SPOILER ALERT
This past Sunday’s episode concluded with Eric sucking the life out of Claudine, Sookie’s fairy godmother. The twist surprised many fans of Charlaine Harris’ book series, because Claudine doesn’t bite the dust until much later in the novels. Alan Ball tells EW that just because Sookie’s mentor is gone doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of the fairy world. “After everything that was going on with the fairies in the first episode, I think we wanted to sort of put a pin in that, but obviously it’s not over,” says Ball. “I felt it would have more impact if it was someone we knew as opposed to just a random fairy.”
It’s also another example of Blood diverging from its source material, like keeping Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) alive and introducing the original character of Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). Says Ball, “If we did just do everything in the books, there would be no surprises. It’s not like we have a formula for what we’re going to keep from the books and what we’re going to change. If there’s a consensus that something makes sense, that’s usually the way we go.” For her part, Harris says she “was surprised” by the death of Claudine, but trusts in Ball and where he takes the stories. Says the author, “If he can be gracious to me, I can certainly be gracious enough to wait and see where he’s going.”
Another shocking scene was Jason being raped by the women of Hot Shot. “Well of course it’s twisted — Hot Shot is twisted,” says Ball. “They’re crazy inbred freaks. They call each other Uncle Daddy! Hello! It’s a twisted world.”
“It gets ugly between the vampires and the witches,” says Ball. “There’s more than one fight coming up. There’s also a very unexpected romantic attachment which you’ll start to see the beginnings of I believe in next week’s episode. We’re gonna find out a lot about Jesus’ magic that’s in his family. We’re gonna get to the bottom of what’s going on with Arlene’s baby.”
Source: EW
Over the years, I have learned that there is a HUGE difference between the book and the movie (or television show, as the case may be). The time constraints inherent in filming a novel can force changes that are not welcome to fanatics of the original source material. But Mr. Ball has maintained from the beginning that his HBO series is based on the “Sookie” novels and he is using them as source material, making his series different from yet familiar to those who may have read the books. Had he not said this all along, I would probably be upset at the changes he has made but I find everything he has done to be top notch and very exciting. I look forward to a few more seasons of this excellent series, both the book and the show. And, as I read that Maurice Sendak said about the expansion of his book “Where The Wild Things Are” into a movie, the book is always there, in it’s pure form, no matter what they make into a movie.
[Reply]
I was surprised by Claudine’s death … not because it occurred, but because it happened so early in the series. I appreciate the divergence from the books and never expected to see a carbon copy with the show. The Hot Shot story line gives me the creeps. I’m hoping Jason can escape before all the Hot Shot women have their way with him.
I have a wee idea about the unexpected romantic involvement. Looks like we’ll find out more about that next week.
[Reply]
Also, I’m glad its not through one person’s interaction and or vision. I very much like the tv show because it also focuses on the other characters who individually have their own storyline and happenings. Kudos Mr. Ball, you have a winner!
[Reply]
Nope its definately not the last of the fairys.I to was shocked by Claudines death but how do we know for sure that was Claudine?Or that’s when GGD fairy makes his appearance maybe next season to seek revenge,hmmm.
[Reply]
I, for one, wasn’t upset with Claudine being killed. Her death will certainly bring retribution at some point, so there is a reason behind her being killed.
I hope that Alan and the writers continue to make changes from the books. I would be seriously bored week in and week out if I knew exactly what was going to happen. And so far, I’ve loved most of the changes.
[Reply]
Thank the deity of your choice that Alan Ball is only using the books as a template for the show or it would be dismal tv. I say that with no disrespect towards CH. The format of the books would not translate well to film verbatim.
I love AB’s twisty take on the original material even when the story takes a turn I am not thrilled with (Hotshot I wish had been eliminated). CH made the right choice in making a deal with AB and I have faith he will continue to spin a quirky tale that we will tune in to each week. AB if you are reading this ditch Quinn please:)
[Reply]
Alan Ball is a genius when it comes to tv or film (Six Feet Under, American Beauty) and True Blood is no exception. I love the whole feel of True Blood, the sets, the dimension of the characters, the amazing writers and of course, the actors. I love TB and how it keeps us wondering and speculating what will happen next. I had decided that Claudine and faeville might not be all that great after what happened when Mab showed up. But then there’s always Claude.
[Reply]
Claude I think will help Sookie out since there is a lot of the fairies that have not been fully explained. I never liked the fairy story in the books nor in the show so I all I can say is thank god!!!! I trust Alan Ball with what he has done from those books because seeing a carbon copy of the books would be boring and boberia. Could the romance be of Eric and Sookie? Oh well we will find out soon enough
[Reply]
Could it have been someone else other than Claudine? I know we are talking about the show but I remember in one of the books that they were triplets. Claudine and Claude and then another sister. Can’t remember the name of the other sister. Hhhmmm???
[Reply]