"True Blood" Season One Talkback (Spoilers)

[Old Guy]

Has anyone been watching this vampire show on HBO? I don't consider it a great show just yet, but it's getting there. In each episode it gets more interesting.

[MM54]

I normally would try my best to stick behind Alan Ball and his creative vision, given my love for "American Beauty" and that, while I never was a religious follower of it, I enjoyed every episode of "Six Feet Under" I watched during it's run. That being said...

This show looks like the adult answer to the "Twilight" craze.

[Movie06]

Least it's a hell lot interesting than Twlight. The only issue I have with is the female protagonist. She's a Mary Sue.

But the show's getting interesting. I just need to see more episodes to make a complete judgement.

[JRP82190]

I got no problem with the show it manages to keep my attention for an hour and the cliffhangers at the end keep making come back each week but there is room to improve i'll say that

When did Anna Paquin get so hot?

[Old Guy]

Last night's episode was good with the introduction of the new vampires.

[Sonic_Eclipse]

I've been watching it since it started 3 weeks ago, and I like it so far. Next weeks episode looks like things are really going to start picking up, can't wait.

For some reason I kept expecting Blade to show up in last nights episode.:sweat:

[Hanshotfirst113]

Least it's a hell lot interesting than Twlight. The only issue I have is with the female protagonist. She's a Mary Sue.

But the show's getting interesting. I just need to see more episodes to make a complete judgement.

Spelling and grammar dude ;). It's a little hard to get a few points sometimes. Oh, you hate Twilight. I'm shocked :p. What's a "Mary Sue?"


When did Anna Paquin get so hot?

I was kind of wondering the same thing! Of course, they also seem to be stuffing her into the most tight-fitting clothes possible.

[Movie06]

What's a "Mary Sue?"

You don't know what a "Mary Sue" is?

[Hanshotfirst113]

You don't know what a "Mary Sue" is?

If I did, I wouldn't have asked :p.

[Harlan_Phoenix]

If I did, I wouldn't have asked :p.

It's a character (typically female) that comes off as perfect or without anything related to flaw. The male equivalent of the term of Gary Stu. I think it originated in fanfiction fandom slang.

[Solitude1]

I've been watching it, simply because I'm a fan of the books. I started reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels last year. Found the first book in an old bookstore and it was dirt cheap so I picked it up. Its a very addictive series.

Anna Paquin is a perfect choice for Sookie. And the dude that plays Bill is pretty awesome as well. I really do hope that it gets picked up for another season, since it seems like Alan Ball is doing one book per season. As of now their are 8 books so...lots of material to choose from.

And if the show continues, you'll learn that their are much more creatures in the world then just vampires. *snicker* Just thinking about the future eps makes me excited. I hope you guys really enjoy the show. I have.:)

[JRP82190]

I'm i the only one that thinks sam is a werewolf?

[Movie06]

It's a character (typically female) that comes off as perfect or without anything related to flaw. The male equivalent of the term of Gary Stu. I think it originated in fanfiction fandom slang.

Thank you. In my opinion, Paquin's character fits that. Hopefully in later episodes, her Sue-qualities disappear.

[Wonderwall]

When did Anna Paquin get so hot?

I first noticed the potential in the first X Men movie. By X-2 that potential had been reached;). Man I wish I had HBO.

[JRP82190]

I first noticed the potential in the first X Men movie. By X-2 that potential had been reached;). Man I wish I had HBO.
LOL I thought she was pretty hot in X-2 but she's so much hotter in this series its hard to believe what a few years and a dye job will do to a person...short shorts also help to ;)

[Old Guy]

And if the show continues, you'll learn that their are much more creatures in the world then just vampires. *snicker*


I'm i the only one that thinks sam is a werewolf?

I think that's what they are hinting at.

[Wonderwall]

LOL I thought she was pretty hot in X-2 but she's so much hotter in this series its hard to believe what a few years and a dye job will do to a person...short shorts also help to ;)

Now I really wish I had HBO..quick what channel does Canada use to show this:p

[Solitude1]

I'm i the only one that thinks sam is a werewolf?


