126-396: True Blood is an American television drama series created and produced by Alan Ball , airing from 2008 to 2014. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris . This article includes main characters (i.e., characters played by the main cast members), as well as every recurring vampire and every other character to appear in at least four episodes. In Season 6, she
252-690: A Chicago church, and on a stage and in a bar in Seattle . The opening sequence of TRUE BLOOD contains shots that are composed of original documentaries, tabletop photography, studio and found footage which are completely handmade. Creative director Matt Mulder explains that they wanted the edit to “rumble through the swamps, wilderness and the cultures of the South to eventually reach into the hearts and minds of its inhabitants.” During editing, individual frames were splattered with drops of blood. The sequence's transitions were constructed differently; they were made with
378-422: A Golden Globe and an Emmy . The fictional universe depicted in the series is premised on the notion that vampires exist, unbeknownst to the majority of humans until two years before the series premiere, when the creation of synthetic blood ("Tru Blood") by Japanese scientists, which eliminated vampires' need for human blood to survive, allowed vampires to "come out of the coffin" and reveal their existence to
504-435: A Polaroid transfer technique. The last frame of one shot and the first frame of another were taken as a single Polaroid photo, which was divided between emulsion and backing. The emulsion was filmed being further separated by chemicals, and those shots of this separation were placed back into the final edit. Eight different typefaces, inspired by Southern road signs, were created manually for cast and crew credits, as well as
630-449: A True Blood jewelry line in collaboration with New York-based designer Udi Behr. Inspired by the series, the jewelry has a Gothic look and features sterling silver, polished steel, and rubies. In the same month, HBO.com began selling Tru:Blood, a beverage branded to resemble the fictional synthetic blood that appears in the show. The beverage is a carbonated blood orange-flavored drink, developed and manufactured by Omni Consumer Products ,
756-554: A maenad with the power to influence humans. She begins by manipulating Tara and Eggs to achieve her goal of summoning her god to earth, and eventually takes control of almost the entire population of Bon Temps. While Maryann begins establishing her hold on Bon Temps, Sookie is recruited by Eric to investigate the disappearance of his two-thousand-year-old maker and the Sheriff of Area 9 in Texas: Godric ( Allan Hyde ). While Sookie
882-410: A telepathic waitress living in the fictional rural town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. It is set two years after the invention of a synthetic blood product branded "Tru Blood" that has allowed vampires to "come out of the coffin" and let their presence be known to mankind. It chronicles the vampires' struggle for equal rights and assimilation while anti-vampire organizations begin to gain power. Sookie's world
1008-399: A 1,000-year-old vampire and Sheriff of Area 5; and Lafayette Reynolds ( Nelsan Ellis ), a short order cook , drug dealer, road crew member, and medium . The show explores several contemporary issues such as the struggle for equal rights, discrimination, and violence against minorities and homosexuals, the problems of drug addiction, the power of faith and religion, the control/influence of
1134-399: A big hole in him, with something just missing - and he's been trying to fill it with sex, which so far has worked - but now it is not. And he doesn't know how to be friends with a girl. Jessica, who is present for this speech - says that he is already friends with a girl and that she is there to talk and listen to him. Jason later goes to a secret club with Sheriff Andy and Judge Clements, which
1260-567: A body in Detective Andy Bellefleur's car in Merlotte's parking lot. The second season loosely follows the plot of the second novel of The Southern Vampire Mysteries , Living Dead in Dallas . In addition, the character of Sophie-Anne Leclerq , initially introduced in the sixth novel Definitely Dead , was introduced as a major supporting character. The main theme of the season involves
1386-471: A company that specializes in defictionalizing brands from television and movies, and FMCG Manufacturing Company, a specialist manufacturer of licensed entertainment products. In June 2010, HBO held a special event at a number of movie theaters around the U.S., complete with red carpet, searchlights, and swag bags. Contest winners were invited to watch a live special, the Season 2 finale, a preview of Season 3, and
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#17328588937961512-431: A frog, while the rotting of a fox's head is sped up to reveal maggots feeding off the corpse. Rebirth is represented by an image of a woman being "washed clean" from her sins in a lake, and a preacher blessing and possibly performing an exorcism on a member of his congregation. Some of the footage used in the sequence was filmed on location. Digital Kitchen took a four-day trip to Louisiana to film; it also shot scenes at
1638-532: A gift and stakes him instead. Five years later, Sookie is seen happy, pregnant, and in a relationship with an unknown man, hosting all of her human and non-human friends for a dinner party at her house. In early episodes, it is revealed that Bill had a human wife and two children (Tom and Sarah) before he became a vampire. A short time after being turned, Bill returns to his family in his desperation to see them one last time. He discovers that his son has recently died of an illness (pox). Upon seeing his tears of blood at
1764-401: A group of infected vampires heading toward the bar during a human/vampire outdoor night barbecue mixer. The final season premiered on June 22, 2014, with the last episode airing on August 24. In this season, Bon Temps is terrorized by a group of vampires infected with the virus created in the previous season. They kill Tara and kidnap Arlene, Holly, Jane Bodehouse, Kevin and Nicole. Pam travels
1890-515: A horrified Eric and Norah, rips Godric to shreds, thus ending his spirit visitations. Born in Gaul in the first century BC, Godric was captured during one of Julius Caesar's invasions and sent to Rome where he was sold as a slave. His Roman master turned out to be a vampire, and after years of using and abusing him (also giving Godric the brand on his shoulder), the vampire turned Godric at the age of 16. Godric stayed with his master/maker until he learned all
2016-475: A lamp at her, engulfing her in flames, but she survives. Russell leaves Bill to Lorena and though at first Bill resists her advances, the two end up having violent sex, and he twists her neck 180 degrees. After this he calls Sookie and ends their relationship though he does so only to protect Sookie and delude Lorena into believing he has returned to her. Eventually Bill's deception becomes apparent, and she resolves to kill him per instructions from Russell. She spends
