No one was the same at the end of True Blood (which is available to stream on HBO Now) but few people had to undergo as many changes as Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Woll). Turned into a vampire as a teenager by Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), Jessica found herself at the center of love triangles and blood feuds for the entire show’s run. While she may never “grow up” in the literal sense, Jessica eventually figured out her urges and became a self-possessed woman who knew who she was.
Deep down, knowing who you are and who you want to be is all anyone is looking for. It can be a quest filled with questionable haircuts, terrible lovers, and lots and lots of failures, but those are just the flames that forge you into something worthwhile. So the next time that you’re feeling a little beaten down by the process, channel your favorite baby vamp and remember that you totally kick ass.
“I might be a vampire, Bill, but I am also a girl.”
Poor Jessica was turned into a vampire against her will, and not only that, but she was stuck as a teenager for the rest of her life. Sure, you will not be trapped as a virginal, hormonal teen for all eternity, but it can be difficult to balance all of the different parts that make you you. So, while you’re on your journey toward self-discovery, don’t forget to nurture all of your facets. Sure, you’re a college grad/spouse/entry level employee/etc., but you’re also a ping pong champion/Leo/superfan too.
“Nobody lets me have any fun. F*ckers.”
Between all of the murder and magic, there wasn’t a lot of time for fun in Bon Temps. The mayhem often put the good times on hold, and as a teenager and new vampire, Jessica didn’t always handle those lulls very well. However, it is during those tough times that you find out what you’re made of, and while they weren’t particularly fun, Jessica usually proved her mettle in these rough patches. So the next time things are particularly bleak, remember that they won’t last forever and that you’ll come out of it stronger.
“We’re gonna live forever. We’re gonna be young forever. The world is wide open to us.”
Between the violence, blood drinking, and their propensity for getting popped like balloons filled with viscera, it can honestly be hard to find the positives to being a vampire. However, being young and hot forever does soften the blow a bit. I hate to break it to you, but being young and hot forever simply isn’t an option for us mortals. I know. It sucks. However, you can use your time and hotness wisely to figure out who you are and what you like. There’ll probably be a few bumps along the way, but you’ll certainly have a good time making those mistakes.
“Have you seen Jason’s butt? When it’s rock hard, you could chip a fang on it.”
Part of figuring out who you are is making romantic mistakes, so if you’re going to make a mistake, at least make it a sexy one, right? Jessica and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) may not have been meant to be, but she certainly learned a lot about herself during their entanglements. So get out there! Have a little fun. And hopefully Fun has a really great butt.
“I don’t care what happens, as long as I get to kill sh*t.”
When you’re figuring out what you want your life to be, first you have to identify how you want to spend your time and energy. For Jessica, that became killing villains who threatened her vampire family. You should definitely leave the “killing sh*t” to the fictional vampires, but figuring out your goals is an important part of the self-discovery process. Maybe you’re “killing sh*t” is finding a worthwhile career and traveling. Who knows?
“We get it. You don’t like vampires. Well, I don’t like narrow-minded skinny bitches with bad dye jobs.”
Not to create an “us vs. them” scenario, but part of self-discovery is figuring out who will tear you down if they ever get the chance. I am certainly not advocating beating down your enemies (unless your brunch is way more hardcore than mine), but not putting up with the bulls*t of those who want to tear your down is all a part of growing up. Everyone has a Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp) in their life. Don’t let them take you out.
“Who the f*ck I am is an older vampire than you. Who I also am is the progeny of the King of Louisiana who happens to be out of town, which pretty much makes me the Queen.”
Ultimately, Jessica embraced her vampire identity and learned to handle herself with (blood-soaked) grace. It was certainly hard won, but Jessica came out of the other side sure of herself and what she wanted. Hopefully, your path to figuring out who you are will have fewer bloody chunks.
