Chewing her sunglasses, and the scenery.
So I've been thinking about this all day, and I just have to come out and say it. I was really disappointed by the debut of vampire queen Sophie-Anne on True Blood last night. I had been pretty excited for her big, buzzed-about arrival, because she sounded like a fun character and Evan Rachel Wood is a smart and interesting actress. And yet when she appeared, forcibly fabulous and bloody in her bright "day room", all of that giddy excitement just ran dry.
Now, this could be Alan Ball's fault. The show creator wrote a very over-the-top, campy episode last night, one that seemed wildly out of sync with the darker and more introspective tone the show had taken in previous weeks. Perhaps, as a friend suggested, it was that they spent too much time in the earlier part of the season ruminating on characters and forgot they had a whole big wannabe deity plot line to advance. So Ball stepped in and rush rush rushed the action along. Or maybe he just felt like writing a weird, disjointed, overly-comical script. Whatever the reason, everything from Tara to Sookie to Eric just felt all clipped and jaunty. And Queen Sophie-Anne, this being her big unveiling, lay at the top of that jarring pile.
Maybe it was the too thickly laid on decadence, the silly and no-longer-shocking references to lesbianism and Latvian twink blood. Or maybe it was that Wood's voice was so flat and un-charactered. She just seemed hampered and uncomfortable there in this silly, exaggerated scenario. Maybe stark realism is more Wood's acting speed. Also, the lame I'm-so-old Eisenhower joke just really clunked. As a rule, Taft is the funniest president. If Ball was looking for mid-century, though, Truman would have sufficed.
I don't know. It was just an off episode that skipped off the rails pretty much at the beginning, with Sophie-Anne's lascivious and lazily-drawn vampirella nonsense. Wouldn't it be more interesting if the queen of Southern vampires (or whatever) was dark and awkward and shy and crooked? That would have been surprising. But another pansexual retro sociopath? Feh.
What'd you think? Did Queen Sophie-Anne do it for you?
Comments (61)
In the books, she was more elegant. More aloof, I guess. Mysterious, and not as fake-y girly. I wish they''d given her an accent, too. I love Evan Rachel Wood, but this was disappointing.
She was different then I expected and that's always good as so many things are so predictable on tv. I like that she was mysterious and all that the bright setting seem to contrast what we know to be inside her. Is she really insane or just really old and wise. That's the question. Anyways, so far so good, I just hope they don't keep the mystery going for several seasons and reveal her quick enough and put some real imagination into the character.
She was okay. Wood wasn't up to par, which is weird because she usually is. The episode was one of my least favorites so far. It just didn't seem to work, which is a shame because if it's any indication of the finale, then I will be very upset.
I don't know how she is portrayed in the books but I surely wasn't expecting a sorority girl. At least something like Godric but with a bit of sense of humor. She was neither, just some childish ancient vamp whose exccentric behaviour was more annoying than anything else.. but overall, she delivered what she was meant to, I guess..
I liked it just don't know why a hottie like her is dating a loser like Marilyn Manson.
I'm sure she might've been dark in her earlier days...but isn't she supposed to be super old? I think at that point I'd stop caring and take nothing seriously since I'm an immortal deity and all.
I actually liked the ep and Rachel, I knew this article had to be written by Richard or Stephanie.
personally i think she did well.. now i actually skipped a bunch of the books so i dont no how sophie-anne is supposed to be but for people who havent read the books i think it might have gone over well
Sigh. I was SO excited for this episode, especially for Evan Rachel Wood's grand entrance into the show as The Queen. Maybe I was expecting too much? It just wasn't powerful. She wasn't believable as a vampire, let alone a queen vampire. If you want a point of comparison, watch Kirsten Dunst in Interview With The Vampire. She was just 11 or something like that when she made that movie but she brilliantly nailed the centuries-old-vampire-living-in-a-young-girl's-body bit and everything that comes with that. She was adorable, innocent-looking and vulnerable but, at the same time, wild, creepy, scary and more. Evan Rachel's Queen Sophie-Anne was one-dimensional. I don't know if it was lack of direction, poor writing, poor acting or all those things together.
Also, for a queen, her house wasn't that impressive. Her "day room" could have been more grandiose. She could have had huge HD LCD screens behind those French doors where she could play any daytime scene that she wanted instead of that cheap looking painted beach scene, y' know? It could have played out this way...
