No. 17 - 4th September 2009.

Greetings FrightFesters! Just time for a quick round up of all that's been happening on the small screen before we descend on the Empire to celebrate the 10th year of FrightFest and all things horror!

Is it me or has genre telly taken a holiday this Summer? A few months ago there was a glut of new and returning programming, but currently there's a dearth of interesting material and so we wait and bide our time until the new batch arrives in the Autumn. Of course, if I'm wrong then let me know - have I been missing some gem hidden away on the graveyard slot of one of the more obscure satellite channels? As always, your recommendations are welcomed.

The one show that has dominated the Summer (and no, I'm not talking about Big Brother, Puppy!) is True Blood (FX), the new vampire series from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball. You may remember that I was somewhat underwhelmed by the pilot episode (see October 2008) which I caught while I was in Toronto last year, however as I said at the time, I figured I'd need to give it several episodes until deciding whether it warranted further attention or not. And so it turns out, as True Blood has now settled down to become essential viewing over recent weeks, a thought echoed by others on the forum, and by fans worldwide – which has ensured that the show was renewed for a second season giving broadcaster HBO its highest ratings since the demise of The Sopranos.

Set in the small town of Bon Temps in the Deep South, True Blood has a unique feel to it, a far cry from the hustle and bustle that graces most city-set drama. Here everything has that lazy, laidback feel to it, the focal point being Merlotte's Bar and Grill where lead character Sookie (Anna Paquin - Trick 'R Treat) works as a waitress. As established in the pilot, Sookie soon forges a close bond with resident vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer) having rescued him from an opportunist couple keen to avail him of his vampire blood - the drug of choice on the black market. Sookie, with her ability to hear the thoughts of those around her, is the audience's entry point here, a smart, sensible, virginal character who is easy to warm to.

One of the strong points of True Blood is its approach to vampires - here the sharp-toothed ones live amongst us, their bloodlust quenched by the availability of an artificial blood substitute. Yet it's an uneasy alliance between humans and vampires, with some factions of the community persecuting vampires like any other minority group you care to mention, and there are other darker elements in play - the aforementioned trading in ‘V’ blood, plus 'fang bangers', humans with a fetish for sex with vampires. This being an HBO production, there's no scrimping on the content either with explicit scenes throughout. Also key to its success is the ongoing story arc about involving a series of murders in Bon Temps, with Sookie's brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten) prime suspect. Add to this a supporting cast whose actions and motives constantly wrong foot the audience and you have an intriguing concept for a series which True Blood duly delivers. Roll on Season 2!

The only other constant on my SKY+ box at present is Chuck (Virgin), the continuing adventures of a reluctant spy who has an 'intersect' in his brain that contains every government secret! Season 2 begins with Chuck (Zachary Levi) looking forward to returning to a normal life at the Buy More superstore as the NSA have created Cypher, a new brain for their new intersect computer. However the Cypher is stolen and sabotaged by members of a shady organisation called FULCRUM and it's not long before Chuck is back at square one as an intelligent asset under the protection of NSA agent Casey (Adam Baldwin) and CIA agent Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski).

With its retail setting masking the main character's secret life, Chuck is on the surface very similar to Reaper, but it's the superior show because it balances all its different elements perfectly. The mission-of-the-week nature is a tried and tested formula, as is the ongoing story arc to expose and capture the members of FULCRUM. However Chuck's enduring nature is in no small part due to the strong supporting cast, including his sister and brother-in-law to be, and his incompetent colleagues at the Buy More whose antics bring the comedy factor to each episode.

It's these relationships that keep Chuck fresh, in particular the cover story romance between Chuck and Sarah which constantly calls both of them to question their real feelings for one another. This season things get even more complicated with the introduction of Jill (Jordana Brewster - The Fast & The Furious), Chuck's ex-girlfriend who has a secret of her own. And then there's this week's episode (as I write this) which comes in 3D - hopefully adding an extra dimension to the action rather than just being used as a gimmick. Whatever, Chuck works for me - it's exciting and fun and it features the best opening credits on TV right now to the tune of 'Short Skirt / Long Jacket' by Cake. Awesome!

So that's about all for this edition of TV Eye. Just time for a quick mention of Psychoville (BBC 2) which was as strange and as funny as I’d expected - and is now available on DVD for those who missed it. And also I'd recommend seeking out Taking The Flak (also BBC 2), a foreign correspondent satire set in the war-torn province of Karibu, a likeable comedy drama boasting a fantastic African setting which has also just completed its first run.

Until next time,

Keep watching.

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