True Blood TV Series Primer
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
This American supernatural drama series was developed by HBO and debuted in September 2008. Since its premiere, it has been hailed as the channel's best piece of programming, and it was consistently ranked as one of the best shows of the decade. Set in the present day, “True Blood” is based on “The Southern Vampire Mysteries” novels by Charlaine Harris. Like its source material, the TV program is focused around real vampires having revealed themselves to the public, and begun living in mainstream society as the result of a synthetic blood replacement. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we explore the HBO series True Blood.
True Blood Series Primer
“God hates fangs.” Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be exploring True Blood. Please be advised: this primer contains mild spoilers.
This American supernatural drama series was developed by HBO and debuted in September 2008. Since its premiere, it has been hailed as the channel’s best piece of programming, and it was consistently ranked as one of the best shows of the decade. Praise has also been heaped on the series’ cast, in the form of awards like an Emmy for “Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series.”
Set in the present day, “True Blood” is based on a series of novels by Charlaine Harris entitled “The Southern Vampire Mysteries.” Like its source material, the TV program is focused on the concept that real vampires have revealed themselves to the public, and have begun living in mainstream society as the result of a synthetic blood replacement called “Tru-Blood.”
This uneasy co-existence between humans and vampires is set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, where waitress Sookie Stackhouse – played by Golden Globe-winning actress Anna Paquin – calls home.
As the series opens, it has only been two years since vampires have come out of the coffin and into society. Our leading lady Sookie ends up serving her first such bar patron while working the evening shift at Merlotte’s. Soon, she ends up saving the vampire Bill Compton – played by Stephen Moyer – when a couple tries to drain him of his blood. Turns out vampire blood has become a highly-valuable and addictive street drug called “V.”
Bill thanks Sookie by saving her from those same junkies. He heals her with his blood, and this leads her to become infatuated with him. Sookie unexpectedly discovers she finds peace in the presence of vampires, because their minds are closed to her powerful telepathic abilities that have otherwise made her a social outcast.
As Sookie begins learning more about vampire culture and abilities, and begins dating Bill, strange events start plaguing the town: a string of women referred to by vampire-haters as “fang-bangers” are found dead, and these murders are linked to the vampire community.
Throughout these events, we are introduced to more of the show’s major cast members, and each comes with their own secrets, powers or motivations. These include Merlotte’s’ owner Sam, its gay cook Lafayette, Sookie’s best friend Tara, fellow waitress Arlene, Iraq war vet Terry, his drunken cousin Sheriff Andy, Sookie’s older brother Jason, his best friend Hoyt, and the vampire area’s leader and designated sheriff Eric Northman. Alongside these personalities, the show constantly brings in other central, regular and supporting characters to help flesh out the stories and expand the show’s mythology.
As viewers can expect, “True Blood” is filled with the paranormal – and not just because of the vampires: other creatures and phenomena from popular culture make their way into the series as well. “True Blood” also takes vampire stories in a different direction than other supernatural books and movies by exploring cultural taboos and making commentaries on issues like rights, sexuality, religion and racism.
Each season grips viewers with new challenges for the cast to confront, as well as several central villains and many shocking revelations about the characters we thought we already knew. Don’t even get us started on the unbelievable love triangle that has Sookie caught in the center!
“True Blood” has also been commended for bringing movie-like production values to the small screen. In addition to its terrific cast, the show has the uncanny ability to keep viewers craving more. The one-of-a-kind, award-nominated title sequence highlights the show’s uniquely southern and spooky atmosphere.
If you’re a fan of vampire stories or the supernatural, and you haven’t yet sunk your fangs into an episode of “True Blood,” you don’t know what you’re missing. Not only is this “adults only” show a multi-layered adaptation, it is also a pulp-opera that will keep you thirsting for more.
“God hates fangs.” Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be exploring True Blood. Please be advised: this primer contains mild spoilers.
This American supernatural drama series was developed by HBO and debuted in September 2008. Since its premiere, it has been hailed as the channel’s best piece of programming, and it was consistently ranked as one of the best shows of the decade. Praise has also been heaped on the series’ cast, in the form of awards like an Emmy for “Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series.”
Set in the present day, “True Blood” is based on a series of novels by Charlaine Harris entitled “The Southern Vampire Mysteries.” Like its source material, the TV program is focused on the concept that real vampires have revealed themselves to the public, and have begun living in mainstream society as the result of a synthetic blood replacement called “Tru-Blood.”
This uneasy co-existence between humans and vampires is set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, where waitress Sookie Stackhouse – played by Golden Globe-winning actress Anna Paquin – calls home.
As the series opens, it has only been two years since vampires have come out of the coffin and into society. Our leading lady Sookie ends up serving her first such bar patron while working the evening shift at Merlotte’s. Soon, she ends up saving the vampire Bill Compton – played by Stephen Moyer – when a couple tries to drain him of his blood. Turns out vampire blood has become a highly-valuable and addictive street drug called “V.”
Bill thanks Sookie by saving her from those same junkies. He heals her with his blood, and this leads her to become infatuated with him. Sookie unexpectedly discovers she finds peace in the presence of vampires, because their minds are closed to her powerful telepathic abilities that have otherwise made her a social outcast.
As Sookie begins learning more about vampire culture and abilities, and begins dating Bill, strange events start plaguing the town: a string of women referred to by vampire-haters as “fang-bangers” are found dead, and these murders are linked to the vampire community.
Throughout these events, we are introduced to more of the show’s major cast members, and each comes with their own secrets, powers or motivations. These include Merlotte’s’ owner Sam, its gay cook Lafayette, Sookie’s best friend Tara, fellow waitress Arlene, Iraq war vet Terry, his drunken cousin Sheriff Andy, Sookie’s older brother Jason, his best friend Hoyt, and the vampire area’s leader and designated sheriff Eric Northman. Alongside these personalities, the show constantly brings in other central, regular and supporting characters to help flesh out the stories and expand the show’s mythology.
As viewers can expect, “True Blood” is filled with the paranormal – and not just because of the vampires: other creatures and phenomena from popular culture make their way into the series as well. “True Blood” also takes vampire stories in a different direction than other supernatural books and movies by exploring cultural taboos and making commentaries on issues like rights, sexuality, religion and racism.
Each season grips viewers with new challenges for the cast to confront, as well as several central villains and many shocking revelations about the characters we thought we already knew. Don’t even get us started on the unbelievable love triangle that has Sookie caught in the center!
“True Blood” has also been commended for bringing movie-like production values to the small screen. In addition to its terrific cast, the show has the uncanny ability to keep viewers craving more. The one-of-a-kind, award-nominated title sequence highlights the show’s uniquely southern and spooky atmosphere.
If you’re a fan of vampire stories or the supernatural, and you haven’t yet sunk your fangs into an episode of “True Blood,” you don’t know what you’re missing. Not only is this “adults only” show a multi-layered adaptation, it is also a pulp-opera that will keep you thirsting for more.
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