True Blood: Season 2 (2009)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked:

• Bill and Sookie finally have a little more physical chemistry developing between them, it isn’t such an awkward thing to watch them together anymore.
• The humour in this one was pretty sharp.
• Pam and Eric when they are together. They are exceptionally entertaining – always sniping at each other, always loving each other, though goodness knows neither will admit it.
• Seeing more Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman in this one. He is the one character that is really interesting, and I feel he was underused in the last season. He is the one that most people seem to love to see more of – his ruthlessness, his history, his attitude, all of it.
• Eric and Sookie’s exchange about using words the other doesn’t understand.
• The relationship between Hoyt and Jessica – it was really sweet.
• Allan Hyde as Godric. He was truly amazing and very well done. His character had quite a bit of depth, even though he was only a brief part of what happened. Hyde was perfect to play him, he had that looks of having seen the world, yet he was still so beautiful. Big fan, me.
• The relationship that Godric and Eric share, as well as the past. Both are very deep, both very sad. Eric is very loyal to Godric, which is something I like, and Godric is definitely very changed after two thousand years of living.

What I didn’t like:

• The maenad having such a huge role.
• The town’s craziness. It was fine, then it just got freaking stupid. It went from funny to annoying, and really, really quickly.
• The whole way that Bill and Sookie “have a child” so to speak with Jessica. They make it so much like that and it just really shouldn’t be.
• Eric’s fascination with Sookie is finally here – but it is out of nowhere and not properly explained.
• I am still not enamoured with the wrong teeth being the fangs… small thing to grate on a person, but it does.

Rating:
Again, another pretty decent season. I loved getting to see more of Eric and Pam in this one, they are worth the watch all the time. I felt extremely bad for Lafayette and all the things that he went through, he was so broken when all was said and done. Maryann annoyed me, seeing as she was supposed to have an important role, but not that important that it became a whole season’s worth of stuff. Watching how it was implemented was funny initially, all these people going cooked and not remembering, then it rapidly progressed to being a drag. Drifting back into Eric’s past of being the honourable Viking who turned was something I thoroughly enjoyed, and Godric as his maker was simply perfect. Eric really did actually feel something for his Maker, though it is something that confused Sookie endlessly. I think the thing with Godric and Eric was far better in the show than the books – Ocella was just annoying, and the history didn’t quite resonate the same. Jason’s retarded decision to join the Fellowship of the Sun proved to be incredibly funny, as Jason most certainly either didn’t attend Bible studies or Church, or just really didn’t absorb what was said. Thinking that Moses walked on water and wondering who Judas was really had me cracking up. Hoyt and Jessica meeting was just the most adorable thing, and he really seems to have pulled the ridiculously annoying side out of her, which was pretty cool. Steve and Sarah Newlin really made my stomach turn. He was just not… a man (I cannot explain this enough – any tying a pastel sweater around your shoulders does not help matter whatsoever), and Sarah was such a loose woman. Anyway, as far as it goes, some things were straightened out in this season and were most certainly enjoyable. You have to laugh at the cheese True Blood provides.

Character Tribute: Eric Northman

So I have been chewing on this idea for a while now, and I have decided that I will be putting out some character tributes for characters I have particularly enjoyed in a movie or a series. I thought there would be no better way that to start this segment off with a bang, giving Eric Northman the spotlight!

Whether you liked True Blood or not, it cannot be denied that whether things were good or bad, Eric Northman was a damn entertaining character all round. He kept me watching until the fairy crap, and then I went off the show, then I got back on it, and I must confess, it was still Eric that had me coming back for more and more and more. Portrayed by the delectable Alexander Skarsgård, Eric is sassy, cocky, cheeky, indifferent and just plain down fabulous. I decided I will talk about some of the reasons I love him, though in no particular order.

The way he could always make an entrance.

Every time he got in Bill’s hair, it was like big points for you my friend. He was not even subtle about it. The two were great when they got on one another’s nerves.

Eric’s relationship with Pam. This is something that I have spoken about before, and this is no exception. I absolutely adored the two of them together. Eric, always indifferent and cruel and cut off from the world, was a whole different creature when Pam was involved. When things went right, they were always sniping at each other, but in a soft way. When things got serious, you could see how close they were.

Eric’s ascention into the modern day and age, and how he can sometimes pass for being normal.

His absolute and unwavering loyalty to Godric. Crushing.

Whenever Eric is over listening to someone and he just moves on to other things… how do you blame the guy?

His amazing on screen persona, there is just a dash of regular Eric under the business and caring facade presented to the public, and I like that.

The reading… in a leather jacket. And those eyes. The hair. The looks. All of it. Eric didn’t even need to open his mouth to dominate a scene.

Dat ass…

He is not all up to date with the times, and doesn’t have time to wade through all the jargon. Cut to the chase.

No matter what, Pam and Eric were always in it together.

When Eric shares something deeper, it always shocks you.

Drunk Eric was so amusing.

When he kissed Pam, and I was finally satisfied, and knew that they were perfect in every single way.

The way a simple thing like sunbathing could induce a mini heart-attack…

When sarcastic Eric makes an appearance. Always worth checking out!

The way he could wear a tracksuit and it didn’t even faze me.

How he just couldn’t stay too serious for too long.

