Home > True Blood > Season 1 « TV Series Page True Blood: Season 1 (2008) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Episode List All Critics | Top Critics TOMATOMETER 61% Average Rating: 6.47/10 Season Reviews: 31 Fresh: 19 Rotten: 12 Critics Consensus: It's unabashedly soapy and it occasionally wavers in its social commentary, but True Blood is a gory, sexy genre romp with a strong supporting cast. 55% Average Rating: 6.06/10 Season Reviews: 20 Fresh: 11 Rotten: 9 Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Critic Consensus: It's unabashedly soapy and it occasionally wavers in its social commentary, but True Blood is a gory, sexy genre romp with a strong supporting cast. AUDIENCE SCORE 87% liked it Average Rating: 4.1/5 User Ratings: 339 ADD YOUR RATING - NOT INTERESTED + WANT TO SEE Share on Facebook Post Want to See Not Interested Add Rating My Rating Ă Want to See Not Interested Post Share on Facebook Episodes 1 Strange Love Air date: Sep 7, 2008 Based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire books, the series opens with Bon Temps, La., waitress Sookie Stackhouse welcoming the first vampire, Bill, to Merlotte's bar, while her brother, Jason, deals with the unfortunate fallout of a one-night stand. More 2 The First Taste Air date: Sep 14, 2008 After Bill helps Sookie out of her dangerous run-in with the Rattrays, she invites him to her grandmother's house to meet the family, but Jason is unnerved when they leave together or a nighttime stroll, which ends at the Compton's antebellum mansion. More 3 Mine Air date: Sep 21, 2008 Sookie becomes the focal point of a heated dispute between Bill and his more bloodthirsty vampire associates; Sam and Tara find common ground in their current states of romantic affairs; Jason begs Lafayette for help with a personal problem after Dawn kicks him out. More 4 Escape From Dragon House Air date: Sep 28, 2008 Another murder throws the citizens of Bon Temps for a loop, and once again the prime suspect is Jason, who's also coping with the extremely uncomfortable consequences of Lafayette's assistance; Sookie convinces Bill to take her to a vampire bar in Shreveport, where she hopes to learn more about her hometown's killings and get her brother off the hook. More 5 Sparks Fly Out Air date: Oct 5, 2008 Bill proves to be a popular attraction for Adele's historical society, but his stories of the Civil War dredge up painful memories of the wartime experiences that changed his life forever. Meanwhile, Jason decides to give "V" another try; Sam finally asks Sookie for a date; and Andy and Bud keep the murder investigations open. More 6 Cold Ground Air date: Oct 12, 2008 A tragedy sends Sookie in search of a place far from others' inner voices; Jason suffers withdrawal symptoms from a recent habit; and Tara's mother reaches out to her in a time of need. More 7 Burning House of Love Air date: Oct 19, 2008 Bill takes action after hearing Sookie's distressing recollection about her uncle; Tara resorts to desperate measures to help her mother; Jason takes a road trip to Fangtasia to satisfy his latest craving; and a group of vigilantes hunts for vampires who made a scene at Merlotte's. More 8 The Fourth Man in the Fire Air date: Oct 26, 2008 Jason's latest girlfriend, Amy, is a hit at Merlotte's, but her mood darkens when the "V" runs out. Meanwhile, Bill asks Sookie to help Eric in his hunt for a Fangtasia thief; Tara marvels at her mother's transformation; and Rene proposes to Arlene. More 9 Plaisir D'Amour Air date: Nov 2, 2008 Bill's concern for Sookie's safety causes him to run afoul of the vampire's code. Meanwhile, Jason and Amy resort to extreme measures to satisfy their "V" habit, Tara follows in her mother's footsteps and Sam is tapped by Bill to look after Sookie while he faces disciplinary action. More 10 I Don't Wanna Know Air date: Nov 9, 2008 Sam tells Sookie a secret when he's caught in a difficult position; Jason and Amy plot their next move with Eddie; Arlene and Rene have their engagement party at Merlotte's; and Bill goes on trial for his recent offense. More Show More Episodes True Blood: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (11) Tv Season Info In the not-too-distant future, vampires have come out of the coffin...no longer in need of a human fix. But can a young woman (Anna Paquin) forge a love match with a vampire? HBO presents this drama series based on the books by Charlaine Harris. Genre: