Why I Believe in Eric and Sookie
Book-based; spoilers for book 11.
After reading Dead Reckoning, I had even more hope for Eric and Sookie than I did before. It made me sad to see so many E/S shippers predicting doom and gloom for our favorite couple, but I completely understand why they did. As it stands, I think E/S has about a 50% chance. The other side of that coin? Sam and Sookie. I do believe it’s entirely between Eric and Sam at this point. But here’s why I have every faith that Eric and Sookie can find happiness at the end of this series.
1) The blood bond had to go.
Let me be clear: I loved the blood bond. It was a romantic idea, and it gave me happy little goosebumps, and I hated that Sookie broke it without telling Eric or even considering his feelings. But when she broke it, I thought, “Eric and Sookie have a real chance now!” Yep, you read that correctly.
It was absolutely necessary for Sookie to decide that she loved Eric without it. I understand why the breaking of the bond made people depressed, but didn’t the porch scene make up for that times a million? It did for me! The moment when Sookie tells Eric that she does love him – all on her own – was one of my favorites in the whole series. Judging by the porch swing sex that followed, Eric was pretty happy about it, too. That was a pivotal moment for Eric and Sookie. They could never be together for good without it.
And hey, blood bonds can be re-formed. The important thing was for Sookie to realize that she didn’t need it. And for Eric to learn that Sookie didn’t need it. It was an obstacle and a crutch, and it’s gone for now. If they ever recreate the bond, it will be purely because they both want to. And that’s even more romantic.
2) Sookie will have to fight for Eric.
Throughout this series, it’s always been Eric seducing, wooing, and fighting for Sookie. Not once has Sookie fought for him or for any other relationship. Yes, she goes to Jackson to help Bill, but that’s to save his life, not to save their relationship. That’s a serious problem in the narrative and with Sookie’s character. Eric notices it as early as Club Dead:
“Had it occurred to you,” he said, after we’d rolled out of the city’s center, “that you tend to walk away when things between you and Bill become rocky? Not that I mind, necessarily, since I would be glad for you two to sever your association. But if this is the pattern you follow in your romantic attachments, I want to know now.”
Oh, Eric, honey, just wait.
It’s essential for the growth and maturation of Sookie’s character for her to step into the ring and beat a relationship problem to a bloody pulp. With this arranged marriage being dumped on Eric, Charlaine Harris is offering that chance to Sookie on a silver platter. It’s time for our Sookie to step up, gloves off. I love Sookie, and I believe that she can and will.
If she doesn’t? She doesn’t deserve Eric, and Sam can have her.
When we learned about the arranged marriage in book eleven, I didn’t see curtains for Eric and Sookie. The first thing I thought was, “Finally! We’re going to see her fight for him!” For their relationship to have any hope, it has to happen. Dead Reckoning opened the door for it to happen.
3) The cluviel dor.
The most obvious use for the cluviel dor is to get Eric out of his arranged marriage. Maybe that’s why it never crossed Sookie’s mind in Dead Reckoning when she seemed to think of every other possible use for it – and then some (which I found completely unbelievable, by the way, but never mind). She didn’t think of it because Charlaine is saving it for a future book.
The cluviel dor is Charlaine’s deux ex machina. It’s going to be used to solve some otherwise unsolvable problem for a person Sookie loves. If Sookie’s one true love is Sam, there’s no use for the cluviel dor.
Unless Charlaine is a fantastically bad writer (which she isn’t), the cluviel dor has to be there for a reason. That reason is Eric.
4) Eric evolves.
More than any other character in the series, possibly including even Sookie, Eric evolves. Bill never changes. Sam never changes. Quinn isn’t there enough to change. Only Eric follows the pattern of a true male lead. Only Eric has an actual journey in this series; he is the only male character in eleven books in whose fate the reader and the heroine are continually invested.
Again, unless Charlaine is a fantastically bad writer, she wouldn’t build up Eric so much only to have him fall by the wayside as Sookie takes the easy way out with Sam. Eric’s character has earned more than that. Sookie’s character has earned more than that.
5) Let’s be honest.
That bite that Eric gave Sookie at the end of book eleven… that was hard for me to swallow. But I made my peace with it and even came to understand and accept the reasoning behind it. It’s Eric forcing them both to be honest about the way things are. I see this now as a step in a positive direction. He’s not trying to hide the dark and ugly aspects of himself from her anymore. He’s saying, “This is what I am, Sookie. Take it or leave it.”