That time Eric wanted to drive, and dropped in to ask it.

Throned Eric. Has anyone ever looked that fine while brooding atop a throne in a strip joint/bar? I think not. But nevertheless, the location was unimportant, Eric sat on that throne like the Viking king he was.

Subservient and displeased about it, Eric was not a fan of being Bill’s underling. Without outright telling him that, it was the smaller, more sarcastic gestures that made this perfect.

The way he says some things, and manages to get away with it.

Every time we were rewarded with this…

Whenever he did something out of character, he still somehow managed to make it work.

He provided the best cleaning service you could possibly hope for.

The time he showed up at the Governor’s mansion looking like this:

The way he recognised Ginger purely by her scream, and went back to save her.

Through the ups and downs of the show, I will have to admit that Eric was a large reason I stuck around. Farewell!

Top Ten Television Crushes

Alright, so Table 9 Mutant, Samantha at Sci-Fi Drama Queen, Abbi at Where The Wild Things Are and I were briefly discussing one of these, which I had been contemplating. Sounds like Mikey may join the fray, too. At any rate, I thought that this would be fun to do one and got it together. Without further ado, we’re off!

Sam Witwer as anyone, but I will go with Aidan Waite in Being Human (US)

As Doomsday or a centuries old vampire or even Starkiller, this guy is just hot, and plays that tortured but strong character so damn well! Aidan Waite is pretty awesome, what with his morals and willingness to do whatever it takes to make  everything right, to protect, to kill, to survive. Also endlessly entertaining, I really do enjoy him!

Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester in Supernatural

Leather jackets, great music, wicked sense of humour that cracks me up each and every time, hiding in the shadows and so damaged it isn’t even funny, though he keeps a brave face because it is what he is expected to do. Fiercely loyal though incredibly jaded, Dean Winchester is one of my go to choices!

Evan Peters as Tate Langdon in American Horror Story: Murder House (as they are calling it nowadays)

I really, really liked him in all the American Horror Story seasons, though I am not totally sold on Coven, though he started with such promise. However, in Murder House, he nailed that role of psychopath perfectly. He was gorgeous, he was charming, he had a boy-like quality to himself, an innocence that he wore and worked with so well. You know that what Tate is doing is wrong, yet at the same time he manages to wrap you right around his little finger and be done with it.

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead

Yes. Yes. Do we see the cigarette? The long hair? The self assurance? The sheer badassness of the guy? Well then I really don’t need to keep justifying.

Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski in Chuck

Now we all know there are very few things to me as hot as a geeky, nerdy guy, so there was no ways that nervous old Chuck was not going to make the list. He is adorable, he is smart and damn hilarious, is a Star Wars fan as well as a little self conscious, which always works in his favour!

Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop in Fringe

Jackson is not my regular cup of tea, but whatever. Peter Bishop was incredibly smart and well dressed (those jeans and jacket were always just wow), steadfast and always thinking out of the box, yet damaged in some inexplicable way (though that got cleared up later), he managed to string me along just fine all the way.

Dan Feuerriegel as Agron in Spartacus

Alright, here it is. There are few things that thrill me like a man with a nice mouth and nice teeth. This guy… I don’t know, so not my average cup of tea but then he was just gorgeous, and that smile was a killer (we can completely overlook the fact that he was not straight for the show, he was just something absolutely gorgeous to behold).

Alexander Skarsgård Eric Northman in True Blood

Though I stopped watching this after I dragged myself through the third season, I have to say that what kept me watching for so long (seeing as I cannot stand Anna Paquin and was not thrilled with the concept), Eric Northman remained quite worth the watch, to be honest, but the show just slid so badly downhill not even he could draw me back. But never mind that, pretty yum, right? Maybe I should just get over the fairy crap and see where it all goes…

Matthew Gray Gubler as Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds

Reid. Too smart. Ridiculously smart. I adore intelligence in a man. Reid, on the other hand, is intensely intelligent, slightly socially stunted yet absolutely sweet, trying his hardest and has a boyish quality to him that just somehow works here.

Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli in Heroes

The brother that was always trying, that was genuinely good in his heart, the man who wanted to make a difference in the world, who was overly curious and intent on getting to the bottom of things, and yes, just damn fine. Oh goodness, I think I have a thing for male nurses…

Honourable Mentions:

Dustin Clare as Gannicus in Gods of the Arena

More long hair, determination and immense amounts of confidence? Winner all around.

Tyler Blackburn as Caleb Rivers in Pretty Little Liars (don’t judge me monkeys, my best friend roped me into this).

The hair… the long hair. I am sold on long hair more often than not. Combine that with dark exotic looks and absolutely gorgeous dark brown eyes and a devil-may-care attitude to mask how nice and caring he is underneath it? Just my cup of tea.

Liam McIntyre as Spartacus in Spartacus

Yep, I am aware that there is more Spartacus on my list but really, these were probably the hottest rebellious slaves in all history with the world’s greatest dental work. Either way, it doesn’t matter. Spartacus was the fearless leader of the slave rebellion, intent on reclaiming his freedom and avenging his dead wife and all the dreadful things he had been made to do under threat of death. Very caring yet at the same time cold and brutal, Spartacus really was the man to watch strive to make a difference, as well as witness the loyalty people felt towards him.