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After just two episodes, my family is already addicted to HBO’s new vampire series True Blood from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball and based on Charlaine Harris’ southern vampire books.
Hearing that the majority of early reviews on the show weren’t very good, I went into watching the first episode expecting the worse. But instead I fell headfirst into the world of Sookie Stackhouse.
So hearing the news today that HBO has renewed True Blood for a second season, means that I’m not the only one who thinks this new show is a fun ride.
Before I go any further, I must inform those who have children to be careful watching True Blood. The show is rated TVMA with adult content, violence, nudity and language — and it’s not uncommon for a sex scene to pop out of nowhere on this show (and not a mild scene, mind you). I had to scramble pretty fast the first time I watched the show to change the channel so my 11-year-old wouldn’t see.
Watching two of HBO’s special featurettes “True Blood-Lines: A New Type: and True Blood-Lines; Vampire Legends last night, has got me even more geared up to watch the show.
In the first episode “Strange Love,” Bon Temps, Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), cursed with telepathic abilities, meets 173-year-old distinguished-looking vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), whose thoughts she can’t read, which intrigues her. Imagine hearing the thoughts of every person you meet, especially as a twenty-something waitress having to wait on red-blooded American males who are wanting a “shake to go with their fries,” if you know what I mean.
For the past two years, vampires have come “out of the coffin” after the invention of synthetic blood (you can buy a six pack of True Blood at every corner store), and are now in the process of integrating into society, though they face opposition from religious groups and others.
After saving Bill from the creepy Rattrays couple, a pair of “vampire drainers,” in the bar parking lot, Sookie wants to know even more about Bill.
This doesn’t make her boss Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell) very happy as he has a crush on Sookie. Her overprotective best friend Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley) isn’t thrilled with the idea either.
Sookie’s brother Jason (Ryan Kwasten) is the town lady’s man and known for ending up in trouble. After having rough sex with a “fangbanger” (a person who has had sex with a vampire), Jason thinks he killed Arlene by accident and is brought in by the authorities for questioning.
The outspoken Tara quits her job at a home improvement store and starts working as a bartender for Sam, promising to keep Sookie away from the vampire in return.
As the episode ends, the Rattrays take revenge on Sookie by beating her up in the parking lot, leaving her for dead.
In the second episode “The First Taste,” Bill rescues Sookie by making her drink his blood, which leaves her with heightened senses. Vampire blood can heal humans, though Bill tells Sookie not to spread the word around. Vampire blood is already highly sought after for intensifying the sexual experience.
Drinking his blood also makes Bill more aware of Sookie, being able to find her in a split-second.
The sheriff’s department releases Jason for Arlene’s murder after making him watch the video of the two having sex. It turns out Arlene tricked him into thinking that he killed her. So if Jason left, who killed Arlene? But that doesn’t slow down Jason, who is already working on Dawn, another waitress from Merlotte’s.
Guess who ends up dead in their mobile home? The Rattrays — the sheriff’s department isn’t sure of a tornado actually touched down, but how else would a mobile home be overturned?
Sookie asks Bill about it and he admits that he has great strength…. He tells her he has killed a few people in the past by accident and before he had access to synthetic blood. Sookie’s lips are sealed — the Rattrays wanted her dead.
Knowing her Gran Adele (Lois Smith) would love to meet Bill and have him speak at her Civil War historical group, Sookie invites Bill to her house. Jason and Tara are not impressed and Jason argues with Bill over vampires having rights. Bill is hoping that a new bill will pass that will allow him to take over his relative’s antebellum estate where he is now living.
Taking a walk, Bill and Sookie share a night time stroll around the neighborhood, stopping in front of his estate. Sookie offers to help Bill find an electrician to help him with renovations. During this conversation, we learn that he had a wife and children that died before him, buried in the local cemetery. And Sookie’s parents, who died in a flash flood, were spooked by her telepathic ability. Sookie encourages him to attempt to hypnotize her, but it doesn’t work. She jokes that he doesn’t seem to be a very “good” vampire, but Bill reminds her that he did save her life. They end up sharing their first hot-and-heavy kiss until Bill’s fangs materialize, and he backs down.
Meanwhile, Tara tries to share a moment with Jason after Sookie and Bill leave, but Jason is clueless about Tara’s crush on him. Jason picks up the waitress Dawn Green (Lynn Collins), going back to her place for sex, of course. He discovers she has fang bites on her as well. The next day Dawn leaves him tied up to the bed when she heads to work.
After working at the bar, Sookie stops by Bill’s place to give him the name of an electrician, but is surprised to find a pack of bloodthirsty (and not particularly nice-looking) vampires answering the door. One of the vampires is bald and covered in tattoos, just like the one in Arlene’s sex video.
In the third episode coming up on Sunday, Sookie is not so sure that having a vampire for a boyfriend is such a good idea, after meeting his blood-thirsty acquaintances (pretty scary scene). And from the previews, it looks like Dawn is going to end up dead. Will that make Jason the suspect again?
By the way, I LOVE the way Bill says “Sookie.” I keep trying to copy the way he says it — Soooooookie!
True Blood airs at 9 p.m. CST on HBO. Check HBO.com for additional showings. Want more True Blood? Visit Bloodcopy for an inside look at the show’s characters.