Charlaine left us with a cliffhanger: will Eric call or not? I think we all know that he will. The real cliffhanger is whether Sookie will answer the call – and I don’t just mean the phone call.
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Thank you soooo very much for this article! This makes so much sense and I reallly really hope that you are right! I know Charlaine has mentioned that Sookie won’t ever become a vampire but I noticed she never mentioned that Sookie WON’T die. So I’m always worried about that aspect of it all. Though I could see her possibly sacrificing herself to save Eric. <3 I just hope it doesn't come to that!
Again, thank you so much
Comment by Jennifer T — July 5, 2011 @ 5:28 pm
Wonderful! A well thought-out, provocative blog post! A real pleasure to read.
You’ve actually given me a few things to think about in terms of Eric & Sookie’s relationship arc…
Comment by handtalker — July 5, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
Another aspect of Sookie and Eric’s relationship isn’t necessarily romantic, although I find it to be. It is their partnership. There are examples throughout the books where they worked in perfect tandem. There’s the event at the gas station, dealing with the werewolf on the highway, Eric stepping next to Sookie at Sophie’s trial, side by side during the Nevada take over and at the Vampire’s Kiss. They complement each other ideally in these moments, showing just how in sync they are to each other.
Comment by kaspi — July 5, 2011 @ 8:11 pm
Definitely!
Comment by DeeDee — July 5, 2011 @ 8:13 pm
Insightful points….I have seen Eric as the most important character next to Sookie for a long time now.
Comment by Edea Baldwin — July 5, 2011 @ 9:38 pm
DeeDee, thank you for an insightful post on E/S. I too, was in the boat that this was a turning point for Sookie and Eric and it didn’t necessarily have to be a bad one. All the points you named are correct and I think the biggest one was the BB because it not only showed Sookie she truly loved Eric but it also shows the readers.
For Eric to truly be the HEA, (a believeable one), we need to see both characters embrace who each other are and to deal with the “big issues” such as mortality or blaming the BB on feelings. It just won’t be believable otherwise.
Sookie started to address the mortality issue in DR but ended up being too scared. My guess is it will be in the next book or even the last. Most importantly, Sookie needs to deal with her insecurities of growing old with Eric.
The ball is in Sookie’s court. She now needs to step up and fight for the man she loves. You’re right, all along it’s been Eric and sometimes I want to throw my book against the wall at Sookie’s subborness. But I love Sook to death and believe that she will finally pull her head out of the sand and see that she needs to fight for her rightful place next to Eric. Again, you’re right, if she doesn’t, Sookie doesn’t deserve him. I think the next book is going to be really, really good filled will some good E/S scenes.
I have faith in our couple, I really do. CH will make this happen for us.
PS- LOVE your new story DeeDee. It’s everything I want for them too.
Comment by Margaux — July 5, 2011 @ 11:22 pm
I can’t thank you enough for sharing your amazing thoughts on this subject. I was disappointed with DR and jumped to many conclusions concerning E/S. Your post has opened up my eyes to other possibilities, and you’ve backed each one up with fact. I think I will go and re-read DR now that I have read this, and I have a feeling I will like it better the second time around.
THANKS again for taking the time to share with us!
HUGS,
Evy
Comment by storiesforevy — July 6, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
I love this article, these are all thoughts I have had regarding Eric and Sookie. I just will not believe that CH has been building his character up for all these years just to have an anticlimactic end with Sam. I want and will believe that our fave couple will end up together in some way HEA.
Comment by Kristinhel — July 7, 2011 @ 2:33 am
I love this,I mean,I’ve always thought Eric is THE ONE for sook but man after DR all the negativity kinda threw me off! but this helps, (as does SVB) I agree about the bite thing,whereas my first reaction was NO F***** WAY!HE DID WHAT?! after i had time to think about it,i felt there was a deeper reason,and not just that Eric alwaaaays puts up with whtever sookie throws his way and was sick and tired and ready to lash out. I also agree that if she doesnt fight for eric,she deserves to be with sam,as much as i love sookie in the books she NEEDS to step up in this area. Sams great i guess…..but she has no passion,no heat,no electricity with him,I cant believe even CH would over look that,but who knows. I truly believe that if it werent for TB and all its popularity,bookies would never have had to fret about who her end game was….the evidence is in the text,eric has been more thn just the pretty blonde vampire in fangtasia for most of the series,i seriously doubt thats with out a reason.
