I don't know how but recently, I've been losing my love for the show True Blood bit by bit and I think there may come a point in which I'll give up on the show completely. Am I the only one feeling this way?
Losing my love for True Blood
- Thread starter Joe Washington
- Start date
I gave up on it last year. Like Othello says it is poorly plotted never really developing much of anything but rather just jumping from one plot point to the next or wanting us to buy into something that I don't even think the characters would i.e. Tara's losing it over Eggs. Jason should should have been written out after season one. In season two he served no purpose and from what I've heard of S3 the trend is continuing.
The show also has a bad habit of introducing characters as plot cannon fodder or plot devices. A lot of the storytelling is very cliched and they seem to think by couching it in terms of vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters it somehow makes it seem fresh when discussing things such as oppressed groups or discrimination.
The show also lacks focus in its narrative and wanders all over the place. The characters that they do try to make more than a plot device and recurring like the redheaded waitress and PTSD Chef aren't that interesting to begin with. Also it is too campy for my tastes. At best it has some nice character moments here and there but they are isolated amongst all the other junk. And seeing Trammel, Moyer or Ryan naked is always good.
The show also has a bad habit of introducing characters as plot cannon fodder or plot devices. A lot of the storytelling is very cliched and they seem to think by couching it in terms of vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters it somehow makes it seem fresh when discussing things such as oppressed groups or discrimination.
The show also lacks focus in its narrative and wanders all over the place. The characters that they do try to make more than a plot device and recurring like the redheaded waitress and PTSD Chef aren't that interesting to begin with. Also it is too campy for my tastes. At best it has some nice character moments here and there but they are isolated amongst all the other junk. And seeing Trammel, Moyer or Ryan naked is always good.
Jason is Sookie's brother. As such he is an essential part of her characterization. The problem is that Sookie, despite supposedly being a wonderful person, doesn't much care for her brother. Jason is wonderfully stupid, but that is a piss poor reason for disliking your brother. As is, it seems to be that Sookie dislikes Jason for being a slut. (And Jason must have the superpower of making people horny, because how could anyone who talked to him ever put up with him long enough to have sex?)
Part of the problem with True Blood is trying to take it seriously. The show is much too poorly written for such wrongheadedness. For instance, despite all the superficial chatter about tolerance, season two's vision of hell on Earth is, wait for it, an orgy.
This kind of prudishness coexists with blatant soft core porno. There has been an argument that delighting in sex while simultaneously moralizing against it is conclusively diagnostic of actually being pornography. True Blood makes you think there's something to the idea.
And the problem with the plots is that we have a supposedly competent, intelligent, sensitive telepath who can't figure out anything. The only way the show makes sense is if you realize that Sookie is barely smarter than Jason. The plot meanders along til even Sookie can figure it out, mostly because the villain is trying to kill her.
Part of the problem with True Blood is trying to take it seriously. The show is much too poorly written for such wrongheadedness. For instance, despite all the superficial chatter about tolerance, season two's vision of hell on Earth is, wait for it, an orgy.
This kind of prudishness coexists with blatant soft core porno. There has been an argument that delighting in sex while simultaneously moralizing against it is conclusively diagnostic of actually being pornography. True Blood makes you think there's something to the idea. And the problem with the plots is that we have a supposedly competent, intelligent, sensitive telepath who can't figure out anything. The only way the show makes sense is if you realize that Sookie is barely smarter than Jason. The plot meanders along til even Sookie can figure it out, mostly because the villain is trying to kill her.
Yeah, thinking about it how much has Sookie developed as a character in the past two seasons or so?
I've only watched a couple of first season episodes, I actually thought it was fun but I still have the full season recorded and never got back to it.
I'm a big fan of the books, and I think it's funny that a lot of complaints are totally there in the books. Jason is a walk on, Sookie has little use for him, characters are introduced to die, and what the heck does Tara see in Eggs?
The show, I imagine, has no obligation to follow the books too closely, but I would have the impression they will stick pretty closely to character's destinies, ie they won't kill off a character that is in the book series start to finish.
The series focuses intensly on "white trash" stereotypes. Sookie is not very bright and it takes her a full book to catch on to something the reader sees in the first chapter. It plays with the christian hypocracy of sexual attitudes, where they openly hate the sinner and secretly love the sin.
The couple of episodes I saw reminded of David Lynch, and I thought that was a brilliant approach. Whether they stuck to that I don't know, but you also can't just run a show on style with no substance.
I'm a big fan of the books, and I think it's funny that a lot of complaints are totally there in the books. Jason is a walk on, Sookie has little use for him, characters are introduced to die, and what the heck does Tara see in Eggs?
The show, I imagine, has no obligation to follow the books too closely, but I would have the impression they will stick pretty closely to character's destinies, ie they won't kill off a character that is in the book series start to finish.
The series focuses intensly on "white trash" stereotypes. Sookie is not very bright and it takes her a full book to catch on to something the reader sees in the first chapter. It plays with the christian hypocracy of sexual attitudes, where they openly hate the sinner and secretly love the sin.
The couple of episodes I saw reminded of David Lynch, and I thought that was a brilliant approach. Whether they stuck to that I don't know, but you also can't just run a show on style with no substance.
Actually yes he has a sexual superpower, derived from being part-Fairie. Sookie has the same power, plus nice boobs.
I've come to realize this show is really a soap opera (albeit one with white trash southern vampires and werewolves) and brings a lot of that baggage along with it.
and
Obviously I clicked on the spoiler from the books. I've only read the first one. If this is for real, it makes me feel smart.
