"Recently HBO launched the fourth season of the vampire series True Blood," the piece begins. "In May, author Charlaine Harris published the 11th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series of novels on which the TV series is based, Dead Reckoning. Fans love to debate which is better, the television series or the books. Here’s my take.
Plotting: The books are richly plotted, with reversals and high-drama situations every few pages. The television series, however, has successfully added layers of complications and twists that make them even tighter and more entertaining. One example that comes to mind is Jason Stackhouse’s involvement with the Fellowship of the Sun Church in the second season, which made this plotline more satisfying. Point to True Blood.
Sex: Virtually every episode of the television series featured naked bosoms and bare derrieres. However, these scenes are usually brief and, as is the case with visual entertainment, we aren’t able to see inside the character’s heads to learn how they view their romantic episodes. Harris seems to relish writing love scenes and does them well. The glimpses we get from the character’s minds in these interludes enhance their depth, so point to the novels.
Humor: Harris has a knack for witty dialogue, and the interplay between Sookie and Pam the vampire is very amusing (“You’re my favorite breather”, Pam tells Sookie at one point.) However, the television series keeps one tongue planted firmly in cheek, and allows characters like Lafayette to play broadly, giving them witty lines that both advance the plot and amuse the audience. Point to True Blood.
Tolerance: True Blood, with cast characters that are gay, lesbian and bisexual, has proven it has nothing to prove in this respect. However, it has a ways to go to catch up with the novels, in which so many characters cross the gender, species and mortality line in so many directions that Harris uses the term omnisexual at one point. Point, the novels.
Cast: The producers of True Blood did an excellent job in casting actors who are very consistent with those in the book, led by the effervescent Anna Paquin. Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton, Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse and Alexander Skarsğard as Eric Northman are particularly well done. Having actors that capture the personality of those in the book, then add their own touches, gives a point to the television series.
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