Random thoughts while watching True Blood last night on HBO:
♥ 8:04 PM- checked the on-screen guide to verify that True Blood came on at 9 PM. Holy Shit! There’s an hour of programs discussing the history of vampires in our culture (movies, books, lifestyles) that includes comments by the producers and cast of True Blood, including author Charlaine Harris (what a crazy, wild, heady ride this has been for her!), and author L.A. Banks.
♥ 8:35 PM- received recorded phone call from School Principal reminding me of the Jr. High bake sale tomorrow (today). Shitpissdammit!... that’s TOMORROW?! I’d forgotten all about it of course. Brownie mix… check- two boxes… Oh shit… eggs… do we have enough eggs? What about vegetable oil? Okay, check and check.
That also meant I’d be watching HBO in the family room where the big screen is viewable from the kitchen (they’re one big room), instead of the living room where I can close the door. Not a big deal (or so I thought). Fortunately, hubby was at the Cleveland-Dallas game so I didn’t have to kick him out (I surprised him with 45 yard line tickets from ebay).
♥ 8:55- brownies in the oven, my ass is on the family room couch in front of the TV
♥ 9 PM- Opening would have been more fun if they hadn’t spoiled it by showing Billy-Bob flashing fangs in the promos, but nonetheless, the scene worked because it tweaked its nose at stereotypes. LOVE the opening music too.
♥ After being completely addicted to Johanna Parker’s brilliant performance as Sookie in the audio books of the Southern Vampire series, I thought I’d have a tough time adjusting to a different voice coming out of Sookie’s mouth. But you know what? Anna Paquin looks so much like the Sookie I see in my head (although I always thought Sookie was bustier, but, YEAH, let’s hear it for all of us with itty bitty titties) and her voice is so close to Parker’s, that I absolutely ADORED her. I can’t imagine anyone else as Sookie.
♥ In the promos and in the show, I couldn’t see how anyone could be attracted to Bill. That downtrodden expression, those red-rimmed been-on-a-weekend-booze-and-drug-binge eyes. Yet as the show progressed, he somehow became more attractive. I’m not sure if it’s because his expression softened around Sookie, or I was seeing him through Sookie’s eyes, but I gradually found him quite nummy.
♥ Tara was a hoot in that “WTF was THAT” kind of way.
♥ Sam is not how I pictured him at all. I’ve always thought of him as being older than Sookie. And I was surprised at how “heart on his sleeve” he was. I’ve always thought he kept his feelings for Sookie fairly well hidden. He'll take some getting used to, but the actor is likeable.
♥ EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE- much cringing ensued when Sookie peeled the silver chains off and OUT of Bill’s wrists and neck. YEEEE-UK!
♥ Hee-hee- Sookie: “That’s just some ol' dog that hangs out. He probably lives around here.” Bill: “I’m sure he does.” Okay, that’s only funny if you’ve read the books.
♥ Speaking of the books, it’s been YEARS since I read the first one, and as I’ve said before, it was just “meh” to me. It wasn’t until I started listening to the audio books that I fell in love with the series. But one thing I DO remember about that book, and it continues with the later books, is that there was really not much sex, and what there was wasn’t graphic at all.
So there I am watching TV in the very open family room/kitchen, when the Maudette-Vamp and Maudette-Jason scenes came on. And Maudette was very, VERY vocal! Of course right about then, first one demon spawn, then a few minutes later, the other demon spawn wandered into the kitchen. You can only imagine how fast I had to dive for the remote and change the channel! I mean I KNOW it was HBO, but since the books didn’t have graphic sex, it never occurred to me that the TV show would!
So next week, I’ll be sure to shut myself into the living room when it’s on. In the meantime, I’ll have to call this episode back up on HBO On-Demand. Just to make sure I didn’t miss anything important, you understand. ;-p
♥ I also didn’t remember Sookie’s grandmother being alive in that first book. She has since passed away by those later stories.
BTW, did anyone recognize the book Gran was reading? It looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite read the title.
♥ All in all, I was BEYOND pleased with this first episode of True Blood, both as a TV viewer and, more importantly, as someone who loves the series it’s based on. It’s my understanding that, as the show progresses, the TV series won’t necessarily follow the book stories faithfully, but will instead merely be “inspired by” Charlaine Harris’ books. So I’ll reserve final judgment until I’ve watched more episodes, but it certainly appears that True Blood will continue to be appointment TV for me so long as the producers remember why the books are so popular-- not because they are woo-woo vampire stories, but rather because they concentrate on the CHARACTERS that just happen to be vampires, weres, shifters, etc.
♥ And one final thought… didn’t Sookie’s cat look vaguely familiar?
The Patchy Peener
12 years ago
16 comments:
I've been hearing about this for a while and on blogs. I don't get HBO though. :(
Guess I have to wait until it comes out in DVD.
On the other hand, since you rave so much about the audio books I might do that.
I got to watch the first episode on DVD from Blockbuster, but I don't have HBO either. Boooooo.
Where'd you get the audio books? Downloads or CD's?
Both of you need to get your butts over to Audible and download the first book! If you're not sure, then spend some time sampling it. So sez I.
Just remember that these are not action-packed, fast paced books. But thanks to narrator Johanna Parker, you'll find yourself floating along to the Southern pace.
You can find links to all of them here.
I read somewhere (Entertainment Weekly?) that the book Grandma is reading is a Sookie book and it's sorta an inside joke for fans since you don't get a clear look at the cover, just a quick glimpse.
