…True Blood’s not so bad. I mean, I guess I can’t get mad at someone for not liking it, but it’s still not as hate-worthy as Twilight.

Also, if this is a bad portrayal to you guys, what is it that you prefer?

@Ryan: they are really not the same for the above reasons i mention before and to say they are is a massive disservice to true blood. i have been into werewolves for as long as i can remember and have seen some horrible renditions of werewolves on television and honestly i found the true blood werewolves to be refreshing and while yes the biker/ brawny werewolf has been done, but i think the storyline and mythology are unique, i mean how many times have you seen in television a reference to evil Nazi werewolves?

Budget and age demographic.

But they both suck equally.

“No, it’s quite likely the image decided upon by the show’s costume designer and okayed by the show’s producer, who happens to be gay.”

And the producer and the costume designer want to appease the advertisers and the network people, who want a character who will appeal to the show’s primary target demographic: women (and gay men who are into burliness).

“And quite a few women and gay men happen to like the rugged werewolf hunk stereotype.”

That’s nice, and that’s fine. I’m not a woman or a gay man and the rugged werewolf hunk stereotype does not appeal to me. If it appeals to you (and I say this without sarcasm), great, they made a show for you. Enjoy!

“I’m sure heterosexual men would not be complaining as much if the werewolf stereotype happened to be that of the sexy woman.”

I’m a heterosexual man and I resent the implication that I would be fine with a dull, consumer-friendly stereotype as long as it had breasts instead of gleaming pecs. The corresponding female werewolf stereotype could be called “Hyper-sexualized Psycho Vixen” (see “The Howling 2″ for the prototype) and it sells just as many Pepsis and Mazdas. That doesn’t make it good.

“And yeah, he’s wearing a plaid shirt, which can either be hipster-influenced fashion or a nod to werewolf tradition.”

Or it could be lazy short-hand for ‘THIS GUY IS A WEREWOLF’. It’s about as subtle and as clever as taped glasses to show that a character is a nerd or a facial piercing to show that a character is “edgy”.

“On the other hand, he’s not the burly, beer-gutted, big-bearded lumberjack in the stuffed toy picture. Nor is he the hairless teenybopper Twilight type either.”

Actually, that lumberjack’s torso has got the V-shape of someone who works hard for a living. I don’t see a gut there. He is burly, though. And wearing plaid. And sporting a beard. In fact, he kind of looks like a picture I recently saw of Alcide Herveaux.

What’s your point? You seem like you’re mad because I dissed something you like, whether it’s True Blood or werewolves who look like the Brawny guy while in human form. I actually have no opinion of the former, and I’m saying I don’t care for the latter (or the way that particular image of werewolves is being used to sell commercial airtime). I’m not telling people what they can / should like, I’m saying I saw something that pissed me off and explaining why it made me feel that way.

Mike W:

“I actually really like True Blood, both the books and the show… Don’t hate me just because I like pulp. “

I wouldn’t hate someone because they like a thing I don’t like / understand / care about / etc. I liked The Wolfman, which is just about as pulpy as they come.

“I bought that ‘Sharp Teeth’ book you recommended and it’s pretty damn awesome.”

NICE! I’ve never looked at stray dogs the same way. :D

No, it’s quite likely the image decided upon by the show’s costume designer and okayed by the show’s producer, who happens to be gay. And quite a few women and gay men happen to like the rugged werewolf hunk stereotype. I’m sure heterosexual men would not be complaining as much if the werewolf stereotype happened to be that of the sexy woman. And yeah, he’s wearing a plaid shirt, which can either be hipster-influenced fashion or a nod to werewolf tradition. On the other hand, he’s not the burly, beer-gutted, big-bearded lumberjack in the stuffed toy picture. Nor is he the hairless teenybopper Twilight type either.

Don’t hate me just because I like pulp. If it helps any (by way of compensation), I bought that ‘Sharp Teeth’ book you recommended and it’s pretty damn awesome.