This has got to be the BEST True Blood season EVER!!! **spoilers**

[LynneSin]

You know I wrote this long diatribe for last week's episode and when I went to post it I got an error message and then I lost everything I wrote. So I figured I'd just save it for this week.

I'm not going to write a whole lot this week either, I'd rather save myself for this week. But I do have to say this was one of the best seasons ever. Sure there were some bad storylines - like with the Inbred Were-Panthers of HotShotz and the Arlene & her crazy baby storyline (which eventually tied into the witches storyline but it took forever). But I have to say that overall the Witches turned out to be fun to watch and a great battle for the Vampires. Kudos to Fiona Shaw who did a wonderful job playing bumbling, social misfit Marnia and Marnie possed as Antonia - she really was believable in both parts. But what I'm looking forward to for the final episode is Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette) playing pissed off Marnie. You just had to know Marnie wasn't going to die off that easily in the end. The final battle should be a good one.

Breaking up is hard to do
It was heartbreaking to see Eric ditch Pam for Sookie. I can't blame Pam, she has been with Eric, her maker, for at least 100 years (not sure when she was turned). Pam's attitude towards Eric is no different than Eric's attitude towards Godric when Godric was missing back in season #2. I really hope those 2 can get back together.

However...the Alcide/Debbie Pelt breakup was pretty damn good. I don't know about you but if I had 6'6 hunk of a man Alcide in my bed, I surely wouldn't toss him to the side for a dweeb like Marcus. I know having pups (babies) is a big deal for Debbie but jeez, just do what women throughout history have done - lie about using birth control. BTW, for those of you who can't understand what Alcide was saying during the breakup - he was abjuring Debbie. That's in the book - it means she is not allowed to ever run with his pack again. It's a pretty hardcore werewolf breakup.

Favorite scene from last week
Tied between Lafayette saying "Oh Shit, Marnie just puked a bitch out" and Eric using Rory's heart as a sippy cup.

Who will Sookie pick
You can tell she's got alot of love for both Eric and Bill as they both do for her. But in the end I think Sookie will end up with Alcide.

Finally - some good use for Andy Bellefluer!
BTW last week my favorite couple was Terry and Andy. Great interaction between the Bellefleur cousins. But this week was funny with Andy running into the faery and having some faery sex. He's the LAST person I'd ever expect to see having a sex scene in True Blood but it was a good romp. I suspect that the scene was a build-up to something we'll see next season. Consider this - Sookie was gone for what she thought was 10 minutes and yet it was a year. So we could easily see Andy as a Daddy with a faery baby in season #5.


_________________________

Anyhow I'd love to hear your predictions for next week.

BTW 2 things I have read

#1 - Pam still has the rotting spell. I know that crazy witch doctor fixed it up some but Kristen Bauer (Pam) said in an interview they still show signs of rotting. I wonder how the breakup with Eric will affect her and the spell.

#2 - Another beloved character will die. Some strong rumors have it Lafayette but I'm thinking it's Jesus.

[Divameow77]

1. I love this season as well

but my DH is not enjoying it at all but can't really explain why.

I really hope Eric and Pam can patch things up as well, but she just can't understand his love for Sookie. I can't imagine Pam ever having feelings for a human.

I really hope they don't kill anyone off. Someone doesn't have to die for every season finale!

[Chan790]

2. Those two things...

#1 I knew.

#2 I think you're very very off and if I'm right, you're going to see a lot of pissed off fans. Killing either of those characters means having to write off the other, I don't think they're doing that.

My guess and hope is on the supporting cast member who none of the fans seem to like (but Alan Ball, based on interviews, seems to think is beloved) and for whom the writers seem to have no purpose for her existence (Tara).

