#luna garza

1.) Pam's backstory. This is one of the few changes I actually preferred. The way Eric turned Pam in the books is something that never sat right with me since Pam never really got a choice about becoming a vampire. In the show, there was a choice for her, and it's one that made sense. I thought Pam's backstory as a prostitute went a long way's towards explaining a lot of things about her character. It explained why she's closed off from other people, why she's into her looks (since she was in a profession where she had to look pretty in order to survive), why she's so devoted to Eric since he's the one who rescued her from a horrific fate when he could have left her behind, and why she has such contempt for Bill since she remembers him and Lorena as the ones who were defiling the girls that worked in her brothel. It was an interesting backstory that fleshed out her character.

2.) Pam and Tara's relationship. I thought this was some nice character development for Pam where she took on the role of a maker and learned to care for someone else outside of herself and Eric. One of my favorite moments in the series is when she takes the fall for Tara murdering Elijah so that the Authority doesn't lock Tara up. Likewise, I thought Tara's story about becoming a newborn vampire was interesting. She had always hated vampires, so it was interesting seeing her come to terms becoming the thing she once dreaded and learning to be okay with it. I still admire Tara for her loyalty towards those she cares about, and that even as a newborn vampire, she cares deeply about not draining and killing people for fun.

3.) Sam and Luna's relationship. I still argue that Sam was better off with Luna since both of them were shapeshifters and it felt more like an equal relationship. It was fun watching them take on the Hate Group that was targeting them (Luna beating the shit out of Sweeite was a delight), and infiltrating the Authority to rescue Emma. I'm not a huge fan of Sam's character, but I found him interesting to watch when he was paired with Luna. I wish there had been more of this relationship.

4.) Sookie and Jason getting more bonding moments. It was nice seeing the two of them interact. Jason making breakfast for Sookie in bed. Sookie comforting a crying Jason when Hoyt left. Both of them looking out for each other. I didn't even mind their interactions with the faeries. I still think it was nice seeing Jason and the faeries go to bat for Sookie when Russell and Steve went after her. Speaking of which.........

5.) Russell Edgington. Russell was fun in season 5 for me. His relationship with Steve. His condescending attitude towards Salome and Nora. His rivalry with Eric. His mockery of Lilith. He had some great lines and great moments. I still love when he gets fed up with the Authority, gives them a "Reason You Suck" speech, and then just leaves to go do his own thing.

6.) Andy and Holly's relationship. It's a small element, but I liked seeing this relationship develop. It's probably one of the few healthy relationships on the show, and it was nice seeing some character development from Andy.

7.) The overarching theme for the season. While I agree that not every storyline in season 5 was good (*cough* Hoyt joining a hate group *cough*) I did like that they felt connected by an overarching theme about a forthcoming conflict and how the demons of the past (both literal and metaphorical) were coming back to haunt the characters. I also appreciated the themes about the dangers of extremism, and how each of these characters were lost and were trying to define who they were in spite of the things that had happened to them. Again, YMMV on how effective some of these stories were, but I would argue they at least felt connected by that theme compared to other seasons.

8.) Seeing a more heroic side to Eric. Say what you will about how the Authority arc was handled, but I enjoyed seeing a more noble and heroic side to Eric. I liked how in spite of not being a mainstreamer, he made it clear that he was fine tolerating humans so long as they didn't cause problems for vampires. I liked how he didn't kiss up to the Authority when both Roman and Salome were in charge, and that even though he was a vampire, there were at least certain boundaries he wasn't willing to cross. It made me respect him a lot as a character.

