# TRUE BLOOD: "Trouble" July 18, 2010 (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195 "2010-07-19T04:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/41 "2010-07-20T13:37:08Z")
> [@Edwardina](#): > > Anybody else think that Joe Lee had a dog fight scheduled for that night, thus his escalating into panic and rage when the boy didn’t show up? He probably had money already down on the fight. That’s why younger bro wanted to stay with Sam, and he didn’t want to call and tell his dad that he wasn’t coming home. Another good call! Also, Tommy had a real look of admiration on his face when Sam told their father off. Anybody else see Alcide as challenging the Pack Master, and winning? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/42 "2010-07-20T14:15:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Anybody else see Alcide as challenging the Pack Master, and winning? Sure, I can see him challenging a pack master and winning. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/43 "2010-07-20T14:27:47Z")
Well, the dude who plays Alcide looks like he could beat the crap out of that dude who plays the packmaster anyway. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/44 "2010-07-20T23:26:57Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Well, the dude who plays Alcide looks like he could beat the crap out of that dude who plays the packmaster anyway. Do they maintain their physical advantages as men when they change over to wolves? BTW, did they explain how one becomes a werewolf? And is Alcide’s sister a werewolf? How about the ex-GF? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/45 "2010-07-20T23:43:41Z")
It was a great line. Tara says “we need to talk”. Alide responds “when I hear that my mind goes blank and I wake up surrounded with body parts”. That should end the conversation pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/46 "2010-07-20T23:56:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > BTW, did they explain how one becomes a werewolf? And is Alcide’s sister a werewolf? How about the ex-GF? I don’t think this needs a spoiler, but if anybody doesn’t want the answer don’t read: In the books there are two ways to become a werewolf. Most are born that way, but it’s usually only the firstborn. Alcide’s sister being younger, she’s not a wolf. The ones who are born transform into pure wolves at the full moon or at will. You _can_ become a werewolf if you’re bitten enough by them and drink enough of their blood similar to the way you become a vampire, BUT you’ll never be a full werewolf; you’ll turn into more of a Lon Chaney/\*Teen Wolf \*like werewolf-human hybrid when you change instead of a full wolf. I _think_- but I’m not sure- this is what Alcide’s girlfriend is. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/47 "2010-07-21T00:29:34Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > One thing that kind of bugs me, in a geeky kind of way, is when Alcide talks about something being a “were thing”, or when they use “were” as short for werewolf. Werewolf literally means “man-wolf” (think of the “vir” in virility). So if something is a “were” thing, then it’s a “man” thing. Oh, don’t read the books, then. The werewolves routinely refer to themselves as Weres. There are other were-animals, but the wolves are the most numerous and best organized. They tend to just use Were as shorthand for werewolf because if you’re talking about a were-animal, it’s most likely a wolf. And the wolves get pissy if other animals refer to themselves just as Weres. > [@Sampiro](#): > > I _think_- but I’m not sure- this is what Alcide’s girlfriend is. No, she was a genetic were, but some smaller animal–a fox, I think. She was adopted by a wolf couple. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/48 "2010-07-21T00:41:34Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I don’t think this needs a spoiler, but if anybody doesn’t want the answer don’t read: > > In the books there are two ways to become a werewolf. Most are born that way, but it’s usually only the firstborn. Alcide’s sister being younger, she’s not a wolf. I don’t think we can go by the book, though. Because Tommy being a shifter doesn’t make sense (going by the “rules” in the books), and it’s said in the books that Sam’s younger brother and sister aren’t shifters for the same reason as is given for the weres only having one werechild per family - all three kids in the family share the same mom **and** dad. Unless they plan to say that Tommy _or_ Sam isn’t JoeLee’s… ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/49 "2010-07-21T01:29:49Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > No, she was a genetic were, but some smaller animal–a fox, I think. She was adopted by a wolf couple. Yeah, that seems about right. I was thinking she was a fox too but I wasn’t sure. Also, her sister was a bigger bitch than she was. I wonder who they’re going to get to play Quinn. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/50 "2010-07-21T01:35:48Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > There are other were-animals, but the wolves are the most numerous and best organized. The weakest and least powerful are either the were-ferns or the were-kittens. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/51 "2010-07-21T11:12:38Z")
OK, I finally had time to watch it, and it was good - yay! First I want to note that Todd Lowe is a freaking genius. He did something with his face when Terry said, “. . . normal” that was just heart wrenching and beautiful. He has made so much out of such a small part. Nelsan Ellis is great too. When it started to vaguely become clear why Jesus was there, his eyes softened ever so slightly, before he really figured it out. And then of course his shy awkwardness was adorable. I’m glad someone else picked up that meaning to the pool conversation - I was worried I just have a dirty mind! When Jason was washing the car, I was reminded of Alan Ball referring to Ryan Kwanten as having -3% body fat or something. Then when Jason got out of the cruiser shirtless, with cop shades, I turned to my husband and said, “He looks like a strippergram!” So, did Russell just slaughter a family\* to get a shiny? Or was there supposed to be a power play - in which case why on Earth leave Eric alive? I’m a bit confused. \*including an infant. Gagh. Was I the only one who needed a moment to recover from that shot? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/52 "2010-07-21T13:23:39Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The weakest and least powerful are either the were-ferns or the were-kittens. You kid, but an infamous author included a were-swan in her books, and it’s just as lame as it sounds. Even in human form the dude had wee little pin feathers instead of chest hair :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/53 "2010-07-21T17:07:53Z")
