At this point, it's safe to say your response to a True Blood trailer will be diametrically opposed to your response to the show itself. HBO are masters at making their vampire drama look like enormous fun (which I guess it still is on some levels), but we've now had at least two seasons where the show became a mess of random ideas, unruly plotting, and a clutter of characters. I know some people felt season 4 was a return to form, but it was really just an improvement on the abysmal third year. I don't see why season 5 should be any better, given the fact there's no need for the writers to change their approach. The show has remained a huge hit for HBO since it began, no matter how many times critics point out its failings, so why fix what fans clearly enjoy?
There's no straight "vampires vs werewolves" or "vampires vs witches" hook this season, although the trailer suggests the onset of a "vampire vs humans" war. That's been brewing forever, it feels like. There's also a far darker tone to this trailer than I recall seeing previously, which I hope is an indication they're getting back to season 1's grittier vibe. It all started to resemble fan-fiction since then. Other than that, there are the usual tricks to build excitement: lots of fangs and hissing, Deborah Ann Woll in her lingerie, a glimpse of the awesome Russell Edgington (the sole highlight of season 3), the appearance of the oft-mentioned Vampire Authority, more of Sookie's fairy magic blasts, lots of biting, blah-blah-blah...
True Blood season 5 returns to HBO on 10 June. Will you be watching it this year?
