By Anna
This is dedicated to AB for reminding me of the Wheel of Life and to everyone who encouraged me to explore the Buddhist theme. I’ve tried to simplify things, and I’m not enlightened, so all the mistakes are mine!
Part 1 – The Moment of Death
It seems to make sense when trying to bring all the different Buddhist threads together to start with the whole idea of death and rebirth. The idea of reincarnation is fundamental to Buddhism even through there are differences between the two main schools.
Since Tibetan Buddhism is the most visually iconic of the schools, I’ll base most of what I write on the interpretation found in the Bardo Thodol but will try to find a middle way.
One aspect of the Tibetan Book of the Dead is that it is a manual for ensuring that someone who has died is helped through prayers and advice to be reborn in the best situation possible. The prayers are recited as a guide to helping the departed through the dreamworld of the intermediate state between death and birth.
Another way of looking at it is that we die (change) from moment to moment and from experience to experience and through awareness of the processes involved we are able to avoid negative situations and allow more positive ones to arise.
When someone dies there are three stages: the moment of death, the intermediate state, and the journey towards rebirth. At each of the stages there is a chance for someone to reach enlightenment or be reborn in favourable circumstances.
I Will Rise Up
When reading the descriptions and commentaries I was struck by the similarities between the scene of Godric meeting the sun and someone who achieves enlightenment at the moment of death and who is able to come back to guide and help people according to their needs.
The ideal way of dying is to approach the moment of death letting go of all attachments and free of all cares and concerns. A dying person is advised to gaze into the sky in front of them at the moment of their death and flow into the light.
If they have attained realisation during their lifetime, death is the ultimate liberation. They will be able to flow into to this luminosity and attain enlightenment. One of the signs that this has taken place is that the body will glow radiantly and its shine will not fade for some time.
If anyone would like it Parts 2 & 3 could follow looking at the intermediate states and the stages of rebirth into the six realms.
This is so interesting, Anna! I definitely want to hear about the subsequent stages. Would one of them account for Eric’s visions in s3?
anna, this is beautiful. I got so excited for the next stages I hit submit before I typed a reply. lol. Definitely would like to learn more.
Always love reading your blog. Excited to hear more about the stages of enlightenment and ultimate reincarnation of the individual.
Bobsgran, I was wondering the same thing about Eric’s visions of Godric. Would Godric be able to make another reappearance or better yet. Will AB be casting Allan Hyde as a new character. A non vampire (human) who isn’t aware of his previous life but Eric and others are struck by the physical similarity. So much could be explored with this theme that it boggles the mind. Plus Eric would almost go mad from the idea of someone who looks like Godric but not Godric.
More please!~ Oliver Twist
Excited to hear more about the stages of enlightenment and ultimate reincarnation of the individual.
Me, too. We’re lucky to have Anna. She’s doing a great job educatin’ us.
PS: I’m educatin’ myself too and I’ve learnt so much from all the other threads about doppelgangers, alchemy, Shakespeare and the importance of the comics to name but a few.
pbt, that could be a whole hornets nest, but interesting for sure.
If Godric reached enlightenment at the end I think he would have to choose to be reincarnated. He might be some sort of Holy Man or lama. Even occasional sitings in the spirit form could create such doubt in Eric that he snaps. So many possibilities.
Thank you!
I’m not an expert by any means and whatever I write makes me aware of how little I know and understand.
Renée, so far it looks as if it could be this first stage that might account for Eric’s visions in S3, but I could be wrong.
Bobsgran, I need to learn more too!
Pbt, I like the idea of Godric making a reappearance and it does have a lot of potential.
What I am trying to think about are the states of mind that Eric, RE and Lorena were in when they were facing death and how that might impact on their rebirth.
How’s this for serendipity?
This morning I stumbled on the s2 Blood Copy blog. Apparently the young BT resident who made all those videos s1, took up blogging after he was turned into a vampire. This is what he has to say on 8/21, a few days after Godric met the sun.
Most undead believe the decision goes beyond any human comprehension, that it takes unthinkable wisdom and perspective to end something that does not end, to sacrifice immortality. While I don’t doubt it, something about the act strikes me as unmistakably human, perhaps as close to it as any vampire can ever come.
After all, what could be more human than dying?
I can think of several vampires offhand who would be horrified by this statement. See it as tantamount to blasphemy, comparing the vampire’s unique decision to end his reign on this world to the brief ripple that is a human lifespan. But this isn’t about time, the number of years it takes to rightly determine his time has come. It’s about the ending itself. It’s about mortality. This is what separates us from humans. Whether a vampire’s existence spans one year or thousands, the fact remains he never has to accept that human truth that somewhere, sometime, everything ends. To meet the sun is not only to accept that, but embrace it. In a sense, no matter how ancient, it’s as though a vampire has decided to use his final act to become human again.
http://www.archive.bloodcopy.com/?p=1114
I also remember that early on before Season Three that we would see some characters that we thought dead. Of course that was a reference to Godric and Eric’s visions.
