[Spoilers] Has True Blood jumped the shark?

[Kzach]

A friend suggested that I'd like Breaking Bad and so I went and watched the first couple of seasons. And then it happened.

I remember watching and thinking, "If he lets her die, that's it, I won't watch anymore." Sure enough, I haven't seen any more episodes.

Now, the reasoning behind this is that I no longer cheered for the protagonist. To me, in that moment, he became the antagonist. I wanted him to lose. And without there being a protagonist to cheer for, what point was there in watching the show?

For different reasons but the same basic result, I'm now asking myself if I want to continue watching True Blood. My reasoning is that it's simply so out of character for her to pull the trigger. In which case I have to wonder if they're simply going for shock value and not even bothering to attempt to write a good story anymore (although, that accusation could be levelled at the show before this).

And so I wonder whether or not I really want to watch a show where the primary protagonist is just a vehicle for shock value and a ratings draw. We already know she has nice breasts but maybe they've been so exposed that they're becoming passé and the producers think they need her to be a cold-blooded murderer to draw in more viewers?

All I know is that for the first time since the series introduction, I'm not really interested in seeing the next episode.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

A friend suggested that I'd like Breaking Bad and so I went and watched the first couple of seasons. And then it happened.

I remember watching and thinking, "If he lets her die, that's it, I won't watch anymore." Sure enough, I haven't seen any more episodes.

Now, the reasoning behind this is that I no longer cheered for the protagonist. To me, in that moment, he became the antagonist. I wanted him to lose. And without there being a protagonist to cheer for, what point was there in watching the show?

For different reasons but the same basic result, I'm now asking myself if I want to continue watching True Blood. My reasoning is that it's simply so out of character for her to pull the trigger. In which case I have to wonder if they're simply going for shock value and not even bothering to attempt to write a good story anymore (although, that accusation could be levelled at the show before this).

And so I wonder whether or not I really want to watch a show where the primary protagonist is just a vehicle for shock value and a ratings draw. We already know she has nice breasts but maybe they've been so exposed that they're becoming passé and the producers think they need her to be a cold-blooded murderer to draw in more viewers?

All I know is that for the first time since the series introduction, I'm not really interested in seeing the next episode.

Actually I think it's a very natural progression. Think about it. Think of all the loss and violence and gore she's been exposed too over the last few years? Her time with the Vampires blood deep in their drama has rubbed off on her.

 

[Kzach]

Actually I think it's a very natural progression. Think about it. Think of all the loss and violence and gore she's been exposed too over the last few years? Her time with the Vampires blood deep in their drama has rubbed off on her.

And yet throughout all of that she's retained her humanity, reason and compassion; but she now suddenly snaps?

Not buying it. This was meant as pure shock value and nothing more. It's weak writing.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

And yet throughout all of that she's retained her humanity, reason and compassion; but she now suddenly snaps?

Not buying it. This was meant as pure shock value and nothing more. It's weak writing.

I agree it was out of character...but no more so then any real world person... she has had every level of stress imaginable dumped on her, then watched her best friend get shot in the head...

there is also the self defence argument...if that wolf shifted, suki would be dead...

As long as they have her deal with this in a real way I will be fine with it... it was out of character for her, but it would be out of character for me to ever kill someone...but a werewolf about to shift who had just killed my best friend...um I might have out of character pulled the trigger too.

 

[Fast Learner]

I agree it was out of character...but no more so then any real world person... she has had every level of stress imaginable dumped on her, then watched her best friend get shot in the head...

Agreed. In addition if you watch it again you'll see that she appeared to be shocked that the gun went off. Seems to me that it wasn't a conscious choice.

there is also the self defence argument...if that wolf shifted, suki would be dead...

Right, that's what I thought right afterward, too. This insane-seeming woman who may well be hopped up on V very nearly killed me with a shotgun and the only reason she failed is that she blew my self-sacrificing friend's brains out instead. And now this woman could shift into a wolf and kill me anyway.

Completely the actions of a protagonist to me.

 

[Kzach]

Completely the actions of a protagonist to me.

Of A protagonist, maybe. I'm not mourning the death of the character. But the actions of Sookie? That is what I'm finding difficult to reconcile.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Of A protagonist, maybe. I'm not mourning the death of the character. But the actions of Sookie? That is what I'm finding difficult to reconcile.

OK, put yyourself in her postion...what would you do...remember the vampire blood empowered were wolf is moments from shifting and killing you...

 

[GSHamster]

For different reasons but the same basic result, I'm now asking myself if I want to continue watching True Blood. My reasoning is that it's simply so out of character for her to pull the trigger. In which case I have to wonder if they're simply going for shock value and not even bothering to attempt to write a good story anymore (although, that accusation could be levelled at the show before this).

I don't watch the television show, but

Spoiler

this event happened in the book series too. If they stay true to the books, it's a pivotal event and has lots of repercussions, both for her character and the plot. It still echos something like 6 books later.

So I don't think you can blame the tv writers for doing this for shock value or anything like that. For better or for worse, they are following the character arc laid down by the original author.

Edit: I don't really think what I wrote spoils anything, but I've marked it as requested.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I don't watch the television show, but

Spoiler

this event happened in the book series too. If they stay true to the books, it's a pivotal event and has lots of repercussions, both for her character and the plot. It still echos something like 6 books later.

So I don't think you can blame the tv writers for doing this for shock value or anything like that. For better or for worse, they are following the character arc laid down by the original author.

Tv Spoilers are not the same as book spoilers. Personally it doesn't matter to me but you might wanna use the spoiler tag on your revelation.

 

[Traveon Wyvernspur]

Don't really call that a spoiler, it just states what we already know to be happening with a character like Sookie. The poster didn't go into any spoilage detail(s).