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BUFFY-Loving Hercules Drinks In The New HBO Vampire Series From SIX FEET UNDER Creator Alan Ball: TRUE BLOOD!!

Ya know what features vampires from time to time? by Shermdawg	Sep 7th, 2008 12:25:43 AM
SUPERNATURAL. Watch it.
I saw the leaked pilot by Maestro610	Sep 7th, 2008 12:36:25 AM
I feel like there's a good show in here somewhere but it just hasn't completely gelled. Obviously I was hoping to hear in the first few episodes it would get better but if after five its still in question I am losing my optimism. Cable series tend to go about 12-13 episodes a season so they really don't have much time to turn it around. Anna Paquin is really the reason to watch this show, Bill is extremely wooden. I plan to watch this tomorrow night because I know they went back and redid some of the pilot but I'm going to assume a John From Cincinnati one season on this show.
Supernatural sucks. by Mose Schrute	Sep 7th, 2008 12:37:14 AM
I'll sample this though.
Why she can't read Sam (Spoiler!) by Evil Grizly	Sep 7th, 2008 12:53:22 AM
From the books: Sam is a lycanthrope/shifter. He turns into a dog in the novels. Sookie has difficulty reading the minds of any supernatural being, so it's easier for them to block their thoughts from her. I love the books, and I'm really looking forward to this show.
Answers..... by Menchekia	Sep 7th, 2008 12:55:19 AM
Herc, answers to some of your questions will probably come out later. If they go by the books, which it looks like they are, it comes out later. Like why Sookie is just a cocktail waitress and not in Quantico. Why a telepath is important to the Vamp community. Why she has no idea that Sam is in love with her even though she is a telepath..... The first season looks like the first book, so some of this may not come out until season 2, though.
I have the Pilot on promotional DVD... by Banzai Rootskibango	Sep 7th, 2008 01:03:27 AM
...and it was ok. It seems like it has a lot of potential...and it seems that it could also go the other way and be stupid. Also, why an FBI consultant? You could make a ton of money playing poker in Vegas.
Awful by topaz4206	Sep 7th, 2008 01:18:27 AM
I absolutely LOVED the first five minutes of the pilot. Pitch perfect. The tone was a perfect blend of satire, tension, dark humor, and plain old fashioned terror. The next 50 minutes are nowhere near as good.
This Sounds a LOT Like the Anita Blake Novels... by Rogue Planet	Sep 7th, 2008 01:34:43 AM
Anita Blake. Slayer. Lives in Louisiana. Some vampires are good, some evil. Pretty much the same rules. She had some powers, but so did some other non-Vamps. Sounds a LOT like Anita Blake. Still, I hate vampire shows. Buffy notwithstanding, most vampire shows...and I can't believe I'm actually SAYING this...suck. I know, I had to go there.
Coming Soon: SOPRANOS Season 7 by LaserPants	Sep 7th, 2008 01:38:46 AM
I guarantee it. Just as I guarantee JK Rowling is going to write plenty more Harry Potter related product and service books (especially after her first non-Potter book bombs). Hell, I think I saw one the other day, it was some kind of side adventure called Hermione's Heavy Flow or something...
So Its Buffy, But Not As Good, Even Though Its On Cable by LaserPants	Sep 7th, 2008 01:41:29 AM
Yikes! I would think gratuitous sex n' violence Cable Buffy would be a gimme. Hot young women get their omnisexual exploitative gorno on? How can you fuck that up?
laserPants by imascooby1985	Sep 7th, 2008 01:47:56 AM
if it was Sarah Michelle Gellar getting it on with David boreanaz on HBO, it would be a gimme. Because the sex and nudity would just be added to a show that already includes amazing dialogue and great characterization. It appears that in this case, the sex and violence is on top of some bland characters saying bad dialogue. Kinda disappointing, I am a Buffy and SFU fan who was really looking forward to this. I will watch and reserve judgement for myself though.
BUFFY by imascooby1985	Sep 7th, 2008 01:49:04 AM
Didnt Buffy get some pretty dang bad reviews during its first season as well? My memory aint great but I seem to remember the critics not being quite as gung ho about the show as they are now looking back at it calling one of the biggest cult shows of all time and whatnot.
