 Twilight for grown ups! |
| Review Date: January 31, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Dollybird, |
The basic premise of this show is pure genius and quite unique. Based on a series of books this show is more addictive than crack! Vampires have 'come out of the closet' and live among humans. Japanese scientists create a synthetic blood (True Blood) so that they don't have to drink from humans. Obviously this doesn't stop some of them but the big surprise is that humans can also drink from them and their blood is a drug known as V.
Sookie (pronounced largely as Sucky!) Stackhouse is a waitress with a talent - she reads minds. Unlike most portrayals of such "gifts" she struggles to switch off the voices in her head in order to live a normal life. When Bill walks in to her restaurant she and all the patrons know immediately that he is a vampire. She's instantly drawn to him as she cannot read his mind and therefore finds peace in his company.
What follows is not for the faint hearted so be warned that this contains massive amounts of sex, nudity, some really bad language (the "c" word is used in the first episode) and graphic violence.
For those reasons I adored it but if you're the type of person who finds Sex and the City to be too full on then steer clear because within the first few minutes this show will shock you!
Alongside some other plotlines is an ongoing murder mystery. Someone's out to get Sookie and Bill vows to protect her. The writers aren't scared of killing off central characters and you'll be left guessing up to the last minute who the killer is.
The main reason to watch this is the amazing acting. Anna Paquin won a Golden Globe for her depiction of Sookie and you can see why. This is a bold and courageous choice for her and her wide eyed innocence is beguiling if a little twee at times.
Personally I loved Ryan Kwanten who has really proved himself as Sookie's older brother Jason. His accent is spot on and he tackles the role with enthusiasm which is just as well as he's naked most of the time! I have gotten all my friends to watch this show based solely on my description of the events leading up to Jason being found with a T-bone steak firmly held to his groin. Classic moments.
Another mention has to go to Rutina Wesley who plays Tara, Sookie's best friend who has a major chip on her shoulder and a huge crush on Jason. Tara takes her frustration out on those around her and her put downs are classic! I was laughing so much throughout.
The only person who can match her is Lafayette her cousin played by Nelsan Ellis. A few friends have said that his portrayal of the gay cook is cliched but I thought he was hilarious and terrifying in equal measure.
All in all if you like your sex full on, your laughs loud and your violence shocking then you will be hooked from the 1st episode. I can't praise the writing enough and the direction is perfect.
The only shame is there are only 12 episodes and you'll be waiting for the 2nd season with baited breath! |
First class show
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| Review Date: July 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: PJ Rankine, Wallington, Surrey United Kingdom |
| I am a fan of Charlaine Harris and love the series of books that this show is based upon. Bear in mind that it is produced by HBO the channel that brought you 'Deadwood' so this is definitely adults only. Be prepared for lots of swearing, sex and drugs. A whole lot more than the books ever had. Several themes and characters from the books have been expanded upon to make the show racier so it is fair to say that the show is 'inspired' by the books. That said this is high quality beautifully produced television and I am so glad that they have gone for a second series. All the characters are authentically drawn and not always sympathetically so, book fans will probably be disappointed with the portrayal of Jason Stackhouse. Definitely worth importing the series on blu-ray - the presentation is 1080p full screen with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that has a superb soundfield. With a good system you'll hear every little swamp sound coming from where the director intended it. |
True Blood, Hot Stuff
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| Review Date: July 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ian Williams, Sunderland, UK |
The latest cult tv series, which has just started to air in the UK, arrives on Region 1 DVD and is it worth the hype that's been generated about it? Is this really the greatest fantasy series since Buffy?
For the first three episodes I wasn't sure. It took a little while to get into it, partly because of the way it was filmed; lacking the glossy image of film, it almost seemed cheap. The local Louisiana accent seemed somewhat stilted to me too. Then, of course, there's the introduction of a whole new bunch of characters and for a while I sometimes got confused between two of the male leads. It also seemed a lot darker than the books (or so memory tells me) while remaining quite faithful. I was enjoying it certainly, but it didn't click home until around episode 3 and then-
Wow, this is really good!
It also makes Buffy look like the Sarah Jane Adventures -tea-time viewing. True Blood is rough stuff. The violence alone will earn it an 18 rating when the UK DVD is finally released. But then so will the explicit sex which verges on being soft-core porn with its nudity and positions other than the missionary one. And also the language which, if not quite as frequent as Goodfellas, is nevertheless frequent. Put together this series is not for the sensitive and squeamish.
Gore and sex alone, however, do not make for a good program. Though they don't hurt either. The characters, once you get to know them, are strong and interesting and well played by the leads with excellent support such as Sam, the sympathetic bar owner with a secret, and Tara, our heroine's best friend and motormouth and my favourite character. There are more, in particular Lafayette, Tara's cousin, cook at Sam's bar, and also tough guy, effeminate gay, and drug dealer -I like him too. Then there's also Josh, Sookie's black sheep brother. These are the key characters but then is also a large supporting cast with important roles to play.
