“If You Throw a Punch, You’re One of Us”: The True Blood Round Table for Episode 2
But, Tami, I’m not sure if Tara going back to Sam would be a solution, either. Though he was the most solid of the dudes she sexed with, he was a bit flaky with her due to his Sookie torch. I’m thinking Tara may need some…..John Cho Glow!
Joe: Tara has completely fallen off the edge of an emotional cliff this season. Her boyfriend being killed was really the last straw in a long line of effed up things to happen in her life. As someone who’s read the books, the character of Tara doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to picking out men. But, for a second there, it looked like they were making Franklin out to be a sort of vamp Casanova. (I wonder if the script during that sex scene read “Tara rolls back her eyes exorcist-style”). I do agree, Andrea, that Franklin gave a taste of his true character when he wouldn’t bite Tara. I’m a little frightened at Tara’s outlook, especially with her best friend in Mississippi for the foreseeable future.
Tami: I hear you, Andrea. (See my comments below.) This episode had disgusting levels of manipulation and violence against women. And the “Because you want me to” line was clearly not just a bedroom tease.
And how could I forget that Sam was making eyes at Sookie whilst hooking up with Tara on the downlow? I remember thinking that was particularly vile at the time.
In the meantime, let us please reflect for a moment on Lafayette’s flyness. This ep was light on Laffy, but what did you all think about the evolution of his character?
Tami: In spite of my previous complaints of stereotyped black characters on this show, I can’t help but love Lafayette and Nelsan Ellis’ portrayal of the character. I like the way Ellis imbues even the tiniest of actions and the shortest of lines with…Lafayetteness. Take, for instance, the scene where he walks out of his house to find Eric sitting outside in a shiny, new convertible. His look of apprehension coupled with a mumbled “This motherfucker…” was exquisite.
Speaking of stereotypes, Alan Ball has always afforded Lafayette some nuance and humanity, but I appreciate getting a little background in the last episode on why the character deals drugs and pimps himself. That doesn’t totally absolve the show for having the only black men in town be murderers or street pharmaceutical salesmen, but it does add more shades of grey to the black-and-white of one character.
Joe: Fabulous saffron robes aside, it grates me to no end the naïveté of the human characters in the True Blood universe. When a vampire gives you a convertible, you say “Thank You”. Eric could simply rip your head off at any moment! It’s not like the supernatural hold humans in any regard other than employees, sex objects and minions. So why would Eric ever speak of his motivation for suddenly being nice? I do admire, however, how Laffy speaks his mind, no matter what the situation. While in shiny satin, no less.
Andrea: I completely see where you’re coming from,Tami and Joe–and yes, Laffy’s even growing on me with his witty ass–but I’m also getting the feeling, watching the reactions to him on places like Twitter, that Lafayette is becoming the PoC version of Wil & Grace’s Jack, the Sassy Gay Friend that some non-gay PoCs can imagine they’d feel comfy with vis-a-vis his being a fictional character in a fictional town far, far away. The fact that Lafayette’s played by a straight Black man may get kudos from some quarters for being brave in the face of possible typecasting, but I think some real-life gay men may take umbrage with this “best friend” construction of their daily lives, which doesn’t exist just for non-gay PoC consumption or imaginings.
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