True Blood S1E12 "You'll Be The Death Of Me" (PHOTO Album)

Wow. Reading this now is just so...surreal.

Just finished a marathon re-watching of the first 12 episodes of True Blood. They were so compelling, so fun!--a real rollercoaster ride that I did not want to end. I can say without hesitation that season 1 True Blood has been the best of the three seasons that Alan Ball has helmed--so far.

We are about six weeks away from the premiere of season 4 True Blood and though I'm excited I'm also sort of bracing myself for it not to be as good as the first season despite my fervent desire that it be even better.

There are some weak links in the fabric of True Blood which I've talked about a number of times. Right out of the gate though I want to state unequivocally that the problem lies not with the cast--the entire cast is very talented but the characters, specifically 'Sam Merlotte,' 'Tara Thorton' and 'Jason Stackhouse' has had to one degree or another, flat storylines.

I'm looking to season 4 to pull these characters up and give them something great to do.

(November 22, 2008)

Like an ever-increasing number of True Blood fans, I have read the Charlaine Harris book, "Dead Before Dark," that inspired the series True Blood--and I say "inspired" deliberately.

Creator-producer-showrunner genius, Alan Ball has said from the first interviews (that I've read) that he would be changing things up from the book.
At that point he had no idea how the series would be received as it hadn't aired yet. Then, as you know, True Blood became the lifeblood for HBO's Sunday nights.

After only the second show HBO took the unprecedented step of renewing the show for a second season so viewers "could feel secure" in getting invested in the story.

Savvy move, methinks. However, as the faithful Sookie Stackhouse readers knew, Mr. Ball has switched things up, added things-taken things out--in other words Alan Ball is making True Blood his own. I read a lot of what True Blood fans have said about the series--and I think we can all agree that it is incredibly entertaining.

Why? Charlaine Harris created some fascinating and entertaining characters as well as a setting in Northern Louisiana which she breathed life into--and then Alan Ball took that and worked his magic on it. There is no reason whatsoever why fans of Ms. Harris and the Sookie Stackhouse series of books have to be upset when Mr. Ball tweaks or changes things. Unless you enjoy being upset. :/

Hers are books, this is television. I know this is stating the obvious but they are two very different genres. So please let Mr. Ball continue to work his magic, continue to bring a spotlight to Charlaine Harris's book series and we, the audience get to have the best of both worlds.

I'm trying to prepare you because in all likelihood Mr. Ball is not going to go line-by-line through Book II in the Sookie Stackhouse series- "Living Dead In Dallas." He said he would pretty much stick with Book I, "Dead Before Dark," upon which True Blood is based--and you see how far he's veered off into Alan Ball-world. Instead, lets look forward to some fantastic original television returning in June 2009 in the form of True Blood: Season Two.

(Above) Tara (Rutina Wesley) Season Finale: Season 1, Episode 12

NEXT on True Blood; "You'll Be the Death of Me"

SEASON FINALE~

AIRS~ 11.23.2008

Episode 1.12 - You’ll Be the Death of Me:

Sookie finds a link to the string of killings in Bon Temps - and ends up in the murderer’s crosshairs. Tara decides to make the most of her second chance with Maryann; Jason finds a new calling after anti-vampire zealot Orry (Michael Bofshever) visits him in jail; Bill tempts fate during his latest attempt to save Sookie; Sam is perturbed by an encounter with an old acquaintance; Lafayette finds himself in the wrong place at the right time.

Screen Caps/ Promo photos for Season Finale (spoilerish)

Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) Season Finale: Season 1, Episode 12

Renè Lenier (Michael Raymond James) Season Finale: Season 1, Episode 12

There is a clue in this conversation (click to enlarge)

The killer's shoes

CLICK to enlarge.

This is a picture of the Bon Temps Killer:

Much more after the jump!

As punishment for killing Fangtasia vampire bartender Longshadow, Bill was ordered by the magister to sire Jessica, first by draining her of her blood, then whilst she was on the brink of death, feeding her his blood.

Bill quite literally created a monster

Starring:

Anna Paquin ... Sookie Stackhouse, Ryan Kwanten ... Jason Stackhouse, Rutina Wesley...Tara Thornton, Jim Parrack... Hoyt Fortenberry, Carrie Preston ... Arlene Fowler, Michael Raymond-James ...Rene Lenier, Stephen Moyer ... Bill Compton, Alexander Skarsgård...Eric Northman Nelsan Ellis...Lafayette Reynolds, William Sanderson... Sheriff Bud Dearborne, Sam Trammell ... Sam Merlotte, Chris Bauer ... Andy Bellefleuer, Kristin Bauer ... Pam, Michelle Forbes ... Maryann, Amy Burley... Lizzy Caplan, Todd Lowe ... Terry Bellefleur, Deborah Ann Woll... Jessica, Stephen Root ... Eddie, Zeljko Ivanek...Magister

Anna Paquin and director-creator, Alan Ball

A surprise for Sookie

The murder weapon

Rene visits Jason...

...and overhears Sookie tell Jason that he needs to shut up because she's almost discovered who the murderer is.

Marianne admonishes Tara about trying to leave.