True Blood....if you're not watching it, you should be!!

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by cKy

My girlfriend has read all the books in the series, and it deviates quite a bit from it. Tara is barely in the books. Lafayette dies at the end of the first book. This new vampire stalker dude of Taras isnt it in.

He is in the books, but it is handled much differently. Eric ends up killing him when he attacks Sookie and Tara.

[Machiavelli]

I'm a little disappointed that Franklin is no longer around to terrorize Tara.

[Boblobla]

I'm a little disappointed he didn't kill her and spare everyone her yelling and that annoying quivering lip.

[mac_82]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Anyone here read the books? I am curious to hear from someone else who has read the books and watches the series.

The main reason the show is so different from the books is that in the books, Sookie will leave town and go on an adventure, and the town is barely mentioned. They had to add a lot of new content to keep the town story going and interesting at the same time as the Sookie storyline. The characters of Sam, Sam's family, Tara, Lafayette, Jason, Jessica, Hoyt, etc are drastically different because of this.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by mac_82

The main reason the show is so different from the books is that in the books, Sookie will leave town and go on an adventure, and the town is barely mentioned. They had to add a lot of new content to keep the town story going and interesting at the same time as the Sookie storyline. The characters of Sam, Sam's family, Tara, Lafayette, Jason, Jessica, Hoyt, etc are drastically different because of this.

I agree with the fact they had to add some story lines about people from the town. Some of the story lines have been good, I am really happy they kept Lafayette, he is one of my favorite characters.

There have been some changes to the storyline that I am not a huge fan of though.

1) Hotshot isn't a meth haven in the books. It is just a small inbred town for reasons that will probably be explained in the show shortly. Also, Calvin (the guy that Sam beat up) isn't an ugly deadbeat in the books, he is a handsome leader.

2) The queen is much more powerful in the books, at least when she is first introduced. She has an army of minions to do her bidding. I was also surprised they made her younger than Eric, in the books they never mention her age but she has a child who is about Erics age I believe.

3) I HATE how they have introduced Claudine and I hope there aren't any more cheesy scenes with that pond in the forest.

Book 4 is one of my favorites of the series and I really hope they include most of it in Season 4.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I agree with the fact they had to add some story lines about people from the town. Some of the story lines have been good, I am really happy they kept Lafayette, he is one of my favorite characters.

There have been some changes to the storyline that I am not a huge fan of though.

1) Hotshot isn't a meth haven in the books. It is just a small inbred town for reasons that will probably be explained in the show shortly. Also, Calvin (the guy that Sam beat up) isn't an ugly deadbeat in the books, he is a handsome leader.

2) The queen is much more powerful in the books, at least when she is first introduced. She has an army of minions to do her bidding. I was also surprised they made her younger than Eric, in the books they never mention her age but she has a child who is about Erics age I believe.

3) I HATE how they have introduced Claudine and I hope there aren't any more cheesy scenes with that pond in the forest.

Book 4 is one of my favorites of the series and I really hope they include most of it in Season 4.

Have the seasons generally followed the main plot of the corresponding book, i.e season 1/book 1, season 2/book 2 etc. ?

[mac_82]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I agree with the fact they had to add some story lines about people from the town. Some of the story lines have been good, I am really happy they kept Lafayette, he is one of my favorite characters.

There have been some changes to the storyline that I am not a huge fan of though.

1) Hotshot isn't a meth haven in the books. It is just a small inbred town for reasons that will probably be explained in the show shortly. Also, Calvin (the guy that Sam beat up) isn't an ugly deadbeat in the books, he is a handsome leader.

2) The queen is much more powerful in the books, at least when she is first introduced. She has an army of minions to do her bidding. I was also surprised they made her younger than Eric, in the books they never mention her age but she has a child who is about Erics age I believe.

3) I HATE how they have introduced Claudine and I hope there aren't any more cheesy scenes with that pond in the forest.

Book 4 is one of my favorites of the series and I really hope they include most of it in Season 4.

1) Agree

2) Agree

3) Totally Agree. If Claude / Claudine are going to play a bigger part in the series they better sort out the cheese-factor right now.

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Have the seasons generally followed the main plot of the corresponding book, i.e season 1/book 1, season 2/book 2 etc. ?

The main story arcs from the books loosely make up what happens in the TV seasons. Although the further we get into it, the more the TV series changes from the books.

Book 1 - serial killer in town

Book 2 - Sookie investigates missing Vamp in Dallas / Fellowship of the Sun. Maenad plays a small role.

Book 3 - Bill is kidnapped. Sookie goes to Mississippi. Weres get involved.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by mac_82

Book 1 - serial killer in town

Book 2 - Sookie investigates missing Vamp in Dallas / Fellowship of the Sun. Maenad plays a small role.

Book 3 - Bill is kidnapped. Sookie goes to Mississippi. Weres get involved.

