Tonight:
4°c
Back before the fall of Lehman Brothers and the global economic collapse, I had a dirty little secret: my weekly addiction to the TV series Gossip Girl, about the absurdly rarefied lives of a fictional group of wealthy New York teenagers. Now ratings for the show are soaring: more than ever, people want cheap escapism.
I hear this from friends, from strangers, from parents at the boys' school. We are looking for any excuse to forget about the fear that we or our spouse might be laid off; that our bank with all our savings might collapse. In the past three weeks I've been into my local branch so often to enquire about the institution's health that now we are on cosy first-name terms.
But when I'm not worrying about money and the fact that neither Presidential candidate has shown he has a full grasp of the complexities that lie ahead I'm thinking about something completely different: vampires. This year my television addiction is to an HBO series on Sunday nights called True Blood and just as I did with Gossip Girl I'll wager it will explode into an international hit, even though it's been a little slow to take off.
True Blood is now at episode six and is gaining momentum fast. It boasts close to two million viewers per episode. To me that's because nothing could be more fantastical and romantic than the show's premise namely that a human woman (played by Anna Paquin) should fall in love with a well-intentioned vampire (British actor Stephen Moyer in what is surely a breakthrough role). Last week I almost wept at the equivalent of the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet when spoiler alert as soon as the sun set, she ran to him, barefoot, dressed in a virginal white nightdress. She wanted him to seduce her, which he both did and did not want to do. (He loves her too much to want to harm her with a vampire bite.)
I still play the scene over and over, which is ridiculous, unless you have looked long and hard into Stephen Moyer's eyes and then, you too, might be hopelessly hooked.
Either way, I spend all week looking at the markets during the day and having bad dreams at night. I pray for Sunday to come around. Thanks to True Blood, that's the only night I sleep well.
Reader views (8)
I am with you Vicky, episode 6 stuck with me and I couldn't not get it out of my mind. That has never happened to me with a show before. Bill is amazing...
- Danielle, NY, 13/11/2008 16:53
Report abuse
Never has this occured with me.. Ive no time for "teevee" in my very important life.... LOL ,BUT .....NOW I am in LOVE with everyone on True Blood from Lafayette to Sookie and to say I am in love with Bill.... Well its more like AN ADDICTION like CRACK AND CHOC. The more I see The more I want.... I WATCH IT" EVERY DAY SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE........ oooh!!!Im headed right for "GROUP THERAPY"
- Dbldavila, Irving, 13/11/2008 00:12
Report abuse
True Blood is addictive... and so are the several books it's based on by Charlaine Harris...the Southern vampire stories about Sookie Stackhouse. Anything set in Louisiana gets my attention, especially New Orleans, which she writes a little about.
- Rebecca Butler, Hull, Massachusetts, USA, 22/10/2008 12:44
Report abuse
I'm hopelessly addicted to this show too. Initially I was determined NOT to see it because I hated vampire+human romances (bleargh). But one day I was utterly bored and watched a rerun ... and saw Sam Merlotte (played by Sam Trammell) and was hopelessly hooked. (I liked the mystery that surrounded the character.) While I feel Sookie and Bill are hopelessly cliched characters, the other 'supporting' characters such as Tara, Lafayette, Terry and Sam were the ones who pulled me in.
- Elizabeth, LA, USA, 21/10/2008 18:25
Report abuse
I am starting to feel a little bit better about being so addicted to True Blood because I realize everyone is! When the Sopranos and Six Feet Under went off the air I thought I'd never love again but now my Sunday nights have meaning. Truthfully, I'd never heard of Stephen Moyer before True Blood but have since watched the first season of The Starter Wife, on which he played Sam, a hot homeless guy. Even though the character was not very flushed out, he was definitely the best thing about the show.
I have read the Sookie Stackhouse books and love them, but I'm glad that Alan Ball is giving the other characters (besides Sooked and Bill) more importance. It makes for more of an ensemble cast.
Kudos to Mr. Ball and HBO.
For me, it's all about Bill!!!
- Rita, Austin, Texas, USA, 21/10/2008 16:04
Report abuse
The show hasn't been canned. In fact, it's already been renewed for a second season. It's brilliant.
- Libby, Colchester, Canada, 20/10/2008 17:07
Report abuse
The show is fantastic! HBO has a real gem! For the posted above....nope - not canned, it was renewed for a second season weeks ago.
- Strawberrybisque, USA, 20/10/2008 15:47
Report abuse
I loved the books - but I think the show has already been canned hasn't it?
- Hazel Munro, Reading, England, 20/10/2008 11:38
Report abuse
