Confessions of a True Blood Addict – Why True Blood is So Addicting

Prior to watching the hit HBO show “True Blood” I had no knowledge of the name Alan Ball. Obviously I was oblivious to any of his work. That is what I believed until I researched Mr. Ball and learned that we have a long history together via his writing, directing and my viewing of his various works. Ball wrote “American Beauty” which is an Oscar winning film and he was one of minds behind another hit HBO show, “Six Feet Under.” My addiction to “True Blood” happened fast and was almost instantaneous. I was one of those people that had totally ignored the show the first season and just happened to catch a marathon and as they say “the rest is history.” Months before I saw the show my cousin mentioned it to me and explained the storyline; she then raved about the show. My immediate thought was “I am not jumping on this whole vampire craze going on now.” I listened but thought “this all sounds so ludicrous and ridiculous no way will I be interested in this show.” “Synthetic blood” come on, really?

It’s months later, I’m home ill, I have watched the four seasons of “House” that I own more times than I care to admit. It was to the point where I was quoting House’s acerbic comments in my sleep. I decided it was time to tune into something else so I gave “True Blood” a try. From the moment, the couple come speeding down the road engaging in some pretty risque behavior stopping abruptly to go inside of a convenience store advertising that they sell True Blood, you are hooked. You have no choice but to keep voyeuristically following the young couple. The two obnoxiously go inside and converse with the clerk about True Blood and vampires in New Orleans. The clerk deceives the pair into thinking that he is a vampire which isn’t hard to do from the way he’s dressed and his demeanor. Come on, the first time any of us saw it, the clerk had us going. He is so strange – yet fascinating; you almost totally ignore the other guy in the store. Why would anyone pay him any attention? This show is about vampires and we want to see vampires. The other guy in the store is dressed in some kind of army fatigue looking lost and a little too intrigued with the conversation being had by the couple and the clerk.

Let me not forgot to point out that there is a confederate emblem which adorns the observer’s hat. We sized this guy up the minute the camera flashed him. Anyway back to the action; the couple then starts to inquire about “V-juice” vampires blood which is apparently the new meth. By this time, the hick has made his way up to the counter behind the couple. He appears completely disgusted by the couple’s fascination with vampires. Things appear to get intense between the couple and the clerk and right at the climax – the clerk laughs uncontrollably. He really had them going,;he isn’t a vampire at all. Just around the time your heart reverts back to a normal rhythm the hick starts in on the couple about leaving all things vampire alone. This unsolicited advice royally pisses off the boyfriend who threatens to do bodily harm to the hick. Still at the same cadence as before, the hick warns the boyfriend 1) to leave the V-blood alone and 2) that he will return any acts of violence.

You can tell by this point the boyfriend is a real prick and continues to make threats of an a** kicking nature. Here’s where the fangs come out, literally. The hicks says to the couple, “I’ll f**k you” and then wait for it, he says to everyone’s (the couple, the clerk and those of us at home) horror “and then I’ll eat you!” Good gracious no lie, his fangs appear. The couple runs out in terror now heeding the warning of the vamp. The vampire then turns to the clerk, the clerk is terrified, and tells him that if he ever pretends to be a vampire again he will be killed. The vampire then puts down a four pack of True Blood which earlier we all assumed was beer, I know I’m not the only one who thought that, along with some money. He then picks up the True Blood and heads for the door after he sweetly says, “have a nice day”…What? What was that we all learned in grade school something about a book and its cover? Did I mention this all happens before the theme song and credits roll? The scene ends with the hick/vampire exiting the store and suddenly the creepiest, most intoxicating song starts playing, “Bad Things” by Jace Everett and without any warning whatsoever you’re a true blood addict.

The opening credits video footage is this weird blend of evil, splashes of religion, kids in klan regalia, church folk getting the holy ghost, bar fights, exorcisms, sex and baptism. Already without being introduced to any main characters you’re invested. When the show officially begins it’s revealed that the blonde waitress can hear people’s thoughts. Soon after this revelation we learn the blonde waitress’ name is Sookie Stackhouse and she works at a bar/restaurant, Merlotte’s. Shortly thereafter learning her name, the viewer discovers Sookie’s gift is a little more foe than friend. The thoughts we hear through Sookie of the customers in the bar are atrocious and in most instances too much information. We also learn pretty early on this isn’t a show for kids or the faint of heart. Now for those of us not offended or intimidated by profanity, nudity, sex and gratuitous violence, we press on anxiously waiting for this drama to unfold.

