Switching gears from politics: Sunday night programming is once again must-see television with the return of Alan Ball's True Blood on HBO. The second-season premiere ratings are up an incredible 51% from their season finale, averaging 3.7 million viewers. It's the most viewers HBO has had since The Sopranos series finale.
Many fans of the southern gothic vampire series are ecstatic to see the return of Nelsan Ellis' Lafayette Reynolds, the black gay short order cook slash escort slash drug dealer. Last season's cliff-hanger suggested Ball would remaining faithful to Charlaine Harris’ books and send Lafayette to an early grave. The season two premiere saw the return of Layette, who might stick around for the next season or two, Ellis tells EW's Michael Ausiello.
EW:Did he explain to you why he let Lafayette survive?
ELLIS: Not really. He just said he decided after the bar scene in (the pilot), but he didn’t tell me until the 12th episode. He didn’t really go into any detail as to why he decided to keep me — not to me anyway.
EW: When did you realize the character was gaining a large following?
ELLIS: I’m beginning to realize it now. At first I didn’t. I am realizing more and more that people have seemed to respond well to Lafayette, much to my surprise.
Ellis also talks Lafayette's experience of being locked in a dungeon and almost dying: "It certainly humbles him. It shows him there are some situations he just can’t get himself out of no matter how slick he is. He’s going to have to suffer the consequences of what he’s done. And I think he reflects back on his behavior and maybe for a second thinks about changing."
Oh and Lafayette's fans will appreciate some background on an upcoming scene where the "homoeroticism in that moment was off the charts." It's a spolier so I won't give it away—the details are at the interview.
AFTER THE JUMP, watch Lafayette in the dungeon and via LiveJournal's Marishna, a few more screen captures, too.
Really love this show. Lafayette is probably one of the best black gay characters ever on television, very complex and very layered. He's not clean and neat,,very messy which is okay with me! So am I, lol
Posted by: RJ | 17 June 2009 at 16:49
Alan Ball is smart. He wouldn't kill off his breakout star. I was worried for a minute tho. lol
Posted by: Tyler | 17 June 2009 at 16:49
I love the Lafayette character. He is unabashedly gay and doesn't care what you think about him. I remember the scene from season one when three rednecks refused his hamburgers because they said it had AIDS in it. He went out there and told them not only were they going to eat it, but he kicked their butts when they stepped to him. Loved that scene. That scene summed up the pent up disgust and anger that gay people have when dealing with jerks like them.
Posted by: Ravenback | 17 June 2009 at 17:26
I LOVE True Blood and I LOVE Lafayette. Not only do they have a black gay character who is on the front burner, they have a sassy, wicked-tongue diva Tara and her crazy, religious fanatic alcoholic mama played by wonderful actresses (Rutina Wesley and Adina Porter). Check out the show, boys. It's a winner. :)
Posted by: Fred | 17 June 2009 at 18:16
Love the series! Love Lafayette, but I'm going to need him to have some black boyfriends/lovers once he crosses over...lol
Posted by: FREELEO | 17 June 2009 at 18:22
Ok, can I say something? I love this show, I love Lafayette. However, does anyone find it odd... our character starts out in chains then becomes essentially a slave to a white master in the South? Thoughts?
Posted by: Allen | 17 June 2009 at 19:29
@ Freeleo:
I think you're right about that. The black queen in the south liking white boys is very 1980s.
@ Allen:
Wasn't sure what to make about that. It bothered me for a second but there were white boys chained too. I figure its horror/fantasy, these physical and mental bondage relationships happen. Especially with vampires, they are always enslaving people. Just my thoughts...
Posted by: Lamar | 17 June 2009 at 23:06
@Allen:
It's a vampire/human thing. To the vampires, humans are either pets or food. No discrimination there.
Posted by: FREELEO | 17 June 2009 at 23:47
The whole point of the people in the dungeon surrounds what happened in season one. Three vampires were burned to death while they were resting during the daytime. The blond vampire, who is in charge of that area of the country, is trying to find out those responsible for the murders. I didn't see a slave angle to it. This vampire is well over 100 years old, so it's obvious that he would do things in an old-fashioned manner. The overall head vampire comes from the days of the Inquisition.
Posted by: Ravenback | 18 June 2009 at 00:45
Lafayette isn't in shackles because he is black, it's because he is a drug dealer, mainly for the drug called "V" which is vampire blood. Vampire blood is a hot commodity and it's better than crack. :)
I just love how diverse this show is. You have white, black, gay, straight, vampire, shapeshifters, rednecks, etc. And there are 6 talented and working African American actors/actresses on that series. I love Alan Ball and I love True Blood.
Posted by: Fred | 18 June 2009 at 02:14
Can someone explain to me the fascination with this show? I forced myself to watch the entire first season, as well as the most recent episode, and I still can't stomach it. When I think of vampires I think of Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles." HBO should have added her collection to their lineup, not this mess.
Posted by: Chaz | 19 June 2009 at 01:52