2142-430: A lengthy and very emotional time torturing him in the servants' house on the mansion grounds before allowing werewolves to feed on his blood. When Sookie escapes from Russell and bursts into the room to save Bill, Lorena attacks her, but Sookie gets the upper hand and plunges a piece of wood into Lorena's chest, killing her. In order of first appearances When he goes missing, Eric sends Sookie Stackhouse and Hugo to
2268-420: A live interview on the set of True Blood with the cast and Alan Ball. HBO also began selling True Blood figural busts featuring Bill, Sookie, and Eric. Busts of other characters became available later. HBO and IDW Publishing announced at the 2010 WonderCon that they would be publishing a comic book based on the series. Alan Ball developed and wrote the comic. The first booklet, with a print run of 53,000,
2394-493: A medium, while Sam hires a new waitress at Merlotte's, Wiccan Holly Cleary ( Lauren Bowles ). In season 4, Jessica Tuck ( Nan Flanagan ) and Janina Gavankar (Luna) became season regulars. Alexandra Breckenridge (Kate) and Vedette Lim (Naomi) became recurring actresses. Joining the cast for season five was Christopher Meloni , who previously starred on another of HBO 's own original series Oz as well as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for 12 years. Also joining
2520-457: A more prominent contribution to the cast after a brief introduction in the first season. In the penultimate episode of the second season, once the conflict in Texas is concluded, the vampire queen of Louisiana Sophie-Anne Leclerq ( Evan Rachel Wood ) is introduced. Both Bill and Eric visit her in an attempt to find out how to defeat Maryann. Bill uses the information provided by Sophie-Anne to devise
2646-403: A plan involving Sam and Sookie, and the three manage to kill Maryann in the season two finale. Subsequently, Bill takes Sookie out to an exclusive French restaurant to propose to her. However, before she can give her answer, Bill is kidnapped. Season three picks up straight after the events of season two with Sookie on the hunt to track down Bill and his kidnappers. She turns to Eric for help, who
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#17328588937962772-553: A potential love interest for Sookie. He will also help Sookie and Jason discover the truth about their parents' murders. Robert Patrick , who guest starred in season five as Jackson Herveaux, was promoted to series regular for season six. Rutger Hauer , who starred in Blade Runner and Batman Begins , was announced as a series regular playing Macklyn, a character with "strong ties to Sookie and Jason." As reported by The Hollywood Reporter , Adina Porter would be returning for
2898-518: A realm inhabited by faeries and part-faeries, which Sookie escapes from, after learning the faeries' true intentions with her and other part-faeries. Claudine is drained and killed by the amnesiac Eric after she comes back to the human realm to get Sookie back to Faerie. In order of first appearances Antonia repeats this act in Bon Temps four centuries later, after inhabiting Marnie's body inside Bill's compound. She eventually becomes disheartened over
3024-404: A relationship, but only as friends with benefits. Jessica states that she just got out of her first and only serious relationship, and doesn't want to be tied down to anyone. With the season 5 premiere, Jason is greeted by Rev. Steve Newlin, who admits to Jason he's always had feelings for him. When Jason kindly rejects him, Newlin loses it and tries to bite Jason. Jessica rushes back and says "Jason
3150-401: A shotgun and attempts to shoot Sookie. She shoots Tara in the side of the head after Tara pushed Sookie out of the way, and in retaliation Sookie kills Debbie while Debbie begs for her life on the floor. Her first appearances were in a dream realm Sookie, while being comatose after getting drained, and Bill, after ingesting faerie blood, visit. She later appears when she gets Sookie to Faerie,
3276-534: A shotgun. In season 4 she has rekindled her relationship with Alcide and living with him, sober and reformed. However, their renewed relationship hits a few bumps as Debbie has different desires from Alcide and also suspects him of having feelings for Sookie. She almost leaves Alcide for her new pack master Marcus, but Alcide arrives and kills him before breaking up with Debbie. In the last episode of season 4 Debbie, having been abjured by Alcide, turns up in Sookie's house with
3402-399: A statement to the world, in which he announces his view that vampires and humans aren't equals and vampires will rule over them. This has widespread fallout as shown in season 4 with the vampires focusing hard on improving their image. Eric, Sookie and Bill manage to dispose of Russell at the end of the third season by tricking him and burying him underneath concrete. In the season 4 finale it
3528-411: A strange "accident". During the second season of True Blood , the influence of Maryann Forrester and the conflict between vampires and humans is expanded. Most of the cast from the first season returns and several new main characters are introduced. The same style of interconnected storytelling used in the first season is repeated, with the foremost plot focusing on Maryann Forrester being revealed as
3654-531: A summer premiere. True Blood' s Emmy-nominated title sequence is composed of portrayals of the show's Deep South setting, and runs to " Bad Things " by Jace Everett . The original featurette was created around the Jennifer Herrema ( Royal Trux ) song "RadTimesXpress". Conceptually, the sequence was constructed around the idea of "the whore in the house of prayer" by intermingling contradictory images of sex, violence, and religion and displaying them from
3780-430: A traveller passing through, makes a homophobic remark, he is quick to defend himself and is very capable of doing so, both verbally and physically, with many in the community backing him up. Lafayette is killed at the beginning of the second novel in the series. In True Blood , he is saved due to the popularity of his character and to help expand Tara Thornton's role in the series. In casting, Alan Ball had concerns that
3906-478: A two-year agreement with HBO to develop and produce original programming for the network. True Blood became the first project under the deal after Ball became acquainted with Charlaine Harris 's Southern Vampire Mystery books. One day, while early for a dental appointment, Ball was browsing through a Barnes & Noble bookshop and came across Dead Until Dark (2001), the first installment in Harris' series. He read
List of True Blood characters - Misplaced Pages Continue
4032-402: A vampire as punishment. The immature Jessica is left under Bill's care and starts to grow up both as a vampire and as a person. In the end, it is revealed that Arlene Fowler's fiancé, Rene Lenier, has been killing women who associate with vampires. Further, he is actually a man named Drew Marshall who created a false identity, complete with a fake Cajun accent. The season ends with the discovery of