I'm deliberately not going to write too much about the plot because it's best enjoyed with as few preconceptions as possible. I will tell you that it's likely to go in directions you don't expect including people you thought would be in it to the end. There's much more to it than just a supernatural love story. There is a very blatant subtext which two items make explicitly clear. A sign that reads: God Hates Fangs. Remove the 'n' and what have you got? Then there's the news item where Vermont makes vampire marriage legal. And that Alan Ball, the talented creator of the series, is himself openly gay. Vampires have always been a commonly used metaphor for the outsider figure but here the metaphor is very specific. By the way, this isn't a criticism, I like the very pointedness of it. It gives the series an extra resonance.
At the end the ongoing serial killer thread is resolved and elements have been put in place for season 2 and, I've since learned, there's going to be a lesbian vampire Queen of New Orleans appearing. And I've got to wait a whole year to see it. God dayum. |
sexier than the books
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| Review Date: January 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mrs Danvers, Dorset UK |
Having read all of the Sookie books to date; whilst in USA last September I was delighted to catch 3 episodes of True Blood. Enjoyed the books (more so than the Twilight series) but the HBO series is definitely sexier than the books...excellent casting..Anna P definitely deserved her Golden Globe
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Sexy, hilarious and suspenseful
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| Review Date: January 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Z. Amiruddin, Brunei |
What a brilliant show. I was hooked immediately. I've only read the first book and can say the show has a lot more sex in it than the book, sex sells I suppose. Bill is also potrayed alot nicer in the show, than in the book.
Not comparing it though I think this show is excellent and had me wishing for the next one immediately. More more more, I can't wait for the second season to start. Along with it being suspenseful, it is also hilarious. Since I love to laugh, I think it's brilliant. |
Truly Brilliant TV
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| Review Date: October 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ms. L. Chambers, London, England |
| Ignore the rather simplistic synopsis: 'True Blood' is to 'Twilight' what 'The Wire' is to 'CSI Miami' - in other words, there is no comparison. 'True Blood' takes the wonderful Charlaine Harris books out for a spin, races them down the highway at 100 mph, throws out some of the padding, but also enlivens and enlarges some of the lesser characters in the book - notably Lafayette, who is one of the best characters in the show. Alan Ball also uses the allegorical possibilities of vampire mythology to very great effect. In the redneck smalltown of Bon Temps, people's prejudices are laid bare and the loathing, hatred and enmity towards the vamps (together with their 'exoticism' and tourist value) could be equally applied to lesbian and gay people, transgender people (the 'two spirit' shifters) and, of course, people of colour. Ok, there is lots of sex and some incredibly visceral violence, but this is HBO's stock-in-trade, so no surprise there. What is a surprise is the way in which Alan Ball takes what are already excellent books and creates an alternative set of storylines - staying close enough to Harris's narrative for avid readers of her books, whilst making the narrative arcs sufficiently different to produce a few surprising and unpredictable plot twists - even for those of us who know the stories really well. One other point: the casting is inspired: who else but Anna Paquin could play the plucky, sexy and slightly deranged Sookie Stackhouse, whilst other characters (Lafayette, Eric Northman, Bill Compton, Tara) are also excellent. The best vampire TV show ever? Maybe, although 'Buffy' is still the best at the moment because it ran to seven unforgettable seasons. Perhaps if 'True Blood' lasts as long (and I really hope it does) and maintains this high level of quality, then it could be a case of 'True Blood' rules (or should that be 'drools'?). Buy it - you won't be disappointed. |
Refreshing take on vampires
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| Review Date: July 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Marlyly, London - UK |
I've always had a soft spot for the vampire genre and have read/watched most things related to the genre over the years - so I was surprised when I saw all this talk about this new vampire show in the US based off a series of books I had never heard of.
True Blood the tv show is an adaptation of Charlaine Harris' novels and has been called a vampire show for those who do not like vampires - ie, though the series is obviously of a supernatural nature it is not only limited to such a fanbase, being accessible enough to absolulety anyone (well, over the age of 18 anyway).
The series has a very interesting and original setting - Vampires have 'come out of the closet' revealing their existence to humanity since the creation of synthetic blood called 'true blood' that supposedly eliminates the vampires need to feed off humans. Some vampires (such as Bill Compton) have chosen to mainstream, to try and fit in with humanity and put their 'dark' ways behind them. Cue Sookie Stackhouse, a bubbly, kind, caring waitress who also happens to posses the power of telepathy, reading people's thoughts even when she doesn't want to. Naturally a romance begins between Bill the vampire and Sookie the waitress, while at the same time Sookie's brother Jason, the town 'dog' is accused of murder as the girls he sleeps with keep winding up dead. The catch - they've all been bitten by vampires, and jason is sure he's not the one commiting the crimes. Add to this the fact humans have discovered vampire blood - 'V Juice' is the ultimate drug and you've got yourself a solid basis for a terrific series.
