True Blood S3: Episode 3 Reactions

SPOILERS LOOK AWAY!

Now I haven't read the books, even though usually I absolutely preach that the book is always better than the movie/show... but in this case, I've found that TV series is much better and more extensive than what I have read of that books. And I care more the TV series and wouldn't want the books to ruin the show for me, (isn't that backwards; but that's just how good I think the show is) so all my theories are based on what I think the show is doing, not what I know from the book series.

Everyone is FREAKING OUT about the end of tonight's episode of True Blood because seemingly, Bill cheated on Sookie with Lorena... however I have a different view of this. I really don't think that Bill did it on his own. I believe that he was, in some way, forced into it because of Lorena's power over Bill.

Here are my argument points for this.

-Even though Lorena "released" Bill, she still had control to a degree over him in Dallas. So it wouldn't seem too far out there to believe that she still has some kind of sway over him now. She is his maker and that can never be undone even though he has been released.

- Vampires seem to become physically vulnerable when they are emotionally weak. For example, Eric was dealt a pretty rough blow from Bill when he was depressed about Godric. I don't know if this is just because Vamps heal more easily than humans, so when they feel sad they don't care to try to fight back, or if they just don't have the motivation, but it seems that emotional vulnerability usually makes them seem physically vulnerable. Godric said to Eric "A Vampire isn't subject to emotions. He dominates them." And if he doesn't dominate them... perhaps he will become weak. Because of this, it may not be far out to believe that because Bill was so emotionally vulnerable at the time, he could not fight off Lorena's power, which is why he did what he did.

-He was screaming in agony and trying to inflict pain and disfigure Lorena in the middle ("kill" her, or feel as though he is, even though she can't be killed). It seemed like he was fighting against two parts of himself, the part that was controlled and the part that didn't want to do it in the first place!

Now obviously I am just clinging to what I hope is true for Bill since I love him so much and don't want to ever believe that he could ever hurt or betray Sookie.... but I'd like to think that I have SOME weight in my argument... what do you guys think?

BE GENTLE, haha!

BOOK SPOILER? I understand that apparently some say Bill is trying to push Sookie away to protect her... so doesn't that just mean that she'll go be with ANOTHER vampire (Eric)? And therefore he would have done that for no reason since the same "danger" would be present in her new relationship? That's dumb. And very Twilight: New Moon ish... ick.

Either way... The TV show HAS deviated from the books on numerous occasions... it is possible that it will do something different here as well to keep us guessing. What are some of your ideas about this situation? Where do you believe the story will go next?

Book Review: Hunger Games and Catching Fire

I just finished the second book in the Hunger Games series. I've really enjoyed the series so far, and I am excited for the third to come out in August. Suzanne Collins is a pretty great writer and she has introduced me to a few characters that I really love, especially our main lady, Katniss. She's strong, powerful, and doesn't need a man to save her. She can save herself. It's a breath of fresh air from the Mary-Sue phase young girl readers have entered into since Twilight has gotten so huge. However, Katniss is a very human character, too. She's still very young and so doesn't know how to deal with some of her emotions, or sometimes she doesn't truly understand all of her emotions, even. She's killer, in more ways than one. This nice little rendering is a fanart that I found after reading both novels, and I think it looks very much like I pictured Katniss. FIERCE!


First, I'll address the first book, The Hunger Games. I went into this novel not knowing what to expect. It's different from the stuff I'm used to reading because futuristic plot-lines usually leave me feeling unsatisfied and so I usually am not interested in them to begin with. However, this book was written in such a way that it didn't seem too far-out there to me. The author wrote in and explained the back story through Katniss' narration as a matter of fact instead of through a prologue or some other way, so I was introduced into this story in a very organic way. It didn't feel like it was a world or time far, far away, but something that was happening around me as I read. Also, Katniss as a character is tough as nails, but somehow vulnerable enough, that the reader can still connect with her. I thought it was a very interesting challenge for the author to write a character who was so strong and tough without alienating the audience and finding a way to make her relatable and have the reader connect. I think she did a great job. I cared about Katniss and about what happened to her, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen in the next part.


Next I read Catching Fire. I didn't know what to expect from this book. The Hunger Games is set up to where you know for sure the entire plot, climax, and resolution are going to have to do with the games and rules within it. But life after the games were a complete mystery to me. I went into this book with a lot of expectations because I was told how good it was, and it mostly lived up to what I was told. It was very well written and still very engaging and interesting like the first one, however, it didn't live up to my expectations until it got close to the end of the book. With that being said, I still really enjoyed watching Katniss in her emotional growth and self-discovery. I thought a lot of the events that lead up to the ending, where we are poised on the edge of a full-fledged rebellion, went very smoothly. For a while I was wondering how Collins was going to bring us from the berries at the end of the last book to a rebellion at the end of this one with just this one girl. Yet she was able to do it, despite my doubts, in a reasonable and believable way. I think that most books that are the bridge between two parts of the story are usually an audience's least favorite, over all, just because it is only a chunk of the story, but this one still does well on its own. Again, I can't wait for the next part of the story.

