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True Blood: The Complete Second Season (HBO Series) |  | Directors: Adam Davidson, Daniel Minahan, John Dahl, Michael Cuesta, Michael Lehmann
Actors: Anna Paquin, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Chris Bauer
Studio: HBO Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $21.00
as of 9/4/2010 16:10 EDT details
You Save: $38.99 (65%)
In Stock
New (71) Used (32) Collectible (1) from $20.99
Seller: ShopUSA Inc
Rating:  272 reviews
Sales Rank: 30
Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Region: 1
Discs: 5
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 720 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 6.1 x 1.9
MPN: 883929089888
UPC: 883929089888
EAN: 0883929089888
ASIN: B00280LZAE
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 05/25/2010 Run time: 720 minutes
Amazon.com
True Blood's second season, with episodes involving a new cast of monsters invading Louisiana swamp town Bon Temps, is notably gorier and more camp than the first season. While thematically the central focus in these 12 exciting episodes still revolves around faith and loyalty, these questions are complicated by displays of pagan ritual and obsession. Though the vampire/human relationship dilemma continues, spearheaded by lovers Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), there is less emphasis on addiction to V, or vampire blood, and more time dedicated to outsiders whose supernatural talents make some episodes feel like superhero battles. Episode 1, "Nothing but the Blood," sets the gory example with a brutal opening scene in which the local shaman has been eviscerated. While gruesome murders continue throughout the season, we become familiar with a new femme fatale, Maryann Forrester (Michelle Forbes), who hosts bacchanalia, such as the one in episode 4 ("Shake and Fingerpop") that gives Bon Temps a collective hangover. Also developing in this season are relationships between Sookie and Bill's vampire colleagues Eric (Alexander Skarsgård), Eric's master Godric, and a vampire queen who plays Yahtzee throughout episode 11 ("Frenzy"). The ever-increasing vampire interest in Sookie leads to her questioning her own supernatural psychic identity, especially in the final episode ("Beyond Here Lies Nothin'"), a semi-ridiculous, over-the-top segment that is more humorous than scary. Also corny but funny are the episodes featuring Fellowship of the Sun zealots Steve and Sarah Newlin (Michael McMillian and Anna Camp), and Jason Stackhouse's evangelical dedication to them (with Ryan Kwanten as Stackhouse). Perhaps the best episodes are those dedicated to the endangered plights of Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell), Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), and Tara (Rutina Wesley). New characters, like Tara's lover, Eggs (Mehcad Brooks), and the young, tempestuous vampire Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Woll), also add greatly to an already fabulous cast. Though the extras in this DVD set, "The Vampire Report (Special Edition)" and "Fellowship of the Sun: Reflections of Light," offer lighthearted, pseudo-documentary fun, they feel quaint next to the many wonderful episodes of this horror serial. --Trinie Dalton Stills from True Blood: The Complete Second Season (click for larger image)
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 272
 A series you just have to bite into... August 18, 2009
CoffeeGurl (MA)
233 out of 252 found this review helpful
I have been a major Sookie Stackhouse fan for years. I began reading Charlaine Harris's series, then called the Southern Vampire Mysteries, since before book four came out, and have read them all in order. I was puzzled when I found out that HBO was going to make a TV adaptation of it. Why this particular series? Why not Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series? (It would have been suitable, what with all of the sex and all.) There were others as well, like Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld and MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy series -- all of which have the erotic tones that HBO would have loved. So why this book series? Now I know why, but more on that later.
I very much enjoyed season one. It was very faithful to Dead Until Dark, except that small characters like Tara and Lafayette were expanded, and you get everyone's point of view, not just Sookie's. Also, Bill has more depth here, and you see things from his point of view, and you understand him better. Other storylines were added, like the emphasis on "V" addiction, which makes sense. Season two has taken things to a whole other level and I love it so far. I can't wait for the blu-ray release! From the very beginning, the show has very sexually explicit scenes, most of which centered on Jason's exploits, and some violence as well, with a great deal of emphasis to vampire hatred as the new form of southern racism/segregation. Season two takes things further, with gore and horror replacing the sex (there's still plenty of it though), and the fledging out of characters like Eric, Tara and Lafayette (whose death does not happen in the TV series). MaryAnn is the mysterious creature that makes a brief appearance in Living Dead in Dallas, but is expanded on the TV version to the point that she almost takes over the entire show. Jessica, Bill's "daughter," puzzled me at first. What's the purpose to this character? But I like her now, especially after Hoyt becomes her love interest. And I love the emphasis on vampire makers, like Lorena and Godric, the latter of whom moved me almost to tears in the last episode that he's in (plus, the actor who plays him is totally hot). I don't want to ruin it for people who don't have HBO and have to wait for the DVD or blu-ray release, but, in spite of the departures from the books, it's better than season one.
