Who Is This Blushing Virgin In A Whorehouse & Where Is Lafayette?

[redbrunja]

Normally, True Blood is so not where I go for fiction that is satisfying on a feminist level. But that scene where Tara and Sookie take down that werewolf? Made me feel so warm and satisfied that I wanted a cigarette.

Tara was SO AWESOME this episode. She was smart and brave and rescued Sookie and I get flaily just talking about it. Other thoughts:

–I found the scene where Jessica's fangs popped out adorable. It's interesting to me how True Blood is playing that Arlene/Jessica arc. Because while Arlene is a straight-up-bigoted woman and yet Jessica is doing absolutely everything Arelene is accusing her over (sans wanting to eat Arlene, because really, who would?)

–I'm back to fast-forwarding through every Jason scene. Except that one where's he's abusing his prospective position of authority. That I saw.

–Sam and his family actually got interesting! I'm so excited.

–I actually felt sympathetic towards Loretta this episode. That may have been partially because her costuming was so fantastic.

–Jessica and Sookie need to take a class called 'Vampires, 101.'

–Eric is so awesome and devious and I can't wait until he rips off the head of the King of Arkansas.

–I hate hate hate how the writers are writing Lafayette and Jesus. Like, I like Jesus and love the idea of him being a voudon priest but Lafayette seemed so ooc in his scenes with Jesus. Also, I wanted to yell at the writers/director to stop being such a fucking pansy about having two men kiss and just fucking do it you're on HBO for the love of Christ. Or if you can't handle having men kiss, work around it like you did in the much more interesting Bill/Sam, King of Arkansas/Tabott, Eric/Talbott, Eric/King of Arkansas scenes.

But preferably just grow a pair. 

Comments

[sarolynne.livejournal.com]

Tara was pretty fabulous in the most recent episode. It's a huge improvement to how she's been most of the season, which seems to have just been swinging back and fourth between out of control and victim. It was nice to see her find some conviction and really execute something to save herself and Sookie. (Though I admit that a part of me is disappointed not to get to see vampire Tara.)

On the other hand, I very much disagree with your problems with Lafayette and Jesus. I've generally loved the way they've been handled. While it's surprising, Lafayette's reactions to being pursued by someone who seems both nice, and genuinely interested in him emotionally, as relationship material, rather than being into his sex and drugs and bravado makes sense, and added some more complexity to his character. It also sort of subverts some expectations about gay men being all about the sex, all the time, and so very casual about it. It's not perfect, by any means, and I found the whole confrontation at the end of their date pretty contrived. But I haven't found Lafayette OOC, or been bothered by their interactions at all.

However, I do generally find telling anyone to "grow a pair" pretty problematic.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It was nice to see her find some conviction and really execute something to save herself and Sookie. (Though I admit that a part of me is disappointed not to get to see vampire Tara.)

Agreed. I think Vampire Tara would be really cool as long as she had a different arc than Jessica did, so we don't have TWO newbie vampires figuring out their new life.

I've generally loved the way they've been handled. While it's surprising, Lafayette's reactions to being pursued by someone who seems both nice, and genuinely interested in him emotionally, as relationship material, rather than being into his sex and drugs and bravado makes sense, and added some more complexity to his character.

I know that is what the writers were trying to do but for me I felt the whole thing reeked of the writers tip-toeing around the fact that they have a homosexual couple on the show, and considering how explicit they've been with Jason and basically every other couple on the show, it just feels like feeding into the double standard our media has been hetero and homosexual sex. But that's totally a YMMV.

[sarolynne.livejournal.com]

I felt the whole thing reeked of the writers tip-toeing around the fact that they have a homosexual couple on the show, and considering how explicit they've been with Jason and basically every other couple on the show, it just feels like feeding into the double standard our media has been hetero and homosexual sex. But that's totally a YMMV.

I don't think they're in anyway tip-toeing around the fact they have a homosexual couple, honestly. They've developed different couples differently, and Jason isn't really a good metric for judging others by considering his character. I might agree with you if this is something that continues in writing Lafayette and Jesus, but since at this point they've spent one day together... it seems like jumping to gun to say that they should be more explicit about gay sex.

[nimblnymph.livejournal.com]

All I've gotta say about Tara is this:

THANK YOU WRITING GODS HER CHARACTER HAS FINALLY BEEN REDISCOVERED!

Seriously. SERIOUSLY. Bad ass. That whole bludgeoning scene was gruesome, but SO WELL played out. There was still an element of victimization (is that even a word) about her actions, but it was the old Tara making a comeback.

