This post is dedicated to my reader Hime who requested it.
Bill is forced to introduce Sookie to Eric 1×04:
uh-oh! Eric is going to be trouble for Bill. Sookie shows facial signs of arousal and desire (Eyes wide open,dilated pupils; slightly raised eyebrows; lips slightly parted; steady gaze)
Notice the Striking difference in the photos in Bill’s face before and after Eric shows obvious interest:
Initially, Bill shows total submission to Eric w/ a lowered head and sunken eyebrows on his face.
Wow, now look at that! After Eric has shown obvious interest in Sookie, Bill shows simultaneous anger and SADNESS with very pronounced “pursed, flat lips!” and ENVY with his tight wrinkled, jutting chin and his tight stare as well. Bill knew where this was going to end LONG AGO!
Bill and Eric interact as Eric saves Sookie from her “Scratches” 2×03:
Eric claims his position as Alpha male by spreading out his body and gaining the center of attention in the room even when he is sitting. More surprisingly, however, we see PITY in Eric’s face (eyes in an extended gaze, titled head, corners of mouth slightly down) even though he is trying to hide it.
Eric is obviously aroused by the prospect of giving Sookie blood (mouth turned up slightly at sides in gentle smile,relaxed facial muscles) but he is also taking the opportunity for alpha male posturing again by grabbing the vulnerable wrist area in a sign of aggressive physical contact (Bill tries to return the favor). Bill replies with obvious disgust at the suggestion (nostrils flared; nose crunched).
As Bill feeds Sookie, in this face Eric expresses sadness and shame for feeling the sadness in the first place (eyes and head cast down, eye brows lowered) and looking on without a full on stare.
Eric and Bill talk 2×04:
Eric attempts to reason with Bill and treat him as an equal by lowering his body to his level and maintaining eye contact but Bill remains defensive.
All Bill/Eric interaction in “Timebomb” 2×08:
Eric feels comfortable enough with Sookie to invade the personal space of the couple to check on Sookie. Of course Bill defensively gets between them and aggressively eyes Eric.
Eric feels comfortable enough to invade the couple’s space again and postures himself as dominant over Bill by opening up his shoulders yet trying to seem non-threatening to Sookie by lowering his head and keeping a relaxed jaw line.
Obviously none too pleased, Bill does his usual cold stare and tight,closed lips to show his displeasure.
Bill unwisely grabs Eric's arm for more alpha male posturing and gives him the same tight lipped stare during their confrontation.
All Eric/Bill interaction during “I Will Rise Up” 2×09:
What the hell Bill?! Your girl has supposedly just been violated and you could not be acting any more submissive right there (head VERY down, eyes WAY down, nose down, curled corners in your, WHOLE FACE down). Not one dominant or angry gesture here other than a sour look or two. Maybe it seemed like Sookie was a little too into it no matter what she said. Yeah, Bill totally knows where this is headed, just like he did on day one.
sooo NOW you get angry. Why not show a little more physical violence while the much more dominant viking is down (grieving)? way to show some cowardice Bill. I am sure Sookie was real impressed.
Eric and Bill confront eachother outside QSA’s mansion: 2×11
Eric shows boredom with Bill by diverting his eyes and fiddling with his hair. BUT suddenly Bill has CONFIDENCE shown through a swagger in his step and shows his interest in what Eric is up to by arching his eyebrow. He shows sudden confidence because of hearing about the V thing and is not afraid to look Eric in the eye with an arrogant slight smile. BUT Eric does not back down with the eye showdown and Bill knows where this is still headed…soo….
Maybe he was also confident with Eric in that scene because he knew he was about to tie the fair lady down with a quickie marriage to Vermont…
OR NOT!
Like it or not, Bill knows where this is STILL headed and now…so does everyone else.
Talktrueblood's Blog 
#1 by ENA on July 22, 2010 - 10:40 pm
Bravo Hun! Loved it and I agree Bill knows where this is going!!!
#2 by talktrueblood on July 22, 2010 - 10:52 pm
Oh he does. He most definitely does…LOL
#3 by anna on July 22, 2010 - 11:11 pm
Thanks for this, it’s great. A more coherent reply needs more thought than my tired brain is capable of at the moment but the scenes at Russell’s seem to pick up from all you’ve spotted here.
