True Blood TV Adaptation: Sam Merlotte and Tommy Mickens

In both the books and the TV series, Sam Merlotte is a true shapeshifter that can turn into any animal at will, though he normally shifts into a collie. He is the owner of Merlotte's and cares a lot for Sookie.



Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte in True Blood.



In True Blood, Sam’s storyline is expanded and adapted for the medium. While the differences from Southern Vampire Mysteries aren’t as drastic as with Lafayette (see previous post), there are significant changes to his family and history, which fuels a subplot and a new character: his brother, Tommy Mickens. In addition to the family storyline, Sam develops relationships with Tara Thorton (in Season 1) and Daphne Landry (in Season 2).



Marshall Allman as Tommy Mickens in True Blood.

In the Southern Vampire Mysteries (SVM), the first person narrative only allows readers to experience the plot through Sookie. We don’t know what is happening with other characters if Sookie doesn’t know, or if she’s not involved. Though this works well for books, television requires multiple characters with interweaving plotlines to maintain audience interest every week (and for True Blood, throughout the year!). Alan Ball adapts the books appropriately for the nature of the television format. He gives the viewers a wider perspective on the events happening in the True Blood universe, and to do that, he enhances characters and gives them thier own subplots.

In SVM, both of Sam’s parents were shifters. After his dad died, his mother remarried a human man. She and Sam keep their true nature hidden from her new husband and his two children. Later in the books, when weres and shifters decide to reveal themselves to the human public (as vampires did), his mother is shot and injured by his stepfather.

In True Blood, his family history is considerably different. He was adopted as a child by the Merlottes, but they abandoned him at 15 when his abilities as a shifter developed. As an adult, he visits his biological family (the Mickens) and discovers that his mother and younger brother (Tommy) are shifters. When Sam realizes his brother is being forced into dogfighting to make money for the family, he takes Tommy to live with him in Bon Temps. Unfortunately, it isn't easy for Sam, and their relationship is under a lot of stress. At the end of Season 3, Tommy steals from Sam and tries to run away, but Sam catches up with him. In the final scene, Tommy is walking away as Sam points a gun at him, then we hear a gunshot.

True Blood Season 3, "Evil is Going On"

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Unlike Tommy Mickens on True Blood, @TommyBonTemps is literate and regularly RPs on Twitter. He’s been RPing for a few years, but “it just goes so fast that it feels like [he’s] had no experience at all.” He RPs because likes being “a part of something bigger […] No matter where you are, someone else, right at this moment, is reading what you typed and suddenly.. you're not so alone anymore.”

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Why did you pick your character, Tommy?

@TommyBonTemps: He reminds me so much of myself. He's like this mirror image of me with a shape shifting ability. He's a wild card, but he has a good heart. He doesn't really know what to do with that because he's been brought up around so much negativity. In the end, he's just a kid who needs love.

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What are your thoughts on the changes to Sam’s family history and storyline?

@TommyBonTemps: I feel that this particular plot change works: it gives viewers a chance to see a different side to several characters. […]I like to think of the books and shows as two separate things, so when something does change I'm not shouting at the TV in anger of adding/leaving an important plot piece in/out.

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How do you think the gunshot scene with Sam and Tommy plays out? How do you think your character will be involved in Season 4?

@TommyBonTemps: Tommy'll be back. […] He just has that essence of fighter around him. […] In Season 4, I'd like to see Sam and Tommy work their differences out because they'd be a bad-ass team! What will actually happen though? I have no idea. Something shiftery, I'm sure.

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Check out the video below featuring two major betrayals of Season 3: Sookie finding out about Queen Sophie-Anne's orders to Bill and Tommy stealing money from Sam (with some still-delish-even-covered-in-cement Eric Northman in between). The Tommy/Sam scene is at 4:16.

Leave comments below with your thoughts on Sam and Tommy

or if you have predictions for Season 4!

 

You can email me at becoming.truebie@gmail.com,

follow me on Twitter @becomingtruebie,

and ask me anything on formspring.

True Blood TV Adaptation: Lafayette & Jesus

As truebies know, each season of True Blood is based on one of the books in the Southern Vampire Mysteries (SVM) by Charlaine Harris. The books are written in first person from Sookie's point of view. For the TV series, while Sookie is still the heroine of the show, Alan Ball enhances the supporting characters by adapting and creating new plotlines.

