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Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
Alan Ball’s True Blood series works well for television, as it has enough sensationalism to tantalise and enough story girth to make the viewer care about the characters. That one can finally invest emotion into monsters, including an undead Civil War victim, a transformer who can shapeshift into various animals, and a female mind reader, speaks volumes about America’s willingness to accept fantasy. Of course, television has always produced good fantasy shows (I Dream of Jeannie), but True Blood’s Southern Goth brand of fun horror is more macabre and more perverse, not to mention gorier, than most shows of its kind to date. Adapted from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, True Blood thrills because of its equal blend in each episode of erotica, humour, tragedy, mystery, and fantasy. Set in a rural, swampy Louisiana parish, the show centers around Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and her clan, sweet grandmother Adele (Lois Smith) and air-headed brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten). Illicit love is spawned early on, when Sookie saves vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) from having his blood stolen in the parking lot of Merlotte’s diner, owned by Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell) who completes what will form a complex love triangle. As tensions between Sookie’s suitors loosen or tighten, many side plots, such as her African American best friend Tara’s (Rutina Wesley) struggle with an alcoholic, Bible-thumping mother and her brother’s dangerous crush on drug-addicted hippie Amy Burley (Lizzy Caplan), keep one wondering who will succeed in this podunk place. The main tension throughout, however, is a race war waged between vampires and humans. As murders of “fang bangers” occur (human girls who let vampires bite them) and dumb policeman Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) fails to find clues, one sees the metaphorical implications of vampirism and feels deeper resonance with what can be a downright trashy show. Gossip galore, especially about what kinds of babies interbreeding will produce, is rampant. One of the funniest characters is Tara’s flamboyant cousin, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), who deals drugs, works as a fry cook, and services the local white politicians, while making sure he’s always up in everyone’s business. What makes True Blood smarter than pure soap opera is the parallels it draws between its monster mash and actual, familiar social problems. Sookie and her friends watch the news where Evangelicals bash vampires and prohibit mixed marriage and everyone is addicted to V, a.k.a vampire blood, that effects like psychedelic heroin. Even its gore reflects a mix of serious and silly, as vampires explode into red, sticky goop. Though it may not be attempting to qualify for the best vampire footage ever shot, True Blood is as addictive as that substance the town’s youth obsesses over, which is a metaphor in itself. --Trinie Dalton
Product Description
All 12 episodes from the first season of the offbeat vampire drama series penned by 'American Beauty' and 'Six Feet Under' writer Alan Ball. Anna Paquin stars as Sookie Stackhouse, a Louisiana waitress with telepathic powers whose life changes forever when 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) walks into her place of work. Episodes are: 'Strange Love', 'The First Taste', 'Mine', 'Escape from Dragon House', 'Sparks Fly Out', 'Cold Ground', 'Burning House of Love', 'The Fourth Man in the Fire', 'Plaisir d'Amour', 'I Don't Wanna Know', 'To Love Is to Bury' and 'You'll Be the Death of Me'.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
I am a fan of Charlaine Harris and love the series of books that this show is based upon. Bear in mind that it is produced by HBO the channel that brought you 'Deadwood' so this is definitely adults only. Be prepared for lots of swearing, sex and drugs. A whole lot more than the books ever had. Several themes and characters from the books have been expanded upon to make the show racier so it is fair to say that the show is 'inspired' by the books. That said this is high quality beautifully produced television and I am so glad that they have gone for a second series. All the characters are authentically drawn and not always sympathetically so, book fans will probably be disappointed with the portrayal of Jason Stackhouse. Definitely worth importing the series on blu-ray - the presentation is 1080p full screen with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that has a superb soundfield. With a good system you'll hear every little swamp sound coming from where the director intended it.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Taralouise
Amazon Verified Purchase