At only 12 episodes long, the show is very fast paced and will hold your attention episode after episode, always ending on cliffhangers and with various plot twists and mysteries that will keep you hooked. One of the only shows left on TV I look forward to seeing every week, don't be put off if you're not a fan of the vampire genre - the show may be supernatural but there's a lot more it has to offer other than just blood, fangs and gore. |
Oh my god
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| Review Date: January 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jackie Allen, Bristol,England |
| What a wicked show i loved it havent read the books yet and its a shame this show is not showing in the uk yet i cant wait 2 see season 2 it is a must see show |
It's not like Buffy, more like in the buff!
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| Review Date: October 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mr. W. Coles, Beyond the Thunderdome |
It's really amazing how so many shows/films are getting green-lit at the mo in probably the most saturated genre there ever was since silent films when TV had no sound...
Lately you can't turn the box on, open a film mag or stand on a bus stop these days without an advert for the latest vampire incarnation being forced upon you so where do you turn? Well, if you found the whole Twilight bonanza a bit `school girl schmoozy', and the Blade, Underworld, Buffy etc a little bit too `punchy' then you might want to check this out.
I think the whole idea this time round is actually quite fresh. You've got vampires and humans co-existing together in relative harmony, the bars serve their poison of choice - the eponymous `TrueBlood', a synthetic blood so they don't feel the need to drink from people's necks, (Well not all the time) and they all live locally in houses with cellars and even have nightclubs of their own to frequent. It's a scenario that gets you wondering `how would things go?'
It's based down in Redneck country so there's plenty of Southern drawl to get used to, and the main plot follows Sookie, a young waitress who befriends, and begins to feel for Bill, a hundred-odd year old vamp in Hicksville USA. Sookie, (Anna Paquin) can telepathically hear humans thoughts and so has struggled in love, presumably because she could hear the lewd thoughts of her dates, but with her new nocturnal best friend, she can't as he's of the undead breed, and so she finds that silence is golden.
As the show pans out with the love interest and prejudice they face, we see how they get on and the affects on the people who surround her in the town, and I tell you, this first series really threw up some interesting storylines - not only revolving around them mind you, but concerning some really good characters that I just loved to watch - despite some hammy(ish) acting.
You've got her brother and his sexual exploits, her friend Tara and their bar-boss, as well as Tara's gay cousin who, in an interesting sideline, is the local `V' dealer, `V' being vampire blood which is the new drug of choice and makes everyone horny, life loving nympho's, which may be an excuse to de-robe the young, pretty cast, but lets face it, the makers latched on to what makes vampires cool to most, and that's the fetish side of it...(ahem)
It's not an original thought obviously, and gets briefly touched upon in other mediums, but more as a rouse to sucker you in - example: a tight black leather body suit wrapped around Kate Beckinsale or a snake draped over Salma Hayek but here with TrueBlood they just RUN with it! If it's not vampires and humans, it's humans with humans, vampires with vampires, whatever. It's all over the place, and hey, what's not to like?
This isn't to be confused with shows like Buffy, or movies like Twilight though, it's an adult show for adults. There are bloody scenes, scary scenes and of course the nuddy bits, which crops up more often than a slayer brandishing a crucifix and holy water with cloves of garlic around his neck - which is usually what you'd expect.
Each episode is really strong, each has typically a few scares, some plot progression, a laugh here or there and obviously a taught, tanned butt in the moonlight as aforementioned, and as a coffin is to the end of a vampires' night, a cliffhanger is to an episode of this, but they draw you in to the next instalment and explain rather than annoy like some other shows have the tendency to do. (Namely Lost)
One last point to note, if ever there was a way to get you to watch a show, it's the opening credits. They are literally brilliant, music and all. Über cool...
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Finally a show with a lasting bite!
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| Review Date: May 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ms. A. F. Banting, UK |
A friend introduced me to this show after I informed him of my vampire movie night (Interview With a Vampire, Lost Boys etc) and I am so glad that he did.
I wasn't a big fan of Twilight - it felt watered down and feathery. True Blood is gritty, dangerous and I really think it pushes right up to the boundary until it almost snaps.
The characters are beautiful and believable, have spades of deapth and never disappoint. The same can be said for the shocking and largely unpredictable plot lines.
I am hooked on True Blood and I can't wait for series 2! If you like Vampires this show is the best I have seen in a long time... Check it out!!!!!!!!! |
Disapointing for Book Fans
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| Review Date: January 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: S. Croft, |
I wasn't going to bother writing a review as there are already so many but I felt the need to write a constructive one after reading comments about Anna Paquins "ugliness" and the annoying accents which I felt were irrelevant and nasty comments.
