Top Ten Reasons Why True Blood Rocks

The title says it all, so without much fanfare, let's start the countdown to the 10 Things I love about HBO's True Blood.

10. Blood, Sex and Violence that only Cable can Offer
Now, I'm not an adrenaline or violence junkie, but could you really picture True Blood being shown on a national TV station? Now that would be a show with no teeth.

9. True Blood isn't Just About Vampires
Vampires aren't the only supernatural beings that walk this earth. In this world, werewolves, shapeshifters, Maenads and telepaths all walk with their human brethren, making this pot of gumbo all the more richer.

8. Southern Gothic
Is it just me, or would this series have not worked half as well were it set in Minnesota? The opening credits have always set the tone for this show. There's something about bayous and truckstop hillbillies that lend a creepy, but torrid sexuality to all things vampire. Plus, there's nothing like a southern drawl. Hug yer neck!

7. Bill and Sookie
OMG, Remember when the water cooler talk was all about the sexual tension between Maddie and David in Moonlighting? Or remember Sam and Diane in Cheers? Ross and Rachel? Yeah, now don't you feel like a pimply-faced, brace wearing dweeb when you watch Bill and Sookie dance their dance?

Oooo, Oooo! Brenda and Dylan? (Loser!)

6. Bill and Sookie...and Eric
OMFG, how could I forget Luke and Laura? Are you just as intrigued to find out where Sookie's affections may finally land? Do you laugh like a silly Japanese school girl every time Eric struts on scene? Which brings me to...

5. Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård)
(Insert giddy Japanese school girl laugh here).

4. The Dark Humor
As good as the storytelling gets, what really gives True Blood its remarkable dramatic depth are the purely funny moments. And there's a ton of them.

"Every time I hear those words, I black out and wake up with dead bodies all around me", was Frederick's response to Tara's simple declaration, "We gotta talk".

Jason's dimwitted aphorisms.

Arlene's acid "peas in a can" comment to a surly customer.

At the sight of Arlene's cut finger, Jessica springs her fangs like a schoolboy's sudden erection.

I could go on.

3. Even the Second Tier Characters are Entertaining
Admittedly, Jason's storyline is beginning to get a little tired, but the rest of the supporting characters have kept us well entertained. Lesbian vampire Pam is a howl. I'd still like to see where Jessica and Hoyt are going. Sam and his recent run-in with his biological family may or may not have been finally resolved, and Tara will definitely have to have a showdown with Franklin.

Then there's Lafayette. He could do his own spin-off. He already has the bandana - he could be the next black Rhoda.

2. What the Hell is Sookie?
According to Sookie, she's just a waitress, but the buzz according to ew.com and creator Alan Ball is that all will be revealed by the end of the third season, and it will be a game changer. This is the only plot point in True Blood that will have the capacity to be either a truly gratifying revelation or a huge let down. We shall see, but until then, I'm hooked.

1. The Vampire Concept with a Twist
True Blood hasn't certainly brought us anything new under the sun. The vampires of Bon Temps still have fangs, walk the night and are violently allergic to silver and daylight. What we've never seen before is this much depth and detail of Vampire Society; it's a wholly realized race of Others with its own unique social hierarchy that's ripe with subtext and metaphors (read any fringe or marginalized group of people).

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Sources: ew.com, imdb.com

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