I believe that Eric will continue to have visions of Godric. Both Russell and Bill made reference to Eric going mad. Perhaps AB’s angle will not be amnesia but Eric going mad and Sookie will be his light back to “sanity”.
I noticed those references to madness too.
If Eric continues to have visions of Godric I wonder what Godric will have to say and how Sookie’s “light” will lead him back to sanity. As a guide Sookie wasn’t very full of light herself at the end of the season.
Sookie lacks the insight to be a guide. She’s pretty much hapless and clueless in most respects, at least in her present incarnation. Unless something changes dramtically I don’t think Eric should depend on her too much. LOL.
While I agree that Sookie at the end of S3 wouldn’t be someone I would want to follow anywhere. I suspect if she really does go to “fairyland” with Claudine that she will return a bit more enlightened. Well at least I hope so.
I think that could be the dramatic change that you inference. I think watching Eric depend on anyone will be full of drama and comedy. It could work on so many levels. Cause let’s face it he doesn’t depend on anyone except for Pam. And that is limited at best.
I’m not sure that what others perceive as madness it. Eric’s visions seem to me to fit into the pattern of Sookie’s, Arlene’s, and Jesus and Laffy’s–a magical mystical visit from a relative in another realm. Crayz Sookie isn’t. Crazy Ruby Jean probably isn’t, and neither is Laffy.
It is only because of Eric’s transparent nature and the fact that he doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks of him, that others are aware of what he is experiencing. We see the same thing with Jason who told the co-eds that he saw bullet holes in their heads. He’s not crazy. That’s just his conscious demanding to be heard. (We know how hard it is to get Jason’s attention. LOL!)
Thinking of Hamlet there’s always Banquo’s ghost.
The only problem I had with the visions–Eric seeing Godric and unselfconsciously reacting to him struck me as somehow inevitable given what we know of Eric–but GODRIC bothered me very much. He struck me much the same as Facsimile Terry struck me, as not quite–genuine.
I can see that. What do you think of the speculation that the visions were induced by RE?
There is also the matter of Eric drinking Sookie’s blood, and she was FULL of Bill’s diseased blood. As you said earlier, RE couldn’t view Bill’s dreams because he hadn’t had his blood– he hasn’t had Eric’s blood either or vice versa. Unless RE touched Eric’s third eye, and I don’t recall that he did, I’m not sure by what mechanism RE could have induced the visions.
The theory about RE that I read was that he was magically throwing up some kind of vision since Godric has only appeared when RE is present.
Personally, I’m with you that they were blood induced. Not not sure if the culprit is Sookie’s fae blood or Bill’s bad blood though.
Sookie’s blood could have given both vampires mystical experiences and work like vamp blood does on humans. OTOH, I still convinced that Lala gave Jason Bill’s blood the day of the DOTGD meeting, so that he was able to experience Bill’s memory of the war. It would make a nice parallel for Jason and Eric to have hallucinations because of Bill.
Sookie’s blood could have given both vampires mystical experiences and work like vamp blood does on humans.
True, but if this is the case one would hope Vision Godric would be a more truthful, less overtly pious version of Godric.
OTOH, I still convinced that Lala gave Jason Bill’s blood the day of the DOTGD meeting, so that he was able to experience Bill’s memory of the war. It would make a nice parallel for Jason and Eric to have hallucinations because of Bill.
I like this very much and bet it’s spot on. Would Jason’s hallucinations come about because Bill was Eddie’s maker? The Magister wouldn’t have Bill down as a ‘Maker’ in his records because he turned Eddie and left him to his own devices, pretty much the way he has treated Jessica.
Would Jason’s hallucinations come about because Bill was Eddie’s maker? The Magister wouldn’t have Bill down as a ‘Maker’ in his records because he turned Eddie and left him to his own devices, pretty much the way he has treated Jessica.
If Eddie had any looks, I’d say yes, fo sure, but as it is…why on earth would Bill make Eddie?
Eddie was turned in Shreveport. (Got the s1 BluRay as a bday gift. S1 Arcana will start dribbling out soon!) The only scenario I can think of is this…
While hanging out at FT, Eddie’s attentions could have annoyed Bill. (Think of Eric and that sycophant when Sookie visited FT for the first time.) However Bill wouldn’t stop with a swift but harmless kick, he would have drained Eddie. If Eric found out soon enough, he may have given Bill the choice to turn Eddie or face human and or vampire authorities. This could be the acrimonious history between Bill and Eric that we’ve been wondering about and explain why Bill hadn’t been to FT in a while.