It can always be difficult for a fans of a book to like the tv series or film that follows as the makers invariable have to change the plot. This is fair enough, often a book is too long etc. However the TV programme completely altered the books changing the plot altogther. Yet this is not the reason I rate it negatively as it could still have been enjoyable.
I found the constant sex scenes and references tedious. I am not adverse to one or two sexual scenes but I found the amount in the programme boring. I think the programme aimed to shock but I felt bored, I didn't feel it was "daring" or "new" but instead a bit sordid. i disliked the absolute drama of the whole programme, in the books (yes I will compare slightly) it was about one girls life and its ups and downs. Well in the programme everyone wanted in on the action, no one seemed to be happy and it reminded me of a soap. Finally Sookie's character disapointed me, I found her to be ditzy rather then feisty. There was a lot of her standing there screaming. I very much wanted to shake her by the shoulders and tell her to wake up!
The TV programme has received many good reviews, I myself can't see what the fuss is about but I am a big fan of the books and they bare no relation to it. I did watch the entire series to try and give it a shot and ignore the differences but I never warmed up to it. The only thing I can do is recommend the books to people which portray a whole different story. |
A deliciously sexy and utterly addictive show!
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| Review Date: August 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ms. S. Howard, Lancaster |
TrueBlood takes place in a small town called Bon Temps in Northern Louisiana. The show is centered around Sookie Stackhouse (Oscar winner, Anna Paquin) a telepathic barmaid, who meets her first vampire one night in Merlotte's Bar. Vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Sookie embark on an intense and increasingly dangerous relationship, much to the shock and condemnation of the residents of Bon Temps. When there is a murder at Merlotte's, Bill is the first to be accused among Sookie's brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and she must use her telepathic ability to track down the killer.
The casting for this show is perfect; Anna Paquin delivers an amazing performance as Sookie Stackshouse. She is naive and vulnerable, and yet strong and seductive. The chemistry between herself and Stephen Moyer, vampire Bill Compton, is electrifying! Moyer himself is no halloween vampire; he is brooding and portrays perfectly Bill's regret for his lost humanity. Ryan Kwanten as Jason at first seems very self-assured, but in fact he is even more naive than Sookie and has no awareness of the consequences of his actions. Owner of Merlotte's Bar and Sookie's boss is Sam, played by Sam Tremmell. Harbouring a long suppressed infatuation with Sookie, Sam does his best to remain neutral around her but slips up every now and then. Resident grouch and best friend of Sookie is Tara Thornton, played by Rutina Wesley. It is hard to even begrudge her bad language, Wesley seems to embody the character of Tara so completely and with such comedic finesse. Similarly with Nelson Ellis' character Lafayette Reynolds, Tara's cousin. Perhaps the most striking character is Alexander Skasgard's Eric Northman, the vampire "Sheriff". Eric is utterly ruthless and deadly upon first impressions, but actually turns out to have a dry sense of humour that can be both hilarious and terrifying.
TrueBlood is not for the faint-hearted. A combination of graphic sex scenes and bloody violence makes the show a little harsh, but nevertheless does not detract from its entertainment value. The sex and violence is not gratuitous, but integral to the plot. Ryan Kwanten often features in the more realistic sex scenes, as his character is certainly confident! However, scenes between Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are more tender and intense. As with the violence, it is not prolonged but chilling.
I absolutely adore Alan Ball's adaptation of the equally addictive Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. Harris has created a truely unique concept in an area that is widely coveted by other authors and directors; she takes the popular vampire story and turn it on it's head. Ball's translation of book to screen can only be faulted by the differences between them, but this is to be expected to fill out the series more. Jason, Tara and Lafayette get a lot more involvement than in the books, but their storylines are just as thrilling as Sookie's. All in all, a deliciously indulgent series! |
Take a Deeper Bite
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| Review Date: September 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S. Nichol, UK |
I thoroughly enjoyed this show. It is what I call a 'slow boiler', as the show has to set up the characters and situations for other seasons, while retaining it's watchability over all. I've found the show a great balance between brutality, intimacy, fear, and campy humour. Sometimes there are slightly overwrought romantic moments, but there is certainly enough horror, humour, and crowning moments of awesome to keep me going.
If you enjoyed Six Feet Under, and you like Vampires (and hate Twilight) you'll love this. Give it a chance to grow on you, as the actors get better as they settle into their roles, and the production team/writers learn to work as a cohesive whole. |
Fantastic
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| Review Date: June 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mr. George Allison, |
Just watched all 12 episodes of true blood , and it is fantastic...this is Twilight for grown ups , cast is wonderful and the plot with twista and turns.