I think logically however the doomed character is Eric Northman, if not now then soon. Alex Skaarsgard is already breaking-out into a burgeoning film career & they basically have to get rid of Eric eventually because Alex is functionally taking a dramatic pay-cut from what he can make in film if he re-ups into the future. (We're talking multiple millions a season in raise...if they give him enough to level it off, they have to give at-least the same raise to Anna Paquin* and Stephen Moyer (you know, the two protagonist characters) or else things will get complex on that set.) They've spent an entire season making him connect to the audience and deepening the character to make the culling all the more shocking and dramatic**...they've hinted at it in just about every episode of the season and pulled back. (These are both techniques of good screenwriting.) Doing the kill-off now seriously moves the plot of the series forward, especially the Bill/Sookie story/love/conflict if Bill's in some way responsible for Eric's death. If you're right that in the end Sookie chooses Alcide...a big bold way to start that move is to kill Eric by Bill's hand, doubly if Bill's hand is forced (by Nan? She seems to want Eric dead.) and he doesn't want to do it. Sookie loves them both...and deep-love can be the seed of hate when love is betrayed. I also think Charmaine Harris is going to go apeshit if Alan Ball kills off Eric...but as she's said in interviews, it's Ball's show...he asks her opinion, but he does whatever he wants.

*-Right now, someone is saying "But what about Anna Paquin, she's a much bigger film star!" The answer is pretty simple...she's traditionally much more selective in the roles she takes and as an established film-star, cutting back her film roles and staying with TB for less money would not have as large of a negative impact on her career...she's going to have a film career afterwards either way and she's got plenty of money from having done her handful of blockbuster franchises. For Skaarsgard, this is a big break-through for his career...if he doesn't take it, it may not be there later to take.

**-If you're a video-gamer, you probably recognize this plot-arc...it's the way the death of Aeris was foreshadowed in FF7.

[LynneSin]

6. I have to disagree about it being Eric Northman

If you look at how True Blood is designed, it's created so that the actors can stay on the show and still have a decent film career. They never film more than 12 episodes per season. Regular TV series on the networks have around 24-30 per year. Actors involved in these shows tend to have little time to focus on any other work except their TV show. Whereas Cable (both Pay and basic) they keep their shows around 12 episodes so they don't overburden their actors. Look how many big name actors had taken staring roles on a TBS/TNT/FX/AMC tv show. Sure I doubt you'd see someone like Meryl Streep or Leonardo DiCaprio on a TV show but these cable shows are designed as easy money.

Now the difference with many of the basic cable shows is they usually only focus on 2-4 main characters - less characters means more time for the actors to complete each season. But True Blood is a major ensemble cast and actors tend to stick with their storylines. This season the vamps and witch spend the bulk of the time together and yet they were only about half of each weekly eposide and then that time was split between the 2 groups. Then you had the Were/Shifter storyline and also all the extra storyline fillers. I would suspect that the main actors probably don't spend more than 4 months on the series - 3 to film it and one for promotion. That gives them plenty of time to get 1-3 films or other projects done each year.

[Yavin4]

9. I Think That 12 Episode Seasons Makes A Series Stronger

Keeps the writing tighter and more focused. There are less filler episodes. L O S T would have been a much better series if it was limited to 12 episodes per season.

[solara]

3. This was my favorite episode so far

I think you are spot on (again) Debbie Pelt might be the one to die like in the books. maybe by Sookie's hand?

Andy was cracking me up.. he is so good in this part!

More later

[LynneSin]

8. But they said 'beloved'. Debbie Pelt isn't beloved by too many True Blood Fans

personally I think she's a skank but that's just me. Alcide is such a hottie why would he want someone like Debbie Pelt?

[OriginalGeek]

4. I don't think future career is a concern

for Skaarsgard - he comes from an acting family (Well, his dad is pretty famous anyway) and I think he'll be able to do whatever he wants to do after True Blood. So I really don't see how that would factor into killing him off - I expect that there would be violent and bloody revolution if Ball kills Eric. I know TB is just "based" on the books but that's going waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out into left field.

At least, for me, that would be just too much buffoonery.

Lafayette is living on borrowed time - He should have been dead the first season. I'm glad he isn't and I hope he gets to stay for the duration but as far as fans of the books are concerned, he daid. So if he goes now it's less of a shock. Killing Eric would be crazy though

Tara is alive in the books but she is such a minor character that I don't really care one way or another what happens to her..