So we've just got to wait for the last part in the story. How will they get Peeta back? How will the rebellion overthrow the Capitol? What will we find when we arrive in District 13? Collins has a long journey to take us on to the end of Mockingjay, but I know she'll do a great job with it!

Gearing Up for Eclipse: A Jake Perspective

Since Eclipse is getting closer and closer, and since I have a past of Twi-obsessive behavior, I figured it would be a good idea to have a few blog entries to lead up to the big opening at the end of June. And you KNOW I love any reason to go to a midnight showing and dress the heck up. I'll be putting this new bright red hair to good use and showing up to the premiere as Victoria. Get ready.

Because Eclipse is the CRUX of the whole Team Edward vs Team Jake thing, and as an avid Team Jake member, I figure I should go ahead and be proactive about presenting a Pro-Jacob perspective. Now, I am Team Jake because he is my favorite character in the series, but that doesn't mean that I necessarily want him with Bella (though she'd be SO LUCKY to have him). I just want people to give him more credit and cut him some slack because he's AWESOME. There are so many great things about him that I think a lot of you Team Ed-heads overlook. (Yeah, and that's me in that pic with BOTH shirts. I don't have to ALWAYS choose. <3)

First, let's talk Taylor Lautner. I’ve always loved him as Jake. I’ve been so excited about him. Even before the movie hit theaters and Breaking Dawn, the book, came out the summer I read through Eclipse, I was watching interviews with this young boy and there was this moment in one of the interviews where he did the famous Jake line from Eclipse and winked, (This very moment! Click for the video! "Does my being half-naked bother you?") and I KNEW at that moment that he sold me on his interpretation of Jacob. Others didn’t know what to think about him. They didn’t know if he could pull it off, but I always wanted to see him try. Twilight didn’t give him that opportunity to show us the real Jake, and I couldn’t wait to see him bust out with it in New Moon.

However, the spring of 2009, Summit was negotiating recasting Jacob Black’s role and tossing Taylor out because they believed he was too small to fill the role of the post-transformation Jake. I was SO upset! I really believed in this kid and I had really grown attached to him while getting ready for him to be my Jacob. I couldn’t picture anyone else playing him, especially not the arrogant guy they had in mind to replace him (His name was Michael Copon, and he did an AWFUL interview when he was in talks with Summit that basically bashed TayLau and talked MC up, even though he admitted never having read the books). Luckily, Summit heard the outcry of the fans, the only Twilight outcry I believe was actually a legit concern (besides the complaints about BD, the book), and kept Taylor on.

So, going into that theater the night New Moon opened, I was ready for Tay to prove to everyone what I had always believed about him: He was going to make you love Jacob Black and he was going to play him the way he was supposed to be played. He was going to SHOW all the Team Edward people what they were blind to in the books as they read: Jake is a sweet, charismatic kid who deserves a chance. A chance with Bella maybe, but definitely a chance to be liked by even some Edward-Exclusive lovers.

Afterward, the biggest response from this movie that I witnessed was tons and tons of people jumping ship from Team Edward to Team Jacob. As a die-hard Team Jake member, it’s been satisfying, to say the least. However, I understand a lot of it has to do with young girls thinking Taylor Lautner is hotter than Robert Pattinson. Yet at the same time, I think one thing needs to pointed out. Some viewers have said they like Movie!Jake because he’s not the same as Book!Jake. HOWEVER, I say Book!Jake and Movie!Jake are almost exactly the same. (Yeah that's me with Jake... so what? Jealous.)

If you go back and reread New Moon, you may notice that the Jacob you saw in the film is very much the Jacob you are reading in the pages. The only difference is the way SOME people see Jake now. Before, when Jacob was nothing but an annoying kid, killing time before Edward came back into the book, it was easy to overlook the fact that Jacob is actually very sweet and charming throughout the book, New Moon. However, with a sweet face and portrayal from the movie slapping you in the face, it's hard to deny that Jake is kind of awesome. The original image of Jake created in the minds of some Team Edward people may change to be more human and more likable because of this. But that doesn't mean movie!Jake and book!Jake are different. It's just the way they are both perceived or interpreted in these different mediums.

