I was out of town for the weekend so I wasn’t able to watch True Blood when it aired last night. I just sat down to watch it and I was pleasantly surprised.
Of course, there was the usual Vampire drama and Werewolf Drama, not to mention the shape shifter gone off the deep end. But there was also some further exploration into the character of Holly Cleary, a Wiccan.
It showed her and one of the series main characters in the woods with a circle of candles. She cast the circle with salt and invoked the Goddess with an athame. And honestly, I believe it was one of the truest and most sympathetic Wiccan rituals on television. It seemed real. Like any number of Wiccan rituals I have attended or even performed as a solitary so many years ago. Of course, the show is a dark fantasy series so she didn’t stay in the land of “real Wicca” for very long. The purpose of this ritual was to help Arlene, her fellow waitress, terminate a pregnancy that Arlene believed was evil. Not just an unwanted pregnancy but also the demon spawn of a psychopathic ex who died in the first season after a string of murders. Since the show is not set is real life, it is entirely possible that the baby was exactly that. Though an expertise in herbalism can in fact produce the desired results, I am willing to bet that most Wiccans today would not assist a co-worker in such a venture. In spite of the dark fantasy setting, I think it is entirely possible that Holly Cleary could be a television Wiccan who can be a good example to viewers. As Alan Ball has promised, next year will be “The Year of the Witch” so anything can happen in this alternate universe.
Both as a fan of genre television and as a Pagan, I am eager to see where he takes us.
As a side note, Dragon*Con is taking place in Atlanta, GA this coming weekend. I will be in attendance mostly as a fangirl, but will keep my eyes peeled for Juggler Topics. However, several True Blood actors will be guests and I plan to attend at least one panel and ask a question that would be of interest to readers here. Stay tuned for a recap after Dragon*Con.
I watched as well, as I am a True Blood fan. I felt they did a good job with casting the Circle, although I winced when the actress used the athame for blood. But it’s True Blood. I also didn’t feel the actress was believeable when saying invocations, but that’s to her credit, not the writers. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes. My husband said “look honey, you’ve gone mainstream!”
I also look forward to your post after Dragon*Con.
Catch up with me! I’ll be at D*C. I look like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/valarltd/conshots/timetravelerballDC09.jpg
(I’m the tall one in denim)
I’m on the Victorian London, Myth and Reality panel 8:30 Friday and will be at the Author Kaffeeklatsch Saturday at 1 PM in the Marriot Atrium.
@Angelia,
Awesome! I will say hi! My friends and I are doing Steampunk Avengers.