The character of Eric Northman came to life on the pages of the Sookie Stackhouse novels (also called the Southern Vampire series) written by Charlaine Harris. A few years later Eric made the leap to our television screens when HBO bought the rights to the series and produced True Blood. So is there any difference between Eric in the TV series versus Eric in the books? So far, there are many differences as there are with many of the characters.
When the rights were sold it was in HBO’s contract to take liberties with the story and change it around as they saw fit. Most fans are pleased with how HBO has handled this freedom thus far. For the most part they have stayed true to the basic premise of the books and the parts they have added or changed have enhanced the story and fleshed out underwhelming characters. For instance, Lafayette Reynolds in the books was not nearly as dynamic as he is in the TV series. Fans loved him so much that the writers decided to keep him around beyond season one… which is a significant change since he dies in the first book! Another example would be the character of Tara. She is not a very big part of the story in any of the books but in the TV series she takes a more central role and is one of the major players.
But back to Eric…
I have been VERY pleased with how Eric is portrayed in the series but not always. The producers got it right when they made Eric sexy, aloof, confident, arrogant, powerful, and conflicted about his own bizarre interest in the human girl, Sookie Stackhouse.
Where they have gotten it wrong though is quite disturbing to me as a true fan of the character. In their efforts to position Bill as a noble, conflicted vampire worthy of Sookie’s attentions they often make Eric a heartless villain. They attempt to give Bill someone to “compete” against, which is fine, but Eric is no villain. If the books show us anything it is that there is FAR more to Eric than you can see on the surface. In fact it takes ten books to really flesh him out and you still don’t know him completely.
Often times I am not so much unhappy with how they are developing Eric’s character as I am about how they are developing Bill Compton’s. Sookie and Bill must ultimately break up to allow for a romance between Eric and Sookie but the writers are clearly favoring Bill in the early seasons (1-3). In the series he walks into the sun and nearly dies trying to save her… he was not nearly so heroic in the books. In the books Bill left Sookie for another woman and runs into trouble requiring Sookie and Eric team up to find him. In the TV series Bill is kidnapped by the other woman AFTER he proposes to Sookie. In the books Bill NEVER proposed to Sookie or even hinted at marriage and this really bothered her. See where I am going here? The writers for the True Blood series keep making Bill look angelic (when he is anything but) and don’t seem to be leading up to a solid breakup… which which royally pisses off Sookie and Eric fans.
Add to this the fact that Eric is made to look like the villain and you can see why I was concerned with the first three seasons of True Blood. In the series Eric kidnaps Sookie’s good friend Lafayette. Lafayette is imprisoned for weeks, shot in the leg, and fed off of. Sookie is less than thrilled with Eric (as you can imagine) when she discovers this. None of it happened in the books. Eric chains Sookie up in the basement of his bar so he can use her in a plan to thwart King Russell. It works out well in the end and protects Sookie but not with out some pain for her I am afraid. There was also playful banter and the beginnings of a playful friendship in the books that has been largely ignored in the television series. Rather Sookie ends up telling Eric she finds having cancer preferable to spending time with him or that he is a creepy, cold, dead piece of shit. Ugh…
BUT… there are some wonderful Eric and Sookie moments in seasons three and four. We get to see a softer side of Eric when he is near his maker, Godric (his maker is actually named Appius according to books 9,10). Sookie sees that the cold, calculating Eric is capable of love.
He rescues Sookie from the Fellowship of the Sun church and abides by Sookie’s request not to kill anyone even though the potential victims are certainly worthy of such a fate. He is rewarded when Sookie leaves the safety of Bill’s arms to return the favor by releasing Eric from the silver chains that are burning into his skin and holding him immobile on an alter. Later Eric tricks Sookie into a blood bond by pretending a flesh wound is mortal. Sookie begins to have erotic dreams of Eric… which is a real treat for fans!! Sookie also has a touching moment with Eric on a hotel roof as she holds Eric’s hand and promises to stay by Godric’s side as Godric meets the Sun. Eric saves her from werewolves sent by the King of Mississippi, he hires a werwolf bodyguard to protect her while she searches for Bill, and is even willing to burn in the sun with Russell to ensure the safety of Sookie and his progeny Pam. They even have a REAL kiss in season three!
