True Blood: The Complete First Season

HBO's True Blood takes vampire lore in a variety of intriguing new directions. With the invention of synthetic blood, “vampers” now live amongst humans, but are still minorities who must fight for equal protection. Created by Alan Ball (American Beauty, Six Feet Under), the series is based on Charlaine Harris' popular novels featuring Sookie Stackhouse (a blonde Anna Paquin), a telepathic roadhouse waitress living in Bon Temps, LA. Although her boss, Sam (Sam Trammell), has feelings for Sookie, the latter finds herself more attracted to vampire Bill Compton (the glowering, if soft-spoken Stephen Moyer), whose life she saves in the pilot episode. Shortly thereafter, Bill returns the favor by using his blood, or “V-juice,” as a restorative (some humans also use it as a sex aid) when Sookie is wounded. Bill, a 173-year-old veteran of the Civil War, had a wife and children once, but that was a long, long time ago. While Sookie describes herself as “a lady,” her brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten) is definitely a cad, who frequently lands in trouble with both the ladies and the law (in the form of officers Andy and Bud, played by Chris Bauer and William Sanderson). Sookie and Jason have been living with their grandmother, Adele (Lois Smith), since their parents perished during a flood, and Sookie's best friend, Tara (Rutina Wesley), continues to nurse a crush on Jason. Before the 12-episode 2008 first season is through, three Bon Temps women will meet their maker, and Sookie will do what she can to prove her brother's innocence. Unlike Stephenie Meyers' popular YA series that debuted with Twilight, Harris' books target a more mature audience, and Ball's addictive adaptation follows suit (vampires die particularly gory deaths). DVD extras (the Blu-ray release sports additional exclusive features) include six audio episode commentaries, a mockumentary news special about vampires in America, and a bevy of commercials and PSAs for vampire goods and services. Highly recommended. (K. Fennessy)