Real blood

True Blood creator Alan Ball worked with HBO on the client’s always dead series, which showed five seasons in October 2005. After that, Ball signed a two-year contract with the channel to develop ideas and produce new material. The first project under this contract was the series “True Blood” after Ball read the first book of Charlene Harris from the series “Vampire Secrets” - “ Dead until Dark ” ( Eng. Dead until dark ). ^[five]

Thanks to the invention of artificial blood in Japan, vampires in one night turned from monsters into ordinary citizens. Despite the fact that officially vampires abandoned the consumption of human blood, many of the ordinary people continue to be hostile to them, especially in such a provincial town like Bon-Tam (Bon-Tamz), Louisiana .

However, the waitress of one of the local bars, Suki Stackhouse, does not share the general sentiment towards vampires. Because of her telepathic abilities, she herself felt an outcast from childhood. Therefore, when one night a 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton enters the Merlotte's bar where Suki works, they have a relationship, but they will have to go through a lot to earn the respect and recognition of the others. In addition, brutal killings begin to take place in the town one after another, and the townspeople often blame it on Suki and Bill.

The series is built so that each season the plot, independent and little connected with the previous season, is built around one central story and several additional stories of secondary heroes. The central theme of the first season was the search for a maniac, whose actions many tried to pass off as the actions of vampires and, in particular, William Compton. The second season takes place around the chaos in which Bon Tam plunged into a wandering bacchanal. In the third season, the heroes oppose the plans of the vampire opportunist and opponent of integration Russell Edgington, who decided to become the king of vampires and people, who are serving a flock of werewolves, which he watered with his own blood. In season four, vampires are challenged by a powerful circle of necromancers who decide to destroy all the children of the night. In the fifth season, the story revolves around a circle of vampire advisers - the highest vampire authority - and a fraction of sanguine religious fundamentalists who profess the literal interpretation of the Exodus Bible (vampire), who consider people to be just food, and not a society where to integrate.

The world of the series “True Blood” makes some adjustments to the general vampire mythology. Including, as part of the series: ^[6]

• Unlike the accepted view, vampire fangs appear in place of the lateral incisors;
• When vampires live in a “nest,” they become more aggressive and dangerous;
• Vampires are susceptible to the hepatitis D virus, which makes them weak and vulnerable for about a month;
• To cross the threshold of the house in which the person lives, the vampire always needed his invitation. In the series, a person may withdraw an invitation;
• Vampires can hypnotize people to make them follow their instructions. They may also destroy memories of this from their memory;
• Vampire blood has a healing, arousing and narcotic effect for people;
• Vampires are reflected in mirrors; neither crucifixion, nor holy water, nor garlic act on them. According to Bill Compton, these myths were created by vampires to protect themselves. At the same time, vampires are afraid of sunlight and silver;
• From a simple bite of a vampire, a person does not become a vampire. To make someone a vampire, you need to drink his blood, give him drink vampire blood and spend the night with him in the grave;
• Vampires are afraid of silver. Moreover, the slightest touch of a silver object can immobilize a vampire;
• A vampire can be destroyed by fire, sunlight, or a wooden stake. In all other cases, the vampire uses the opportunity for regeneration, which is activated after he drinks blood.

The fight for the equality of vampires in the series “True Blood” was perceived as an allegory of the LGBT rights movement . ^[7] Charlene Harris, author of The Vampire Secrets , on which the series is based, claims that the initial prototype for vampires was "... a minority trying to get equal rights." ^[8] The New York Post called the history of vampires "an analogy of gay rights." ^{[8] [9]} Some of the phrases in the series were borrowed and adapted from phrases used against LGBT people and about LGBT people, for example, such as “God Hates Fangs” - “The Lord Hates Fangs” (a redrafted phrase from the views of Westborough Baptist Church “God Hates” Fags ”-“ The Lord Hates Fagots ”) and“ Coming out of the coffin ”-“ Coming out of the closet ”. ^{[8] [9]}

Entertainment Weekly Ken Tucker wrote that the show was built “around a series of metaphors: Vampire rights instead of gay rights and now the stretched laugh of this village vampire girl symbolizes extreme teen rebellion.” ^[7] Television critic David Bianculli wrote: “True blood is masters in allegory, and the tension surrounding the adoption of vampires in society is an obvious game on civil rights in general, and gay rights in particular.” ^[10] However, the creator, producer, and screenwriter of all episodes of this series, gay activist Alan Ball said that such a comparison is lazy and possibly homophobic, and Lauren Guterman from the Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies expressed concern that the series might reinforce negative stereotypes regarding homosexuals. ^[eight]

Gary Kalamar, who is responsible for the music on the series, said in 2008 that he was working on a soundtrack for the series, which would be “blues and sinister,” and that he planned to bring in local musicians from Louisiana to create it. ^[eleven]

The musical accompaniment in the series is authored by composer Nathan Barr.

