Fall TV Premieres: Week #2 Roundup

Another week in this busy month of September has gone by. And as far is television is concerned, it meant two new series premieres on my radar: True Blood, the new HBO drama from Six Feet Under and American Beauty mastermind Alan Ball, and J.J Abrams' much-anticipated new series, Fringe. I'll be posting a detailed review of Fringe a little later (the show gets to have a dedicated post because there's so much to say about it!), but first, let me talk a little bit about True Blood and the second installments of last week's premieres: Gossip Girl and 90210.

True Blood: When I first heard about this new drama, I didn't really know what to think of it. People tend to make such a fuss about HBO series and I think they are usually overrated (The Sopranos, anyone??!) that I really didn't know if I should give it a try or not. Timing makes it that there still aren't a lot of fresh blood (nice pun! :D) on the air yet as new series and returning shows don't start until later in the month so I decided to give True Blood a try. The booster being that it was created from the guy that came up with my all-time favorite movie: American Beauty, named Alan Ball. He's also responsible for creating another much-loved HBO series: Six Feet Under; a show that, quite frankly, I always thought was not bad but that I never considered a masterpiece...

Anyway, to come back to the series premiere of True Blood, I have to say it wasn't bad, but it was not mind-blowing either. It's definitely not one of those shows that give you a sense of reward during the pilot episode (like Fringe for example!)... The premise is okay but I guess we'll have to wait and see how the story plays out in the next few weeks before we have the full ability to judge it.

The series follows Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic barmaid who has the ability to read into people's minds and who finds comfort in the company of vampires since they have no brainwave activity for her to read. Thanks largely in part to the creation of a synthetic blood called Tru Blood (where the series takes it name) vampires have made their existence known to the world...
The relationship developed between Sookie and Bill (the vampire) seems to be heading to an interesting direction, sexual tension and confusion being the key.
I'll give to show props for being original in its plot and for the subtle parallel between vampire rights in the show's context (what if we lived in a world where vampires didn't have to live in the dark?) and gay rights in our society today. The actors' performances are also top-notch. B-
True Blood, New Series: Sundays @ 9/8c on HBO.

Real quick on the second epis of GG and 90210...

Gossip Girl: "Never been Marcused", Gossip Girl's second episode of Season 2, was even better (and jucier!) than the premiere! The love rectangle between Nate, cougar Catherine (the Duchess) , Chuck and Blair is just hysterical! Also loved: Nate becoming a man whore to save his family's assets, Serena and Dan's we're-taking-it-slow-NOT entanglement, Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf's ongoing drama when Bass-hole (as Queen B nicely calls him) again tries to make her jealous by tricking her into meeting the Duchess Catherine that also happens to be Marcus (Blair's new Lord of a boyfriend)'s stepmom. It was classic GG!
Favorite quote:
Chuck (to Blair, introducing the Duchess): I'd like to introduce you to my new lady friend.
Blair: Why? So she can warn me about the effects of too much botox?

90210: The show seems to be heading to the right direction with its second ep after last week's overcrowded premiere. I kinda feel like the plots are getting more interesting and also more fun to watch. I liked the storyline involving the Wilsons' family night at bowling getting crushed when the kids invit all their friends over (the comedic side) and Kelly's confrontation with her mom about her drinking when it starts hurting her sister Silver (the dramatic side). This show is getting there I'm sure, let's give it a little more time to get it right... Next week: Brenda's back to direct the school's musical (yay!) and we learn the identity of Kelly's babydaddy (already?? Wow, that was quick!). Any guesses? My money's on Dylan...