Eric Northman, a prominent character in both the “Sookie Stackhouse” book series by Charlaine Harris and the television series “True Blood,” has a slightly different origin story in each medium. In the books, Eric was turned into a vampire by a Roman vampire named Appius Livius Ocella. On the other hand, the television series portrays Eric’s maker as a vampire named Godric.
In the book series, Eric’s transformation into a vampire occurred one fateful night when he was ambushed by Appius Livius Ocella, a powerful and ancient vampire from Rome. Appius attacked Eric and drained him nearly to the point of death before giving him his own blood to save his life. By doing so, Appius turned Eric into a vampire, binding them together as maker and progeny.
The television series takes a different approach to Eric’s turning. In this adaptation, Eric’s maker is Godric, a much-beloved and respected vampire who is over two thousand years old. Godric is portrayed as a wise and compassionate vampire, and his decision to turn Eric is a significant turning point in Eric’s storyline. In the series, Godric turns Eric out of a sense of responsibility and sees potential in him as a vampire.
It is worth noting that while the book series and the television series share many similarities, they also diverge in certain aspects. The decision to change Eric’s maker from Appius Livius Ocella to Godric in the television series was made to give Eric’s character more depth and to explore the complex relationship between him and Godric.
As a fan of both the books and the television series, I found the differences in Eric’s origin story intriguing. While I enjoyed the intensity and ruthlessness of Appius Livius Ocella in the books, I also appreciated the depth and emotional connection between Eric and Godric in the television series. Both versions of Eric’s turning have their own merits and offer different insights into his character and motivations.
Eric Northman’s vampire origin story differs between the “Sookie Stackhouse” book series and the “True Blood” television series. In the books, he was turned by Appius Livius Ocella, while in the television series, Godric was his maker. The different choices made by the authors and showrunners have added layers to Eric’s character and have allowed for unique storylines and character developments.