With an ever-bloated lineup of either incredibly funny, incredibly epic or downright amazing television series' to gloat over, HBO is now in the vampire business. This month's inaugural episode of the fantasy thriller True Blood ushered in a whole new WB-esque ambiance, making Buffy fever look like a sniffle in the widening world of bloodsuckers. It's cheesy, nascent, predictable and annoying, so why do I like it?! It's been decried as soft-core gory and Southern-sensationalist Civil Rights rehash, and the faux-accents leave nearly everything to be desired. But still I watch.
Like most plots, there's an underlying social quota trying to be met (vampires are now able to quell their lust for human blood with a synthetic plasma marketed and sold as "True Blood"), but all most viewers would probably take away would be the insistence on steamy sex scenes and retractable fangs. Check out the trailer and decide for yourself...