4158-647: A vampire force led by Stan (one of Godric's lieutenants). Godric is able to defuse the incident without bloodshed. However, the Fellowship retaliates by sending a suicide bomber to his home, destroying three vampires and killing two human companions. When asked how a vampire as powerful as he is could have been captured by humans, Godric reveals that he was taken into their custody willingly, believing that allowing himself to be killed by anti-vampire fanatics will bring about some sort of reconciliation, and atonement for his many crimes against humans during his long life. He takes
4284-511: A vampire named Warlow. Hoyt gets involved with a hate group, then decides to leave for Alaska, just as Andy heads towards life as a family man, and Lafayette tries to deal with the powers given to him by Jesus. The season ends with the Authority leadership being wiped out during the True Blood crisis, and Bill drinking the entirety of the sacred vial of Lilith in front of Sookie and Eric. He soon meets
4410-409: A vampire to convince him to stop his campaign, but she is put into a vampire camp by her father along with Eric, Pam, Jessica, and Tara, where they are all supposed to meet the sun according to Bill’s prophecy. Bill asks Sookie for help, who is considering becoming Warlow's vampire-fairy bride after discovering her parents tried to kill her when she was young. Eric has discovered that Sarah Newlin created
4536-559: A vampire. Bill and Eric are captured by the Vampire Authority for killing Nan Flanagan. The two are almost sentenced to death by the Guardian, Roman, before revealing that Russell Edgington is alive and free after being released by a mysterious vampire. With the help of Sookie, the team discovers his hiding place and brings him in. Russell and his new vampire-companion, Steve Newlin, along with Salome, and Eric's vampire sister, Nora, redefine
4662-434: A virus that kills vampires, later witnessing Dr. Overlark and Governor Burrell infect Nora in front of him. When the vampires are about to meet the sun, Bill offers his blood to them, allowing them to walk in the daylight. The season finishes six months later where Sookie is dating Alcide, Bill has released a book about the effects of drinking Lilith's blood, and Sam being the mayor of Bon Temps and selling his bar to Arlene, and
4788-473: Is absent from Bon Temps, Sam hires Daphne Landry ( Ashley Jones ) to join Merlotte's staff. Daphne (who is revealed to also be a shapeshifter ) begins a romance with Sam, but is later exposed as working for Maryann. Jason also leaves Bon Temps for Dallas to join the Fellowship of the Sun, which Reverend Newlin has steered in a new militant direction despite the protestations of his wife Sarah ( Anna Camp ). Godric
4914-567: Is also revealed later in the season, a major plot element from the eighth and ninth novels From Dead to Worse and Dead and Gone . This season ends with Jason left to take care of the werepanthers of Hotshot, Tara leaving Bon Temps after a traumatic experience with a vampire, Sookie discovering that Bill was first sent to Bon Temps by the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sam shooting his brother, Tommy, and Hoyt and Jessica moving in together. The final cliffhanger involves Claudine taking Sookie away to
5040-480: Is based in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, a noticeable number of the actors are originally from outside the United States. In an interview, Ball explained that he didn't intentionally seek out "non-American" actors, but was willing to go anywhere he needed to in order "to find the actor who makes the character breathe". Ball went on to explain that, in casting, there was more of a focus on who would portray
5166-412: Is characterized by her relationship with her alcoholic and abusive mother Lettie Mae ( Adina Porter ) and her own inner "demons". During the season, Lettie Mae achieves sobriety but Tara's life begins to spin out of control. Kicked out of her home and totaling her car in a drunk driving crash, she's taken in by "social worker" Maryann Forrester ( Michelle Forbes ). While staying with Maryann, Tara
List of True Blood characters - Misplaced Pages Continue
5292-499: Is coerced into Eric's plan. Her love and longing for Bill has intensified over the years and as she holds him captive the two share memories of their twisted past together. Bill eventually escapes after hitting her over the head with a plasma television. Lorena makes an appearance at the party after Godric is freed from the Fellowship of the Sun and challenges Sookie who aggressively defends her relationship with Bill and warns Lorena to stay away from him. When she tries to attack Sookie, she
5418-515: Is courted by a faerie/vampire hybrid named Ben Flynn, later revealed to be Warlow. He attempts to turn her into his faerie/vampire bride, though she refuses and is saved by Bill. She ends the season in a relationship with Alcide. In Season 7, she slowly rekindles her relationship with Bill and goes back to him after Alcide is killed. When he is infected with Hep V and chooses to die, she is devastated. But when he asks her to end his life and give up her faerie powers, she finally accepts her faerie powers as
5544-441: Is discovered in the custody of the Fellowship, and one of Godric's lieutenants, Isabel Beaumont ( Valerie Cruz ), sends her human boyfriend Hugo ( Christopher Gartin ) to assist Sookie in infiltrating the church. Though Eric's primary interest in Dallas is finding Godric, he also attempts to place himself between Sookie and Bill. To accomplish this, he enlists the aid of Bill's maker Lorena ( Mariana Klaveno ); , who thus becomes
5670-407: Is giving the pack V; Alcide does everything in his power to stop it. Recently, Alcide accepted the role of packmaster, a position he never aspired to have. While being packmaster, Alcide was more aggressive and became more of a leader than a lone wolf. He did enjoy the benefits of packmaster, such as control over the pack and thavingany female pack member he wanted. However, even though Alcide inherited
5796-493: Is hired as a bartender at Merlotte's by bar owner, shapeshifter, and admirer of Sookie, Sam Merlotte ( Sam Trammell ), with whom Tara later has a brief relationship. Tara's cousin Lafayette Reynolds ( Nelsan Ellis ) already works as a cook at Merlotte's (in addition to several other jobs that include road crew, prostitute, and drug dealer) with Andy's cousin and Iraq War veteran , Terry ( Todd Lowe ). Tara's story
5922-469: Is implied that Russell has escaped the concrete, when Alcide finds a mysterious hole in a parking garage floor with silver chains discarded near it. In season 5 it is revealed that he was released from concrete by Salome, to serve her agenda. He managed to kill Roman, the Magister of the Authority and escape once more. He goes against the Authority again when his proposition to drain all faeries in order to gain
6048-403: Is introduced to "Eggs" Benedict Talley ( Mehcad Brooks ), to whom she becomes attracted. The final major plotline of the first season revolves around the elements of vampire society that Sookie and Bill's relationship introduce. While trying to prove her brother's innocence in relation to Maudette and Dawn's murders, Bill takes Sookie to the vampire bar "Fangtasia" to investigate. There, Sookie