Pre-air Pilot (Spoilers) by xsi kal	Sep 7th, 2008 01:58:56 AM
I watched this at the beginning of the summer, and thought it was terrible. I like the books, but I feel like aspects of the story that work fine in the novels (because you can basically skim or ignore them) are annoying as hell in the tv show. I'm not sure what the heck Herc is talking about, but Sookie does not have any telekinetic powers. And, as someone mentioned, the reason you don't see Sam for half an hour after he leaves the bar, is because he is the dog that shows up to help Sookie.
downloaded the pilot as well by Holodigm	Sep 7th, 2008 03:08:47 AM
it was a little lame, so i hope they did in fact reshoot it oh and anna paquin's bucktooth mouth is some nasty shit
Worth watch just for Anna Paquin in that T-sirt. by The Outlander	Sep 7th, 2008 03:40:14 AM
I never was that attracted to Anna Paquin until I saw her in this.
So Tru from Tru Calling by Napoleon Park	Sep 7th, 2008 03:46:01 AM
isn't in this?
I'll Watch This... by Sightblinder	Sep 7th, 2008 06:22:19 AM
But I'd rather be seeing a Buffyverse show from Whedon on HBO.
Anna Paquin has a kicking little body by palewook	Sep 7th, 2008 06:58:26 AM
But the 1st episode plays more to the lifetime crowd. If your favorite Buffy episodes involved Buffy & Angel doing the sad, sad break up stuff, True Blood is probably for you. If your favorite Buffy episodes were any of the other episodes, True Blood is going to bore you. And any reviewer that gave this show a 9 out 10 or 3-4 stars, needs to be drug tested. The show is at best a 2 to 2.5, if you love vampires or lifetime. If you tend to love action or guy type stuff, this show is a 0.5 to 1.0 star show.
Paquin is ugly and fat by Underdogthe3rd	Sep 7th, 2008 07:35:59 AM
her best african american generic smart mouth friend is annoying as hell. And Vampires are lame. Vampires are the new Harry Potter (uh, lets all have fantasies about people with super powers cause our lives sucks!). Lame, lame, lame.
Shot by NudeandAroused	Sep 7th, 2008 07:40:44 AM
Gonna give it a shot and hope for the best.
No vamp face? by buffywrestling	Sep 7th, 2008 10:20:15 AM
That's disappointing. What's the point in that? Regular looking people standing around drinking blood is pretty weak allegory. I'll check it out just to see Sgt. Brad Colbert from Gen Kill but ....
We'll see by Cobbio	Sep 7th, 2008 10:29:18 AM
I'm a big fan of Alan Ball, but I'm getting mixed feelings about this new show. On one hand, I'm excited he's making a low-restriction show on HBO with lovely Anna Paquin, but on the other hand, I'm not much of a fan of vampires anymore. I've already seen everything they are, everything they're ever going to be. Vampires kind of bore me now. "Salem's Lot," "Nosferatu," and seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are about as good as it'll ever get. Ball will have to crank "True Blood" up to eleven to tweak my interest. We'll see if he does.
A shame... by Munkstomper	Sep 7th, 2008 10:33:22 AM
The books have a southern humor to them that the shows unfortunately do not. The problem is the books are in first person, so you get all of Sookie's thoughts. That's the best part of the story. It's a real fun read. The show is telling 2/3rd of the story, so I wish it well, but it's definately not as good as the books.
I thought this would be cancelled based on the 'leak' by elab49	Sep 7th, 2008 12:28:38 PM
the show was unremittingly awful. And if it wasn't for leches like this reviewer drooling over Paquin's 'innocent' slutty clothes ensembles it probably would have been binned. The writing is stunningly bad, the vampire can't act and the bar owner is clearly the dog (or was that not supposed to be bleedin' obvious?). The annoying thing? The comment above is right - for about 3 minutes it actually looked like an interesting premise.
Don't know which came first... by ArmandVA	Sep 7th, 2008 02:02:46 PM
this book series, or the Twilight saga, but either way it sounds like one author, ahem, "borrowed" heavily from the other. Stephenie Meyer can keep claiming that she's never read another work of vampire fiction in her life all she wants to, but i call bullshit. too much of her work is drawn from anne rice and poppy brite for that to be true. this just sounds like Twilight in the deep south to me. or maybe Twilight was just True Blood in the upper NW.
Underdogthe3rd by oisin5199	Sep 7th, 2008 02:24:29 PM
you're kidding right? Anna Paquin is uberhot! Check her out in X-Men leather.