While hanging out at FT, Eddie’s attentions could have annoyed Bill. (Think of Eric and that sycophant when Sookie visited FT for the first time.) However Bill wouldn’t stop with a swift but harmless kick, he would have drained Eddie. If Eric found out soon enough, he may have given Bill the choice to turn Eddie or face human and or vampire authorities. This could be the acrimonious history between Bill and Eric that we’ve been wondering about and explain why Bill hadn’t been to FT in a while.
I can see it, but then how did Jason get Bill’s blood? So far as we know, Eddie was Lala’s only supplier.
I can see it, but then how did Jason get Bill’s blood? So far as we know, Eddie was Lala’s only supplier.
Jason would have Bill’s blood through Eddie. It parallels Sookie’s having Lorena’s blood through Bill and then Lorena showing up in Sookie’s dream.
Jason would have Bill’s blood because he was Eddie’s maker. It parallels, Lorena, as Bill’s maker, showing up in Sookie’s dream.
Ah, ok then we’re in agreement. I misread what you wrote.
But then, Eddie did tell Jason that he talked a vampire into turning him, so I’m not sure Eric forcing Bill to turn Eddie works. IMO, Bill turned Eddie–one year before Bill showed up in Bon Temps–for some other purpose, but who knows what that could be.
What exactly bothered you about Godric in the visions? What did you think wasn’t real?
He just…somehow didn’t seem like himself, like Terry didn’t seem like himself in this scene:
http://sunnynala.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/lookey-loos/
It’s like someone who doesn’t know them or love them is presenting the narrative. Whoever it is, they’re giving us the basic form and content of the character but something is either missing, or the added elements jangle the nerves. Yes, Terry is an emotional guy but he’s not hyterical with happiness, kwim? Yes, I’m sure he was concerned that Arlene went to work THE MORNING SHE ALMOST HAD A MISCARRIAGE, but he wouldn’t be sitting on the porch blubbering about it, he would head down to Merlotte’s and confront her about it as he did in a later scene. Yes, Godric is an enlightened, thoughtful being but he’s not a plaster Saint, which is how he came across to me in those ‘visions’. Something was just…off, and it wasn’t the acting. The ‘acting’ was on par with the bullet sucking scene–deliberately bad and meant to convey to the audience that we were witnessing a false narrative. Now, do I think Eric REALLY saw Godric? Yes I do, but I don’t think he was seeing the ‘real’ Godric, but an induced hallucination; just like Sookie and the Fake Fae.
Thanks for this, I need to take another look.
The only problem with the theory that it’s Bill inducing the hallucination through his blood is this: why would Bill have Fake Godric counseling Eric to let go of his hatred? It’s possible Bill was covering his own ass, trying to get Eric to let go of any notion of getting vengeance on him by telling Sookie his secrets. But this is tenuous at best.
Renee, some of the comments to that site are quite interesting too.
Yes, there’s a boatload of stuff to explore in that blog. I can see that it’s going to keep me occupied for some time.
Yes, thank you for finding it! It’s so well written and thoughtful, and frankly? Those comments seem to be a deliberate addition to the authors posts–loaded with clues? I wonder why they discontinued it?
Too many clues for me to take in at the moment! Thank you for the link.
I don’t know what to make of the comments. At first the commenters seemed to be planted to keep up the facade of reality, but then they started referencing the show as fans.
anna, thank you so much for this and I DEFINITELY want to hear more.
Seems to me, this angle is setting up reincarnation possibilities for several of the dead characters. I found it strange and possibly significant that TB TWICE aired it’s In Memorium reel. I hadn’t considered it as a clue to reincarnation for some of them but now it seems to be a distinct possibility.
Aren’t there rumours about necromancy being a theme?
Amnesia can also be seen as a death-revbirth situation.
In a recent interview with Denis O’Hare he confirmed that Russell had turned the “male prostitute” into Talbot in order to say good bye properly.
Not Russell going mad, but actually performing “magic” to see his loved one. That’s why he killed the “prostitute”. He needed the sacrifice in order to make the “spell” work.
Sookie references it in her conversation to Russell at Fangtasia when she questions why is he carrying Talbot around in jar.
I think we will be seeing “spells or magic” from several different sources next season.
Russell, QSA, Hallow/Marnie even Lala, Jesus and I suspect even Tara or Sookie. I don’t think we are done with Sookie’s total powers yet.
