Tag Archives: Alan Ball

True Blood Season 3 – A Review by Film Nerd

Posted on by
Reply

Created by: Alan Ball

Cast: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Deborah Ann Woll, Chris Bauer, Nelsan Ellis, Jim Parrack, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgard, Kristin Bauer, Todd Lowe, Marshall Allman, Kevin Alejandro, Jessica Tuck, Lindsay Pulsipher, Joe Manganiello, Lauren Bowles, Denis O’Hare, Evan Rachel Wood, James Frain

Synopsis: This season introduces werewolves into the series, and most sinisterly, they seem to be under the employ of the vampire king of Mississippi, Russell Edgington (O’Hare).   The latter is a man of great ambition, including uniting with Louisiana via a marriage with Bill’s monarch Sophie-Anne (Wood).   In uniting with Edgington, Bill calls off his relationship with Sookie, while she tracks him down with the help of werewolf Alcide (Manganiello).   It seems that all vampires are interested in what Sookie is, and this is the season in which we find out.   Things continue to go bad for Tara.   In addition to losing Eggs last season, she is kidnapped by a vampire, Franklin Mott (Frain), who professes his love for her, but is more psychotically attached to her rather than being in love.   Sam tracks down his birth mother for answers, and he meets a family of white trash, the Mickens, from which he tries to free his new-found brother Tommy (Allman).   Meanwhile, Jason finds a passion to join the police force, whilst falling for the mysterious Crystal (Pulsipher), whom has more than a few secrets herself.

Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse has her hands more than full for this the third series of True Blood.   With only twelve episodes per season, it is amazing how much can be put in to the story, yet it manages to do so without compromising character development, pacing, nor entertainment.   Every episode manages to draw the audience in, and keep them thirsty for more right through until the season’s end.   Even more impressively, this season delivers a higher level of entertainment than those that preceded it.

As can probably be gathered by the above synopsis, we once again have a number of story threads to follow, each lead character having a moment to shine in their own separate story.    Other elements not referred to above include a romance for LaFayette, with mental nurse Jesus (yes, some fun is made of his name, despite the pronunciation being different to that of Christ), a further development of the friendship between Andy and Jason, Alcide’s own relationship problems, Jessica dealing with feelings for Hoyt while trying to control her powers, and Arlene’s pregnancy and continued relationship with Terry.

All these threads are expertly weaved together, and unlike elements of last season that served to irritate me, particularly the Newlin storyline, there were no such pitfalls this time around.   What I did find interesting however is that despite Bill and Sookie still playing the main roles, they felt a little bit more sidelined.   This was actually a smart move.   Their story takes them to areas of dishonesty, a lack of trust, and relationship drama.   A stronger focus on these elements could have bogged the plot in a mire of melancholy.   Spreading the focus with more light-hearted characters and elements ensure the pacing remains consistent, and if ever a storyline does get almost to heavy, there is another focus to switch to.

Many of the new characters are a delight.   Edgington is a very vibrant, lively villain.   Mostly jovial and simultaneously Machiavellian, it is an interesting mix.   As he cracks with greater pressure throughout the season, it is hard to purely hate him, despite how terrible his actions become.   Alcide is also a great character.    Despite the potential romance with Sookie, with her vampire pals playing double-crossing games left right and centre and Alcide being reliable, the lack of Team Bill and Team Alcide slogans show that the relationship is portrayed with maturity and does not simply use what has been successful in other vampire franchises.   I must also make special mention of Wesley as Tara in this season.    Previously the chip on her shoulder began to irritate me, and my fondness for the character waned.   In this season her performance is amazing.   She goes through even more hardship then she ever before faced with fake exorcisms and goddess manipulations, yet she faces it with strength, and when she does break down, it is a very natural response to the severity of her treatment.   It is a true stand-out portrayal of a woman in very real crisis.

The cast and crew of True Blood have outdone themselves.   I highly recommend purchasing season three on DVD at the earliest convenience.

5 stars out of 5

 

True Blood Season 3 on IMDB

True Blood Season 3 trailer

True Blood Season 2 – A Review by Film Nerd

Posted on by
Reply

Created by: Alan Ball

Cast: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Deborah Ann Woll, Chris Bauer, Nelsan Ellis, Jim Parrack, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgard, Kristin Bauer, Todd Lowe, Michelle Forbes, Michael McMillan, Mehcad Brooks, Anna Camp, Ashley Jones

Synopsis: With all the regular cast established, the second season of True Blood effectively ups the ante.   Three main story threads run throughout the twelve episodes.   Eric has designs on Sookie, while using her gift as a tool to track down his maker Godric.   Bill of course tags along in ever protective mode, as well as the new vamp Bill created, Jessica.   Jason seeks to follow his path to God by joining an anti-vampire religious group.   Back in Bon Temps, Tara comes under the influence of the supernatural Maryann, who seems to have a history with Sam.

A review by Film Nerd.

The first season of True Blood provided a very adult form of entertainment, a trend that was certainly been maintained in this second offering.   Paquin’s Sookie was already far from being shy when faced with danger, and nothing has changed, ready to jump into anything she needs to do head first.   Though Moyer’s Bill has changed little, we do get a greater peek into his past, giving him a greater emotional range to tap into seeing there is a real actor hiding under there somewhere.   However, though their story remains central to proceedings, the key top this series is the rich story given to all the external characters.   Bill faces new challenges trying to tamer new vamp Jessica (Woll), and this adds real spice to proceedings.   It also provides an opportunity to see the torments that a freshly minted vampire can face in this world.   Similarly, Sookie’s relationship with Eric provides new tensions, providing us more of an insight to the other end of the spectrum to Jessica’s young vamp.   Overall, a consistently entertaining plot thread.

