True Blood: Book and Show comparison lots of spoilers, no tags - Page 9

[gridley13]

I started my TB journey by watching Season 1 dvd, then Season 2 dvd.. in about 2 1/2 days.
I loved Bill and Sookie... just totally loved their romance. Eric was hot, sure. But for me, it was all about Bill and Sookie.

My two friends who had read the books AND watched said, "Read the books. You will change your mind, you'll see. Eric and Sookie belong together."

Read book one. Stilled loved Bill, still saw no real reason why Sookie would be with Eric any more than say, Sam or Andy Bellfleur or Bubba. Besides his awesomely good looks, I saw no reason for it, especially while she had this romance with Bill.

My friends were frustrated, but encouraged me to keep reading.

I read book two. I still liked Bill.

I read book three... Bill.

I skimmed book four (except for that sex scene with Eric, which I read word for word, twice). Honestly? Still all for Bill, and still don't understand the whole Eric cares so much for her stuff.

I couldn't read any more. They were not bad, but I have two kids and a job and I homeschool. I only have so much time and... well, they don't make the cut. I did find plot summaries for the remainder of the books though.

Meanwhile, on the show, I have thoroughly enjoyed Eric and his storyline, and looking at him in general. But I love love love Bill and Sookie!!!!! I have yet to see him do one single thing bad to her on purpose. Eric has done many sneaky things, and after tonight... he is starting to look rather uncaring. And I don't really care if he loses his memory next season, he still did these things on purpose THIS season.

My friends... they don't get it. They not only want Eric to be with Sookie, they hate Bill with the intensity of a thousand suns, want him staked, then left in the sun, then wrapped in silver. In front of Sookie. Twice.

I came to this conclusion:

Charlaine Harris wrote a set of books that have great ideas, great stories, great characters. But none were done very thoroughly at all. There is so little character description or details in things like conversations, that you are given a loose idea of the character. This leads to everyone finishing their idea of the character in their head.. which is going to vary quite a bit from one reader to the next.

So if you start out with bad feelings about Bill, you read everything that happens with him as bad. In the book, Bill apparently stands there instead of saving Sookie from Longshadow. Eric rushes to save her. NOT! I mean, not in my head. That is what I was told would happen, because that is how it went in my friends' heads. When I got to that part, I just thought Eric was pissed when he found out Longshadow robbed him, so he killed him. He wasn't necessarily caring that much about Sookie. Totally different. There are quite a few other examples. You might think we were reading different versions or something... but really, we were all correct in our interpretation. The books are totally open to that kind of interpretation because of their lack of detail, their lack of feelings, etc.

So... I guess I am just really happy that Alan Ball has apparently agreed with my interpretation rather than my friends'. As far as Charlaine Harris' writing, while the books were not engaging enough for me to continue, they were the perfect books to turn into a series! She has such great ideas in there, but adding all the great actors and filling out the characters, putting the sweet special effects in there, it all adds up to an amazing show.

For comparison, I think the season still has the potential to turn out similar to the end of book 3. I doubt Alan Ball will have Sookie and Bill just be all happy and ready to go for next season. Who knows. And I guess Charlaine Harris has a few more books to go? I am sure it is in this thread somewhere, but won't look it up as I won't be reading them. She has the potential to change it differently than what anyone is thinking. I think she should end it with Sookie meeting a vamp named Basil. Why not? At least he has a good vampire name.

Now concludes my long winded book vs movie analogy, thank you for reading, I look forward to any feedback you care to give.

Ok, one more smilie, I dont' come on mdc that often and mdc has the most bestest smilies ever.


"Bill drained her!"
"He couldn't help it, Eric might do the same in that situation. At least he was unconscious, Eric just threw her in the dungeon like he did Lafayette!"

"If Alan Ball doesn't give us Amnesia Eric, heads will roll!"
"Like the one Franklin had in that bag?"

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Wow. Lots to take in, Gridley.

I have to repectfully disagree about Bill. I have been tilted towards pro Eric (If we are talking about just the two of them) since before I started reading the books. And then when Alcide came along, Wellllllllllllllllllllll, Eric and Bill who? hehe

I didn't like Sam the first season all that much, but he has since grown on me, until all these dark revelations. Now Im a little leary. I still dont care for Bill and sookie together. I just dont. Im not exactly sure WHY, i cant put my finger on it yet.

