On Halloween night, HBO is airing an eight-hour marathon of their sexy vampire series True Blood. The growing popularity of the show is proof that vampires are once again having their pop culture moment. The creatures stepped back into the spotlight last year with the CBS drama Moonlight, which was canceled after one season despite having throngs of devoted fans. True Blood followed in its footsteps, and it’ll soon be joined by the big screen adaptation of Twilight. The film, which is based on the book by Stephanie Meyer, opens November 21, and offers a more romanticized brand of bloodsuckers.
With both True Blood and Twilight dominating the pop culture landscape, how does a vampire fan know where to turn? Neither tale is for everyone, so read on to find out which one is for you.
True Blood
Plot: Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) is a small-town waitress with the power to read people’s thoughts. Her ability makes her an outsider, but she finds comfort in the arms of a vampire named Bill (Stephen Moyer), who knows a thing or two about being removed from humanity. As Sookie and Bill grow closer, someone starts murdering people who are sympathetic toward vampires.
It’s for: Anyone who doesn’t mind a show filled with sex, brutal violence, morally reprehensible characters, drug use and tons of nudity. True Blood is R-rated in every way imaginable. It’s also for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.
It’s similar to: Season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
What are the vampires like? Some choose to drink a manufactured product called Tru Blood instead of feeding on humans, but others aren’t so kind. Bill is romantic and deep, but the other vampires range from meek and harmless to just plain evil.
Features plenty of: Southern accents, male and female nudity, blood, metaphors, sex.
You can find it: On HBO every Sunday at 9pm. You can also find the story in bookstores, as the show is based on a series of novels by Charlaine Harris.
Twilight
Plot: Bella Swan is a normal girl who moves to Washington to live with her father. Her life is turned upside down when she meets the beautiful Edward Cullen, who just happens to be a vampire. The two fall in love, but their relationship is thrown into chaos when another vampire coven comes to town and decides to hunt Bella for sport. It’s up to Edward and his fanged family to save her.
It’s for: Anyone who dreams of falling in love with a gorgeous man who won’t dare touch you until marriage. Despite some vampire action, Twilight is more about romance than bloodsucking. You’ll find none of the wild sex and rampant drug use present in True Blood.
It’s similar to: The work of Nicholas Sparks and Anne Rice.
What are the vampires like? Edward is basically flawless and perfect in every way imaginable, with nothing on his mind aside from protecting Bella. His family is kind and refuses to drink human blood, but the rival coven led by James enjoys hunting and feasting on people.
Features plenty of: Declarations of love, adjectives describing Edward’s beauty, brooding, pale skin, swooning.
You can find it: In theaters everywhere on November 21. You can also find Stephanie Meyer’s book series on the shelf of every teen girl in America.
– Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Images courtesy of HBO, Summit Entertainment)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
