Not trolling. Genuinely curious. What about this character do you love? (If you do love his character.) I write on occasion and would love to learn what makes a character (a mass murderer no less) so loved. Was it just the fact he was easy on the eye and had a wry sense of humour? Is he like Dexter in those respects? Thoughts?
Well being eye candy and having a sense of humor count, but it was partially that Eric enjoyed being a vampire and owned up to it and all that entailed. He didn't try to make himself out to be some poor put upon vampire with a woe is me attitude (Beel anyone?). A joie de vivre (pun intended). He was loyal to his friends and family. He also treated Sookie like she was an adult and could make her own decisions instead of a child like Beel did.
shareHmmm I like it. Maybe people like the fact Eric pretty much gloried in what he was and never tried to apologise for it or hide it. No wussiness from him.
shareEric was a wonderful Maker - for Pam. But he used poor, kind-hearted Willa Burell to get even with her father. After he turned her, he abandoned her. Tara was, in a real sense, Willa's maker, but she was killed off by the non-writers and that idiot Bruckner. Worse, no one except Willa and her guilt-ridden mother who was just beginning to try to make it up to Tara.
shareEric's motive in turning Willa was bungled by Bucnker's writing team but as they wrote it Eric turned Willa in a desparate attempt to get her father,Gov Burrell, to stop persecuting vampires since his own daughter was now a vampire. He supposedly believed that Burrell's fatherly protective instincts wouldn't allow him to turn on Willa just because she was now a vampire. This feeling woukd then transfer to all vampires and he'd stop persecuting all of them.This was a stupid unthought out motive for Eric who was not naive enough after 1000 years to ever believe or even hope that just because his own protective feelings towards Pam were all encompassing that everyone else's were of equal intensity,be they human or vampire. In fact, Eric knew they weren't. There was nothing nothing in his 1000 years experience that woukd ever lead him to believe such a thing. Yet the stupid moronic script had him turning her and then sending her back to her father in hopes that his fatherly love would transform him into somebody else who would now accept vampires snd stop persecuting them. They even had this ridiculous plot plan almost working and .burrell was just turning the corner on his position when Sarah Newlin turned up and interfered,turning him back again toward their mission and convincing him to imprison Willa
in Vamp Camp.
Later,they tried to make us accept that Eric would abandon Pam and Willa because of Nora's death and not only abandon them but become so careless of his own life that he ignored the threat of Hep V and just took the blood of any human without caring if he was infected or not. Eric didn't run off and abandon Pam when Godric died and he adored him so much he wanted to die with him. He would not have done it over Nora either. This was all a forced plot line( and a very poorly done one at that) , from the turning of Willa to Eric burning on the mountain,to remove Eric from the central plot line ,either permanently,by removing him from the show,or just partially,so he would be put into a separate arc,clearing the way for Bill's whitewashing and place at the center of the of the show with no competition from Eric.
What Bro said.
I can't stand vampires that bitch and moan
about being powerful and immortal.
Plus Skarsgard.
It's hard to overstate how much he made
that character worth watching for,
even after the writing went in the tank.
They humanized Dexter a lot for the TV show.
In the books you're privy to his inner monologue
and he really doesn't give two sh--ts about anyone
but himself. (and to a much lesser extend, Deb)
That's not Eric. His list of people he cared about
may have short, but he was willing to sacrifice
himself for any of them.
📝http://bit.ly/bloody-hot
Another good response. I hadn't thought about the nobility and loyalty stuff.
Interestingly, I'd thought about comparing Eric to Dexter. I think they're both similar in that they are both easy on the eye and have the same dry sense of humour. + they're both unabashed predators, on the outside looking in. (I'm largely talking about the shows here. Only read the first book of each.)
Extra question: What makes characters who are murderers likeable? Any more thoughts?
I wouldn't say Eric was an unabashed predator. He didn't kill everyone he fed off of. His killings were more in self-defense or defending someone he cared about. You hurt him or one of his "family" and you were a goner.
