I wanna do bad things with you

[anotheranon]

I'm enjoying True Blood more than I ought.

I've only read a couple of the books and last season didn't quite "grab" me, but this season scratches the same "silly-sexy-gory-scary-ohmygodtheydidn't" itch that Lexx used to. It's camp and horror but not quite either, perhaps because it's so firmly planted in the real world (let's face it, if vampires did exist, there would totally be ads like this cluttering up our screen margins. The viral marketing for this show has been fantastic).

For example, the King of Mississippi manages to be both menacing and hilarious during his scene-stealing speechifying (how does a 3,000 year old vampire have a Cajun accent? Who knows? Who cares?):

I know some of y'all watch ;) Please share your criticisms, witticisms, fan art/fic/whatever, more aca-fannery in the comments, 'cos I'm sure I'm missing something.

Comments

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm enjoying the show far more than I ever enjoyed the books (I only think I read the first 2-3 ones). Each season has actually grown on me (I love how the vampire opposition - brotherhood of the sun or whatever the heck they call themselves are so similar to right wing evangelical christians!)
My favorite scene last season was Godric's death scene, where Eric cried.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Don't get me wrong - I did enjoy the books, I just haven't read many of them (and might not for awhile, as the library's copies are all out). They're just not as immediately involving as the show.

Re: Fellowship of the Sun - I took that as a DIRECT dig on evangelicals (remember the "god hates fangs" bit in the titles?).

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Let me know which ones you need; we have them all!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer!

Let me look them up and see where I left off, and I'll get back to you. Also let me know if you want to borrow anything (http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3152187-a-non?format=html&shelf=to-loan) in exchange.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

I hate having to wait but because I'm a librarian, I feel like I ought to respect copyright law and not gak them. The suspense is rough, though. That and avoiding all the spoilers.

I have put together my Merlotte's waitress outfit for Dragon*Con. I'm hoping to get a bunch of the cast to sign my shirt.

And I'll look at a naked Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin any day of the week! ;-p Even covered in fake blood. ;-p

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I respect your waiting - if nothing else, the suspense will make it sweeter when you finally get to this season.

I take it you HAVE seen the Rolling Stone cover (http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/17389/191809) (NSFW)?

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah!

I've got mixed feelings about the cover. Don't mind the nudity; plus, more guys are naked than women, so yay from a female exploitation standpoint.

But the possessiveness, so graphically portrayed, is irksome. The books are not so blatant with it. There is definitely jostling between Erik and Bill to be with Sookie but there is a bit more subtlety.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Yes, the possessive grabbing is somewhat irritating to me as well..

One thing I think the books are better about is showing Sookie as less of a damsel in distress - the TV is an ensemble thing so we don't get much of the inner narrative of the books that makes it clear.

FWIW, you can look forward to at least one instance in the current series in which Sookie calls out Bill on his overprotectiveness.

[flummoxicated.livejournal.com]

I read the first two books and was underwhelmed. This is one of those rare cases where the show is better than the source material.

I think one of the things I like about True Blood is that it does look at tricky subjects like abusive relationships, homosexuality and religious fanaticism, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. They maintain a great balance of drama and silly.

Russell's madness was great to see. That's what I'm talking about; it was funny but not too ridiculous and scary at the same time.

[flummoxicated.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I am also curious about how a 3000 year old vampire gets an English name and a Southern accent. Do all states have vampire royalty? Who gets to be the vampire king of Iowa?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I suspect the royalty/vampire hierarchy thing is something they get to in the books. And while renaming themselves isn't surprising, I don't know where Russell's Southern accent is from (Bill's makes sense - he's younger/from there!)

Book spoiler:

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

As the books go along, we get to meet more vampire royalty. I think we even get to meet the king of Iowa in passing, in All Together Dead.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I think the show is a variant of the books - I'm learning to accept that letter-by-letter translations aren't always best, and transferring stories to different media can change their meaning to something better suited for that media, if done well (see: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep -> Blade Runner).

Re: difficult subjects - you know, much as I love the silly and the gore, you're right, True Blood does tackle a lot of modern social issues (love the "recycle icon below").

(spoilers below - highlight to read)



BTW, Where can I find your "Team Russell" icon? I might need one for scene-chewing, badassed posts :P (Or a Team Alcide one, just 'cos).

[flummoxicated.livejournal.com]

I made it, so you are welcome to take a copy! Glad you like it.

In return

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Fangers Gonna Fang (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mordicai/4902629467/), just 'cos.

Re: In return

[flummoxicated.livejournal.com]

LOL, I love it!