"This time around, the subject seems to be vampires, but it’s really values-the small town variety. Ring any bells"
I noticed from the opening titles that Alan Bell is trying to make "True Blood" into something that will "give an important message". I am a bit confused here? What message? I can't quite see the "small-town values" bit (I was told that Southern accents are ridiculously bad in the show) and the "vampires as a persecuted minority" bit is quite wrong-cord striking. I wish he didn't try to present something that is essentially just an erotic fluff and eye-candy as something with "message".
I wish he didn't try to present something that is essentially just an erotic fluff and eye-candy as something with "message".
I think the social commentary is much more self conscious in the show (maybe because we don't have Sookie as our narrator), and Ball continually bringing it to people's attention is a bit like getting hammered over the head with it, which might partly account for the poor ratings so far. For my part, I find it really interesting, how greater divisions are kind of explored in the microcosm of this southern town. How many TV shows are there that are set in the contemporary south of the US? The only other one I can name off the top of my head is John Milch's HBO pilot set in post-Katrina New Orleans. And The Wire, if Maryland counts as the south.
Oh, the ratings are poor? Noooooo! At this rate we will never get to the later books (with Eric).
I am not a specialist on this, but I have heard (from someone born there) that the Southerness in the show feels completely fake.
The "vampires as an ethnic minority" theme bothers me in few ways. It is not at all ethically correct IMHO to draw the parallel between any present-day minorities (ethnic, sexual orientation, etc.) and vampires. The whole thing about any "human" minorities is in the fact that they are NO DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF HUMANS.
I must say , after the two episodes that I am not so keen on show myself. I might persevere until Eric shows up, though.
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I noticed from the opening titles that Alan Bell is trying to make "True Blood" into something that will "give an important message". I am a bit confused here? What message? I can't quite see the "small-town values" bit (I was told that Southern accents are ridiculously bad in the show) and the "vampires as a persecuted minority" bit is quite wrong-cord striking. I wish he didn't try to present something that is essentially just an erotic fluff and eye-candy as something with "message".
** end of rant **
I want Eric, not persecuted-ness of vampires. :D
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I think the social commentary is much more self conscious in the show (maybe because we don't have Sookie as our narrator), and Ball continually bringing it to people's attention is a bit like getting hammered over the head with it, which might partly account for the poor ratings so far. For my part, I find it really interesting, how greater divisions are kind of explored in the microcosm of this southern town. How many TV shows are there that are set in the contemporary south of the US? The only other one I can name off the top of my head is John Milch's HBO pilot set in post-Katrina New Orleans. And The Wire, if Maryland counts as the south.
Reply
I am not a specialist on this, but I have heard (from someone born there) that the Southerness in the show feels completely fake.
The "vampires as an ethnic minority" theme bothers me in few ways. It is not at all ethically correct IMHO to draw the parallel between any present-day minorities (ethnic, sexual orientation, etc.) and vampires. The whole thing about any "human" minorities is in the fact that they are NO DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF HUMANS.
I must say , after the two episodes that I am not so keen on show myself. I might persevere until Eric shows up, though.
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