Your extra question is tricky. I don't consider Eric a murderer (I didn't watch Dexter so can't answer for him). The reasons we like him are listed in our answers above. I think if a character is shown to not only be strong and self-assured, but have some vulnerability to them then it's easier to like them. If they actually care for people and aren't cold blooded killers it's easier to like them. Charm helps too. If someone is charming as opposed to smarmy it makes them more attractive and likable.
Well reasoned response. Interesting you don't consider Eric a murderer, though. He's killed a looooot of people in his time. And some in very fun and over the top ways. Ripping a guy's heart out and sucking from it like a straw sticks in the mind. Epic moment.:)
shareIf you want to get a good idea of Eric you should at least read up to book 4 in the Stackhouse series. I came to the show after reading the books, so I was already a fan of Eric because of all that's stated above. He had a slightly different personality in the books. You might also want to compare Lestat as well. Another blood-thirsty vampire whose popularity none-the-less has never diminished. Like Eric books vs show, Lestat is different in "Interview with the Vampire," than when he gets his say in "Lestat." He was my very favorite vampire before Eric was conceived.
shareI only read book 1. I feel True Blood realised the ideas waaaaaay better than that book did.
shareKilling someone does not equate to murder. In fact I believe even the commandment was misinterpreted it should interpret to thou shall not murder, not thou shall not kill.
I know personally that if I ever killed anyone I wouldn't have the slightest bit of guilt over it, I would sleep like a babe the very next night. I know this because I know the only reasons I would every kill someone, would be a situation where it was necessary to protect our prevent something horrible from happening to an innocent, my loved ones, or myself etc. Basically it would be a scenario where I couldn't live with myself if I didn't kill the person.
The idea fiction (movies, tv, books) often presents that killing even an evil person in defense of yourself or others, if you're a "good person" you will be marked for life and always have to "live with it" that's bullcrap, at least it would be for me.
Eric is not a cold-blooded murderer. Take the scene when he is trying to get information from the Queen ( now in a. Cage ) by using her favorite, Hadley. He begins to drain Hadley but the Queen, self-absorbed bitch that she was, tells Hadley not to talk and doesn't care if she dies. Finally, Hadley, realizing that the Queen isn't going to help her, tells Eric everything. He could have gone on draining her. But instead, he gives her some of his own blood to revive her. Think of the first time he meets Pam - saves her from being raped or worse by
a guy in the street. The blood ruins her dress and he gives her more than enough to cover the cost. Then, he tips his top hat and leaves.
When the Yakusa give him the choice of killing Sylvie or Pam, initially he offers to die himself. There are a number of incidents that clearly demonstrate that Eric was not a cold-blooded killer like the 3 trashy Vampires who okay an unexpected call on Bill during the first Seaeon.
It's true that at times he lacks impulse control - killing Amber, almost killing the cure, Newlin until Pam holds a stake to her heart to stop him. And eviscerating the General in Season 5. But this last killing may have been strategic. It gave him a chance to go on a "glamoring
campaign with Nora - he had to get her out of there. In Season 1 even Bill says "I've had worse sheriffs." Eric has been around for a long time and has become cynical. Also, his human life was Viking - pagan. He didn't have the Christian guilt that plagued Bill. Yet for all this, he is not a murderous Vampire - not evil. Evil is the 3 trashy Vampires who visited Bill; evil is Lorena. ( I remember Bill's words in 1936 when he begs Lorena to release him ( "That's your nature - not mine. When I think of the people I've killed, the bloody beds - God help me."). Evil is Violet. And Stan. Eric is not evil - if he had been, Sookie could never have loved him. And finally, his reverence for Godric, his Maker, is absolute. He even worships Godric as a sort of God. He makes his sister "Swear on Godric"
It's not only his charm that makes us overlook some of his excesses. It's the fact that Eric is essentially a decent man as Vampires go.
