If you are new to the series then may I suggest you catch up with our look backs of the previous seasons. If you have seen the first episode or are just curious what all the fuss is about then read on McDuff.

The Stackhouse house should probably be declared a national disaster zone at this point. The deaths that have occurred from Gran Stackhouse to Tara, not to mention the attempted murders, fights and other assorted misdemeanours. In this episode thought he whole house changes its demeanour as it becomes a place for a rather surreal celebration. With Sookie still mourning the death of Alcide Lafayette takes it upon himself to try to make her life a little better by throwing a small gathering of friends better known as a crazy partee.

The gathering however is not the opening that takes place at Fangtasia and gives us the answer to a long wondered question, what good is a sex slave who you do not have sex with? The question is delivered by Ginger to Eric and within itself does give us an idea about their relationship over the years. Unfortunately she is back to being the needy Ginger of old but as Eric and Pam are packed up into their travelling coffins  there is a pretty funny scene that shows her at her ridiculous best. This however is the bookend to Eric’s interaction with Willa as he seeks out her former step mother. We all know Eric is after Sarah Noolan and will stop at nothing to exact his revenge even if it means becoming that which he most hates, A Conservative.

I will admit that there are some nice parts to the story with the highlight being Andy proposing to Holly using Gran Stackhouse’s Ring. It caps a nice arc for the long suffering sheriff and does give him a nice moment within the story as a whole. The other members of the Fangtasia dungeon four are having mixed experiences from being returned to their loved ones; Jane Boathouse going back to her search for the bottom of the bottle is probably the only exception. Arleen’s constant need to tinkle appears to be brought on by her desire to quash has desires and Nicole seems the only one with a clear thought process on the lunacy of having a party at this time, do bring some semblance of normality (True Blood normal that is) to proceedings

Again like most of the episodes in this season it feels like a homage to our previous time spent with True Blood, I am however still concerned by the direction that the show is taking in its handling of Bill. Again we get a look back in to the glorious past of the benevolent Mr Compton as he goes about his business freeing slaves and working for the best of his family. I think these look backs are supposed to make us forget the nastier side of the man but if he truly has been drained and is a new man, Why do these memories matter to the man (Vampire) he is now?

The best though comes at the end as Eric finally catches up with his prey literally. It ends a up and down issue that shows us the beginning of the end of Mr Compton as well as the continued fall in to disease of Mr Northman, perhaps the house should not be condemned perhaps it’s the owner one Miss Sookie Stackhouse that really needs to come with a warning.

If you are new to the series then may I suggest you catch up with our look backs of the previous seasons. If you have seen the first episode or are just curious what all the fuss is about then read on McDuff.

The show seems to be suggesting throughout the episode that the reasoning’s for staying are far more built round the idea of resilience and determination. Sookie despite her faults has always strove to do what is right in her eyes, her moral compass though tends to point back to the love of her life Bill. It seems odd that such a person like Sookie should be so blind when it comes to the affairs of the heart but if you were unsure this episode is the one that really tells you how clueless she really is.

From there the melodrama comes thick and fast as we are taken through a number of encounters that show who is left to fight the Hep V band. With a force that feels somewhat undercooked we receive our salvation in the form of a diseased Eric. His appearance although shown in the show in a surprise for our resistance and Sookie especially. As always with the big Viking his entrance changes the mood of the mood of the entire place although it is tinged with sadness as we realise this is the end for Eric. His embrace with Sookie feels honest from his point of view however Sookie’s reaction does feel a little over cooked as she cannot contain her sense of loss. 

The gravity of the losses the folks of Bon Temps have had to endure would cripple most people but still the residents stay. You have to ask yourself why?

There seems to be some kind of loyalty to the area but much like the Hellmouth from Buffy the Vampire Slayer I still cannot fathom why people would stay here, the life expectancy (once the Vampires are taken out of the equation) must be well below the national average. It feels odd that dirt and building materials can have such a hold but then again I’m not sure I would want to give away my home for anything.

First there is the matter of the death of Alcide; we open with Sookie calling the Wolf’s Dad letting him know of his son’s passing. It is an interesting scene as at the same time Jason is calling a glamoured Hoyt telling him of his mother’s passing. Of the two phone calls Jason’s is certainly more touching as you have the issue the joint positions of the horrendous news mixed with the normally clueless Deputy Stackhouse realising his friend has no memory of him. His occasional attempts to try to instigate a response are well timed and do strike a chord. 

Of course all this background is really just the starter for the main course that is the final showdown at Fangtasia. Thanks to some rather convenient background storytelling we discover that the Club was once a video shop complete with an old underground railway tunnel from the civil war days*. From there you can guess what’s coming with the battle between the infected and the non-infected it is just as stylised as the first battle of the season except now we get to see Bill and co in top form with a slightly below par Eric still able to pull out all the stops.

The slightly lost Barmaid has been an ever present in the show and in this episode we finally get to find out why. The way she is portrayed as a clever student desperate to learn is an almost polar opposite to her current form. Her demise was Pam’s fault but it plays out well and does give her a great leaving plot, it would have just been better if she would have been made more of in earlier series.

