True Blood is truly great (True Blood)

Member Name: cerys82

Product:	True Blood
Date:	06/09/09 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: well acted and engrossing

Disadvantages: it is definitely x-rated so wouldn't be enjoyed by everyone

True Blood is the TV adaptation of Charlaine Harris' popular 'Sookie Stackhouse' novels; the tenth of which is due to be published in 2010. The first series of the show is currently being premiered on Friday nights on FX, but I believe that Channel 4 have also bought the rights and are planning to show it soon. In the US the second series is coming to a climax.

The adaptation is the mastermind of Alan Ball, the man behind American Beauty and Six Feet Under and shares a lot of tonal similarities with both.

The series is set in Bon Temps, Louisiana, a dead-end Southern town where the action revolves around Merlotte's Bar and Grill. Sookie Stackhouse works there as a waitress, she is a feisty yet virginial young woman. She also has the 'gift' of being able to read people's minds, which sometimes leads her to more harm then good. The bar owner Sam holds something of a torch for Sookie but is also hiding secrets of his own.

Sookie's best friend Tara also works at the restaurant and is a complete force of nature due to the absence of a relationship with her alcoholic mother, but even there not all is as it seems. Tara is madly in love with Sookie's brother Jason, a promiscious risk taker who begins to find that his baser instincts are getting him into a lot of trouble and danger. Sookie and Jason are orphaned and live with their grandmother.

Lafayette is a confidante to many of the characters and is a chef at Melottes, but makes money on the side with his amateur 'adult entertainment' website and selling drugs of both the regular illegal type and some substances that are a bit more supernatural....

This is all against the background of a change in national legislation which means that vampires are free to live amongst humans, due mainly to the creation of a synthetic human blood substitute called 'Tru Blood.'.

Bill Compton, a vampire since the American Civil War is the first to openly roll up in Bon Temps. Immediately him and Sookie develop a connection, much to the disgust and concern of a lot of the residents of the town. Ignorance about the myths and legends surrounding vampires leads to fear and the constant threat of violent actions against them. Through Bill, Sookie becomes exposed to a whole underground vampire 'scene' which is both intriguing to humans and yet potentially extremely dangerous.

Also, women who become romantically involved with vampires are being murdered and the finger of suspicion is wavering over both humans and supernatural beings.

I love True Blood, it is engrossing with really engaging characters - Sookie, Tara, Jason and Layfette particularly. However, be warned this is definitely not Twilight, more 18 certificate than 12A for definite. It features scenes of strong sex - some with a slightly disturbing supernatural element, violence, gore and gross out black comedy. However, it is all well handled and whilst explicit not excessive in the content of the story and the exploration of an interesting concept.

It is very well acted and definitely draws you in, but I would expect nothing less than a high quality production from the HBO stable which goes out on a limb to commission challenging, unpatronising entertainment for people who love TV drama.

Summary: Another great production from HBO