But if you're kidding me, 
It's always interesting to see a show peak in popularity in it's first season and subsequently start to alienate it's own fanbase bit by bit.
Heroes did it. (Begining of Season 2)
Lost did it (In season 2) but then it recovered. (Some might argue it didn't but I think it did)
I'm hoping it won't happen to GLEE, but it's always hard when a show reaches mammoth proportions before it's first season has concluded and the studios are only seeing dollar signs coming their way.
To be honest, I didn't much care for True Blood during it's second season about midway through MaryAnn's arc but I'm sticking with it because I like the characterizations of certain people and I'm interested to see how they develop the world.
I'm already bored by Sam's Family subplot however and the overly potent "white trash" stereotype they're playing up to show just how NOT "white trash" the people of BonTemp actually are in comparison.
Heroes did it. (Begining of Season 2)
Lost did it (In season 2) but then it recovered. (Some might argue it didn't but I think it did)
I'm hoping it won't happen to GLEE, but it's always hard when a show reaches mammoth proportions before it's first season has concluded and the studios are only seeing dollar signs coming their way.
To be honest, I didn't much care for True Blood during it's second season about midway through MaryAnn's arc but I'm sticking with it because I like the characterizations of certain people and I'm interested to see how they develop the world.
I'm already bored by Sam's Family subplot however and the overly potent "white trash" stereotype they're playing up to show just how NOT "white trash" the people of BonTemp actually are in comparison.
and
Obviously I clicked on the spoiler from the books. I've only read the first one. If this is for real, it makes me feel smart.
He's not kidding you. Though each one of them develops how they use it a bit differently.
You had like... 30 trillion "what if" threads recently. I would advise you just start writing your own fan fiction.
I'm not really liking this season as much as last. It seems like nothing has really happened over three episodes. The flashbacks are more interesting.
I'm not really liking this season as much as last. It seems like nothing has really happened over three episodes. The flashbacks are more interesting.
Actually the ratings were higher for True Blood in the season 2 by far.
The problem is that shows plan for 13 or 22 episodes and then they take the summer off and never spend time on what the next season should be. Each season should have a central arc but also continue an over-line story arc, like Doctor Who. Why more shows can't plan that way is beyond me.
You're right, I should of said creativity. I'm not trying to hate on True Blood either. I'm still watching it, but Season 2 took a nose dive in quality from my perspective and I wanted it to be better (maybe just different).
Anyway, I agree with you about show planning in the off season and maintaining a through-line story arc from season to season.
I totally agree the show came off the rails towards the end of season two. The maenad/Maryanne storyline was ultimately too stupid for words, even for a show which has its tongue firmly planted in cheek.
I'm not sure what to make of season three yet - the first episode was a real return to form but it seems the show has become bogged down in heavy handed exposition in the last two episodes.
And the Sam subplot really does feel like it's not in a rush to get nowhere.
Not just recently. The poster is relatively new, and started out with "what if" posts. If you take a look at the poster's history, it's filled with nothing but "what if" posts. Never has the poster contributed to any discussion other than those same threads. I wonder who it really is?
Oh, now that Alcide is there, I think things will pick up a bit.
Yeah, I know. He was just recently gushing about how awesome True Blood was a few weeks ago. Guarantee you he won't be back to post in this thread either...
It was a time that I thought True Blood was great. But though there have been a few good moments and characters like the King of Lousiana, I just feel that there hasn't much character development with the show's main characters. Jason is still a dim-witted guy who has a desire to do some good but keeps screwing things up. Sookie is still the telepathic waistress with naviete combined with a fiery spirit who still acts like a virgin. Tara is still the loud-mouthed, troubled girl. And so on and so forth. Yes, Sam has made some progress in exploring his past and, yes, Lafayette is a bit shaken by what he went through in Fangtasia's basement. But in terms of character development, there hasn't been a lot in my opinion and the show is in its THIRD SEASON.
By the third season of Breaking Bad, the main character Walter White has gotten himself very involved in the drug business, shaved all of his hair off, grew a goatee, killed a number of people directly and indirectly, and his marriage has fallen apart. Walt's wife Skylar has finally opened her eyes to her husband's lies. Walt's partner-in-crime Jesse lost the woman he loved and felt immensely guilt about her death to the point of suicidal. Walt's DEA brother-in-law Hank who started out as a source of comedic relief has grown into a three-dimensional characer shaken by PTSD. Breaking Bad has gone through more growth and change than True Blood has gone through in its entirety.
By the third season of Breaking Bad, the main character Walter White has gotten himself very involved in the drug business, shaved all of his hair off, grew a goatee, killed a number of people directly and indirectly, and his marriage has fallen apart. Walt's wife Skylar has finally opened her eyes to her husband's lies. Walt's partner-in-crime Jesse lost the woman he loved and felt immensely guilt about her death to the point of suicidal. Walt's DEA brother-in-law Hank who started out as a source of comedic relief has grown into a three-dimensional characer shaken by PTSD. Breaking Bad has gone through more growth and change than True Blood has gone through in its entirety.
And exactly how long does a season of Breaking Bad last? As confirmed in a recent episode, only weeks have passed since the beginning of season two, and for the characters, the pilot happened only about two months ago. Exactly how much change do you expect anyone to go through in a few weeks?
Have you actually watched the show you're complaining about, or are you digging through some random website to create more of your stupid "what if?" threads?
Have you actually watched the show you're complaining about, or are you digging through some random website to create more of your stupid "what if?" threads?
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