I am halfway through book 5, and I gotta say, im pretty glad I havent read much of Bill, and she just about gave him the boot outta merlottes last night the last i read. I much prefer Alcide or Sam for her in the books. Calvin Norris just makes me laugh. His ways or so, well, animal like and primitive.

I do find it rather amusing (in a kinda way) that Sookie has SO MANY suiters in the book, and not one of them are human.

[MissNo]

I am disappointed with the development of Sam in the series. When I first saw his flashback, I thought of a second rate Bill and Lorena. I like that Sam is sympathetic and straightforward, but with enough back story to keep me interested. The one thing TB doesn't need is another dark and mysterious character.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I can now see why some of you were so annoyed with the Hotshot in the show. I dont like the difference there at all. After reading book 4 and almost done with 5, it seems just RIDICULOUS that hotshot would be a meth haven and Calvin a drug lord with no a brain cell in his head. It also looks like the show isnt going to stay true to much of the story line about the inbreeding causing the inability to change at will.

I also seemed to notice that the frankiln in the show seems to be a combination of the Franklin in the book and Mickey in the book. Did anyone else notice that?

the show Claudine, yea, WAY OFF. SHes supposed to be 6 foot and breathtaking. I mean, what the heck? Wonder who they found for Claude?

[beansricerevolt]

Originally Posted by missno

i am disappointed with the development of sam in the series. When i first saw his flashback, i thought of a second rate bill and lorena. I like that sam is sympathetic and straightforward, but with enough back story to keep me interested. The one thing tb doesn't need is another dark and mysterious character.

ita.

[nola79]

Originally Posted by Barbie64g

I can now see why some of you were so annoyed with the Hotshot in the show. I dont like the difference there at all. After reading book 4 and almost done with 5, it seems just RIDICULOUS that hotshot would be a meth haven and Calvin a drug lord with no a brain cell in his head. It also looks like the show isnt going to stay true to much of the story line about the inbreeding causing the inability to change at will.

I also seemed to notice that the frankiln in the show seems to be a combination of the Franklin in the book and Mickey in the book. Did anyone else notice that?

the show Claudine, yea, WAY OFF. SHes supposed to be 6 foot and breathtaking. I mean, what the heck? Wonder who they found for Claude?

Agreed. It seems like they for show Franklin, they used book Franklin's name, but Mickey's character.

[Maine Mama Doula]

Subbing. I'm really upset with Claudine in the show and while I like that they are showing Faery, I'd like to see Claudine at Merlottes and definitely Claude at his club I read all the books over a couple of weeks this summer. I pretty much dropped everything to read them.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

OK, Im done. I finsihed 1-10, and I gotta say, the whole Fae storyline on the show is DUMB!!!! Especially compared to the book.

It really is like two different entities now, though. Book 1 and season 1 were very similar. 2 started to sway a bit, and 3 was very loosely based on the book, but with major changes. And yea, HUNTER? and Hadley, soooooo different. its kind cool.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Why does no one want to join me on this anymore?????

Just kidding. But seriously, I have alot to compare after this last episode.

Remember way back when I read book 1, I mentioned that I noticed someone else was in the woods with Bill when he was saving sookie from the Ratrays? That hasnt been touched on still, and Im wondering if now the show is insinuating it was Eric. Because seriously, how would he have known that?!?!?

The whole Godric appearing to Eric as a ghost theme? So in the books, it was made very clear that Vampires CANNOT come back as ghosts, only humans and twoeys. So was that just a change in the show, or are we to think that it was just Erics conscience in the form of godric?

Seriously, They need to bring in buba. I mean, that would just be an AWSOME spin in the storyline, would it not?

[Alyantavid]

I haven't watched more than half of season 3, so I can't really compare. But I'm so with you, they need Bubba on the show!

What's the deal with Eric and the Ratrays? I don't mind spoilers at all.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Thats good cuz I kinda got yelled at the other day on the other thread for spoilering. I used tags, but apparently that doesnt work when you sub to the thread and get the emails when someone makes a new post.

ANYHOOOOOOOOOOO, Eric the other night that Bill allowed the ratrays to beat the ever loving crap out of sookie in season 1 so that he had a reason to feed her his blood, thus kick-starting their bond. Now how could he have known that unless he was THERE? Of course in the book, they still havent outted with that info yet (Who it was) and what would it matter now? She really has no feelings left for Bill and is head over girly-parts inlove/lust with Eric.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Barbie64g

Thats good cuz I kinda got yelled at the other day on the other thread for spoilering. I used tags, but apparently that doesnt work when you sub to the thread and get the emails when someone makes a new post.

