Two Guys, a Girl and a Blog

I watched the premiere of True Blood tonight with anticipation and trepidation. After all the previews and pathetic attempts at viral marketing were cringeworthy to say the least however its HBO and its Alan Ball therefore the idea has to equal awesome. The start of the episode finds a waitress (Anna Paquin) walking through her workplace (a bar named Merlottes) hearing inner voices. She takes a moment to close her eyes and somehow finds the strength to shut out everyones inner thoughts. This being our first hint that Sookie is a little different than the rest. Later on as the vampire, Bill, is introduced and Sookie is inexpicably able to tell he’s a vampire we are further confirmed of her differentness in a vast land of stereotypes. Since the character of Tara was introduced so early in the show then I can’t help but bitch about the actress’ atrocious accent so early in the review. Ye gods who approved this accent? Perhaps its because I live in the south and have many friends from Louisiana but to hear this accent is to hear a joke that Hollywood has decided is accurate. Like a Brit hearing an American murder their accent, I am hearing the ridiculousness of Rutina Weasley and feeling like Hollywood has lost its ever lovin mind (see told ya I’m from the South). Since I never classified HBO as your typical Hollywood churn factory then I can’t help but be disappointed they let this happen but moving on from this major pet peeve. Bill the vampire comes into the bar for True Blood but finds himself nearly being drained instead. V-Juice, vampires blood, is a drug for mortals that makes them feel sexier, healtheir, more alive, etc. In essence it carries the traits of most drugs. People love it and it’s only attained by draining a vampire of their blood. While in this near life ending scrape with a trashy drug dealing couple, Bill is saved by Sookie. They bond somehow as she is different. She realizes that although she can hear thoughts, she can not hear Bill *cough Buffy in Earshot*. As the next day unfolds and news of the vampire come to light we are also treated to the information of a murder in Benton (pronounced Bonton). Sookie’s brother Jason is the main suspect as we had previously seen him and the victim having sex while watching a video of her and a vampire (not Bill) having sex. Her grandmother asks her to find out if the vampire will speak to her about the civil war. Tara (Wesley) having quit her job earlier in the show while insulting a customer at her previous job is now employed at the same bar that Sookie tends waitress. As the vampire enters the bar the second night and asks to call on Sookie. I suppose from this lingo use we are to assume he is very old indeed and goes back to the days of courting and balls. She agrees if he’ll meet her after work but then she is assaulted by the same trashy pair that she saved Bill from the previous night. So synopsis done what other thoughts do I have on the show other than Rutina Wesley’s accent (and character in general) makes me want to flip the channel? Well the show they’ve set up is a bit bland. It doesn’t seem interesting or that it can go anywhere except the same old tired jokes and the same characters finding themselves in the same circumstances over and over again. Then again I’m sure the first episode of Buffy seemed the same to many. Having picked up Dead until Dark at a yardsale for 25 cents I should be able to tell you that theres much to look forward to. But the book was worth a quarter and I found after a few pages it wasn’t worth the read. So if the book wasn’t worth the time, will the show be? We have the long suffering bartender in love with his waitress, the sassy black best friend, the horn dog brother, the quiet grandmother who you just know has a dark secret, a few more slutty waitresses, a trashy drug dealing couple, and a vampire. Because of the last item then we have to at least give True Blood a few more chances. Paquins perfectly cast innocent looks also are worth watching a few more times before her naivete with a dash of supernatural brilliance gets old. One may argue that pilots are hard to make great. After all you’re introduced to new characters you’re asked to care for immediately. There is tons of exposition and you simply can’t end the episode without everyones name being said 10 times in order for the audience to remember. However, in this day and age then you had damn well better try. I can’t help but think about great pilots like that of Veronica Mars and Lost which were very strong. Perhaps because of them I am spoiled. However this pilot wasn’t half as interesting as the possibilities lended it. A new turn on an old lore piques my interest still but True Blood currently Truly Sucks.