The series started 7th September 2008 and ended on 23rd November 2008. It was then released on DVD & Blue Ray on 19th May 2009. The series consists of 12 episodes and run for approx. 55 minutes. The first series can be bought for very cheap now as was released a few years ago or you can watch it online on various websites.

**********

The Plot

True Blood is a TV drama set in fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana and is based on the vampire mystery novels by Charlaine Harris. Vampires have "come out of the coffin" and are now living amoungst us like regular people. Instead of feasting on humans, they can now rely on a synthetic blood to survive - the name of this drink is True Blood.

**********

The Main Characters

Sookie Stackhouse: Sookie is played by Anna Paquin (also stars in X-Men). Sookie is a waitress at Merlotte's bar... she has spent most of her life feeling different to everyone else because of her unusual ability to read minds...

Bill Compton: Bill is played by Stephen Moyer... Bill is a 173 year old vampire who has just returned to his hometown of Bon Temps after spending centuries away... Sookie is attracted to Bill as unlike everyone else she cannot read his mind...

Sam Merlotte: Sam is played by Sam Trammell... Sam is the owner of Merlottes Bar - he is absolutly crazy about Sookie and he also has a secret of his own which makes him different...

Jason Stackhouse: Ryan Kwanten plays Jason Stackhouse. Jason is the only sibling of Sookie and is a well known ladys man around the town of Bon Temps. He and Sookie were orphaned as children and were raised by their grandmother.

Tara Thornton: Rutina Wesley plays Tara Thornton. Tara is the best friend of Sookie. Tara is a very angry and damaged individual after enduring years of neglect and physical and emotion abuse from her mother.

Andy Bellefleur: Chris Bauer plays Andy Bellefleur. Andy is a police detective in Bon Temps. He is incompetent at his jobs and is not respected by the towns citizens. He is also a recovering alcoholic.

Lafayette Reynolds: Nelsan Ellis plays Lafayette Reynolds. Lafayette is Tara's cousin. Lafayette is a very interesting character who is a very open gay prostitute and also works as a cook in Merlottes Bar. He is a drug dealer who sells Vampire blood otherwise known as "V".

Lettie Mae Thornton: Adina Porter plays Lettie Mae Thornton. Lettie is the abusive mother of Tara. She is a church going lady whos is convinced she has a devil living inside of her in season 1.

Arlene Fowler - Carrie Preston plays Arlene Fowler. Arlene works at Merlottes Bar as a waitress. She has been divorced 4 times and is the single mother of two young children. She becomes engaged to Rene in season 1.

Rene Lenier: Michael Raymond-James plays Rene Lenier. Rene is a co-worker and friend of Jasons. He is also engaged to Sookie's co-worker Arlene... He comes across that he is happy Sookie is dating vampire Bill but his intensions are very different.

Eric Northman: Alexander Skarsgård plays Eric Northman. Eric is another vampire who is over 1000 years old. Eric comes across as violent, arrogant, mischievous and consciously manipulative in this series.

Amy Burley: Lizzy Caplan plays Amy Burley. Amy is a serious love interest of Jasons during this season. She moves to Bon Temps and takes up a job as a waitress in Merlottes Bar. Amy & Jason meet at Vampire bar, Fangtasia and soon become addicted to taking "V" together. She is seen as someone who has experiance in draining vampires for their blood.

Adele Stackhouse: Lois Smith plays Adele Stackhouse. Adele is the elderley grandmother of Sookie & Jason. She is a widow - her husband has been missing presumed dead for many years. She lives alone with Sookie and welcomes her granddaughters relationship with Vampire Bill.

Eddie Gauthier: Stephen Root plays Eddie Gauthier. Eddie is a middle aged overweight gay vampire who trades his blood with Lafayette in exchange for sexual favours. Jason and his girlfriend Amy kidnap him during season 1 to drain his blood.

Hoyt Fortenberry: Jim Parrack plays Hoyt Fortenberry. Hoyt is the best friend and co-worker of Jasons. He is a sweet good natured boy who is always being bossed around by his mother.

Jessica Hamby: Deborah Ann Woll plays Jessica Hamby. Jessica is a young girl who was kidnapped and turned into a vampire by Bill (as a punnishment for him) at the end of season 1. She was raised in a very strict christian family and now that she is a vampire she loves the freedom that it brings her.

**********

List of episodes

I have only given a brief desription of each episode here as I dont want to spoil for anyone who hasnt watched this before :-)


1 "Strange Love" - aired September 7, 2008

Vampire Bill walks into Merlottes Bar for the first time and Sookie is immediatly drawn to him. Jason has a sexual encounter with a woman named Maudette.



2 "The First Taste" aired September 14, 2008

Jason has another sexual encounter with past flame, Dawn. Bill meets Sookie's grandmother, brother and best friend. Sookie and Bill share their first kiss.



3 "Mine" aired September 21, 2008

Bill claims Sookie as his and she starts to doubt their relationship. Sam & Tara become close and a dead body is found...



4 "Escape from Dragon House" aired September 28, 2008

Bill & Sookie take a trip to the vampire bar, Fangtasia.



5 "Sparks Fly Out" aired October 5, 2008

Bill does a speech at the Descendents of the Glorious Dead meeting at the church and tells how things were like back in the cival war.



6 "Cold Ground" aired October 12, 2008

Another funeral takes place. Tara's mother tells her she believes she has a demon trapped inside her body. Sookie & Bill sleep together for the first time.



7 "Burning House of Love" aired October 19, 2008

Sookie tells Bill a secret from her childhood which fills Bill with hate and he goes out seeking revenge. Jason meets Amy for the first time.



8 "The Fourth Man in the Fire" aired October 26, 2008

Amy gets a job in Merlottes and Rene & Arlene become engaged. Jason & Amy later kidnap a vampire.



9 "Plaisir d'Amour" aired November 2, 2008

Eric delivers a warning to the regulars in Merlotte's about the dangers of becoming too close to vampires. Jason shows some kindness to Eddie - the vampire he helped kidnap.



10 "I Don't Wanna Know" aired November 9, 2008

Sam tells Sookie his secret. Tara has an exorcism performed on herself to rid of her own demons. Tara is later arrested. As a punnishment Bill must turn a young girl into a vampire.



11 "To Love Is to Bury" aired November 16, 2008

Bill continues with the ritual to turn the young girl into a vampire. Another body turns up and the killer is revealed.



12 "You'll Be the Death of Me" aired November 23, 2008

Sookie is attacked by the killer.

**********

My Verdict

I started watching True Blood when it hit our TV screens back in 2008 - I have season 1 & 2 on DVD and have watched 3 & 4 and now eagerly awaiting the arrival of season 5 later in the year. As well as vampires there is other supernaturals which help make the show what it is. At times this can be gory but still watchable. There is plenty of scenes of graffic sex - so dont watch this with your young children! Each season so far has been left on a cliffhanger and you are absolutly dying to watch the next season which is usually a few months later! You have to watch this from season 1 onwards to understand what is going on. Recommend to everyone.