True Blood

POSTED BY: OPPYH
UPDATED: Sunday, August 9, 2009 02:14
VIEWED: 13404
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RHYIANAN

Friday, June 19, 2009 7:07 AM

I've been sitting on the fence wondering if True Blood is something that I should watch, or if I should just pass on it and enjoy the books instead. Has anyone read more than just the first two books? If so, would you still recommend the show to someone who has read all of the books and enjoyed them?

I guess what I'm asking is if the show is faithful enough to the books that I would enjoy it, yet deviates just enough to keep it interesting to those that know what is coming.

I'm a leaf on the wind

KWICKO

Friday, June 19, 2009 3:25 PM

Finally got it - found it last night in stock. They had the price marked at $34.99 ("TEMPORARY Price Cut" it said). Fortunately for me, I had my rain check out and ready, so got it for $24.99.

I'm sitting down with it this weekend, so I'll be avoiding this semi-spoilery thread for a while!

Mike

Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

REGINAROADIE

Friday, June 19, 2009 11:34 PM

That's strange. I didn't get any hints of Elvis or Bruce Campbell at all with Bill. I got just a regular Southern gentleman type whose trying his best to be human and to integrate into society but has all these different forces pulling him in different directions.

And as for consummating their relationship quickly, I didn't mind it. I just like how that scene went from comedic with Bill figuring out the right mixture of Tru Blood for Jessica and how Sookie could do what all the other vampires couldn't in actually getting her to shut up and behave to air sucked out of the room tense with Sookie asking point blank if he killed her uncle to a truly erotic scene. And the fact that Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin are an actual couple just gives it that extra dimension of voyeuristic intensity.

I love how with premium cable shows how because of their short season runs and true creative freedom that the best ones can pack so much stuff into a short amount of time so that you're never bored, whereas network tv can get really repetitive at times. Even with the metaphor rich BUFFY (which at times was heavy handed), it did get repetitious at times in that the Big Bad was always going to be taken down by the season finale, that Buffy would always end up alone one way or another, that the dynamic between the characters never really changed and that every single character has daddy issues.

And I wouldn't say that there isn't depth to TRUE BLOOD. The vampires in this series are a metaphor for minorities (a little heavy handed at times and more leaning towards the gay community, but you could fit any minority within the context), and Alan Ball said in the pilot commentary track that the series is really about the terror of intimacy. Yes he also said that after the deep, existential experience that was SIX FEET UNDER that he just wanted to cut loose and have a good time, but there is way more going on in the show under the surface.

And I see plenty of parallels between BUFFY/ANGEL and TRUE BLOOD. Both of their pilots have opening scenes that are separate from the main plot but set the tone for the show and do the "you think this guy's the vampire, but it's really the other guy" twist.

As much as I would love to see Joss Whedon do a SModcast with Kevin Smith, I'd also like to put Joss and Alan Ball in a room and see them compare notes and talk about the similarities and differences into their work. Like I think "The Body"/"Forever" is all of SIX FEET UNDER compacted into two episodes.

Also, I think "Bad Things" by Jace Everett is infinitely better than the BUFFY theme tune.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

ECGORDON

Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:00 AM

When I said what I did about their getting together too quickly, I wasn't talking about the second season premiere, which had them getting back together after having been separated when Bill went to the vampire council. I was talking about their first encounter back in episode six of the first season.

REGINAROADIE

Saturday, June 20, 2009 3:51 AM

My bad. Sorry.

Still didn't mind it too much. With the intensity of their relationship from the beginning, it didn't bother me nearly as much.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

DEEPGIRL187

Saturday, June 20, 2009 2:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
That's strange. I didn't get any hints of Elvis or Bruce Campbell at all with Bill. I got just a regular Southern gentleman type whose trying his best to be human and to integrate into society but has all these different forces pulling him in different directions.

Going off of that, I think what I like most about Bill is his real attempt to try and fit into a society he doesn't always understand. To me this is an improvement in comparison to the novels, where his only real point of interest was Sookie. Bill is a great deal more likable (and easier to relate to) than he ever was in the books. That being said, I wonder how faithful to the source material they're going to be later on in the series...

***********************************************

"This is my timey-wimey detector. It goes ding when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces, whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've learned to stay away from hens. It's not pretty when they blow."

STOWEAWAY

Saturday, June 20, 2009 7:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Rhyianan:
I've been sitting on the fence wondering if True Blood is something that I should watch, or if I should just pass on it and enjoy the books instead. Has anyone read more than just the first two books? If so, would you still recommend the show to someone who has read all of the books and enjoyed them?

I guess what I'm asking is if the show is faithful enough to the books that I would enjoy it, yet deviates just enough to keep it interesting to those that know what is coming.

I can't answer your question with first-hand knowledge. But several members of our Browncoats group have read the books & watched the show. Everyone agreed they enjoyed both. And at least one person said they enjoyed the show even more.
From what I understand, the show doesn't necessarily stick to the storyline of the books. But it has the approval of Charlaine Harris because it stays with the spirit of the stories.

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NCBROWNCOAT

Saturday, June 20, 2009 11:16 PM

Picked up True Blood today at Target on your recommendation. I can't wait to put it in the Blu-Ray player this evening.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

NCBROWNCOAT

Sunday, June 21, 2009 2:11 AM

Just about finished with episode 2. Boy, this is a wonderful series. I think I may be up all night.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

KWICKO

Monday, June 22, 2009 1:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ncbrowncoat:
Just about finished with episode 2. Boy, this is a wonderful series. I think I may be up all night.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

I'm just done with Episode 2 myself. I'm *TRYING* to ration them out a bit, but I know myself too well. I'm already hooked, and I know soon I'll be doing 2 or 3 episodes a night, and all too quickly it will all be over.

But yeah, I'm lovin' it.

Mike

Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

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