True Blood: The Complete Third Season

Season three of Alan Ball's sexy Southern-gothic melodrama of blood-suckers in the bayou—adapted from the bestselling novels by Charlaine Harris—presents the next chapter in the rocky love affair between telepathic roadhouse waitress Sookie Stackhouse and soulful vampire Bill Compton (real-life married couple Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer) in the town of Bon Temps, LA. A number of new storylines emerge along the way: a pack of werewolves help Sookie find Bill, who's kidnapped by the villainous “King of Mississippi” (Denis O'Hare); the vampire kings and queens of America go to war; and Sookie's true heritage is explored—helping to explain why the undead are so obsessed with her. A veritable Peyton Place of blood, beasts, and very confused humans, True Blood's mix of gothic pulp, otherworldly soap opera, overheated melodrama, and steamy R-rated sex and skin is hopelessly addictive—never as smart as its HBO dramatic cousins (such as Big Love) but far more shameless fun. Compiling all 12 episodes from 2010 on DVD and Blu-ray, extras include episode audio commentaries, a behind-the scenes featurette, minisodes, recaps, and a Snoop Dogg music video. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an interactive “Enhanced Viewing Mode” with more background information. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)