I'm kind of obsessed. I remember when the first season of True Blood premiered in Sept of 2008. I was living in New York City at the time, in a place that is inundated with ads and posters for new TV shows and movies due for new release. There was a poster on a city bus of blood dripping from a woman's lipstick-stained lips as she's trying to wipe the blood with her tongue. I was intrigued. I've always been a fan of vampires since the Anne Rice era of The Vampire Chronicles. When the film Interview With A Vampire was released, it was by far one of the most controversial films of that year.
I remember hearing from friends and fans that on opening weekend there were people that found the film so disturbing that they had to leave the theater. One woman was reported of being so nauseous that she hurled right then and there in the theater. YUCK. I actually never caught Interview With A Vampire in the movies, I waited for it on video. Yes...remember the days of VHS? I rented it from Blockbuster.
The movie never disgusted me, instead it intrigued me. I watched and re-watched several times and was magnetized by the hotness that is Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The eroticism in this film was enough to make a girl's heart flutter. Yes there were some homoeroticism going on, but I never let that bother me, I've been a longtime fan of vampires, and homoerotic elements in vampire culture is nothing new.
Unfortunately, in 2008 the same year True Blood premiered, there was a film that came out that nearly destroyed the legacy of vampires everywhere.
At least in my humble opinion.
I can't tell you how much I loathe Twilight. I tried to get behind this story when the film was released. I decided to read the book first, and I chose not the finish it. It was terrible and a complete waste of time. Stephanie Meyer is a genius when it comes to tapping into the psyche of tween girls everywhere, but for vampire purists like me, I was offended at the notion of "twinkling vampires". Seriously? Vampires that twinkle in the sunlight? PUH-LEASE! I rather watch Count Dracula on Sesame Street help me perform math equations....and I HATE math!
The fact that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have become iconic figures and indelibly printed images of merchandise in five and dime stores everywhere makes me want to barf like the lady in movie theater during Interview With A Vampire. After Twilight was released, other production companies decided to ride on the tweenie train and release content like The Vampire Diaries and Being Human. I know these shows carry a heavy nerd fanbase and I'll probably have rocks thrown at me for mentioning those shows, but I miss the drama, horror and vampirotica associated with vamp culture. There were some awesome TV shows that were successful and adored by many like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Supernatural. However, those shows did not whet my appetite like another show that aired on HBO in 2008.When True Blood began, my contempt for what was happening to vampires in mainstream media had ended. The show infused hope in me once again that vampires can be dangerous, evil, and sexy on a level that surpasses cuteness and trendiness. Charlaine Harris' vampire universe blends the dichotomy of the old school vampire and new school vampire in one. Lestat de Lioncourt could easily fit into the True Blood world. Lestat would have a little more difficulty fitting into a Twilight unviverse...he was just be a creepy old man. However, that's the beauty of True Blood, the vampires are from all ages (not just teeny boppers) and all racial backgrounds. The small southern town of Bon Temps, LA contains black, white, Asian, and Hispanic characters which is another reason why I love this show so much.
If you have not yet read the True Blood books, its okay. I didn't start reading them myself until early last year. Unfortunately, I stopped at Book 5. So I'm still behind. I was hoping to at least catch up with the current season, but le sigh, my personal life got in the way. However, the books I will say have an alternate universe of its own and you may find yourself more interested in Harris' world of vampires and the supernatural rather than Alan Ball's universe.
Alan Ball left as showrunner at the end of this last season, so it will be interesting to see Brian Buckner taking the helm. He's been with the show since its inception, so I would predict that any changes made to the show this season will be subtle at best if any. I am crossing my fingers that this season will end the "Billith" storyline that has left a bad taste to many viewers since it started. Bill Compton was my favorite earlier in the show and in the books he was loveable (until you get to Book 3) and then he starts to annoy you to hell. The Bill Compton on the show version is at the point where I've been pondering whether or not he should suffer the "True Death". I can't think of a True Blood world without Bill Compton, but I think a lot of fans wouldn't be too disappointed if he were to die.
Having said that I will add that what is happening right now with this show has me wondering about the fate of alot of the characters. Now that Tara is a vampire and now has the hots for her "vampire mother/maker" Pam, what is to become of her friendship with Sookie? Will Tara ever find the kind of love that she needs and deserves? What about Lafayette? Will he still be grieving over Jesus and be haunted by his ghost? Will Jason's hallucinations of his parents stop? Will Jessica get over the fact that Hoyt has moved on and memories of their relationship has completely been erased?
And what about the hotness that is Alcide? Inserting exploitative photograph of Alcide's abs here:
This show gives me life. I have bottles of True Blood in my home and I hang up a True Blood calendar at work in my office. If the bar Fangtasia ever existed in real life, I would be a frequent patron for sure. I'm a total vampire groupie and I just cannot deny that fact.
But wait there's more!
The True Blood universe is not all about vampires. Harris created a world of the supernatural, so in True Blood there are vampires, witches, werewolves, panthers, and even a maenad. I love this world and I love the southern backdrop where this show is based. There is something about southern vampires that I just feel a connection with. Perhaps because I'm a southern girl myself :-)
The Black Girl Nerds podcast will air Sunday night at 7pm eastern time to talk about the hotness that is True Blood. The HBO series premieres that night at 9pm! Be sure to follow www.blogtalkradio.com/blackgirlnerds so you can be a part of the discussion!
Can't wait!
#WatingSucks