The camera pans around the room and then rests on Bill who is a bit surprised to see that beyond the glass doors is what appears to be a beach on a hot summer day! The queen would notice his reaction and then she'll pick up a remote control and click it a few times. The "view" outside would then change into a sunny meadow, then a hot desert, then a glittering lake, etc. The queen would then say, "Do you like my new day room?" It would have been easy for the producers to pull it off too using green screens. Ah, well. Maybe they were going for that eerie museum feel but it just fell flat.moreless
i couldn't agree with your column more. it was very much disappointing for me. i was expecting a dark, yet witty/funny character that ERW would be playing. it was such a waste of ERW's talent. i was really disappointed... really!
Problem is, I don't believe a word ERW was saying. The scenes with the queen looked like a high school theater production, they were so bad.
Hugely disappointed, they absolutely destroyed it. It was more like watching Bette Midler in Down and Out in Beverly Hills than Queen of the Vamps. I was hoping for something more like Salma Hayek in From Dusk Till Dawn.
Evan Rachel Wood felt so awkward and forced. Yuck.
I have to say she didn't bug me near as bad as that stupid scream at the end of the episode. Who's idea was that anyways?
How do you think she became the Queen... the girl is clearly nuts... And crazy people are ruthless.. Note how she said she wanted to meet Sookie... and Bill had to obey. I wouldn't want to see her bad side... It's kind of like that old episode of Outer Limits (or Twilight Zone can't remember which)...where everyone catered to this little girl who could kill you with her thoughts. So she asked them to play dolls with her..and have a birthday party everyday..and do ridiculous child like things..and if one person got out of line..she'd stare them down dead. Everyone was afraid of her..but they did what she asked..even if her actions seemed childish. This is the Queen. You indulge her..because she can smite you down... Like the introduction of Lilith as a child on Supernatural... The Queen will get better.. I have faith :)moreless
I'm sure she is a wonderful actress. I just pictured a more mysterious looking Queen. Not so modern. Where is Godrick when you need him? He was a more mythical creature. Where Sophie-Anne was just a step above Bill's maker.
The queen was dumb. I found her attitude quite lame and unrealistic. If anyone should be indifferent towards Earthly events, it should have been Goderich.
Evan Rachel Wood is a fantastic actress, I guess tv-show is not her thing. Or this particular show.
Evan Rachel Wood was really really bad on True Blood episode ... embarrassing ... as if she forgot how to act .... or ... did she ever? I wonder!She was just ... sad. She really wants to be this vamp, 30s looking pinup gal, in real life. But, she can NOT pull it off. Poor girl. Now she got the opportunity to play a character like that and she proved she just can NOT do it. Poor poor girl. It's just sad! (She is not Dita, she should get over it) She spoiled a perfectly fine character from the book.I hope I never see her (in this show)again!!!!
Character of Queen Sophie-Anne for a vampire too funny. Because, she doesn't take everything too seriosuly. Evan Rachel Wood may seems awkward that as it must be due to the role.
I like Sophie Ann. She's funny and doesn't take things too seriously. And she exerted her authority without being all demanding about it, which was really cool.She was beautiful and carried herself as a queen and I am looking forward to seeing more of her.
I liked the character of Sophie- Ann. Not everything needs to be dark and brooding and she really brought some much needed pazazz to True Blood. Evan Rachel Wood did a pretty good job. I am sure she'll have more shades as the series progresses. For now I am okay with one vampire who doesn't take everything too seriosuly.
A creature so old she supposedly pre-dates the birth of christ right? Maybe it would be a good idea to not always follow the books so religously on the matter of the Queens character, or on anything 'dictated' in the books for that matter. I hoped ERW would play this dark maybe a bit broken lonely sophisticated angry feral strong complicated misunderstood beast of a beauty WOMAN. Like I know she(ERW) could. Not this spoiled horny sweet-sixteen teenager. At least give her an 'agenda' to pursue. Even Godric moved beyond decadence so typical for young vamps.
to be fair, that is the way the queen is in the books, she is not shy or croked but scary sociopathic but childish kinna girl. im a big fan of the queen from the books and i do like evan rachel as an actress for her
Exactly my sentiment and that is why this episode got a rating of 1. Everything was just written to set the stage for the next episode in the bluntest way possible. Horrible horrible script writing... and the queen ... childish biatch with crappy sense of humor... get lost.
