| With the final season of True Blood just around the corner we decided to look back at the wonderful if slightly dangerous town of Bon Temps and its eclectic band of residents. Based on the Sookie Stackhouse series from Charlaine Harris and adapted for television by Alan Ball, True Blood was an instant hit thanks to its mix of mythical creatures, mystery with a touch of original sin thrown in for a touch of flavour. |
We will as always try not to spoil major story points but you may find small spoilers for Season 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
| Politics and religion are two institutions that should stay separate in many people’s minds and if you ever wondered why Season 5 of True Blood is probably one of the best visual examples of why this is the case. This series is known for its sex and violence and at first glance it fulfils both of these quotas with all the passion of a vamp at feeding time, at its core though the themes that have run through the seasons are so much more. We have seen a look at bigotry and racism, questions raised about the death penalty and revenge as well as forgiveness and many other themes as well. There may have been points where the story went a little off the wall but again it’s the central themes that help bring viewers back to the show. | 
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The Politics and Religion in question come from a variety of sources we have the Vampire Authority, the Werewolves and the Hate groups that are beginning to form to name but three. Each of these factions has a role to play in the plot of this season but the Vampire Authority is the dominant force for the majority of key cast members. We have heard of the Authority on many occasions but thanks to Bill and Eric they are really brought to the forefront of the season’s narrative. Firstly as they are on the run after killing Nan Flannigan at the end of season 4, it was a fool hardy thing to do to say the least and in vampire law killing a fellow vamp is punishable in the most extreme of ways. The less than dynamic duo are also smarting from a complete rejection from Sookie and so there demeanour is less than jovial to say the least. What transpires next is a transformation worthy of legend as not only do the boys keep their lives they also manage to talk themselves into a seat on the ruling cancel. From there though things go from bad to downright f’ing awful as what some see as the true essence of Vampirism comes to the fore, this sets up a high stakes finale that seemingly sees enough blood spilt to fill up an Olympic sized swimming pool.
The vampires however are not the only species causing problems or those around them, in Bon Temps there is a hate group that are taking out all manner of Supes and posting videos of their deaths to the internet. It forms an interesting look at what people are driven to believe and forms a major section of the investigative side of the plot. It is actually amazing that the crazies in this instance actually do have a point that some Vampires are out to hurt them but their methods of hurting anyone and everyone are so far removed from decency that they come off as crazy fruitloops.
At the end of the last season Sookie had lost her best friend Tara to a gunshot wound to the head and this led to her being turned into a vampire to save her life. Of course Tara’s hatred for vampires goes back to her time spent with Franklin in a previous season, so how does she cope with her transformation? In truth not well. As the episodes wear on she does seem to come around with the help of two unlikely “friends” Jessica and Pam (her maker). Tara as a vampire is an interesting proposition as she was always firey, but now she has to deal with the trappings of being a young vamp as well. Some of her escapades are funny to say the least and her interactions with Pam are priceless.
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| As for Sookie she is a large piece in the game that manages to get Bill and Eric exonerated, the troubling fact for her is the return of Russell Edgington. The crazed 3,000 year old Vampire however is the least of her worries as it turns out she is the payoff in a very old blood contract that makes her the property of the vampire that killed her parents. It’s a convoluted story but it sets up the story for future seasons and gives us some of the best CGI this series has seen. The Stackhouse’s do not have the best of seasons as the husband of one of Jason’s conquests comes back to put a little more trouble in his life. |
As always the convoluted plotlines have a way of interacting with each other and we are left with a cliff-hanger and a half with the words “Run” ringing in our ears. This sets up the opening to season in a big way and the year wait to the next to the next was almost intolerable. Thankfully DVD’S and Now TV mean the Season 6 round up is just around the corner.
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By Paul Fiander
Pictures Courtesy of Fox
Pictures Courtesy of Fox
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