6174-557: Is introduced to Fangtasia's owner and the vampire sheriff of "Area 5" in Louisiana: Eric Northman ( Alexander Skarsgård ). Eric is immediately interested in Sookie and her strange abilities, but his progeny and assistant Pam ( Kristin Bauer ) is less impressed. Eric employs Sookie to find a thief in his bar, but the perpetrator (a vampire named Longshadow) attempts to kill Sookie when she reveals his identity. Bill stakes and kills
6300-600: Is later abducted by a delusional vampire who believes she loves him. He holds her captive for many days, even taking her to the mansion of Russell Edgington, for whom he works, where he plans to turn her into a vampire. She eventually escapes the vampire by tricking him into letting her drink his blood so she would have the power to smash his skull with one of the weapons that adorned the wall of their room. However this does not kill him and he comes after her, eventually being killed by Jason at Merlotte's. Tara ends up traumatized by her experience and after discovering that Jason had been
6426-402: Is later released from Eric. Eric apologizes and tells her that he is proud to have her in the family. At the end of the series, Willa, now working for Arlene, is last seen with Sookie, Sam, Jason, Jessica, and Arlene at Sookie's house for a Thanksgiving celebration. In season 4, it is revealed that she is one of Marnie's students and a member of her coven. After the incident with Eric, she leaves
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#17328588937966552-445: Is mine", then threatens the Rev. with either leaving Jason alone - or the true death. Jason tries to cope with his feelings for Jessica in their casual relationship and turns down advances from other girls despite his open relationship status. After running into his high school teacher, who is revealed to have slept with an underage Jason, he struggles with his inner demons; saying that there is
6678-578: Is not interested (seeing this turn of events as a chance to get Sookie for himself), but he ends up sending werewolf Alcide Herveaux ( Joe Manganiello ) for assistance after it is revealed that Bill was taken by V-addicted werewolves in the employ of the 3000-year-old vampire king of Mississippi, Russell Edgington ( Denis O'Hare ). Meanwhile, back in Bon Temps, Lafayette embarks on a relationship with his mother's care nurse and brujo Jesús Velasquez ( Kevin Alejandro ) and learns about his own special powers as
6804-494: Is rescued by Sookie and Bill when the vamps take her on a "field trip" as a food source. Sookie then later uses her powers to jog Holly's memories in order to find out the other prisoners are being held in the abandoned Fangtasia. In episode 5, Andy proposed to Holly, and she accepted. Rene appears to Arlene in the season 4 finale and warns her about Terry. He tells her he's met the ghosts of Terry's past and she must run. He abducts Bill in season three in hopes of gathering intel on
6930-521: Is revealed to be a fairy safehouse. When the girl he is with reads his mind, he realizes the supernatural aura of the place and then sees his cousin Hadley. She explains that he and Sookie must join her and the other faeries or the vampires will kill them, as they did their parents. Jason, believing his parents died in a flood, tries to get more information from Hadley but gets kicked out of the club with Sheriff Andy and presumably attacked by 2 male faeries. Tara
7056-488: Is stopped by Godric who again comments on her old age and how she has not bettered herself over so much time. He then orders her to leave his domain, which she begrudgingly does, but not before an emotional departing with Bill outside. Lorena returns in season 3 when Bill is captured by Russell Edgington. At the time, she appears to have been living as a guest in Russell's mansion. Upon seeing Lorena, Bill becomes enraged and hurls
7182-630: Is turned upside down when she falls in love with 174-year-old vampire Bill Compton ( Stephen Moyer ), and for the first time, she must navigate the trials and terrors of intimacy and relationships. The show was broadcast on the premium cable network HBO , in the United States, and was produced by HBO in association with Ball's production company, Your Face Goes Here Entertainment. The series premiered on September 7, 2008, and concluded on August 24, 2014, comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes. The first five seasons received highly positive reviews, and both nominations and wins for several awards, including
7308-480: The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The first season of True Blood received positive reviews, despite initial impressions being mixed. Linda Stasi of the New York Post wrote of the opening episodes: If HBO's new vampire show is any indication, there would still be countless deaths – especially among vampire hunters and the viewers who love them – because everyone would be dying of boredom. And so it
7434-431: The "true death", but shortly after, he "rises from the blood", as an even more powerful vampire reincarnation of Lilith ("Billith"). The sixth season of True Blood premiered on June 16, 2013. After Alan Ball's departure from the series at the end of season 5, Brian Buckner replaced Ball as the show's showrunner. Season six focuses on Bill's abilities after he had drunk Lilith's blood. Sookie and Jason try to find Warlow,
7560-429: The 16th century, Antonia, possesses the body of Marnie in order to exact revenge on all vampires. Sookie starts a romance with Eric who has amnesia due to a spell cast by Antonia/Marnie. The witch Antonia eventually realizes the wrongdoing she's caused to innocent people and decides to stop. Yet Marnie, addicted to Antonia's power, binds her against her will to acquire her powers. Subplots include Lafayette's introduction to
7686-438: The Bon Temps bar "Merlotte's". The show's main protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse ( Anna Paquin ), is a telepath and waitress at Merlotte's. In the opening episode she saves Merlotte's first vampire customer, Bill Compton ( Stephen Moyer ), when a local couple attempts to drain him of his blood (vampire blood is known on the show as a human narcotic: "V" or "V Juice"). Through the relationship that develops between Sookie and Bill,
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#17328588937967812-419: The Dallas area to look for him. It is discovered that he is being held prisoner by the Fellowship of the Sun for a ritual execution. While infiltrating the Fellowship, Sookie is captured and attacked by one of their members, Gabe. As Gabe is attempting to rape Sookie, Godric appears and rescues her by breaking Gabe's neck. Conflict at the Fellowship comes to a head with a standoff between the Fellowship members and
7938-501: The UK "TV on Video" chart. However, it reached only number six in the combined DVD chart. In its first week of release in North America, it sold over 660,000 units, earning nearly $ 20 million. In its second week of release in North America, it sold a further 120,000 units (making a combined total of 784,000 units sold), earning another $ 4 million. The series has an approval rating of 70% on
