Inspired by the novel series by Charlaine Harris titled ‘The Southern Vampire Mysteries,’ True Blood is a fantasy drama television series that aired on HBO from September 2008 to August 2014.
Alan Ball created the show, and a reboot for the show is in development. HBO and Alan Ball’s production company ‘Your Face Goes Here Entertainment’ jointly have produced True Blood.
True Blood had 80 episodes and aired for seven seasons.
Cast
The series had an ensemble cast, where several characters had the lead and recurring roles.
The constant lead cast on the show was Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse, Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton, Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, and Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse. Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton, Chris Bauer as Andy Bellefleur, and Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds complete the main cast.
Premise
Set in a fictional scenario where vampires exist, the series explores the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a human-faerie hybrid who works as a waitress at the Merlotte’s Bar and Grill.
Sam Merlotte, a shapeshifter, owns Merlotte’s Bar and Grill in Bon Temps, Louisiana. The secret of Sam being a shapeshifter is not known to anyone in the town.
The story begins two years after the invention of a synthetic blood product called ‘Tru Blood,’ which enables vampires to abandon the coffin and live among humans. The series documents the struggles of the vampires for equal rights.
Sookie falls in love with a 174-year-old vampire named Bill Compton and has to face trials because of this new intimacy of relationships.
True Blood explores contemporary issues like gender discrimination, drug addiction, the fight for equal rights, violence against homosexuals and minorities, the influence of media, the importance of family, and the power of religion and faith.
Reception
The initial five seasons of True Blood received positive reviews from the critics. The critics praised the performance of the show’s cast, with special mention of Nelsan Ellis and Anna Paquin.
The rating and reviews for the series started to fall after the end of season five. Season six and seven received mixed and average reviews.
True Blood became the most-watched series on HBO since The Sopranos. IMDb.com Prom declared True Blood the eighth highest-rated television show from 2002 to 2012.
Accolades
True Blood received nominations and awards at several award shows. It won a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award as well.
At the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, the series won an award for ‘Outstanding Casting for a Drama.’ Anna Paquin won the Best Actress – Drama at the 13th Satellite Awards, and Stephen Moyer won the Best Actor award at the 37th Saturn Awards.
The American Film Institute awarded True Blood as ‘One of the 10 Best TV Programs’ in 2009. True Blood was named ‘ Favorite TV Obsession’ at the 36th People’s Choice Awards.
The stunt performers on the show received an award at the 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The series also won awards from American Film Institute Awards, BMI Awards, Ewwy Awards, Genesis Awards, People’s Choice Awards, NewNowNext Awards, and Satellite Awards.