True Blood premiered on HBO this week and there have been a lot of mixed opinions about it. Surprisingly, I liked it for the most part. I think it’s because I was ready to be disappointed based on the early reviews I read online. I figured Alan Ball would make it his own and *loosely* base it on the Charlaine Harris series.
Things I could have done without:
-Lots of graphic sex including the weird vampire growling as he’s doing Maudette.
-Cliched southern characters.
-Crazy shrill dialogue for the Tara character, WTF?
-Wimpy looking Eric.
-Bill looking like he desperately could use a shower and a little hair of the dog.
Things I liked:
-The campiness of the horror.
-Anna Paquin as Sookie, I think she did a pretty good job.
-Grandma Stackhouse, her childlike sweetness about Bill talking to her civil war group was cute.
-Merlottes, it was just how I had pictured it in my head.
I definitely want to see more of the series. I lucked out and had a free HBO weekend for the first episode but I’m hoping that it will be on iTunes soon. I really don’t want to subscribe to HBO just for this. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can find it on YouTube and as a free rental from Blockbuster. Anyone else seen it? What did you think?
Update: Okay so I caved and signed up for HBO. It really wasn’t as expensive as a thought it would be (on $8 extra per month). I watched the first episode again and I just couldn’t resist. I’ve been keeping an eye on iTunes but I had a sinking feeling that HBO wasn’t going to put it on there so that more people would go subscribe to HBO. I guess their nefarious plan worked (on me anyway). I’ll let you know how it goes.
-Vicky
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September 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Oo, I have another one that I really liked!
I LOVED the fact that Grandma Stackhouse was reading a Charlaine Harris book when Sookie came home! *Grins*
Oh, and I liked the fact that Sam’s second form came into play so early on – I was laughing my butt off while my mother sat there looking at me like I was loosing it.
All in all, it’s a good show – as you said, the graphic sex I could do without. Merlotte’s was perfect beyond reason. Here’s hoping the rest of the season turns out well!
Cheers!
September 20th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I’ve seen both of the episodes that have aired so far — I think they are pretty good (I loved Alan Ball’s previous show Six Feet Under…) but I truly love the whole Sookie book series and really want this show to stay true to the books…
I agree with previous comments that they are making Bill less atractive then he should be — that is NOT how I pictured him — the actor playing him is fine – but makeup / costume folks need to spiff him up — he’s not supposed to look underfed and ghostly !!!!
Tara’s part is bigger in the show then the books – at least so far…
I LOVE Sam — the actor they picked is perfect and charming and always makes me think that Sookie is missing the boat by not trying a relationship with him ! (I’ve read all the books and am still hoping that at some point her character DOES acknowledge that he loves her !)
I’ll definitely keep watching….
October 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I guess it depends on where you’re reading the reviews, I’ve read more positive than negative and they have already renewed the show for a second season. I love the show so far, I think the actor’s are great. There is no way possible to please everyone, especially with fans of the book. Alan Ball’s doing an excellent job…everyone knows that movies or television will never compare to the books it’s based on, but the fact that I can’t wait each week for it to come on is saying something and I’m a hardcore Vampire fan.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
My friend & I are big fans of the Stookie books and were trilled and scared at the same time when we heard about the TV series.
I mean what if they mess it up!!!
Things we love is well Ann Paquin, a good fit for Stookie, sweet looking, love the house she lives in, just like we imagined, it same goes for the bar and Sam.
But we don”t like all the bad langues, there is hardly any in the books, same goes for all the graphic sex.
We don’t like Tara, I mean in the books she’s not a main charactar and Jason well, let’s just say we thought of him differently..
Bill looks like he could use a shower and clean clothes,
also Eric is not as we hoped for, he suppost to be this big great looking men and so far what we’ve seen of him is wel……not that! And he is our favorite character in the book together with Stookie.
Hopefully the maker of the tv serie will listen to the fans and tone it down a little on the sex and langues, the books didn’t need and the same god for the series!
October 17th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Oh my what to say..
Tara character did get on my nerves, but she’s grown on me & her cousin the cook (forgot the characters name) lol he is so out there, love him!
I can’t wait to see this sundays episode: who do think killed the grandmother?
November 6th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I have watched the whole first nine episodes and love the series! They did mess up on a few of the castings. Don’t like Bill. He is not as handsome as he should be and Eric is not what I pictured either. He is supposed to be of Viking genes. I pictured some one taller, more muscles and a lot more gorgeous. Kind of like Fabio style. I like that they are taking the time to explore the relationships with the characters. When everything else about a series fails it always falls back on the characters to hold it together. I am looking forward to seeing the new season with baited breath.
January 20th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Okay, I’m waiting for season 2 to start. I was hooked and even my husband (who does not read, and picked on me for reading vampire books) loved the show. He watched with me every Sunday and looked forward to it. My biggest OMG moment now is: I read on that ROBERT PATTINSON (the Twilight hunk-Edward Cullen) tried out for True Blood!!!!! The turned him down?? What the h—-. I bet they are regretting that BIG time. Anyway, I loved the book series and the show goes okay with it. TOO much Sex. My daughter is almost 11, her and I went to see Twilight 6 times. But for True Blood I have to send her to her room and make sure she does not come out and sit with the remote in my hand so I can MUTE the volume when the sex starts. The books are NOTHING like that. I like Tara in the show and the the acting, but it’s not the same as in the books at all. Jason on the show acts too like like a dumbass than I pictures. Sam and Merlote’s is perfect. Overall, If I had never read the books and didn’t have them to compare to, the show TRUE BLOOD, (without all the sex) Is great.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:00 am
urgh!too much sex!