Did That Final 'True Blood' Sex Scene Cross the Line?

By Jane Boursaw Posted Jun 28th 2010 06:40PM

Pop-ed: Fans of 'True Blood' were told that this season of the HBO hit about vampires and werewolves would include some of the most twisted scenes on TV, but did last night's episode -- particularly its closing moments -- go too far?

After the credits rolled, I filed my review for TV Squad, attempted to regain my sense of what's right and wrong in the world, posted a note on my Facebook page and trolled the Internet to see what other people were saying.

Haven't seen last night's episode yet? Beware: major spoilers ahead!

Yes, I'm talking about that final, shocking, head-spinning scene -- where good-guy vampire Bill Compton turned very bad when he threw his ex, Lorena, on the bed and attacked her, twisting her head around so that she was staring the other way, blood oozing out of her mouth as Bill had his way with her.

I'm not sure it could be classified as rape because she is the one who wanted it, and she even managed to spew out "I love you" during the act. Plus, they're both vampires, and judging by the earlier sex scene between Tara and Franklin, vamp sex is pretty intense to begin with.

Even Lorena herself, actress Mariana Klaveno, said it was the most shocking thing she'd ever read in a television script. "My jaw dropped on the floor when I read it and thought, 'Oh my god, I actually have to do that?'" she said in an interview with E! Online.

"[They said] 'Here's your script, pray that your parents will be okay when they watch this episode. They may not want to.' It was a little uncomfortable, but we got through it."

Over on our Facebook page, the comments are varied, with "freaky," "shocking" and "gross" used to describe the scene. Some felt it was OK because it's on HBO, and 'True Blood' has a tradition of pushing the envelope on blood, sex and gore.

A Little Less Kinky: Lorena Turns Bill Flashback

But one viewer may be re-thinking her 'True Blood' habit, noting that Stephen Moyer, who plays Bill, is calling the scene "a watercooler moment for the next 20 years." "This might cross the line for me and I haven't felt this way since the rape scene in 'The Hills Have Eyes' remake a few years back," wrote Nicolette Black.

"I am sorry, but rape is not entertainment and should not be showed in such a light manner," she added. "I think I may be dropping 'True Blood' from my viewing. I was going to give it one more season because I really did not like last season's storyline, but I think they finally crossed my line. I want more story, sex and violence gets boring after awhile."

The Twitterverse is buzzing, as well:

What do you think? Did 'True Blood' cross the line with Bill and Lorena's twisted sex scene? Or is it just another night on HBO? Tell us on Facebook >>>

Tags: mariana klaveno, stephen moyer, true blood

Comments

(84)

Monday 28 June

By db

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you've only reflected ur own ignorance here...
TB fans understand what TB really is. A BRILLIANT SOCIAL
STATEMENT !!!! ENJOY THE NEW SEASON OF "Gossip Girl", "Celebrity Apprentice", or whatever mindless crud you call "quality entertainment"...dork.

Tuesday 29 June

By Kevin

Wow you are being kind of mean to Brandy just because she doesn't like the same tv show that you do.

By helen Mesquita

Heck! what do you watch....reality tv, Desperate Housewives....trust me these sci fi shows have more reality than many of those shows....you just have to look at it with that concept....and really why insult people who enjoy a show that's not what the story is even about, but i guess some of these posters couldn't tell that much from what they read....just has to put people down I guess, I guess some people are still in high school or want to be....

By Lauren

No, it wasn't rape, but it was supposed to be a brutal attack (one of the reasons why he screamed when Lorena said she "still love[d] Bill"). Lorena is just delusional and decided not to take Bill's attack as one. But, how else is the man supposed to act? He's reliving his mistake (cheating on his wife) and then the hard choice said mistake made him make in leaving his wife forever. Bill definitely wasn't going to push aside the threat Lorena made against his fiance - especially after she was warned against doing such again.

I think you need to grow up. Rape, like murder is a part of life. It's unpleasant, but why can you watch someone be ripped to pieces but not what you mistakenly perceived as rape?

