True Blood's Hot New Vampire Answers You

Fri., Oct. 3, 2008 3:49 PM PDT by Kristin Dos Santos

He's finally here...Alexander Skarsgård made his vampiric debut as Eric on the latest episode of HBO's True Blood. And apparently, as our email inbox indicates, some of you are a teensy bit excited (shall we say, giddy?) about this hot new addition.
So we caught up with Alex himself to bask in the general gorgeousness and get answers to a few of your burning questions about Sookie's (Anna Paquin) new 1,000-year-old friend...

Marilee in Detroit: I loved, loved, loved Alexander Skarsgård in Generation Kill. Can you tell me more about his part on True Blood?
According to Alexander himself: "Eric is the sheriff of Louisiana. That means he's the oldest vampire there, and he's the boss of all the vampires, including Bill (Stephen Moyer). Eric's also a businessman—he runs a club in Shreveport called Fangtasia, and he makes a lot of money by inviting tourists to his club. They get to drink and watch live vampires, and he gets to take their money."

Beatrix Kiddo in Sacramento, Calif.: Gah! I am obsessed with Sookie and Bill on True Blood, but someone told me that Eric and Sookie get involved!

I can tell you that there is a spark between Eric and Sookie in Alan Ball's version of the story. According to Alex: "I think when Eric meets Sookie, there is something about her that catches his attention—there's something different about her. He can sense it, but he doesn't know what it is. He wants her to come back and then when he finds out she's telepathic, he realizes that's something he can use to his advantage because she's with Bill and he's Bill's boss, so he can basically tell Bill, bring her over." Mmmm...I smell a long-running love triangle. Sorry, Kiddo.

Sarah in Buffalo, N.Y.: Any scoop on True Blood? I am obsessed!
Pretty sure that Eric is going to put Sookie to work. According to Alex: "Let's say something gets stolen from Fangtasia—money stolen from the bar or something like that—Sookie can read minds, and that might help..." Psychic detectives are very popular on TV these days.
Now, how are you guys liking True Blood so far? Fabulously funky or too funky to be fun? Duke it out in the comments.

—Reporting by Jennifer Godwin

Episode #9: “Plaisir d'Amour”
Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 2 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) Other HBO playdates: Nov. 2 (midnight), 4 (11:30 p.m.), 5 (10:00 p.m.), 6 (10:00 p.m., 3:30 a.m.), 7 (midnight) and 8 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdates: Nov. 3 (8:00 p.m.) and 9 (6:00 p.m.)

Bill (Stephen Moyer) breaks a vampire taboo in protecting Sookie (Anna Paquin) – and must pay a steep price as a result. Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Amy (Lizzy Kaplan) break their own taboo by kidnapping a vampire named Eddie (Stephen Root) in order to harvest his blood. With Lettie Mae (Adina Porter) apparently cured, a skeptical Tara (Rutina Wesley) consults with Miss Jeanette (Aisha Hinds) about exorcising her own inner demon. Sookie returns home to yet another horrific tragedy, prompting Bill to enlist an unlikely bodyguard – Sam (Sam Trammell) – to protect her while he's away.

Written by Brian Buckner; directed by Anthony Hemingway.


Episode #10: “I Don't Wanna Know”
Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 9 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 9 (midnight), 11 (11:30 p.m.), 12 (10:00 p.m.), 13 (8:00 p.m., 2:30 a.m.), 14 (midnight), and 15 (2:00 a.m. ET/11:15 p.m. PT) HBO2 playdates: Nov. 10 (8:00 p.m.) and 16 (3:30 p.m.)

Caught in a compromising position, Sam shares a secret with an incredulous Sookie. Thinking she's been purged of her demon, Tara celebrates with Lettie Mae – but goes off the deep end when she uncovers Miss Jeanette's true intentions. Sookie has a disturbing revelation during Arlene (Carrie Preston) and Rene's (Michael Raymond James) engagement party at Merlotte's; Jason and Amy debate what to do with Eddie; and Tara speeds into a bizarre roadside encounter that lands her in jail. At a vampire tribunal to decide his fate, Bill faces a harsh penalty for his offense, but the magister (Zelijko Ivanek) decides on a more creative sentence involving a young human named Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll).

Written by Chris Offutt; directed by Scott Winant.


Episode #11: “To Love Is to Bury”
Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Nov. 16 (midnight), 18 (11:30 p.m.), 19 (10:00 p.m.), 20 (8:00 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 21 (11:30 p.m.) and 22 (1:00 a.m. ET/midnight PT) HBO2 playdates: Nov. 17 (8:00 p.m.) and 23 (4:30 p.m.)

Bill fulfills the conditions of the tribunal's sentence, although he and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) find that Jessica doesn't quite turn (out) as expected. Trying to solve the mystery behind her most recent vision, Sookie heads to a pie shop with Sam and later puts the squeeze on a philandering police officer to get info. Jason helps clean up Amy's mess, worrying about their future, but unable to break away. Tara's anger over Lettie Mae's refusal to bail her out of jail is tempered when Maryann Forrester (Michelle Forbes), a wealthy “social worker,” comes to her rescue. Disgusted by the hypocrisy of a vamp-bashing state senator, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) decides to pay him a visit on the campaign trail. In Bill's absence, a vulnerable Sookie finds comfort in Sam. A distraught Jason finds himself in hot water with Bud (William Sanderson) and Andy (Chris Bauer), again.

Written and directed by Nancy Oliver.


Episode #12: “You'll Be the Death of Me” (season finale)
Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Nov. 23 (midnight), 25 (11:30 p.m.), 26 (10:00 p.m.), 27 (8:00 p.m., 3:25 a.m.), 28 (11:30 p.m.) and 29 (12:45 a.m.) HBO2 playdate: Nov. 24 (8:00 p.m.)

Sookie finds a link to the string of killings in Bon Temps – and ends up in the murderer's crosshairs. Tara decides to make the most of her second chance with Maryann; Jason finds a new calling after anti-vampire zealot Orry (Michael Bofshever) visits him in jail; Bill tempts fate during his latest attempt to save Sookie; Sam is perturbed by an encounter with an old acquaintance; Lafayette finds himself in the wrong place at the right time.