Enough Vampire Shit by Squashua	Sep 7th, 2008 02:24:44 PM
Moonlight (Forever Knight remake) and that other one where the guy lives forever in Cincinnati (I think) failed last season and are enough.
Doth protest too much? by Vigilant	Sep 7th, 2008 03:51:41 PM
Captain Justice
So she's a witch. by kirttrik	Sep 7th, 2008 06:21:40 PM
Um, it's a bit too much like Buffy for me.
Sounds like they like ripping of Whedon. by jae683	Sep 7th, 2008 08:47:55 PM
First Moonlight coughAnglecough and now this. When will they ever learn.
Wasn't this supposed to suck? by cocolopez	Sep 7th, 2008 09:51:10 PM
Because it didn't. I was well entertained. I see all of this someone bit off of so-and-so- maybe you cats spend way too much time watching vampire shows. Not everyone dove headfirst into Buffy and Moonlight and all that watered down commercial tv bullshit. Sex, cursing, and violence- is it really necessary? This is a fucking vampire show. Of course its necessary. Campy? Sure. A little. It's not trying to be an arthouse remodeling of vampires. A straight out metaphor for gays? That's a short cut to thinking- and the new cool homophobic 12 year old way to bash anything with a unknown and feared agent sideplot. Corny. Grow the fuck up. If Ball- gay himself- wanted a straight up metaphor for gays he'd pick something a little less threatening than vampires. Or is that too complicated a thought for you fucking toolsheds?
Ball has said by imascooby1985	Sep 7th, 2008 09:57:58 PM
Ball has said himself that the series is an allegory for homosexuality. Its not made up by people on an AICN talkback so chill out. And the success of both Buffy and Angel shows that sex and violence is NOT necessarty to tell a good vampire story on tv. Watered down or not, they both were ten times better than this show was.
I will say this, by jae683	Sep 7th, 2008 11:22:54 PM
Anna Paquin looks odd as a blonde.
Yeee-haw fer redneck vampires! by fiester	Sep 7th, 2008 11:33:49 PM
Squeal like a pig. Cripes this show fucking sucks. Ha!
I liked it well enough by Spifftacular Squirrel Girl	Sep 8th, 2008 12:07:12 AM
But to be fair I've always been a sucker for vampire stories. I'll tune in next week and I'm interested to see where everything goes from here. I'm guessing more freaky vampire sex.
The books by Jaypeep	Sep 8th, 2008 12:18:40 AM
If you've read them, you'll definitely see similarities between them and Buffy, but only in the sense that there is humor and drama and lots of supernatural beings. Beyond that, not so much. Not sure what Harry was referring to when he spoke of her telekinetic powers. That is definitely not in the book and I didn't see it in this first episode. And Sam did find her fairly quickly in the parking lot, you just didn't realize it, heh. I was waiting to be somewhat disappointed by the show, but actually enjoyed it. You should check the books out, they are pretty fun for a light summer read.
telekenesis by imascooby1985	Sep 8th, 2008 01:42:33 AM
Well if the main character didnt have telekenesis then someone does, because I remember that chain flying from her hand and wrapping itself around the bald guys neck. And then his wife/ girlfriend asking why he cant just pull the chain off as they ran away. She may not be telekinteic in the books but she appears to be in the show.
If it's true about this being a disguise for gays by GQtaste	Sep 8th, 2008 02:38:36 AM
then I'm not to fired up about it. After reading above some of the tidbits of reviews some of them mentioned that could very well be the case. I checked it out didn't like the "angry black chick" Anna does look odd as a blond and hated the intro we'll be seeing every time the shows on. Some of the accents were atrocious but who knows? It's only the first show and those are always hit or miss when you're attempting to set up the characters and whatnot. All in all, I'm not sold one way or another.
imascooby1985 by medicinaluser	Sep 8th, 2008 04:13:49 AM
I watched the preair and the chain thing was caused by the creepy vampire woman hiding in the bushes (spying) which for some reason they decided to cut out in this final version. They also got rid of the hot black chick who plays Paquin's best friend and replaced her with fucgly's even uglier sister.