ANYHOOOOOOOOOOO, Eric the other night that Bill allowed the ratrays to beat the ever loving crap out of sookie in season 1 so that he had a reason to feed her his blood, thus kick-starting their bond. Now how could he have known that unless he was THERE? Of course in the book, they still havent outted with that info yet (Who it was) and what would it matter now? She really has no feelings left for Bill and is head over girly-parts inlove/lust with Eric.

Ok this is where I start getting confused. In the books, the Queen sends Bill to Sookie and Eric doesn't know that at first. In the show, the Queen knows what Sookie is but Eric doesn't until the deal with Hadley (right?). So why does Eric want Bill to feed Sookie his blood?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

ok, now THIS is the deiscussion I was hoping SOMEONE would have with me. But no one was biting! I could kiss you right now.

I don't think Eric WANTED bill to feed sookie his blood, he was just there or in the know about it. REmember in season 2 when Maryanne clawed sookies back, and Eric offered to give sookie HIS blood (We didnt know what a BOND drinking the vampires blood created back then) And Bill grabbed his hand and said, "NNNEVARRR". Eric wanted his own bond with sookie.

I thought in the books Eric knew all along the queen sent Bill, and made that revelation to sookie when she was in the emergency room in New Orleans after her and Amelia got beat up by the new Vampire Hadley created?

[Alyantavid]

See I didn't think Eric knew from the beginning, I thought he just found out in New Orleans. Of course, it's been awhile since I read the books so I could be totally wrong. Maybe I should read them again?

Can I just say how much I hate not having HBO right now? I'm great without cable, except when it comes to True Blood.

[neetling]

In the books Eric forced Bill to tell Sookie that the Queen had sent him to get to know her. I don't remember exactly when that happened, but Bill was forced to tell her because Eric is his Sheriff. I don't think Eric knew from the beginning, but I could be wrong.

I wish they'd bring Bubba to the show too.

I wonder why Hadley isn't a vampire yet on the show?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I would like an Amelia character too, IF they could match her up propperly. Like they matched up alcide, eric, and debbie. If they do another Tara or Claudine, I am going to write Alan ball a nasty email.

[Alyantavid]

Well I'm just dying to see who they find for Quinn!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Ohhhh, i dunno. I wonder if they even will allow for anymore love interests for show sookie. I think they will keep up the Bill, sookie, eric, triangle for the entiritey of the show. Perhaps they will have a quinn, but I doubt it will be book quinn. Just like Calvin Norris was NOT book Calvin.

Thats another thing, as if the whole Hot Shot as a dilapitated meth ring was bad enough, but CALVIN gets offed and not Felton!?!?! I mean, WTH?????

[LilMamiBella]

[QUOTE=Barbie64g;15841523]Thats good cuz I kinda got yelled at the other day on the other thread for spoilering. I used tags, but apparently that doesnt work when you sub to the thread and get the emails when someone makes a new post.

I did not yell at you. It would have been in caps. I like spoilers and that's why I'm also subbed in this thread. I only mentioned being able to see because maybe others would be upset about it.

Anyway, I've always pictured Quinn as being someone like Vin Diesel.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Barbie64g

Ohhhh, i dunno. I wonder if they even will allow for anymore love interests for show sookie. I think they will keep up the Bill, sookie, eric, triangle for the entiritey of the show. Perhaps they will have a quinn, but I doubt it will be book quinn. Just like Calvin Norris was NOT book Calvin.

Thats another thing, as if the whole Hot Shot as a dilapitated meth ring was bad enough, but CALVIN gets offed and not Felton!?!?! I mean, WTH?????

Yeah I missed most of the Hotshot stuff, but Calvin and Felton were nothing like the books. I don't mind they skipped over the love interest angle there, but they just completely changed the person he was. Although they did that with Tara and somewhat with Sam too so I shouldn't be surprised.

Originally Posted by LilMamiBella

Anyway, I've always pictured Quinn as being someone like Vin Diesel.

Not a fan of Vin Diesel, but I guess it really doesn't matter. I didn't like Quinn all that much and was glad to see him go, but he does play a big part in the whole vampire summit.

I still can't believe they left out Andre completely. He was such a huge part of Sophie Ann in the books.