Whoa! Any idea which interview that was?
This is the interview that I referenced.
http://ht.ly/2XHJ9
Enjoy.
This is my theory about Russell performing the sacrifice. Denis just states that the prostitute turns into Talbot. I saw that scene as an act of magic. Perhaps he’s just going mad but perhaps not.
Thanks for the link. It adds to my suspicion that unknowingly Tara tapped into some kind of magic when she used the bloody scissors to cut her hair, and Holly wanted Arlene’s blood on her knife for some reason. It ran down the blade before a drop made it into that nasty decoction.
Druids tend to be associated with magic and there was the reference to Glyndŵr. Golden scythes and mistletoe and groves of sacred oaks.
With speculation that RE was a Druid in his human life, he would have some knowledge of Rites and Rituals and the requirements to make magic. S4 is shaping up in our minds at least, lol, as very interesting.
It is in my mind, for sure!
I keep wondering–if RE accessed Bill’s ‘third eye’ so he could see his dreams, what he must have thought of the dream of Caroline? Did he find it as implausible and melodramtic as I did?
Did it give him an insight into Bill’s delusions–which may or may not have been the point– or did RE believe the dream reflected the reality of what happened to the poor woman? Any opinions on that?
I think he made Bill dream of something that would make him change his mind, but I don’t think he could view it without having Bill’s blood.
I agree that RE planted the seeds for the “memory/dream” but couldn’t access the content of that dream.
I think he made Bill dream of something that would make him change his mind
This assumes that the dream reflected reality. Or, at the very least, BILL believed it reflected reality and felt shame and guilt because of it. I can’t go there, at least not yet. I’ll need some unbiased evidence of how Caroline and Thomas died, and I will definitely need confirmation that Bill is capable of feeling shame and guilt.LOL.
I don’t think the dream reflected reality, but it reminded Bill that he and/or Lorena had killed Tommy and Caroline. That memory made Bill realize that Sookie’s life was in danger because of her association with him.
I agree it didn’t reflect reality but do you think Bill would admit this even to himself? Can we believe that Bill would truly sacrifice his relationship with Sookie to keep her out of danger, or did he have some other scheme in mind?
I think it’s rather hilarious that the audience is left with the impression that Bill tragically lost his humanity because he and Lorena had to glamour Caroline. LOL.
I agree it didn’t reflect reality but do you think Bill would admit this even to himself?
The only way I can see that the dream wouldn’t remind Bill of what really happened would be if he just didn’t remember what really happened. It seemed to me that his dream mind didn’t want to be confronted with the reality, but the truth would be at work on his unconscious. He would realize that he has to convince RE and Lorena that he has given up Sookie and moved on.
Can we believe that Bill would truly sacrifice his relationship with Sookie to keep her out of danger, or did he have some other scheme in mind?
No. The breakup was just a ruse to keep Sookie safe from RE and Lorena.
I think it’s rather hilarious that the audience is left with the impression that Bill tragically lost his humanity because he and Lorena had to glamour Caroline. LOL.
Exactly.
And, you know, there is the matter of why would Bill feel shame or guilt over what happened in that dream, if it reflected what really happened. He went home, a perfectly normal thing to do even in the circumstances. Caroline discovered what he is–not that he was even much hiding his ‘affliction’ and instead of lying to her that he had some sort of disease he ADMITTED to being a creature of the night— and he and Lorena had to glamour her to forget. What the EFF was so tragic about this, I ask ya’ll?
Exactly so.
I don’t think shame and guilt had much to do with RE inducing the dream or Bill’s memory. All RE needed to do was remind Bill how dangerous it was for humans to interact with vampires. He realized that had to break his ties to Sookie (for now) in order to keep her alive. RE had just told him that Russell was a threat to Sookie, and that Lorena wanted her dead, too.
Nothing. The dream scene wasn’t reality and I think we all know that. Other than Bill lost Caroline forever in that scene. She still lived at least in Bill’s mind.
I am still hoping that Sheriff Dearborn is on the job at least unofficially researching all the deaths in BT past and present. He left to abruptly for me to believe he is not somewhere finding out the truth about Bill Compton.
The dream scene was such little snippets of “reality” *tongue in cheek that I still believe that BC killed Caroline or perhaps Lorena too. Bill can’t face the reality of what really happened. Bill knows that he puts Sookie in danger but his addiction to her blood is so strong that he can’t help himself. Just like a real addict.
Nothing. The dream scene wasn’t reality and I think we all know that. Other than Bill lost Caroline forever in that scene. She still lived at least in Bill’s mind.