The actors are great. Ann Paquin has grown on me as Sookie, British hottie Stephen Moyer is wonderful as Bill, and I finally like Alexander Skarsgard as everyone's favorite vampire bad boy Eric. I am also enjoying Sam Trammel (Sam Merlotte), Rutina Wesley (Tara), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette), Michelle Forbes (MaryAnn Forester) and Ryan Kwatten (Jason Stackhouse). I am also enjoying the actors who play Andy Belleflour and Hoyt for the comic relief they supply. (Andy is hilarious as the drunken out-of-work cop who witnesses the orgies and general odd behavior and no one believes him.) All in all, if you're a big fan of the books, then you won't want to miss this show. No boring moments throughout the hour-long series. I cannot wait for season three and season two is not even over yet! And I see why HBO decided to adapt this particular book series. They must've seen the potential for character development and the southern setting on the small screen. Great job!
 'Saint Bill' vs 'Book Bill' September 27, 2009
Kristin D.
94 out of 119 found this review helpful
I started reading this series when book 1 just came out. What can I say, I like vampire books. I really liked Season 1 on HBO. The deviation the show took that bothers me is that Bill killed Longshadow, not Eric, because that could really become problematic later on.
Bill seems to be becoming one dimensional on HBO, he is nearing sainthood. Why would Sookie ever dump him, or date any of the many people she later dates in the books if he is a saint???
In the books, you eventually see that Bill really has less human feelings/emotions than Eric and other love interests of Sookie. 'Book Bill' is too self-absorbed to even notice Sookie's problems a total change from HBO's 'Saint Bill'.
When Eric got to save Sookie in Book 1 she warmed up to him, which gives an opening for a romantic change for Sookie----makes sense, especially when your "love (Bill)" just stands there and is ready to let you die. Also, when someone you love just keeps lying and keeping secrets, like 'Book Bill' you eventually say (even if you love them) enough is enough time to move on--and GEE maybe he is not 'the one'.
The way the HBO series is unfolding if Sookie leaves Bill and goes to Eric or anyone else she might just seem like a [...]_itch. If she just stays w/ Bill the whole series, then it will probably get boring---or completely deviate from the books storylines, as most of the story lines have a connection to Sookie's love interests at the time. Either way making Bill a saint, in the long run, will not help the series.
The subplots are fine---but it would be nice for them to stay SUBPLOTS and not overpower the show like this season.
Long and Short---- Yes, I have preordered season 2--would have preferred less subplots and less of 'Saint Bill'. One of the best books in the series (and one that has an impact on the rest of the book series) is coming up. It involves Eric losing his memory. I just hope that HBO can get over the total 'Saint Bill' thing before that books plot line is covered, and follow a great story from a great writer, so that the rest of the main plot lines from the books can be used.
 Not as good as Season One September 9, 2009
Grymdycche (New Jersey, USA)
75 out of 95 found this review helpful
While this is still a very good show, it's already come dangerously close to jumping the shark (jumping the Sook?), in just it's second season. I wanted to give it 3 1/2 stars but that's not possible here. I just couldn't bring myself to give it four, so I went with three.
For starters, the show has veered much too far off on a tangent concerning the Maenad Maryann, and many, many viewers have been frustrated by it. Too little time was spent on the vampires of Dallas, which I found to be far more interesting. Too much attention was also spent on the Jason/Fellowship of the Sun arc, which was a deviation from the book series. All in all, there was too much "filler" to get to the good stuff.
The penultimate episode (#11, "Frenzy") was a disconcerted illogical mess with few highlights, and the portrayal of the vampire Queen of Louisiana, despite Evan Rachel Ward's beauty, left much to be desired, for whatever reasons. I think Holly Valance, who played "Lola" in the (now regrettably defunct) Moonlight episode "B.C" would've worked out better. "Frenzy" is widely regarded as by far the worst episode of the series so far, for various reasons.