So far, they haven't chagned it up enough to not be able to do book 4.

Book 6 I think is out, as they have already changed the marriage stuff and married a different King and Queen. We will see though.

I hope the Debbie Pelt story line is followed as her family seems interesting.

I was also confused with how Holly is portrayed. In the show she is trashy but in the books gothic.

[mac_82]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

So far, they haven't chagned it up enough to not be able to do book 4.

Book 6 I think is out, as they have already changed the marriage stuff and married a different King and Queen. We will see though.

Without posting any spoilers, it's the King of Arkansas that Sophie-Anne marries.

I just finished book 10 before this season started, but I haven't read many of the short stories.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by mac_82

Without posting any spoilers, it's the King of Arkansas that Sophie-Anne marries.

I just finished book 10 before this season started, but I haven't read many of the short stories.

Yeah, that is what I was trying to get at without saying it.

I believe that Russel married the king of Texas or something in the books. He is nothing like how is portrayed in the show.

[DuffMan]

I just watched the last episode, and it's like they just keep getting better. This show is by far one of the best I've ever seen. I've mentioned before it's like Buffy on steroids, and I liked that show. Humor monsters drama violence boobs, etc etc. It's got everything I like. That part at the end when Russell killed the news anchor and blabbed away on tv was great.

[3 Justin 3]

Oh shiizz. When Jason shot Franklin I was cheering and jumping around. ahahaha, that was hilarious.

The ending was epic also, Russel comes in and rips the guys spine out.

...and now time for the weather, Tiffany. ahahaha, I actually laughed out loud with that line. Awesome. This season is way better than the first two.

[DrJ]

This season just flew by. I definitely agree that this has been my favourite season. Thankfully, TB ends a week before pre-season starts.

[socalwingfan]

I guess I'm in the minority - I liked the first season, 2nd season was meh and I have stopped paying attention to the 3rd season two episodes ago. The only things that interest me this year are Eric's revenge against the King and what the King is up to now. I play my PSP while my wife watches and probably pay attention to 5 mins an episode now.

[Boblobla]

Does Tara have any other emotion than "Yelling with a quivering bottom lip"?

Also, lamest CG were-panther EVER. The wolves were done much better than the Panther.

[3 Justin 3]

Well, the season is over, what is everyone's impression. Personally I thought it was the best season yet. Much better than the second one. There should be more Eric Northman, he is by far the coolest character.

As for the finale, I thought the first 35 minutes were good, but after that I couldn't follow what the hell was going on. I don't understand the last 20 minutes with Eric, Bill, super old vapmire, queen, at all.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Well, the season is over, what is everyone's impression. Personally I thought it was the best season yet. Much better than the second one. There should be more Eric Northman, he is by far the coolest character.

As for the finale, I thought the first 35 minutes were good, but after that I couldn't follow what the hell was going on. I don't understand the last 20 minutes with Eric, Bill, super old vapmire, queen, at all.

I was really disappointed with this season. Every episode just got more and more ridiculous. After that scene where Bill and the Queen levitate to fight each other, I don't think I can take this show even remotely seriously (yes, I know, it's not supposed to be taken seriously, but that was really bad). On the other side of things, I agree, Eric is the coolest character. The show needs more of him and a lot less of all the stupid side-plots. Oh, and the music generally tends to be pretty great as well.

[3 Justin 3]

I'll agree that this season did get pretty ridiculous. But I thought it was better than the second, the plot line with the Mayed was stupid.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Liked this season more than number 2, but I still take issue with how silly this show has become. Season 1 was so effective because it was relatively simple. It was human, vampires and one shape shifter. But since then, we've seen werewolves, panthers, a menad, fairies and now a witch. When will the madness end?? I bought into Season One because in a world of vampires, it wasn't too over the top, if that makes any sense.

Another huge issue I had with Season 3 was the multiple storylines. There was just way too much going on. The Terry and Arlene story took up way too much screen time. Same with the Lafayette Jesus story. I like the characters, but have them involved with the main storylines. Not their own.

Tonight's finale was pretty solid. Seeing Russel burnt to a crisp and talkng was funny. His ending was very cool, but we know he'll be back eventually. The Bill vs Eric thing at the end was very interesting, and the scene with those two and Sookie at the house was pretty strong. The very very end, was a bit much for me. But I will say that I am curious where they take it for here.

I'm still going to continue to watch the show, but it's never going to be the show I MUST be home to watch. Like Mad Men, Entourage, Breaking Bad or Dexter. Like I said a few pages back in this thread, I've invested so much time into this show, I might as well see it out.

[killer_carlson]

I thought this was the worst season yet. Way too many new characters and plot lines that were introduced and then abandoned. It was like it turned into a comic book and we're going to see spin off series about these people.

I'll probably watch next season, but if it is as bad as this one then it will be my last.