Article on Examiner.com by Amanda Bell
The year 2008 saw the book-to-screen translation of two human/vampire love stories: True Blood and Twilight.
True Blood, a television show, which is (like Twilight) based off of a book series – the entire first season of the HBO show was based upon a single volume of the series called Dead Until Dark (The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 1) by Charlaine Harris – has also developed a rather devoted fan-base.
Sookie Stackhouse is a young, intelligent, and extra-sensory perception wielding southern lady. Much like Bella Swan in Twilight, Sookie has rejected the advances of men she has known (that is, until she meets her charming, romantic, vampiric counterpart).
The most obvious difference, at the out-set, between the two stories and the worlds that Bella and Sookie live in is the fact that, in Sookie’s world, vampires are commonly known to exist, and they are openly trying to assimilate into human society (for the most part, at least). The clever name of the television series, in fact, comes from the title of the bottled blood that vampires (are supposed to) live off of. In Twilight, by sharp contrast, the world is mostly unaware of the existence of vampires, and the vampires that do exist (save for the Cullens and the Denali clan) are mostly nomadic and do not try to resist their thirst.
Sookie (played by Oscar-winner Anna Paquin) is eager to become affiliated with vampires, and when she meets Bill, she, like Bella Swan, is totally enamored with him. Unlike Bella, Sookie can let Bill bite her without necessarily becoming a vampire as the procedure for “the change” is quite different between these two stories.
Bill (played by British Stephen Moyer) is a bit like Edward Cullen (played by also-British actor Robert Pattinson) in that he is frustrated with his circumstances as a vampire and wants to be different from some of the less human-friendly others of his kind.
Also, there is another similarity. In True Blood, as in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, there are also shape-shifting (werewolves, arguably) humans such as Sam (played by Sam Trammell) and Twilight’s Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).
Perhaps most obviously, one similarity between these two series (book and TV/film) is the fact that the protagonist is a woman, who carries a voice and virtue that her audience can identify with. Her relationships with vampires in the stories is trying, at times, but for the most part one which she wants and finds love and comfort within. At the risk of being overly succinct, they are both a case of “girl is special, then girl meets attractive, kind, generous, and gentleman-like vampire, and girl’s life is never the same.”
As for the actors, Anna Paquin delivers in True Blood. She is able to present the southern sweet belle charm at the out-set so well, but also maintain that consistent edge that Sookie Stackhouse has. In other words, she is sweet, but she has a low tolerance for bull all the same. Kristen Stewart, similarly, presents us with a Bella Swan which we can recognize from the book series – inward, thoughtful and intelligent, learned, and constantly in awe of her leading man. Stephen Moyer effectively presents the inner struggle that his character has as well as the consuming desire to protect Sookie in True Blood. One could literally feel his pain as he lay in wait (because, in True Blood, vampires cannot come out in the sun, and, in the south, cloud coverage is not helpful) to come to Sookie’s rescue. Robert Pattinson’s performance of Edward Cullen runs through a similar vein – the viewer can identify with the washes of strife that come across his face, but are taken by his cavalier and courtesy throughout the story.
All in all, these two series boast a host of similarities, but there are also some defining differences. From the setting to the characters to the plot-line itself, True Blood and the Twilight series are two tales that nearly mirror one another in some instances and run dynamic opposites in others.
I would take exception to a couple of things said about True Blood. I don’t see Sookie as eager to become affiliated with vampires. When Bill first appeared at Merlotte’s, she was curious about him. He was their first vampire. Then she was intrigued by and drawn to him mostly because she could not hear his thoughts. As a telepath, that was a great relief for her. From their first acquaintance, one thing led to another. And that included tender, loving feelings. However, she did not have good experiences with other vampires, i.e., Malcolm, Diane and Liam. No eagerness there.
Also, Sam Merlotte plainly told Sookie not to call him a werewolf. Shapeshifters are definitely not in the same category. Werewolves are dangerous, nasty creatures. He was very adamant about the difference.
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Although I do agree there are some similiarities between Twilight and True Blood they are vastly different as well. After reading the Sookie Stackhouse Series and watching the True Blood series I found it difficult to see the allure of Twilight. I read the first book in an attempt to understand the attraction but have to admit it was lost on me. To me Twilight is too geared towards tweens and teens for me to get into it. PG13 sci-fi romance if you will. I can see how readers in those age groups would enjoy the Twilight series. True Blood is clearly for an adult audience. I attempted to give Twilight another chance by watching the movie and was very disapointed. Unless you read the book there are alot of holes in the story line. The director assumes that the viewe knows details that could only be known if they read the book. I don’t want to start a “Twilight vs True Blood” war but honestly I feel that True Blood is the clearly superior series, in both literature and the small screen. When season 1 of True Blood ended I purchased the books immediately and whipped through 7 of them in 7 days. I am hungry for more True Blood, can’t say the same for Twilight. I am too old for teenage love angst stories even if they have a vampire twist to them. I am a True Blood Fang Banger…lol
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I watched the first season of True Blood before ever being introduced to the Twilight Series. I was given the first book and wasn’[t in a hurry to jump into it, but….when I did, there was no stopping me. I read all four and watched the movie. I am over 40 and still found the Twilight series enjoyable. I like True Blood, but I also don’t think everything needs to be sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll(or should I say death)to be entertaining. I am looking forward to starting the True Blood series now. My family watches True Blood but hasn’t read or seen Twilight so I was hesitant to mention the some of the similarities that I hadn’t really noticed until season 2 started, but when I did, my daughter who just read the first True Blood responded by saying Twilight was rip off. Personally, I don’t think there that many “new” ideas ou there, and every idea is born/created from an established “something”. A lot like a vampire. Suffice it to say, I don’t think you have dislike one in order to like the other. Then again, I’ve always been able to maintain more than one friendship at a time.
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Of course Sookie Stackhouse is the better heroine and role model. She is a woman who has man troubles and everyday troubles but doesn’t let that interfere with her life to the extremities that Bella Swan does. When Bill betrayed Sookie and both relationships with Alcide and Quinn failed, I didn’t see Sookie depressed to the point of social withdrawal. To me, Sookie always gave the impression as the girl who doesn’t cry over spilled milk, no matter how big the spill may have been. Also, someone once commented that Sookie is a slut. Just because she has sex with her boyfriend doesn’t make her a slut. Just because she has dated more than one guy doesn’t make her a slut either. If memory serves correct, Bella was begging Edward for some loving even before they got married. Then she threw a tantrum because he refused to. A lot of people also commented saying that Sookie is in her 20′s while Bella is in her teens so you can’t compare the two. Well, if the author writes Bella to be mature enough to make the decision to become a vampire FOREVER by marrying Edward, I don’t think anyone should be throwing ages into the debate because frankly, if the character is written to act like an adult, and marriage is a very adult thing, then the character should be treated like one. So, age shouldn’t matter. All in all, hands down, Sookie Stackhouse is the better heroine and role model.
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