8064-569: The US. By the end of 2009, the first season DVD had sold over 1.6 million units and taken in over $ 57 million. It was the only TV show in the 50 top-selling DVDs of 2009. The second season DVD sold a total of 1,159,509 units in 2010, earning over $ 41 million. The third season DVD was the 61st best-selling DVD of 2011, selling almost 1 million copies and earning over $ 30 million. It was the best selling TV box set of 2011. In its first week of release—the week ending June 2, 2012—season four debuted at number one on
8190-430: The Vampire Authority and the two shared a long, heartfelt kiss. Tara was killed at the beginning of season 7 by one of the wild Hep V vamps while fighting to save her mother. Many of the others in Bon Temps are quite accepting of Lafayette's sexuality, and while he is quite open about it, almost to the point of flaunting it, he doesn't do so to the point of making anyone uncomfortable. On the rare occasion someone, usually
8316-427: The ability to walk in sunlight is rejected. He was staked by Eric Northman in the finale of Season 5. In order of episode appearances The two do not meet again for more than 70 years when, in season 2, she is summoned to the vampire hotel in Texas by Eric who, in his desperation to find Godric, schemes with her to hold Bill captive while Sookie infiltrates the Fellowship of the Sun so that he cannot interfere. Lorena
8442-456: The assistance of two female werewolves but Alcide finishes them off, though he restrains from killing them. He then walks away and turns his back on werewolf society, befriending Sam Merlotte once again. Alcide turns up at Terry's funeral to support Sookie and the two start a relationship. In season 7 Alcide is killed by the town's hate group against supernaturals. In season 7, after the death of Tara, Willa becomes slightly depressed because, with
8568-458: The blame for what Nan Flanagan describes as a "PR disaster", as well as for the deaths from the bombing. He resigns as sheriff at her recommendation. After such a long life, Godric finds himself weary of his existence and saddened that humans and vampires refuse to work together and coexist, so decides he has been alive long enough. As his maker, Godric is greatly loved and revered by Eric, who begs him not to kill himself—to no avail. He "meets
8694-409: The cast is Scott Foley as Patrick, Terry's old war buddy, Louis Herthum as JD, Kelly Overton as Rikki, a new werewolf curious how Marcus died, Carolyn Hennesy is expected to be Rosalyn Harris, a Texas vampire with twang, and Jacob Hopkins will play child vampire Chancellor Alexander Drew. For season six, it was announced that Robert Kazinsky would join the principal cast as Ben, a faerie and
8820-409: The cast. Once they get me with the fake eyelashes and the eye makeup, I listen to some Rihanna and I'm there. Alcide informs the pack that it was he who killed their packmaster, Marcus, so they would release Sam whom they thought had killed Marcus, Alcide covers up the fact that Sookie had killed Debbie had they spend the night together. Alcide finds out their new packmaster is working for Edgingtion and
8946-621: The character in a compelling way rather than who would physically resemble the characters from the book. Noting that there's a definite difference between the characters and storylines portrayed in True Blood and the ones depicted in The Southern Vampire Mysteries , he described Harris as being very understanding in terms of how her work was being reinterpreted. The major characters of the first season of True Blood are introduced among various intertwining plot lines that surround
9072-408: The character's sexuality would be a dominating trait, "because you don't want to bring in someone who's going to play that in a phony way". Nelsan Ellis says that it took him a few episodes to find the character. Ellis says that he based many of Lafayette's mannerisms on his mother and his sister, and that the costuming also helps him get into character. I have more makeup on than any of the females in
9198-439: The collateral damage done in her war against the vampires, however, and leaves Marnie's body. But Marnie convinces Antonia to re-bond with her, for she wants to continue the war with Antonia as her source of power. After Marnie kills a member of their coven, Antonia sees that Marnie has become evil and leaves her body; but Marnie puts a binding spell on her and draws her back in. Antonia is finally freed from Marnie by Jesus, and all
9324-591: The completion of the development deal. It was written, directed, and produced by Ball. Cast members Paquin, Kwanten, and Trammell were announced in February 2007, and Moyer later in April. The pilot was shot in the early summer of 2007 and was officially ordered to series in August, at which point Ball had already written more episodes. Production on the series began later that fall, with Brook Kerr , who portrayed Tara Thornton in
9450-484: The confrontation between Stan's vampires and the Fellowship, it initially appears that Luke has left his position with the Soldiers of the Sun. Later, at Godric's gathering, he arrives with a silver bomb strapped to his chest. After detonating the bomb, he's killed in the explosion along with (according to Isabel) three vampires and two human companions. The character was part of various interactive internet campaigns related to
9576-445: The coven, while she still is a waitress at Merlotte's, Sookie reads her mind and finds out that she has abandoned Marnie's witch coven for her and her sons' safety. Tara asks her to rejoin the coven and take revenge on the vampires who attacked them, Marnie betrays the coven for her quest for power. She then begins to date Andy Bellefleur at the end of Season 4. In season 7, Holly is one of several characters captured by Hep-V vampires. She
9702-530: The culmination of season 4, when The Moon Goddess Emporium is being held captive by Marnie, Jason tries to save Sookie, Tara, and everyone else inside. When Pam angrily fires a bazooka at the place, and it blows up at the protective barrier Marnie has placed around the emporium, all vampires present (Eric, Bill, Pam, and Jessica) heal quickly, but Jason is left severely burned and blind. Jessica once again offers her blood and saves his life. He admits his feelings to Jessica, and she also admits her own. They agree to have
9828-405: The death of his son, his wife becomes hysterical, at which point Lorena, Bill's maker, steps in and glamors her before removing Bill from his family forever. The fates of Bill's wife and young daughter, who was not present during his return home, are unclear, although Adele Stackhouse refers to the recently deceased previous owner of Bill's family home as the last Compton in Bon Temps. In episode 4 of
9954-415: The disappearance of Godric , the 2,000-year-old vampire Sheriff of Area 9. Eric enlists Sookie and Bill's aid in finding the ancient vampire in Dallas. Their paths cross Jason's as he seeks to discover meaning in his life with the Fellowship of the Sun, a church dedicated to anti-vampire activities. A second theme concerns a maenad named Maryann who visits Bon Temps after Tara attracts her attention at
10080-466: The disappearance of Pam and Eric, she is all alone. Eric returns to Bon Temp and tells Pam that Willa is still part of their family and he must say goodbye to her in person before he dies. Eric summons Willa, and though Eric appears genuinely happy to see his young progeny, she angrily yells at him for abandoning her so soon after she was made. Along with the other healthy vampires, she fights the Hep V Vamps. Willa
