True Blood News at The Nest

Sorry I’m late with this but I was on vacation last week. Honest. Here’s the music list from episode 26 for your viewing and listening pleasure:

• Collide, “Slither Thing” available on iTunes
• The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (courtesy of Extreme) “Rondeau from Abdelazar”
• Jonathan Clark, “Ride My Train”
• Steve McComb, “Walk First” available on iTunes
• The Hampton (Rock) String Quartet, “Evil Ways”
• Gov’t Mule, “Beautifully Broken” available on iTunes
• Derrick Procell, “Dixie Rocks”
• Sean Patrick McGraw, “Anyone But You” available on iTunes
• Eduardo Ponsdomenech, “Classically Inclined”
• Shelby Lynn, “I’m Alive” available on iTunes

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Burn the Witch

This week on True Blood, CE learns to spell Mississippi, a bunch of new characters but so far no fairies (thank God), Bill may recycle but he’s not kind to furry animals (unless its Sam, of course), Eric won’t gerroff Sookie’s porch until he gets to prove what a nice guy he is, sorta, the ugliest, skankiest pair of undies EVER, and what’s even better than a 52 inch plasma to the face?

I did wonder people, whether it was possible to be funny about this episode in my weekly recap because OMG, what a pit of despair and devious trickery our fictional friends have fallen into. They’re so not bothering with the amusing glimpses into the daily life of Bon Temps and Shreveport this year, we’re straight into everyone’s personal hell. Seriously, I think I might have joined Tara and necked a shitload of happy pills if it wasn’t for the gloriously ewwww dinner of blood (I’ve always wondered why vamps didn’t get bored and invent some fun recipes, so that was fricking sweet), and Terry B’s list of reasons why he’d make a good stepdad. And Bill all covered in icky werewolf, laughing at that Cooter guy cos his name is simultaneously tres redneck, and means the pussy. Aside from those flashes of LOL and the fun mind bending plots starting to unfold, it was kind of a ADD misery trip for me, especially with Mommy Dearest showing up at the end like a horsey bondage mistress, buzzkilling yet another party. Le sigh, her again?

I confess...Nazi Eric is hot.

While I loathe Lorena, I do have a respectful girl-crush on the lady who wrote this episode, Raelle Tucker, who is my absolute favourite True Blood scribbler due to her insane ability to walk the line between woe and misery, and wickedly witty shit. She is also very good at making characters you generally dislike show some sympathetic layers of personality to ensure you can’t write them off entirely. Last year the sneaky minx did it for Mommy Dearest, this week its Eric. As everyone knows, I have a low tolerance for the Viking’s annoying physical perfection, constant ‘I’m soooo awesome’ arrogance and duplicitous plotting, but this week…nope, couldn’t swear at him like I always do (and I assume that was the idea). Maybe its because I’m a sucker for Nazi uniforms? Man, I’m a sick bitch. Anyway, damn you Raelle for messing with my head. It won’t last though, because just like ole Sook says, whenever he does something nice, he does something nasty straight afterwards.

The show opens with our normally fastidious gentleman Bill finishing off his third werewolf. It’s super gross and impressive, but really, they were skimping on the special effects showing only a few seconds. Or maybe they were worried the actor wolves would bite Stephen’s very insurable face? Anyway, it’s almost over when a dude turns up on a horse. The lead werewolf is the same guy who masterminded the rather crap kidnapping, and he’s instantly awesome because he’s a Kiwi, from the only decent TV show produced in New Zealand ever (it’s called Outrageous Fortune, fact fans). Anyway, dude on the horse is the very classy King of Mississippi, who far from coming to Bill’s rescue, actually ordered him ‘napped. After shooting another Were to punish Cooter for sucking, he invites a politely pissed off Bill to stay at his fancy pad. Back over them state lines, Lafayette is making Tara puke up all those pills she swallowed, whilst cussing out her negligent momma. Continuing his role this season as the straight up, dependable hero with a deliciously smart mouth, he marches the suicidal, self indulgent madam out to the car, threatening her with a trip to the nuthouse.

Salon.com has a wonderful take on “Beautifully Broken”‘s theme of what happens when “parents” abandon their “children”:

“The children grow up bitter and vulnerable, never having learned how to change quickly from a dog into an owl should they find themselves about to be hit by a Mack truck (Sam). Or they walk away from true love (Jessica) and when they have to dismember the trucker they accidentally killed and hid in the basement, they have no idea how expensive chainsaws are! Or they end up suicidally depressed, grieving the accidental death of their zombie serial killer boyfriend (Tara)… “Life is suffering,” Lafayette reminds Tara, on the way to visit the nasty, cold, grinch-hearted woman in the hospital who is apparently his mother. True. But it’s nice to know you can still rent chainsaws.”

Personally, I enjoyed last night’s episode, “Beautifully Broken.” There were some things that I would’ve preferred to be different, but the ‘net abounds with some rather harsh criticism. If you’re interested in reading what non-fan(g)s are saying, here’s a well-written, well-reasoned example that rates Skin vs. Scare.

“Skin overshadowed scares last week, but Episode 2, titled “Beautifully Broken,” made up for it by pandering to the horror crowd with a chainsaw (wielded by the wonderfully immature young vampire Jessica, who will hopefully take on a larger role), a completely unnecessary reference to Stephen King’s Christine, and a flashback involving werewolf Nazis. This really was the Tarantino episode.”