9.) Jason's backstory and his talk with Jessica after the experience with his teacher. This will probably be a controversial one, but I thought what they did with Jason's teacher was a heartbreaking moment. I like that the show made it clear that what his teacher did to him when he was a teenager was rape, and that it didn't try to play it for laughs. I've seen this happen before on other TV shows where Male Rape by a woman either gets brushed under the rug, or it's treated like the guy got lucky, which disgusts me. Thankfully, they didn't do that here. It also went some ways in explaining why Jason tied sex with his self-worth, and how he had subconsciously internalized that trauma from all those years ago without realizing it. It still remains one of Ryan Kwanten's best acting moments IMO. I also liked that conversation he has with Jessica later where she initially wanted to have sex with him, but once she realizes he's in a lot of pain from what happened, she opts to talk with him instead. It's the moment that made me realize there was a possibility of them being friends.

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Just like I did with my Top 10 Least Favorite True Blood characters, I am doing a list of my Top 10 favorite ones today. All of the characters on this list are ones that I either connected to strongly or were the reason I kept watching the show, even into the later seasons. Like I’ve said before, this is just personal opinion, and my favorite characters are probably different from other people’s. With that being said, here’s my list.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOR TRUE BLOOD SEASONS 1-7 AHEAD!!!!!

10.) Andy Bellefleur

I rank Andy low on the list because I hated him initially in the first season and a half. He was a lousy cop and an asshole, and I thought it was creepy how he kept harassing Jason and projecting his issues onto him. I’ve always been bothered how he never got called out for that, or ever apologized to Jason for it. I also have some issues with how he handled things as a cop, especially since he’s suppose to have been in law enforcement for a while and should know better.

That being said, I started to warm up to him in season 2 when he was trying to protect Sam from Maryann and her brainwashed followers, and when he worked with Jason to save Sam’s life by playing “The God Who Comes.” I also appreciated that he and Jason were able to work out their issues with each other in order to take on Maryann. Even though they didn’t succeed, I loved the bromance that developed between the two of them, and that they came to understand and accept each others flaws and shortcomings.

What I also liked about Andy was his character development during the show. I liked seeing him work through his flaws (like his V addiction in season 4) and try to be a better sheriff and decent person. I especially loved his relationship with Holly and him becoming a father in season 6. He’s an example of one of those characters I disliked initially but grew to care for, and I love when a show is able to do that.

9.) Holly Cleary

Out of all the people in Bon Temps, Holly seemed to be the only one who had her priorities straight. She’s a generous friend to everyone in town, but she also has boundaries and isn’t afraid to call out others when they act like assholes. I also think her being a Wiccan with knowledge about the supernatural and a single mother is pretty amazing! 🙂

Something that doesn’t get acknowledged that much (and probably should be) is that Holly technically is the one who saved Eric and Bill from Marnie: She’s the one who put a protection spell around them with salt so Marnie was blocked off, and she’s the one who summoned the spirits of the dead to take Marnie back to the afterlife. It’s a great example of how her Wiccan powers saved the day! I wish there had been more moments like that on the show.

Also, out of all the relationships on the show, I loved her romance with Andy, and I’m glad it’s one of the few things that survived the bad writing in the last season. They were cute together, and I think Andy is lucky that Holly still wanted to be with him even after Maurella and the faerie babies. I would even argue that the last episode should have been Andy and Holly’s wedding instead of Jessica and Hoyt’s. There was enough of a buildup in that relationship to warrant that! Oh well! 🤷‍♂️

8.) Luna Garza

One thing I really appreciated about True Blood is how it showed that you can be a mother and still be amazing! Luna is the definition of a “Mama Bear” who will do anything to protect her kid, and I admire her for it. I also admire that she’s someone who doesn’t put up with other people’s bullshit, and will go to whatever lengths she has to in order to protect the people she cares about. Her relationship with Sam was a highlight, and I enjoyed their scenes together. One of my favorite scenes with her is when she catches the person who was the mastermind behind the Hate Group in season 5 and beats the shit out of them. Loved that moment! She was a great character!

