True Blood

POSTED BY: deadlockvictim
UPDATED: Friday, October 31, 2008 15:17
VIEWED: 5549
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REGINAROADIE

Thursday, October 30, 2008 5:18 AM

Hey. Just thought I'd post on this thread again to ump it back up.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm loving this show and getting more drawn into it with every episode. I think they've really found their voice and gotten the kinks out of their system and is going full blast.

What makes me really drawn into the show and why I'm actually liking it over BUFFY is how commonplace they're treating the whole vampire aspect of the show and seeing how normal people react to that knowledge. Like in the one ep where Bill speaks at the church to the town about what being in the Civil War was like and how different people had different reactions. You had the usual hicks that tried to raise a stink with the garlic, you had the town elders who were inquiring about their ancestors and the town origins, and then there was the soldier back from Iraq who personally thanked Bill, since he was the only person in town to truly get what being in combat is like. And even with Sundays ep where Bill and Sookie babysat and Bill made a fake teeth out of pizza, as well as the vampire played by Stephen Root who admits to watching HEROES. I love this so much. It always bothered me on BUFFY that even though they were situated over a Hellmouth, that the majority of the people were so dense to what was going on that they barely recognized all the deaths and monsters and screwed up shit. I mean, they had a vague idea, but to me it always seemed like a crappy excuse that they would just forget about it. But on TRUE BLOOD, the cards are on the table, and it's common knowledge. And that the real drama is just seeing all these people just deal with the fact that there are such things as vampires.

I read this over at ign.com, and to me, it nails perfectly what makes not only this show, but Alan Ball's work, so distinct and perfect.

"Every week, I keep waiting for this show to cross the line so deep into campiness that I can't watch it. I prepare myself for the disappointment, and every week, I'm amazed at how much I truly am enjoying this show. The opening credits, the campy clicking of the fangs, the disturbingly pale skin of the vampires - it all sets a tone that is gritty and risqué, yet oh so very aware of itself.

Somehow Alan Ball is able to bring to life characters who are so flawed, so real, and still remain likable. Even when they make major mistakes and poor choices, they're still so damn intriguing."

If you think about it, this, SIX FEET UNDER and AMERICAN BEAUTY does this perfectly. That they have characters that make horrible decisions and are incredibly flawed, but finds a way to make it seem not only organic, but vital to their characters and to the story. Not even Joss could take his characters and have them make extremely bad decisions and not have it come off as out of character.

I dunno. I'm just really digging this show, and think the whole "BUFFY is so much better than this" complaints are invalid. They're completely different, although it's interesting to see similar story and character moments show up in both series and see them done differently.

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"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

PLATONIST

Thursday, October 30, 2008 5:50 AM

Well said, Buffy had its merits, but this show kicks the Scooby’s cans all the way down Hollywood Blvd.

Welcome to HBO and thank heaven for DVR, because Showtime’s Dexter is on at the same time.

REGINAROADIE

Thursday, October 30, 2008 5:57 AM

I guess I'm lucky. Movie Central in Canada has both shows back to back on Sundays.

Yeah. After 7 seasons of them fighting one big bad after another to save the world from a new demon or vampire or God, to see a genre series so rooted in the real world that has a vampire interacting with a soldier back from Iraq is a nice cool breath of fresh air.

**************************************************
"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

Thursday, October 30, 2008 2:06 PM

I've been reading Charlaine Harris's books for years now, so when I first heard about the series, I was ecstatic. And so far, they haven't disappointed in the slightest.

I think the most fascinating aspect of the show is how they've expanded on the characters. Since the novels are from Sookie's point of view, you only see so much of the supporting characters. The series has really made them all come alive. Probably the best example of this is Bill, who was very cold and aloof in the novels. He's really a vibrant character in the series, and as a viewer you become a lot more attached to him than you would reading the books. It's also interesting how they've given characters who had very small parts in the novel a larger part, or even a complete makeover. Tara and Lafayette are barely in the stories (in fact, Lafayette is only in the first two books), but here they occupy an important part of the show's world. Tara's character in particular was almost completely revamped (pardon the pun), but it doesn't detract from the story one bit.

Alan Ball has an amazing grasp on these characters, and I'm very interested in where he'll take them next. I have to wonder if he'll be sticking to the novels closely, or if he's going to take his own path. If he does stick to the source material, things are going to get really interesting...

ETA: Also forgot to chime in about the soundtrack, which is amazing. I don't usually listen to the type of music they play, so it's been great being exposed to it. And hearing the Eagles Of Death Metal last episode kicked ass.

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"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."

PIZMOBEACH

Thursday, October 30, 2008 3:04 PM

Really enjoying this. My first impression was, "haven't we had enough vampire tv?" Enjoying being wrong about that.
The stories and the choices the writers have made for the characters are often unexpected and that's unusual for tv lately.
I like the "drinking demon" approach for Tara's mom's addiction. And how she got rid of it? Whoa.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

EARLYWARNING

Thursday, October 30, 2008 4:19 PM

Watched four eps and stopped. Bored. Just a vamp soap opera with boring, whining characters. I am also real tired of the " don't hate me cause I'm different " ," why doesn't everbody love me " storylines.

MSB

Thursday, October 30, 2008 8:59 PM

I love the show and it's enough to make me want to try the books

____________________________________________

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage."
Life is anything that dies when you stomp on it.”-Dave Barry

DEEPGIRL187

Friday, October 31, 2008 3:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MSB:
I love the show and it's enough to make me want to try the books

You'll like them I think, MSB. Though I should warn you that some of the characters are drastically different than in the show. But overall, it's a great 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."

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