Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

True Blood's first season proved itself to be the most exciting, original and unapologetically adult television series to enliven our screens for a while. Deliciously dark humoured and liberally spiced with sexual tensions, its richly textured world, though peopled with fantasy characters, resonates with familiarities. Prejudice is rife, conservative values clash with liberal attitudes, and extremism is on the rise. Characters are scheming, full of secrets, or lost and longing, trying to find their place in an often hostile world, whilst at the end of the day everyone is looking for a little love and understanding, or at least a lusty leg over.

Gimme More

As someone who gorged on the episodes of the first series like a vamp in full frenzy of blood-lust, I awaited its second season with trepidation. Would it live up to the high standards of season one? Would the irritating Maryann storyline continue? And - a frequently asked question from men - would there still be the high levels of nudity and sex?

Bad Moon Rising

In season two Tara's involvement with the suspiciously saintly Maryann continues in its creepy fairy tale way with all her heart's desires met: overflowing feasts, a buff mate laid on and ever-nurturing support. However, the cracks are appearing in Maryann's fae and we get closer to her real identity and purpose. About time too!

This was the only disagreeable storyline in season one, it seemed out of sync with the rest of the show, and slow to get going. Maryann and her bright, dreamy show home seemed more Desperate Housewives than the dark swampiness of Bon Temps. I longed to be back in the low-rent cosiness of Merlotte's bar, the chilled, dilapidated elegance of Bill's house, or the homespun charm of Sookie's.

Back to Black

Fortunately this storyline doesn't detract from more of the same brilliance from the True Blood team: kicking off with a mysterious, gory and disturbing outcome for Lafayette, who had been pushing his luck with his dodgy schemes and involvements. Lafayette is surely one of the best contemporary television characters, his deep vein of self-interest and self-preservation are more than compensated by his sassy attitude, charm and warmth. More of the secondary characters from season one get their chance to shine, and boy, do they grab it! Bill's prot Jessica is blossoming in her role of the teenage vamp. She provides an intriguing and seductive mix of guile and innocence as her double dilemma of teen angst and learning the vampire ropes is brilliantly executed.

Back in the Saddle

The statuesque Eric, Bill's icy Nordic boss, is at his Machiavellian best as his storylines start to heat up. Eric: possibly the worst vampire name ever, but probably the only one who can carry off a tracksuit and highlight foils whilst simultaneously looking menacing and hot. Back with the main characters, Jason is trying to change his ways and falls in with a good crowd, who become more cultish and creepy with each scene.

Sookie and Bill are sent on a dangerous mission from God (well, from Eric actually), and are at it hammer and tongs in every sense as they break up and make up. Season 2 is full-on: the plot takes off at breakneck-speed; with plenty of action it's lewd, rude and sometimes gruesome, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Oh and guys, did I mention there's lots of flesh exposure...?

True Blood season two is showing on Fridays at 10pm on FX. True Blood season one is out on DVD.

Written by Christina Kamester