Article on SciFiWire
Carrie Preston, who plays the man-crazy redheaded bar waitress Arlene Fowler in HBO’s vampires series True Blood, told SCI FI Wire that the show will delve deeper into various supernatural phenomena when it returns in the summer with 12 new episodes.
Carrie Preston as Arlene
“Things are going to get a little crazy on the show,” Preston said in an exclusive interview. “There’s going to be a bunch of new sort of supernatural things that are being introduced. Besides the … the vampires. And, as far as Arlene goes, well, let’s just say that Arlene’s not the type of woman to be single for very long.” Arlene’s last fiance, Rene (Michael Raymond James), was revealed to be the serial killer in last season’s finale and wound up with a shovel in his head.
The show’s second season will also boast a bunch of new cast members, including Valerie Cruz, Anna Camp and Ashley Jones, as well as Battlestar Galactica‘s Michelle Forbes, Mehcad Brooks and Deborah Ann Woll.
“We just finished the fifth episode,” Preston said. “Starting the sixth one today out of 12, so we’re almost halfway through already.”
Following is an edited Q&A based on our exclusive interview. (Some minor spoilers ahead!)
Talk a little bit more about some of these supernatural elements we’re going to see in the show.
Preston: I don’t know if I’m at liberty to talk about it in detail, but, we are departing a bit from the books [the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris]. … So the writers have really taken the groundwork that they set in the first season and kind of launched from that, and they’re fleshing out characters that are minor in the books, and they’re … changing some plot things, and they’ve really made it their own. …
You’re going to see some characters doing things that you’re surprised at, which will be fun. So I think the show is going to kind of keep you on your toes, and there’s several different storylines that are spinning in the air. …
I presume one of those would be Sookie [Anna Paquin] and Bill [Stephen Moyer].
Preston: Sookie and Bill, uh-huh, and we’re going to follow Jason [Ryan Kwanten]. He’s going to kind of veer off the path a little bit. And so we’ll be watching that. And then Tara [Rutina Wesley] has gotten herself involved with some questionable characters. And then, of course, you’re always going to touch back down into the Merlotte’s crowd. …
Tara’s now with Maryann, played by Michelle Forbes.
Preston: Oh, yes. She’s going to figure quite prominently this season. … It’s very mysterious, and, I mean, we’re still a little confused … as to what her powers actually are. But, you know, she is a very powerful force.
Will there be deaths?
Preston: Some new characters have been introduced, and, you know, it remains to be seen whether they will live or die. That’s the thing with being on the show, you just never know: Are you going to make it? Are you going to make it through the season? Especially now that they’ve departed from the books. Because when I got the job, of course, I read all the books to see if Arlene lives, and she does in the books, but who knows?
“but we’re departing a bit from the books”
Yeah, baby!! LOL
[Reply]
Uh-oh, I have a feeling the Eric book fans aren’t going to be happy with this. Carrie keeps referring to supernatural creatures (plural) and I have to wonder if the writers are creating their own or if they will introduce the faeries from the book along with the maenad.
I also can’t help but wonder if this is another one of Alan Ball’s ploys to throw us off the track or maybe, instead, prepare us for the differences (from the book series.)
Thanks for posting this interview. I was feeling starved for some hardcore True Blood news!
[Reply]
I also wanted to add that I love the point Carrie makes that we will see some characters doing things we are suprised at – (Bill and the tap dancer? Eric being kind? Sam being wild? I’m trying to think of behaviors that would be surprising for our main characters.) Can’t wait for June!!!
[Reply]
I knoe there’s some Eric and Eric/Sookie fans here, so no offence, but I actually don’t care that if they’re not gonna be happy, hehe. They have lots of good stuff from the books, and I think now it’s the Bill/Bill/Sookie fans turn to be happy. So if they’re not happy, I don’t care, I’m sish and think that I will be happy, LOL
[Reply]
I am glad they are changing it up some. Hopefully that means more Bill and Sookie.
[Reply]
I’m happy that they’re gonna move away from the books. :)
[Reply]
I loved the interview. Thanks Shad for posting this. I am so glad they are departing from the books. I really didn’t care much for the way Bill was treated in the books and can’t wait to see what AB has in store for them and us!
[Reply]
Yes…they are moving away from the books, more Bill and Sookie time..
[Reply]
I would like to know where it says we will see Eric being Kind..I didn’t read that…
[Reply]
UH OH! (Can fans says “uh oh?”) The more I read, the more excited I become. I am just drooling with anticipation! Where in the world is AB taking us? Only time will tell. Sad that the show is departing from the books but that is AB’s style. I have no doubt that TB S2 will knock our socks right off.
As you can tell by my user name, I’m an “Eric lover”. Oh yeah, VIKING all the way baby! But that doesn’t mean I can’t drool over a certain handsome old fashioned southern vampire or other characters too. I am only human after all! (snicker snicker)
Thank you TB-Online for all these wonderful interviews, articles and casting calls! I so look forward to any TB news I can get. BTW, love your “BillsBabe’s Shoppe!” Very nice selection.
[Reply]
I think the show is so much fun just because they are moving away from the books and so we can be surprised more than once. I finished second book yesterday and I enjoyed it so much, but I am glad that plot of the show is different and I will be more surprised. Moreover thanks these differences, we can have two obsession at the same time and to be fan of Eric/Sookie from the books and fan of Bill/Sookie from the show.
[Reply]
I am working on some Eric shirts too to add to the shoppe. I am a Billsbabe but I won’t forsake the Eric fans.
[Reply]
Eris is mine, I hope you didn’t get offended by my post there above, hehe. I realised I was a little harsh
[Reply]
The show is moving away from the books… YeeHaw!!! That means more Bill, more SM, more Bill/Sookie… YAY!
Didn’t like the books at all. So many stupid plot lines and scenes. Like Sookie being the Hoover vacuum and sucking out a bullet from the chest cavity, I mean really? And the healing scene, eww. The healer can infuse blood, but can’t take it out of the body, eh? Hello CH, even in the viking times, they didn’t suck on people to exsanguinate them. I hope AB is sensible enough to know that most educated people won’t buy this bullshit.
[Reply]