Ignore the rather simplistic synopsis: 'True Blood' is to 'Twilight' what 'The Wire' is to 'CSI Miami' - in other words, there is no comparison. 'True Blood' takes the wonderful Charlaine Harris books out for a spin, races them down the highway at 100 mph, throws out some of the padding, but also enlivens and enlarges some of the lesser characters in the book - notably Lafayette, who is one of the best characters in the show. Alan Ball also uses the allegorical possibilities of vampire mythology to very great effect. In the redneck smalltown of Bon Temps, people's prejudices are laid bare and the loathing, hatred and enmity towards the vamps (together with their 'exoticism' and tourist value) could be equally applied to lesbian and gay people, transgender people (the 'two spirit' shifters) and, of course, people of colour. Ok, there is lots of sex and some incredibly visceral violence, but this is HBO's stock-in-trade, so no surprise there. What is a surprise is the way in which Alan Ball takes what are already excellent books and creates an alternative set of storylines - staying close enough to Harris's narrative for avid readers of her books, whilst making the narrative arcs sufficiently different to produce a few surprising and unpredictable plot twists - even for those of us who know the stories really well. One other point: the casting is inspired: who else but Anna Paquin could play the plucky, sexy and slightly deranged Sookie Stackhouse, whilst other characters (Lafayette, Eric Northman, Bill Compton, Tara) are also excellent. The best vampire TV show ever? Maybe, although 'Buffy' is still the best at the moment because it ran to seven unforgettable seasons. Perhaps if 'True Blood' lasts as long (and I really hope it does) and maintains this high level of quality, then it could be a case of 'True Blood' rules (or should that be 'drools'?). Buy it - you won't be disappointed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By SASFAN
As an addiction even worse than V took hold, I ordered and devoured the books, being unable to wait a week for the next installment. This is good ensemble TV with a cast of characters who are surprisingly believable given that they're vampires, telepaths and shape shifters; I began to feel familiar with Bon Temps and its occupants and cared what happened to Sookie, Bill, Tara, Lafayette and Sam (though not so much Jason!). Most of the characters are very true to how I imagined them in the books and the few exceptions and plot deviations mean that you can't assume that you know what is going to happen.
Finally I bought the DVD boxed set and watched it end to end, being unable to bear the suspense any longer. Besides I'll want to watch this quite a few times.
Finally I bought the DVD boxed set and watched it end to end, being unable to bear the suspense any longer. Besides I'll want to watch this quite a few times.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
True entertainment
total entertainment. Fantastic characters and great storyline. The best thing around at the moment. The only bad thing about these seasons are that they are too short, and the gap... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Av-Gas
5.0 out of 5 stars
AMAZING!
this is actually the best programme ive ever watched
everything you want is here!
seriously this is an amazing programme, buy it!
everything you want is here!
seriously this is an amazing programme, buy it!
Published on 1 Mar 2011
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it Now!
True Blood is a good vampire series, better than the others! And this edition on Blu-ray cames on a Blu-Ray Digipak with a great presentation! Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2011 by JFKISS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent service
I ordered the True Blood Series 1 blue ray colection item a week before christmas thinking it would not be delivered but to my delight it arrived within 4 days. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2010 by bigman
1.0 out of 5 stars
Trupants
Wondered what all the fuss was about - never get to watch TV when I want due to work. My sister raves about this. Bought the Blu-ray set. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2010 by wasDabblerp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really Good
I bought this on a whim and was really surprised.
I was gripped by the second episode and have now ordered the next series. Read more
I was gripped by the second episode and have now ordered the next series. Read more
Published on 14 May 2010 by S. Broadbent
4.0 out of 5 stars
True Blood review
Entertaining story lines but what really sealed the deal was the blueray quality. Will definitely buying season 2 on blueray as soon as it becomes available! Read more
Published on 7 April 2010 by Matt Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
what twilight wants to be when it grows up!
first of all, this is a very silly series. but it also manages to be completely addictive too. it's basically twilight for grown ups, not much originality, but it is a lot of fun... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by Mr. R. W. Graham
4.0 out of 5 stars
Audio and Subtitles
As stated on the Bluray back cover:
Language: English 5.1 DTS-HD, French 5.1 DTS, Latin Spanish 2. Read more
Language: English 5.1 DTS-HD, French 5.1 DTS, Latin Spanish 2. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Laurent Allard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent series
I couldn't cope with all the ad breaks on the terrestrial TV broadcast of this so decided to order the BD version instead. It is a fantastic series and I'd highly recommend buying. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2009 by Sneeks
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