If you are new to the series then may I suggest you catch up with our look backs of the previous seasons. If you have seen the first episode or are just curious what all the fuss is about then read on McDuff.

Karl Marx once said “Die Religion…ist das Opium of the Volkes which roughly translates as “Religion is the opiate of the masses”. If True Blood has one person who embodies this quote its Sarah Noolan, the once wife of the preacher come vampire Reverend Noolan has had her fair share of callings from God and at the start of the episode we find she has found a new opiate to follow, but it looks like her past may be coming back to haunt her in more ways than one. There is something about her that gives her the air of a Cockroach her ability to survive is actually a real strength but there are many who would love to see her get her comeuppance. 

In another search for seemingly divine inspiration Pam has finally found an ailing Eric, he is lying on his death bed seemingly from contracting Hep V. and in true Eric style he uses this time to reflect on his past conquests and the ones he has lost. His relationship with Pam has always been interesting and we find out even more about the pairs relationship with Nan Flannigan and the authority. The desire to rebel seems to run thickly through our rather large Viking and sometimes he seems to court danger just for shits and giggles. The problem is if he were to leave the series it would put a dampener on the end of the series, though the return of Mrs Noolan could be the tonic he needs to recover his resolve to at least go out swinging.

The time the two spend together is filled with the sombre True Blood music and flashbacks. Unfortunately I’m finding these a little unjustified for the past few seasons Bill has shown us a truly evil side and it is going to take more than a few daughter filled flashbacks to make him a sympathetic character again. He is charming and Stephen Moyer does a wonderful job making him feel like a character that we may be able to forgive, however at this time I feel he needs to do a lot more before I can trust him again. 

These previews are as spoiler free as possible. We hope they can help you get excited for what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting final seasons in a while.

Keep an eye out after the episode airs for our full episode review.

I’m not sure what to say about this opening sequence except that involves two of True Blood’s hottest properties engaged in a moment that will certainly get a lot of pulses racing. It’s pretty well acted but I’m pretty sure it won’t be winning many Emmy’s however it more than likely be played more than once.

The crux of the episode revolves around the town’s ability to survive, with the federal government not answering calls the question comes down to who can people trust. The local police (Andy, Jason and Kenya), their Vampire protectors or is the answer really closer to home. We are going to find out one way or another.

The clip below the read more line (Watch out it has light spoilers) is probably the most harrowing of the episode and right up there with the most disturbing from the whole show. It has a sense of what is going to come not only for Bon Temps but for the rest of small town America. The Hep V virus seems to be the most potent force for death in the world however history tells us that there is another force in the world that can be just as destructive, the power of man with a firearm in tow.

This is a strong episode that has an emotional impact which at times can feel a little melodramatic but in a way it feels fitting for the subject matter.

If you are new to the series then may I suggest you catch up with our look backs of the previous seasons. If you have seen the first episode or are just curious what all the fuss is about then read on McDuff.

The aftermath of the attack is a total bloodbath, as well as more than one of Bon Temps residence being taken to places unknown (it turns out Fangtasia is the hives home for now). This though is overshadowed by one of the shows most notable characters meeting the true death. There is no ambiguity revolving around this death as Tara is now just a blood riddled pile of goo covering her mother. There is a question over who killed her (I have my own tin hat theory) but losing her should be a major point in the show instead though I think the creators missed the mark with their depiction.  It may be because we have no time to grieve as the world is being turned upside down but I felt more emotion the first time she was killed. Unfortunately now though one of True Blood’s most sarky characters is now no more and for one will miss her greatly.

One of the main characters not present at the party is Jessica, she instead is keeping a vigil over the last of the Sheriff’s daughters. In the last season she decimated the family draining three of the sisters and leaving the fourth for dead. In her determination to do the right thing Jess is not eating and almost kills herself trying to save Adilyn from a Hep-V vamp who has caught the half Fairies scent. The two actresses play their parts really well and you get the idea of a strained relationship growing between the two. 

Elsewhere we do get a spot of time with Lafayette and Sam and of course Sookie. This is a particularly rough episode for our Fairy Halfling especially at the conclusion in her dealings with the grieving Mrs Daniels (Tara’s Mum). The way the human population of the town have turned on her is small minded with a hint of the understandable. It remains to see where she will end up by with the lone Wolf Alcide at her side she may not be around to save the population of Bon Temp for very much longer.

These previews are as spoiler free as possible. We hope they can help you get excited for what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting final seasons in a while.

Keep an eye out after the episode airs for our full episode review.

The cliff-hanger at the end of season 6 was one of the most overt threats that True Blood has ever put on screen. If you were worried that the show’s producers would take their time in finding a resolution to this situation then rest assured you will not be disappointed. In something of a twist to the shows usual production the violence had become hyper stylised and it works to show the extreme nature of the battle being thought.

The battle between the Hep-V vampires and the normal Vampires centres around the human population and as you read into the situation you get the idea of one side being conservationists and the other looking to destroy the world in the name of gain. The sense of an endgame is ever present through the episode and you get the feeling it will run through the whole season.

