TrueBlood is the new HBO, Vampire TV series made by the people who brought us 'Six Feet Under'. The first season has only just started in America, but I'm sure it won't be too long before it heads over to somewhere like E4. The show is based on the series of books, 'Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Series' by Charlaine Harris.
The show is starts in a time, at the creation of a new synthetic blood (called 'TruBlood') by Japanese scientists, giving the opportunity for the Vampire folk to 'come out of the coffin' (yes, they actually use that turn of phrase) and live amongst the humans for the first time in history. As the Vampires don't need human blood anymore, there is no reason for humans to fear them. Set in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, we meet Sootie (Anna Paquin) who has the ability to read people's mind. Her psychic abilities make her feel like an outcast, and thus, is of the pro-vampire opinion, as she knows what it feels like to be an outsider. We meet her brother Jason (Home and Away's Ryan Kwanten - he played Vinnie, remember?) who is a sexual fiend who likes to take his top off, get his bum out and have sex as much as he can (by the way, there is A LOT of sex in this show). British actor Stephen Moyer plays Bill, the first Vampire we meet, who has an unusual chemistry with Sootie.
The thing I like about this series, is that it is like a drama that uses a fictional topic, such as Vampires, seriously. I was never able to watch Buffy as I found it too 'comic book' with the strange looking demons popping up everywhere, but TrueBlood is much more, dare I say, believable…more along the lines of 'Interview With A Vampire', I'd say.
I love the political undertones of this show too. Especially the reactions and prejudices of the humans against the Vampires, as they look down their noses at them and express their disgust. The insecurity for a Vampire to 'come out', clearly parallels the struggles and insecurity of a lot of gay people trying to accept themselves and be brave enough to tell people.
All in all, I like this show. It has a few cheesy moments, but generally is made very well. The acting is good, I was quite surprised to see someone like Paquin (X-Men, The Piano) in a TV series, following her CV full of Hollywood films, but she plays Sootie well. Kwanten isn't the best actor I've ever seen, but he is convincing and looks good, so who cares, right? Moyer is superb as Bill, it's worth checking out the show for him alone. I'm not as 'into' the series as was for example when LOST started, but I do find myself tuning in, if it's on TV.
To see a trailer, go here: ***WARNING SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND THIS DISTURBING, THERE ARE FEW GORY AND UNPLEASANT BITS***: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyp2SWrRfr8
I've heard of this and like you was quite surprised that Anna Paquin would do television. The poster is somewhat intriguing though I don't think this show would do anything for me. x
Seresecros 31.10.2008 16:50
This review fails for misunderstanding the entire point of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Advantages: Very entertaining, good story, good mix of characters Disadvantages: For Some: Quite a bit of blood & under the sheets action (except not under the sheets)
Josephinabonetto 04.09.2009 (04.09.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of TrueBlood
Advantages: Very entertaining, good story, good mix of characters Disadvantages: For Some: Quite a bit of blood & under the sheets action (except not under the sheets)
Josephinabonetto 04.09.2009 (04.09.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of TrueBlood
Oct 21st, 2008
very helpful by (100%):