Horror Network: HBO Premiere Date: Sep 7, 2008 Creator: Alan Ball Exec. Producer: Alan Ball Cast Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton Chris Bauer as Andy Bellefleur Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds Jim Parrack as Hoyt Fortenberry Carrie Preston as Arlene Fowler Michael Raymond-James as Rene Lenier William Sanderson as Bud Dearborne Lois Smith as Adele Lynn Collins as Dawn Green Lizzy Caplan as Amy Burley Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pam Alexander SkarsgĂ„rd as Eric Northman Stephen Root as Eddie Todd Lowe as Terry Bellefleur Adina Porter as Tara's mother Graham Shiels as Liam Danielle James as Randi Sue John Billingsley as Mike Spencer Aisha Hinds as Miss Jeanette Andrew Rothenberg as Malcolm Aunjanue Ellis as Diane James Parks as Matt Rattray Karina Logue as Denise Rattray Dale Raoul as Maxine Fortenberry Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Danielle Sapia as Maudette Pickens Michelle Forbes as Maryann Forrester Jessica Tuck as Nan Flanagan Raoul Trujillo as Longshadow Caleb Moody as Royce Kevin McHale as Neil Jones Jeremy Denzlinger as Wayne Kanin J. Howell as Chuck Cheyenne Wilbur as Uncle Bartlett Mariana Klaveno as Lorena Zenali Turner as Young Sookie Nicholas Gonzalez as Jerry Cedric Pendleton as Terrell John Prosky as State Senator Zeljko Ivanek as Magister Michael Bofshever as Orry Dawson Josh Kelly as Frat Boy Hans Howes as Elderly DGD Member Jessica Stroup as Sorority Girl Gary Kraus as Married Man in Booth David Ruprecht as Televangelist Kelli Maroney as Televangelist Caleb Steinmeyer as Tolliver Humphries Randy Oglesby as Rev. Theodore Newlin Roberta Orlandi as Janella Cody Christian as Screaming Boy Bill Maher as Himself Patricia Bethune as Jane Bodenhouse P.J. O'Rourke as Himself Stewart Skelton as Minister Lorin McCraley as Grabbit Quik Clerk Jenni Blong as Michelle Stackhouse John Henry Canavan as Good Old Boy Vampire Jeffrey Nicholas Brown as Corbett Stackhouse Lorna Scott as Sav-A-Bunch Shopper Barbara Whinnery as Child Psychologist John F. Schaffer as Sav-A-Bunch Manager Larry Udy as Man at Bar David Lewis as Teenage Customer Brendan Patrick Connor as Man with Beer Rod Britt as Bank Manager Sharon Tay as News Show Moderator Jennifer Hasty as Woman with Fries Labon K. Hester as Young Jason Hallock Beals as Jerk at Bar Russ Hunt as Sookie's Date #1 Robert Parks-Valletta as Sookie's Date #2 Randy Hall as Man in Bar Show More Cast Episodes 1 Strange Love Air date: Sep 7, 2008 Based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire books, the series opens with Bon Temps, La., waitress Sookie Stackhouse welcoming the first vampire, Bill, to Merlotte's bar, while her brother, Jason, deals with the unfortunate fallout of a one-night stand. More 2 The First Taste Air date: Sep 14, 2008 After Bill helps Sookie out of her dangerous run-in with the Rattrays, she invites him to her grandmother's house to meet the family, but Jason is unnerved when they leave together or a nighttime stroll, which ends at the Compton's antebellum mansion. More 3 Mine Air date: Sep 21, 2008 Sookie becomes the focal point of a heated dispute between Bill and his more bloodthirsty vampire associates; Sam and Tara find common ground in their current states of romantic affairs; Jason begs Lafayette for help with a personal problem after Dawn kicks him out. More 4 Escape From Dragon House Air date: Sep 28, 2008 Another murder throws the citizens of Bon Temps for a loop, and once again the prime suspect is Jason, who's also coping with the extremely uncomfortable consequences of Lafayette's assistance; Sookie convinces Bill to take her to a vampire bar in Shreveport, where she hopes to learn more about her hometown's killings and get her brother off the hook. More 5 Sparks Fly Out Air date: Oct 5, 2008 Bill proves to be a popular attraction for Adele's historical society, but his stories of the Civil War dredge up painful memories of the wartime experiences that changed his life forever. Meanwhile, Jason decides to give "V" another try; Sam finally asks Sookie for a date; and Andy and Bud keep the murder investigations open. More 6 Cold Ground Air date: Oct 12, 2008 A tragedy sends Sookie in search of a place far from others' inner voices; Jason suffers withdrawal symptoms from a recent habit; and Tara's mother reaches out to her in a time of need. More 7 Burning House of Love Air date: Oct 19, 2008 Bill takes action