by Maria Ingmire
In 2010, the hottest show on HBO wasn't The Game of Thrones. Back then the most popular show on HBO was True Blood, a show that addressed the social and political issues of the day under the guise of supernatural storylines. I had been reading the Charlaine Harris books for years, and even though the series veered away from Harris’s plots, I was still hooked. The gorgeous cast probably helped a lot. That year, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Sam Trammell, Michelle Forbes and Nelsan Ellis made their first appearances at Dragon Con. They were even better looking in person, if that was possible.
At a fully packed True Blood panel, I got in line to ask a question during the cast Q and A session. Someone conveniently posted videos of the whole panel.
I didn’t mean to make Pam cry.
The volume is a little low in the opening seconds of this YouTube video where I ask the cast members about their “familial storylines.” Sam and Nelsan gave thoughtful answers, but Kristin is visibly moved while giving her answer. This is one of my favorite experiences at a Dragon Con panel because the actors show clearly that they are emotionally invested in their characters, and the audience really enjoys listening to them.
Later that weekend, my best friend Will and I had a photo op with the True Blood cast members. Group hug!
As I was moving away, I looked at Kristin and said, “Sorry I made you cry at the panel, Kristin.” She suddenly recognized me from the panel, and smiled. “Oh, that’s okay. Thanks for the question!”