like Michelle Forbes, I wish she could have been a vampire instead...then she could have stayed on.
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9-11-2009 @ 7:36PM
closer said...
I am one of those who loves Maryanne character. I find her to bring out what is in people and letting it manifest itself.
Spoiler: AB mentioned Franklin, please please give Tara a break..lol.
If the Mississippi King is going to show up, I hope that AB has at least changed that up some and can bill not be so tormented all the time.
I love CH books and it is amazing how she has created such great character and I love AB he is just Great and I am sure he
will do what is best for the show and give us a great season 3... Please don't let Bill be alone or with a Bytch if him and Sookie separate.
Eric is great but I think he is very much the alfa dog but does he always have to win?
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9-11-2009 @ 11:56PM
tracy said...
uh, i don't know ANYONE who wants eric to grow his hair back.
otherwise, great interview, thanks!
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9-12-2009 @ 5:58AM
Jane Boursaw said...
Ok! Ok! Apparently, I'm the only person in the known universe who liked Eric's long hair! :-)
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9-12-2009 @ 12:09PM
Diana Laurence said...
Alan Ball is brilliant! I think he does a wonderful job both doing justice to the original books and telling the stories via the medium of television. True Blood does an amazing job of conveying vampires as both scary and irresistibly sexy...which, of course, they are!
--Diana Laurence, author of "How to Catch and Keep a Vampire" (http://www.howtocatchandkeepavampire.com)
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9-12-2009 @ 12:52PM
Hannah Chang said...
I really loved the first season of true blood but the second season hasn't lived up to the hype. I understand that Allan Ball wants to tell a different story than the books. I agree that you can add new characters and change the scenes around. I love Lafayette...a wonderful actor who made the show so much more enjoyable to watch--thank you for not killing him off. I also loved the other characters like Tara, Eggs, Hoyt, Jessica, etc which made the show a bit more interesting to watch than just Sookie's point of view.
What really upset me this season is the butchering of main character's qualities. You can play around with the story anyway you want but you CANNOT play around with the character's intrinsic values. There is a theme throughout the story that ERIC is SOOKIE'S protector. He is ALWAYS the one who is there to save her, whether it be a new driveway, saving her life-multiple times, or even a new coat. BILL IS NEVER THERE. This is the reason most readers (when we only had the book) loved Eric and grew to love and become addicted to the books, one after another. To give those attributes and credit to Bill completely changes Eric as a character and makes the story less interesting and less addicting. Please don't waste or change Eric. I can't help feeling that Anna and Stephen's real life relationship is affecting the role that Bill now has in the show..a much longer and much bigger role than his character deserves now that he is involved with the lead actress. I didn't read the books until the show came out and with each show I just become increasing worried that you will forever change and defame the Eric we all know and love. If not Sookie, please give him a love interest so that we could see his true characters come to life, his protective, funny, egotistic, and loyal traits...don't take those away from him. To do that is to butcher a beautifully written character and story line and turn it into dog Sh*t. I will continue watching, for Eric--I love Alex-he does a wonderful job--and short hair please! But I think what is most important is the impression you leave on the people's minds after this series is over. Please don't ruin Charlaine's beautiful written characters...I don't quite care what you do with the story lines but please don't ruin the characters or give them credit for things they don't deserve--i.e. BIll.
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9-16-2009 @ 7:31AM
andyUKkitten said...
SERIOUSLY ????.....
Yes like you I started watching the show first, was fascinated. Got so impatient ran out and bought all nine books, read them over one week.
Hooked in the worst way. Book 10 is taking entirely too long to be published. Anyway..watchin the series on the net and loving it.
I can't believe people would expect the series to be a replica of the books. What would be the point. Charlaine called the first book 'Dead Until Dark. Allen and his team called the first episodes Strange Love + First Taste and Mine. The books and the tv series are both different and need to be. The US filming system can be short sighted in some areas and often too fearful of ratings drop. As a result really good shows get axed. I would be devastated if the writers stuck so closely to the book that viewers lost interest. I'm looking forward to it reaching book 9.
Yes I too get a little twinge when my book characters change or get killed off in the show.
That said "thank you Allen & team for killing off Eggs.
I love the tv series and the books for the differences and similarities. That's why I watch, so I can see who,what, were and when they have made changes.
I love the way 'Beyond Here Lies Nothin' ended.
9-17-2009 @ 10:32PM
Kiki77 said...
I really love True Blood and it has been great both season's the last Epi wasnt that much of a cliffhanger. I donrt want to read the books until the season is over or not to read ahead. i have finished the 1st book. it was really good but i thought season one was way better and also i miss Tara and jessica , and Lafayette said like 2 words in book one. i did notice that Bill was very different as was eric like eric killed longtooth or wolf not Bill. i know in the book i guess eric and sookie hook up but the chem and the character they have made for bill and sookie is unbreakable they belong together ! I can see them for drama sake have sookie being drawn or being seduced by eric but i kind of think that eric doesnt really want sookie, i thimk they are headed for a relationship with lafayette. and im sad eggs is dead but i want Tara to be with Sam ! And eric is so much sexier with the short hair it makes him seem taller and more something
9-24-2009 @ 2:32PM
DDAtlanta said...
You took the words right out of my mouth! Thank you. AB keeps giving Bill all the credit that should go to Eric. CH did a marvelous job at creating Eric and if its not broken, then don't fix it. I really hope it is not because of AP and SM relationship off the show. Give CH a break. Let us have Eric back!
9-12-2009 @ 10:06PM
ProgGrrl said...
Wondering why you had to include the sentence here about Sookie being part-faerie. That's just mean and spoilery, for people who haven't read the books. I have read the books but... maybe I'm being over-sensitive? There's really nothing else here that a non-book reader has to worry about.
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9-12-2009 @ 10:21PM
Jane Boursaw said...
ProgGrrl - I haven't read the books either, so the idea of Sookie being part faerie is something people have mentioned in the comments throughout the season. I wonder if this comment from Alan is referring to Sookie:
And some people are like, "Am I human? I always thought I was, but maybe I was wrong." In one particular case, its like, "Yes, honey, you were wrong."
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9-12-2009 @ 11:26PM
sheetc said...
I am SO GLAD Alan Ball & Co. aren't following the books to the letter. All of the changes they've made with the show have been huge improvements. The characters are more fleshed-out and complex when you're not seeing them solely from Sookie's perspectie. I've seen a few negative comments on forums about the Maryann storyline, but those tend to be from die-hard fans of the books who don't tolerate any diversions from book canon. Michelle Forbes is such a terrific actress that even though I find some of the story's supernatural elements a little silly, I'm still very impressed overall!
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9-13-2009 @ 8:52AM
Vanessa said...
Uh please don't say "we all want Eric to grow his hair back" I think you might be one of the few ones who want that. We all love Eric without that stupid wig.
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