This meme celebrates an awesome adaptation related to a weekly category. Any format of adaptation (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. Awesome Adaptations was created by Alisa Selene at PictureMeReading.
An Awesomely Bad Adaptation
Title: True Blood
Adapted from: The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
Adapted from: The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
There are 13 Sookie books and True Blood just wrapped up it's Sixth season so there's still a lot of material for them to adapt into the show. But after the first book/season, the show gradually deviated from the plot lines, character arcs, and character personalties of the book series until it became almost unrecognizable from the original as all the characters have undergone such drastic changes. I love the wit and humor of Sookie's sometimes scary or romantic adventures as they are in the books, but watching True Blood is an entirely different experience. That I'm strangely addicted to!
The show is rather violent, graphic and disturbing (you know fun!) but it is a distinctive take on the Southern Gothic atmosphere of the story, and many of the characters have transformed into layered, complex personalities. Lafayette, Tara and Pam come to mind - they are secondary characters who have really become integral to the show. Actually Lafayette is a huge improvement in the show over his character in the book - he also happens to be one of my favorite show characters. When it comes to the main three there are aspects of each that both are true to their original incarnation and very different. I think Sookie is snarky and plucky in both versions (maybe a little snarkier in the books) and makes some of the same choices when it comes to all the guys who are interested in her. Bill is getting to be pretty unrecognizable as the gentlemanly, earnest vampire of the books, but it is interesting to see him get a bit of power in the show. I think the fan favorite, Eric, is awesome in both the books and the show - he still gets to be a rough around the edges vampire with redemptive qualities. And while in the books I've always felt Eric always put himself above others, I'm inclined to think he's more of a softie in the show.
I feel like this series has become loosely based on the books and for that it's not even really an adaptation anymore - if you don't like the show, you might feel completely different about the story if you read the books. The show is pretty dark but it embraces the insanity of Sookie's life and takes it to a completely different level. Even though there's much that I wish True Blood would adapt from the books, I enjoy watching each episode and truly having no idea where the story is going to go. I am glad the creators have added so much to Sookie's world, and I think the over-the-top drama and flair of the TV series makes it a pretty awesome take on the books.
The show is rather violent, graphic and disturbing (you know fun!) but it is a distinctive take on the Southern Gothic atmosphere of the story, and many of the characters have transformed into layered, complex personalities. Lafayette, Tara and Pam come to mind - they are secondary characters who have really become integral to the show. Actually Lafayette is a huge improvement in the show over his character in the book - he also happens to be one of my favorite show characters. When it comes to the main three there are aspects of each that both are true to their original incarnation and very different. I think Sookie is snarky and plucky in both versions (maybe a little snarkier in the books) and makes some of the same choices when it comes to all the guys who are interested in her. Bill is getting to be pretty unrecognizable as the gentlemanly, earnest vampire of the books, but it is interesting to see him get a bit of power in the show. I think the fan favorite, Eric, is awesome in both the books and the show - he still gets to be a rough around the edges vampire with redemptive qualities. And while in the books I've always felt Eric always put himself above others, I'm inclined to think he's more of a softie in the show.
I feel like this series has become loosely based on the books and for that it's not even really an adaptation anymore - if you don't like the show, you might feel completely different about the story if you read the books. The show is pretty dark but it embraces the insanity of Sookie's life and takes it to a completely different level. Even though there's much that I wish True Blood would adapt from the books, I enjoy watching each episode and truly having no idea where the story is going to go. I am glad the creators have added so much to Sookie's world, and I think the over-the-top drama and flair of the TV series makes it a pretty awesome take on the books.
Great post! I've posted quite a bit about this series and am doing a guide to True Blood next week for Horror October.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true about the minor characters getting bigger roles though - I love Lafayette too. His story ARC with Jesus was so sad =(
Ah book blogger habit of writing arc in caps... well you know what I meant =P In the books, Pam is a lot warmer to Sookie (in private), which I liked, but I also love her dry wit and sarcastic remarks in the show.
DeleteYes, I'm really looking forward to reading your thoughts on the series! Especially as I think you are one of the few people I know who has read the books and watched the series!
DeleteFreaking Jesus man! I was so gutted by the turn that story took - I couldn't believe they would ruin such a nice romance! And I agree about Pam - I like how she likes to wear pastels and pant suits in private in the books - it's such a funny twist to her character. But I also like Pam's fierceness in the show.
I haven't read any of the Sookie Stackhouse books, but I'm a big fan of the show and found it interesting to read your comparison. I was particularly interested in whether Sookie is the same in the show as the book.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm glad you stopped by the post - I hope you'll check out the books! One of my friends started reading the first book when the first season began but she never finished the book because it went so closely with the show, but there's definitely no danger of that now. I think Sookie in the show has gone through more than she has in the books (at least til book 6) so Sookie in the show is a little harder and less sympathetic now. But she is still basically the same.
DeleteI wasn't a fan of the season before last..but I think it is getting back on form..though I do miss Bill being a more pleasant romantic character..he is so unpleasant at this point!
ReplyDeleteI think the beginning was when I was least into the show, but you are right about Bill being unpleasant, I want my nice Bill back! :D
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