Lafayette’s storyline is a major deviation from SVM. He is a minor character in Dead Until Dark: a cook at Merlotte's and road crew worker with Jason and Hoyt. He is friendly with Sookie (though not as close as the TV show portrays). He is a flamboyant, gay black man (though unrelated to Tara), and he had a reputation for being involved with drugs and secret sex parties. The second book, Living Dead in Dallas, opens with Sookie finding the dead body of Lafayette in the backseat of Andy Bellefleur's car in the Merlotte's parking lot.

In the TV series, Season 1 ends with someone kidnapping Lafayette, and later, a dead body is discovered in Andy’s car in the parking lot. The viewers only see the victim’s foot; it is African American with red nail polish. Fans speculated, and when Lafayette wasn’t in any of the Season 2 previews, they braced for the worst. 

Fortunately for Lafayette’s many fans, the painted toenails were not his. Miss Jeanette was murdered instead (though Ball didn’t tell Nelsan Ellis until the table read for the Season 1 finale).

Lafayette's character helps support Tara's expanded role on the show, and his character maintains a subplot that interweaves with multiple characters in the series. In Season 3, Lafayette begins a relationship with a character exclusive to the series: Jesus Velasquez, a nurse from his mother's mental institution. Jesus is a brujo (a witch), which will no doubt mix in with the Season 4 plot (read synopsis of Dead to the World for some idea of where we’ll be going this season).

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On Twitter, @LafayetteTB and @JesusTB are a happy couple, regularly tweeting new storylines for followers. @JesusTB has been RPing for 4 years, and though RPing wasn't “something that was going to go on this long, […] with each fandom there came a whole new world to play in.”

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Why did you pick your character, Jesus?

@JesusTB: At first, it was because he had pretty eyes. When I picked him there wasn't much to go on and it's always a challenge when you're essentially starting with a blank canvas but as the plots moved on it became evident that I was just drawn to the role and the characters surrounding him. Jesus has a likable personality and I think I can draw a lot from that. Did I say he had pretty eyes?

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Thoughts on Lafayette's adapted plot line?

What's the world without a little Lala? He's humourous, but it goes so much deeper than that. He's more level headed than people give him credit for, and it would be a shame not to see that in the series. […] I guess you could say I'm a little biased because if he was killed, where would I be?

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Your character is a brujo (a witch). How do you think Jesus will be involved in Season 4?

Honestly? I have no idea! […] I think it will definitely be something to do with Lafayette and developing his roots but then again, since it's set a year ahead, no one really knows! I'm looking forward to seeing what they throw in Jesus's path though and I'm sure it will be something extra magical!    

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There are rumours that Lafayette "turns into something." What do you think it is?

As far as that goes, my inkling is that it's something to do with some powerful magic!

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Any thoughts on the representation of LGBTQ characters and relationships in True Blood?

I think they are played out well to some extent, though it really is different for everyone. I'm pleased that they're so open and out there with it - man love is adorable, too!

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 Leave comments below with your thoughts on Lafayette and Jesus

or if you have predictions for Season 4!

You can email me at becoming.truebie@gmail.com,
follow me on Twitter @becomingtruebie,

and ask me anything on formspring!

true blood roleplaying communities

Earlier this year, I began following True Blood RPers on Twitter. At first I thought it was a clever marketing scheme of HBO’s (would any of us be surprised?), but I quickly realized that none of these RPers (not even @SookieBonTemps) are on HBO’s payroll. They are loyal fans that all have real lives and real jobs. 

@SookieBonTemps is not a waitress. She just plays one on Twitter.

After my realization that there weren’t any ‘real, official’ character accounts, I began following multiple Sookies and other canon characters (and more recently original characters as well).

But I wondered how do characters know who their Sookie is? How does each Sookie know who her Bill, Eric, Sam, Alcide, Lafayette, Tara and Jason are?

I discovered that HBO endorses a group of characters (among them @SookieBonTemps) and features them on their website under "Truebie Characters." In addition, there are countless other RP groups.  

@BarmaidSookie explains it nicely, “I tend to see groups basically as a cast of characters. It helps keep plots organized to know that, if you’re in this group, this is your Sookie, your Alcide, your Sam. That’s all a group is, really, the cast you work with.”

Like anything, all groups are different. Some have multiple sets of canon characters. Some allow original characters (OCs). Some follow the Southern Vampire Mysteries and the TV show closely, while others deviate significantly. Some groups have planned, structured storylines (SLs) and others rely on improv only. Regardless of the each group’s differences, they all contribute to the True Blood fandom and add to the story.

I learned about these communities by asking questions. Everyone I've chatted with so far has been helpful and friendly. Even though we all know Lorena has a reputation, @LorenaTheMaker doesn't bite (too hard).

