Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 TV REVIEW 
8

True Blood Kills With Metaphors (and, Uh, Sex)

Kinky sex meets social commentary

Share

(Newser) – Critics are gushing about HBO's hit True Blood, which manages to marry kinky vampire sex to social commentary, writes Gina Bellafante in the New York Times. The barrier-busting series touches on gay marriage, racial profiling, capitalism run amok, and right-wing religious extremism. In the current season, a crazed Christian cult called the Fellowship of the Sun is out to get vampires and their sympathizers.

The vampires, incidentally, who have recently "come out" because they can now subsist on synthetic blood, are lobbying for the right to legally marry. It's all served up with a David Lynch look and orgiastic romps that make Sex and the City look like "merely nun's play," notes Bellafante.

Actress Anna Paquin arrives at the second season premiere of HBO's
Actress Anna Paquin arrives at the second season premiere of HBO's "True Blood" in Hollywood.   (Getty Images)
Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, gets down and dirty with Eric the vampire in a scene from
Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, gets down and dirty with Eric the vampire in a scene from "True Blood."   (TwilighWhore)
INelsan Ellis portrays Layfayette Reynolds in a scene from the HBO series
INelsan Ellis portrays Layfayette Reynolds in a scene from the HBO series "True Blood."   (AP Photo/HBO, John P. Johnson)
An ad for HBO's
An ad for HBO's "True Blood."   (AP Photo/Los Angeles Times)
Actress Danielle Sapia poses at the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO's series
Actress Danielle Sapia poses at the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO's series "True Blood" in Hollywood last year.   (AP Photo/Mark Davis)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Intro for hit series "True Blood."   (theratssbb)

View larger videos >>
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

During the current season, its second, it has become an allegory for nearly every strain of tension in American life. - Gina Bellafante

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
8 comments
VIEWING:
 
Newser001
Aug 28, 09 12:49 PM CDT
The show is nothing short of brilliant. And yes, there are parallels throughout its story. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Jes
Aug 28, 09 1:41 PM CDT
The stat of the show was kinda rough, but I've really gotten in to it. I must have missed the capitalism run amok bit though, unless they are commenting on Lafayette and his "business." Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
Scrambles
Aug 28, 09 5:31 PM CDT
the commentary is sort of weak in areas though...for one, the fundamentalists are ridiculously over the top...also, the gay community is not being repressed because of a fear of being killed/having the blood removed from your body like the vamps in the show...other then that the show is enjoyable :) Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Todd_English
Aug 29, 09 1:25 AM CDT
I never really picked up on the social commentary. I think its just a well acted clever show. Plus there are some really hot chicks in the show!... I never miss an episode, every Sunday my buddies and I get together and watch it followed by Entourage. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
Todd_English
Aug 29, 09 1:27 AM CDT
And a side note. That video in the upper left for the preview is not workplace appropriate!
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 8 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

3 Stories

 Brits Eat Up 
 Steamy Yank 
 Vampires 

Fangs a lot, gush new True Blood fans

Nov 9, 09 4:00 AM CST
(Newser) - The sizzling TV vampire series True Blood is ringing just as true with British audiences as with American fans. Why? Brits love the "gripping blend of southern American small-town mentality and hideous murders" in the series peopled by "Daisy Duke" Anna Paquin and her "chisel-cheeked" lover played... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • vampires • True Blood • television program • Anna Paquin • Stephen Moyer

(Newser) - Sassy Anna Paquin has absolutely no trouble stripping down for scenes in HBO's steamy series Tru Blood, she tells Nylon in a let-it-all-hang-out interview. "I'm sorry, maybe there are women who keep their bras on while they have sex. I don't happen to be one of them," quips... More »

MORE ABOUT:
HBO • nudity • sex • stripping • vampire • TV series • monster • sex scene • television program • Anna Paquin • Stephen Moyer • Tru Blood

(Newser) - True Blood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are engaged, People reports. The two have been open about their 6-month relationship and how it affects their onscreen romance. Says Paquin, 27: “If you're already with that person, then you're not having to sort of get over... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • television • HBO • actor • celebrity engagements • celebrity marriage • True Blood • Anna Paquin • Stephen Moyer

3 Stories


Arts & Living  •  Opinion 
TwitterFollow @NewserArts on Twitter

 
gay marriage • HBO • blood • racial profiling • right-wing extremism • True Blood • television program • Anna Paquin • Stephen Moyer

from our news partners

CinemaBlend.com