If he was a cold-blooded murder, his good looks and charm would not be enough to inspire the adoration so many of the viewers and people on this board feel for him.
He was cool and wasn't jammed down our throats like Bill.
1. BVS 2. TWS 3. Avenger
Correction: He murdered Amber. And Willa. And Royce. And Talbot.
shareI never really was into Eric either. I feel like he was just murdering people because he was pissed off but when someone wanted to do the same with him or someone he cared about, suddenly it was unfair. Yet the character was well-written and perfectly portrayed by Alexander.
sharePlus Skarsgård.------^ this - big time
It's hard to overstate how much he made
that character worth watching for,
even after the writing went in the tank.
I don't recall Eric ever saying anything or anyone was unfair. He didn't believe in the concept of fairness. He had lived too long and seen too much to believe that fairness had anything to do with anything, he was cynical about humans, vampiresx and gods and more often right on his cynicism than wrong,He was used to being at the top of the food chain and he meted out whatever consequences he thought were merited. His enemies were slaughtered without apology and he felt no guilt. He lived by his own standards and was true to them and to himself. I don't recall any mass murdering that he did though. That sounds more like Bill " let's blow up all the True Blood factories" Compton.
He was charming,intelligent and intensely loyal and heart breakingly beautiful. Most of all ,he was so much God damn fun.
📝http://bit.ly/bloody-hot
Hmm am getting the feeling many people liked Eric because he knew exactly what he was. He was unapolagetic about it and owned it. There was no bull from him. And yes, the actor really did bring the role to life. He was a looot of fun. :)
shareWhat is not to like about Eric? A true badass with a sense of humor. He made the show for me and felt was the only character the writers did justice in the end. The real question is who could like the character of Sookie? She was the main protagonist of the story and I hated her guts.
shareI wonder who watched the show for Sookie. She's the most vapid main character ever. All the other characters were more interesting than her. All of them.
shareDont underestimate the amount of people who are just as vapid and felt at home.
Besides, its no secret True Blood was the "money cow" show that was used to finance more expensive ventures for HBO.
---------------------------------------------
Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.
I thought Sookie would really irritate me when I started watching. But she didn't. While pretty, she's not impossibly flawless. Made her feel more relatable to me. And she came across as smart and strong. (Yes, I know she did dumb things, but so do we all.)
shareSmart and strong??? Sorry but I strongly disagree with you there. Sookie was extremely stupid and annoying and it amazes me how majority of the characters put up with her.
shareWhat is not to like about Eric? A true badass with a sense of humor. He made the show for me and felt was the only character the writers did justice in the end. The real question is who could like the character of Sookie? She was the main protagonist of the story and I hated her guts.
Well, all the vampires are technically murderers so singling him out among them doesn't really work...if that is what you were doing. I just think he was a great character, even though the TV show (versus the books) tried to take away some of his appeal. He was amusing and fun to watch. Plus...go back and watch. He really did have a sense of right and wrong. He did not kill people indiscriminately. Too smart for that. Plus, I loved his relationship with Sookie. The only time I didn't hate her was when she was interacting with Eric.
shareI wasn't singling Eric out as being worse than any other vampire. I singled him out as being the most-liked vampire. I get the impression he was the favourite of many people. That's why I got curious why people liked him so much.
share- His sense of humour/ ironic remarks
- His loyalty and protection of those he loves
- Shows one of the best written character developments in the show - from a cold blooded 'monster' to an honest, caring, almost - human
- He's proud of what he is without having to boast about it, constantly showcase his power or make everything about himself and his issues (*cough* Bill *cough*)
- He sees the importance of family and is proud of where he's from (as we can see on those great flashbacks in S03)
- But most importantly: HE SEES WOMEN AS HIS EQUALS, specially Pam and Sookie. He clearly saw his progeny as just as competent as himself, and as for Sookie, Eric respected her, her wishes, her intellingence, etc etc. He never emotionally blackmailed Sookie into getting back together with him, and even when she chose Bill in the end, he protected her from afar. Meanwhile, Mr Ego Compton tricked Sookie into drinking his blood on several occasions, blackmailed her into killing him and then pratically forced his progeny to marry someone even though she had clearly stated it wasn't what she wanted.