If you like vampires you are gonna love this. |
True Blood
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| Review Date: January 16, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Spider Monkey, UK |
| It has to be said that HBO and Alan Ball create some great TV programs and after the stupendous `Six Feet Under' I couldn't wait to get my hands on this series. The style and direction was reminiscent of SFU at times, but generally this has a feel all of it's own. This follows life in Bon Temp, a Louisiana town, after vampires have come out of the closet and live openly amongst humans. The main character is Sookie Stackhouse who is telepathic, falls in love with a Vampire and starts to realise some of the dangers and complications this may bring. There is also another storyline where people are being killed in town and of course the vampires are the main suspects. The other characters are great to watch, whether it be Tara who is hard and cynical, Bill the charismatic vampire love interest, Sam the local bar owner who secretly loves Sookie, Lafayette who is the local drug dealer, short order cook and deliverer of some hilarious one liners or Jason who is Sookies brother and a bumbling ladies man. They are all great characters and there are also a whole host of other town folk who compliment the main cast. Some people criticise this series for it's sexual nature and no doubt this has plenty of nudity and sexual scenes, but this is mainly in the first half, relevant to the story and people seem to forget that the erotic nature of vampires has been a theme of the myth for years. This is a good series and highly watchable and you are soon immersed in the world created for you and as the series progresses plenty of surprises and twists are thrown up. There is a brief mock-u-mentary on the extras, as well as the obligatory commentaries but to be honest the extras are a little sparse overall. If you a fan of Alan ball then you won't be disappointed and if you enjoy well written, constructed, acted and directed TV series' then this is well worth considering. |
Audio and Subtitles
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| Review Date: January 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Laurent Allard, From GD Luxembourg |
As stated on the Bluray back cover:
Language: English 5.1 DTS-HD, French 5.1 DTS, Latin Spanish 2.0 DTS
Subtitles: English, French, Latin Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese
Let's be precise ;-) |
HBO produces many terrific things and this can stand proudly amongst them
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| Review Date: December 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Veerle De Meyer, Antwerp, Belgium |
True Blood is the first season of what hopefully be a long-running show.
We all know creator Alan Ball for his other hit show 'Six Feet Under' though it still surprised me to see his name pop up on this one. It's a completely other genre, setting and mood but he still accomplishes in his purpose. This proves again that Ball is extremely talented and knows a great story when he sees it.
True Blood is set in the damp, hot, mosquito-infested South. A fictitious town called Bon Temps (from the French; Good Times). Sookie is a simple waitress possessing a special gift, she's telepathic, which makes life just a tiny bit harder for this 26 year old. Until she meets Vampire Bill, who basically stepped out of the rain and into her bar. Sookie proclaims to be a vampire-activist ever since vampires "came out of the coffin" (brilliant pun on words by Charlaine Harris) She soon discovers that she can not read his mind, she saves Bill from drainers (people who drain vampire of their blood to sell for huge fees) and ever since they share a bond. Sometimes this bond leads Sookie into unthinkable situations and other times it lead her to extremely pleasurable and passionate positions.
All the while women are being murdered in this little parish and to acquit her brother, Jason, Sookie needs to find who's doing them.
I liked the idea around vampires roaming the world a lot because not only is the setting very appropriate it reminds everyone of the struggles many minority-groups have to face during their lifetime. The words "God hates Fangs" are shown prominently at the beginning of each episode during the intro. It could easily say something else, gay, black, feminine... The politics around vampires getting the same rights as human beings is extremely fascinating. In the show it's pretty much ridiculed because the one representing 'God' is a reverend and very narrow minded. I think Ball did the right thing incorporating the politics of this issue in the show, since this was overall absent in the books.
The DVD itself comes with a nice little extra, namely a 'documentary' (and I use this term lightly) about vampires being out in the open.
All the merchandise around the show is something I'm completely oblivious too but the DVD and the show itself in popcorn-tv for intelligent people. |
make up your own mind
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| Review Date: October 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kelly Moyer, Surrey England |
| I like most people have read the books and now watched the series. I was dissapointed with the difference between the books and the series, you have to remeber that its "based" on the books. I think if you have not read the books you will love it. When I stopped thinking about the books I really enjoyed it. I think Anna (who plays Sookie) is not bad, I have liked her past characters and in this she is playing sookie for the series not the "book" sookie. Tara has been bought in to explain a few things but I did feel that her stories were a little unnecessary. Sam was one of the best ones in it and felt he was the closest to the book. I think Brit boy done good as Bill, he had a wicked evil look and did an exellent accent. So my reveiw is just to watch it! Its only you can tell if you will enjoy it really, I am glad I watched though and will watch the second series while ignoring that its based on the books. |
I love it, very little to criticise...
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| Review Date: October 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kate, UK |
I saw the first 2 episodes on UK TV and was hooked from the first stereotype spinning scene - even the opening credits signal that nothing is as it seems and the dating couple/redneck scene at the beginning was delightful - I laughed out loud.