#4 by talktrueblood on July 22, 2010 - 11:17 pm
thank you. any thanks is always appreciated.
I will analyze any Sookie/Bill, Bill/Eric, Eric/Sookie Body Language moments in future episodes after
my general recap.
Don’t worry just come back when you can.
#5 by Freyja on July 22, 2010 - 11:39 pm
Hahahaha 🙂 Oh Bill is so toast! 😉
Love it TTB! This is exactly where this is headed and Bill has seen it all along, don’t forget that he knows Sookies emotions through her blood. So he’s tried everything to keep them apart and to show Erics evilness. And Bill just knew right away what Eric was talking about in his hidden question about Bill being there on his own accord!!!
#6 by talktrueblood on July 22, 2010 - 11:55 pm
Yeah, Bill will be burned so bad…and it is all right here to see…and he so deserves it.
Don’t you love the before and after at Fangtasia…I LOOOOLLLed so hard!?
He not only feels it all…he sees it all.
That was a look of defeat on Bill’s face when he saw the bullet sucking. He knew it was definitely over for him there. That is why is got desperate and resorted to a quickie marriage to tie her down and not only secure her for whoever he was working for but also for himself. I think he seriously regretted that he let Sookie agree to help Eric out (he knew that would bring them closer even if he didn’t know it would bring the that close). And VOILA! it did, especially after the Godric situation and seeing Eric’s emotions like that. I think part of the reason Bill doubled the amount of money Sookie got paid for the job was because he didn’t think Eric would agree to such a high amount (he didn’t know the sheriff was eric’s maker).
Oh yeah, Bill looked like he had crapped his pants in that “of your own accord” scene..LMAO
#7 by Enjoying on July 23, 2010 - 12:38 am
Love it ……..thanks for doing this .
Please soon get the Truth out about Bill ,ok even some of it to Sookie
I think its coming 😉
#8 by talktrueblood on July 23, 2010 - 1:00 am
Thank you but I love doing this : )
I think Bill’s secret will come out after Eric interrogates the queen.
#9 by Bobsgran on July 23, 2010 - 10:28 am
Terrific observations. The revelations seem to be coming fast and furious now.
#10 by Renée on July 23, 2010 - 1:36 pm
These posts about Eric and Bill and villains of TB are so important! Bill knew how it would end from the beginning. You are causing me to look at the characters in a whole new way. Yesterday I ran across a screencap of Gran and Bill on the sofa and the look he’s giving her would curdle milk. What did Gran do to deserve that!?! Couldn’t help but wonder what you and Dr. Cal Lightman would make of it. LOL!
#11 by Feather on July 23, 2010 - 5:09 pm
oh man, i just imagined Dr Lightman squaring up to Bill and saying “YOU’RE A LIAR” in that obnoxious yet authoritative way that he does, haha
#12 by talktrueblood on July 23, 2010 - 8:12 pm
lmao
#13 by talktrueblood on July 23, 2010 - 8:16 pm
Thank you so much Renee.
I am so glad I am giving people this perspective. I just think body language is so,so important and has always been a subject of interest to me.
I am glad your noticing things like that Bill’s facial expressions and how they show what a liar Bill is. Maybe I should do a post about facial expressions that show Bill is a liar..hahaha
hahahaha I have already had people calling me that (DCL) or comparing me to the body language expert on the O’Reilly Factor….
LMAO
#14 by sunnynala on July 23, 2010 - 5:59 pm
Haha, it’s perfectly clear who the better man is. The only way Bill can best him is by fighting very, very dirty.
#15 by talktrueblood on July 23, 2010 - 8:08 pm
oh yes and it is clear that Bill is prepared to do that…
He was prepared to try to pull a risky shotgun wedding even.
#16 by Renée on July 23, 2010 - 10:14 pm
I’m really surprised that Bill is so transparent. Why aren’t BB’s picking up on this? How is AB presenting Bill as the hero so convincingly if all these red flags are there? Of course there is the music which is a strong cue, but what other techniques is AB using to influence the audience in the wrong direction ?
#17 by talktrueblood on July 23, 2010 - 10:40 pm
I think my analysis of body language points to the fact that AB is preying on the audience’s tendency to look at the dialogue as their main source of information rather than looking at other red flags right in front of them. I think it relates to someone’s tendency to look take what someone said at face value in a relationship rather than observe what is right in front of them and a lot more tangible than a few words.