The main theme of the series Bad Things is performed by country musician Jace Everett . This song was featured on his 2005 debut album.

main characters

• Sookie Stackhouse ( Eng. Sookie Stackhouse , Anna Paquin ) - a waitress in the bar "Merlotte's", has telepathic abilities;
• Bill Compton ( born Bill Compton , Stephen Moyer ) is a 173-year-old vampire whom the Bitches fall in love with; king of louisiana;
• Eric Northman ( born Eric Northman , Alexander Skarsgård ) is a sheriff of one of the five vampire counties, an old and influential member of the vampire community;
• Pam Ravenscroft ( English Pam Ravenscroft) , Kristin Bauer ) - a vampire, Eric's assistant, it is also initiated by him. Works at his vampire club Blood Type ( English Fangtasia );
• Sam Merlotte ( born Sam Merlotte , Sam Trammell ) - a changeling (turns into any animal that he will “tune in” once), the owner of the Merlotte's bar-restaurant, in which Suki works;
• Jason Stackhouse ( born Jason Stackhouse , Ryan Quontaine ) - Brother Suki, a big lover of women, first works in the road service Bon-Tam, then as a deputy sheriff;
• Lafayette Reynolds ( Nelsan Ellis ) - Tara's cousin, gay, works as a cook in the Merlotte's bar. In addition, he is involved in the sale of drugs and prostitution, a sorcerer;
• Tara Thornton ( born Tara Thornton , Wesley's Routine ) is Suki's best friend, also works at Merlotte's, turned into vampire Pam in season 5;
• Arlene Fowler ( English Arlene Fowler , Carrie Preston ) - a waitress in the bar "Merlotte's";
• Jessica Hamby ( English Jessica Hamby , Deborah Anne Wall ) - a young girl who Bill forcibly turns into a vampire: he was thus punished for the murder of another vampire.

Supporting roles

• Andy Bellefleur ( English Andy Bellefleur , Christopher Bauer ) - detective, suspects Jason Stackhouse of the murder of girls and women happening in Bon Tam with unenviable regularity, later they find a common language with him;
• Hoyt Fortenberry ( born Hoyt Fortenberry , Jim Parrack ) - a friend of Jason and Rene, also works with them at a construction site;
• Maxine Fortenberry ( born Maxine Fortenberry , Dale Raul ) - Hoyt's mother, an imperious and cruel woman, hates Jessica.
• Godric ( Eng. Godric , Allan Hyde ) is a peaceful, kind vampire, creator of Eric Northman. His vampire age is 2134 years. Godrick is District 9 Sheriff in Dallas, Texas;
• Bad Diaborn ( born Bud Dearborne , William Sanderson ) - Sheriff of Bon-Tam;
• Letty May Thornton ( born Lettie Mae Thornton , Adina Porter ) - Tara's mother, religious, previously had a strong attachment to alcohol;
• Daphne Landry ( born Daphne Landry , Ashley Jones ) - the new waitress in the bar "Merlotte's", the object of interest in Sam;
• Sarah Newlin ( born Sarah Newlin , Anna Camp ) - wife of Rev. Steve Newlin;
• Rev. Steve Newlin ( born Steve Newlin , Michael McMillian ) is the head of the Brotherhood of the Sun, an anti-vampire church whose ranks Jason temporarily joins;
• Marianne Forrester ( born Maryann Forrester , Michelle Forbes ) - a maenad possessing supernatural power and representing itself as a “social worker”;
• Adele Stackhouse ( born Adele Stackhouse , Lois Smith ) - paternal grandmother of Suki and Jason;
• Alcide Hervaux ( born Alcide Herveaux , Joe Mangagnello ) - a werewolf, a close friend of Suki;
• Jackson Herveaux ( born Jackson Herveaux , Robert Patrick ) - a werewolf who left the pack, father Alcida;
• Russell Edgington ( Eng. Russell Edgington , Denis O'Hare ) is an ancient vampire (about 2800 years old), the king of Mississippi with great ambitions. Subsequently, the king of Mississippi and Louisiana;
• Talbot ( born Talbot , Theo Alexander ) - a vampire, the husband of Russell Edgington, has a very refined taste and capricious disposition;
• Nan Flanagan ( Eng. Nan Flanagan , Jessica Tuck ) is a senior member of the American Vampire League;
• Kibwe Mensah, Peter ;
• Dieter Brown Heyerdahl, Christopher .

DVD

According to the official statement of the HBO channel, the DVD box with the first season of the series was released May 12, 2009. ^[12] The release contains five DVDs with Dolby Surround Stereo sound .

Awards

Golden globe

• 2009 - Best actress in a drama series - Anna Paquin for her role as Bitch Stackhouse .

Satellite award

• 2008 - Best actress of a drama series - Anna Paquin for the role of Bitches Stackhouse ;
• 2008 - Best supporting actor in the series - Nelsan Ellis for the role of Lafayette Reynolds .

NewNowNext Awards

• 2009 - The series won in the category “Best TV Show You Don't Watch”;
• 2009 - Best New Actor - Nelsan Ellis for the role of Lafayette Reynolds .

Broadcast Music Incorporated

• 2009 - The best musical theme for the series - Jace Everett for Bad things ;
• 2009 - The best original soundtrack for the series - Nathan Barr.

Nominations

Golden globe

• 2008, 2009 - The best drama series .

Saturn award

• 2009 - The best television series made for cable television;
• 2009 - Best Actress - Anna Paquin for her role as Bitch Stackhouse .

GLAAD Media Awards

• 2009 - Outstanding dramatic television series.

Writers Guild of America

• 2009 - New television series - Alan Ball, Brian Buckner, Raell Tucker, Alexander Wu, Nancy Oliver and Chris Offatt.

• Official site (eng.)
• HBO Fan Club (inaccessible link)
• The site of the drink "True Blood"