You guys do know by cocolopez	Sep 8th, 2008 06:10:20 AM
that there were other groups before gays that were discriminated against, right? Lol. Other than that- bashing a show this ludicrously after ONE episode is ridiculous. Compare ONE show to a complete series of Buffy- right on. And imascoob- who already sounded like a fucking maroon on the entourage thread- you say a watered down vampire show is ten times better- I say it's trash. Difference of opinion on that one is all.
no sex and violence in buffy? by dahveed1972	Sep 8th, 2008 06:16:20 AM
What show were you watching? No graphic sex and violence, of course, but there was plenty of both. Spike humping Buffy outside the doublemeat palace pushed the envelope for broadcast, i thought, and the violence seemed to get ratcheted up a bit every year. So, to sum up, you dont know what the fuck youre talking about. End transmission
spoilers by dahveed1972	Sep 8th, 2008 06:20:36 AM
Oh and would someone please ban the assholes that are giving away spoilers? Not cool
dahveed, don't forget Willow's lesbian love scene, by jae683	Sep 8th, 2008 07:35:47 AM
which I believe was a first for broadcast tv.
Telekinesis and Prejudicial Tones by mayorofsmpleton	Sep 8th, 2008 09:23:13 AM
The show seems more or less an allegory for race relations (as well as homosexuality), but I think to tie everything up so simply is to do a disservice to yourself. The show doesn't take itself quite so seriously... Not to mention, comparing it to Buffy at this point horrible. By comparison we should compare just the first half of Buffy's pilot, and this episode. I'd say it's a draw based on just those episodes... Buffy didn't achieve greatness until well into season 2. It achieved fairly "good" status at the end of season 1. Regarding telekinesis, (SPOILER) in the books Sookie has something of a fairy godmother who protects her. This character doesn't show up until like the 4th book or so, but they obviously meant for the chain to be caused by her. Not sure why it was cut out of the episode (more mystery?) but trust me, Sookie isn't telekinetic.
So Buffy is the vampire show litmus test? by HoboCode	Sep 8th, 2008 09:24:56 AM
Fucking please.
There's a reason she couldn't read Sam before by pandabait	Sep 8th, 2008 09:30:26 AM
...but it hasn't been revealed yet. It shows up midway through the first book. I really like the books, and I'm hoping that the series'll live up to 'em. But telekinesis? I'm gonna have to re-watch; I didn't see anything move-y when I was watching.
Vampires... by Kid Z	Sep 8th, 2008 09:36:32 AM
...are played out. Especially gay, pretty-boy, goth vampires. Weak!
I obviously by cocolopez	Sep 8th, 2008 09:38:15 AM
meant graphic nudity, f-bombs and realistic violence- of which there's more in of True Blood's first hour than there is in Buffy's whole run. Of course- these elements aren't the ONLY thing that make a horror-themed show great- great writing too. But yeah let's knock a set-up episode like the whole fucking series has run its course- let's call all the characters viewed in the 1st hour of a 12 hour season as flat and one dimensional. And btw- "end transmission" is about the corniest fucking way to end a post I've thus seen.
Oh, and twlight vs. sookie? by pandabait	Sep 8th, 2008 09:38:20 AM
Just in case you were wondering ArmandVA, Charlaine Harris' Sookie books came out well before Stephenie Meyer's crapfests. Vampires that have to avoid the sun because they "sparkle like diamonds"? Wow. That movie's gonna be shite.
Worst HBO show since Arli$$ by Laserhead	Sep 8th, 2008 10:21:41 AM
and that's saying something.
LOL by cocolopez	Sep 8th, 2008 11:37:29 AM
agreeing with Panda- I saw the Twilight trailer and wow it looks like the most pretentious hunk of shit. Laserhead- you sound foolish. You should probably post less.
more yet by cocolopez	Sep 8th, 2008 11:54:33 AM
Most of the complaints were based on a leaked pilot episode- which was probably leaked for the specific purpose of fixing the complaints. For instance I read that the thoughts Sookie reads out of others' minds weren't audible- I heard every word last night clearly.
Twilight by frozen01	Sep 8th, 2008 12:50:07 PM
Big fan of vampire books, movies, and usually TV shows, and Twilight was no exception although it was on the lower end. I call vampire media my "guilty pleasure" but Twilight was even more so because of the over-the-top romantic elements (a little gushy at times). However the latest book was TERRIBLE. I wish I could go into more detail but it would be a HUGE spoiler. Basically the main "new character" if you will is just about the silliest thing I've ever heard and he/she (some people would be mad if I just gave away the gender) is the main point of the book. And, although I'll definitely give it a chance, the movie looks disturbingly awful. Charlaine Harris' books (I only read the first in the Sookie Stackhouse series) is a little better because it doesn't take itself so seriously, but it didn't have enough to keep my attention. "True Blood" is a little more interesting, but vampires with thick southern accents just make me LMAO and "Bill" is not attractive at all (of course with a name like Bill what do you expect?) I'll watch for a while but I'm not expecting much and if the books cuoldn't hold my attention long I doubt the show can. Oh, and I thought that Sookie DID hear Sam? Wasn't there a whole scene in his office where she was talking to him and psycho black woman and she kept hearing him say how much he loves her? Or am I confusing characters?
