by Jen M. Hernandez

Created on: August 13, 2010   Last Updated: August 14, 2010

Based on the Sookie Stackhouse series created by Charlaine Harris, True Blood first premiered on HBO in the summer of 2008.  

Shaped by a gripping notion that vampires have always lived among us, and only recently unveiled their existence to the world at large (when a synthetic blood was created allowing vampires to mainstream), the series takes place in the fictional small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana.  Though, certainly an innovative concept, the series of novels by Harris were elementary at best.

After coming across her book in 2005, creator Alan Ball began courting Harris in an attempt to bring an original concept for a show to HBO.  By early 2007, they had cast all major parts for the show and began filming the pilot.

The show, like the novels, was centered principally on Sookie Stackhouse, a telepath, barmaid in Bon Temps, which became (whether willingly or not) ingrained in the supernatural politics and realities of the world. 

Though many elements of the novel have found a niche within the television series, it is only where the screenwriters have deviated from those plotlines that the success of the series can be attributed.

Unfortunately, authenticity slips through the fingers of True Blood creators. Cast in the role of Sookie Stackhouse, Anna Paquin’s southern accent is atrocious, and unquestionably fails to cultivate the very indispensable legitimacy of Southernism. Though some of the other actors appear to struggle in their attempt at a southern accent, it’s Paquin’s leading role that truly necessitates believability and utterly fails.

Furthermore, the show can be needlessly raunchy and as a result is unsuccessful in creating a genuinely, respectable relationship between two of its main characters (i.e. Sookie and vampire Bill).  Sadly, this impractical depiction of a tender, loving bond can, at times, garner an ill-desired effect—making Sookie’s character all the more improbable, and somewhat unlikable.

Sam Merlotte (played by Sam Trammell) is the owner of Merlotte’s, the bar and diner where Sookie works. The character is something like glue, contributing to the little authenticity the show does afford, as much as grounding the character of Sookie Stackhouse and making her seem more wholesome than she otherwise comes across.

Fortunately, True Blood creators made the [very wise] decision to derail from the death sentence Harris awarded Merlotte’s cook, Lafayette Reynolds, in her novels. Instead, writers for the HBO series gave Lafayette’s character life. Surely, Nelsan Ellis is True Blood’s saving grace, bringing depth and humor to the character, resulting in so much of the audience’s allegiance (at the very least, my own).

Within its first season, True Blood was an instant success. Now, in its third season, ratings continue to thrive. At the heart of its plot, is a genuinely decent concept. Should the writers continue to take their own paths, as opposed to following the plotlines of the novels too directly, this show stands to improve over time.

Just DON’T mess with Lafayette!

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