10206-413: The earliest portrayals of vampires in legend, literature, and cinema. The second, A New Type , discusses vampire culture from Nosferatu to today's sensual, sexual creatures. To that end, the show also covered the modern vampire subculture and real-life vampire clubs. Actors and writers from True Blood appeared in the documentaries. The shows first aired on September 6, 2008, on HBO. Thousands of DVDs of
10332-408: The end of the first season. Maryann is a figure from Sam 's past and knows his true identity as a shapeshifter. Her influence on the town and its residents results in mayhem that grows more destructive as the season progresses. At the end of the season, Bill proposes to Sookie but is kidnapped by unknown assailants when Sookie retreats to the bathroom to consider his proposal. Season 3 loosely follows
10458-412: The entries that followed and became interested in "bringing [Harris'] vision to television". Having already had two other adaptation options for the books, Harris said she chose to work with him, though, because "[Ball] really 'got' me. That's how he convinced me to go with him. I just felt that he understood what I was doing with the books." The project's hour-long pilot was ordered concurrently with
10584-533: The episodes, usually heard during the closing credits. The title usually indicates something about the events that will unfold throughout the given episode. For example, episode ten of season four is titled " Burning Down the House ", and the end credits feature a cover version of the classic Talking Heads song performed by The Used . The premiere of True Blood was prefaced with a viral marketing / alternate reality game (ARG) campaign, based at BloodCopy.com, throughout
10710-482: The first episode were handed out to attendees of Midnight Madness, a special film festival. Blockbuster Video provided free rental of the first episode of True Blood several days before it was broadcast on HBO. On April 16, 2009, HBO released the first teaser poster for season 2. The image uses a perspective technique that shows observers one of two images. A minute-long promotional video advertising season two, which featured Bob Dylan 's " Beyond Here Lies Nothin' ",
10836-424: The flesh of JD, most of his pack, like Rikki, ignores his commands. Alcide's pack's aggressive behaviour, and murder of the students who tried to persuade them to reveal their existence, publicly frustrates him. He despises violence and unsuccessfully tries to cover up Nicole's escape. When Rikki confronts him with Nicole and Nicole's mom's capture, proving the packmaster lied to his own pack, Rikki charges Alcide with
10962-424: The floor. At Sookie and Lafayette's behest, Pam turns Tara into a vampire. Because half of her brain was previously missing before the healing process brought on by Pam's turning of her, not only is Tara now a vampire, but there is now a severe personality change. Tara and Pam become very close over the course of season 5 and Tara begins to deeply care for her new maker. At the end of the season, Tara rescued Pam from
11088-430: The fourth season, Bill becomes involved in a sexual relationship with Portia Bellefleur (sister of Sheriff Bellefleur) until, upon meeting her grandmother, he realizes she is a descendant of his daughter Sarah. In the second season, Jason briefly becomes an active member of the Fellowship, but later leaves it. In the third season, he develops a relationship with a supernatural creature, Crystal Norris, and thinks of joining
11214-484: The idea that vampires should be given rights equal to those afforded the mortals of the True Blood universe. During the first season, one of the ways in which anti-vampire sentiment is expressed is through regular televised appearances by the "Fellowship of the Sun", a Dallas-based church that in Season 2 becomes headed by the Reverend Steve Newlin ( Michael McMillian ) after his father and family are killed in
11340-462: The land of Faerie. A coven of witches, led by Marnie, poses a threat to vampires when they discover the witches are working on necromancy. Sookie returns to Bon Temps after a year (even though for her she was away for only a few minutes in Faerie) to find Bill as the new King of Louisiana and that her brother and friends had given up hope of finding her. As the series progresses, a powerful necromancer from
11466-428: The matter is resolved, and with the help of Jesus, she leaves in peace with the spirit of her baby. In order of first appearances True Blood True Blood is an American fantasy horror drama television series produced and created by Alan Ball . It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries , a series of novels by Charlaine Harris . The series revolves around Sookie Stackhouse ( Anna Paquin ),
11592-432: The media, the quest for identity, and the importance of family. The main mystery of the first season concerns the murders of women connected to Sookie's brother, Jason. Maudette Pickens and Dawn Green are both strangled shortly after having been alone with him. Though Detective Bellefleur has little doubt that Jason is the killer, the town sheriff does not suspect him. Sookie's grandmother is murdered shortly afterward. After
11718-413: The murders, Jason becomes addicted to vampire blood and has a short relationship with another addict, Amy Burley, which ends when she is murdered as well. The season also focuses on Sookie's relationship with Bill and Sam's relationship with Sookie's friend Tara. Bill explains the rules of being a vampire to Sookie and, after killing a vampire to defend her, is forced to "turn" a young girl named Jessica into
11844-399: The new Tru Blood with the antidote. The last scene of the series shows a pregnant Sookie sitting outside at a table full of people on Thanksgiving beside an unknown man. They kiss and drink, and everyone around them appears to be happy. True Blood employs a broad ensemble cast composed of regular, central characters and a rotating group of impermanent supporting characters. Though the series
11970-429: The one who killed Eggs, cuts off her hair and leaves Bon Temps. In season 4, Tara has moved to New Orleans and working as a cage fighter, and is in a relationship with another fighter, Naomi. In the season 4 finale, Tara is shot in the head by Debbie. Sookie picks her up from a pool of her own blood, cradling her and screaming for help. Pam enters Sookie's house looking for Eric and sees the dead bodies of Debbie and Tara on
12096-463: The original pilot, replaced by Rutina Wesley . Two more episodes of the series had been filmed before the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike shut down production of the 12-episode first season until February 2008. That September, after only the first two episodes of the series had aired, HBO placed an order for a second season of 12 episodes, with production scheduled to commence in January 2009 for