Actually....and this isn't too big but... Sam is neither were nor wolf

[JRP82190]

well i think that with 2nights episode it was more or less answered as to weather or not Sam is a werewolf...that or he's just a freak.

I though this was the best episode of the season and now i can say with out a doubt that I'm hooked i look forward to next weeks episode.

[Old Guy]

Tonights episode was hilarious...in a good way.


well i think that with 2nights episode it was more or less answered as to weather or not Sam is a werewolf...that or he's just a freak.

Freak! lol.

[Old Guy]

It was nice to see Bill's origin tonight.

[JRP82190]

Dude they killed sookies grandmother :crying:

and I'm really starting to think that Sam's the one killing people

[Sonic_Eclipse]

Last nights episodes was great. Finally learned how Bill became a Vampire, and its kinda sad cause it wasn't his choice.

I don't really like how that they killed Sookie's grandma, she was a good character. So, thats 3 people dead.

I don't think it was Sam, sure he was mad at Sookie, but I don't think he'd go as far as killing her grandmother. The killing is obviously connected to the other 2, and the person doing it probably hates vampires and anyone who supports their rights or has had anything to do with them. Yes, Sam hates vampires, but c'mon. And Jason's just to stupid.

[Old Guy]

I'm really starting to think that Sam's the one killing people



I don't think it was Sam, sure he was mad at Sookie, but I don't think he'd go as far as killing her grandmother. The killing is obviously connected to the other 2, and the person doing it probably hates vampires and anyone who supports their rights or has had anything to do with them. Yes, Sam hates vampires, but c'mon. And Jason's just to stupid.

I'm getting the Sam vibe as well. There's something up with that guy.

[Mala Loba]

My mom and I don't think it's Sam... well, I wasn't sure until she suggested it might be the woman who turned Bill into a vampire. We haven't found out what happened to her yet...

And a moment of silence for Sookie's grandmother, she was one of my favorite characters on the show.

[Old Guy]

My mom and I don't think it's Sam... well, I wasn't sure until she suggested it might be the woman who turned Bill into a vampire. We haven't found out what happened to her yet...

What motive would she have? :confused: Plus, Sam is the one who's been acting weird the entire time.

[Old Guy]

So...I guess tonights episode will be remembered as the one where Anna Paquin was naked. ;)

[Wonderwall]

So...I guess tonights episode will be remembered as the one where Anna Paquin was naked. ;)

Damn is this on youtube yet:p

[HG Revolution]

Damn is this on youtube yet:p

You know you can't use the Y-word when discussing where to watch full episodes.

Unless you just want the nude scene, in which case you'd be missing out on the rest of the show which is pretty damn good.

[JRP82190]

That took me by surprise when i saw the nude scene I wasn't expecting it from her

And its nice to see an episode where they mourn some ones death for more then a few minutes

[Wonderwall]

You know you can't use the Y-word when discussing where to watch full episodes.

Unless you just want the nude scene, in which case you'd be missing out on the rest of the show which is pretty damn good.

The latter, I don't have HBO and from what I know no channel in Canada carries it yet.

[Old Guy]

It was Lizzy Caplan's first episode and she was already nude. lol. But, anyway, this episode was insane. Bill killing the uncle adds an interesting layer to his character. And, Sam is definitely a werewolf.

[JRP82190]

this episode was ok but it didn't live up to last weeks

[Hanshotfirst113]

So...I guess tonights episode will be remembered as the one where Anna Paquin was naked. ;)

I heard about that.


Damn is this on youtube yet:p


You know you can't use the Y-word when discussing where to watch full episodes.

Unless you just want the nude scene, in which case you'd be missing out on the rest of the show which is pretty damn good.

YouTube wouldn't allow a nude scene to be posted anyway.

[Old Guy]

YouTube wouldn't allow a nude scene to be posted anyway.

They would, but they wouldn't let it stay for long. ;)

[Old Guy]

A lot of sex in tonights episode and more Lizzy Caplan nudity. lol. That being said next Sunday's episode should be awesome. The ending tonight was fascinating.

