So this week when I wasn't writing, complaining about Amazon, buying from Amazon, or blubbering into my whiskey about being 50 and having not yet attained the fame and fortune I dreamed of in my youth, I was watching DVDs of the HBO miniseries, True Blood.
True Blood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, which I have read about six of (there are nine or ten in the series so far, I believe). I am completely nuts about these books and find them perfect escapist fiction, filled as they are with a mind-reading bar maid, shapeshifters, werewolves, witches...and lots and lots of vampires. And it's all set in a charming little Louisiana backwater town called Bon Temps. The books are really cool...and way better than those Twilight books.
Anyway, I was really excited to see the DVD of the first season of True Blood since it was based on these books I can't get enough of, but also because the series had Alan Ball behind it, the creator of another of my all-time entertainment favorites, Six Feet Under. I (gulp) pre-ordered my DVD set from Amazon months before it was even out because we no longer subscribe to HBO and I was too impatient to wait for the series to come piecemeal via Netflix.
So, this week the boyfriend and I hunkered down in front of the HD TV every night and devoured the series in about four sittings, much like a hungry vampire at a hemophiliac's convention.
Did it live up to my expectations? Oh yes, and in some ways, even surpassed them. From its opening credits (some of the best I've ever seen), True Blood is a true masterpiece of television. It has just the right southern goth vibe, perfect casting, and a storyline that will keep you guessing right up to the end, provided you haven't read the books. And if you have read the books, you'll enjoy it even more. Ball takes some liberties with Harris's literary territory, but his changes only serve to expand and improve on what Harris wrote.
My only dilemma? How can I wait now for Season Two on DVD when it's just begun its HBO run?
Oh you are going to totally love me! ;-)
ReplyDeleteYour dilemma? How can you wait?
You don't!! I know for the first season the shows were posted to iTunes so you can buy a season pass and download them and watch them along with the season. Hopefully they do that with season 2!! No waiting!!
I totally love you, Em. iTunes, here I come.
ReplyDeleteRick honey get HBO again so you dont have to wait what 6 months to a yr to get the DVD LOL. Or you can watch the full episodes online. its a great show I love it & the night season 2 airs we will either have just gotten home or be on our way back from a vaction to FL & TX thanks god HBO repeats their shows.we'll probably DVR it & watch Monday.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I just watched season 1 of True Blood on iTunes last week! Like you, I've read most of the books and it's one of my fave series. I was ambivalent at first about watching the HBO show and I'm not sure why. Maybe I just couldn't fathom how they could possibly do the characters and stories justice on TV. I finally decided to download the first episode and if I liked it, I'd watch the rest and if I didn't, I'd only be out a couple of bucks.
ReplyDeleteWell...I LOVED it! I ended up downloading and watching the entire season in one sitting! LOL! All 12-13 episodes! I thought it was fabulous!!! My dh just finished watching it today and he loved it also (he, too, has read the books). We can't wait for season 2!
I so agree, ML. I think this is one of the sexiest, wittiest, and most refreshing treatments of vampires in a long, long time (and that comment holds true for both the books and the series). I love how the whole vampire rights thing is a very, very thinly veiled parallel to gay rights.
ReplyDeleteI feel left out. I'll have to start reading the books. People have been talking about them for a long time, but I'm not into hyped books so that's why I was avoiding them. I started the Harry Potter series about a year ago or so. As for the Twilight books, I HATE the angsty, unrealistic portrayal of vampires. Not to mention the bad writing.
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