“The show began and ended with a burst of excitement, but in between, it fizzled, burdened by a strained plot and too many long close-ups of very serious faces. Thus far, the major battle of the third season of True Blood is not between light and dark so much as between light and heavy. Heavy dominated this time.

Tara and Sookie were both in tears over lost loves. To which I say: Get over it, ladies. That was an entire episode ago, a lifetime in soap-opera years. Lafayette hardly brightened the mood with this groaner: “The Buddhists weren’t lying when they said life is suffering.” Did “the Buddhists” write this episode? And look, one plotline about reuniting with lost parents can slow a pulp soap opera down, but two? That’s dramatic quicksand. Moreover, when Sam sat down with his parents (Lafayette also visited his mother), his moody new brother stormed out of the room because … why exactly?

You know the writers are getting lazy transitioning from one heated moment to the next when they rely too much on the stomping-out-of-the-room gambit. When Sookie ran into the bathroom after Bill proposed marriage, you almost wanted him to take back his offer—that is, if you didn’t know enough about the conventions of the show to realize that storming out of a room is just True Blood code for Something Big Is About To Happen.”

Ouch. I have to say, he does make some valid points. There’s much more to this review – Eric’s tender side and some of the many new additions to the cast. Click on the link above for the entire article.

This week’s Postmortem is a clip shown to soldiers during World War II about Operation Werewolf.

Trailer for next week’s True Blood episode:

Fans got a sneak peek of Andy Mackenzie in the number three teaser released by HBO. Mackenzie has a long list of credits under his belt from CSI to My Name is Earl and although it may look as if he can only play a Creepy Biker Dude, his acting ability is versatile. Just check out his demo reel and you will see why we quickly became Mackenzie fans.

We caught up with Andy while he was filming Burn Notice in sunny South Florida to ask him about his experience on True Blood and how he got the part of “Creepy Biker Dude.” Andy was nice enough to take a break from shooting guns from a Harley to share his experience on the set of True Blood, his vast knowledge of the industry, his band 33Degree and what’s up next in his career.

Andy Mackenzie: Oh, the “Creepy Biker.”  I actually have three different character names.  Starts with “Creepy Biker,” then “Wolf,” then shifts into “Biker” while I’m fighting with Eric.  You’ve seen some of that scene in one of the behind-the-scenes teasers.

The casting was a lot of fun.  It’s always crazy not knowing how it’s going to go and what the casting assistant is going to do when there’s action involved.  Not to mention, the room could’ve comfortably seated six but walked into eight, plus me. Read the material, did it pretty much how I wanted to do it; Alan simply replied “Fantastic.”  I left proud and pleased.

I did shoot two eps, “Beautifully Broken” (302) and “It Hurts Me Too” (303).  When I booked the role, I knew I would be showing 99 percent of my skin and I had about six weeks to hit the gym extra hard.  So, that was my life for those weeks.  Who knows if it will show?  The first ep was quick for me, not much for me to do.  Second ep was cool.  Alex and I spent some time chit chatting and reminiscing about some mutual Swedes and Finns.  We may get us all together sometime.  Between the chit chats was definitely different for me.  Stunts have been a big part of the job anyway but naked stunts are something else.  No place for pads.  “Closed set?”  Nah. I’m not shy.  Maybe Alex, since he had to …

People have seen the first three episodes of Season 3… And naturally, they’re blogging about them.

I’m torn about spoilers. Part of me (that would be the fan(g)) has no self-control. On the other hand, the sensible part of me doesn’t want to know, and that side of my brain has always regretted major spoilers.

For the moment, at least, the sensible side of me is beating my fan(g) into submission. But the Nest is committed to bringing you the most up-to-date information that we can. You can decide for yourself if you dare to know…

I haven’t read it, but televisionaryblog.com is the place to be if you’re hungry for more and just can’t wait.

Edit: Okay, so I made it about an hour before reading… *hangs head in shame* Actually, it’s a very well-written over-view, and it doesn’t give away spoilers (nothing that the Nest hasn’t already posted). I have a feeling that’s a contractual thing, but whatever the reason, I’m extremely grateful. All it served was to fan the flames of my enthusiasm for Season Three (not that I needed any help, but still). It seems as though Alan Ball and his team of writers brought their A game, and I cannot wait!

Gregory Sporleder has been cast in the role of Calvin Norris. Y’all know this actor, he has a long list of movie and TV credits including “The Crazies,” “Black Hawk Down” and “Hotel For Dogs.”

His character will first appear in episode 2, “Beautifully Broken” and he’s described as a big, rugged, bare-chested man in his 40s who is upset when the police arrive with a warrant to search his rundown trailer… 2 lines, 1 scene in this episode; STRONG RECURRING.

Three additional characters have been cast for True Blood. If HBO’s keeps this up their going to have to rent more studio space for all the new cast members.

Tamara Frapasella has been cast as Henchwoman in Episode 2.

Sylvianne Chebance has been added in Episode 2 as Were-Bitch.
[WERE-Bitch] FEMALE, 20s or 30s, NAKED, MUST SPEAK GERMAN. Seen in flashback to World War II, this naked, trembling German woman pleads for help, but suddenly and terrifying transforms…4 lines, 2 scenes (9)

James Harvey Ward has been added in Episode 4 as Felton Norris.
[FELTON NORRIS] Early 20s, this violent young punk is a relative of Calvin’s who strips Lafayette’s car and helps beat up Lafayette…1 line, 2 scenes (33 sptv050769) RECURRING

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Tamara Frapasella

Sylvianne Chebance

James Harvey Ward