IMDB: True Blood
“The series follows Sookie Stackhouse, a barmaid living in Louisiana who can read people’s minds, and how her life is turned upside down when the Vampire Bill, walks into her place of employment two years after vampires ‘came out of the coffin’ on national television.“
Although I continually say that I think the show is campy, I continue to watch it religiously each week. I tune in to see Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer bring the characters of Sookie and Bill Compton to life. Albeit campily. I even love “Bad Things” by Jace Everett, the theme song. He sounds remarkably like Chris Isaak.
I read the book and am still trying to figure out exactly why there needed to be an addition of addiction to the TV adaptation. In the show people some people become addicted to vampire blood (known as “V”). It gives them heightened awareness, healing abilities, increased sex drive and in some instances the same effects as dropping acid. I think the series could have done without it (personally). I also believe that it is not too consistent – Sookie in the first episodes finds herself near death and Vampire Bill gives her his blood to live. She never experienced any acid-like effects.
The season finale ties out the first book and sets us up for the next book. The next book in the series by Charlaine Harris is titled “Living Dead in Dallas“. In it we meet the religious fanatics, the Dallas vampires and learn of the demise of one of our main characters. Also in the second book, we are introduced to Tara. Which is odd because Tara is already a main character in HBO series. She is portrayed by Rutina Wesley.
Another thing that bothers me is that I do not see Eric in my head as he is portrayed by Alexander Skarsgard. He was supposed to have been a Viking before becoming a vampire. But, I just do not see it on the show.
We were introduced to a new vampire, created by Bill, who is not noted in either of the two books I read. Interesting.
Well, we have finished the season, we will wait for two to start. I will read the other books to glean clues as to who the “Bill made” vampire is.
While looking for images for this blog I came across the one below. For you Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) fans…enjoy!
November 23, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I’m pretty sure the series is only based loosely on the books. it is HBO so they have to add lots of intensity..i guess through sex and drugs
November 24, 2008 at 1:33 am
It is not too loosely based. The real difference is that Tara is not in book one (introduced in book two for only like half a chapter) and the introduction of “v” into the storyline.
The books are pretty decent reads. It was halfway through the season when I picked the first one up. Which was cheating, because then I knew what was coming when my coworkers did not. I find it fascinating the last episode closing up book one and opening book two.
It kind of makes me want to read books associated with other shows to see how they are followed. Of course I know that it is a rare find to have a movie be as great as a book. CGI and great cinematography just cannot compete with one’s own imagination.
December 15, 2008 at 4:39 am
Read all the books, and you will want another one once you are done…just like i dont want to wait for the next season of the series…i dont want to wait for the next book…….and as you further get into the books, you might just find that Eric is truely cast very well. You can also see Skarsgard in another HBO series Generation Kill. He is truely a good actor.
March 2, 2009 at 9:15 am
He and beautiful…
March 31, 2009 at 8:35 am
Guess they just took the artistic license, that’s all. Or as Lafayette would have said it, that all.
August 11, 2009 at 6:14 pm
i have a feeling that the reason Sookie doesn’t have an effect like the others is cos she is soooo different from the others, hello the others are terrified of vamps, can’t hear thoughts and she has the whole ‘twilight’ effect with the fact that she smells different to Bill (kinda like Bella and Edward).