Ever since Deadwood and The Sopranos went off the air, HBO has lagged behind Showtime in terms of original series. Dexter, and to a lesser extent, Weeds, have shown that HBO is not the only show in town. When True Blood was announced I'll admit that I was skeptical. The vampire genre is tough to execute properly and the typical constraints of a television show, even one on a premium network, only added to my skepticism. However, I decided to give it a chance and what a great decision it was...
True Blood takes place in a world where vampires not only exist, but are a legally recognized part of society. The show uses this setup as an allegory for racism and homophobia and while it isn't explored as fully as it could be, the writers are able to create some interesting situations which play on some of the discrimination that is unfortunately still prevalent today. The deep South setting hammers this home as many, unfairly or not, still think of the American South as a very racist region. The concept and setting are quite unique to the genre and Alan Ball should be applauded for that.
Where True Blood really shines, however, are the characters and the talented cast that brings them to life. Anna Paquin is a revelation as Sookie Stackhouse and she was justly rewarded with a Golden Globe. Paquin takes what could have been an annoying and shrill one-note character and turns her into a protagonist that the audience not only identifies with, but genuinely cares for. Without her, the show would probably collapse under the weight of its outlandish premise. Stephen Moyer brings just the right mix of mysterious menace and southern gentleman to his role as Bill Compton, the resident vampire in Bon Temps. Ryan Kwanten is given the difficult task of playing Jason Stackhouse, a character with zero redeeming traits on paper. It's a testament to his performance that Jason turns out to be one of the most entertaining and likable characters on the show. Without getting into every performance I will say that Sam Trammell and Rutina Wesley are both magnificent as Sam Merlotte and Tara Thornton, respectively. The rest of the cast is uniformly excellent as well, which is no surprise given the standard set by previous HBO series.
True Blood starts fast and never lets up. Like any great show, I was hooked from the very first episode and the subsequent eleven didn't disappoint. There are elements of romance, horror, and comedy all wrapped around a murder mystery set in the murky bayou of southern Louisiana. That said, I recognize that it isn't for everyone. The viewer is going to have to check their disbelief at the door in order to accept True Blood's world of vampires, mind-readers, and shape shifters. There is definitely a bit of camp involved, but everything is executed so well that it never seems to go overboard. It isn't perfect, but it's damn close and very enjoyable. Heading into season two I have some reservations regarding the fate of a key character and I'm praying that Alan Ball and Co. do the right thing. This minor qualm aside, True Blood is a fantastic new entry into HBO's canon of original programming. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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