“I think what makes this show addicting is the spicy violence wrapped up in southern charm.”
All I can say is “Twilight” is NOTHING compared to “True Blood“.
I purposely didn’t see “True Blood” for a long time because I thought it would be “overdone” and remind me of the same old crap I’ve seen a million times like “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, etc. “30 Days Of Night” renewed my faith just a tad because it did such a good job making the “vampire” scary and unique again. Today it’s becoming quite like the lawyer and doctor shows that fill our prime time line up.
A producer friend of mine said about 5 years ago that I should write a “Vampire” show…and I thought he was joking. Damn it! I should have listened! To be honest though, I could not have done it better than Alan Ball. He’s the father of my previous favorite, “6 Feet Under”. Alan Ball has this incredible ability to make a small rural town become the most interesting piece of humanity in the entire world. Remember the plastic bag that represented ultimate beauty in “American Beauty”? Well, you get the picture. If he can do that with a plastic bag imagine what he can do with blood.
A friend of mine shoved the entire 12 episode season to my chest and said “WATCH IT”..you have to see it if you are a writer. So I did. Every last drop of it. I’m in love with True Blood and it’s the hottest thing on television…one of the few shows at least. HBO just simply..rocks.
Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, is this not-so-perfect yet perfect young Louisiana girl who is working at a bar owned by a guy named Sam Merlotte. It’s a small, hot and muggy town with the most vibrant characters you can find. In fact, the acting is really very good. Anna Paquin won an Emmy for her role, and it’s no wonder why. Her best friend Terra played by Rutina Wesley (who is so new, she barely has an IMDB log)…is excellent. She almost steals the show.
If you want the short summary here it goes: Sookie lives with her grandmother because her parents died in a freak accident. She can hear people’s thoughts and it’s been hard for her to get close to anyone because she’s familiar with the depths of issues in each one of us. Her older brother Jason lives in town and works as a construction dude-he’s volitaile and a sex fiend.
The world is now trying to accept Vampires in modern society because they came OUT of the coffin and revealed themselves two years ago. Japan even made a synthetic blood drink called “True Blood” to allow vampires to live “mainstream” and satiate their need for the feed. This mimics our current fight for gay and lesbian rights.
Bill Compton, played by, Stephen Moyer is a vampire who moves into the small town and falls in love with Sookie…(well it’s not that easy)- and the love story between them is NOT cheesy or overdone. It’s perfect. Sookie’s got Sam on one side and Bill on the other. Both men are completely different with unique abilities. The vampire clan finds her valuable to them for several reasons-mostly because she can hear people think. Bill is often caught in trying to protect Sookie against the evils that could potentially harm her, despite his ranking. But remember, Sookie understands evil better than the average human and Bill is the first person who she can’t hear 24/7.
The thing about this show is that its not just about a love story or acceptance. It’s got story lines of a serial killer, sex, violence, drug use, survival, alcoholism, exorcism, homosexuality, and much more all wrapped into each episode. Vampire blood is the drug of choice and Sookie’s brother falls victim to it for much of the first season.
A show can be brilliantly written and even casted but it also needs a great marketing package as well. This show opens up with a fantastic theme song and thick imagery of the south, voodoo, spiritual need, death and stained blood. Louisiana’s humidity even plays a role in the show that gives it more life. What makes this show even more addicting is how spicy the violence is-wrapped up in southern charm. Sex and violence are not far off from each other…and vampire or human… we are very similar.
I’d have to say my favorite episode so far was probably #10. Jason has a vampire locked up in his basement -because he’s addicted to “V”. The show does an amazing job showcasing the powers of a vampire in a new light- and even giving their blood away as a drug for other characters to experience. “V” makes everything more cinematic and saturated.
Lafayette, a gay cook at Merlotte’s Bar”….is brilliantly played by Nelsan Ellis. Where did this guy come from??
Just when you think that the show has tapped out it’s resources it brings in new characters who have unique abilities. Remember when Ed said to Lafayette..”I love Mondays… I get to watch Heroes and then you come over”. That line meant more than what it seemed at superficial value. We are finding out that there are not only vampires but also werewolves, shape shifters…and everything in between. We’re going to be constantly surprised that the world is filled with things we don’t understand, but we’re beginning to…..right along with Sookie.
I just gave you about 1% of what the show really is about..so pick up the other first season and then GET READY…cuz blood is coming on June 9th for Season 2.
