Excellent Series are all Jumping the Shark? (True Blood, Weeds, etc.)

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come...

Sunday was the long awaited premiere of the next season of True Blood. However, being a fan of both the books and the series, I can't help but wonder what they were thinking? They do this thing where Sookie's been gone for over a year, and decided to completely change everyone's characters because of it? Not to mention, they've always strayed from the books, and that's fine, as it's unexpected...but there are some key elements in the story that EVERY fan was expecting to see...versus EVERYTHING being changed.

True Blood isn't alone. Weeds also did a major shark jump. Again, we see the idea of fast forwarding in time, and completely changing the show, etc. Her major foe is dead, and with it, the key element that kept her on the run, etc. Her kids are all in Denmark along with the others?

I just really hope this isn't the new bandwagon.

I'll give the shows a chance, but I hope others aren't going to try and pull this crap.

reply to post by Gazrok


I am a True Blood fan but I don't have time to read the books. I appreciate your comments though that the show is straying from the original storyline. After I watched the season premier on Sunday, I couldn't help but think this was one f'ing crazy premier. I don't like where they are taking the character of Bill and they didn't explain what happened with the Louisiana queen...we should assume Bill won the standoff? The other characters....Eric, Sookie, Tara, my favorite Lafayette, Jason, and Sam all seemed to stay within the realm of their characters. What is it that was supposed to occur but didn't? Did any of the actors or producers discuss where they are taking the characters and the show this season? I thought last season was great and would be hard to supass.

Spoiler alert would've been nice on the Weeds front...

Though I am mad they simply fast forwarded through what couldve been some good part of the story.

Damn, I love both those shows! I've read the True Blood books, and they've changed storylines, characters etc. but to hear they've jumped forward a year?
Hope they don't lose too many viewers...

And with Weeds, it won't be the same without the kids!

reply to post by drsamuelfrancis


So when True Blood fast forwarded a year, did they skip a book? or just part of a book?

Kinda confused about that.

reply to post by justsaying


Me too. Basically, they are saying that while Sookie was in the Fairy world for just minutes, many months passed here.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Eric, Sookie, Tara, my favorite Lafayette, Jason, and Sam all seemed to stay within the realm of their characters. What is it that was supposed to occur but didn't?

Not really...

Eric being subservient to Bill? (especially after trying to make him a cement block?)

Sookie is still pretty much the same.

Tara is a MMA fighting lesbian...you don't see THAT as a change?

Lafayette (who died in the first book, but they kept him in the show) is pretty much the same.

Jason is the real 180 too...he went from being a screwup to being Mr. Responsible. That is pretty out of character. While he's always had a good heart, his execution of those feelings usually backfire.

We didn't really see enough of Sam to know what's up with him...but his brother with the other guy's mom....huh?

Andy, Mr. Anti-Vamp Sheriff is now a V addict? C'mon....

I just feel like I've missed a year of episodes, and can't connect the gaps.

As for what happened that shouldn't....

In the books, it starts out (this season) with Eric running naked on the road to Sookie's house. Sookie spots him, and learns that he has amnesia (something the witches did to him).

From the previews, this seemed like part of the show, (but to my wife's disappointment, Eric had pants in the preview).

Anyhow, Sookie takes him in, and actually falls for Eric (Bill, meanwhile, gets with Portia, Andy's sister, and we've seen hints of this in the first episode).

They still may go there, but I know (from hearing my wife and her friends talk about it), that they were definitely wanting to see this sooner than later.

Also, Bill never becomes King. He becomes the Queen's do-boy still. (in the books). Killing the Queen also effectively kills her future story involvement (assuming she's dead).

Sorry for the Weeds spoiler. The kids are planning on flying back to see mom. Just that it's really hard to see how this will go without being on the run from Estaban.

reply to post by Gazrok


Well to be honest, I thought that if they were going to move the character of Tara along, considering her past with men, that she would go lesbian next....just because it makes sense for her. Didn't see her being in the ring though!

As far as Jason, he's still a dumb ass but yeah, being responsible and wearing the uniform did take me by surprise.

But the V addicted Andy WAS a big surprise.... leaving Jason to be the savior/sheriff of Bon Temps, haha, great idea though!

I'm not a True Blood fan, but Weeds jumped the shark halfway through season 2.

Sad but true.

reply to post by TheComte


I can see that point, but really, this time, Weeds didn't just jump the shark, they jumped the whole tank!


Extra credit: anyone know the origin of this phrase?

Originally posted by Gazrok

Extra credit: anyone know the origin of this phrase?

The Fonz on Happy Days

FTW

reply to post by TheComte


You got it!

At least True Blood seems to be getting back to the story people were expecting a bit more....