By Elaine Bergstrom
As a vampire novelist, I belong to an online group of fellow writers who explore the psychology of those immortal creatures of the night. We’ve been digging deep beneath the shock and entertainment of True Blood, and there is plenty to dig through, to reach the philosophy of the series. Early on, it seemed that vampires were representative of any group vilified for what they are, but Sunday’s episode looked squarely at a problem that has been growing since the beginning of this series. As Godric noted in this week’s “Timebomb” episode: To many humans, vampires are frightening, and for good reason.
This season, we’ve seen Lafayette chained in a basement dungeon, and later terrified to the point of immobility when he thinks about angering those who put him there. We’ve seen Jessica attack her father, not that he didn’t deserve it, but with a strength that was so beyond human. Even the people that know vampires well still breathe a little quicker in their presence. So it was a huge surprise when Godric showed superhuman tolerance in dealing with the Fellowship of the Sun and Rev. Steve.
Think back to early last season, the scene in the church where Bill gave his talk to the Civil War remembrance group. The group was nervous, and rightly so, but Bill was the true gentleman, making his point about war and death with carefully controlled civility. But his demeanor was nothing compared to the tolerance we saw last night from Godric, who had every reason not to be civil. He called off Eric and the vampires that came to rescue their sheriff, he let the families who came to watch him burn in the sun leave the church unharmed, he snapped the neck of a traitor but he even let Rev. Steve live. And in the moment he told the slimy preacher, “I am older than your Jesus, I would have liked to have known him but I missed him,” he showed what an evolved creature should be. Indeed, as the Sun worshippers retreated, Godric tells the preacher, “I daresay my faith in humankind is stronger than yours.” Perhaps his faith was too strong. Because, though he gave an example of how vampires and humans can co-exist, he may have paid a terrible price for his mercy.
At the vampire hotel, everyone seemed relaxed. In the presence of their benign leader, even dour Eric cracked an occasional smile and let Jason off with just a warning to stay away from V. Jason gave Bill his blessing and an awkward hug. Then Luke arrived wrapped in silver chains and wearing a bomb and ended all that peace along with his life, proving that Godric sorely underestimated the human capacity for self-destruction.
One of the beautiful things about True Blood — and there are many — is how Alan Ball constantly surprises by not going for the obvious. We expected Godric to be bloodthirsty; after all, what else have we seen from the vampires? We expected a bloodbath — indeed at that point most of us would have enjoyed it. But we got something better, something deeper. Thank you, Alan Ball.
As soon as the episode ended, I scrambled over to imdb.com to assure myself that, yes, all the major players will be back next week. I expect that Bill and Lorena will use up a lot of blood saving Sookie and the other humans, so that they in turn can save the wounded vampires. I am hoping that Godric puts in another appearance, or becomes a major player next season, because he is incredibly interesting. I can’t imagine the writers taking him out if they don’t have to.
In other developments, Jessica and Hoyt learned that, having been a virgin when she was turned into a vampire, vampire healing powers mean that Jessica will be a virgin forever. Maryann cooked Daphne’s heart into a hunter’s soufflé and fed it to Eggs and Tara, Sam is arrested after an anonymous phone call leads police to him and Daphne’s heartless body. Andy tried to defend Sam but no one was listening. I’m sorry this whole Maryann subplot is still with us. I like Sam a lot, but really, the rest of it is just too silly.
Best lines of the evening:
Sookie: Godric is your maker, isn’t he?
Eric: Don’t use words you don’t understand.
Sookie: You really love him, don’t you?
Eric: Don’t use words I don’t understand.
Yes, you do, Eric. Yes, you do. And next week, if Godric is dead or unable to lead, I doubt his words will hold his subjects in check for long. Human nature is what it is. So is vampiric.
I have been trying to think of what I could add, but you all have already summed up my feelings regarding the vampires on “True Blood.” Incidentally, it’s also part of the appeal of the show for me – despite their PR campaign, it never loses sight of the fact that these creatures are no longer human, and can be unpredictable. I am glad that the issue was addressed directly on the show, as it was something that was digging at the back of my mind – especially this season. It makes me look forward to see if it is addressed further as the series goes along, because it would make a terrific running theme.
I agree with Sandy – great analysis. I’m also fascinated with Godric and definitely hope he sticks around. Godric’s line about being older than “your Jesus” was awesome, as was the dialogue you quoted between Eric and Sookie.
I was also intrigued by Eric’s attempt to get Godric to feed, his voice low and soothing as though speaking to a sick child or to a prophet so consumed by inner vision his body – and his life – is in peril.
I too could happily live without the Maryann sub-plot.
The writing, including the dialogue, is fantastic. True Blood is a true dark joy (and a thing of beauty forever – my apologies to John Keats).
Good job, Elaine!
Terrific analysis! I’m dying to see what has happened to Godric; I really want him to stick around. I had the exact same thought you did about Eric’s exchange with Sookie: You lie, Eric, or else you’re self-deluded. But that was crackling good dialog, regardless! And I would have put the line from Godric about Jesus right behind it–how cool was that?! That was a major “Oh, snap!” I can’t wait to see where Ball goes–or doesn’t–with the discrimination-against-vampires theme. Groups who are discriminated against in our society do not deserve it; the fact that the vampires do at least partially seem to earn the enmity of humans makes their allegorical use as victims of profiling and prejudice problematic. But where most writers would bury that inconsistency and hope no one noticed, Ball has brought it front and center. Where will he take it from here, I wonder?