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I Wanna Do Bad Things With YouSeptember 10, 2008I don’t know if HBO’s True Blood will be a hit, but it had me at hello with its opening credits. The vampire opus True Blood, from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball, is set in a swamp-water hamlet in Louisiana. In the opening montage, we see: shots of the bayou; the KKK; gators; African-Americans in their church; possum road kill; rednecks whopping it up in a bar; a writhing dancer; a rotting fox (in time lapse, with maggots destroying the carcass); a striking snake; a Venus flytrap devouring prey; and an evangelical baptism in a river, among other things. The sum is greater than the parts -- take my word for it, or tune in yourself. Are these images stereotypes of the South, and Louisiana? I don’t know, but Ball is a Southerner himself, so maybe he has geographic license to use these images. But the crowning touch on the opening is the music, a song with the refrain “I wanna do bad things with you.” I had to go on a True Blood fan blog to learn that the haunting tune, Bad Things, is by country singer Jace Everett. I’ve played the True Blood review DVDs several dozen times over, just to hear that song again and again. Everett may be a country music icon, but I’ve never hard of him. But hey, I’m from Jersey (where no one is named “Jace”), so what do I know from country music? Everett’s Web site, www.jaceeverett.com, has a clip of him performing the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. True Blood has received some mixed reviews, but I like it. And it’s not that I’m a vampire or Alan Ball groupie. I never saw even one episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I was not a particular fan of Six Feet Under. For one, I find True Blood laugh-out loud funny at times. The show is definitely a send-up of American culture, and its mistrust and mistreatment of outsiders, but it’s the program’s little moments that I like. In one episode, there’s a scene where William Sanderson, playing a cop, mimics a vampire by wiggling his two fingers like fangs. It doesn’t sound like much, but it cracked me up. Check it out. Some critics have complained about the sex, violence and gore in True Blood. Are you kidding me? This is HBO. And has anyone watched broadcast TV recently? On Bones we were recently treated to a view of a shredded, decapitated corpse. When we finally see the rotted head, its eyeball pops out, a real treat for viewers. One critic griped that Moyer played his vampire like a mope. The Los Angeles Times said Moyer was trying to put a brooding, Heathcliff-like spin on his bloodsucker. That works for me. I guess the appeal is that no matter how civilized and gentlemanly Compton appears, he can’t stop himself from baring his fangs when he sees a naked, outstretched neck. I like that in a man.
Posted by Linda Moss on September 10, 2008 | Comments (17)
October 14, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Reptilian orgy commented: I, for one, love this show. I'm not to much of a vampire person as some (I tend to lean on the side of zombies) but it really is a spectacular show. I have been following the show since the first episode aired and always look forward to 7 o'clock on Sunday nights to see what kind of twist Alan Ball throws at the viewers next. As for the opening credits, I had to download the song from itunes and put it on my ipod. ONE and only country song I'll listen to.
October 19, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You chrissy commented: i've always liked vampires and love this show. i got my neighbor hooked on it and we watch every sunday night 9 eastern. she's not a big vampire fan but is hooked!!
October 26, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You DJ commented: Whc sings this song? Love the show. Bill can bite me anytime.
October 27, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Linda Moss commented: DJ---
October 27, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Sony commented: I'm from Córdoba, Argentina and -as vampire fan- I can tell this is one of the best series ever. Of course I've already got the song, as well :[
October 30, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Charli commented: True Blood is an interesting show and much as Star Trek showed the social injustices of it's time so does True Blood. Vampires are just the newest minority being "worried" about by the Bible Thumpers and moralists who view everyone not in their narrow definition of normal as "dangerous". Everyone is so worried about Sookie they forget that Bill gives her what love is supposed to give you...the feeling that you are cherished. I hope that this show doesn't get cut short as so many other shows have been.
November 5, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You STL commented: I am hooked as well. Well said about Bill being a brooding Heathcliff -- love it, love it, love it! Glad to see it has been picked up for a second season, but hate that I have to wait until Summer 2009!
November 9, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You bob commented: True Blood has beaten Dexter in my ratings for best show on tv. Period. More cortically shows like BSGalatica don't even get close and neither does most of the network drek-- tho Life on Mars and Chuck both strike my fancy.
November 10, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Doug commented: If you all like the series, then please check out the books that it is based on: the southern vampire series by Charlaine Harris. The first book is Dead Until Dark (this first season of True Blood covers the same material as the first book, but the focus of the book is mostly on Sookie and Bill.)
November 10, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Traci commented: True blood is my favorite! Dexter just isnt doing it for me since i started watching True blood...so glad they are picking up another season...can't wait for more...more...more...
November 14, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Opocephalus commented: I love the show, and tune, myself but I just wanted to add something on a technical not. The link to Jace's website in the blog entry includes the coma (at the end) in the code and the server doesn't understand so it's only directing folks to a browser error page.
November 18, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Lisa commented: TrueBlood is addictive, entertaining, and keeps you glued to the TV with the characters, social issues, and dark comedy. One of the best shows I have seen in years and is far better than mainstream shows currently on TV. This show has all the drama, comedy, suspense, social justice, romance and intrigue, gothic and supernatural qualities all rolled into one geat show. The fan base and ratings would go beyond any series currently on TV if it was on a mainstream channel. I truly hope the Executives at HBO continue the series to cover all the books and distribute to channnels like Fox etc so that everyone can access this truly brilliant show. Due to financal reasons I was going to cancel my HBO subscription. TrueBlood is the only reason I don't!
November 20, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Gwen commented: I always find myself watching pilot episodes and losing interest by the 2nd or 3rd episode but Trueblood has me totally hooked! Great actors, great stories, and such funny lines, too. The opening credits are truly amazing and that song just fits right. Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are sizzling hot onscreen that when I watch my DVR I just fastforward to their scenes together. HBO, you bet this is one great hit show!
November 25, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Molly commented: It's going to be one long, cold winter waiting for True Blood to return this summer for season2.
November 29, 2008
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Bill commented: I actually subscribed to HBO to get this series. My wife and I are HOOKED! We watched all 12 episodes twice and love it. We are Buffy-Angel-Ann Rice-whatever fans and this is at the top of our list! Now...WHAT is that animal spining in the opening creds? Right after the kid with bar-b-que sauce on his face...can't figure it out...looks like holes underneath, etc.? HELP! lol...
January 9, 2009
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Chanel commented: Bill - I'm from New Orleans. That's an alligator skull jaw bone hanging, if you are talking about the skeleton
January 9, 2009
In response to: I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Chanel commented: Bill - I'm from New Orleans. That's an alligator skull jaw bone hanging, if you are talking about the skeleton
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And I, for one, love what many critics have skewered about True Blood: The rocky romance between waitress Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, and courtly vampire Bill Compton, portrayed by Stephen Moyer.