12222-599: The original score for the series, which features the cello, guitar, prepared piano , and glass harmonica among other instruments, all of which he performs himself. The main theme song is "Bad Things" by country music artist Jace Everett , from his 2005 self-titled debut. Both Nathan Barr and Jace Everett won 2009 awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated in the BMI Cable Awards category for, respectively, True Blood's original score and theme song. The show's individual episode titles are named after songs featured in
12348-580: The others, he is left on the side of the road badly wounded. He is found by Jessica, who tells him to "drink" and he is healed by her blood. When the witches cast a spell to bring the vampires out into the daylight, Jessica breaks free of her silver bonds and almost burns herself trying to walk out into the sunlight. Jason comes at the last second and takes her back into the house, closing the door and saving her life. Jason starts having intermittent sexual fantasies about Jessica—some involving Hoyt. Jessica and Jason finally do have sex after she breaks up with Hoyt. In
12474-518: The peace that true death would bring. In Season 5, Godric's spirit again appears to his progeny Eric Northman, as Eric is feeding on humans under the influence of Lilith's blood. His last appearance is to his two progeny, Eric Northman and Norah Gainsborough, as Norah attempts to convert Eric to the religion of Lilith by forcing him to drink her blood. Instead of the expected Lilith appearing, Godric's spirit appears and attempts to reconcile Norah to his peaceful ways. Lilith appears in this vision and before
12600-688: The plot of the third novel of The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Club Dead , and introduces werewolves to the show's mythology through Alcide, a werewolf hired by Eric to help Sookie find Bill. It also introduces the characters of Russell Edgington , the Vampire King of Mississippi, who wishes to overturn the Vampire Authority. In addition, some characters from the fourth novel Dead to the World are introduced: Crystal Norris as Jason's love interest, her family of werepanthers from Hotshot, and Sookie's "faerie godmother", Claudine. Sookie's heritage as part faerie
12726-456: The point of view of "a supernatural , predatory creature observing human beings from the shadows ..." Ideas of redemption and forgiveness are also explored, and thus the sequence progresses from morning to night and culminates in a baptism . The title sequence was created by the independent film company Digital Kitchen. The sequence also features images and themes of death and rebirth; the circle of life. A Venus fly-trap can be seen engulfing
12852-424: The police. Crystal is forced to leave town with her fiancé but Jason pledges to find her. Like his sister, Jason is also part faerie though he does not appear to have inherited any of the special abilities that Sookie possesses. However, some speculate that his potential faerie "ability" is the sexual magnetism that many faeries possess. In the fourth season, he is a deputy on the Bon Temps police force and caretaker of
12978-467: The queen of Louisiana, who he hopes to marry in order to merge their respective kingdoms. After discovering that Sookie has unusual abilities, Russell takes an interest in her. When Bill is no longer of use to him, he orders Bill's execution, but Sookie thwarts his plans. After Eric kills Russell's consort Talbot in retaliation for Russell murdering Eric's human family centuries ago, Russell becomes hysterical and kills an anchorman on live television to address
13104-400: The season, Lafayette entering a relationship with Jessica's ex-boyfriend James, and Sam leaving Bon Temps with Nicole. At the end of the series, Bill refuses to take the antidote to heal himself from the virus and asks Sookie to give him the "ultimate kindness". Sookie eventually agrees and strikes Bill's heart with a wooden stick in his grave at Bon Temps cemetery. Pam and Eric successfully sell
13230-450: The series, other supernatural creatures are introduced, among them shapeshifters , werewolves , faeries , witches , and a maenad . The series revolves around Sookie Stackhouse ( Anna Paquin ), a telepathic human-faerie hybrid known as a halfling (not to be confused with similarly named, but unrelated creatures found in other fantasy works). Sookie is a waitress at Merlotte's Bar and Grill, owned by Sam Merlotte ( Sam Trammell ) in
13356-485: The seventh season as a series regular after being credited as a Special Guest Star since season two. Also upgraded to regulars are season six guest stars Amelia Rose Blaire as Willa Burrell, Bailey Noble as Adilyn Bellefleur, Luke Grimes as James and Karolina Wydra as Violet Mazurski. Series creator Alan Ball had previously worked with the cable channel HBO on Six Feet Under , which ran for five seasons. In October 2005, after Six Feet Under wrapped, Ball signed
13482-466: The show's title card. In a 2010 issue of TV Guide , the show's opening title sequence ranked #5 on a list of TV's top 10 credits sequences, as selected by readers. Gary Calamar , who supervises the series' music, said his goal for the show's soundtrack is to create something "swampy, bluesy and spooky" and to feature local Louisiana musicians. True Blood soundtrack albums have twice earned Grammy Award nominations. Composer Nathan Barr writes
13608-451: The show; including a fictional blog and YouTube channel . In order of first appearances After burning down a hair salon operated by Alcide's sister, Debbie leads a werewolf attack on Sookie's house at Russell's orders. While Bill and Jessica fight off the werewolves, Debbie personally confronts Sookie and the two become entangled in a brutal fight. After Sookie scars Debbie with a pair of scissors, she forces Debbie out of her house with
13734-504: The small Louisiana town of Bon Temps. Sam is a shapeshifter, though this secret is kept hidden from most of the town. Other characters include Bill Compton ( Stephen Moyer ), a 173-year-old vampire who has returned to Bon Temps to take up residence in his former home following the death of his last remaining relative; Tara Thornton ( Rutina Wesley ), Sookie's tough-talking but insecure best friend; Jason ( Ryan Kwanten ), Sookie's womanizing brother; Eric Northman ( Alexander Skarsgård ),
13860-413: The spells she has performed have been broken. In the last episode of season 4, Antonia returns to Marnie to ease her passage to the afterlife and to comfort and forgive her. After Antonia reformed as main antagonist, Marnie took on the role. Bent on seeing her baby one last time, she doesn't find rest and wanders as a spirit, showing herself to Mikey Bellefleur and Lafayette. After possessing Lafayette,
13986-569: The summer. This included setting up multiple websites, encoding web address into unmarked envelopes mailed to high-profile blog writers and others, and even performances by a "vampire" who attempted to reach out to others of their kind, to discuss the recent creation of "TrueBlood", a fictional beverage featured in the show. A MySpace account with the username "Blood" had, as of June 19, uploaded two videos; one entitled "Vampire Taste Test – True Blood vs Human", and one called "BloodCopy Exclusive INTERVIEW WITH SAMSON THE VAMPIRE". A prequel comic