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Blog | Twitter | Email: billsbelles@gmail.com

 

Tell me about BillsBelles. 

@smeykunz Well for starters, it's a fanclub for @VampireBill. Yes, I am painfully aware of how bizarre that sounds, but there is a reason. All the people that know me are thinking "here we go again.....". Not only is he a really wonderful Bill, but he's a fantastic person, has done a lot for me and is a good friend, so I show the love. Follow him, he is an extremely popular tweeter, you'll see why the Belles are long time and extremely loyal followers. We love the character, we love the actor and we love the RPer.

That being said, I tend to follow and watch the people he tweets most, which are in a variety of groups. I just like good characters and showcase them on my blog no matter what group they tweet with.

I try and keep my fan love to Stephen Moyer, Bill Compton from True Blood & the Southern Vampire Mysteries, and the Twitter characters that I enjoy.

What is your connection with BillsBelles?

@LorenaTheMaker: I have tweeted with many different characters in the last two years, but have stayed mostly with the original HBO group that started the frenzy. I will tweet anyone who approaches me, but I have certain loyalties as far as stories go. I have not, will not and do not wish to ever tweet another William other than @VampireBill. He is my partner and no one will ever replace him. I may be biased, but I do believe we are an excellent team. I also enjoy tweeting my good friends @JessicaHamby, @WereCoot, @VampireMagister and @WerewitchHallow.

Do you plan narratives with other RPers? 

Or is it all improv?

@LorenaTheMaker: That depends. For the most part, we have a good idea of what we are planning on doing when we embark on a story line, an outline of sorts. I used to do longer story lines with @VampireMagister, but we never had any sort of script. In fact I detest them. I rather enjoy the free form way that RP was meant to be. Get into the head of your character and react as they would.

When I play with @VampireBill we virtually never have a plan and if we do, we most likely change it along the way based on something one of us has said or done. There is a peculiar maker and child bond in our brains that I cannot quite explain. He anticipates my tweets. I swear the man is psychic. Must be the blood. *smirk*

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Website | Twitter | Email: Sookie@YieldToMe.com

Many of the RPers are affiliated with a group they tweet with. Did you start YieldToMe? How is it different from other fan communities?

@BarmaidSookie: @SheriffNorthman and I started YieldToMe as a message board back in September of 2009. I definitely can’t speak for other fan communities or groups out there, and there are some absolutely terrific ones that I enjoy following myself, but what we try to do is come up with lots of new and original material while still staying true to the spirit of the books and show. We’ll use a lot of the elements given to us by both and try to find ways to do new things with them, to try stuff we haven’t seen done before. It’s a lot of fun.

Do you plan narratives with other RPers? 

Or is it all improv?

@BarmaidSookie: There’s definitely a mixture of both. For bigger plots involving more people, we tend to plan things out, at least in outline form, so everyone knows what’s going on and no one gets lost in the mix. Big plots can be an organizational nightmare, so there’s some element of planning, but within a very open framework, there’s a lot of improv. We’ve never had any sort of scripts or anything more than a basic outline, and then only for bigger storylines involving more people. For smaller narratives or just day-to-day interactions, it’s all improv. That’s usually what ends up leading to the plots. The smallest comments or jokes can spark whole storylines that can go on for months, and it’s always a wild ride.

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 Website | Twitter | Email: mailto:OnceBittenRP@live.com

Tell me about the Once Bitten community.

 

@SookieSC: Once Bitten came about because a group of my friends and I were trying to figure out what to do with ourselves. I try to keep as hands off with the group as I possibly can. I don't force members to do SLs and we clearly allow pretty much anyone into the group or else we wouldn't have four sets of Canons. I try and make it a very relaxed environment and not ask too much from my members. I would rather have members who are having fun and enjoying RP then worry about SLs. SLs come on their own terms even if you don't try for them. Truthfully I believe every group on Twitter is different for the next in their own way. It's really hard to describe the differences, it's just something you have to observe. I can just say I am proud to be part of such a talented and wonderful group of RPers and to be amongst the several other groups out there in Twitter RP.

Do you plan narratives with other characters? Or is it all improv?

@SookieSC: Sometimes we plan the general outline of how we want a SL to go and then at others, it's a complete last minute thing. Though usually we have a goal in mind on where we want to get.

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Check out my list of True Blood RP Communities on Twitter. I know I’m missing lots, so let me know about your group via Twitter, email, or in the comments below.

my interview with 2 Sookies & a vampire

How did you get started with Twitter RP?

