Alan Ball has a theory on happiness, and it doesn’t sound like anyone in Bon Temps will be allowed any anytime soon: “Here’s the thing about happiness,” he said. “It’s great in our lives, but it’s not really that interesting to watch on television.”
Duly noted, Mr. Ball. No happiness. But what can we look forward to in the coming weeks? Alan Ball feels season three is “the best season yet.” (we’ve heard that before, haven’t we?) Along with the “fantastic core cast,” several new regulars will be introduced this season, as well as a number of impressive guest stars, such as Alfre Woodard, who plays Lafayette’s mother. Beyond that, “We are dealing with some new supernatural creatures. … It has just been a really fun, exciting season to put together, and I just have really, really high hopes for it. … I can’t give anything away.”
Well, and then he does. Sort-of, as they’re not completely new, so they aren’t technically spoilers, and some are actually subcategories, so the numbering is a bit inflated. But don’t take my word for it: if you’re dying to be in the know, read on!
1. The Shifters and the Weres: This season will take us into “the shape-shifter world and the were world. They are two different kinds of creatures with a lot of similarities,” said Ball. On the were side, “There are a handful of werewolves, the main ones being Alcide Herveaux (Joe Manganiello), his ex-girlfriend Debbie Pelt (Brit Morgan), [and] a couple of werewolves named Coot and Gus, who are Grant Bowler and Don Swayze.”
On the shifter side, “Sam Merlotte [Sam Trammell] is going to meet his biological family. He is going to go on a journey to find his birth family and is going to be successful in that regard.” Joining the cast is Marshall Allman, who plays Tommy Mickens, Sam’s brother, who may or may not be a shape-shifter.
2. The Town of Hotshot: Since we’re already talkin’ ’bout shifters and weres, let’s get ready for Hotshot. “We definitely do go to Hotshot. … We meet Hotshot, we meet the people in Hotshot, we meet Crystal and her father, Calvin,” Ball said. Crystal (Lindsay Pulsipher) becomes a major love interest for Sookie’s brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten). As for the leader of the Hotshot group, Calvin (Gregory Sporleder), “I think our take on Calvin is a little different than the one in the book.”
Russell Edgington and Talbot
3. Vampire Rights and Wrongs: When it comes to vampire politics, “we’re going to definitely see more of that this year,” he said. “We’re focusing more on the Vampire Rights Amendment to the Constitution and the struggle to get that passed and the heated feeling both pro and con.”
4. The Vampire King of Mississippi: Speaking of vampires and rights and all, there will be more than one Big Bad this year, but one of the baddest will be new regular Denis O’Hare, who plays Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi. The King and his boyfriend of 700 years, Talbot, will be major players this season. “Their relationship has moments of stability. I wouldn’t say it’s a model relationship, but then again I wouldn’t point to any relationship in the show and say that’s a model relationship,” said Ball with a laugh.
The show’s action will expand to Mississippi, as the characters head there to face Russell on his home turf. “He’s definitely got his reasons for doing things, and I don’t think he thinks what he’s doing is wrong.”
James Frain as Franklin Mott
5. Tara’s Scary Vamp Boyfriend: Big Bad #2 is vampire Franklin Mott, and he’s going to dig into Tara’s [Rutina Wesley] psyche in the most personal, terrifying and hot ways. “I wouldn’t say it’s a happy relationship. I would say it’s definitely not a functional relationship, and I’ll leave it at that,” he said. “Franklin’s from the books. He’s played by the really good British actor James Frain. Really, really fantastic.”
6. Lafayette’s Heart: Get ready for some serious Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) action. Not only will we meet his mother, Ruby Jean Reynolds (Alfre Woodard), but he’ll acquire a new sizzling-hot boyfriend in Jesus (Kevin Alejandro), who is “the first person who has made a serious pitch for Lafayette’s heart, which is quite a struggle, as you might imagine, ’cause Lafayette’s got a lot of walls around himself.”
Bill is GONE!
7. The Missing Bill: “We find out very quickly who took Bill and where they took him. He won’t get back to Bon Temps until around the middle of the season,” said Ball. As for what that means for Sookie [Anna Paquin] and Bill’s [Stephen Moyer] relationship, especially considering she was about to say yes to his marriage proposal before he got kidnapped at the end of season two … “I would say their love is very real. I can’t really say whether it is going to last forever, ’cause I don’t want to give anything away, but I do think their love is real. I think what they feel for each other is very, very profound.”
8. Alan Ball Is Having Fun: Ball believes there’s a “lot of life” left in True Blood beyond season three. “I think this show could continue for years,” he said, beyond the fact that there are several more novels from writer Charlaine Harris to mine for material. “She keeps publishing one every year.”
As for Ball himself, he can see himself working on True Blood for a long time to come. “It continues to be fun, which for me is the most important thing. I would rather have fun on a show that nobody cares about than be miserable on a show that is the biggest hit in the world.” Luckily for Ball, he can be happy on a show a LOT of people care about.