As an addiction even worse than V took hold, I ordered and devoured the books, being unable to wait a week for the next installment. This is good ensemble TV with a cast of characters who are surprisingly believable given that they're vampires, telepaths and shape shifters; I began to feel familiar with Bon Temps and its occupants and cared what happened to Sookie, Bill, Tara, Lafayette and Sam (though not so much Jason!). Most of the characters are very true to how I imagined them in the books and the few exceptions and plot deviations mean that you can't assume that you know what is going to happen.
Finally I bought the DVD boxed set and watched it end to end, being unable to bear the suspense any longer. Besides I'll want to watch this quite a few times.
A few small criticisms. Maybe reading the books was a mistake. Since they're written from Sookie's point of view there is much more Bill and Sookie in them and less about the other characters. This pointed up how very little there is of Bill and Sookie in the TV programme, I could have done with a few more (but less dramatic)scenes between the two of them to underline the building relationship. While Tara was my favourite character to start with, I found after episode 7 that the Tara/Mum plotline was boring me.
To summarise, I would say that this was great TV up to the end of episode 7, but slightly went off the boil and turned into a soap opera from 8-12. There is quite a bit of sex, language and violence and the vampires are a pretty ruthless bunch, no happy ending guaranteed - this programme is not for people who like their TV anodyne. It is infinitely more watchable than most things on TV and a grown up series about vampires was long overdue.
I'll be trying to get my hands on the second series as soon as possible.
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Fangtastic!
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| Review Date: October 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mrs Freeman, New Zealand |
As a massive fan of the series of books which are entertaining, sexy and crammed full of plot and wit, I was delighted and dismayed to find out that they had been made into a series. Whilst it's lovely if this captures the characters and is true to the context and setting of the books, normally TV producers slaughter the characters, betraying their motivations, changing the plots and settings and using famous faces instead of talent. I am happy to review that this was not done here! Almost all of the characters were as I imagined them - Bill, Sam, Arlene, Sookie's grandma, and Jason especially. Even though Sookie isn't as curvy as in the books, Anna Paquin did a great job conveying her naivety and sweetness. What I thought was done especially well was the reaction to the characters was the same for me as it was to the characters in the book. You instantly want to know more about Bill and think he is handsome and mysterious straight away, just like Sookie did and you don't like Eric straight away just like Sookie. This is impressive as the book is told from Sookie's point of view so to mimic that is pretty good.
There were some changes mostly to allow for the fact that it was not from Sookie's point of view. Initially I reject changes - most notable being the inclusion of a loud Tara and annoying Jessica. However, even I have to admit that after a few episodes, they really grew on me. Tara for three reasons - a) Tara has her own back story and when she chills and stops being quite as foul mouthed and obnoxious, a really funny sensitive character emerges b) it's good for Sookie to have someone to give her a reality check and c) a small Southern town with one African American - unlikely (especially if the opening credits are to be believed). In addition, both of the new characters bring more plot and even better - even those who have memorised the book don't know what's going to happen so there is an additional element of suspense.
The episodes all end on a cliff hanger and if I hadn't had the DVD then I would be screaming at the TV to show the next one. Excellent drama and suspense maintained throughout the whole show - there don't seem to be any dud episodes. I am currently watching series two on TV and the suspense kills me every week!
On the con side, for some this is too violent and has too much sex. Whilst it took a while to get used to, those who found Twilight to be twee nonsense (that an allegedly dangerous, all powerful vampire is a virgin and is never violent - hmm) this is much more likely. I prefer the Bill/Sookie scenes as they are more sensitive and romantic rather than graphic. Also the slightly elongated plot with Tara's mother got tired quite quickly and I found myself wanting to watch more of the main action, particularly Sookie and Bill.
However these small points aside, I think HBO/Alan Ball did a great job here of staying true to the characters, following the relationships. The dialogue is great and believable, a plot full of intrigue, murder mystery, romance and the opening theme tune fantastic. All in all, a five star job.
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Hot! hot! Hot!
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| Review Date: August 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ms. T. Solman, Hampshire, England |
The first time i heard about this show my first thought was "oh great, i bet this is gonna be cheesy and boring" OH HOW WRONG I WAS! this show is awesome! I have told everyone i know that they have to watch it!
I like that Vampires are out in the open and trying to claim the same rights humans have, its a very different take on vampires and i like that, fair enough, yes they drink blood, cant go out in sunlight, very strong, etc but this vampire show is different to any vampire story you have read or seen before.
I have just completed season one online and can't wait for it to come out to buy in October. The leads are hot and wow there are some manager hot naughty scenes in this show. I could go on forever but really i recommend to everyone to watch an episode and you will be hooked! I am!
as you can tell i highly recommend this :-) |
Ignore the bad ratings
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| Review Date: September 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Claudia, |
This programme is the BOMB! Honestly, it is.