I absolutely love Eric as a character, and even if a fan isn't into the whole love triangle, he's still loveable, like Jason, Lafayette etc.
Eric also tricked Sookie into drinking his blood. And when she was threatened at gun point by Debbie, he wasn't willing to help her.
shareThat is correct. Eric tricked Sookie into drinking his blood back in season 2, which was one of Eric/Skarsgard's most inspired comedic moments in TB, IMO. But after that, he never made Sookie involuntarily drink his blood again. One can argue back in season 2 he was only attracted to her, but as he grew to love her, he gave up on the scheming.
About the whole Debbie ordeal, both Bill and Eric had just been rejected by Sookie, and were fed up of always being her knights in shining armor, with nothing in return. So they both 'felt' she was in danger, but didn't come to her rescue.
I don't remember Bill forcing Sookie to drink his blood either, except for the first time when she got beaten up and that time when she was in coma and Jason allowed him to. Bill did run to rescue Sookie when she was attacke by Debbie but got caught by the authority.
I'm not a Bill defensor, he's one of the characters I hated the most. The writers ALWAYS shoved him down our throats during the last two seasons. I also think Eric is a much more interesting character. But when it comes to being good, I think they were both killers who didn't care about anyone but themselves and the people they loved.
I need to rewatch from season 1. I don't remember thinking of Eric as being as loyal and fair-minded as many people are saying. I'm curious if my memory's skewed or his character developed a lot. I remember him as being a good-looking vamp with a sense of humour who had loads of fun. But the loyalty thing keeps popping up in responses here. Interesting.
shareHe definitely didn't start out as loyal and fair minded, he just had a perfectly written character development - even after the show lost its original touch he was still, by far, the most coherent character.
The turning point for him to start being considered loyal/a good-hearted vampire was episode 209, when Goddric dies. It's no coincidence that that's when Sookie also starts seeing him in a different light.
Eric's loyalty to Godric was shown in S2 when he searched for him without giving up and would let nothing stand in the way of finding and rescuing him. He further demonstrated his loyalty when he gave himself over to the FOTS to be put in silver chains to save Sookie. Also,When Godric decided to die in the Sun, Eric wanted to die with him he was so loyal to him. In S3 He was so loyal to his slaughtered Viking family that he pursued their murderer for 1000 years and when he caught up with him he was willing to die as long as it meant Russel would die too. In season 4 he was willing to give his life once again,to save Sookie from Marnie. In S5 his loyalty was tested at the Authority and he would not succumb to torture or to bribery. His loyalty to Nora was apparent as he proved that he could break out of the Aurhority any time he wished,but refused to do so without Nora. He was so loyal to her that he still wanted to save her from Lilith and the other chancellors even when she participated along with Bill in torturing him to get him to become a Lilith flollower. He was far more loyal to Bill than Bill ever was to him when they became comrades in arms and as much as he had against Bill ,he never tried to kill him after that. He forgave Nora instantly when she came to her senses and agreed to go with him. His loyalty to Pam was legion and.although they fought and disagreed,Eric was willing to die for her and with her if need be. He surrendered himself to vamp camp to gain entry and save Pam and all through S7 it was Pam that he depended on and remained loyal too. He loved Sookie and never betrayed her.even after she slapped Bill for being the selfish pig he was,Eric tried to pursued her to relent and listen to Bill ,which he did not because Bill asked him to but out of love and loyalty to Sookie. He truly believed what he'd told Bill when he had amnesia. He wanted Sookie to be happy whether it was with Bill,him or whoever else she chose. In the end,he sacrificed his happiness for hers because he belived she's be happier without him in her life. He continued to protect her and keep her safe ,doing it in stealth and silence so she would not feel obligated to him. Eric was indeed the most loyal character on the show towards those he loved and held dear.
