True Blood: A Case for Team Bill

In my last entry, I discussed the craziness that has been going on in Season 2 of True Blood, including my frustration as I watch the inevitable tide coming in on the Sookie/Eric relationship. Now, I was told in writing for TrueBloodNet that we are neutral on the Team Eric-Team Bill issue. Everyone has their own preferences, of course, and there are often polls or discussions about why people like one or the other. But we cannot take sides inour articles or anything like that. We try to be positive, not critical. And that's a good model to go by even here, I think.

So. Why is Bill Compton the best choice for Sookie? The #1 reason can be found in Season 1, Episode 12, "You'll Be the Death of Me." Sookie is being chased through the woods by a serial killer, more afraid for her life than she has ever been. Bill, sensing her danger, leaves the safety of his underground sleeping room to go to her. He doesn't care that he will endure unbearable pain and probably die. He may not even make it far enough to stop Rene from attacking her. But he has to try. Completely self-sacrificing--a sign of the depth of his love for her.

Another sign: Season 1, Episode 6, "Cold Ground." Sookie runs to Bill's house. He is being so sweet to her. But, unable to control the reflex, his fangs come out. He hides his face in shame, thinking she will be afraid of him or disgusted by him. But she holds his head with her hands and kisses him. I love that moment.

Next, look at how Sookie and Bill have changed each other's lives. When Bill arrived on the scene at Merlotte's, Sookie was just a waitress. She had spent her entire life in Bon Temps, burdened with a telepathic ability that she never wanted. Most of the people around her thought she was crazy. Even her friends didn't understand her. (Dawn: "Well...honey...didn't you just know already?" Sookie: "I am NOT a psychic!!!") Her family loved her but rarely talked about this crucial part of who she was. And then she got to know Bill, and she couldn't hear his thoughts. She was intrigued by him but, most of all, relieved for the peace and quiet. And he made her feel like she was special and valuable. Here was this handsome vampire who had lived for 173 years, and he wanted to be

with her. "You are entirely different. And the beauty, and the tragedy, of it is that you don't know just how different you are." He comforted her when the most important person in her life died. He protected her when another vampire tried to kill her, in spite of the consequences he faced from his own kind. Sookie had found someone who she could be herself with, who could make her feel completely safe, and who could teach her so many things about the world. Then, for Bill: Sookie brought him back to his humanity. He had lived in the mid-19th century, fought in the Civil War, and been turned into a vampire before he could return home to the wife and children that he loved. For the first 50 years of his new life, he traveled as the companion of his Maker, Lorena, killing humans with animalistic cruelty. He separated himself from her because he couldn't stand to inflict pain like that anymore. He spent the next 75 years alone, interacting with humans only when he glamoured someone to feed on their blood for sustenance. Until he met Sookie. She was young and beautiful and spoke her mind.

She saved his life. She thought that he--a vampire--was worth saving. There was something different about her... The situation reversed the next night when he had to save HER life. He gave her his blood to heal her, knowing that it would form a lifelong connection between them. The more time they spent together, the more he cared about her. The first time he sensed her in danger, he woke up thinking she was being strangled in her bedroom. But the sun had not set yet, so he couldn't go to her. He lay there in agony until it was safe, and then he rushed to her side, only to discover it had been a dream. Later, when he sensed her in danger, she was being chased by someone who would kill her. And Bill didn't care that it was broad daylight. He went to her anyway. Thankfully, he healed, and she was so happy to have him back. He was a "boyfriend." He was in love with her. Sometimes, his vampire side got the better of him, and he did things that he shouldn't. But she forgave him. Because, by some miracle, she loved him, too.

So that's it--my reasons for loving Bill and Sookie together, as much as I can put them into words. I'm not going to bash Eric or Alexander Skarsgard. Eric is a fascinating character--he's a freaking Viking! And Alex does a wonderful job with him. I think he adds a lot to the story.

But when I see people on message boards bashing Bill/Stephen for being boring or annoying or unattractive, I'm disappointed that they would have that kind of attitude. We all love the show, obviously. Some of us are going to like certain things better than others or wish something were a little different. But, in all honesty, whatever Alan Ball comes up with is going to be better than whatever any of us could think of. And I truly believe that more of the book fans are getting to a place where they can appreciate the differences between the show and the books. Both are fun and entertaining. So let's just enjoy True Blood for what it is, and the Sookie Stackhouse series for what it is, without applying preconceived notions from one to the other. True Blood Bill has not shown himself to be a jerk like Book Bill. Stephen Moyer has developed his character in a different way. He has made Bill more of a gentleman and more protective of Sookie, so that the relationship between Bill and Sookie has been much more loving. So even if future events will change this and Sookie begins to gravitate towards Eric, let's not rush this part. Sookie and Bill are still together and in love. Eric isn't going anywhere. But Team Bill is not ready to give up yet (naked Eric dream scenes aside...).