Both Bill Compton and Sam Merlotte may have more in common than you think. Both of these guys are searching for acceptance, compassion, tolerance and ultimately, love. They have both struggled with who and what they are. At the onset, these men seem to be rivals, opponents, if you will. Bill asks Sam to watch over Sookie while he must stand before a judge of a vampire court and be disciplined. What I find interesting is that when Bill returns to find Sookie and Sam in a most impassioned embrace, he fights Sam aggressively as if he wanted to kill him, however, Sam fights back fiercely and bravely. I was taken aback by this since Bill has the immortal strength of a vampire; anyone one else would have been killed or seriously injured. Sam fought valiantly I thought, for someone his size, and showed his hostility and apparent rivalry towards a vampire. The fight causes Sookie to rescind Bill's invitation, ejecting him from her home. For a moment, It looked like Sam had won out, as he had tried to turn her against Bill, mostly out of jealousy. It seemed from the onset that these two guys were rivals and opponents and yet at the end of the first season, Sam helped Sookie to save Bill. Similarly, at the end of the second season, Bill helps Sookie to save Sam. I believe that they were motivated out of love and concern for Sookie's welfare to come together for her sake and briefly join forces. However, to me, Sam and Bill are not so dissimilar because they both want the same things: recognition, acceptance, compassion, tolerance and certainly not least to be valued and loved for who they are. Certainly, Sam along with Bill and Sookie were able to collaborate and put forth a joint effort to vanquish Maryann. Although Bill is my favorite character, I tend to favor Sam a bit more because I can empathize with his struggle. He tries so hard to fit in, to make a difference and he does. Both Bill and Sam truly put forth a heroic effort in saving the townspeople from the diabolical plots of Maryann. 
I feel badly for Sam because it seems he always gets the shaft. At least Bill has Sookie, but Sam is left alone. A prolonged affair with Tara Thornton has fizzled and a seemingly promising romance with Daphne Landry, who was a shapeshifter like himself, ended in betrayal and heartbreak. Sam's feelings for Sookie were nearly totally non-reciprocated, not to mention being hounded and hunted by Maryann. It seems that Sam can never catch a break. He's always a target for trouble or hardship or heartbreak Obviously there are differences. Bill is a vampire. Sam is a shapeshifter or shifter for short. Another thing, Sam is human, at least more so than Bill, who is a vampire and can be quite a predator; who can and does kill for blood or in defense, mostly of Sookie. Both Bill and Sam are looking for some meaning in their lives or un-life as is the case for Bill. Rivals at first, now I think it has progressed to an uneasy friendship if that. Bill gave Sam his blood to save his life after he sacrificed himself to take down Maryann. Surely, after that they now have some kind of a bond, if an uneasy one. [Editor's Note: Will there be dreams of Bill in Sam's future?] Perhaps now they can bury the hatchet and become friendly? The common goal here is then to evolve and become the best beings that they can, not just for Sookie, but for themselves. If these men are not already fast friends they should be closer this season at least. They are different to be sure, but they are also very much alike. I would like to dedicate this article to Stephen Moyer and Sam Trammell: two incredibly gifted actors. (Photo credits: HBO Inc.) http://truebloodnet.com http://truebloodnet.com/community http://truebloodnet.com/forums
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