7.) Jessica Hamby

I wasn’t a big fan of Jessica when I first saw the show, but that’s changed for me upon rewatch. Out of many of the vampires on the show, I found her to be one of the more relatable ones. She’s a teenage girl who had her human life violently taken away from her, she got stuck with a maker who was neglectful and even abusive towards her (and you’d better believe I’ll be doing a post explaining my issues with Bill and Jessica’s relationships and why Bill was a shitty maker to Jessica), she had a bunch of impulses she didn’t know how to manage, and she felt lost and was looking for a place to belong. All of this is stuff I can relate to.

Unlike Bill, who always had a manipulative agenda and was never honest with others about his motivations, I actually believed the “she struggles with her nature” explanation with Jessica. She had impulses she tried to control, and she did have some teenage self-absorption, but she wasn’t actively malicious or sadistic. She was kind. She tried to become friends with others. She was loyal to people she cared about. She tried to be there for others when they were struggling. Deborah Ann Woll did a fantastic job with this character, and she was a joy to watch!

6.) Terry Bellefleur

If I was to pick someone who was arguably the heart of the show, it would be Terry. Probably one of the kindest men in Bon Temps. He was a character struggling with his demons (one of which unfortunately came back to haunt him in the later seasons), but he always tried to do right by others. He was one of the few people who stood by Jason when he was being accused of murder in season 1. He loved Arlene with all of her flaws. He helped Andy get off of the V. He cared deeply about others, and I love him for that.

I know that it’s become easy for the fandom to rip into him given what’s revealed about his past in season 5, but I don’t think that taints the character the way people think it does. He made a really bad decision that he was deeply remorseful over and wishes he could take back. And that decision was one in a series of long regrets from the war that he wishes he could change. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the reasons he was kind when he got back is because he recognized that dark place he went to and didn’t ever want to venture there again. For what it’s worth, I do think he made a positive impact on his friends and community, and he did deserve better.

5.) Godric

Godric is one of the few vampires on the show that I legitimately liked and wish we’d gotten more of. He was also MUCH BETTER than his book counterpart. I still maintain that the decision to change his personality and have him become Eric’s maker was a huge improvement.

Godric on the show was complex: He had a bloody history and did a lot of awful things, but he also recognized how his actions (and the actions of other vampires) had caused humans to fear and hate them, and he genuinely reformed and made an attempt to foster peaceful relationships between vampires and humans later on in his life. I admire him for that, and I admire his willingness to forgive others. He’s one of those “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” guys. He also brought out a positive side to Eric’s character, and most likely helped instill the qualities into Eric that people admire: Integrity, Loyalty, Devotion, and so on. I wish they’d kept him alive as I believe he could have been a positive force on the show, and I wanted him in more episodes!

4.) Jesus Velasquez

I know that Jesus wasn’t in the books, but I still loved his inclusion on the show. His relationship with Lafayette still remains one of my favorite LGBT+ pairings on TV! He was a great boyfriend for Lafayette, and he had a nurturing side to him that I adored. His backstory as a Brujo and his attempts to escape his grandfather’s influence were also interesting and kept me invested in his character. He recognized the power and responsibility that came with magic and never used it for evil purposes like so many other characters did. He used his magical abilities for good and even helped save the day on many occasions (helping Mavis find peace, separating Antonia from Marnie, etc). There are times I wish the show had made this relationship the focus instead of the tiresome Bill/Sookie relationship.

3.) Lafayette Reynolds

One of the best characters on the show! I love Lafayette! 🥰 He’s funny, he’s kind, he has a great understanding of how the world works, he’s protective of the people he loves, he’s got a good read on people, he has some of the best lines on the show, he had a wonderful relationship with Jesus and Tara, and he’s the kind of guy you’d want to spend time with. He’s fantastic!

I always enjoyed his scenes and his stories, from selling V to discovering he was a medium to even his relationship with Ruby Jeane (his mother). All of them were interesting and engaging!

The AIDS burger speech is still an iconic moment, but I also love this line that deconstructs the problem I sometimes have with ghost stories: “Dead Folk, why y’all gotta be so cryptic! It ain’t cute!”

