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Original poster

True Blood: read the books first, or watch the series?

59 replies

FromGirders · 27/04/2010 20:29

I just bought the True Blood series (very cheap) on Book People, and was planning to read them, but now I see that series 1 is on BT Vision On Demand.
Which should I do first? And why?

OP posts:
tillyfernackerpants · 03/05/2010 09:02

Maybe I'm thinking about this too much, should probably go get dressed & do something with the ds's

tillyfernackerpants · 03/05/2010 09:00

Where to put Alcide? He would probably trump Jason & Sam, but maybe not Eric

tillyfernackerpants · 03/05/2010 08:59

Hoyt trumps Bill?? Are you mad woman? I would say everyone trumps Hoyt

JackBauerIsZonerrific · 03/05/2010 08:33

It's fun playing True blood top trumps though.
Hoy trumps BIll
Sam trumps Hoyt
Jason trumps Sam
Godric trumped Jason
Eric trumps godric.

Have I forgotten anyone?

tillyfernackerpants · 03/05/2010 08:23

No don't see Maryanne as Claudine, who's good looking enough to be Claude though?!

Have to say Ryan Kwanten doesn't do it for me, Sam Trammell otoh...

JackBauerIsZonerrific · 03/05/2010 08:18

OH no, maryann far too old for claudine IMO, but agree the story goes on way toon long.
Charlaine harris is involved with the tv show a bit though, she helps out with stuff, apparently. I think it boils down to what will make more people watch, orgies or religious cults.....
I do like the way they are going with jason on the show though, much better, but only because ryan kwanten is humana humana...

PfftTheMagicDragon · 02/05/2010 21:17

They have certainly made some mistakes in the TV show - the Maryann story goes on FOREVER (plus I thought the actress who played Maryann would be perfect for Claudine which is a shame) and the Eggs character was annoying, but so much of it is better than the books, though they are terribly written and Alan Ball is a master so maybe it's not a shock.

JackBauerIsZonerrific · 02/05/2010 18:29

I agree to watch the first series first as then at least you get the characters images like they are on teh show, otherwise it will annoy you
Apart from that as others have said it is different enough not to be a problem which you do.
I like tara in the show as well, the book is not so much, and I liked bubba too, but agree, they will need someone in his role, and what about lorena? Hmmm.

tillyfernackerpants · 02/05/2010 18:28

Ahh, got it now. Must admit, I quite liked it in the books, ridiculous though it was. But agree it was best dropped from the tv series

4andnotout · 02/05/2010 18:20

Oh I quite liked Bubba, what happens then when they "do" club dead?

LyraSilvertongue · 02/05/2010 18:12

Tilly, book 1, page 264 onwards. Ridiculous.

tillyfernackerpants · 02/05/2010 17:51

I'm trying to think which bit you mean

PfftTheMagicDragon · 02/05/2010 15:50

Yes, I was reading something with Alan Ball and he was saying that it would have been impossible to do well - to get someone who looked close enough, or to maybe have him always our of shot, just a voice. So they dropped it. It was a bizarre story line though.

Am looking forward to series 4, I assume we will have the naked Eric on the side of the road story

LyraSilvertongue · 02/05/2010 14:57

(Had to separate the asterisks to avoid it doing the bold thing. But you know what I mean).

LyraSilvertongue · 02/05/2010 14:56

So glad they dropped the E* * * s storyline. That was ridiculous.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 02/05/2010 12:19

I imagine it must be hard, as there are so few main characters in the book, so many of them have these tiny parts. Though none so small as LaFayette.

tillyfernackerpants · 02/05/2010 11:08

Alan Ball has done a good job of beefing up some characters & storylines, & cutting others. The whole Jason story played out much better in the series than in the book

LyraSilvertongue · 02/05/2010 10:44

The TV series is far, far better than the books (and I never say that, I usually prefer the book).
Charlaine Harris is a terrible writer. And some of her minor characters have been beefed up for the tv series, very successfully. Lafayette is one of my favourite characters but he's barely mentioned in the books.

DEPECHEMODEFANISBACK · 02/05/2010 10:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

4andnotout · 02/05/2010 10:36

I have only read the books, I've missed all the tv show , might buy the DVD so I can catch up.

tillyfernackerpants · 02/05/2010 10:28

Thanks Pfft, will have a look at them today

PfftTheMagicDragon · 01/05/2010 12:50

They are showing them online is the US, little mini-episodes, teasers for the new series which starts next month.

They are only a few minutes long, you can see the first one (Eric and Pam) here, there is a new one every week.

tillyfernackerpants · 01/05/2010 09:01

I prefer the series as well, I know some people find Anna Paquin irritating but I think she's doing ok!

Pfft, what are the minisodes?!

snickersnack · 30/04/2010 22:36

What Ericnorthmansmistress said, and she should know with a name like that.

They are very different things. I think the tv series is inspired. Absolutely love it. The books are entertaining but not nearly as dark.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 30/04/2010 22:31

It doesn't matter.

They are different enough for it not to matter. Alan Ball has done a great job of turning the books into a show, expanding the right characters and dropping some dull stuff.

It took me a couple of episodes to get over the overly southern accents and the cheesy nature (of the books and the show) but once I did I really got into it.

Minisodes are out now!