Meet Lafayette Reynolds, Black Gay Character on HBO's "True Blood"

Screen capture Marishna/Summerskin

Not sure what you were watching on television last night, but once again HBO's Sunday night programming has once again become must-see television. Alan Ball's True Blood is their newest hit with a cult following. The vampire series is described as a "mix of southern gothic, horror, suspense, mystery, romance, and comedy" and the reviews are uneven but the quirky characters are pushing the envelope. One of the standout character is Lafayette Reynolds, the flamboyant black gay vampire played by actor Nelsan Ellis.

Lafayette Reynolds is a study in contrasts. The short order cook slash escort runs the gamut between hyper-masculine thug and flaming makeup-wearing queen. His storyline will become crucial to the season finale. While the black gay e-telligentsia have been slow to warm to the series and character, Ryan Canty applauds the role because Lafayette is "not a stereotype at all."

[Lafayette] has wit for days and an equally colorful ensemble of fishnets, tight pants, and fabulous makeup. But, there is more to Lafayette than that. He’s quite intelligent and cunning. And, I am enjoying how Ball is peeling away his layers in every episode of the show.

Critics haven’t warmed up to the character yet and have accused Ball of writing the black characters on True Blood as one-dimensional stereotypes. Yet, I question what it is they are seeing. Alan Ball has always been a master of creating flawed and original characters for his many film and television projects. Lafayette is a prime example of this. Lafayette more than fits in with the rest of the community and is not a stereotype at all. In every episode, you learn something new about him that makes you rethink and reconsider how you view him on True Blood.

Screen capture Marishna/Summerskin

There are few depictions of gay black men on television, and, as we saw in Noah's Arc and again in the upcoming movie, when these roles are presented, people are often looking for perfect characterizations. Not sure what would be a "realistic" depiction of a black gay southern man in a series focusing on vampires, telepathy, and, sex orgies featuring vampire blood. Money quote from Ryan Canty's review: "Television isn’t perfect, and I don’t need it to be. I need my shows to be complex, ambiguous, messy, and fun." Bravo for HBO and Alan Ball for pushing the envelope and presenting a layered and multi-faceted black gay character.

Screen captures by LiveJournal's Marsihna at Summerskin.
Also visit the True Blood discussion portal at LJ.

Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's True Blood [Film Geek]
Nelsan Ellis/Lafayette Reynolds Appreciation Thread [FF]

Comments

[GL]

I love True Blood! Alan Ball is genius!

[Dennis]

True Blood is a great series with lots of potential. I enjoy Lafayette's character. He doesn't have many scenes but I'm glad to hear his role will be given more prominence.

I find his character very intriguing. This is a southern gothic series set in a small southern town. I suppose there are no black short order cooks in small towns and big cities?I have seen and known plenty!

[Manuel]

I am confused. Is Lafayette a vampire or isn't he?

[Albert]

I was hoping you would get into True Blood. I really live this show. It has suspense for days.

[Rafael]

Love this show!!! Was out of the country for a coupla months, so caught up on this show "On Demand" this weekend (thank gawd for digital cable). It's savory, flavorful, sinfully delicious. Not "perfect" television, by normal critics' standards, but then "perfect" tv often bored me. I never really got into West Wing and some of the other high-brow quality shows that were supposed to be the ALL. But this show and new shows like DIRTY SEXY MONEY are bringing the fun back to television, but with a trashy, messy, soapy style. And what Rod didn't really mention is HOW SEXY this show is! I felt like I was watching porn at times...I mean this makes you hot! And I'm not usually into the white boys, but Anna Paquin's brother- the blonde dummy who sexes up all the women- is sex on a stick, that white boy is FINE, lol.

But I love the Lafayette character. I will admit, at first, I too thought this was more of Ball's over-the-top, one-dimensional black stereotypes (I'm this close to not liking the "angry" black female character)- but given time to develop, the characters seem to be winning me over...Ball is great at not succumbing to typical Hollywood ideas about heroes and villains. All of Ball's characters are flawed and f--ed up in very entertaining and delicious way

[thegayte_keeper]

I LOVE THIS SHOW...THIS IS NOT ONE TO MISS!!!

[Ebony Baby]

This show is the TEA, girls. Lafayette is fierce in his own way. And I cannot wait until Mehcad Brooks shows up. I would LOVE to see him in a polysexual vampire sex orgy.

[Rod Mc]

I'm glad people enjoy the show. I am just getting into it and really love the characters.

One more thing. Rafael please no profanity, this site will get blocked by some wifi cafes and office filters and we don't want that, thanks!

