“True Blood” fans are having a hard time believing that the end is finally here. After seven years, the hit HBO show is airing its final episode on Sunday, Aug. 24.
It’s been a long road since “True Blood” first premiered on Sept. 7, 2008. Viewers were introduced to the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, in a time where vampires had just “come out of the coffin.” Season 1 was a battle between light and dark as the town folks struggled with trusting these deadly-by-nature supernatural beings, while others displayed despicable behavior and hunted not only them, but also the humans who associated with them.
Tied in with all the bloody drama was Sookie Stackhouse, an innocent waitress who became enamored with Bill Compton, the first open vampire to come to town.
“Truebies” watched as the pair enlightened each other about their different worlds, and fell in love. Sookie infiltrated the vampire universe, becoming one of the few outsiders that Eric Northman, the Shreveport Sheriff, cared for and protected – protected being the key word.
Season after season, fans watched as Sookie found herself constantly facing danger. Whether it was crazy maenad Maryann, Bill’s psycho maker Lorena, Vampire King of Mississippi Russell Edgington, or Alcide’s jealous ex-girlfriend, Debbie.
Bon Temps is a much different place from where “True Blood” viewers first started. Initially the introduction of the Hep-V virus brought the humans and vampires together in an effort to protect everyone from the madness happening around them. However a few rogue residents and some hotheaded vampires threatened to crumble the peaceful union that developed.
The series finale episode is set up for a major showdown between characters. Sookie and Bill have to come to terms with their off-and-on relationship now that Bill is dying of the Hep-V virus and won’t take the cure. Eric and Pam have engaged in an ugly partnership with Mr. Gus and the Yakuza, the same group that murdered Eric’s former human lover, Sylvie, and threatened the life of his progeny.
A cure for Hep-V is still not in the open, but with Sookie’s knowledge of Sarah Newlin’s link to it all, her life is now on the line. Mr. Gus and the Yakuza want to kill Sookie and keep the Hep-V cure a secret – but will they succeed?
Click through the slideshow to see how some of your favorite “True Blood” characters started off and where they are now with the series coming to a close.
"True Blood" has changed a lot since it first premiered on September 7, 2008. The HBO series will come to an end on August 24.HBO"True Blood" viewers first met Bill Compton at Merlotte's during the pilot episode. He immediately swept Sookie off her feet, saving her life that first night and aiding her in the search for the person responsible for murdering "fang-bangers."HBOBill has definitely changed since Season 1 of "True Blood." He proposed to Sookie, was kidnapped by the King of Louisiana, joined a crazy vampire cult, drank the blood of Lilith to become Billith and only recently regained his "sanity." But the biggest twist came in Season 7 when it was revealed that Bill had accidentally contracted Hep-V from Sookie ... and refused to drink the cure.HBORemember when Eric had long hair? The Viking vampire was the Sheriff of Shreveport when "True Blood" fans first met him. Despite spending most of his time on the "throne" at Fangtasia, he was a dangerous vampire who became fascinated with Sookie.HBOEric had a pretty brutal start to Season 7 of "True Blood." Viewers saw him engulfed in flames during the Season 6 finale, and when he finally resurfaced in Season 7, fans were devastated to find that he had been infected with Hep-V. Fortunately Pam convinced him to live and he was able to take the Hep-V cure. The only problem now is that he's on Mr. Gus's bad side ... and no one wants to be on Mr. Gus's bad side.HBOSookie Stackhouse was young and innocent when "True Blood" viewers first met her. The Merlotte's waitress struggled with her differences as a telepath, was a virgin and didn't swear ... a lot has changed since Season 1.HBOSookie has grown up a lot since Season 1. She's been dealt a lot of hardships in the past few years, but is a rock for her friends and family to lean on ... when they're not blaming her for the latest supernatural disaster in town.Sookie's been protected by vampires since Season 1. But will she have protection when Mr. Gus and the Yakuza come for her in the series finale?HBOTara has definitely evolved since fans first met her. The sassy “True Blood” character was introduced as Sookie’s best friend from childhood, who lacked self-confidence, didn’t trust a lot of people and had no patience for stupidity and drunks.
Sam reluctantly hired Tara to bartend at Merlotte’s and from there she developed a romantic relationship with her boss. The relationship didn’t last, but the two remained good friends. After that she got involved in a handful of toxic relationships – Maryann and Franklin to name a few. She left town briefly, but ultimately returned to Bon Temps.
She died while jumping in front of a bullet that Debbie meant for Sookie. Unable to live without Tara, Sookie forced Pam to turn her friend into a vampire.
When Tara awoke as a vampire she was upset about her new life. However with the help of Pam, Tara became a strong and confident vampire.
HBOTara finally found peace in the final season of "True Blood" ... but unfortunately it didn't come until after she died. Tara was killed off during the Season 7 premiere when the Hep-V vamps attacked the bar. After just rekindling her relationship with her mother, Tara was trying to protect her from the mayhem. She succeeded, but died in the process.
Tara returned throughout the rest of Season 7 as a hallucination to her mother. High on V, Lettie Mae insisted that Tara was trying to deliver a message. She turned out to be right. Tara was trying to reach her mother to apologize for an event that occured while she was a child.HBOLafayette was one of the most lovable characters from the starts of “True Blood.” The openly gay Merlotte’s chef brought the laughs to the HBO series – however his life was anything but sunshine and rainbows.
Involved in a slew of illegal activities, Lafayette was kidnapped by Eric for selling V. He was chained up in the basement of Fangtasia and was going to be killed for distributing V. Fortunately Sookie discovered him and bargained with Eric to free him instead of kill him. But Lafayette struggled with PTSD after the whole ordeal.
HBOLafayette survived to Season 7 of “True Blood” – but not without some interesting developments along the way. He discovered that he was a medium, became possessed by the spirit of a crazy witch and murdered his boyfriend, Jesus. He’s had his fair share of drama, but may have finally found happiness in Season 7 with Jessica’s ex-boyfriend, James.HBOJason, Jason, Jason. Sookie’s little brother was a womanizing V-user who cared only for himself. He killed a vampire, was accused of being a serial killer, joined the Fellowship of the Sun, and stole his best-friend’s girlfriend. HBOJason’s life turned around in the past few seasons. While he did force Andy into making him a police officer, Jason ended up becoming very good at his job and well known for his “pizza forensics.” Women still are his weakness, however he developed a long-term relationship with Violet – who he eventually cheated on with Jessica.HBO
