Logic. That's what I'm about to attempt in regards to Eric's burning/death. (If you do/don't think he's really dead, I'd love to hear the whys, so send me a message, and tell me why you do/don't think he is. And bonus points for logical way out for Eric)
Let's go ahead and start this off with some talk about the full-frontal. This is the biggest reason I'm keeping my baby toe in the 'he figures out a way to get out of this' pool.
The biggest running joke in the Eric Northman fandom is the 'Gracious Plenty' the writers know this, we know this. So, Alexander Skarsgard's first full frontal scene (that I've ever been able to find, and trust me, I've looked.) and he gives it to Eric Northman, showed the gracious plenty and then burst into flames.
Literally, I think the writers went "Let's give them what they want, but rip the rug out from under them in the only way True Blood knows how."
And that's what they did.
The writers in interviews about Eric have always played him off like this sexy playboy, who does what he wants when he wants it. They seem to forget about the depth they've written and injected into this character. And I am hard pressed to think of that deepness in Eric as Fanon, when they clearly write it in Canon and then just poop all over it in interviews.
Some people are pissed as if him being naked and us finally seeing his penis is degrading to the actor and the character the way it was done. I completely disagree with this. Alexander Skarsgard is more than fine with nudity, we know that. (remember this quote?).
Plus, he had never been full-frontal on the show before, so obviously he could have said no if he didn't want to be naked. I'm pretty sure Alexander's dignity is in tact regarding the whole thing.
In regards to the dignity that scene gives Eric? I see it the same way. Nudity is nothing to Eric, I think that's the least of his worries. I don't find the scene degrading to the character or the actor. Being nude doesn't automatically make things bad, it could just be no big deal. To the actor, the character and some of the fans.
I think it was 'all in fun'.
However, I am sure the writers had a very good idea about the mixed bag of reactions that scene would get.
Now, if we look at that scene through the way the writers view Eric, this is where I get a bit more on edge and pissy about the scene. We want to protect our favorite characters and these jerks did the same damn thing with my favorite character... just to fuck with us, the fans.
True Blood has never been very good to it's fans. They like to make us writhe and get mad, and every June their ratings go up, we make a stink but we don't actually do anything about it. So they just laugh and mess with us. It's annoying, and frustrating for those of us who have been there since the beginning and go through the roller-coaster of emotions they put us through.
So, they view Eric as this playboy 'screw the world', emotionally detached, and compassion-less vamp. Even though they have written him differently many times. But ok, let's stick with what they are saying now (specifically in the Inside the Episode); They have always liked testing the limits of what Eric goes through. Every seasons he's had something serious to deal with, and every season he deals with it as the 'lone wolf' until he's hit by the curse in S4. Then we saw a childlike, loving and unguarded Eric. And that was the only time we saw Eric and Sookie together (Sooric shippers, I've never had more ache for you in my heart than I do now, you guys get messed with so hard by the writers)
Then they introduce this sister character, tell us she's super important, and then Inside the Episode they say that Eric has checked out, he doesn't care, he lost his sister and that was essentially his last tie to sanity? I don't even know.
The Nora story line seems to be created to put Eric in a situation that would get him killed all in the name of a lost love. And fuck the writers for that one.
The development of that relationship was pathetic, and to think that he didn't have a similar reaction to Godric (no, he basically came back from Dallas and went right to QSA to try and help Sookie, no mourning at all.) But he essentially checks-out after Nora? You want to talk about character injustice? That entire plot line/personality quirk they threw at us out of nowhere, did so much injustice to the Eric character.
He does this disservice to Willa, to Pam, and it's just not believable. I think of Eric having a strict set of personal rules. There are only a few and I'm pretty sure being a good Maker is on that list.
Don't get me wrong, Eric has always been a self-involved character, but at the cost of those he takes care of? Those he cares about? I just don't see it.
Anyway, back to the madness. The logic behind it all right?
The writers burned Eric naked on top of a mountain in Sweden as a joke. A running joke through all seasons. The joke being, Eric can't have nice things, every thing good we give him, we take away from him in the best way possible. Mourning vacation on the mountains of Sweden? Make him naked! Reading a book about love that can never happen (remember when he said 'In another life' to Nora? This is why I know that book was a nod to You Sooric shippers. I'm hearing 'No way! That's for Paric' And I have thoughts about the Paric ship... but.. unless I'm asked I probably wont just stick those out there. Needless to say, sorry guys, that one goes to Sooric) and burn him.
It's a travesty, an injustice to the character and a slap in the face to the fans.
If Alexander Skarsgard wanted out, maybe they would end it on a joke, something light, cause there were so many deep emotional good bye scenes this season, so maybe they played off Eric to 'lighten the mood' or the situation to 'lighten the blow'
If Alexander Skarsgard did not want out, then the writers are going to use the possibility of Eric being dead to toy with us. I'm willing to bet, if he's really dead? We'll know in E1 of S7, that he's actually dead.
If he is alive, prepare to be toyed with more, we'll see him in a dream before we see him for real, we'll go through most of the season still wondering but starting to think he's dead. And then, they'll show him like they showed Russell, healing but weak, hurting but alive.
It's the mountains, there has to be a cave around, right?
Let me know what your thoughts are on the burning of Eric Northman.