I'm guessing Holly is the witch who eventually moves in with Sookie? I can't remember who it was in the books but she was a pretty important for awhile.

I don't remember Andy getting to romp with a Faery so I guess this is another Ball invention. It was funny though so I'm ok with that. lol.

And shityeah! - I been waiting for Alcide to realize what a whore Debbie is. I am almost positive I saw in the trailers for next week Sookie firing a shotgun and I will bet it's when she finally gets rid of Debbie.


*********************POSSIBLE SPOILERS**************(Just wanted to reiterate even though it's in the thread title)

Back to Eric and Pam - in the books they don't have a romantic relationship and I never thought it was implied in the TV show. He is her maker and there is whatever bond that entails but romantically speaking they are free to pursue whatever it is they pursue. In fact I think she prefers the company of ladies anyway. And she laughs at Eric for caring about a human but I don't think she is worried or jealous - she feels she will always win for the simple fact that she is a vampire even though it doesn't matter because she isn't interested in Eric in _that_ way...

[nolabear]

5. Oh no you don't...if Lafayette goes, I go!

I just caught up on the last two episodes myself, and WOOHOO, what a face-off. I knew the Lafayette as medium story line was leading toward a conflict with Marnie but Nelsan Ellis' face is incredibly expressive and this ought to be pretty amazing. Do you think he's wearing Lee press-on hair? That patch on top looks a little like it. In case you didn't know, he has a part in The Help and is a sweet bald man (who looks a lot like Lafayette...can't hide those gorgeous eyes).

Pam gets on my last nerve but I want her to be there. She and whatserface, the head of the vampire acceptance league, have the best wry bitchy funny lines on the show.

And ANDY! I'd love to see him be something other than just a buffoon. That's working for Jason too. I like him a little more grown up.

Alcide. Sweet Jesus, Alcide...this show has the best male eye candy on television. BIG male eye candy.

Yep, I'm loving it.

[LynneSin]

7. Technically Lafayette has lived longer then expected

So be grateful Alan Ball ignored the books and spared Lafayette. But who would have thunk that Nelsan Ellis would do such an amazing interpretation of Lafayette. But for me, I think Jesus makes more sense since he was the one that ultimately broke the spell that lead to Marnie's death by the vampires.

[solara]

13. And wouldn't it be just terrible if Lafayette

who is now possessed by Marnie, is the instrument of Jesus' demise? Geez that would be the end of Lafayette as we know him too.. I vote for skanky Debbie.. but if the char is beloved it is surely not her. It will not be Eric..I am certain that would deep six the series. It could be Tara, who has been less offensive lately, and I am sure she has her fans. It would be kind of weird if they killed her off now since she has been around for so long..but I sure hope she mellows and starts doing something besides bitching. The only real 'beloved' characters for me are the men...haha (oh, yeah and well.. Sookie) I wouldn't be happy if ANY of the men are killed off. Eye candy indeed. All of them.

Even Andy, who is for sure growing on me.. that was a great scene with the faery and also with Arlene.. he is so innocent and vulnerable in spite of his gruff exterior. Really superlative acting there.

I think you all are right about Holly being the witch who moves in with Sookie, though I sure hope she doesn't .. I am not particularly fond of her. Pam is awesome though, I love her purity as a vampire. I know she and Eric will patch things up.. it is like any father-daughter relationship, rocky at times but essentially rock solid. Hopefully the rotting curse will end when Marnie ceases to exist.

The writing was awesome ..it usually is, but this last episode was down right laugh out loud in places and that is one of the things I love about this show.. we can be up to our armpits in blood and angst and even sorrow.. but the humor is SO intact and SO a part of everything, it pops out when we least expect it. It is not comic-book at all. It is just brilliant.