Ok, so being 16, you're probably all thinking "oh great, a stupid teenager who listens to that crappy club music, and watches those crappy mtv programmes" but guess what? I don't do any of those things! In fact, i'm the complete opposite. I enjoy listening to classical music and watching "come dine with me" on channel 4. I just wanted to make that clear so you didn't think the only reason i hold a love for this programme is because of the sex and the blood and gore. But what DO I like about it, apart from the seriously hot men (i know very typical of a teenager), is the script, characters and the setting of the scenes. There's always so much going on at the same time. It never gets boring.
Normally on a friday night I watch the tudors, I'm a huge history buff, so i've always taken a liking to anything to do with Henry VIII, but since watching true blood, i don't feel the world is coming to end if I've missed an episode (even though we record them anyway). True Blood however, is a completely different story - literally -
If you love vampires (And twilight and sex) you'll love true blood. It's the got the romance like twilight, but has that little bit extra. I'm bored of twilight now, and after watching the first episode of true blood, it occurred to me that Stephanie meyer (Author of twilight) has got the whole edward reading minds, but not being able to read Bella's, out of the true blood books.
Ok, so what's true blood all about? It would take me freakin' ages to tell you every detail, but I will tell you the basics.
So basically vampires are living among us and the world is aware of it. The japanese have invented this synthetic blood called "Tru Blood" (hence the name). And yes, i've spelt it correctly. But of course, there are vampires that find it a discrimination to go against their natural instincts, so they only feed off people. But what's weird is that many people are willingly allowing the vampires the drink from them. And what's even more weirder is the fact people have sex with them (fangbangers).
Then we meet Sookie, a telepathic waitress who's a 25 year old virgin (being able to read minds has given her an insight into the typical man's mind) and is all for the vampire rights. She then meets Bill, a 130 year old vampire.
There's so many little things that make this different from your typical vampire programme or movie.
I just beg you to give it a chance. And don't watch one episode. You have to start from the beginning and keep watching it. |
The best tv series of 2009!
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| Review Date: January 25, 2010 |
| Reviewer: mummy spoon, South Yorkshire |
What can I say I absolutely loved this, I didn't get to see it on tv but decided to buy it after reading and loving the books.
I still prefer the books and they are a little different to this show but still, I was not dissapointed.True Blood is more quirky than the books are and adds some comedy to the mix, particularly with the new character Tara, despite not liking the changes initially , after about 10 minutes I started to like it for what it is and tried not to keep comparing it to the novels.
For those who don't already know, True Blood follows the residents of a town called Bon Temps and the arrival of their first vampire since they had revealed themselves to the world two years ago.The main story is around a resident called Sookie Stackhouse, she has the ability to hear people's thoughts and the vampire known as Bill takes a liking to her.
I won't give away the whole story but be warned, there is lots of sex, violence and blood, if you can handle all this then buy it ,NOW! |
Civil Rights Parable Where Vampires Are The More Human
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| Review Date: January 18, 2010 |
| Reviewer: PhilsterNo1, England |
Advance hype and teasers made True Blood look like a silly cartoon, for me, but I decided to watch the first episode and wound up watching all of them, despite many many reservations.
Vampires come out of the coffin and demand respect and consideration from the norms, after the Japanese pioneer a synthetic blood drink that makes bloodsucking a thing of the past (for some). The unbelieveably named Sookie Stackhouse has ESP but where vamps are concerned, she can hear nothing and becomes dangerously attracted to the new dark stranger in her watering hole, Bill Compton. Much trouble as their worlds collide and a serial killer goes on the rampage.
I endorse many of the criticisms already published here. The dialogue was dreadful, the characterisation annoying - with all the females yelling all the time and never, ever, listening to anyone else's point of view or advice - the setting a bit boring and the heroine a dimwit with no perspicacity whatsoever.
A friend tells me Season Two is worse. Shudder.
Plus points? Well, some good music in it, and an original idea, if poorly executed. It was sexy too, which made a nice change. The men were much funnier and more sympathetic than the ladies. Some romantic moments went well.
Too clumsy and annoying. Best wait for repeats on telly. American imports were at their best in the nineties. Check out the horror comedy episodes dotted throughout The X Files. Now that was good. |
Surprising and interesting vampire series.
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| Review Date: January 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Vinnie Holst-jensen, Denmark |
This vampire series is much different from other vampire series I have seen. It sticks to the codes for vampire horror movies, but at the same time it can be seen as a psychological and social realistic film about prejudice and narrow-mindedness. It made me question which barriers it is ok to break, and what individuals are willing to do for love.
The actors played refreshingly realistic with humour, and some of the dialogues were remarkable.
I cannot wait to see season 2 and 3.