after hearing Sookie's distressing recollection about her uncle; Tara resorts to desperate measures to help her mother; Jason takes a road trip to Fangtasia to satisfy his latest craving; and a group of vigilantes hunts for vampires who made a scene at Merlotte's. More 8 The Fourth Man in the Fire Air date: Oct 26, 2008 Jason's latest girlfriend, Amy, is a hit at Merlotte's, but her mood darkens when the "V" runs out. Meanwhile, Bill asks Sookie to help Eric in his hunt for a Fangtasia thief; Tara marvels at her mother's transformation; and Rene proposes to Arlene. More 9 Plaisir D'Amour Air date: Nov 2, 2008 Bill's concern for Sookie's safety causes him to run afoul of the vampire's code. Meanwhile, Jason and Amy resort to extreme measures to satisfy their "V" habit, Tara follows in her mother's footsteps and Sam is tapped by Bill to look after Sookie while he faces disciplinary action. More 10 I Don't Wanna Know Air date: Nov 9, 2008 Sam tells Sookie a secret when he's caught in a difficult position; Jason and Amy plot their next move with Eddie; Arlene and Rene have their engagement party at Merlotte's; and Bill goes on trial for his recent offense. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for True Blood Season 1 All Critics (31) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (12) Unless the thought of vampire/human love makes your pulse quicken - or, even better, makes you wish you didn't have a pulse to quicken - most of it is not really worth seeing. Sep 7, 2008 | Full Review… Alan Sepinwall Newark Star-Ledger Top Critic In Ball's droll, neo-gothic "True Blood," the vampire community isn't willing to roll over and accept our pity. Sep 7, 2008 | Full Review… Matthew Gilbert Boston Globe Top Critic Appetizingly pulpy and yet not at all crass, the series presents a new angle on the phenomenon of shows-so-bad-that-they're-good: It sucks hard and thus plays very well. Sep 7, 2008 | Full Review… Troy Patterson Slate Top Critic True Blood is a show with plenty of bite. Sep 7, 2008 | Full Review… David Hinckley New York Daily News Top Critic After watching five episodes, I can say True Blood stands out as one of the strongest new series in an uncertain fall. Sep 7, 2008 | Full Review… Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel Top Critic Part of the appeal of True Blood, especially in its first few seasons, was its over-the-top shock value, often bloody and sexual in nature. Sep 6, 2018 | Full Review… Eric Diaz Nerdist After dealing with all the hype and hubbub that came through the media with last year's soft vampire love story Twilight, it's nice to see a show that actually has some teeth to it. Jun 21, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review… Kevin Carr 7M Pictures A creative dramedy bolstered by both an unusual premise and strong, well-developed, colorful characters who add a touch of campy humor. Jun 21, 2018 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… Melissa Camacho Common Sense Media The show is basically one big pile of meh. Most the rest of the actors fall somewhere on the scale between "yikes" to "yawn," and most the rest of the dialogue is just as bad as the words poor Paquin is forced to spit out. Jun 14, 2018 | Full Review… Seth Freilich Pajiba So far, True Blood isn't deep, it doesn't have the undertow of mortality and loss that made Ball's previous hit, Six Feet Under... But its take on contemporary gothic does have a knowing connection to a dark side of American life. Jun 21, 2018 | Full Review… Thomas Sutcliffe Independent (UK) Top Critic View All Critic Reviews (31) Audience Reviews for True Blood: Season 1 ½ Frisby2 Super Reviewer YinalĂR Super Reviewer ½ MattG Super Reviewer ½ Set in Louisiana, Sookie Stackhouse is a telepathic waitress in a world where vampires have came out of the coffin. Some people loved vampires, others hate them. A series of killings of what looked like vampire attacks occurred in town and it's up to Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill Compton to find out who's the killer. The first season introduced all the characters and had a murder mystery plot. It was a fun ride except you get annoying characters that just won't die. True Blood came out as a refreshing touch to the old genre but still had a lot of room for improvement. SylvesterK Super Reviewer View All News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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