The True Bum

A few years back when HBO’s biggest hits, The Sopranos & Sex and the City, ended many of us thought that their hold on must see Sunday night television was over, and for a little while it was. Then came True Blood.

True Blood occurs in a world in which vampires walk amongst humans, not to mention so many other supernatural creatures. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries novels by Charlaine Harris, and series creator, and producer Alan Ball has created a phenomenon unlike any other vampire themed production in Hollywood. I know, I know, the Twilight movies and books are so much bigger and more profitable, but True Blood kicks Twilights ass.

I’ve been working a lot lately, but I finally got a chance to sit down and watch the premiere episode of season 3 that aired on Sunday. Most of the story lines were set up with all the cliffhangers of season 2. Who kidnapped Bill? What will Sam do when he finds his family? How will Tara be able to get over the death of Eggs? What will happen when someone finds out about the Queen and Eric’s distribution of v? ….and those are just a few. Not all of the questions have been answered yet, and probably won’t be until seasons end.

Over the last few years there has been a huge adoration for all things vampire, but I think True Blood outranks them all. Like most stories True Blood builds on the foundation of a love story. Anna Paquin plays the lead character Sookie Stackhouse a mind reader, and probably so much more, she’s completely endearing. Her love interest and real life finance is vampire Bill Compton played by Stephen Moyer. Bill lives by a different code then most vampires; he doesn’t believe in the death of innocent humans and is pretty much looked down upon by other vampires for his decision.

All the supporting characters add so much to the more to the show, and are what makes it such a huge success. Eric, a vampire sheriff of “Area 5” in Louisiana, rules with an iron fist and looks to have some big plans for Sookie, which are still a mystery to us. Sookie’s brother Jason is a trouble maker, but it’s always fun to see what kind of mess he can get into next. Sam Merlotte, owns the local watering hole, and just happens to be a shape-shifter. Sookie’s best friend Tara is a no nonsense southern girl that is never afraid to speak her mind. One of the most enjoyable character’s to watch is Lafayette. Lafayette is Tara’s cousin, and is as flamboyant, and sassy as so many people you see in New York and L.A., but in Bon Temps, Louisiana his, fuck ya’ll I am who I am attitude, is a whole lot of fun to watch on screen. Bon Temps means good times in French, and lives up to it.

Season 3 promises more shape-shifters, werewolves, a vampire detective, and a gay vampire couple. When Season 1 started True Blood had 1.4 million viewers, now Season 3 premiered with 5.1 million, and that is just the people that watched it when it aired. By the time the final tally was taken from on-demand and re-airs True Blood averaged over 12 million. That is a huge leap for a show in it’s third year.

HBO and former Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball have created a wonderfully mysterious world of the supernatural and the sexy. Oh yeah, there is a whole lot of sex. They have also brought us back to something that hasn’t happened in a very long time. Must see Sunday night t.v., and some great Monday morning water-cooler conversation. I say keep it coming, because this season looks to be the best yet.