2.) Tara Thornton

Tara’s the smartest person in Bon Temps, she’s fiercely loyal to the people she loves, she doesn’t take bullshit from anyone, she’s the kind of person you want on your side when you’re going into battle, and she’s there for others. Rutina Wesley is amazing as an actress, and brought a lot of heart and passion to Tara’s character. I was deeply invested in Tara’s story, and always hoped that things would get better for her.

I’m going on record in saying that the hatred that’s been directed at her character was extremely unwarranted. She was one of the best characters on the show. Period. She had everything I looked for in a character, and she deserved so much better than the shit she was put through. To this day, I’m still angry about what happened to her in the last season, and I refuse to consider it canon because of that.

As far as I’m concerned, Tara got a happy ending in season 6: Pam came back to continue their relationship, Tara developed her friendships with Jessica and Willa, and she reconciled with Sookie and Jason. And she cut her abusive mother out of her life for good. That’s my headcanon, and I won’t hear any arguments against it!

1.) Jason Stackhouse

I know that Jason has a lot of problems and isn’t everyone’s favorite character, but I can’t help it: He’s my favorite character. I love him and feel bad for him simultaneously. I get where he’s coming from. I get that he’s trying to find a purpose in his life, and wants to be a person others can depend on. I get how trauma from being raped and taken advantage of and feelings of low self-worth drove a lot of his actions. I get he’s made mistakes and bad choices that he wishes he could take back. Unlike many other characters on this show, I actually believe he tries to be a decent person and wants to improve himself. He’s got a big heart underneath. I also don’t think he’s as stupid as he’s made out to be, and that a lot of the hatred that gets directed at him is either unwarranted or involves twisting his actions/words out of context to justify hating him for petty reasons.

But even with that, there’s a lot I love about him. He’s hilarious at times, he works to be a good brother for Sookie, he brave and loyal and willing to put himself in danger for the people he loves, he can be genuinely sweet, he does have a selfless and caring side underneath, he’s willing to re-evaluate his stance on the supernatural, he does have some good insights at times (even if he isn’t fully aware of it), and he does strive to be a better person. His character development was one of my favorite things about the show.

Ryan Kwanten’s performance as Jason is both underrated and underappreciated. He brought Jason to life in a way that was believable and relatable, and I hold that he’s a phenomenal actor. I really hope in the future he gets more recognition for his work!

Day 13: A scene/moment that pissed you off?

This show had a lot of moments that pissed me off, so it’s pretty hard to pick one.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD:

The graveyard scene between Bill and Sookie in season 1, which was referred to as a RAPE scene by Stephen Moyer in a 2009 interview.

The revelation that Bill was a procurer for Sophie Anne, and that he intentionally let the Rattarays beat Sookie to death so he could drug her with his blood and spend months manipulating and gaslighting Sookie.

Tara’s rape at the hands of Franklin in season 3.

Jason’s gang-rape in season 4 and the fact that fan reviewers like Doux Reviews and Persephone Magazine came out and said it was Jason’s karma/comeuppance. To say nothing about how it felt like the show was victim-blaming Jason for getting raped.

Tommy’s rape of Luna in season 4, and how the show glosses over Luna’s feelings about being violated in favor of making Tommy look sympathetic before he died.

The show trying to present Bill’s relationship with Sookie as romantic when it was actually toxic and abusive.

Bill’s treatment of Jessica in general, which ranged from neglectful at best to abusive at worst.

Pretty much everything about Bill’s character, and how the books and the show constantly made measly excuses for his awful behavior.

Hoyt joining a Hate Group in season 5 and debating about murdering Jessica when she was tied up and not in a position to fight back. Everything about the scene made Hoyt look entitled and misogynistic

The unnecessary introduction of Violet’s character, and her creepy/abusive with Jason.

Everything about Season 7 in general.

Eric’s sexual assault of Willa in season 6 when he puts his hand in between her legs without her consent while she was being glamoured by him.

Tara’s death in season 7, and how it was used as a plot point to absolve Lettie Mae for being a shitty mother.