It hurts so good

MANILA, Philippines – Sorry, Twi-freaks, but True Blood is no Twilight. The new HBO vampire series has got a little big universe of its own. Alan Ball, the creator of this masterpiece, must be a genius. Although anybody would love to see a ridiculously handsome vamp-human couple in Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, nothing beats a bloodsucking drama show that has the energy of Sex and the City and the oddities of Six Feet Under. Yes, you should expect a number of vampire-on-human action on this sultry TV show.

Unexpectedly, True Blood does not just center on the life of a fang-loving human female. The story happens when the Japanese discover (as they always do) a formula that allows them to create synthetic blood catering to the appetites of vampires. The discovery brings the commercial beverage hit Tru:Blood to the local 7-Elevens and Mini-Stops in the fictional Louisiana town of Bon Temps. Hence, vampires start to find their place in mainstream society as they come out in the open and fight for their co-existence with humans. Thanks to the representation of the activist group American Vampire League (AVL), the undead’s own version of Gabriela and Bayan Muna.

Of course, a vampire drama would not be complete without the painful pleasure of forbidden love. And this time, True Blood, based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by Charlaine Harris, narrates the story of a telepathic waitress, named Sookie Stackhouse (played by Academy Award winner Anna Paquin), who bumps into the irresistible 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (played by Stephen Moyer). She finds calm and refuge in Bill for the reason that she can not hear his thoughts. Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar for her role in The Piano when she was only 11, did a fantastic job in portraying the blonde belle and in using a delicious Southern accent (Yes, she played the occasionally irritating Rogue in the X-Men trilogy).

What keeps this fang drama meaty is the lineup of characters that will keep your blood warm. Bill is not your typical Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, but he will surely glamour you. On the other hand, Sam Merlotte (played by Sam Trammell), Sookie’s boss at Merlotte’s bar, is a dreamy-eyed romantic who’s got a mysterious past. He hits it off with Sookie’s best friend Tara Thorton (played by Rutina Wesley) who feels the world is her enemy. If you love a little douche bag on the side, watch out for Jason Stackhouse (played by Ryan Kwanten), our fang-banging heroine’s brother who finds fun in bed and in getting high on vampire blood (a.k.a. “V-juice”), which he gets from dealer and gay prostitute Lafayette Reynolds (Nelson Ellis).

Among other things, Trubies (what True Blood fans call themselves) love the symbols portrayed on the hit HBO series. Of course, nobody’s complaining about the bizarre but hot sex between vampires and humans on the show. But what probably keeps it interesting are the similarities between vamp-human relationships and the struggles of interracial and gay marriages. True Blood also attempts to entertain viewers with the war between the fang-bashing church Fellowship of the Sun and the AVL, which kind of portrays leftists and rightists. Moreover, nightwalkers have their own version of a superclub known as Fangtasia. Here, fangbangers (humans who prefer making out with vampires) get a taste of the gothic nightlife. Although “V-juice” is highly prohibited in the club, humans and vampires find a way to share the new “drug” that everybody’s talking about.

It is fascinating to see the entanglement between two species, which becomes painfully addictive at times. It makes you want to do bad things.

The encore of True Blood Season 1 airs on HBO Asia on July 11.