Still, inevitably, many characters have been been interestingly further fleshed out from the first season, adding depth to the series; notably, Eric, Pam, Sam, Jason, Tara and her mother, but mostly the effervescent Lafayette, played by the very talented Nelsan Ellis. While many deviations from the books have been made, some good, some bad, the decision to keep the character of Lafayette alive was definitely a good move. We also get to see, briefly, the darker, more powerful side of Eric. Anna Paquin is playing the role she was born to play, she just shines in her role as Sookie, and all in all, the cast is amazing, despite some lapses in judgement this year from the writing staff.
HBO's True Blood breaks free and stands on its own September 14, 2009
Naomi (Storm) (Texas)
26 out of 32 found this review helpful
If you're a fan of Charlene Harris' Southern Vampire series, you were probably a little disappointed by the first season's adaptation. The problem with season 1 was that it tried to follow too closely to the actual written word, but the translation from page to screen is always hard to do successfully. With Season Two, the True Blood cast took a well needed step apart from the written cannon and struck out on its own, while still remaining faithful to the spirit of the novel series.
Season Two takes its time to step away from the main characters of Sookie and Bill and really starts to focus on the other cast members. Deciding whether to bill Jason or Tara or Sookie as the lead would be a hard choice in this season if you were to judge on screen time alone.
There are three main plots in Season Two: Sam's past and the true nature of Maryann Forrester; Jason and the Fellowship of the Sun Church; Eric and the disappearance of Godric (Sookie's trip to Dallas). Minor subplots include Hoyt and his vampire girlfriend (the newly-turned-by-Bill, Jessica Hamby), Sam and Daphne's "similarities", Andy Bellefleur's fall from grace, Lafayette's "business" catching up with him, and Tara/"Eggs"/Lettie Mae (Mom) relationship issues.
Where Season One had a bad habit of lagging along in the storyline, leaving quite a few "ho-hum" moments, Season Two maintains a fleet-footed pace and maintains it through the entire season. You'll love having this season on DVD since you won't have to wait week-by-week for new episodes. Needless to say, the cliffhanger at the end of the final episode will probably elicit a few choice words directed at HBO for taking a year in order to air new episodes.
Having watched True Blood in it's native HD resolution as well as in non-HD, the Blu-Ray investment is worth every penny. The HD quality truly allows the dank, bog-ridden feel of the swamp really shine through, and the music from the series adds a lot to the overall atmosphere.
If you weren't able to watch True Blood live on HBO and were on the fence about buying this set, go for it! You won't be disappointed.
A Giant Leap... backward October 1, 2009
Mark J. Fowler (Okinawa, Japan)
25 out of 31 found this review helpful
The first season of True Blood was about as much fun as a TV show could be and as a fan I was eager to jump into season two, especially after the cliff-hanging ending to season one.
The first few episodes weren't too bad - they fit in well with what came previously. We see that a few humans have been kidnapped for various reasons and are being kept in a basement that was decorated right out of the darkest moments of "Saw" or "Hostel".
But then the show pursued two equally inane storylines: the first involves the "Fellowship of the Sun", a fundamentalist bible-thumpin' Christian Church led by a group of big-haired, frozen-faced... I was going to say "zombies", but they're humans - just the worst kind of stereotypes - the husband/wife team heading the church is like a younger version of Jim and Tammy Faye. Anyway, the Fellowship recruits Jason to become a warrior for Jesus while they have secretly kidnapped Godric, one of the more ancient and powerful vampires. The second storyline revolves around Tara and her evolving relationship with Maryanne, a woman with mysterious supernatural powers. (I'm stifling the urge to add spoilers, even though I think the spoilers wouldn't dampen your enjoyment more than the already tepid script.)
Season one was fun and sassy and sexy, with great characters: Bill the Southern Gentleman vampire, Sookie the telepathic waitress, Jason - Sookie's dim-witted brother, Tara the sassy on the outside - tender on the inside girl and Lafayette, Tara's exotically flamboyant gay short-order-cook cousin. Season two is dull and disjointed and often just plain stupid. The series, initially designed around the characters of Sookie the Waitress and Bill the Vampire, demotes both of them to supporting characters in this disjointed mess of a season. I'll stick around for a few moments of season three to see if the show improves, but life is short, know what I mean?
Showing reviews 1-5 of 272
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