When you read, your brain will decode things the way your emotions and preferences sway your interpretations. Most of us were in agony waiting for Edward to return while reading New Moon, instead of trying to get to know Jacob when we should have, which is why his character may have been skewed for some readers into someone annoying and unnecessary. However, the movie is a different experience. It’s harder to deny what kind of character he is when you are watching it on a screen and it’s all right there in your face. The positive energy, the charisma, the chemistry that he and Bella share, the hurt he feels when Bella leaves him. I can understand that many readers probably didn’t even care if Jake was hurt when Bella left in the book because they just wanted to make sure Edward ended up safe, but during the film you can’t help but care when you’re forced to come face to face with that situation on screen. You can’t help but see the unashamed way Bella used Jake to get through a hard time, lead him on, and then discarded him. It’s all much more obvious on screen.

With that being said, I think perhaps some people will enter Eclipse with a different outlook on Jacob than the one they had before. At least I hope this will happen, because I don’t see Taylor playing him any differently than he played New Moon Jake, ie. nearly exactly as he is in the book. Eclipse is the book many people have a problem with Jake, but maybe, with this new vision of what Jake has gone through, more people will be understanding of him. We got a taste of Eclipse!Jake at the end of New Moon. Can’t wait to see more!

GET READY!

True Blood Season 3 Live Blog: Ep 1

Season 3 of True Blood begins NOW with the pre-show!!

7:49: ALL these images from the pre-show are making me FREAK OUT!!! Cannot wait to see what is to come. Creator says he thinks this will be the best season yet!

7:51 - Wolves! And all the actors' interviews are saying they are very excited about it! Eric's storyline in particular... CAN'T WAIT! 8 minutes!

7:58 - All the Sookie/Eric making out in the promo is freaking me out! In a good way!

8:05- Finally started! We're drinking our Tru Bloods and wondering where Bill went!!! >>>>>

8:06 - Oh, poor Tara... Eggs is dead and Jason is FREAKING out. JESSICA GOT HOYT'S FLOWERS. But has apparently killed someone... and Bill... just got stabbed! WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

8:08- Feels good to be watching this in real time again! UH it's been too long. HBO, you are cruel.

8:09 - KENYA! Stop being a B word and take this KIDNAPPING seriously! Sookie just dropped the MF word and I don't blame her.

8:12 - WOA. Racial tensions! And now... baby Jess... she's trying to keep her human alive. Poor baby! She needs someone to take care of her... where's Bill!? Oh my God I love Jessica so much. I need her and Hoyt to be together RIGHT NOW.

8:15- I was JUST commenting on if these guys would feel a little gay sucking up all over Bill to get V, and then one of them said the same thing. Hmm. BACK OFF OF BILL LIKE NOW. kthnxbye


8:18 - "I'm not in the modd for lesbian weirdness tonight, Pam." Awe and then Eric was having sex with a girl and I don't think he wanted Sookie to see... I guess he really has actual feelings for her... in a weird way.

8:21 - Oh thank God! Bill is escaping. Now Jessica needs to come save him! Oh, and here we go. This is what the show is about, Sookie and Tara together being friends, like the first season. Oh wait, spoke too soon... Tara is mad again. Oh Lafayette. Gonna have to babysit Tara being crazy for a while. I love her but she's irrational when she's upset.

8:24 - The Pam + Eric dynamic is delicious.I really love it. And now Bill and Sam are going to work together! Get him some clothes, Sam... or not... haha. Wahhh...? HAHAHA He's having a sex dream about Bill! We were wondering why this scene was so gay.

8:30 - Can I just say that I LOVE (freaking LOVE) Lafayette! And MMM wear that fedora!

8:33 - ...I kind of want to see wolves like.. now. When will that happen? I'm tired of Letti Mae trying to manipulate Tara. Let's move on.

8:35 - HOYT AND JESSICA! WIN WINWINWINWINW!!!!! LOVE them together. More needs to happen here NOW.

8:37 - QUEEN. She looks a lot less annoying and stupid this season. Let's see if she'll ACT like she looks. And... WHY does she want V to be sold in her area...? I want to know! (Hmm, if she makes Eric take the fall for her I will be angry...)

8:41 - "What am I thinking about right now? You know, in my brain." OH Jason. Same old guy.

8:43 - So the Queen needs MONEY and that's why she's pushing V... and she'll kill Eric if he doesn't comply. I HATE HER. What a skank.

8:46 - Poor baby, Lafayette needs some xanax.

8:49 - Alrighty Bill... don't kill this old lady... don't do it! Op, there he goes... Oh God.. and now what is Tara going to do...? Don't try to kill yourself. Don't do it!

8:53 - Oh thank goodness. Bill didn't kill her. That did seem weird. Awe and he is letting her think that her son came to visit and gave her money. Gotta love Bill. Oh LORD, and there Tara is taking pills. WHAT THE HELL. I knew she was going to try to kill herself. The girl needs help!

AH! And it ends with Bill vs Team Werewolf! Can't wait for more!!!! UH and the preview for next week makes me REALLY want to see more. Waiting a week between each episode SUCKS!!!