And ... I'm afraid I might have gotten a little turned on watching Tara and Sookie tag team on the werewolf. THAT. WAS. FANTASTIC.

Loretta (or is it Lorena? I can never remember) ... I do feel sorry for her, but you know what? She's not doing a damn thing to break the cycle that Bill spoke about, so my sympathy only goes so far.

Talbott and the King are adorable together. Every time they're on the screen at the same time, I feel my squee come on.

Jesus and Lafayette ... yes. Lafayette is ALL sorts of OOC in those scenes, and I think it's because the writers really don't know how to handle his character being in a relationship. I can understand him maybe being a LITTLE awkward about having a hot, put together guy interested in him ... but this is freakin' Lafayette. He's not a fucking virgin by ANY means.

I do like that his drug dealing was addressed and that Jesus walked away from it. That rang very true.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Seriously. SERIOUSLY. Bad ass. That whole bludgeoning scene was gruesome, but SO WELL played out.

Agreed. I am PRAYING Franklin is dead because part of me thinks he isn't.

And ... I'm afraid I might have gotten a little turned on watching Tara and Sookie tag team on the werewolf. THAT. WAS. FANTASTIC.

If so, you were not alone.

Loretta (or is it Lorena? I can never remember) ... I do feel sorry for her, but you know what? She's not doing a damn thing to break the cycle that Bill spoke about, so my sympathy only goes so far.

Agreed. My sympathy was like, two seconds of 'poor baby.' Although I'm really hoping we find out more about her and her maker now.

I think it's because the writers really don't know how to handle his character being in a relationship. I can understand him maybe being a LITTLE awkward about having a hot, put together guy interested in him ... but this is freakin' Lafayette. He's not a fucking virgin by ANY means.

Personally, I think it's the writers being uncomfortable with writing on-stage, unapologetically positive homosexuality instead of dreams and innuendo.

I do like that his drug dealing was addressed and that Jesus walked away from it. That rang very true.

That did, and I like how Lafayette didn't try to lie about it.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

So much agreement all over (again). I looooved the "Well, hell's bells!" song that played over the credits and I tweeter "Well, hell's bells, Sookie + Tara = girl power!" after I watched the ep.

And the kiss between Lafayette/Jesus. The one in the car I was like... Um... too much hesitation and why are you panning away when you constantly show girl/girl action with no worries whatsoever? Hate that it's still a fact of life that straight women can watch two girls going at it in a show and not blink and eye but if straight men see two guys they're going to freak out. So annoying.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yes! That was a great song. I should try and track it down.

too much hesitation and why are you panning away when you constantly show girl/girl action with no worries whatsoever?

Except they don't even do that! They totally cut around the girlsex (which was hilarious, but).

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

Speaking of good songs I have fallen in love with the song they played when Bill was in the strip club from a few episodes ago. And I actually already have it uploaded in case you want. :D (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D7TRCKM9) I would post a youtube vid but I can't find one that sounds like the original one off the album.

Hm, I guess I don't really remember them cutting away from girlsex except for with Pam? I thought they showed the chicks Jason was with playing with each other but that didn't last long since he freaked them out so...

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Speaking of good songs I have fallen in love with the song they played when Bill was in the strip club from a few episodes ago.

Thank you, but I actually... paused the episode in the middle of that scene and hunted that song down. *blushes*

I thought they showed the chicks Jason was with playing with each other but that didn't last long since he freaked them out so...

That's true. And it's kind of depressing that even within the context of the show the girl!sex is for male viewing pleasure.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

Thank you, but I actually... paused the episode in the middle of that scene and hunted that song down. *blushes*

Hehe, no need for embarassment. I looked it up on hearontv.com right after I watched the episode and immediately downloaded it. I usually only discover new music these days through awesome TV shows playing stuff.

And it's kind of depressing that even within the context of the show the girl!sex is for male viewing pleasure.

That's how I feel about it as well. I feel like this happens with lesbian porn too a lot -- where it's created for straight men, rather than gay women. Bleh.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Shows playing good music is actually one of my favorite ways to find new songs. Veronica Mars was exquisite for this.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

YAY TARA!

And Loretta . . . she kinda reminds me of that guy in Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose; he goes to Clyde and asks "Why do I do these things?"

"You do the things you do because you're a homicidal maniac."

"Ah. Well, I guess I'll be killing you now."

She does the things she does because she's screwed up in the head. Because someone screwed her up. Acknowledging this, and acknowledging there's a reason for it, does not lessen the fact that she is screwed up.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Agreed. The fact that someone screwed her up makes her more interesting but doesn't excuse her behavior at all.