Jason’s storyline, meanwhile, was at times quite irksome.   This has nothing to do with Kwanten’s performance.   If anything, his character’s motivations are more identifiable throughout, it is just the group he is now associated with is so damned annoying.   A heavily “Christian” religious group prepared to declare war on vampires.   It does provide an interesting commentary on these cultish groups, and as such it is appropriate they are annoying.   So I see the goal that this plot thread meant to achieve , however my personal experience here did drop a star for me, as I am not watching the show to be annoyed!!   Jason does shine though, leading to some fun moments late season.

The Bon Temps storyline was at times for me similarly annoying, but there was so much more happening here that I was a bit more settled with this one.   The source of frustration was Forbes’ Maryann.   I am quite fond of Forbes as an actress, being an alumnus of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Battlestar Galactica.   So this is not a reflection of talent, more a reflection of this very over-the-top bohemian character.   The role she plays is to really delightfully stir things up though.   Tara is right at the centre of this, and similarly Sam is heavily involved, if on the sideline of this story for a long time.   Maryann is somewhat of a goddess who brings lust and free-living to the community.   She seems unable to affect drunken Andy Bellefleur.   This for me was key to the series, taking his hard arse antagonist, giving him a comic angle which eventually leads to some heart coming through (and one of the true shocks of the season).

So for me the season was not without faults, but when so much entertainment is on offer, it does not have the detriment that such faults would have in a lesser series, or in a lesser concept of story.   I have now purchased season three, and will be chomping at the bit to see season four, which starts shortly in the US.

3 stars out of 5

 

True Blood Season 2 on IMDB

True Blood Season 2 trailer

True Blood Season 1 – A Review by Film Nerd

Posted on by
Reply

Created by: Alan Ball

Cast: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Chris Bauer, Nelsan Ellis, Jim Parrack, Carrie Preston, Michael Raymond-James, Alexander Skarsgard, Kristin Bauer, Lizzy Caplan

Synopsis: Based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, this popular HBO series follows the story of Telepath Sookie (Paquin) with vampire Bill (Moyer).   In this reality, vampires have revealed their existence to the world, especially as the blood supplement Tru Blood is now available, meaning they no longer need to drain humans.   This is no series for the Twilight set.    Lets put it this way… these vampires do not sparkle!!

A review by Film Nerd.
When I am not marathoning Smallville, and when my darling bride is not in the house, I settle down to watch this series that has certainly grabbed my attention for many reasons.   This is the type of series that does not let you settle down and rely on certain elements or certain characters all being consistently normal.   It almost seems that as a result of vampires “Mainstreaming”, every other type of mystical creature gets an appearance, and most of the time these people reveal themselves in unique ways (usually to provide a juicy end of episode cliffhanger).

As with any starting series, the early episodes get through a lot of exposition, and as such early on the drama is a little limited, though remaining intriguing enough to keep the viewer involved.   Paquin’s Sookie is immensely likeable, presenting an interesting blend of outward naivety, yet often showing internal strength.   She is her own person, and that will never change.   It will not change for a serial killer that seems to be targeting her, nor will she change for any vampire, boyfriend or not.   This brings me to Moyer.   When you have a character like Sookie, Bill Compton is a little too bland often standing next to her.   Being a long-term Buffy watcher, I have seen the moody vampire with a heart before, and the routine is a little old.   There is more to the character than this, but we only start to glimpse this later in the season with some hints to Bill’s past, as well as seeing how his lifestyle conflicts at times with the larger vampire community.

What also keeps the series interesting is the raft of more minor players that all give the community of Bon Temps a real colour.   Kwanten is brilliant as Sookie’s confused brother, Rutina Wesley is a bit annoying as best friend Tara, but her character has enough back story to give her actions a real authenticity.   Tara’s cousin Lafayette is a scream as the gay cook at Merlotte’s, the bar where Sookie works.   Which brings me to Sam Merlotte, the owner of the bar and Sookie’s infatuated boss.   Sure, he fills the role of third corner of the love triangle, but he has his own twisted history that gives the character greater dimension than that.   I can talk forever on all the other yet more minor players, but I should reserve a mention for Skarsgard’s Eric Northman.   He is the vampire that holds all the cards in his sector.   Every word is delivered calmly yet is imbued with a hint of menace.   When he is introduced, the series truly steps up to a new level.

Amid all the numerous characters, interweaving storylines, and all the nudity, sex, and gore for which the series first became noticed, there is introduced many themes that are also relevant to modern society.   One cannot help but see the distrust with which the majority of the Bon Temps community views vampires without seeing parallels to the racism or homophobia one may see in a more red-neck community.   They are in a world of ignorance and fear making them lash out at the unknown.   The fact the series also has prominent African-American characters, and one of them blatantly homosexual to boot, really gives these parallels a chance to become obviously prominent.

The season ends as many do with many questions unanswered, and the intrigue is definitely there to see what happens next.   The true mark of any successful series, no matter what the genre.

4 stars out of 5


True Blood on IMDB

Season 1 trailer