Vinnie |
Excellent series
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| Review Date: November 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Sneeks, |
| I couldn't cope with all the ad breaks on the terrestrial TV broadcast of this so decided to order the BD version instead. It is a fantastic series and I'd highly recommend buying. Video and audio quality is great. |
Absolutely Brilliant!!!
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| Review Date: November 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: P. Jenkinson, Ireland |
I saw one episode of this series on TV and was hooked and ordered the complete season immediately!If you are a vampire fan and like a touch of humour then this may be for you. Be prepared though it has a lot of sex scenes and they are quite explicit so keep the dvd away from younger folk as this is a very grown up Twilight!!
The leading female is Sookie who is a waitress with a quirk-she can read minds.Vampires are now recognised members of society and the story kicks off when one enters the bar where Sookie works and so changes the course of her life.She is drawn into a new world where she is mingling with vampires,shapeshiftersand demons as well as being romanced by some very charismatic vampires.
Very enjoyable if you like losing yourself in the paranormal. I have since read the books that the series is based on and realise they are only very loosely based but that dosent seem to matter both can be enjoyed equally and I am looking forward to Season 2 on DVD. |
Fantastic and addictive!
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| Review Date: November 11, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ms. J. Goodman, England |
| Don't let the kddies watch this! It is very erotic with some jaw-dropping sex scenes, especially in the early episodes. Having read the books (all of which are excellent and well-written), the series does veer some way from the original stories, but this in no way detracts from the first season of True Blood. The DVD is worth buying for the series theme tune ("Bad Things") alone! Can't wait for the second series! |
Fantastic series
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| Review Date: September 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Lindsay Aslan, England |
I am reviewing the series rather than the bluray here, because I feel I have to say how good this programme is. I think that it is highly entertaining but definitely adults only because there is so much sex in it- I had to be ready with my remote to control the sound because there were scenes were it would flit to a very full on sex scene.
I also think that the series gets better as it goes along- which is good because I was worried that the novelty of the idea of vampires coming out of the 'coffin' would wear off, but this isn't the case.
Highly recommended. |
im hooked
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| Review Date: September 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Cater, uk |
| I ordered the bluray from amazon in the states as its not region coded - so will play on a uk player. |
One bite and you're hooked!
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| Review Date: November 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: G.E.Manton, Shotton, Deeside, North Wales |
That's exactly what happened when i saw the very first episode of this amazing series!
There are so many vampire-type series out there that all seem to go along the same lines and you know exactly what's going to happen.....well True Blood is DIFFERENT!! It holds you on the edge of your seat and has some amazing twists and turns.
Based on the Sookie Stackhouse books,this series has been very cleverly made.
It's SEXY! It's SCAREY! and the soundtrack is just amazing too,you just can't get enough of it!!! |
FANTASTIC SHOW!!!
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| Review Date: October 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Kerswell, Surbiton |
| Fantastic series! Just watched the Blu-ray Season 1 back to back, I NEED to see Season 2 NOW! Superb!!! |
Amazin new take on Vampires
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| Review Date: October 16, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Chi, |
Honestly there hasn't been much in the way of indepth portrayal of the natures, both good and bad, since the advent of Twilight, where the level of romanticism grew. I was hesitant to start watching where I thought would be another carbon copy portrayal however I was greatly surprised.
I love this show! It shows brilliantly aspects of our society today that are hideous; racism, sexism and bigotry, through not only human characters but also towards the vampires.
Sookie and Bill are so lovable, I even like the accent now! Set in a backwater hick town it truly is an enhanced parody of our closed-minded society, with all the excitment and well placed humour of the world of vampires.
A must watch! |
the best tv show ever unique and AWESOME
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| Review Date: August 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mr. A. C. Pedley, birmingham |
I have not even watched the whole first season yet so i can not give an absolute definite review of this show, but from what i have seen ( episodes 1-4)this show justs gets better and better with every episode, i love how the episodes of this show all end on a cliffhanger i also like the maturity of this show and how they display this through the shows plots.
i have only seen episodes 1-4 of the first season but i have also seen previes for the other first season episodes and for the 2nd half of the second season. there is so much i can say for this show but for me the words AWESOME and INDESTRUCTABLE describe it best as i can see this show being renewed for many many more seasons. |
Why bother reviewing if you don't like it?!
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| Review Date: August 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. R. Heath, Swindon, UK |
I really don't understand when people who dislike something take time out of their own lives to get on the internet and tell other people they didn't like. Let's face it, the only people that are gonna buy this are people familiar with the show. You're not gonna buy it blind are you? The review should simply be about the quality of the product, not whether you like the show or not.
However, that's not the say the show is simply briliant. As far removed from Alan Ball's previous show SIX FEET UNDER as possible, but just as good in my opinion.
My review of the quality of the DVD set will follow, once it's released and evaluated. |
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