True Blood: It’s Deliciously Bloodcurdling

True Blood launched its first episode, “Strange Love,” last night on HBO, reviving the vampire horror genre that has had difficulty remaining afloat on such shows as CBS’ Moonlight.  The show’s main character is wide-eyed waitress and telepath Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who works at the local watering hole, Merlotte’s, of a small Louisiana town called Bon Temps.  True Blood surprisingly manages to include such banalities as vampires in Louisiana (hmmmm, that’s never been done before), a small-time waitress looking for love in a suffocating Southern town, and a seductive stranger/vampire who seems to evoke dim lighting and violin music upon entering a room.

Even more surprising is that, with all those seemingly done-before elements, the show manages to put a fresh spin on the vampire genre.  In “Strange Love,” we are introduced to modern vampires who are forced to adapt to the world of humans by drinking Tru Blood, a synthetic, Japanese-made blood.  They interview with Bill Maher, advocating for the right of vampires to be able to live freely and openly, as they are no longer predators needing to feed off human blood.

Sookie Stackhouse’s world is also changing.  She is intrigued by her first vampire patron, the tall, dark, and sharply-toothed, 167-year-old Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) who appears at Merlotte’s seeking Tru Blood.  Sookie apologetically tells him they no longer carry it because it went bad, since they never had any vampire customers before now.  He orders a glass of red wine instead.  Perhaps because she cannot seem to read his mind at all, Sookie becomes mesmerized with the mysterious stranger.  Soon, the other people in her tightly-knit town can’t help but notice her attraction either. 

When she is able to read the minds of two shady locals, Mack and Denise Rattray (a.k.a. The Rats), who befriend Bill as part of a scheme to rob him of his blood, Sookie is able to eventually rescue him, becoming Mack and Denise’s next target.  After Sookie saves Bill from The Rats’ blood-draining torture, Sookie and Bill formally introduce themselves to each other.  Sookie can’t help but laugh when she discovers her infatuation’s name is just plain Bill.  Bill, remaining a vampire of little words, is still grateful to her for coming to his rescue and returns her deep gazes.  Merlotte’s owner, Sam Merlotte, who is in love with Sookie, and Tara Thornton, Sookie’s childhood BFF, are suspicious of Sookie’s immortal crush and urge her not to get involved with Bill.

Meanwhile, Sookie’s womanizing brother, Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten), discovers that enterprising, human prostitutes now specialize in sex with vampires for a hefty fee when his lady friend, Maudette Pickens, shows him the tape she made with a vampire john.  After watching the tape and having a vigorous night with Maudette, Jason, remarkably still full of energy, goes back to Merlotte’s.  There, he ignores Tara, who holds a torch for him, and flirts with a waitress.  The episode ends with the police taking Jason in as a suspect for Maudette’s murder after her body and the tape she made of her and Jason having sex are discovered.  Mack and Denise also ambush Sookie in Merlotte’s empty parking lot late at night while she is waiting to meet with Bill.

Combining American Gothic-like images of an ever-changing American South with an innovative storyline, True Blood breathes life into what could have been just another cheesy vampire show.  Anna Paquin’s portrayal of the sweet and spunky Southern belle, Sookie Stackhouse, is not just believable, but likeable as well.  The show even manages to subvert what could have been a played-out stereotype of the South with realistic characters, such as the feisty Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley) and make-up clad, hip-strutting, short order cook, Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis).  HBO puts its usual stamp on the show with backwoods, Southern style, provocative sex scenes, racy subject matter, and mouthwatering, hard-bodied characters, Jason Stackhouse and Bill Compton.  Be sure to catch True Blood.

Sundays at 9PM/8C, HBO

Photographs courtesy of IMDbPro