HBO’s very popular series True Blood is about 3/4 of the way through its fifth season. And reactions thus far have been very mixed. For some, like myself, this latest season has been a breath of fresh air for a series that seemed like it was inexorably moving down hill. For others, it’s more of the same, and so, five seasons later, there’s only so much they can take.
Having spoken with a few people about this issue, it seems the trouble with True Blood boils down to one thing: Sookie is the main character.
This single factor alone can make or break your enjoyment of the show. Some people watch television in such a way that the main character has to be likeable, the most important, and absolutely must have the most intriguing storyline. With True Blood this is not always the case, especially now that Sookie is no longer seeing either Bill or Eric, the two characters who tied her to the wider world beyond Bon Temps.
For me, Sookie has become a very boring character. The main intrigues in her plot now revolve around her lovelife, because the whole ‘what are you?’ fairie business has been entirely played out (and a huge disappointment, I might add). And honestly, there’s only so many times that Sookie can get into trouble, get bailed out, and then complain about how she just wants a normal life without it getting tiring. In the latest episode, she actually spends a great deal of it moaning to anyone who will listen about how messed up her life is. Well that’s great, Sook. You’re the protagonist of a supernatural fantasy TV series. You’re also apparently a fairie. You’d best get used to it.
Then there’s the fact that, among the many other characters sharing the spotlight, other storylines are much more captivating. For me, the Bill & Eric bromantic adventure as well as Lafayette’s story have been much more interesting than whatever Sookie gets up to. Jason’s subplot has been refreshingly interesting this season to- in that he genuinely seems to be changing for the better rather than just falling into the same rut that his storyline has been since the start of the show.
I think a lot of people are running into problems with the show because they don’t like that the supposed main character is kind of taking the backseat during this season. But for me, that’s A-okay. Sookie is the focus of the show, yes, and the vampire soap opera is a big part of what the show is about, but after five seasons I’ve found myself more invested in a lot of the other townsfolk that have grown in importance and in character over the years, and I like that HBO has decided to give more weight to the other characters in the show.
So what do you think Truebies? Has season five started a revitalization, or is it just another step in the slow stairs down? Tell us in the comments!