shareA lot of examples. Thank you.
shareEric was a much more consistent character than Bill overall. I liked Bill until season 3/4. Then I wish they had turned him into a full villain and killed him. Seriously, they just didn't know what to do with him: first he's nice, then you discover he lied to Sookie. Interesting plot-twist. Then he's a little bit in-between, then they make him a bad guy with the whole Lilith thing, then they turn him into a god which seems threatening at first but in the end he's just plain old Bill Compton with a messiah complex. And eventually, they shove him down our throats a little bit more with boring flashbacks to redeem him.
Sure, a character has to evolve throughout a show, otherwise it's boring. But they just didn't seem to know where they were taking Bill. The only thing that was obvious is that they wanted him to be around even when he wasn't needed.
As a "person", Eric wasn't much better than Bill I think. But when it comes to characters and writing, Eric was definitely more interesting in my opinion.
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Not if the wrote him as badly as they did on the show.
shareI thought his flashbacks and their vain attempts at making him likeable again were so bad, not any actor could make it ok. Look, Alcide was also considered hot and an eye-candy and everything but his character was useless and his storylines were the worst. I don't think it's all about the looks (even if yes, there are some fans who can't go past the actor's face of course).
share[deleted]
You can have the most gorgeous guy in the world play a part but if it's badly written people still aren't going to like the character.
Stephen Moyer is a good looking guy normally (the pinched face look doesn't look good on anyone), but the way Bill was written (he never was nothing more than a computer nerd in the books) made him irritating beyond measure. The fact that we as an audience were told we had to love Bill was off putting. They took what could have been an average likeable guy and turned him into a total weasel. No looks in the world could save the character assassination they did to Bill.
A "pinched face"? While I'll admit that with the wrong haircut ( I didn't like Bill's bangs in most of Season 2 ) Moyer's face looks too narrow, this completely changed in Season 3 and even more in Season 4, when his haircuts were flattering and brought out his wonderful bone structure, his agate blue eyes, and widened his face considerably. Then he became drop-dead handsome.
I thought Eric looked terrible with that long hair. It took a much shorter haircut before I realized that he was a very good-looking guy.
Moyers, especially when he was younger, was, as Lorena would say "My type". And a million other women from what I've read.
A bad haircut can make even beautiful women look average pretty - or worse.
And Bill looked gorgeous in that white tux that he wore when having dinner with Rusell and Talbot. He was so well-dressed as Russell's house "guest" and he can wear a well-tailored suit better than Skarsguard. He was a devastatingly attractive and elegant man.
Pinched-faced? In some schemes with the bad haircut, but you just don't like him. Not your type. OK.
Alcide was also considered hot and an eye-candy and everything but his character was useless and his storylines were the worst.
Maybe you're right. Maybe Bill's changeability put people off him whereas fans appreciated Eric was more constant.
Not only was Bill too changeable ,equate that with untrustworthy but he as written as a dour,overly serious, judgemental prig . He was just no fun at all. There was nothing exciting,amusing or downright comical about Bill. Just the opposite,he was a spoil sport and killed the fun just as soon as he made an appearance. Eric,on the other hand was very exciting, highly amusing character who was just plane fun to watch. Eric showed up and the fun began.
shareNot only was Bill too changeable ,equate that with untrustworthy but he as written as a dour,overly serious, judgemental prig . He was just no fun at all. There was nothing exciting,amusing or downright comical about Bill. Just the opposite,he was a spoil sport and killed the fun just as soon as he made an appearance. Eric,on the other hand was very exciting, highly amusing character who was just plane fun to watch. Eric showed up and the fun began.
shareEric was certainly more fun. Especially in his double act with Pam. :)
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