As if it were possible to become anymore intrigued, in walks a dream in the form of Bill Compton, right into Merlotte’s. He stares at Sookie as if he can see inside her soul and she gazes, as do the rest of us, longingly at him. There is something about Bill that we see Sookie cannot resist and we do not blame her one bit. Then Bill speaks, in this old fashioned southern gentleman way, and “then the spell is cast.” It is as if both Bill and Sookie notice immediately that the other is different. There is no question about it, Bill is a vampire. Sookie is intrigued as opposed to fearful and she makes her way over to Bill almost immediately. We can tell from his sexy cryptic smile that Bill likes Sookie and this is the beginning of something intense. It’s playing with fire and we are immediately looking to get burned.

Now for those of you still with me wondering how in the world any of this is relevant in the real world here is my explanation. From the start of the first episode we learn that things, people and vampires aren’t always what they appear to be on the surface. It is obvious that there is definite discrimination going on in the fictitious Louisiana town of Bon Temps against vampires. At the end of the beginning credit there is a sign that reads, “God hates Fangs.” That is a new twist on a familiar epithet that is thrown around way too often. I look at True Blood as a caricature of our society. The idea of equal rights amendments for vampires is laughable but not the idea of equal rights. In the True Blood world vampires are real and they live, sort of, in the society. The vampires feel and are capable of human emotion; this is demonstrated in Bill’s love for Sookie and in the second season Eric’s love for Godric. The vampires bleed, love, die and work like the humans.

They are unlike the humans because they literally live differently and are sustained by unconventional means. The more involved you become with the show the more human the vampire characters become. In the way there are good people and bad people there are good vampires and bad vampires. Although I will admit that the line between good and bad becomes blurred when dealing with vampires. Personally I enjoy the conflict that arises with conventional views of good intertwining with the nature of vampires. It is the expectation of some of the humans that the vampires be just like them and then when they fail to do that there is conflict. In real life this happens as well when people fail to be like the majority, there is conflict due to fear (perhaps some of that is justified), ignorance and a lack of tolerance. In the series, the character Sookie receives a lot of criticism, mainly from her own people, for being involved with Bill who is a vampire. We see in the first season that women who engage in relationships with vampires are being murdered by a serial killer.

It is obvious that someone has taken their disagreement with mix dating between the species a bit too far. Within the confines of the television show right away we think that’s so stupid, small minded and ignorant. But outside of Bon Temps, in the real world we aren’t so quick to see that sometimes we too are that stupid, small minded and ignorant when it comes to relationships that we don’t understand. Since it is a television show and not the real world we are able to see the true character of some of the vampires and we grow to care about them. Just like with humans they sometimes do things that we don’t agree with or particularly like, but that personal knowledge and insight we have on the vampires help us to have understanding and compassion. I think by most accounts it is safe to say that Bill is a good vampire. The show has given us a back story on Bill’s life and death. We have been able to understand what drives the character because of the look inside that we have been given. I think that if we apply that logic to real people and real situations by reminding ourselves that we all have back stories and histories that have shaped us and all of us are worthy of redemption, forgiveness and understanding.

As for me tomorrow night I will be tuning into the second season finale of “True Blood” with the rest of the shows fan following. It seems almost criminal to write an article about “True Blood” and not mention Nelson Ellis, who plays, Lafayette Reynolds who absolutely steals every scene that he is in. Steven Moyer who plays Bill Compton is brilliant and you can’t help but to fall in love with him right along with Sookie. Who doesn’t get chills when he says “Sookie” in that southern Bill Compton way? Anna Paquin is perfect as Sookie Stackhouse. For my own sake, I have to mention Alexander Skarsgard who plays Eric Northman. Eric is my absolute favorite character. I enjoy the richness of his character and how you love to hate him. Let’s face it he is not hard to look at either.

Obviously I find the show relevant and intriguing but if it were not any of those things I’d probably still tune in to see Skarsgard every week. The show has incredible characters and great actors who play those roles. It was my intention to name a few of the actors but that is not an exhaustive list of all the noteworthy characters and actors that make this show great. Lastly, I have to credit Charlaine Harris, who is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse books which are the basis for the show “True Blood.” After I started watching the television show I immediately started reading the books. The books obviously are wonderful as well and although the show is based on the books they are different enough for them both to be enjoyed separately. Hats off to HBO for snagging this gem.

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