By: Michelle Spencer

Normally, I’m not so much into vampires. Sure, I watched The Lost Boys back in the ‘80s, but so did every other grade-schooler. With eye candy like Jason Patric –- not to mention a stellar soundtrack featuring INXS and Echo & the Bunnymen -– you really couldn’t go wrong. And yes, Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a little slice of big-screen brilliance. But in my current, time-crunched, TiVo-less existence, it’s usually a dark, sarcastic comedy like It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia or a guilty pleasure reality show like Project Runway that lands a regular slot in my weekly TV viewing schedule. However, in the past two weeks, it somehow happened: I’ve been sucked into the newest HBO Original Series - True Blood.

The reason I even gave this show a shot was because of its amazingly talented creator -– Six Feet Under’s Alan Ball. In my humble opinion, Six Feet Under was the perfect combination of drama, dark humor, and controversy. Although it followed a formula, it never got old; throughout its four-year run, the story and characters were constantly evolving. So I was greatly intrigued by what Mr. Ball had in store for us with his latest offering.

True Blood’s set-up, at the beginning of the pilot episode, tells us that when the Japanese invented “TruBlood” (a synthetic bottled blood), it was a red-letter day for vampires everywhere. They no longer had to feast on human blood. Instead, they could cruise into the Gas ‘n’ Sip and buy it. This revolutionary product gave vampire-kind the courage to come “out of the coffin” –- i.e. openly reveal themselves to mortals. Since humans were no longer in danger of being some fanged creature’s dinner, they came to welcome these bloodsuckers into society and recognize them as a race deserving of the same rights as everyone else. After all, they put their pants on one leg at a time; only instead of hitting the bar after work for a few cold ones, these immortal old-timers preferred to head out after dark for an all-you-can-drink blood buffet. Shortly thereafter, various government officials and Bible-thumpers around the world chose whether or not to accept these new “citizens.” But there were still a few communities that were on the fence.

Bon Temps, Louisiana, the fictitious town in which True Blood takes place, is one such community. It is in this small Southern town that Sookie Stackhouse, played by a fair-haired Anna Paquin, lives with her grandmother. Sookie’s a sweet, virginal waitress who doesn’t really date, primarily because she’s always had the unfortunate ability to read her dates’ dirty minds. It is also common knowledge, among her friends and family, that she has this unusual gift, although out of respect for them, she tries to refrain from eavesdropping on their thoughts. Behind Sookie’s naïve innocence, she is rather complex. She has an intense, underlying curiosity and is either unaware of her own sensuality or isn’t quite sure what to do with it. Regardless, when Bill Compton, the town’s first vampire (who also happens to be ruggedly handsome), sits down at her table at Merlotte’s Bar, she is immediately drawn to him.

Bill, played by Stephen Moyer, is a quiet, polite vampire who looks remarkably good for being 173 years old. (Perhaps he knows someone at the Kinerase counter…or maybe he just has really good genes). In typical fashion of most other older gentlemen, he sees absolutely nothing wrong with hitting on a younger hottie, namely Sookie — who is only 25 years old.

Sookie and Bill share an immediate attraction to each other. Of course, one’s a vampire and the other’s a human — which makes for all sorts of problems, including hostility from the other Bon Temps residents, as well as disapproval from Sookie’s family.

Speaking of her family, Sookie’s strapping older brother (and vehement vamp-hater), Jason, played by Ryan Kwanten, leads a rather simple life. He’s a construction worker who spends the majority of his free time either drinkin’ or f**kin’. Sometimes, the latter lands him in a heap of trouble — especially when he discovers that his lady-friends like to indulge in a little “vampire-love” every now and then.

Sookie’s best friend, Tara, played by Rutina Wesley, is secretly in love with Jason, probably because she likes drinkin’ and f**kin’ too. (Or maybe it has something to do with his rock-hard biceps and eight-pack abs. But I digress…) We haven’t learned much more about her except that she has a tendency to be a loose cannon. She’s also not too fond of vampire-folk.

In the first two episodes, the following things are revealed to viewers:

• People who like to have sex with vampires are called fang-bangers. There seem to be a fair amount of these scattered throughout the small town of Bon Temps.

• The only way vampires can go into a mortal’s home is if they are invited. Otherwise, it is physically impossible for them to enter.

• Vampires have great strength, rapid speed, lightning-fast reflexes, and the ability to “glamour” (hypnotize) mortals into doing whatever they want.

• When Sookie is brutally beaten by a sleazy couple that she originally prevented from trying to harvest Bill’s blood, she loses so much of her own blood that she has to suck Bill’s blood to survive. Bill informs her that, as a result, she will have heightened senses and an elevated libido. (Hmmm…this could definitely work out in his favor, considering that Sookie seems to fancy the fanged stranger.)

• Apparently, when male vampires get hot ‘n’ bothered, their fangs come out. Maybe this rush of excitement causes their thirst for blood to increase and the only thing that will quench it is if they puncture someone’s skin and suck the juice that flows from their veins. Just a guess… (I’m sure other physiological things happen as well, but only time will tell in the next few episodes.)

• There are other vampires in Bon Temps besides Bill. Unfortunately, they’re out for blood…and not the kind the Japanese export.

As someone who is not well-versed in vampire lore, I’ve become quite fascinated with it in the past couple of weeks. With True Blood’s mix of drama, lust, dark humor, and violence –- all wrapped in a solid story line –- it has a way of appealing to the masses, not just those that have a thing for undead, bloodthirsty creatures. (In fact, after only two episodes, HBO has already ordered a second season of the series.)

I guess you could say, in traditional vampire fashion, that I have been “glamoured” by True Blood’s seductive charms.

Check out True Blood on HBO Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET

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