There are many themes and emotions going through this episode.
Fear:
Doubt:
Resolve:
Regret:
Anger:
Acceptance:
Redemption:
Love:
Eric is on the road to redemption. He confronts Russell, explaining why he killed Talbot. Russell tells him it doesn't matter since he will kill him regardless. Eric then offers Russell the ultimate vampire fantasy: day walking. Russell, being intrigued, goes with Eric.
I have explained Resolve.
Now I will recap 'Fresh Blood', telling the story from the above mentioned themes and emotions.
Doubt:
Bill and Sookie have escaped Fangtasia, and have a surreal conversation about their future. To me, this conversation seals their fate. They both know it's over as they ponder 'what if'. Bill speaks of fishing with Jason and teaching 3rd grade (eye roll). This conversation is important for many reasons. It lets us, the viewers, realize that their whole relationship has been based on 'what ifs', wishful thinking and lies. Sookie wishes that Bill could be the man she wants him to be, and Bill, knowing he can't be that man, simply lies. They are stopped on their return trip by Russell and Eric.
Anger:
Flash to Sam Merlotte. He is angry and bitter. We've now watched him slip as far down as I think he can go. Gone is the friendly face of Sam. We are now seeing a spiteful, hateful man. I think we are seeing this side for a reason as well. Sam's downward spiral is mirroring Bill Compton's true inner turmoil and spiral as well. Bill Compton has a calm outer appearance, while we are seeing his inner turmoil reflected openly in Sam Merlotte. I wonder if the Sam we are seeing now has to do with the consumption of Bill's blood at the end of season two, or if it is subtle storytelling by Alan Ball, or both?
Regret:
Tara, filled with grief confronts Andy Bellfleur about the night Eggs was killed by Jason. She tells him she knows the truth about that night. We see, for the first time Andy Bellfleur express a true emotion: regret. He regrets the real truth about that night. He regrets being hailed a 'hero' for something he didn't do. He regrets the lies.
Acceptance:
We see Jessica and Hoyt together. Hoyt tells Jessica he doesn't care what she is or what she's done-he just wants to be with her and doesn't feel complete without him. Jessica tells him about the trucker she killed, but neglects to tell him about Gus (the werewolf). Is this half-truth important? Maybe, maybe not. Again, Hoyt accepts Jessica and tells her to drink from him.
Redemption:
Eric is willing to sacrifice himself (again), because he has a plan. He had accepted final death in episode 10 as he was having his will written. Spurred on by Pam, he formulates a plan to save his life, Pam's life and yes, Sookie's life. Russell, not being able to resist the thought of revenge and control, cannot resist the thought of day-walking. But he wants Eric to go first. We watch Eric regretfully drink from Sookie, and take his first steps to redemption, and to the light.
He is willing to die along with Russell, if that keeps the women that he loves safe: Pam, his vampire 'child' and Sookie, the woman he has grown to love.
Fear:
Pam, afraid to lose Eric, asks him "What if this doesn't work" and cries. Eric tells her that he likes her when she is "cold and unfeeling". She fears for the loss of her master, her father. She cries as she watches him on the video cameras, facing the sun for the first time in 1000 years.
And finally, Love:
As Eric prepared to drink from Sookie, the amount of emotion we saw from Eric was enormous. Eric showed love, regret, and wordlessly begged for forgiveness for what he was about to do.
For love, he is willing to sacrifice himself if it kills Russell, freeing Sookie from Russell's need to "collect" treasures.
For love, Eric is willing to step into the light.
It's been a long road to redemption for Eric Northman. And it's been worth the wait.
I will leave you with one final picture. It is of Eric, walking though a door at Fangtasia. If anyone reading has any doubts about Alan Ball and his subtle hints and imagery, please look at the stickers on the door. And I believe they are there for a reason.
Note the stickers that say "Stole your woman". These first appeared in episode 10. And I think this is a direct message to Bill:
Eric Northman has stolen your woman.
No comments:
Post a Comment