I enjoyed the show even though I haven't read the books, I tried the first one along time ago and just didn't get it. I'll try the book from again from Audible as you suggest... I want to be able to get the damn joke about the dog!
Grandma is definitely alive at the very beginning of the first book.
I must try and figure out when this is going to be shown here.
Peggy, the U.S. releases have very distinctive cover illustrations that I would have recognized immediately. But your comment got me to wondering if it was a book in another one of her series, or maybe a re-release. However, a search of Amazon and Harris' website didn't turn up that purple cover. This is really bugging me!
Marg, you're in Oz, right? I don't know if you can access it from down there, but I just checked the True Blood
main page and there is an option that says "Watch".
MB and Jen, that option should work for you too.
huh... I watched it, WITH my daughter(I let her because she loves vampire stuff and I also remembered very little onscreen sex in at least the first few chapters)... I should have remembered that this is HBO.... I put my hands over her face and she said LA LA LA for 5 minutes till it was over....
Otherwise it was good... heh.. yes, granny was alive in the first book.... which, to quote Forrest Gump, "Is all I am going to say about that."
The only character I didn't think was "captured" was Sam... For one thing, Sookie can't easily read his mind, even when she tries.. Tara is a lot mouthier and a bigger role than in the books, but I think that is probably for the better... Sookie needs a sidekick to be her Jiminy Cricket..
But for an adaption of a book (which is almost always a downer and a half) I think they did a really good job...
wytherin
I think I read somewhere that the Tara in the show is actually a blend of two characters from the books-- Tara and someone else-- but damned if I can remember who that someone else was. I just remember there was a lot of discussion about whether that could work as the series progressed. I should probably make the first Sookie book my next audio download.
That's too funny about your daughter. FWIW, my older daughter is nearly 22 and I STILL want to cover her eyes when we watch things together!
Oh damn, I went to the link and this show looks so good. Still gonna have to wait until it comes out on DVD or maybe itunes has it for sale already.
And I just love Anna Paquin. I've loved everything she's been in. She has a certain kind of dreamy energy around her that's perfect for paranormals.
That's too funny about your daughter. FWIW, my older daughter is nearly 22 and I STILL want to cover her eyes when we watch things together!
Mine is going on 14, and neither of us is comfortable even watching heavy kissing scenes together... She probably doesn't have that problem watching with her friends, but with Mom? We talk about the issues, but there are just some things you don't bond over.
Luckily for me, my daughter isn't boy crazy yet.. she had a boyfriend (they pretty much were just boyfriend/girlfriend at school), she broke up because he was taking up too much of her time. She is horsecrazy, and in just about every social activity at her school (she is NOT a sporty girl...lol)
wytherin
Your daughter sounds so much like mine, which as a Mom, is a HUGE relief! My older daughter had a boyfriend before they had driver's licenses, so basically just for school or they'd meet for a movie, stuff like that. But other than that, I have been soooo lucky that both my girls just don't place boys on their priority list. First of all, my girls look and act age appropriate. By that I mean they weren't 11 going on 17, and I actually had other Moms tell me that they liked their daughters hanging around mine because of that.
Secondly, they are both dedicated to good grades and being involved at school so they don't have time for boyfriends, but they do have a lot of guys that they are friends with. In fact, my older daughter (the 22 yr old) still hangs out with some of her guy friends from high school as part of her group of friends.
All my kids attend(ed) a small Catholic high school and tend to think of kids in their grade more like family since they've known most of them since kindergarten.
Awww...Bev, you're such a good mom!
When kids turn out all level headed and together, it's mostly because of good parenting.
I still can't believe that my sister's boys are so together and mature for their age. Cause when my sisters and I were their age, we were into all kinds of shit. Bad shit. But she's a great mom too.
You should pat yourself on the back for such a good job. They're a reflection of you.
"Cause when my sisters and I were their age, we were into all kinds of shit. Bad shit. But she's a great mom too."
Trust me, it's fear of raising an updated version of our younger self that does it! Although with the 16 yr old daugther, I've failed at destroying the nasty smart-mouthed attitude that I subjected my parents to.
Now if I could just figure out a way to slap reality into my oldest son. He is truly an asshat. Seriously.
Now if I could just figure out a way to slap reality into my oldest son. He is truly an asshat. Seriously.
Yes, but he sounds like a very sensitive guy. He'll make some girl nice and happy.
And don't worry. I was a really late, late, late bloomer. Actually until I was 40 *snort* My parents were thinking WTF on a regular basis, and I was disowned regularly. LOL
But now, I'm the "good" daughter. Buwahaha! Only benny I'm getting with that though is the dubious distinction of probably being the one who has to take care when they are really too old. *sigh* My karma, right?
Maybe your son will end up being the brilliant genius who will become a billionaire and offer you a life of luxury with a house just for your books. :D
I just snorted so hard that I think I hurt myself.
Maybe your son will end up being the brilliant genius who will become a billionaire and offer you a life of luxury with a house just for your books. :D
Or he will live in your basement and on his important job say " You want fries with that?"
LOL... sometimes life is a crapshoot... so far my kids are good, but they are 12 and 14, lots of time to screw up (for them and ME).... Parenting sure isn't for sissies.. I am constantly worrying that I am doing something wrong.. which I probably am... and they are going to grow up in spite of me..
wytherin
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