Comment by znb — July 7, 2011 @ 8:37 am
I agree with you 100% and have felt the way you do since the first read of the book. Once I read how upset some people were I went back and read it again and still didn’t see what people were upset about. The blood bond definitely had to go and it was horrible the way Sookie did it, but I think even that was important because she hurt him. Sookie isn’t the only one who can be hurt by the relationship and she had to know that. She also had to learn that even if she hurts Eric, he still loves her with or without the bond. I absolutely agree with you about the bite too. Sookie keeps thinking of herself as human, but she MUST embrace the fact that she’s not, that she’s a supe too. Great post!
Comment by Kathy — July 7, 2011 @ 11:30 am
I wish with all my Eric-devoted heart that you are right. I would love to see E/S make it. #1 reason – Eric is a fantastic and super dynamic character. As you said – always changing, always evolving. #2 reason – I. Cant. Stand. Sam. I really cant. I think he’s whiny. He is of the super natural persuasion and yet has the guts to give Sookie crap about who she may or may not get involved with. Stuff it Sam! No one wants to hear it. Sookie isn’t a normal girl. Vamps are nearly the only *people* that she can be around and enjoy the mental silence.
I believe that you are also right about the cluviel dor. My first thought when I found out what it was and the situation they were in was that she was going to use it to save her relationship with Eric. I really do hope that is the case.
On the flip side of all these hopes is the most recent interview you did with Charlaine on Dead Air. You asked her a question about the future of Mr. and Mrs. Northman and she made some comment about how she would think that the fans would WANT Eric and Sookie to take a trip to splitsville. As much as I hate to admit it, I dont think that Eric is involved in Charlaine’s grand scheme for Sookie…. I hope I’m wrong but the way she answered your question that night made me say “Nooooooooooooooo!!!!”
Comment by Jena Gregoire — July 7, 2011 @ 4:34 pm
hey d-
just read your synopsis of dead reckoning and like you i found hope that eric and sookie will be together-you pretty much expressed my own thoughts and i finished the book happy and positive-besides there can’t be good books with out a problem to solve and ch pretty much set up the next books plot, yes the bite was ‘icky’ but i think he deserved to express his anger-i sort of hope they will move in together be a couple and have outside relationship problems to solve but thats just a hope thank goodness for fanfictions take care ky
Comment by katherine yeager — July 8, 2011 @ 10:27 am
You just put into words exactly how I felt when I finished Dead Reckoning…great synopsis.
Comment by April — July 10, 2011 @ 11:54 pm
i feel that eric and sookie are heading towards the ‘real’test in there relationship. but i feel that this will be the end of them as we all know sookie will run away as she did with Quinn (who i liked i thoght he was tryin do the right thing by sookie and his family.) but also she was so quick to give up the blood bond without consulting eric plus the fact the she seems drawn to dermot i call it here he will be her new love intrest.
Comment by Adam — July 12, 2011 @ 3:23 pm
Her uncle I can’t see that its kind of gross ?
Comment by michelle — July 16, 2011 @ 8:39 pm
A M A Z I N G
I HAVE HOPE
Comment by kiki — August 11, 2011 @ 4:35 pm
Wow! Thank you for your post, it never occurred to me to look at all the horribly uncomfortable aspects of Dead Reckoning from this angle. I was so saddened after I finished that book; it was THE MOST, and only, un-fun read out of the entire series in my opinion. Very off in tone from the rest. I was feeling so betrayed by Charlaine Harris when I was done reading. Now I feel less nervous, about what might happen in the next two books that will cap off the whole series. As I said in my Yahoo Messenger status the very next day after I was done with “Dead Reckoning” : Charlaine Harris, you better fix this mess you’ve made. And now I’m letting myself believe that maybe she really will. lol
Comment by maefae — August 22, 2011 @ 11:42 am
Really good assessment. It’s super hard to read negative things about characters and relationships that we want to work out but life isn’t all perfect is it? And your post just made me realize that to get to the happily ever after, we need to go through some tough times. I’m re-reading the books and seeing more and more everything that you’ve listed here. I really hopes that things go the E/S way….it would be such a cop out for her to end up with Sam.
Comment by Nicolek — January 8, 2012 @ 5:11 am