[Old Guy]

hahaha. Oh, Sam.

[Old Guy]

Vampire fascination helps HBO to well-timed hit
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
1 hr 35 mins ago

NEW YORK – Catching the wave of a public fascination with vampires, HBO's "True Blood" has steadily increased in stature to become the cable network's most popular series since "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City."

Based on the series of Sookie Stackhouse novels written by Charlaine Harris and starring Anna Paquin in the lead character's role, "True Blood" has grown its Sunday night viewership by 66 percent since its debut in September.

The first season finale airs this Sunday, with a second season already in production.

"True Blood" casually imagines a world where vampires, telepathic women and "shape shifters" — people who can assume the shapes of animals — are a part of everyday life in a small Louisiana town. A steamy romance between Paquin's waitress and Bill the brooding vampire, portrayed by Stephen Moyer, stands at the show's center.

The HBO series also benefits from proximity to this week's much-anticipated release of the "Twilight" movie, another spooky drama about a girl and the vampire who loves her. Another parallel: "Twilight" is also based on a literary series.

Alan Ball, who produced HBO's "Six Feet Under," came to the network with the idea of adapting Harris' novels into escapist entertainment.

"After `Six Feet Under,' where as an artist and a person I got to explore my whole relationship with grief for about five years, I just felt, OK, I don't really need to spend any more time staring into the abyss," Ball said.

Ball's pitch was basically all it took to sell HBO's executives on the idea, said Michael Lombardo, HBO's chief of West Coast operations. Ball kept the foreboding darkness expected in vampire stories, spiced up the sex and violence, mixed in humor and explored the theme of outsiders in society, he said.

The novels are centered on Stackhouse, so Ball said he had to develop some of the characters around her to avoid overworking Paquin. Harris is unlikely to mind any artistic licenses; all seven of her Stackhouse novels currently rank in the top 30 of The New York Times paperback fiction bestsellers list.

The fictional genre of women and their supernatural beaus was something new to Ball. Surfing some chat rooms, he's noticed that many women are connecting to the story of Sookie and Bill.

The series averages 6.8 million viewers each week. As is typical for HBO, the viewership is scattered around in-demand viewing and reruns aired at different times during the week. But Lombardo said he's noticed that more people are tuning in for the Sunday episode premieres, a sign of anticipation among fans.

HBO usually spends a big promotion budget to get people to watch the first episode of a new series, and hope enough viewers are satisfied to come back is subsequent weeks. The "True Blood" promotion included some approaches unusual for the network, including setting up fake Web sites and advertising a fake drink called `Tru Blood."

But the series started relatively quietly and has built its audience week-to-week, Lombardo said. Even notable successes like "The Sopranos" grew more slowly, with a big jump coming at the start of the second season, he said.

"We haven't gone out and made a lot of noise about it because every week the numbers would come in and we'd say, `Wow, is this true? Will this sustain?'" Lombardo said.

The timing couldn't be better for HBO, a subscriber-based network that lost some of its hipness factor when it failed to develop shows that could match the critical and commercial highs of "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City."

The failure of series like "John from Cincinnati" and "Lucky Louie" left HBO suffering on Sundays, generally its showcase nights for original material.
"You start worrying," Lombardo admitted. "You see other networks putting on important programs on Sunday nights and you worry, `can you bring them back?' What has been fantastic is to see the subscribers have been waiting for a Sunday night show they can make appointment viewing again."

The series will return for its second season next summer, and HBO is looking to build anticipation by releasing a DVD of the first season before that — unusually early for the network.

Ball said that by the fourth season of "Six Feet Under," he and his team were having trouble coming up with new stories.

But he's optimistic about the future of "True Blood." The first season essentially followed Harris' first novel, and there are seven in the series with an eighth on the way. Ball said he's been impressed with how the stories keep surprising him, and how fresh the world created by Harris seems. "If I wasn't making this show," he said, "I'd be watching it."