I am still hoping that Sheriff Dearborn is on the job at least unofficially researching all the deaths in BT past and present. He left to abruptly for me to believe he is not somewhere finding out the truth about Bill Compton.
There is no doubt that Bud is up to something. With him complaining about the holes in his head and then disappearing completely from the rest of the season, he is foreshadowing AE. He wasn’t dead to the world, just to the unsuspecting masses.
No. The breakup was just a ruse to keep Sookie safe from RE and Lorena.
Ah, ok. Whew! Yeah, no way Bill intended to give her up for real.
It seemed to me that his dream mind didn’t want to be confronted with the reality, but the truth would be at work on his unconscious.
We’ve done some of this, but I think if we took that dream apart bit by bit and really integrated the surrounding scenes we would find clues to what really happened. For one thing, the proximity to the scenes that strongly hinted at TOMMY being a victim of incest at the hands of Bill’s doppel Joe Lee….
There is no doubt that Bud is up to something. With him complaining about the holes in his head and then disappearing completely from the rest of the season, he is foreshadowing AE. He wasn’t dead to the world, just to the unsuspecting masses.
As you know, Bud having a crucial part in unraveling the truth about Bill has been one of my fondest wishes. As for foreshadowing AE, if this is the case, then what has Bud been up to that would parallel AE?
We’ve done some of this, but I think if we took that dream apart bit by bit and really integrated the surrounding scenes we would find clues to what really happened. For one thing, the proximity to the scenes that strongly hinted at TOMMY being a victim of incest at the hands of Bill’s doppel Joe Lee…
Yes, indeed. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
As you know, Bud having a crucial part in unraveling the truth about Bill has been one of my fondest wishes. As for foreshadowing AE, if this is the case, then what has Bud been up to that would parallel AE?
In addition to having sex all over the house with Sookie, AE was part of the planning and execution of the Witch War. He spied on Hallow when she came to search Bill’s house.
In addition to having sex all over the house with Sookie, AE was part of the planning and execution of the Witch War. He spied on Hallow when she came to search Bill’s house.
Ah, so he’s been playing hide the sausage with Mrs. Dearborn, probably saw Franklin sneak into Bill’s house and no doubt witnessed Sam’s beating of Calvin incognito, and may have a part in a coming supe war.
Yes, indeed. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Hee hee, I’m on it. going to watch the ep over again as soon as the grandkids are out of the house.
Yes, RE has used his forehead touch on three separate occasions. Not by accident in the least. Bill, The Magister and Debbie Pelt he rubs her neck. These “touches” IMO are RE working his magic. He encourage Debbie to believe him when he says he will give Debbie first dibs at Sookie. Which RE does.
I am thinking that Debbie will be saving RE from the cement. She has had his blood?. So I think he will be able to summon her to rescue him. Then the proverbially crap will hit the fan.
Yes, in another interview that I read heaven knows where DOH confirmed RE Druid beginnings. Through out season three there is a lot of foreshadowing of RE use of magic.
Fangtasia basement when RE is talking to the magister and touches his forehead also. The Magister almost seems in a trance and RE is able to at vamp speed releases Pam and ties up the magister. The look QSA face confirms that she knows magic abounds in the fair Kingdom of MS.
Yep, necromancy will be a theme, and as pbt mentions, Jesus will be teaching magic to Lala, and Tara has some sort of powers so no doubt she’ll get involved at some point.
I am looking forward to an ‘ectoplasmic reconstruction’ of a certain murder but I don’t know if we’ll get it this season or near the end of the series finale. I feel confident we’ll get it though:
Question: Any chance Lois Smith could return to True Blood as Sookie’s dearly departed Gram? —Carly
Ausiello: “There’s a chance,” replies Alan Ball. “I don’t think she’s gonna come back and go like, ‘Oh, you know what? I’m not dead!’ But she certainly can appear in flashbacks or in visions or perhaps there’s a different reality that someone might go into.”
Hallow is supposed to be a necromancer: conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events.
Lala’s ancestor Mae was a ‘conjurer’.
I think from here on out magic, Wiccan and Pagan lore and practices will be a major theme and I’m really looking forward to it.
I agree mc that we might get the true story of “Grans” death in the finale of TB with Bill finally being outed or perhaps Eric performing the killing to push Sookie closer. I am voting for Bill killing Gran. The murder didn’t fit the MO of the other murder’s that Rene committed.
“perhaps Eric performing the killing to push Sookie closer” push her closer to what?
Pushing her closer to vampires for protection perhaps. We know that Gran’s death did push Sookie closer to Bill for sure. I just wonder what evil lurks in the mind of AB? I still think Bill had the most to gain from Gran’s murder.
