Thursday, July 30, 2009

True Blood: 10 reasons we’re obsessed

Froma Grazia UK ( remember S1 just started there )

First it was The Wire, now it's True Blood. You know what I mean, the TV show you're vaguely aware is supposed to be fantastic but (whisper it) have never actually seen. So pay attention - no talking at the back - because even if you're not watching True Blood you should damn well be talking about it. Here's your print-off-and-casually-drop-in-to-pub-conversation guide to the show.

1. Practicalities first: True Blood is on FX at the moment (Friday nights at 10pm). But panic ye not, terrestrial traditionalists: It's coming to Channel 4 in October. And you can download it from iTunes. Our new secret obsession.

2. Now for the clever TV knowledge bit: The show comes from Alan Ball. As in the genius behind the spooky and powerful Six Feet Under. And the gorgeous and disturbing American Beauty? Your attention's piqued now, huh?

3. Clever TV knowledge bit (part two): Like The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Flight of the Conchords, The Sopranos, Sex and The City and almost every other amazing American TV show, True Blood was made by HBO - the premium American TV channel known for making clever shows for clever people.

4. Let's cut to the chase: This is a show about vampires. But don't be put off, even if you don't get the vamp thing. Even though it centres on a young woman's relationship with a brooding, 170-year old vamp, True Blood isn't just another Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's very different - not least because of the sex. There's an awful lot of it. Some of it's dirty and weird and with vampires - which is a good thing, obviously.

5. There's also an awful lot of violence - it's often weird and supernatural but heart-breakingly real at the same time.

read on

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