@LorenaTheMaker: I was here on Twitter as a follower when I decided to try my hand at RP. I chose Lorena because I thought it would be easier to play a woman and I was at a point in my life where I needed to escape who I was. In addition, I knew she would be fitting into the story on True Blood in the coming seasons and thought I would have an opportunity to play along.

@BarmaidSookie: When I discovered twitter RP, I’d already been RPing for about six years. I’d RPed mostly in threads on forums, but the conversational nature of twitter RP really appealed to me. I loved that you could get a real time, immediate response, so I decided to try it out. I initially started with a much more obscure character, Halleigh, and eventually took on a few original characters before trying Sookie out.

@SookieSC: I actually stumbled upon True Blood Role play and actually Twitter RP in general. I was already a fan of True Blood, since right after the first Season aired on HBO and had already become a fan of the books its based off of. I checked out the True Blood page on HBO's site and under their fans section, I was surprised to read about @SookieBonTemps. I had never known people were RPing on social sites and while I had a real life Twitter account, I was completely uninterested in it. I made my first Sookie account on May 25, 2010. Dead in the Family had recently come out and I based that first Sookie off of Sookie after that book. I stumbled along for the first day. Trying to talk to Lafayettes and Arlenes who now I realize were in groups. But I found my way and had a nice following by the end of my 6th day. An OC I had become friendly with then offered me the account you now know of as SookieSC on that 6th day. She was originally part of a different group and I started off as her with over 1500 followers and now 9 months later, here I am!

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Did you have RPing or twitter experience before you started?

@LorenaTheMaker: No, I did not have any RP experience. I had dabbled in theater and creative writing, but never in this medium. I had a personal Twitter account when I made the Lorena account in April 2009.

@BarmaidSookie: Yes, six years give or take a couple months, all of it threading on forums, most of which I ran along with the same RP partner and real life boyfriend I’ve had for over five years now, @SheriffNorthman. It was definitely a strange transition going from thousand word posts to 140 character ones, but it’s been so much fun.

@SookieSC: None at all. I had heard of RP before, though I wasn't extremely familiar with the concept. I use to play Everquest for a few years and they had an RP server.

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 Your RL life is a secret from your followers. Is RP a secret from friends and family?

@LorenaTheMaker: No, my family is keenly aware of what I do. They do not always understand it or why I do it, but they know that I do. My friends, for the most part, know as well, though most of the people I see on a daily basis do not understand it. The friends I have met here, obviously understand my desire to RP in my spare time as they also enjoy it. I know a lot of them personally now and my close partners know who I am. That became vital to the trust factor for me.

@BarmaidSookie: Yeah, I’d say it is, at least to an extent. My family’s had no idea what I was talking about when I’ve tried explaining it to them, and it’s a part of my life I keep separate from my friends. Years ago I RPed with some friends I went to school with. It was pretty strange when the two worlds collided, and I can only imagine it'd be stranger now. My sister tried RPing a few years back, and it was too weird for both of us. It’s hard to pretend that someone you’ve known since birth is someone else.

@SookieSC: Truthfully, my RL family and friends know all about my Roleplaying. I do other things for the group I run and I usually run new graphics or webpages/sites past them for their opinion before showing them to the stream.

 

More comics here.



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Why do you people follow you? What is the role of the follower in the Twitter RP? How do they get involved?

@LorenaTheMaker:  I believe my followers choose to watch Lorena for a few reasons. The Lovers of Eric Northman do not typically like William and enjoy me abusing @VampireBill. There are also followers that like a tough crazy bitch, which I seem to do well. *laughs* I do know that I have attracted many followers due to my interaction with @VampireBill and I cannot say I am surprised. He is well liked in the community here and they wish to see what he is doing, so they follow who he talks to. If they choose to stay and watch what I have to say, that means I am doing my job properly.

The role of the follower depends very much on the followers themselves. I have had many who just want to talk to me, although I am often aloof and unkind since Lorena dislikes most humans. I have been propositioned, asked to bite or turn them, etc. Some of them get involved by becoming their very own original character. I have met quite a few that started that way.

@BarmaidSookie: Sometimes I think it’s because I follow a lot of people, and they think it’s polite to follow back. I’m beyond humbled and flattered that anyone does. I truly enjoy RPing, and my best guess and hope would be that it comes across in my writing. Beyond that, it’s not about me. I work with a fantastic group that comes up with amazing stories. I’m lucky to be a part of those plots. If I weren’t in them, I’d be following them too.