Bill did stand to gain in a lot of ways and who does know what AB has in store for next season?
There’s an awful lot going on so far there seem to be magic of all kinds, brujos, witches, necromancers & druids, aliens and/or fae, madness & more.
Thinking of magic, the Chinese character for the Dao is made up of a head with wild hair like that of a magician or shaman and three footprints which evoke a dance.
I haven’t checked, but is it REALLY part of Fae lore that they could be aliens? Or was this another way, in addition to claiming the Fae are rapists, for Bill to ‘alienate’ Sookie and make her feel like she’s some kind of disgusting creature that only HE could love?
What I got from AB’s commentary was that the qualities and actions that contemporary mythology attributes to grays were in the past attributed to faeries–same creatures, differing cultural perspectives.
Bill is using the ugliest term for what they do. (Jesus probably did too when he said his mother was raped.)
Ok, that makes sense and ties into the current fad of ancient alien contact.
I don’t think it comes in the books, though there are demons, and it would be Bill’s kind of MO. I think the alien part came from an interview with AB who said he’d been watching documentaries about them. Wasn’t there a discussion about it a while ago?
Pbt, perhaps stripping away people’s illusions and helping them see more clearly isn’t so evil after all.
Think it’s time for me to go away and meditate before I write complete gibberish. I’ll try to write something about enlightenment and reincarnation soon.
It was getting crowded up further.
The question of RE touching Eric’s 3rd eye? While in the museum with Talbot-in-a-jar, Eric confronts him. RE responds by “touching” his face and claiming to enjoy killing him. RE sort of cupped Eric’s cheek.
That could explain the first vision of Godric. RE and Eric being handcuffed together in the sun, the vision only present when RE is on scene.
I agree with Sunny, that the Godric we saw left me with an uneasy feeling. Somewhat moralizing and judgemental. Not a being I would associate with enlightenment.
That’s true BG, I hadn’t thought of that. However, in the museum RE was intending to kill Eric right then and there, why would he ‘touch’ him to induce a vision that would never come to fruition? OTOH, RE did seem to be unaccountably hesitant. He could have killed Eric in the twinkling of an eye but he kept letting Eric distract him and draw out the scene.
That’s what made me remember the “touching” of his cheek. Unless RE just wanted to enjoy the verbal sparring and prolong the the whole thing.
Actually, I think it’s the only time RE touched Eric. The ring kissing scene, in my mind doesn’t apply. Eric lifted his hand to kiss the ring.
Could someone refresh my memory? Did Bill mention Claudine’s name first, or did Sookie give it away?
From Wiki:
It is also believed that to know the name of a particular fairy could summon it to you and force it to do your bidding
Just checked…Bill mentioned Claudine’s name first.
Very interesting bit of fairy lore you bring up. I like the idea that it was Claudine in 3.12, but one that was bound to do Bill’s dastardly will. Fits in nicely with the jinn folklore.
Right. It makes sense that Claudine wouldn’t manifest in the real world unless she was forced, particularly if the Fae are so terrified of vampires, who are roaming free in the land.
Isn’t it funny how familiar Bill is with Fae lore?
Then how did he find out her name? She wouldn’t be dumb enough to tell him I hope. Could it have been from Sookie’s memories?
Could it have been from Sookie’s memories?
It has to be. I never believed Claudine told him anything about what Sookie is, and now I’m convinced of it because she certainly did NOT tell Bill her name. Unless she’s completely stupid, which I doubt.
Then the whole Bill goes to pond and meets the fae could be a false narrative. He was getting confirmation from Sookie about the memories he had access to. We have only his word that he was late arriving because he was “somewhere at the pond”. Possible?
I think he was there, in her unconscious mind, and I think he interacted with Claudine, but as usual when we’re dealing with a Bill-influenced narrative we didn’t get the whole story. Key details were left out, such as exactly what Claudine did or did not tell him. Bill did, in fact, already know Sookie was Fae–hence his knowledge of the lore and the fact that he’s spoken with ‘every supe he’s ever met’ about the Fae. He didn’t need Claudine to tell him anything, but learning her name should come in handy.
Bill was ‘walking on water’ in that scene because he was planting the idea, or reinforcing the idea, into her unconscious mind that he is her ‘savior’.
Bill mentioned Claudine’s name first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc228aI1SSo about 0.38
Just noticed that the site Renée linked to starts with an entry called How Deep, How Far Down? and a few entries later invites you down the rabbit hole into an ARG
http://www.archive.bloodcopy.com/?m=200805&paged=2
I’m not very familiar with ARGs. Would these phrases invite the initiated to assume vampire identities and play along?
