vampires, dogs and sookie

It's taken until the season finale for me to talk about that which is True Blood. I haven't read the Southern Vampire Series, but people who have say it's quick, easy and you don't want to stop, although, they said the characters haven't been 100% true...again, with any adaptation - you've heard my spiel before.

I really dig this, it's Alan Ball, so it's hard NOT to like it. Let's face it, he has the absolute best title sequences. Six Feet Under was amazing and the branding outstanding. The images protrayed in True Blood and powerful and evocative...and the theme song. WHOA. It bobs and weaves through my gray matter too often it's soooo good. The writing isn't fabulous, the acting is okay, but the story is great. I love Bill as a complete and utter gentleman, considering that he is a vampire who kills - well, in his case, he's mainstreaming, which puts him on the bottle. Sam plays loyal, even if he's sniffing out someone in heat. Tara is a speeding train trying desperately to stay on the tracks despite the fact that sways side to side at a breakneck pace. Lafayette, well shit, he's just the best thing since sliced bread. I'll be sad to see it was his polished tootsies hanging out of Detective Bellefleur's back seat. Jason is a hot mess, too much energy and picks interesting women in which to channel it. Sookie, she's just Sookie. Cute, sweet, she doesn't swear; almost the picture of Southern Virginity if she didn't have that pesky ability.

Why are cable series so damn short? I know that so much goes into production of each episode, like a mini-movie. If Heroes can do it on a weekly basis with all the high end production, why can't HBO, Showtime, AMC, etc do it as well? I'm sick and tired of this 12 episode season, having to wait until next year to see those polished toes. At least I'll be satiated with some Big Love. Even Call Girl is coming back early. Can't they adopt the goofy "trimester" schedule that some colleges do? That would be much more exciting!