I mentioned this on Facebook and two people commented that they didn't care for the series because of its explicit sex scenes and/or bad writing. I was asked why I stuck with it, so other than the fact I have to be at home sitting on my ass, here are my thoughts:

Initially I had mixed feelings about the shows’ audaciousness -- and yes, it has very explicit sex and Grindhouse-style pulp violence. For me a question is always, who, if anyone is being exploited, and here “the gaze” is very multi-directional. Therefore, I don’t mind the sex other than the degree it overlaps with the violence (which makes me squeamish) which, being about vampires, it does. I can understand not liking that the show is plenty gratuitous. But I do like its thematic playfulness, its cinematography (much of the gorgeous Louisiana landscape) and just that it was fun …and a little scary. But there are more things I like.

From the first episode there were MANY balls in the air. Could the show sustain all these storylines? I was reminded of Twin Peaks which seemed so brilliant and addictive it’s first season or two, but then fell apart with all its disparate plotlines and wackiness.

In these episodes of True Blood, I found the characters and dialog good enough to laugh out loud and move forward an unpredictable plot (at least within the context of it being about vampires.) I do not think the writing is bad nor is the acting. The actors are solid and I think the writing (dialog and structure) is very clever for TV, layered with references, but also true to the characters it is creating. Some of these characters may seem like “types” but given genre, at least some of the key characters (Tara, Sookie, Adele, Bill,) have satisfying dimensionality. In the episodes I watched the plot is advancing, with effective cling-hangers. More importantly, I enjoy all the allegories for social and psychological ills and for human frailties. It explores family, addiction, civil rights and liberties, difference and sameness, homophobia and racism and sexism, identity choice, inclusion and exclusion -- and of course love, lust, the value of life (the latter few of which are surely always part of vampire stories.) I enjoy when a piece can be of a genre but still feel fun and fresh, and when it offers timely social commentary. The writing is very self-aware and when it slides towards cliché, it quickly corrects itself.

I've learned since that True Blood is based on a series of books about the heroine Sookie Stackhouse. I do not know whether or not these books are good, but hopefully the plot has some direction and will make bring viewers towards some cumulative meaning. I read that the character of Tara was changed from white to black for the show, and since she is one of the most engaging and interesting characters, that was a good move.

To put this in another context, I also just saw Clint Eastwood’s The Changeling with Angelina Jolie. This is the new movie about child-abduction, police corruption, mental institutions and, to top it off, the serial-killing of children. Although I loved Mystic River and liked Million Dollar Baby, I really regretted seeing The Changeling. I won’t say it is bad film since it seems to be a very straight forward retelling of “a true story,” which might do something for someone. But after watching, I felt I hadn’t learned any human truth, nor new perspectives, I was asked no new questions – just sat through horror upon horror upon horror, and wondered if the fact that it was a Clint Eastwood movie was a good enough reason to stay in the theater (for me, it wasn’t.)

It seemed ironic to me that I should feel I was getting a fuller portrait of the human condition from True Blood, a silly vampire TV show, rather than a film that may get Academy Awards. But then again I’m not surprised since sometimes it takes the non-literal material to explore some of the darker truths with humor, honesty, and freedom.

On another note, HBO seems to discontinue its shows mid-plot often (I’m thinking of Big Love and John of Cincinnati.) So, I hope if I continue to watch True Blood, and if I continue to like it, the show is given a proper ending! And please make recommendations since I’ll be sitting on my ass a few more weeks.

Last Edited on 10-Nov-2008 11:17 AM

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Well, I don't want to go too far with this True Blood defense, since I don't feel that strongly about it -- just found it evocative and clever and scary, with interesting characters. I don't have a special interest in the vampire genre at all. Many years ago I read a couple Anne Rice books and saw a few Buffy episodes. I could understand what others saw in them but for me they were just okay.

Glad to hear Big Love is coming back. I agree it was hard to know where John from Cincinnati was going. Maybe nowhere but out to sea, and John himself was awfully annoying. But I had a few Cali friends from surf culture who loved it and they felt ripped off by its abrupt cancellation. So I guesss I feel like an advocate for more entertainment that explores sub-cultures and alternate ideas.

Other than the political satire shows, I can't find much I like on TV these days. I haven't checked out Heroes but will try to remember to catch 30 Rock this season, and maybe The Office. In movies, I hope I can find a way to see the Bill Maher film before it leaves theaters and it seems I completely missed Spike Lee's Miracel at St. Anna, which looked interesting. I saw the current Phillip Seymour Hoffman flick and really enjoyed its structure and strange poetry!

Last Edited on 10-Nov-2008 2:30 PM

A South Park episode I just saw poked fun at the things I think are the things that are OK to laugh at about the whole Vampire thing. Kids getting too much into it and sort of trying to act like vampires! I mean, vampires are probably the most glamorous of all monsters. Who wants to look like a Frankenstein? No one. Or a mummy?! No one. Or a werewolf.. well maybe that one's cool. And they have this fame of being super sexy, having sex-slaves and all.. I read a vampire book some good years ago and it was very entertaining but I don't know if I would read another one. I'm not exactly the glamorous type.

I haven't seen True Blood, but regardless of it being about vampires or not, good TV is good TV, and good storytelling usually hooks you regardless of what the theme is! And I totally understand what you mean about Changeling being a dramatic, somewhat artsy and deep movie and failing at moving you and giving you a fresh perspective on life. Sometimes they try too hard and leave you feeling like "WTF?". It's like making a great drawing that is more like a sketch, and then trying to replicate it with time and care, and trying to get it perfect, and failing to achieve the original energy of the sketch drawing. There's this awesomeness to just not thinking too much about doing something that sometimes makes it better.

And I can see that in a TV show that is more about 'straight to the jugular' (heh) entertainment, having a better feel and just better engagement than a contrived movie that just tries too hard.