In season four Eric loses his memory and has to hide out in Sookie’s house. The softer, safer version of Eric gets to Sookie and they finally make love… outside, in the shower, on the floor, on the sofa, in the bed.. everywhere. Sookie also willingly drinks his blood and their bond deepens. So while I am concerned on many levels I am also happy at the same time.
Perhaps my discontent is fueled by comments such as those made by producer Alan Ball who said he didn’t understand why the women fans loved Eric so much since he only cares about himself. That statement shows that Alan Ball CLEARLY has no idea who the character of Eric is supposed to be. Having Eric’s on screen future in the hands of someone who does not understand him is troubling. I can only hope that this opinion will evolve.
Of course Bill fans and strict TV viewers who just want people to shut up already about Eric… LOL… love to make the point that Alan Ball and all the other producers/writers can change the story any way they want… even making it so Eric and Sookie never become a couple. I don’t think they can do this without rightfully incurring the wrath of true fans. It would be like seeing a remake of Gone With the Wind where Scarlett ends up with Ashley or a remake of Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeth Bennett ends up with Mr. Collins. It just can’t be allowed to happen!!
Presence in the Story – In season one Eric is given very little screen time but fans spoke out and he appeared in all episodes of season two… even if a couple of them only amounted to a couple minutes of screen time. In season three Eric’s story line was dominant and by FAR the most interesting of the season. Season four concentrates on Eric greatly as well. We Eric fans have seemingly influenced the show with our demands for MORE Eric!! The producers of True Blood have realized that Eric has a HUGE following and future seasons are sure to have lots of our favorite viking vampire.
Well i watched both seasons and have been reading the books. i have to say that the first book is quite boring for me compared to the tv series. i had a hard time getting through it. as far as the others, they are better but i have to side with Alan on this one. i really liked Maryann in season 2. im happy that Lafayette is alive and more dynamic and im happy Bill is a different character. reason is it gives a new story that is not in the books. i actually prefer Bills character in the tv show than how the books portrayed him. also i liked that Eric is a different character as well. dont get me wrong the books are great but i think i like the tv series better so far.
i think charlaine might be a tad disapointed with the series; though of course, she cant say so without getting in trouble with the press and alan, and all that.
but for those of us, who have red the latest book (dead in the family) it seems like charlaine is making it as hard for alan to produce and write his side of the story, i wont spoil it with details, but i will say that the fact that godric is erics maker in the series is not comming in handy..
i think that Alan Ball want to write her own book! But maybe this will be a suicide path for the serie tv.
I love Eric and Sookie. There is a tension between them right from book one. The reader is supposed want Eric and Sookie to be together. I can’t bring myself to watch the series. The feel of it is so different from the series and the character of Sookie is too weak. Anna Paquin is also HUGELY miscast.
indeed, anna is sweet, but sookie is much more!
also, anna is biseksual, and it shows (atleast, i could see it from the start, i dont think others notised..) and sookie surely isnt.
and anna dont look the pinup-ish part charlain has given sookie.
omg! im so glad someone else said sookie has been miscast! i imagined a more hour glass figured woman for sookie.
well, the tv show cant be exactly as the books.. but i wish eric was more like in the books.
Yes, I think because Sookie has spent all her life hearing other people’s inner most thoughts she’s actually a very shrewd judge of character in the books. This is a nuance that AP hasn’t been able to project in her portrayal.
I toootally agree on the fact that Anna Paquin is hugely miscast. It goes against Charlaine Harris’ description of the character of Sookie.
I don’t know why I always had in mind Amanda Seyfried as Sokkie while reading the books. She’s like the perfect Sookie for me. She definetely has got that Pin’up look Harris pictured.
