Bob:
Okay, so you’ve mocked True Blood a whole lot in this column, talking about what a horrible adaptation it is of those (awful) books that you love so much. I’m calling you out! After all this blustering, I need to know exactly what it is about the show that you find so objectionable. A lot of people seem to love it, and some of them even like the books too. So what about the adaptation has you so turned off?
Debbie:
You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve checked it out, and even then, it was only the first several episodes. I remember that Sookie wasn’t as strong a character as she was in the books, and her fierce independence and stubborn nature was part of what made her so charming. It was also God-awful boring … so slow-moving and it took itself quite a bit more seriously than the books. The books are really a light-hearted romp with a strong mythology behind them, and the series was a bit too dark for my taste. All in all, it was just a bitter disappointment on my part that I didn’t get to watch the books come to life. It may have improved since then, but I probably wouldn’t go back and check it out to see.
Bob:
Well, yes I suppose it’s a tad slow, though it does end with a cliffhanger every week. I’m certainly not one to defend Anna Paquin. I am not a huge fan of hers, but I do think the character is portrayed almost exactly as you describe her: stubborn, independent, fierce. Maybe not so charming, but there’s a little bit of country charm there.
I think where we mainly disagree is that the show takes itself seriously. I don’t think anything can be farther from the truth. In fact, the first few episodes were so over the top and almost goofy, I thought for sure that the show was just making fun of the books. I saw an article last week that called True Blood “HBO’s secret comedy.” I love it. I think that’s exactly what the show is. It is completely over the top and ridiculous. It’s nighttime soap times one hundred. It’s gory, yes, and creepy at times, but I don’t really think it’s all that dark most of the time.
And the deep mythology? It’s there and only getting deeper.
Debbie:
I remember in the first few episodes Sookie seemed a bit submissive and it just didn’t work for me.
I think I’d have to rewatch to be able to debate you well on your last point, but I remember thinking that the sense of fun that is pervasive throughout the books was simply absent. I have seen trailers for more recent seasons that make the show seem like it’s found its sense of humor.
I didn’t mention this before, but the show just takes too many liberties with the plot and I just couldn’t stand it. Tara is a completely different character, and Jason has his basis in idiocy, but all the TruBlood addiction and sex slave nonsense was offensive and unnecessary. Charlaine Harris wrote enough great stuff that I didn’t feel the need for the supplementation.
And casting? Not on board with Eric (too little), but loved Alcide (perfect grizzly manliness). But again, I stopped watching before these characters even debuted, so I’m going by snippets.
To summarize, the show is just missing that certain something that draws me to the books.
Bob:
I suppose not every show can cast as perfectly as Game of Thrones. Oh, that’s right, you refuse to watch that show too!
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jul 14, 2011 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
Debbie sounds very closed minded. And really – how can she even comment on this show if she admits she doesn’t watch it. Really silly.
I can’t comment on the recent episodes, like I said. I’m only basing my opinion on the first episodes I saw. I’m not sure I’d go with close-minded … it’s more a matter of being unable to watch everything on TV. Some things just don’t make the cut and since the first few episodes didn’t grab me (or Keith, and he hasn’t read the books) we just didn’t continue to watch it.
Eric is too little? Wow. I like the show, tried the books but they’re unreadable.
Yes, in the books they describe him as 6’4″ or 6’6″ and massive … this Eric is a little too small from what I pictured. You sound like Bob regarding the books! ;-)
He’s got the height…
But he’s narrow and kinda … delicate for his height, I guess! ;-) Not what I pictured.
i have been watching trueblood with my twin sister we love it but i just cant get into the books for some weird reason my husband bought me the first 8 box set and nothing cnt read them
Deb, you’re the only person I know who has read the book and doesn’t also enjoy the show.
My mom loves both.
Not that I could ever, ever watch this show with my mother in the same room :)
I think this show is getting worse as it goes along. I don’t find anything to do with Sam and his family remotely interesting. They keep trying to make Tara interesting, but everytime she has a conversation it slows the episode to a halt. The whole Hotshot plot has gone nowhere in the approximate season that it’s been around. Lafayette is a shell of his season 1 self, and his partner isn’t any more interesting. Also, why are vampires suddenly scared of guns with wooden bullets? I understand them fearing large groups being armed, but in a stand-off?
The only thing that keeps me watching are the vampire global politics and it’s participants, and the fact that it’s a summer show. When True Blood wsa finishing its second season and Vampire Diaries was starting up, I would never have though that I’d enjoy TVD more.
I disliked the books immensely and couldn’t get passed the 2’nd one. I find True Blood much more interesting, but I think they do themselves a disservice by following the books at all. I’m getting disappointed by so little screen time for the original five main characters who drew me into the show.
By the end of season 3 True Blood had started losing me with the obviously forced plot devices and the whole amnesia story line of this season has been done to death in the past. I’m more interested in the political aspect that True Blood could follow and seems to be skipping around for four seasons.
The biggest difference between the novels and the tv show is that the novels are all first person from Sookie’s perspective. So you know what she is thinking all the time. In the show you see how other people react to her, not just how she thinks they are reacting.
I have read the first 8 or so books, they are fun, but I like the show better.
I love the books and am sometimes frustrated with the divergent paths that the series is taking. At the same time – I just love the Eric character. None of the characters are perfect casting. But these are fantasy books. What human could fulfil their descriptions?
If I’d wished the series to diverge in any way it would be to get rid of Arlene, Sam and Bill. Not very central to the books and not necessary to the series.
As far as people thinking the show has jumped the shark, fairies are much more prevalent in the book as well as all the other supernatural creatures. Sookie finds out the world is a lot more supernatural than everyone thinks.
Also, there are some portions of the title sequence that make me gag.
The books are a lot of fun. And there are many things that I wish would be in the series but are not. I guess a Tru (hah) adaptation will never come to pass. I wish the writers had more love for the books.
“I didn’t mention this before, but the show just takes too many liberties with the plot and I just couldn’t stand it.”
I totally agree. I’ve only started reading the books after I had watched the first two seasons of the show (and subsequently gave up on it), and I love the books so much more. It’s like for the adaptation they’ve taken the main plot points and the main characters and just wrote their own, entirely different story around them. It just doesn’t seem like a real adaptation.
The show is 99% porn and 1% boring… And the books are the same. It’s just disgusting.
I’m one of the bookies who hate Alan Ball’s take on my favourite books. But I love Alexander Skarsgard as Eric, he was the only reason i still care to watch the series.
“…if she loves the books that it is based on…” then she has no taste; it’s only logical that she therefore wouldn’t like the show. Kidding aside, from what I can see the show with regards to plot, dialogue, characterisation and thematic realization is an immeasurable improvement on the books, which are basically just fun bodice rippers.
“just fun bodice rippers”
Wow. It seems to me that the people who would dare bash the books (you wouldn’t have your garbage t.v. show if not for Ms. Harris!) haven’t read them. Trueblood is absolutely nothing like the books, and I would be mortified if I were Charlaine Harris. I’m blown away that she’s actually happy with the show. I can’t help but think she’s just in it for the royalties. It doesn’t surprise me that so many people would rather watch a t.v. show. Americans would rather sit in front of the television than actually read a book. It’s pathetic. You can put down pop lit all you want, but at least it requires you to use your brain.