The BEST part is that we see some clear cut flashbacks of Eric from his younger days. In one he looks like some kinda mobster complete with pinstripe suit ala the roaring 20s or 30s maybe? I kinda like the idea of Eric as a mobster.

In another set of flashback scenes we see Eric with Pam, most likely when he turned her, in the mid 1800s. Eric is wearing a top hat and his opera best! OMG! He is also licking his fingers again. Dare I say he ripped another heart out? I am guessing from this scene that Pam was attacked and Eric saved and turned her. Cannot wait to see this unfold!!!

Another scene shows Pam and Eric in bed together! Booyah! Not sure when this happens/happened. But good lord how can she look away from that face??!!

Also interesting is the fact that Bill and Eric enlist Sookie’s help together, Eric reluctantly and Bill aggressively. Typical. In one scene they appear to be breaking into a building or are in some way sneaking around… Eric takes the lead.

Strong and silent and blah, blah, blah…

My two fave Eric pics are these:

I think it is obvious that HBO knows who fans want to see. There is a metirc ton of Eric in this promo as opposed to rat faced Bill. Let’s hope the season as a whole pans out that way too. Even if Sookie and Eric are not together I pretty much only want to see Eric and Sookie in scenes with lots of Pam thrown in for good measure of course. As long as I get lots of Eric I won’t even mind this so much…

That’s Sookie about to kiss Alcide. They best not be on the sex chair in her living room! Some things are sacred!

Screencaps thanks to Alexander Skarsgard fans.

See the rest of the season five cast posters below:

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I worried for nothing and I should have known better after Dead Reckoning when Eric and Sookie fans totally flipped out and I saw nothing much of concern. Deadlocked is a book that threw many plot twists and new character developments our way and much of it was either designed to crush the love between Sookie and Eric or it seemed to help that same cause inadvertently. With so many wondering if Eric will figure some way into Sookie’s HEA it is understandable and to be expected even that this book will make us question everything about them. The series cannot be a foregone conclusion…there has to be tension and suspense right?

Well, this book certainly delivered on that front but even still I did not see any reason to panic and decide that Eric and Sookie are over. At best I see that they have some very large challenges in front of them and the last book will be where they show us what they are made of. The stage is set, all that is conspiring against them has been set in place. With the last book we will see just how strong their love is and how far they are willing to go for it. This penultimate chapter set all that in place quite nicely, as it was designed to do. Frankly, I am not that concerned.

One reason for my lack of concern is that Sookie showed some real strength and maturity in this book.  She has grown by leaps and bounds and I really like the woman she has become. No matter how the cookie crumbles I think she will be okay.

I am not blind to the concerns that many will have about this book though. One of the key scenes takes place in the beginning and revolves around Sookie walking in on a rather intimate “feeding” between Eric and a young were woman. This scene is key because it sets Eric up for a murder investigation and it sets up a grand plot that no one can make heads or tails of because it involves all the supes…vampires, werewolves, and fairies. This scene also seems to set Sookie and Eric up for some fidelity suspicions (for both) but that is understandable after the breaking of the blood bond. Frankly they had it far too easy when the bond was in place because they always knew how the other felt deep down, no matter how outward appearances made things look. Now they have to rely on their own ability to think rationally and have faith in the other’s love, just like you or I would. I am sure that this is disconcerting for them and also not a fact that is easily grasped in the heat of the moment. It doesn’t mean there is a breakdown in the relationship, it only means that they have to learn how to relate to each other under these new circumstances. And let’s face it, it is hard for them to devote even a moment to repairing any relationship problems when they have so many other things to deal with.

