Ranking the New Shows: #8 – True Blood

Crap! Fall is here and we’ve falling behind on our rankings.  Let’s try to speed this up.
“True Blood” is up at number 8. The show is incredibly faithful to the whole vampire thing… and by that I mean it sucks.

The show: “True Blood“
Synopsis: Girl bangs vampire.
Debuted: September 7th, 2008
Our take: It’s a good thing for HBO’s “True Blood” that I ranked these shows before the second season came out. While the show’s Nielsen ratings have doubled from last year, they lost at least two viewers in the TV Casualties screening room.

I gave the show 14 or 15 episodes before I threw in the towel. Looking back, the pilot struck me as mediocre, especially considering the talent behind the series. From that point, the series went downhill quickly. I was such a big fan of Alan Ball’s “Six Feet Under” that when I first heard about HBO developing this series, I ran out and read all of the books it’s based on.  I haven’t hated a show this much since “Nip/Tuck,” and I might hate this one more because I had so much invested in it.

What it would need to do to keep me watching: There’s so much wrong with “True Blood” that I can’t imagine it surviving any of the surgical removals I’d recommend. Mainly Anna Paquin. I can’t recall encountering a more obnoxious, irrational, and just plain dumb main character in any book, show, or movie.

Instant Reaction: True Blood “Nothing But the Blood,” 6/14/09

“Doesn’t it always seem like you’re apologizing or yelling at me?” Sam Merlotte said to Sookie in the “True Blood” season 2 premiere.   Yikes.  He basically nailed the biggest flaw of the first season.  Sookie is petty, whiny and snotty.  For someone that can read others’ thoughts, she has very little empathy.  At times it’s hard to watch.   Hopefully that bit of dialogue means that the writers are aware of this problem.

And with that one line, Sam became a more complex and interesting character.  It also marked the first time in the show that someone got the best of an argument with Sookie, which is pretty unbelievable considering how irrational she is.  Still, it was a step in the right direction.

The show seems to be taking a more complex track altogether.  The first season focused almost entirely on the murder mystery and Sookie and Bill’s romance with the subplots left a bit messy.  This year’s debut introduced much clearer long term storylines for Lafayette, Jason, Bill, Jessica, Sam and Tara (though Eric’s role is admittedly mysterious at this point).  Even the two cops seem to have a defined conflict and purpose.  Plus Bud had a spectacular square dancing shirt.

Signs of progress in the sophomore year? Yes.  Still, “True Blood” needs to make Sookie more endearing or they risk losing a huge portion of the audience.  After all, only about 50% of the population is going to be won over by hot vampires.

Also of note:  the episode opens with something of a big twist for Charlaine Harris fans.  The body discovered in the back of the car outside of Merlotte’s that served as the cliffhanger of the 1st season?  It’s not Lafayette like it is in the books.  Nope.  It’s Miss Jeanatte of insane (and fake) exorcism fame.

Tonight’s the Night: True Blood Season 2

Season 2 of “True Blood” premieres tonight at 9 pm. We’ve gathered up a slew of videos and pics to satisfy your blood lust over those last few hours. We’ll also have an instant response up tonight shortly after the episode airs, so be sure to check back.

Here Stephen Moyer goes way out of his way (and well off the red carpet) to pose for photos and sign autographs for fans. He actually seems like a really nice guy:

Hollywood Access interviews several key cast members at the S2 premiere in LA:

HBO’s S2 Trailer:

Photos:

Remember to check back tonight for the TV Casualties instant response to “Nothing but the Blood,” the S2 opener of “True Blood“.

True Blood, Season 1: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

One part small town murder mystery, one part paranormal romance, and quirky comedy to taste – “True Blood” is a delicious cocktail of genres.

The show’s title comes from the name of a synthetic blood beverage that has allowed vampires to come out of the coffin and rock it among the living. I think you know what that means. Hot girl on vampire action and pla-enty of it, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

One such bloodsucker has recently moved to the tiny burg of Bon Temps, Louisiana, home of a telepathic waitress slash blond bombshell by the name of Sookie Stackhouse. That rascally vamp’s name? Bill. Vampire Bill Compton. Coincidentally (or is it!?) a string of young female residents start turning up murdered. Who the hell done it?

Alan Ball’s vampire series came with a wide range of high expectations, both as Ball’s follow up to “Six Feet Under” and as the adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ bestselling Sookie Stackhouse series. Rabid fans of each had wildly different expectations. The possibilities seemed endless. Would this be an HBO version of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer?” (Fun fact: Ball claims to have never watched the Joss Whedon series.) Would it lean to the quirky or scary side?

TV Casualties Rating:

Created by: Alan Ball

Starring: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten

Season Premiere: 09/07/08

DVD Release: 05/19/09

Nielsen Rating: 2.4 million viewers

Metacritic Score: 64/100

The biggest question for fans of the books: Who would play heroine/narrator Sookie? Oscar winner Anna Paquin landed the role to a mixed reaction. She had the reputation, though she wasn’t much of a match in the blond bombshell department. How’d she do?

Not great, unfortunately. Paquin plays Sookie a little too airheaded and lacks the charisma to carry the series the way the character does in the books. Don’t get me wrong, I would happily forgive the mismatch in looks in exchange for a strong performance. She doesn’t deliver. She’s so uncharismatic, in fact, that she often borders on unlikable.

Conversely, Stephen Moyer brings an understated charm to Vampire Bill. There is a lot of subtle humor in his drawn out delivery, which is a far cry from Paquin’s pouting and yelling.

Whether that’s a bad acting choice or bad writing is certainly questionable, though. All of the female characters often come off as shrill and irrational, while the men get the bulk of the funny lines and are generally more generous. The second most likable character after Bill is Sookie’s dimwitted hornball brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten.) Despite the fact that he’s a selfish, womanizing prick, he grows into one of the most sympathetic characters and the primary source of comedy. The writers aren’t nearly so inspired when writing for the girls.

Similarly, the murder mystery is mishandled. The basic plot elements follow the book faithfully enough, but the pacing is erratic and suspense is practically non-existent. The dramatic reveals weren’t.

On the other hand, the show pulls off the spooky deep south atmosphere well. From Bill’s decrepit yet distinguished house to a bevy of mossy exterior locations, it all looks pretty kick ass.

“True Blood” also makes for a weird juxtaposition of lighthearted humor and graphic sex scenes that come pretty damn close to raunch-o-rama.

So what does that all add up to? Honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel. I am curious to see where the second season (premiers June 14th) will go, which must be a good sign. Maybe what happens next will ultimately cement my feelings about season one.

Hankering for more vampy goodness?
Check out our awesome vamp-friendly handmade finds here!