'True Blood': What is Russell's master plan?

There are several new fascinating characters in Season 3 of "True Blood." Possibly the most enigmatic character is also the one who is stirring the pot the most.

After all, Russell Edgington, AKA The Vampire King of Mississippi, has kidnapped Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and sent several other plots into motion.

Spoiler alert

"Russell had two very big secrets that paid great dividends for me as an actor," Denis O'Hare who plays Russell tells the New York Post. "I can't tell you what they are, but everyone is fueled by overarching motives - for respect, for affection, for food. Whatever drives you, is the same for vampires - they used to be human, so quite often they're motivated by their nascent human emotions."

So far, we know that Russell wants to marry Sophie-Anne (Evan Rachel Wood), The Vampire Queen of Louisiana, and unite their kingdoms. O'Hare says there's more to his plan than gaining intel from Bill.

"It's kind of like the old royalty of Europe," says O'Hare. "Where you'd get married to prevent an invasion or form an alliance. He also takes cues from today's politics in terms of playing the media. There comes a point later on when he starts using the media to destroy or create something - it's wonderful."

Russell's plan isn't very cut and dry. According to O'Hare, the plan reveals itself to even his character over time.

"What's great about all the characters is that they don't always know what they're doing," O'Hare says. "They have an idea and a plan, but as they go forward, that plan changes. What Russell initially wants from Bill is much smaller. But what he gets throughout his relationship with Bill is information that leads to a much bigger plan. So Russell himself doesn't always know what he's doing. There are times when you'll see him with Eric [Alexander Skarsgard] or Bill where he'll be dealing lies on at least two different levels - every character is lying about everything. These people are playing a massive game that keeps shifting every episode."

What do you think Russell's endgame will ultimately be?

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Photo: Denis O'Hare, on left, as Russell and Theo Alexander as his partner, Talbot. Credit: HBO