Something's faulty with how the character was written. Rachel-Wood isn't to blame. She's been great in the films that I've seen her in.
After near perfect episodes the whole season, Sophie-Anne almost ruined this episode. But the Eric & kids scene and the Andy - Jason scenes saved it.
I totally agree, Richard! Evan Rachel Wood talked like a robot. Not exactly her fault, what with the clunky and campy dialogue. But still, disappointing. I look forward to her and Eric's scenes in the finale, but there is a whole lot of ground the show has to cover in one episode.
I liked ERW. I think there is more of her than we saw... Lets just wait and see.
Yes, she did. What a miserable character for a great actress.
I was hugely disappointed by Sophie-Anne - for once I have to agree with you. It seemed a campy hack job to me, and I'm not sure who to blame for it...Yahtzee, FFS? Please...
Ugh so flat and boring. Lorena had more of a queen-btch attitude than EVW.
The character was well written and in the hands of a more accomplished and confident actress could have been wonderful and terrible all at the same time. the juxtaposition of beauty and class with all that underlying menace could have really been something. pity.
Sophie-Anne's character in the show was supposed to be awkward. Think about it, she is old and needy making her more like an underappreciated grandmother looking for a game of yahtzee. And why not make a vampire have the personality of libertine geriatric, its funny.
I was a tad underwhelmed, but Eric "taking off" made up for it.
I loved her actually. I found her hilarious and of course shes beauiful looking as well. She looked great for the character and some of my favourite lines from that episode were hers. And personally I loved the fact that they played yatzee. We need a character that is both smart but hilarious and has a good time.
Not really interested in your opinion Richard Lawson. In my opinion you can keep yours to yourself.
Sophie Anne is completely nuts. That is the character. I loved the subtle ways they showed that, no over the top. Yahtzee??>?? And for those who haven't read the books and wonder why Bill didn't just leave instead of "sunbathing" - well, vamp hierarchy is VERY strict and unbending so the queen says sit and stay, you sit and stay. Add that to the fact that this queen is-as aforementioned- crazy, and that makes his position even more precarious.
I think Evan Rachel Wood is a superb actress and I appreciated the underplaying in the midst of a very big hilarious camped up episode.
although she looked great she wasent what i expected to see as a vampier queen..... oh well lets hope she evolves to something abit more evil and puts this innocens crap behind her.
She was playing Yahtzee. Enough said.
I love ERW, but she was wrong for this part. They should of picked a 15 year old to play this part, because then her actions would be that as an adult stuck in an adolescents body and her youth may have made her more daring, especially with the "lesbianism" i really wanted a child like innocence (then yatzee would of made sense), she should of been an overindulged child instead of this awkward 20 somthings
I think this is where reading the books may make watching the show a bit
difficult.. You picture the character a certain way, and end up being a bit disapointed with the end result.. Not to say Evan Rachel Wood is not
a great actress, she really is, but not at all how I pictured the Queen. I may change my mind after a couple of episodes, we will have to see.
it wasn't that bad but i do feel her character was a bit forced
Apparently noone liked the Queen. I must admit, I actually enjoyed it, it was different from Godric who, as you could see, "evolved" in a certain way over the centuries, this Queen is just fun, she has a certain innocence to her that is kind of appealing, but then again that is just my opinion.
She was on at the most ten minutes, so I can be patient and wait to see what the show does with her.
I had the same feeling about Maryanne until she started feeding Tara and Eggs that Shifter's heart. Now she's bearble.
In the books she is much younger but more mature, devious, manipulative, and royal-acting. I don't kno why they couldn't keep it that way, it seems like they changed the whole character just to have Wood play her, which sucks.
Yeah, I have to agree, not feeling her....
iam not sure about the acting but Dam she is super hot
The character was very forced, I guess we'll see what happens
The new Queen was boring, but maybe she will ramp up later. Maybe this silly facade hides true nastiness; it's hard to see why she would be revered by the vamps otherwise. On the other hand, I gotta give props to Jason and Andy? the cop. Their train wreck of a plan to save the city of redneck hicks and dumba&&es kept me laughing through the whole episode. I bet they actually pull it off!