In the last week or two, I’ve seen a lot of press on HBO’s series True Blood, in which the program is referred to as a soap opera. Since I recently watched the first season on DVD, I decided to write about it here. A few months ago, it was on sale for under $20 for the season set, though unfortunately the season two set is still too much, and without HBO I have no idea when I will see that or season three which is premiering in the next few days. While I’ve only seen the first season of the television show, I have read the first eight full-length novels that Charlaine Harris has written about Sookie Stackhouse and her friends and foes. This post does reveal plot lines, so if one has never watched, they may want to skip due to spoilers.
What I find amusing in articles calling True Blood a soap opera is how I as a reader never even equated the show to a serialized program or even the books even if situations carry over from novel to novel. Perhaps it is the year wait between each novel that makes me have a different point of view. I started reading the Southern Vampire series of books years ago, as I discovered two or three of the novels at a local Waldenbooks chain store, which is now out of business. The books were a sore thumb in the science fiction and fantasy section as the covers were colorful and glittery. There was an instant attraction as that was completely unexpected in that part of the store. Yes, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case how different it was attracted me to pick it up and see if I would be interested in reading these books.
True Blood the television series though is very different than the novels. While the show has some comedic moments, I found the books more humorous. The sex in the books was also tame in comparison. Each novel also has some sort of a mystery story element, while obviously the show had an overreaching story arc. The character focus is also different. In both versions Sookie and Bill are a major focus, as are Sam and Grandma until her death. On the television show, the character that is the most changed though is Tara. She’s not in the first novels, and here she is a major character, who now works at Merlotte’s, a bit in love with Jason and African-American. Tara and Sam never were involved in the books romantically. On one of the audio commentaries, an apology is made for that change as Tara and Sam was unexpected. Early on Sookie’s best friend in the novels seemed to be Arlene. There is no Jessica and Jason having a serious relationship with Amy Burley never happened. He wasn’t near marriage that early in the story. Other changes are how Jason and Sookie are now close siblings, while in the books they kind of ignore one another, and that Lafayette is not as big of a deal, while vampires Eric and Pam have more story as do Andy and Terry. The books took more time exploring the world of the shifters, which perhaps is a topic the television show will investigate as more episodes have been produced.
The conceit of True Blood is that vampires have come out of the closet to be treated like humans. Since artificial blood aka True Blood is now on the market, vampires can get their nutritional needs not from people, but from that liquid. Any restaurant, bar or convenience store can stock it, so a vampire should not be ashamed of his dietary needs. Vampires in this universe have groupies called “fang-bangers” who willingly give their blood to vampires. Bars like Fangtasia exist where humans go to see vampires. A drug called V made from vampire’s blood is incredibly addictive and produces highs in those who imbibe it. Towards the end of the first season, intermarriage between vampires and humans has been legalized. Some viewers equate vampire rights to gay rights issues that the US is now dealing with in public policy.
Sookie Stackhouse is accepting of vampires, because she is different than the average human. While she isn’t psychic, she can read minds. If she touches someone, she is even more clued in to their thoughts. Being around a vampire like Bill is a relief as she has no idea what he is thinking. It was impossible for Sookie to date anyone seriously as mind reading caused her such grief. Sookie attempts not to listen to her friends’ thoughts, but it is difficult to keep the noise quiet. Being with Sookie causes Bill to break vampire law after Sookie is threatened by a vampire named Longshadow, while Pam and Eric are watching. Sookie only went to Fangtasia to help find who was stealing from Eric. In punishment, Bill has to sire a newborn vampire named Jessica. She was kidnapped and turned by an apprehensive Bill.
While vampires have been getting more rights, there has been a push back in the other direction. The Christian churches are banding against the vampires and see people who kill vampires as heroes. When Jason was accused of killing vampire sympathizers, he became first acquainted with the group the Fellowship of the Sun. The vampires though are the first wave as other supernatural people are still living in the shadows like Sam Merlotte. He’s a shape shifter, whose favored form is that of a border collie. When Sookie discovers that Sam is a dog, she dubbed Dean; she’s horrified as he lay naked on the foot of the bed. Sookie is upset with Sam for lying about his situation, as she has been honest about her issues being telepathic. Other stories include, Tara falling for the lies of a charlatan faith healer, who said she exorcised her and her alcoholic mother. Jason had been addicted to V and falling for Amy, and together they shared the drug. The duo kidnapped Lafayette’s vampire friend, who provided the drug to him. Ultimately Amy killed the vamp, who had befriended Jason.
To say I enjoyed the television show would be somewhat of an understatement. In less than a week, I watched the first season of the program, which according to the DVD case clocked in at 720 minutes, which is 12 hours of television goodness. True Blood is a wild show and definitely not for anyone who is squeamish about blood, sensitive about nudity or language. This isn’t a show for children as parts seemed more extreme than many of the R-rated movies I’ve seen in recent years. This isn’t Moonlight, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel or the Twilight Saga. I’d recommend watching the show in a marathon style as each episode ends with a major cliffhanger that is resolved early on in the next one. While I wouldn’t consider True Blood a traditional soap, I do find it a lot of fun.
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