[Noah Fan 4 Lyfe]

I will check this show out at some point. But a gay black vampire doesn't sound like something like our community needs to support. We have enough stereotypes to deal with it. Oh and I'd rather read a few other reviews than this little blog by Ryan.

[Dennis]

'A gay black vampire doesn't sound like something like our community needs to support. We have enough stereotypes to deal with it'

What a dummy. Are black gay men stereotyped as VAMPIRES? I don't think anyone beleives these are true characters, its a horror show. You really might be more comfortable it the 'realness' of Noah's Ar.

[Andrew R]

Dennis, THANK YOU.

[freeleo]

this is just a fun, sexy show. alan ball really is a genius. you should check out his movie towelhead. i really enjoyed it too.

[Bill]

This show is very unique, and has caught my attention in several ways. The whole underlying theme of giving "vampire rights" seems to be a play on the real world discussion we are having about same gender loving rights. We, like vampires are considered evil abnominations opposed by rabid christians. I loved the scene where one of Lafayettes guests turns out to be an older, white republican state senator... hmmm where have we heard this before, Rev. Haggart? His charecter is well written, and the whole series drips sarcasm. The ability for Sooky to hear the sexist thoughts of her customers is brilliant. The women I watch this with smile like "yeah that's waht we thought they would say". Plus the whole homoerotic nature of vampires a la "Interview with a Vampire" is there,too It will be interesting to see how the plot twists... Hopefully, the homosexuals will save the day!

[ShadeTea]

i LOVE this show...it is fresh, interesting, and original and WAY more involving and well written than Noah's Arc..that atrocity of a "tv show" on LOGO...

but, noah's arc, this right here is tacky:

I will check this show out at some point. But a gay black vampire doesn't sound like something like our community needs to support. We have enough stereotypes to deal with it. Oh and I'd rather read a few other reviews than this little blog by Ryan.

first off, if you truly bothered to READ Ryan's review and this review, you'd know that lafayette reynolds is NOT a vampire...AT ALL.

but, since you were more focused on reading Ryan because he didn't like Noah's Arc (yet, was, like rod, an early fan of the show when he was recapping it every week...get into it with those archives, Noah-fake--it will REALLY help you out with backing up your "opinions", ahem, low rent reads of people who can actually analyze and breakdown points..some you clearly lack, patrika polk. GET INTO IT, GIRL..YOU'VE BEEN "OUTED" just like how you told darryl and the cast to go back IN the closet for the sistahgurl demographic..that you never got? WERK!)

but, as "little" as Ryan's blog is, i applaud ANYONE who is more than willing to comment on or write about films, tv shows, etc. that people aren't checking for that are good and worth watching....

nothing wrong with being ORIGINAL...

Patrika Polk/Noah's Arc Fan Fuh Life/mr. sybil and all his personalities: i'm still waiting for some "creativity" from you...

are you getting a credit on the "adaptation" of B-Boy Blues? or did maurice jamal and company shut you OUT of that project because your work is paltry?

What about Blackbird? I heard you're bringing it to the silver screen but I hear that's it quite a bit of coin to buy the rights from the author? how are you paying for it when you have NO cache in hollywood?

is this going to be darryl stephens next "project" or is he distancing himself from you because he feels you are a horrible writer?

get into it with the noah's arc season 1 dvd commentary, the cast gurls STUNT for you and read you for that crappy dialogue...

[Lee Hayes, Author]

I think this is a hot show and I think the character Lafayette is played with a crazysexycool sensuality that offers far more than a one-dimensional character. He's thug-out, queened out, pimped out, drugged-out and just out of this world.

Maybe we shouldn't read too much into it...LOL...just enjoy the show.

[Timothy B]

Bill, you make an excellent point. And as usual, Miss Shade Tea is wrong and opinionated. Please let the grownups discuss the industry, please.

[GL]

Let me add to Lee Hayes' comments. This is an incredible show with incredible characters and great storytelling. We really need to just have fun with the show. It's a horror/fantasy/southern gothic drama. It's not supposed to be, um, realistic.

[GL]

Oh and Lee I'm a huge fan of your work!! Loved your Passion Marks and a Deeper Blue.!

[Lee Hayes, author]

GL!

Thanks for the love and the support! Hit me up sometime.

lee

[del]

I just loved the scene where Lafayette is playing with Jason Stackhouse's hair as they're speaking and Jason totally cool. Not often you see affection on men - esp straight/gay pairing.

[jojo beans]

No, I don't believe Lafayette is a vampire. He mentioned to Jason earlier that V affects people in different ways and can give some people a vampire's strength. I think/hope that Lafayette's movement in getting Jason out of his house in this last episode was because Lafayette takes V regularly.