9. Comic-Con Rock Stars: “I never thought the series would be as huge. I didn’t really have much experience in the genre world, you know what I mean? I came to it fresh and I thought, ‘I think this show will have an audience.’ But I’ve thought that about other things and it didn’t really work out that way. I just knew it was a show I would watch, I would be deeply entertained by. I think the amazing growth during the second season in terms of not only the number of viewers, but the passion on the part of the viewers, was really a surprise to me … a very pleasant one. When we went to Comic-Con last year, when we walked out on stage it was like we were rock stars. … Well, it was like the cast was rock stars and I was also there,” said Ball with a laugh.
awesome!!!! sooo can’t wait :D
i really do hope it keeps goin for a few more years :D
Well, it was like the cast was rock stars and I was also there,” said Ball with a laugh LMAO poor AB hehe
I’m looking forward to the VRA and everything to do with vampire politics, I was hoping AB would go there and make it a much more important part of the show.
AB’s playing with our heads when it comes to Sookie and Bill’s relationship. Their love is ” very, very profound”. “it’s very real”, but will it last? With this insight, of course not or why bring it up? But if it’s so real and profound how can it not?
aem, it’s a total cliche to say, but sometimes love seriously isn’t enough to keep a relationship together. They can profoundly love each other, but not be good together… These things do happen. But yes, I think AB is messing with us. He’s probably very much enjoying it, too.
You’re so right about that, latbfan. Toxic relationships are a good example of that paradox– and it’s not for lack of love on the part of either party that these types of relationships have to end. Some people simply aren’t good for eachother, no matter how hard they try to be.
I’m not saying that this is what Alan Ball meant. I’m just saying that it IS possible to have a very real and profound love for someone but know that you can never be with them. And it’s one of the most heartbreaking realizations imaginable.
Thanks for posting this latbfan – very interesting interview . And on a personal level it onlly makes the WAITING SUCK big time even more for us UK fans !!!***stamps feet***
I am so glad James Frain has joined the cast. He’s a fantastic actor. Loved him as Cromwell on The Tudors.
I am ashamed to say that i hadn’t heard of him before now ……never watched the Tudors !
Sarah, the Tudors (on Showtime) is WONDERFUL. You should definitely check it out. They’re airing the 4th (and final) season now, but the previous 3 are out on dvd.
Thanks latbfan will have to check it out …..don’t really watch programmes on the BBC much so missed out when it first aired here in the UK .
I am so exited to see franklin mott, That is my new favorite character. James frain is amazing. You-tube him, He was only in seasons 2 and 3 and a bit of season 1 on the tudors, his character got beheaded in the last epespide of season 3. I am looking forwared to the reason why bill was kidnapped. I came up with a second theory as to who tooke bill, but can not make the contection as to why. I also think that allen ball does like teasing the fans, especally the bookies.
Me too Crystal! I absolutely love James Frain. Have you seen him in Shadowlands, the movie with Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger? That’s where I first noticed him.
Share your theory! That’s all we have until Season 3 starts!
Yay, bill wont be gone 2 long, AB has always said bill+sookies love is real and profound. But as usual he doesnt give anything away on whether they willl stay together.
The spoiler that got me most interested??? lafayette and jesus….lafys gonna fall in love …. aww!!!! sooo excited for him.
YESS more spoilers! lol
I’m so hyped up for S3!
Sounds like were in for a ride this season! AB couldn’t pick a better actor to play the deliciously evil Franklin Mott, James Frain plays wicked very well.
I’m actually looking forward to everyone’s storyline this season. However I’m most intrigued with Tara’s new storyline! I’m curious to see how Tara interacts with a sexy vampire.
As in any good drama, the central romantic couple has to be separated and have outside interferences and other dramas to make the story interesting. True Blood is supposed to be good drama so it makes sense that Bill and Sookie can’t stay together and be happy all the time. But that doesn’t keep them from being THE couple, in this fan’s opinion. Just keep giving Bill good storylines…that’s all I ask. :P
James Frain is a really good actor…..he was good in The Tudors. But I couldn’t watch Cromwell’s execution…I had to shut my eyes! Too gruesome!!
So many new characters and so many storylines! Just as long as my Bill has the best, I don’t mind all the drama! I want Stephen to win an award! I am also looking forward to James Frain! I like dark, skinny and evil!
You know what? I feel a little sad for the Eric people. Here is AB declaring that Bill and Sookie are in love and that their love is profound, and we know there will be a break up. She may or may not go to Eric or some other guy, but her heart is with Bill! How would that make the other guy feel or the Eric people? Knowing that they want to have Sookie and Eric together but there is unrequited love? Maybe that will be Eric’s anguish?
I’ve always said that you can LOVE a LOT of people… but there aren’t that many whom you can LIVE with, too. And that’s what makes successful relationships and marriages so special– love, however true and profound, is hard (if not impossible) to sustain without compatibility to nurture it.
Some people might call that unromantic, or say that it makes the notion of “love” less magical… but I don’t think so.
All I can say is bring on Season 3~I’ve been awaiting it since the day Season 2 ended!!!
Think I know who’s Vampnapped William Thomas Compton~ Lorena & Debbie Pelt???
Bring ON Hotshot werewolf community.
can’t wait to see Eric Northman again~and what happened to Sam after Season 2.
Want to know who remembers Season 2 and who doesn’t ??????
My Summer began on Tuesday afternoon with the release of those spoiler photos of
Alexander’s wonderful NAKKEd backside~along with a nakked Bill & SAM!!!!