The shot at the end of the Viking scene with Russell in that hooded cape and the dark woods in the background – it reminded me a bit of the Song of Ice and Fire teaser. I snickered a bit and thought HBO was making good use of at least one costume and some CGI. **Unauthorized Cinnamon** , I wondered about that too, why Erik was left alive. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/54 "2010-07-21T17:20:48Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > It was a great line. Tara says “we need to talk”. > Alide responds “when I hear that my mind goes blank and I wake up surrounded with body parts”. > That should end the conversation pretty well. I think that was Franklin. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/55 "2010-07-22T09:11:38Z")
In Eric’s daydream, is Anna Paquin always that buff, or was it an effect in order to exaggerate the surrealism of the daydream? ( **Side note** : I pointed to the screen and said “damn, that’s hot” by reflex, prompting kombatminigirlfriend to sock me on the arm. This also occurs when ever time I point to the scream and say “Nipples!”. My arm is getting sore) I am still surprised by the fact that they can’t find Swedish actors who can do a proper an American accent. Alexander Skarsgård of course speaks with a modern Stockholm accent (which is an anachronism in itself). Godric obviously had little idea of what he was saying, but while the pronunciation was good enough to be understood, the intonation was entirely off. Pam and Eric’s mother are entirely unintelligible, and Eric’s father was played by a Norwegian. Also, I’m not a German speaker, but wasn’t Russel’s accent terrible? Likewise, you’d think that they could find an actor who can speak passable German? Or at least teach him to pronunce that one line convincingly. Incidentally, Skardsgård’s use of Swedish in an otherwise English context is entirely in the tradition of his father Stellan, who constantly injects Swedish curses and phrases in his movies. =) ---
**Author:** ![Neverending\_Elbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@Neverending\_Elbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverending_Elbow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/56 "2010-07-22T09:20:44Z")
> [@kombatminipig](#): > > I am still surprised by the fact that they can’t find Swedish actors who can do a proper an American accent. Alexander Skarsgård of course speaks with a modern Stockholm accent (which is an anachronism in itself). Godric obviously had little idea of what he was saying, but while the pronunciation was good enough to be understood, the intonation was entirely off. Pam and Eric’s mother are entirely unintelligible, and Eric’s father was played by a Norwegian. > > Also, I’m not a German speaker, but wasn’t Russel’s accent terrible? Likewise, you’d think that they could find an actor who can speak passable German? Or at least teach him to pronunce that one line convincingly. > > Incidentally, Skardsgård’s use of Swedish in an otherwise English context is entirely in the tradition of his father Stellan, who constantly injects Swedish curses and phrases in his movies. =) Well, some of the characters on the show might not have Swedish as a first language. Or German. So the characters might be speaking with an accent. The Eric family scene should have been perhaps better planned linguistically, but if we are to accept that they were speaking modern Swedish a thousand years ago, I think we can overlook the terrible accents. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/57 "2010-07-22T14:02:37Z")
> [@Neverending\_Elbow](#): > > Well, some of the characters on the show might not have Swedish as a first language. Or German. So the characters might be speaking with an accent. > > The Eric family scene should have been perhaps better planned linguistically, but if we are to accept that they were speaking modern Swedish a thousand years ago, I think we can overlook the terrible accents. 🙂 Okay, let me rephrase that as “the accent of somebody who obviously doesn’t know what he’s saying” ^^. Pam’s accent is that bad anyway, I barely understand her without the subtitles. If she communicates frequently with Eric in Swedish, she should at least have picked up the intonation. Ironically, old Norse (as can be heard spoken by Grendel in the last Beowulf movie) sounded a lot like English prior to the Great Vowel shift (in fact the languages were close enough that the Vikings had no trouble making themselves understood when they visited Britain), so the American actors’ poor pronunciation is probably closer to the original than Skarsgård’s modern Swedish. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/58 "2010-07-22T14:28:55Z")
> [@kombatminipig](#): > > In Eric’s daydream, is Anna Paquin always that buff, or was it an effect in order to exaggerate the surrealism of the daydream? I think Anna Paquin has done some toning between seasons 2 and 3. In the books they describe Sookie as being a bit “fuller” and I think she mentions at one point that she’s a size 10. TV Sookie has been a bit smaller than that from the start, but the first thing I noticed in Eric’s dream when she whipped off her robe was “Somebody has been working out” ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/59 "2010-07-22T15:56:43Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I think Anna Paquin has done some toning between seasons 2 and 3. In the books they describe Sookie as being a bit “fuller” and I think she mentions at one point that she’s a size 10. > > TV Sookie has been a bit smaller than that from the start, but the first thing I noticed in Eric’s dream when she whipped off her robe was “Somebody has been working out” She’s way hotter than she should be. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195/60 "2010-07-22T17:40:26Z")
> [@kombatminipig](#): > > Ironically, old Norse (as can be heard spoken by Grendel in the last Beowulf movie) sounded a lot like English prior to the Great Vowel shift (in fact the languages were close enough that the Vikings had no trouble making themselves understood when they visited Britain), Interesting use of the term 'visited". 🙂 > [@](#): > > so the American actors’ poor pronunciation is probably closer to the original than Skarsgård’s modern Swedish. Why? Modern English sounds almost nothing like Old English, which is the language similar to Old Norse. They should get some Icelandic actors if they really want the correct effect. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-blood-trouble-july-18-2010-open-spoilers/547195.md?page=4)