MTV Movie Awards: Live Blog

Pre-show:

7:36: Can't really handle how annoying and trashy the Jersey Shore group really is... and it only gets classier with Snookie being a guest interviewer on the red carpet. Uuuh.

7:37: First award of the night "Best Fight" went to Ali Larter and Beyonce. Everyone should know that I thought it should have gone to Robert Downey Jr and Robert Mallait from Sherlock Holmes. But it being MTV, I'm not guessing anything that actually matters will really win...

7:41: Oh goody... after the red carpet we get to see the first 10 minutes of the Jersey Shore season premiere... WHY do people watch this crap?

7:42 OH goodness, Katy Perry has blue hair. Still cute.

7:43: OH MY GOD!!!! Les Grossman and Robert Pattinson!!!! OHHHH how I love random Tropic Thunder references, and ESPECIALLY when they are combined randomly with RPattz. That was too good.

7:48: Going comatose for a few to save myself from this preview of Jersey Shore. AWFUL.

7:57: Can we PLEASE make it stop? What has MTV come to?

Awards Show:

8:01: OMG opening with Tropic Thunder stuff just wins me over. And you KNOW this is my favorite Ludacris song ever.

8:02: OH MTV you make me so happy!! TayLau and RPattz in skits showing personality? It's SO MUCH THAT I LOVE.

8:03: BAHAHAH Tom Cruise just called Will Smith the Fresh Prince. And then Bill Heder said "Parent's Just Don't Understand."

8:06: Alright, let's see if Aziz will actually be pretty good, or lame and annoying.

8:10: Just saw Paul Rudd in the audience. Makes my heart smile. AND Aziz is bashing 3D and so I am on his side so far.

8:11: Oh God, already talking Twilight.. and Rob is awkward... and K-Stew already looks like she hates her life. Tay is adorable as usual. :)

8:14: Best female performance.... K-Stew. Let's watch her awkwardness. Can she make a complete sentence? Not so much stuttering as just trying to get through it ASAP. At least she faked gratitude this time!

8:22: Russell Brand... please button up. kthnxbye

8:23: So I guess EVERYTHING is going to be Twilight centered tonight? It's a guilty pleasure for me, but I know many people are like "STFU OMG Twilight SUX."

8:25: Break out star? Please be Anna?! ... IT IS!! YAY! And she looks SO hot. Bless her little heart. She's the cutest, and I feel personally proud of her even though I've had no reason to feel responsible for her. LOVE her!

8:29: Could this actually make me like Tom Cruise again?? WTF!! Les I love you. And you dancing with J-Lo.

8:31 The HARRY POTTER SNEEK PEEK WILL BE WORTH SITTING THROUGH THIS.

8:36: Best Scared Performance... went to Amanda Seyfriend just because she kisses Megan Fox in that movie. Should have gone to Paranormal Activity.

8:38: HARRY POTTER PREVIEW OMGOMGOMGOGMGMGOMGOMG AM DYING RIGHT NOW!!!

8:45: Best kiss... PLEASE don't be K-stew and RPattz. Oh my God... really.. it's them again. Will they kiss THIS year? They faked us out last year. Haha, and she passed the statue off to Robert since she dropped hers last year. Smoke and mirrors my ass. KISS B! KISS! Wow... that was annoying. Faked out for like 4 minutes until he just grabbed her and it wasn't smooth. LAME. Should have just done it.

8:52: Katy no... those shorts are... TOO BIG. I mean.. they make you look big and you AREN'T!

9:00: Oh SANDY B is there!! How sweet! She's being honored and I love her.

9:06: WOO, girl, those heals. You look AMAZING. Everyone loves her and it’s great. “This award is for old people who are going to step down and let someone new come in. Well, that’s not going to happen, I’m staying.”

9:09: Uuuuh, Scarlett and Sandra are going to kiss. Yup they just did.

9:18: Everyone loves when Samuel L. Jackson says the F word.

9:19: Tom Felton just won for best villain! Would have never thought!! He is SO PRECIOUS!!!

9:27: Wow all these “Biggest Badass” nominees suck.

9:29: Twilight sneak peek. I’m Team Jake. Duh.

9:36: Best Male Performance… RPattz. Son of a Bitch. Taylor was SO MUCH BETTER AND HAD REAL ABBS.

9:42: I love Xtina. She always does good performances. And sings live. Very rare.

9:58: Tom Cruise is not Les Grossman now… and he’s actually more creepy. Awe someone just screamed “Show me the money” and he cracked up.

10:00: Best movie goes to… New Moon. LAME. Gah, I was thinking at LEAST the Hangover would win. At least this gets Taylor Lautner on stage. BAHAHA. Peter is f-bombing like crazy and the censors are REALLY terrible at covering it up.