14112-492: The sun" at dawn on the roof of the Hotel Carmilla, surprised and inspired by the fact that a "human", Sookie Stackhouse , would accompany him and shed tears at his end. In the season three finale, Godric's spirit apparently appears to Eric and tries to get him to embrace peace and forgiveness during his battle with Russell. He expresses his sadness at Eric's actions when he and Bill bury Russell alive, rather than allow Russell
14238-522: The thief to save her, but has committed a serious crime in killing another vampire. When Bill is tried for his crime, his punishment is to transform seventeen-year-old Jessica Hamby ( Deborah Ann Woll ) into a vampire to replace the one he destroyed. A secondary plotline introduced in the first season (which later becomes a main plotline in Season 2) is that although many humans are attracted to vampires (referred to as "fang bangers") and flock to establishments like Fangtasia, not all people are accepting of
14364-559: The tricks of being a vampire, then killed him (how he did it isn't known). Killing his maker got him in trouble with the ancient vampire community so he fled, living alone and feral. His life in Rome had given Godric a fascination for war and death, and he'd often watch or join in battles and raids for fun. It was on the coast of Britain that Godric first saw Eric Northman in a raid, and being impressed by him, Godric turned him. In order of first appearances In order of first appearances After
14490-414: The turmoil he encounters. Rene, who becomes engaged to Merlotte's waitress Arlene Fowler ( Carrie Preston ), is eventually exposed as the Bon Temps murderer and is killed in a final confrontation with Sookie. A secondary plot in the first season (that later develops as the primary storyline in the second) revolves around Sookie's best friend Tara Thornton ( Rutina Wesley ). In the first episode, Tara
14616-501: The values of the Authority and view humans as nothing more than food: just as Lilith of the Vampire bible wanted. Meanwhile, Alcide deals with his troubled rise to pack-master, Terry learns he is death-cursed after committing a terrible crime during the war in Iraq , while Tara learns how to deal with her newly given life as Pam's progeny. Jason and Sookie discover that their parents were murdered by
14742-400: The vampire who killed their parents, with a fairy grandfather named Niall who arrives in Bon Temps while Louisiana governor Burrell leads a platform to eradicate the entire vampire race with Sarah Newlin. Sam and Alcide fight for Emma's safety; Terry struggles to live with himself after having killed Patrick; Andy raises his fairy daughters. Eric decides to turn the governor's daughter Willa into
14868-401: The viewer is always aware of Jason's innocence in their deaths, Detective Andy Bellefleur ( Chris Bauer ) targets him as the prime suspect in the investigation he conducts with Sheriff Bud Dearborne ( William Sanderson ) to identify their killer. Jason's best friends and co-workers, Hoyt Fortenberry ( Jim Parrack ) and Rene Lenier ( Michael Raymond-James ) provide him with support despite
14994-559: The viewer progressively learns more about vampire culture and the limitations of vampire physiology (e.g. susceptibility to silver and the sun). The major plot of the first season revolves around the murder of several women connected to Sookie's older brother, Jason ( Ryan Kwanten ). The women murdered include sexual partner Maudette Pickens (Danielle Sapia), on-and-off romantic interest and Merlotte's waitress Dawn Green ( Lynn Collins ), grandmother Adele ( Lois Smith ) or simply "Gran", and girlfriend Amy Burley ( Lizzy Caplan ). Though
15120-449: The were-panthers of Hotshot. He is kidnapped by Felton and Crystal who are now V-addicts and raped by all the women of the were-panther community after it is believed he is the "ghost daddy" meant to revive the dwindling numbers of the genetically weakened inbred pack. He manages to escape with Hot Shot and Crystal and kill Felton in the process, however, as a result of the excessive, untreated bites from attempting to be turned were-panther by
15246-665: The world in search of Eric, who is found in France infected by the virus. They return to Bon Temps and help Sookie, Bill, and Jessica rescue the people who were kidnapped, after Sookie and Bill’s first attempt results in Alcide's death and Sookie being infected by the virus which she later transmits to Bill. Eric and Pam search for Sarah Newlin, who supposedly has an antidote for the virus. Several characters encounter closure like Lettie Mae making peace with Tara through visions caused by vampire blood, Jessica and Hoyt getting married after reuniting during
15372-466: The world of magic and his abilities as a medium, Sam's family troubles, Alcide and Debbie's troubled relationship, and Jason, Hoyt and Jessica's love triangle. The finale is a series of cliffhangers, including a warning from the ghost of Rene that Terry will cause Arlene trouble, the escape of Russell Edgington, the reappearance of Steve Newlin as a vampire, and the shooting of Tara. The season starts with Sookie and Lafayette asking for Pam to turn Tara into
15498-531: The world. This so-called "Great Revelation" has split vampires into two camps: those who wish to integrate into human society (i.e., "mainstream") by campaigning for citizenship and equal rights, and those who think human-vampire co-existence is impossible, because it conflicts with the inherently predatory and violent nature of vampires. It has also caused similar divisions amongst non-vampires; some believe that vampires should be accepted and granted rights, while others view them as monsters to be destroyed. Throughout
15624-594: Was handed out to attendees of the 2008 Comic-Con . The comic centers around an old vampire named Lamar, who tells the reader about how TruBlood surfaced and was discussed between many vampires before going public. At one point, Lamar wonders if TruBlood is making the world safe for vampires or from them. Several commercials featured on HBO and Facebook aired prior to the series premiere, placing vampires in ads similar to those of beer and wine. HBO produced and broadcast two documentaries to promote True Blood , entitled "True Bloodlines". The first, Vampire Legends , explored
15750-603: Was released in July 2010 and soon sold out. The second issue went on sale August 18, 2010, with a second printing of the first issue going on sale August 25. Six comics were issued in the series, and they were compiled as the graphic novel All Together Now on February 15, 2011. This was the first in a series of four graphic novels released by HBO under the True Blood franchise and sold in major bookstores. Ensuing titles include Tainted Love , The French Quarter , and Ongoing . The True Blood DVDs have been consistent best-sellers in
15876-476: Was released via Entertainment Tonight in early May. There was also a website for The Fellowship of the Sun, antagonists from the book series, featuring videos about hot-button issues such as becoming a vampire. In September 2009, HBO filed a trademark registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a possible future electronic game based on True Blood . The network then launched
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