True Blood

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 7, 2008
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
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Critic Reviews

  1. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    90
    Graphically sexy and scary, and often wildly funny, True Blood, from Six Feet Under’s Alan Ball, turns Charlaine Harris’ rollicking mystery novels into a broadly entertaining, deliciously twisted slice of modern Southern Gothic.
  2. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    90
    After watching five episodes, I can say True Blood stands out as one of the strongest new series in an uncertain fall.
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    88
    Part mystery, part fantasy, part comedy, and all wildly imaginative exaggeration, Blood proves that there's still vibrant life--or death--left in the "star-crossed lovers" paradigm.
  5. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Misha Davenport
    88
    Bloody, sexy and violent, the show is also both occasionally funny and frightening.
  6. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    80
    True Blood isn't meant to be an exercise in good taste. Just a romp and a wallow--and a bloody good one.
  7. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    80
    True Blood is a sexy affair that sets up an entirely believable world where humans and vampires co-exist. It's a soap, to be sure, but a soap with an eye for social commentary.
  8. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    80
    True Blood is an unlikely but irresistible mixture of pungent political satire, observant pop sociology and lurid drive-in thrills.
  9. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    80
    True Blood, Academy Award-winner Alan Ball's steamy, sassy, sometimes nasty, but always thoroughly engaging, new HBO drama.
  10. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    80
    It's easy to like True Blood, because Ball's episodic smarts are primal, not at a remove, and he approaches supernaturalism by emphasizing the natural over the super.
  11. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: John Leonard
    80
    Although generally witty, always absorbing, and invariably violent, True Blood isn’t really a big surprise until its fifth hour.
  12. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    75
    Both Paquin and Moyer do well here. And True Blood is fleshed out with other interesting characters getting to spout well-written lines. But at times the whole thing seems silly.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best TV Season of 2008
2
#2 Most Discussed TV Season of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared TV Season of 2008

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 705 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 593 out of 705
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 705
  3. Negative: 68 out of 705
  1. RionaD.
    Oct 3, 2008
    5
    This show has SO MUCH potential, but it gets lost in it's attempt to sell itself better by sticking in a ridiculous amount of sex and This show has SO MUCH potential, but it gets lost in it's attempt to sell itself better by sticking in a ridiculous amount of sex and nudity. I honestly felt like I was watching a porno with a plot thrown in as an afterthought. It has it's good points, though. It got some laughs out of me with it's cheesy humor, and the characters are generally likable. As I said earlier, it has the potential to be absolutely great. They just need to realize that people will still watch it if they don't include a sex scene every ten minutes.… Full Review »
  2. AntonioM.
    Sep 13, 2008
    2
    Boring, lame. slow paced, terrible acting. PAris Hilton scary House of Wax was a masterpiece compared to this. we were 4 in a room and we all Boring, lame. slow paced, terrible acting. PAris Hilton scary House of Wax was a masterpiece compared to this. we were 4 in a room and we all agreed, that it sucks... Very disappointing… Full Review »
  3. ML.
    Aug 20, 2009
    10
    The best vampire show I've ever seen. Wow, this show is totally addicting. Nice mix of drama and social/religious/political satire. Very The best vampire show I've ever seen. Wow, this show is totally addicting. Nice mix of drama and social/religious/political satire. Very funny at times, but also sad and moving sometimes. A little different from the books which are also great. The characters are a pretty believable, and many of them remind of me of people I know. It's not perfect, the accents are a little fake, and it's a mystery why Eric's hair doesn't grow back when he cut it(my girlfriend loves him but wishes they had left his hair long). They overdue the sex scenes sometimes too. Still, overall one of my favorite shows of all time. There's not many good Vampire movies or shows, so it's a refreshing change.… Full Review »
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