Thanks to xdanceintherainx!
Last night (S2×01) we saw Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer quarrel over his keeping secrets–big secrets from her–and then having fierce, kinky make-up sex that looked pretty real right up to and including Bill’s chomping on Sookie’s neck, blood flowing like a necklace across her throat.
Sookie and Bill Make Love Season 1, Episode 1 Video *NSFW* (on an inside page of this blog)
When True Blood actors said in pre-season interviews that there would be “more sex,” I think they were being quite literal. Will more sex and violence, especially when coupled together turn off the audience members that are not the most ardent fans?
I hope so.
There is a vampire overload in American entertainment right now and most of it is dreck. Nothing especially wrong with that as judging from what the top twenty network shows are, most of teevee-show-watching America thrives on dreck.
I would just as soon see a smaller, more cerebral audience for True Blood than to see a bunch of teenagers jumping on the True Blood bandwagon seeking vampires that sparkle, because they don’t belong there.
Despite all the hype–especially the viral marketing of True Blood–it’s made for a specific demographic that is not put off by vampires biting whilst having sex, (almost) full nudity, intense violence which includes buckets of blood–and more sex. And just to mix it up and keep it interesting and fun we get the sheriff of Area 5, 1000 year-old former Viking, vampire Eric Northman paying a visit to his dungeon whilst in the middle of having his hair highlighted, foils and all.
We also get Sookie, upon discovering that Bill has turned his first victim vampire as punishment for last season’s killing of Fangtasia bartender Longshadow when he was attempting to snap Sookie’s neck, enquiring of Bill and new vamp Jessica, “Did you have sex?” To which Bill blurts out “No!” while Jessica throws in “Old”! (as in ew, he’s disgustingly old). <big smiles>
Sookie and Bill, afters she stomps off and then comes back another night, end up declaring their love for one another and having frenzied sex. This is not stuff for teenagers, not stuff for the easily unnerved or to be blunt, prudish, nor is it for the squeamish.
The violence in True Blood, though played straight, is in fact done with a wink and a nod. Just pay attention to how ludicrous the storyline gets.
Last season for example, a scene begins with vampire Bill in his dilapidated old mansion–playing Wii-like golf on his big screen. It’s funny yes, but also kind of sad as we know that no matter how long he “lives” he’ll never play out on the greens.
And so True Blood goes. It’s intense, scary, funny, sexy, witty, violent, escapist entertainment for, need I say? Grown-ups.
There is a thread of social commentary running through it which you can feel free to ignore or acknowledge though why would you want to ignore it?
Please though if it offends you, pick up your remote and click over to Animal Planet. Oops, there’s sex and violence there, too.
How about Dancing with the Stars or American Idol? They are pretty harmless and I’ve heard quite entertaining if you are into that kind of thing. And that’s really my point. People that are into True Blood and therefore into Alan Balls’ work are a bit left of mainstream and we don’t get all freaked out by the freakiness. For us, the farther out he goes the more we enjoy ourselves.
PLEASE Click over to my forum for much more True Blood!
Sookie and Bill Make Love Season 1, Episode 1 Screen Caps Bill & Sookie Make Love (E2×01). You have to be of the age of consent in your country be that 17 or 21. NSFW.
Read about her beautiful August 2009 wedding to South African musician Abri van Straten 