This explains it:
http://jchutchins.net/site/?s=red+seal&submit=Submit
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=93575
Thanks, Sunny. I feel like I must have been down a rabbit hole to have missed all this.
Me too, but I wasn’t paying that much attention to TB online goings-on back then. Hell, I was hardly aware of TB until I watched the marathon in Jan. of ’09 and even then it wasn’t until after Timebomb that I became obsessed enough to seek out thoughtful commentary, (much less promotional efforts) which was pretty sparse back then.
Marketing that way it looks as if they were aiming TB at problem solvers like the both of you right from the start.
And our code breaker, Osterby!
I discovered TB the week Sookie came to Dallas in 2.04. LOL!
I’m not surprised that I missed the marketing but that in over a year, I haven’t run into anyone who has mentioned the AVG or referenced Blood Copy and we appear to be the only ones who think TB is more than meets the eye. Criminy…after seeing all this stuff they started with, why would anyone think that?
I will readily admit that I started watching with the episode one. Didn’t see the marketing at that time, just kind of stumbled upon it on HBO. Was hooked from the start and even loved Bill for the first three episodes. Then of course, enter the Viking. Never read the books at this point but I was like who is this vampire. I like what I am seeing.
Of course the rest is history. I didn’t start to dig much deeper into the show until after reading the books. And of course all of you fine people have helped me along to the road of enlightenment. For which I thank you very much.
Blood Copy I stumbled upon and read some of it but it hasn’t been in a very long time.Thank you for reminding me of the blog, I must visit again.
My 22 year old daughter introduced me to True Blood in early July 2010. Prior to that date I didn’t know it existed.
I am 58 years old with a high school education so the rest of the evaluation is up to you. Just wanted you to know my background – I tend to be very sensitive to who and why anyone is checking me out. *SIGH*
I too stumbled on to TB just after the beginning of S1. My gawd, that was in 2008. I read the books one after another after the first episode I saw. Went to the CH site when I got my first computer this past Jan. Unfortunately or fortunately her site was not too friendly to my pov, and my obvious inexperience on a blog site. Even after explaining that I was very new to all this, I got ripped to shreds and snarked. Very disheartening to someone excited to participate. But I wasn’t fond of Bill sooo… Then I found TAP, Sunnynala and SVB. It felt like home and I didn’t have to fangirl it . Even when I come up with dumbass ideas and stupid rants, I haven’t been made uncomfortable.
Thanks, to all the great contributors to these sites. From an old dog learning new tricks.
`Who are you?’ said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, `I–I hardly know, sir, just at present– at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’
`Who are you?’ said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation.
Neither is “What are you,” Bill. A job title or a piece of paper don’t reveal that either. It’s what you discover as you get to know someone.
And perhaps, like Alice, Sookie hardly knows who she is.
I think that the way I went from rabbit holes to the caterpillar might be an illustration of the Buddhist idea of conditioning.
Rabbit holes are forever associated in my mind with Alice in Wonderland which I read as a child, add Chris’ comment about being sensitive about being asked who she was and I immediately got an image of the caterpillar on his mushhroom questioning Alice.
If I had never read Alice in Wonderland or had bothered to watch how my thoughts went from A to B I wouldn’t have gone looking for the quote, so they are interdependent, the one depends on, or is caused by the other.
I’ve been trying to find a way of writing about the intermediate states through colour and light but I’m not sure if anything matches yet, even if I don’t post it it’s fun to do!
I’ve been trying to find a way of writing about the intermediate states through colour and light but I’m not sure if anything matches yet, even if I don’t post it it’s fun to do!
Sounds intriguing! I’ve been thinking about color and light lately, to. That cyan color Eric wears in s3 is apparently a big deal in additive (light) color theory that filmmakers use.
“I’ve been thinking about color and light lately, to. That cyan color Eric wears in s3 is apparently a big deal in additive (light) color theory that filmmakers use.”
It does seem to be, are you thinking of writing something about it?
I don’t really know enough to do much with it at this point. Here’s what I have–
The color theory most of us are familar with is subtractive. The absense of all color is white and the presence of all color is black. (This may be one reason Eric wore so much black s1 and s2.)
Light color theory is additive. A prism breaks light into all the colors of the rainbow, but to get white light, you put them all together. (This is the color wheel filmmakers use, and, for some reason that I haven’t quite yet figured out, that shade of cyan Eric wore is particularly important.) The absense of all color is black and the presence of all color is white.
