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 Want to see Episode List Season 1 True Blood 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. 61% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 31 87% Audience Score User Ratings: 349 NEW More Info × Close Want to see Super Reviewer Submit Super Reviewer Edit Review 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 Skarsgård 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 News & Interviews for True Blood: Season 1 10 Great TV Shows That Failed In Their Final Seasons View All True Blood: Season 1 News 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 Apr 05, 2015 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. Sylvester K Super Reviewer Sep 03, 2019 It is sooooo bad, that it even starts to be good. Actors actually tried so hard to play it bad, at least i think so, because it is not possible to act that horribly naturally. Enjoyed every overplayed cringe causing scene, yummy! Tatiana K Mar 30, 2019 Any "subtext" about the relations between Humans and Vampires are on the nose to the point of being text. But, it works. Tino P Feb 11, 2019 A seven season supernatural ride in the American landscape, delivered by an awesome cast & crew!! Truly imaginative storyline that takes the Vampire franchise in a new direction- a must see for fans of the genre!! Phil C Apr 10, 2017 One of the things I love the most about this show is the parallelism between vampires and the LGBT community (ie "god hates fangs" messages on the church's board during the intro). Linda C Jul 08, 2016 I had this sold to me by a friend of mind as follows; 'it's like soft porn for girls' she didn't mention the amazing kitchy, vampire, fantasy element that got me so badly hooked! Love it, really worth a watch. Caroline S Jan 29, 2016 I was a HUGE fan of True Blood when it first appeared on HBO. Before True Blood, the vampire genre was all campy with neon eyes and moody lighting. True Blood broke the mold and set their vampires in the real world looking almost human. Did I love this series more the 2nd time around? Mostly. I found myself skipping some of the lesser character scenes and focusing on Sookie and her relationships. In hind sight, I think this season would have been much better if they'd centered on Sookie more. That's where the action was. Rebecca T Nov 30, 2015 A welcome addition to the vampire genre. This series progressed through romance and emotional ties of family, friendship, etc. It illustrated the struggle between diversity and open-minded acceptance of those who are different from us versus small-minded prejudice and intolerance. It superbly demonstrated aspects of dominance and submission, sensuality, sex, love and many of the varieties of romantic entanglements available to our human experience. It touched on aspects of Fae that aren't overly popularized. Faeries are often considered light, happy and sweetly biddable in popular fiction. It would have been interesting to see how other creatures from mythology and fiction might have been incorporated. Allegra G Sep 01, 2015 Heard great things about this series; unfortunately, I didn't see them on the screen. What I saw was a cry-baby mind-reader who is quick to judge others without any internal examination of her own prejudices and a love-sick puppy of a vampire who will do anything, including perish, to please the cry-baby. Can't get attached to characters because they die are a frequent clip. Will not be watching any more seasons. Don S Jun 06, 2015 Interesting enough to keep me watching and look forward to the next season. Top, quality entertainment! 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