By Susan

Please do not confuse rape with consenting rough sex, even though the only person consenting was Lorena. They are 2 different things..But the best part of the show for me last night was going back in Bill's history. I have always wondered about his family and if any are in Bon Ton..So now I know the son died, daughter might have lived to have kids and keep the family lineage alive.

By AJ

A lot of you need to step away from your TV and PC's and get a life on the outside world because If you don't like what you see, you can just simply CHANGE THE CHANNEL! NO ONE IS FORCING YOU TO WATCH THE SHOW SO DON'T RUIN IT FOR THE LOYAL VIEWERS LIKE MYSELF! And If anything (She was the one doing the raping b/c she toke over his mind!...THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED!)

Nicolette Black is an idiot, then ! she should learn what rape is... Bill is the victim ! a victim who had had enough and gave the BI*** what she wanted ! SO sick of the notion that no matter what a woman says, or how evil she might be, men are just s'posed to take it. it's the 21st century people !!!!!

By PAM

i LOVE THE SHOW BUT i GUESS i AM AN OLD FRAT AS i COULD DO WITH A LITTLE LESS SEX..BUT IT IS FUN TO WATCH THE NEW TWIST THEY ADD TO THE SHOW AND VAMPIRES ETC..THE LAST SHOT WAS OK BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE STORY LINE OR YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT IT HAD GONE TO FAR

THIS SHOW IS IN KNOW WHY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR EVEN YOUNG TEENAGERS AND IT WOULD BE VERY POOR PARENTS WHO LET THEIR CHILD WAS THIS OR EVEN SHOWS LIKE SOUTH PARK BUT PEOPLE HAVE FORGOT HOW TO BE PARENTS THESE DAYS..IN SAYING THAT I watch both and for the most part enjoy them

By pam

my husband agree with you but I still enjoy the show I like spooky stuff have all my life..but could do with a little less of the sex scene's there is over kill on it on this show.

Wednesday 30 June

By sandy

that's what vamps live for... sex and feeding. :\ sigh

By kim

man did i love that show bill is hot and no that wasnt rape that show is a great hell he can bite my neck anytime hahaha more true blood i cant get enough of it ty hbo

By j5kevin550

yeah, Bill didn't rape her, she forced him as it's been said. that being said, i thought the scene was creepy and i could've done without it. but i'll still watch it. i wish Lorena would get killed though she's annoyed me since the first time she came on.

By Soph

Hardly ground-breaking since Linda Blair spun her head nearly 40 years ago in the Exorcist. Wierd, kinky, odd, yes but not shocking. The entire scene did not live up to the hype it got, that's for sure. It's a shame True Blood has gone from good writing to shock value to keep it's fan base. Personally, I'm tiring of the "let's outdo the last bizarre thing we did" type of writing.

the stories are escalating. If you watch all the interviews in after the second season...it was explained that the main characters were introduced slowly. in the books it does escalate. The problem is, you just can't write all the in-between stuff that is the glue to the stories...like sookies telepathy and her inner monologue.

By Draconian

It appears the Lorena is a 'SUCCubus.'

By Breezy

The only thing that upset me in anyway was that Bill was touching that slime bag Lorena....Hey Bill, think, you got Sookie..........

By rick bruce

Is he crying tears after she turned him or blood?

By Nico Toscani

This show is nothing but an excuse for soft-core sex scenes anyway (that's not necessarily a bad thing, just kind of boring after a while). What do you expect?

By Victoria

I do agree that the Vampires do have a form of attachment to their makers but in this case she did let Bill go or "released" him in Season 2; However, Bill as a character feels entirely violated by her because she decided to tell the Vampires of Missouri of his lover Sookie, whom he cannot currently be with because he wants to protect her; In her own mind and even stated Lorena wanted it and Bill gave it to her in his own way out of anger and wanted to hurt her and when she still said that she loved him he got angry and stopped because he realized there is nothing he can essentially do to this women to get rid of her, he set her on fire and she still is there... thus, he is on a different sense being raped and violated by her because of all the past abuse she put him through. Of course HBO didn't have to use this seen though as justification of his hatred but nevertheless it was done.

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