[siligut]

10. Here is the S4E12 synopsis from The Vault

Synopsis: Season Finale. It’s Samhain, Wicca’s greatest holy day, and spirits of the dead surface in Bon Temps, giving Sookie some valuable allies to combat Marnie’s newest incarnation. Lafayette’s latest medium encounter imperils his relationship with Jesus; Jason finds confession good for the soul, but not the body; Alcide makes a heartfelt appeal to the woman he loves; Terry receives an unexpected visitor at Merlotte’s; Sam and Luna envision a storybook ending, for once; Nan wears out her welcome with Bill and Eric. As Season Four comes to a shattering conclusion, Debbie confronts Sookie and Tara with deadly consequences, and the denizens of Bon Temps brace for a new crisis with a familiar face.

Because Tara is put into position, by being with Sookie, perhaps she gets shot by Debbie? If so, I hope Pam has to turn her, she would still have died, fulfilling the spoiler, but then we would have wild, powerful, crazy, vampire Tara and PAM would be her maker LOL.

Was that Russell at the end of the preview? Woohoo, Russell is great, murderous fun.

[LynneSin]

11. There has been strong rumors of Russell Edgington returning to Bon Temp

I think this is the last season that the Series follows the books. Book #5 was to introduce a new boyfriend for Sookie who was part of a new group of weres. But the series is just getting so bloated with characters I think one more will just push it off the edge. I think Alcide deserves his chance with Sookie and I think we should stick with the supes already introduced in the show. The biggest problem with the TV Show is with the vampires - they are suppose to never age and yet the RL characters already are aging. Most HBO series go about 6-8 years so I suspect we have about 3-4 more seasons of True Blood until they retire the series else it'll be impossible to explain why 17 year old Jessica looks like a 30-something woman and Bill looks middle aged.

[siligut]

12. Jessica is the perfect vampire

When she was crawling on her belly, because the silver was still around her ankles, I saw it as a homage to the old vampire films. Beautiful, animalistic and deadly. I agree, too many characters with stories. I want to see, Sookie, Jason, vampires and their antagonists, with occasional Merlotts and town people thrown in. The spoiler of Alcide having a heart-to-heart with the woman he loves, must refer to Sookie, I could see her falling for him, but Eric is pretty close to her now. Looks like Gran (Lois Smith) is on the roster for E12, so maybe she will reiterate the warning about Sookie not giving Eric her heart.

The make-up people have improved since S1, remember Bill's pasty face? So maybe, they can manage to keep the vampires looking young, but I see what you are saying.

[solara]

14. Ohh man that would be SO bent..

If Tara was SAVED by Pam and turned haha Pam as Tara's maker -then for sure Tara would have a reason to bitch and moan .. what a truly exceptional twist.

[nolabear]

15. Oh HELL yes! I always forget that dead ain't dead in Bon Temps.

Having Pam be Tara's maker is just too delicious.

And I know anything goes w/ Lafayette. I read the first whole buncha books, though not quite all. Fortunately Alan Ball is a lot more creative than Charlaine Harris, though all props to her for creating the anti-Twilight.

[LynneSin]

16. I could see that as a cliffhanger for season #4

Tara is shot.....

Next year we find out that Tara was saved by being turned into a vampire.

And you know think about this - it works for 3 reasons

#1 Tara was never really a big character in the book so Alan Ball can do whatever he wants with Tara's character (in the books Arlene was Sookie's best friend).

#2 Isn't it interesting that the beginning of the year Tara had a relationship with a girl so we know Tara is a bisexual and would be a perfect fit for someone like Pam who is a lesbian. I mean why else pointedly put Tara, who had major relationships with 2 men (Sam and Eggs), in a relationship with a woman unless the plans was to hook her up with another regular character in the show who was female. I think if Tara had not had the girlfriend in New Orleans it would have never worked out with a Pam/Tara hook-up.

#3 Tara hates vampires so wouldn't it be great to have Tara turn into the one thing she hates the most.

[Lucian]

18. That would be awesome.

That in and of itself would make me watch season five (not like they have to twist my arm already :P).

[Lucian]

17. It's getting weird, like season two.

But I'm still in love with Jessica.

I want to see Quinn (from the books) come around. Wasn't it around the fourth book he came around? A shifting Tiger would be great to see on the show.