#18 by LLE on July 24, 2010 - 6:02 pm
Bill’s fans love Bill and they really don’t care what he does the same thing with the Eric’s fans. I don’t find anything wrong liking complex character like Bill.
#19 by Renée on July 24, 2010 - 7:28 pm
The issue isn’t enjoying a complex character. It is falling in love with a romantic illusion when reality is slapping you in the face.
#20 by talktrueblood on July 24, 2010 - 8:10 pm
I told that reader I agree with you and I most certainly do.
#21 by talktrueblood on July 24, 2010 - 8:01 pm
I agree with Renee there.
#22 by Feather on July 24, 2010 - 12:09 am
once again i am here with nothing to add, but absolutely loving these posts 🙂
#23 by talktrueblood on July 24, 2010 - 12:14 am
Thank you so much Feather!
#24 by alfstoria on July 24, 2010 - 1:58 pm
Hi awesome recap, That is my favorite ever TB moment well after Sookie meets Bill, well in this case Sookie-Bill meet Eric-Pam and oh boy! hell open loose. Beautiful name for that episode “Escape from Dragon House”
I know is kind of awkward but can you please do something with Season 3 second half Trailer, i am still in shock!
#25 by talktrueblood on July 24, 2010 - 7:22 pm
yeah i think you might have come to the wrong blog…in that I don’t think you were looking for my blog…but I welcome Bill fans that want to challenge me : )
#26 by Bobsgran on July 24, 2010 - 4:48 pm
TTB, would you consider using your considerable skills in reading Alan Balls body language? There are many clips of that man, that maybe you could give us some insight.
After the CC interviews, I use “that man” with enormous restraint.
#27 by Renée on July 24, 2010 - 7:25 pm
ROTFL! I think we probably need a telepath for this job.
#28 by talktrueblood on July 24, 2010 - 7:34 pm
LMAO Renee…I wish
#29 by talktrueblood on July 24, 2010 - 7:33 pm
I think I should try to observe his body language during the interview and do a post about it but I wont be doing more posts till after the recap on monday afternoon/night…but that is a wonderful suggestion.
#30 by Hime on July 25, 2010 - 10:05 pm
Sorry for the late reply, but hey TTB, this post is great!
I’m happy you picked my suggestion up.
You explained everything perfectly and all I can add is what excellent actors are both Stephen and Alex, they show the real nature of their characters through the subtlety of body language.
I agree with you that most people pays attention to the dialogue rather than to what is said by the body and the gestures. Body language speaks loud but you have to focus on it and not many people are able or willing to.
I always found Bill awfully fake in everything he does and now I fully understand why. His mouth can be saying “I love you”, but his face, his eyebrows, his entire body are saying “I am a liar!!”
OTOH, I always find fascinating how Eric is rarely menacing with his attitude. He tends to be relaxed with a neutral expression on his face and puts himself at eye level with the person he’s talking to.
He is confident about himself and his power and he doesn’t need to scare the hell out of people to get his point. People, and other vamps too, are able sense that he’s powerful and dangerous if he wants to, just with one look in his eyes.
#31 by talktrueblood on July 25, 2010 - 11:01 pm
Thank you Hime. I loved the suggestion!
Ido think Alan Ball likes to play on dialogue versus body language and I think I have uncovered that here. Most of the actors on True Blood are amazing and they capture this concept perfectly.
I always find the scene early in season one where she asks him if there is anything else he needs to tell her and he says “no,” yet it is so obvious that he is lying and he does need to come clean about something TO ANYONE that takes a second to look.
Eric takes the natural position of the alpha male in any group situation where Bill struggles to take that position and it seems out of place and forced because he is not the natural alpha male.
#32 by Tori on August 4, 2010 - 4:23 pm
another excellent one!!! now would you come help me here? I’ve got some men to talk to and you would be just as great as having a telepath 🙂
#33 by talktrueblood on August 4, 2010 - 4:52 pm
haha. thanks. I think this analysis of body language goes to show that Sookie has relied too much on her telepathy!
#34 by agingh8 on August 18, 2010 - 3:12 pm
Interesting post! thank you for sharing this information. talktrueblood bookmarked… Keep up the good site…