Sookie and Eric are still facing Eric’s betrothal to Freyda and they are deadlocked. Sookie wants Eric to refuse Freyda and choose her, consequences be damned. Eric wants Sookie to “choose him” by wishing away this whole mess with the use of the cluviel dor. Apparently Niall told Eric she had it because he wanted to know how Eric would react to having something of such power in Sookie’s possession. Mr. Northman passed that test with flying colors IMO, because did a big fat nothing in response. He didn’t try to procure it for his own use or steal if from her. He never even let on that he knew she had it until Sookie got in his face and told Eric he needed to refuse Freyda and choose her. It was then that he explained that Felipe would make their lives a living nightmare if he refused Freyda. They wouldn’t get their happily ever after just because he chose Sookie…there would be consequences. Sookie blindly refused to see this at first and proclaimed they could take off together but even Eric could see that Sookie should not be made to leave all those she loves in Bon Temps. Eric pointed out that Sookie had a more viable means to change their situation (ie the cluviel dor).

When weighing their options it appears that Sookie does not feel she can use her ancient trinquet for that purpose. I understand why Eric asked it of her and do not fault him for it in the least. Yet, I also understand why Sookie would be hesitant to use a magical device to ensure that a man not leave her. So yes this book makes an excellent case for why they are at an impasse or why they are deadlocked. In a surprise scene at the end Sookie ends up using that cluviel dor and it didn’t fix the Eric/Sookie situation. We go into the final book with things looking pretty dire and with Eric perhaps feeling very betrayed by Sookie. Despite that, I still feel encouraged for the direction the final book could go. I do not see everything as hopeless by a long shot.

What I hope is that without that pesky magic get-out-of-jail-free card Sookie had in her possession she will now have to go to the mattresses and fight for what she wants. I also hope that her surpise move at the end of Deadlocked likewise lights a fire under Mr. Northman’s rump and makes him fight for what he wants. The ability to play that card if they needed it kept them “safe” from having to make the difficult decisions. In the final book we will see what these two characters are really made of and I am confident we will not be disappointed.

Found this gem on the Eric Northman Fans facebook page. Woot! Eric is always so stylish, just as Pam always is… so regal and beautiful. I also love the shimmery lapels he has going on. It is supposed to be from episode four of season five.

TV Guide has a First Look photo of Bill (Stephen Moyer), Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Nora (Lucy Griffiths). Here is a Scan from Facebook.

 Love the Viking posted a better pic of the main attraction:

HBO also released a promo for season four, with the actors kinda recapping what went on. The discussion about Sookie frolicking naked with Eric and the facial expressions from Stephen and Alex are priceless. Yeah…Sookie and Eric frolicking naked = best part of season four! Enjoy!

True Blood: Conjuring Up Season 4 Promo by HBO

Here is a preview of season five with Eric and Pam at Fangtasia. This video makes me sad because it shows that Eric has not forgiven Pam for her lapse in judgement during season four where her rash decision “could have” been a death sentence for Sookie. Apparently his feelings for Sookie have not waned, nor has his resentment for how Pam completely disregarded his feelings for the fairy. He even suspects Pam of releasing Russell Edgington from his cement prison. The lack of trust between them sends Pam into a tailspin and she entreats Eric to release her from the maker/child hold so that she can leave. What will Eric do?

I think I speak for most of the Eric/Sookie fandom when I say that I hope he comes to his sense here and makes things right with Pam again. I hope he takes her into his arms and kisses her tears away because this fan does not want to see the Eric/Pam dynamic go to pot over Sookie. In fact that is a most grievous change from the source material of True Blood and it must be fixed!!

What are your thoughts?

True Blood costars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are expecting, their reps confirmed to EW today. The pregnancy is Paquin’s first; Moyer, 42, has two children from previous relationships. Paquin, 29, is due this fall. – EW

Congrats to the adorable couple. They either have perfect timing or they planned this bundle around true Blood filming. They will welcome their wee one just a couple months before True Blood season six should start filming (we hope!).

It ships on August 29 and is now available for pre-order.

Woot!  A new promo for season five and we have some juicy bits with Eric already. We see one shirtless scene with Beel creeping in the background.. ew! We also see Mr. Northman kissing someone. Is this his vampire sister? Kinda kinky… I like it. At least until Sookie regains her senses and realizes what she threw away.