This dark, satirical, and highly stylised HBO television drama was based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries novel series by Charlaine Harris.
The series is set in the (fictional) rural town of Bon Temps, Louisiana and takes place in a world where vampires have “come out of the coffin” and revealed their existence to humanity following the invention of a synthetic blood product called “Tru Blood.”
This synthetic blood allows vampires to survive without feeding on humans, triggering a fierce societal and political struggle over vampire civil rights and integration.
The story follows Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic human waitress who falls in love with Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a 173-year-old vampire.
Their relationship forces Sookie to navigate a dangerous supernatural underworld populated by vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, witches, and fairies.
Ryan Kwanten played Sookie’s well-meaning but dim-witted brother, Jason, while Rutina Wesley was Sookie’s fiercely loyal, headstrong best friend, Tara Thornton.
Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) was a powerful, ancient Viking vampire sheriff (pictured above) and Bill’s fierce rival for Sookie’s affections.
Nelsan Ellis co-starred as Lafayette Reynolds (pictured below), a charismatic cook and medium (and fan-favourite). Being a gay black man in a super racist Southern state meant he didn’t take shit from anyone.
The series lost its way when the werewolves showed up, but HBO’s vampire saga was addictive in the early days.
With as much sex as you’d expect from HBO, plus lashings of gore, it was certainly full-blooded. But True Blood‘s secret weapon was a thick vein of underlying satire that kicked against right-wing America’s outdated attitudes towards homosexuality.
After seven seasons and 80 episodes, Bill Compton contracted a fast-moving, fatal case of Hep-V, and refused the cure, believing that as long as he was alive, Sookie would never be able to live a “normal” human life, have children, or be safe.
In a highly controversial scene, Sookie assisted Bill in committing “true death” by helping him drive a wooden stake into his chest while he lay in an open coffin. Right before his death, her telepathic powers briefly allowed her to hear his thoughts for the very first time.
The final scene jumps three years into the future, showing Sookie heavily pregnant and hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at her home. She is happily married to a regular human man, though his face is intentionally kept off-camera, serving as a symbol of her achieving the normal life she always desired.
Anna Paquin (Sookie) and Stephen Moyer (Bill) began dating while they were making the show. They married in 2010.
Nelsan Ellis died of heart failure in New York on 8 July 2017. He was just 39.
Sookie Stackhouse
Anna Paquin Bill Compton
Stephen Moyer Sam Merlotte
Sam Trammell Jason Stackhouse
Ryan Kwanten Andy Bellefleur
Chris Bauer Lafayette Reynolds
Nelsan Ellis Arlene Fowler
Carrie Preston Tara Thornton
Rutina Wesley Eric Northman
Alexander Skarsgård Jessica Hamby
Deborah Ann Woll Pam De Beaufort
Kristin Bauer Hoyt Fortenberry
Jim Parrack Terry Bellefleur
Todd Lowe Holly Cleary
Lauren Bowles Alcide Herveaux
Joe Manganiello Sheriff Bud Dearborne
William Sanderson Steve Newlin
Michael McMillian Lettie Mae Thornton
Adina Porter Jesus Velasquez
Kevin Alejandro Luna Garza
Janina Gavankar Maxine Fortenberry
Dale Raoul Sarah Newlin
Anna Camp Ginger
Tara Buck Nan Flanagan
Jessica Tuck Tommy Mickens
Marshall Allman Nora Gainesborough
Lucy Griffiths Russell Edgington
Denis O’Hare Deputy Kevin Ellis
John Rezig
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This synthetic blood allows vampires to survive without feeding on humans, triggering a fierce societal and political struggle over vampire civil rights and integration.
With as much sex as you’d expect from HBO, plus lashings of gore, it was certainly full-blooded. But True Blood‘s secret weapon was a thick vein of underlying satire that kicked against right-wing America’s outdated attitudes towards homosexuality.