I have read the books and been watching the show, I love both and in both I do not like Bill in the tv show he may be portrayed as angelic but he isn’t. Sookie had a crush on him and circumstances unfolded so she would feed off Bill which causes her to have an even stronger attraction to him which is not entirely her own. Her chemistry with Eric on the other hand is there for the first two seasons before he tricks her into forming a bond. I think now that she has this supernatural connection to both men it is going to come down to their personalities and Bill is seriously lacking there bossy bruiting men get boring, and Eric will only look better and better who can deny an alluring viking with a cheeky suave attitude.
I’ve recently started seeing the series and I am completely hooked. Ever since Eric appeared he’s been my favorite character and I’ve been praying for him to get together with Sookie. This weekend I’m gonna buy the books, because they seem to be really cool and I wanna see Eric and Sookie together.
I think that the reason they are keeping Bill in the TV Show as a loving character is because the two of them are involved and are together. Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer just got married. I got a feeling that has something to do with it. Personally, I think Bill needs 2 go away. LOL =p
I have read thousands of books over my many years. I have loved many characters but Eric Northman is the one who fascinates me the most. I started reading the books after I became interested in the show after the Eric character was first introduced. Yes I would like to see the show stay truer to the book Eric, but I have to say that the way Alexander Skarsgard interprets Eric is a beautiful thing to behold, he takes Eric to a whole new and interesting realm. On the other hand, Bill and Sookie on the show are in a word boring.
In my opinion Bill and Sookie are both boring – together, especially in the TV show… or just in the TV Show.
When I saw the first Episode from Season 1 I never thought a interesting story could be destroyed by the acting.
I could never say Stephen Moyer is a hot and attracitv man. Sookie seems to be quite dumb in the show(I’m just talking about the first Episodes)
I held on it and now I am happy about it. Eric was the most interesting charakter who can be called “sexy & interesting” – and not silly.
I can live with Anna Paquin in the role as Sookie (But I definitely think an another actress could do this job much better…but OK no one asks me ;P)
and it would make the story better, I could totaly look away from the part of the wrong actress if Sookie and Eric start a relationship and stay together forever.
Greetings from Germany!! <3 (I am sorry if my English is terrible or a "little" wrong :S)
Hey,
I’m with you on the fact that Sookie is really irritating in the first few episodes of Season 1. Maybe because Anna didn’t really know just how to portray her. Anyway, as the season continues, it wears of and now i really enjoy the show.
I want Eric and Sookie in love, like in the book. Bill is bored and a liar. I hope that Alan Ball, respect the history in this aspect.
Sorry for my english, I write in spanish:
Prefiero a Eric y Sookie juntos como en el libro. Bill es aburrido y mentiro, aunque Eric igual pero siempre ha mostrado su verdadera cara a Sookie. Ademas el siempre ha ayudado a Sookie economicamente. Espero que Alan Ball respete la historia de la saga en ese aspecto. Por lo demas, estoy satisfecha hasta ahora con la serie True Blood.
I wish Alln Ball would read this article. It’s beautifully done!!
GO ERIC AND SOOKIE
I soooo agree with you. They are favoring Bill in every way possible, when all we want is to see that real, nice, soft side of Eric. Go Eric and Sookie!!!
Bill…. as KING? Seriously…? Wtf were they thinking?! The balance of power plays a huge part in the story, and if you throw that off then you throw of the balance of the story. Like Bill being able to order Eric to leave and having power over him, as Eric had over Bill in the books… it’s just a total flip-side of the whole thing. It CLEARLY shows a favoritism towards Bill. What’s the deal? Is it in the contract or something that just because he’s her actual husband, her character has to be his too? He’s very open about how much he HATES seeing her with Alex. Gimme a break here…
Why is it that other books have been made into successful TV series, without destroying the characters? Pillars of the Earth was faithful to the novel and the miniseries was great, as was Season 1 of Games of thrones. Vampire Diaries have added plots, the remained true to the spirit of each character, But AB can’t do that. If he wanted to change the basic driving force and ethical basis for our beloved characters (Eric, Sookie and butthead Bill), then maybe he should have written the actual novels himself, instead of bastardizing someone else’s brainchildren. I don’t mind if he adds plots to the TV series, but changing the nature of characters to reflect his personal preference is vandalism.