snik by buffywrestling	Sep 8th, 2008 12:51:23 PM
I liked the guys fangs popping out accompanied by the sound effect of a switchblade....or Wolverine's retractable claws. I liked that Sookie is a pretty innocent character - "Don't say the J-word!" and I liked her bloody beat down at the end. That was the tiny hook that will probably make me watch next week. That's actually not a lot of things....I'm hoping it builds.
Better as a brunette.... by Karl Childers	Sep 8th, 2008 01:00:26 PM
Did she have breast reduction? I could've sworn her funbags were more swollen.
frozen by cocolopez	Sep 8th, 2008 01:02:11 PM
Correct- Sookie did in fact hear Sam's thoughts.
boobs and beat downs by karmakitten13	Sep 8th, 2008 01:16:54 PM
I was pretty ambivalent through the whole episode but the ending was definitely enough of a snag to tune into the next episode. And the obligatory boobs and fangbanging was only a slight distraction from the horrible fake accents. Thanks to all the spoliers of those that have read the books certain parts make more sense now. Too bad they didnt make sense as stand alones. All in all, it felt forced. We got glimpses of things that felt Alan Ball-like but it didnt really feel like something that had his stamp on it.
pilots by cocolopez	Sep 8th, 2008 02:23:01 PM
are always the most "forced" of all episodes- They are strictly there to setup all of the main storylines- introduce quickly as many characters as possible and attempt to establish a different world. I don't know what you guys were expecting honestly- but it seems like unrealistic expectations.
unanswered questions by DeadPanWalking	Sep 8th, 2008 02:50:50 PM
All the questions brought up are answered later in the books. The first few episodes are kind of clunky but I have faith it will straighten out. One change I would make is to either heighten the camp of subdue it.
Why does Paquin continue to work? She's terrible. by WWBD	Sep 8th, 2008 04:48:20 PM
Really just a sorry excuse for an actress. Her best work was undoubtedly The Piano, and nothing has been good since.
It was alright...I'll watch again. by TheWaqman	Sep 8th, 2008 08:51:09 PM
I thought there were some pretty funny scenes in the show. But the one aspect that is really pissing me off so far is the Telekinesis. It just doesn't feel right in this show, and is poorly implemented. I'll watch again though.
Check out the novels.... by j2talk	Sep 8th, 2008 10:44:23 PM
that the show is based on....Nice take on the supernatural world....I'll be interested if the show can match the strength of the book...so far,its so-so, as it lack the clear explanation for whats going on...Such as the Fact, that Sookie CAN"T block out peoples thoughts, hearimng them all the time, leading the locals to think she's crazy,and causing her to live a somewhat sheltered life- hence the reason she's still a virgin-how you like to be with someone and hear ALL there thoughts??
cute little miniature review by RedCricketChase	Sep 9th, 2008 12:23:09 PM
The pilot (just watched it) was pretty bad. That said, I'm definitely gonna give it another episode or three to find its tone and to see where it's heading. It gotz supernatural stuff! I hafta give it a chance! Also, as a gay guy, I'm hoping either Lafayette (the flamin', mouthy short-order cook) turns out to have some depth, or the show introduces another queer person or two, maybe one of 'em not being a total douche! And maybe just some characters I can care about in general, straight or gay..
Second Episode.......... by medicinaluser	Sep 9th, 2008 08:56:21 PM
Sucked monkey balls sorry but Angel's crown remain's intact as the best Vampire show. The gay dude is annoying as fuck and Sookies best friend was well cast in the pre-air and then re-cast with an actress who's mission it seems is to irritate all humanity.The central Vampire is also played badly too much 90210 teenage angst when he's supposed to be like a 100 odd year old Vamp.The Dog steal's every scene its in, that says it all really.

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BUFFY-Loving Hercules Drinks In The New HBO Vampire Series From SIX FEET UNDER Creator Alan Ball: TRUE BLOOD!!

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