The whole episode covers only one night and the following morning but as the fallout begins and you get to spend a little time with each of the main characters. The episode feels like a reintroduction to the world of Ben Temp and the changes that have happened in the 180 odd days since the end of the test facility and the mixer at the old Merlotte Bar (now called BelFleur’s). It feels a little slow in places but sets up what is looking to be a killer last season. 

True blood inspired cocktails

Blood sucker- for those partial to blood, mix: Bacardi, Cointreau, pineapple juice and either strawberry or raspberry puree for that blood like effect.

V - Is vampire blood that when taken by humans and sends them on a drug like trip. This cocktail is inspired by Tequila Sunrise (which is not good for vampires): Tequila, orange juice and substitute blackberry brandy for the grenadine to make the colour extra dark like vampire’s blood

Non- alcoholic drinks- for those teetotal fans who are as clean and innocent as Jessica (Bills protégé) when she was first turned into a vampire. Serve up:


Virgin Blood- Which according to vampires is tastier!  Inspired by a Virgin Mary mix together: tomato juice, lemon juice, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, salt, ground pepper, Tabasco sauce and then garnish.

  
Glamourade- Glamouring is a form of hypnosis vampires use to bribe or sway someone to do something. Glamourade is inspired by good old fashioned lemonade, to make mix: sugar, water, lemon juice and add garnish of your choice.

Vampire, werewolf, waitress? There are so many to choose from: dark clothes, pale faces and fangs make the perfect True Blood vampire. Or get yourself a mini-skirt and Bellefleur's bar t-shirt.  This is granted to make you feel part of the in-crowd

Team vampires #TeamVampires or team humans #TeamHumans? This final season they are finding it extremely hard to work together peacefully- pick a side and see who survives…

Entice your guests with a themed menu- not for the faint hearted

Starters
Chilled carbonated blood (tomato soup)
Graveyard salsa dip (salsa and refried beans then sculpt your tortillas in to grave stones)

Mains
Lafayette’s Southern fried chicken
Alcide’s wolf burger

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.

The fallout from the Vampire Authorities quest to find God (Lilith) has its blood soaked hands all over this season. From the trials and tribulations of Bill to the human quest to destroy vampires everything has a tie to the doings of the council. However just because there are ties it does not mean that the actions of the few was truly responsible, admittedly taking out the supply of True Blood was a bit extreme the Humans had already planned for ways to take the vampires out. (It can sometimes be difficult when an entertainment form such as TV recreates a plot that resembles some of the worst atrocities in human history, however neither should we forget that things have occurred in the past). This solution resembles the Nazi’s final solution for the Jewish community is World War 2 and to say it was hard hitting is to put it lightly.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Now we have some idea of Sookie's heritage it's time to see what being a fairy is really like and for this the opening sees us in the land of the fairies where Ms Stackhouse has been transported. 
Her guide on her journey of discovery is Claudine who tunrs out to be Sookie's fairy God mother. The surreality does not stop there as the land of the fairies is filled with happiness apples that are something of a narcotic to the inhabitants and Earl Stackhouse. The grandfather of our main star has been in the land for over 20 years although he feels its only a few days. This kind of thing begins to get our heroines back up and if there is one thing Sookie can do it's sniff out trouble.
Just because Sookie is a fairy does not mean she wants to fully become one, there past is full of troubling occurrences but the loss of time is the most worrying thought. The deadlier side of the race is shown and it is far from pretty. Although this section of the show feels a little random it does go some way to explain why Ms Stackhouse is so special. The telepathy is one thing but the magical light is something vastly different, the best thing is it seems that Sookie now is beginning to learn to control her powers and this can make her a formidable force in a supernatural world.
The time in fairy land is brief but still pretty effective in giving the story some manner of background.

Sookie though is not the only one who is beginning to learn about their true nature. With the help of Jesus (the man/nurse/witch) LaFayette is finding out what his gifts really our. The king of sass is not just a kick ass chef but he is now learning to accept that he is not just a conjurer in the kitchen.
His voyage of discovery takes him to all manner of places with this world and some places not of this world. However the way of the witch is vastly more complex then you could imagine.

The Vampires in Sookie's life have an odd run in the fourth season. After the craziness that was Russell Edgington the need for vampires to be more main streamed is now greater than ever and Bill seems to be taking this integration to heart. He is ever the politician and has a flair for politics. He is now the King of Louisiana and so Eric has to now answer to him. This puts our Viking at something of a weakened position but ever the resourceful vampire he is not really the subjective type.
Even though they both have new agendas there is still the issue of everyone's favourite telepath and who will be able to win her heart.

Of course Sookie has more than just an appeal to vampires, Alcide is also hot for Ms Stackhouse and he is nothing if not persistent. He has the ability to offer her something the undead are unable to do, a normal life. Well semi normal considering when the full moon comes around he becomes a wolf.
The wolves are still prominent in this series but they are ably outdone in the crazy stakes by the Panthers. Jason has been looking after Krystal's kin for the past year and when he is the smartest tool in the box you know there is something wrong. As the season goes on though the shifters will also begin to grow into the world headed by Sam.