I think every new follower is a new opportunity of someone I could possibly interact with in the future. I absolutely love reading what other RPers come up with, so for me it’s another story I get to watch develop, which is a lot of fun. I’ve always been an avid reader, so getting to read everyone’s storylines is sort of like getting to read a bunch of books all at once. 

I’d say followers can get involved any time there’s any sort of open RP going on, which would be any interaction taking place in a public space where others don’t mind you getting involved. My classic example of this is whenever I have Sookie working at Merlotte’s, or out shopping, or suffering through a visit to Fangtasia, that sort of thing. As a general rule, I usually feel that if a character’s in a public space, it’s okay to approach them unless they’re having some serious, private conversation. If they’re in a private space, like a house, then it’s always polite to ask first. You never go into someone’s home without knocking; it’s just good manners. It’s always good to know what a character is doing and where they are before you start talking to them, and if they’re already involved in a narrative, it’s a good idea to ask first.

@SookieSC: They're bored? *laughs* Um.. truthfully? It surprises me when I get DMs from people who actually not only follow my account, but follow my SL. I never really think of doing this as something that someone else is watching. This is for me. For my human. I do this because I enjoy it. Though I appreciate the compliments I receive.

Some followers, follow merely in hopes of being followed back to build their own follower count (is not opposed to this and I follow everyone who follows me). Some, such as other RPers do it as a means to help support one another. I am a big fan of this and if Twitter would be nice and lift the Follower limit, I would follow many more RPers who are out there, regardless of what kind of RP they do. Several followers actually follow along. They enjoy the interactions and the SLs and in fact, several members in my group have started out that way. I do try and talk to anyone who talks with me. Many eventually make that leap into RP themselves.

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What are the challenges of twitter RP?

@LorenaTheMaker:  Twitter itself can often be a challenge. It seems to have so many issues with it's interface. It has gotten considerably better in the last year or so, but it used to shut down a lot. It was quite unnerving.

@BarmaidSookie: I think the most obvious challenge of twitter RP is trying to get anything at all said in 140 characters or less. With forum RP, I think you have a greater opportunity to get into the thought process of your characters, to really flesh out the details of your stories and take the time to paint exactly the picture you want. With twitter RP, the challenge is to do exactly that, only with way fewer words. I prefer the immediate response of twitter RP, and the real time progression of plots to the slower, more drawn out style of forum RP, where a thread that takes a month to finish is really only a few hours in your character’s life.

I’ve supplemented my twitter RP with blogging as Sookie, which I think fills in some of the details from her story that just aren’t expressed in 140 characters or less, and I’ve really enjoyed that. My background is in forum writing, so I’m always going to be a little detail-oriented, but there’s absolutely no substitute or comparison for the amount of interactivity you get on twitter. It’s a much bigger world for your character to live and thrive in, and while there are definite complexities to navigate and overcome, there’s also a much greater pool of opportunities and talent.

@SookieSC: *laughs* Like with anything, there are dozens of challenges with Twitter RP. Whether its the timezone differences (RPing with someone in another country for example), language barriers (the distance thing), the 140 character limit and of course, the #FailWhale attacks.

I think the biggest challenge is finding RPers who are willing to take on roles that are not exactly ideal. Several Canons are difficult to find and in most groups, you'll find several characters are played by the same couple of people and sometimes that is the best fit. Another challenge is sometimes you just don't mesh with the person you are RPing with. Just like in RL, you aren't always going to instantly get along with everyone and sometimes your characters just aren't a good match for one another.



More social media comics here.



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Any advice for Twitter RP newbies?

@LorenaTheMaker: Find a character that you adore playing. This will make every moment of your time on Twitter more enjoyable.

@BarmaidSookie: Read before you leap, probably. If you’re trying to get involved with a plot or even a discussion with another character, make sure you’ve read a little bit of their back story, even just their bio or their most recent tweets. It’s awkward to have someone trying to shake your hand while your character’s showering. Originality, creativity, and respect all go a long way in all RPing, not just on twitter. Listen to those around you, and keep an open mind.

@SookieSC: Relax. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and introduce yourself to people you don't know. Be respectful to the fact that when someone is in storyline they may not immediately respond to an outsider and don't be discouraged if they don't respond. Finding your place in this world we've built (for ALL characters) takes time. I was lucky in stumbling into that place early on, not everyone is. Be patient. It will come and you will find your way.

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Stay tuned for more excerpts from my interviews with some of our favourite True Blood Twitter RPers. Whether you're an RPer or a fan, feel free to leave comments with your thoughts on my questions (or if you have questions of your own).

You can email me: becoming.truebie@gmail.com
Or ask me anything on formspring!

Follow me @becomingtruebie