You can see both color wheels here.
http://jclarkmedia.com/film/filmguide.html#iih
Wiki has a RGB one made from light.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Additive_color
Cyan plus fuschia plus sunshine yellow equals white light. (These are the colors Pam, La La, and Eric wore s3, and the three of them have had coordinated outfits since s2, probably because they are all going to be family soon. The fuscia, yellow, and cyan appear on both color wheels at the first link, but the exact shades they wore are only in the RBG additive wheel. Does this indicate that the 3 of them must be together for them to achieve a state of enlightenment?)
Remember how Eric’s ear glowed red during his interview with Nan because light was shining through it? Light shined through Pam’s in 1.4, Godric’s in 3.12 and Jesus’s in 3.11. The only thing that stopped me from putting that down as another common trait for Eric’s doppels in my post about Jesus is that it has also happened to Jessica.
I think this ties in with spiritual enlightenment (not in Buddhist terms, of course). My guess is that the humans and vampires who are depicted with light shining through them are closer to/have more potential for enlightenment than their solid counterparts. In Christian terms, the light of God shines through his people and illuminates the world.
Can any of this tie into what you are working on?
LOL! The menu for the minibar at the Hotel Carmilla arranges the drinks according to the ROY G BIV color wheel.
http://s1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/ancientpythoness/True%20Blood/?action=view¤t=2x06_1035.jpg
Jason got Eddie blood from Lala.
Eddie was Bills Child never was but out their he made him.
Eddie was made made to get with Lala so Bill could use him to know about Sookie .
Jason saw Bills war because of Eddie Blood was also Bills blood.
Bud Deerborn ( Told You that Bill was glamor him ) quite cause Bill Glamor him a again .Bill knows that Andy is family and that Andy wanted Bud job .
Andy has been glamor a lot when Andy want to but Jason away was because Bill was mad when Jason talk to him frist time that Grand met him at Sookie house .Andy stared then to want Jason in jail .
Bill was trying to get Jason out of the way .Grand was Killed to get out of the way .
Sookie went to FT to help Jason .Bill see that Jason to in to him self to help Sookie .After Dallus talk Bill stop glamoring Andy to put Jason in jail and get them to be friends .Bill has been glamoring them both Jason can be glamor ,cause Pam did when he went to FT.
Now that is intriguing. At some point, Bill’s probably glamoured everyone is Sookie’s life.
Yes Bill has glamoured ever one in BT ,He got ever one to tell him about Sookie .Grand was glamoured befor he went to Sookie house why grand like him better then Sam .
Bill has been in town lot longer then we know of .
Eric has talk to great grand in the books I think that is how Eric knows what happen to Sookie frist night Bill met her cause Clandiene was their and saw it .
Bill has been glamor lots people around Sookie .
Hes been killing for long time .
This Bill is older then we know of hes not real Bill Compton. The war was what the real Bill told him befor he was killed .This Bill knows all about Sookie Family for a long time .
On the spoiler page, there’s a discussion about Bill’s shifting nature being revealed to the audience. Hope so.
I would love for the ture Bill Comptom death to come out and what this Bill is and who he is .
THIS!!! Yes you are right Enjoying…This is what I think too!!!!
In season 4 I think Eric will feel like hes going mad and Sookie and Eric will get to gether .We need the shower LOL.Sookie will come back with new powers .She will hook up with Alicde.Debbie will get Russell out and the witches will come to BT.
What seasson 4 going be a happening season .Queen and Bill I hope she puts him down .But you have to think Bill may be a lot older then her .
Hi Enjoying! It’s good to see you back.
Blech! I don’t even want to think of Alcide s4.
Thanks Love it here ,been reading just not posting .
I do not think Quinn will be in it ,I hope he is. But I think Alcide and Sookie will be to gether .Think that he may be replacement for Quinn .What do you think ?
As for Russell hes going have lots of wolfs to get him out .
I love Russell even if he is bad .Lets hope that Sookie gets over Billllllllllllll cause can”t not watch other year of that .LOL .
Eh…Quinn…I see him coming in late in the series after Sookie’s done with Alcide. Physically I think he’s the only one who can give Eric a run for his money physically.
Russell is delish, and I’m not usually one who roots for the bad guy.
I love the actor ,hes just to over the top LOL
the have a Queen of the fae in season 4 have noidea what thats about.
I do hope we get Quinn he will help Eric see he loves Sookie will in the books it does TB who knows
I’m sure Sookie’s shenanigans with Quinn hurt Eric deeply, but we never got to see that since Sookie was totally oblivious to it. I hope we see it in TB.
Renée, I really love what you’re doing with cyan and the colour wheel, it’s brilliant!
It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with what I’m looking at though so I could continue with what I’m thinking about if you like.
For sure! I’m looking forward to reading part II.