True Blood

:

Season 3
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 7, 2008
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 288 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 234 out of 288
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 288
  3. Negative: 29 out of 288
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User Reviews

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  1. N0reen
    Sep 29, 2011
    7
    When I for the first heard that there was made TV show of the Sookie Stackhouse books. I was excited, the first season was super great and the second was great. but now is the show is losing the freshness and the funny things of the books. I love the books, but are not following the books. It's a very disappointment.
  2. bsmith
    Dec 20, 2013
    8
    Season three isn't quite as entertaining as season two, but it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and theSeason three isn't quite as entertaining as season two, but it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and the result is a rather grand spectacle of comedy, action, horror, and fantasy. Just a warning, however, that this season ends on a rather ridiculous note, but it's not a major blow to season three overall. Worth watching in my book.… Expand
  3. Tubie
    Nov 3, 2010
    5
    What a big disappointment, it was to be expected. The way season 2 ended hinted that the fantasy over the top ride was not slowing down. They introduced way too many things and the writers now have a tough job of keeping the credibility of this show for next season. The only way they can save it is by focusing on vampires again and putting a stop on all the fantasy creatures. What drew meWhat a big disappointment, it was to be expected. The way season 2 ended hinted that the fantasy over the top ride was not slowing down. They introduced way too many things and the writers now have a tough job of keeping the credibility of this show for next season. The only way they can save it is by focusing on vampires again and putting a stop on all the fantasy creatures. What drew me into this show was the notion of vampires coming out into the public light, but they lost me when they started to focus on other things.… Expand
  4. Rienye
    Sep 17, 2010
    7
    I've been a fan of True Blood from season one but my interest has been thinning out with subsequent seasons. Season 3 has taken a Twilight turn to its detriment with the introduction of the werewolves. What originality there was in the beginning has been eroded with what seems to be a repetition of sub-plots from season 2. The King and Queen added nothing. Sookie discovering what sheI've been a fan of True Blood from season one but my interest has been thinning out with subsequent seasons. Season 3 has taken a Twilight turn to its detriment with the introduction of the werewolves. What originality there was in the beginning has been eroded with what seems to be a repetition of sub-plots from season 2. The King and Queen added nothing. Sookie discovering what she really is a let down and "f$%&ing lame" as she so aptly said.
    In essence, this show should either come to an end in Season 4 or be amped up. Season 3 while somewhat entertaining, will somehow end up disappointing.    … Expand
  5. Kibbles99
    Aug 30, 2010
    10
    The thing that makes True Blood remarkable is the energetic gulf between the supernatural and the mundane. Bon Temps is a fictional town fully stocked with the unremarkable and yet the characters are everything but (with only a few rare exceptions such as Marlene). It would be easy to be lulled by the background if someone's head wasn't being ripped off every few minutes. This is a townThe thing that makes True Blood remarkable is the energetic gulf between the supernatural and the mundane. Bon Temps is a fictional town fully stocked with the unremarkable and yet the characters are everything but (with only a few rare exceptions such as Marlene). It would be easy to be lulled by the background if someone's head wasn't being ripped off every few minutes. This is a town where a flamboyant, arrogant, homosexual, drug-dealing angry black man's tirade comes off as comic relief. I suppose the fact that every show begins with a woman screaming is just the writer's way of letting us know it's time to pay attention to the TV again. This excellent work functions as both social commentary and horror-fantasy of the highest order. It's as primal as Andy Bellefleur's advice to Jason Stackhouse: Dick on, conscience off. And everything IS alright!… Expand
  6. Jeremy
    Jun 14, 2010
    10
    I'm very excited that true blood has started. It is a fantastic show. I highly recommend it to any and everyone.
  7. JennetP
    Aug 29, 2010
    5
    When "True Blood" first aired, I worried that soap and silliness would prevail over weirdness and mystery, and it has. Sometimes Lafayette and Sam seem the only characters able to balance comedy and the uncanny, while everyone else devolves into sentimental caricature. Godric raised the bar for a bit in Season Two, then Maryann dropped it again, and it has stayed low throughout SeasonWhen "True Blood" first aired, I worried that soap and silliness would prevail over weirdness and mystery, and it has. Sometimes Lafayette and Sam seem the only characters able to balance comedy and the uncanny, while everyone else devolves into sentimental caricature. Godric raised the bar for a bit in Season Two, then Maryann dropped it again, and it has stayed low throughout Season Three so far. I don't see the werewolves contributing much, and, yes, I get that they represent an existential underclass and so illuminate the social stratification of the supernatural world. The King of Mississippi is a disappointment; with the exception of a single special effect, nothing about the performance reads 3,000 years old or hugely potent, where Godric and 1st-season Eric did give off flashes of ancient power. But the real heartbreaker for me is James Frain, normally a master of intelligent menace, who should have been allowed to raise Rutina Wesley's game and finally make her Tara interesting. Instead, they're locked in competition to see who can make sillier faces, as though the camera is a bored toddler in line at the grocery store. Bill and Lorena are just rehashing the same old grievance (albeit with more blood), and Pam, as usual, is undeservedly relegated to obscurity. Jessica, too, seems wasted, aside from a few pointless hijinks, and Eric's evil charisma has gone the way of his hair. As for our undead Romeo and mind-reading Juliet, I remain bored, as "Angel" and "Moonlight" exhausted what little interest I had in Pinocchio Vampires and their ambivalent human sweeties. Note to writers: vacillation does not equal drama. When I saw Stephen Moyer as a truly eerie bloodsucker in the first episode of "Ultraviolet" the other night, I realized how much more compelling Bill would be with an edge. Yeah, I know: his wickedness in the '30s is supposed to supply it, but it's too far in the past, too thoroughly regretted, and too blamed on Lorena to cast a psychic shadow. The show is supposed to be about a population that has just made peace with humanity after millennia of predation and fear; everything, even the comedy, should be darker.… Expand
  8. KundK
    Aug 28, 2010
    10
    After the relative lull of season 2, True Blood returns - now even bloodier and with 400% more Nazi werewolves, white trash shape shifters, fairies and mad gay vampire kings!
  9. ccstone
    Oct 31, 2010
    1
    Gruesomely bad. I loved season one, and thought season two was very good, but season three is just nauseating. It's patently obvious that neither Anna Paquin nor Stephen Moyer believe the lines they're reciting.
    Alan Ball must be off his meds...
  10. OwenH.
    Jun 14, 2010
    10
    My blood lust finally sated!
  11. AngelM.
    Jun 13, 2010
    10
    I love this show, its so hard to resist it, and after its over, you go through withdrawals. True Blood is a drug, but a healthy one.
  12. anlondubh
    Sep 6, 2010
    6
    I had heard that this is the first year that they were deviating totally from the Sookie Stackhouse books and it shows. It is sad but the show has lost a lot of its freshness and it is now following so many of the standard TV show conventions.
  13. 8-BitAssassin
    Nov 14, 2010
    8
    I was skeptical of this show considering how annoying I find the Twilight-esque teen vampire fad to be. After finally relenting, I sat down with some friends and watched the show and I can definitely say that it deviates enough from the overall vampire fad to be watchable. I'm afraid that season 4 will be a little too far-out to keep me interested, but it's still worth checking out for now.
  14. Juggernaut
    Mar 8, 2011
    10
    Remarkable show. Extremely well done, very creative. Great actors. Great fx. Awesome soundtrack. The plot is a little hard to follow with so many things going on, but definitely worth watching.
  15. ATMitchell99
    Jun 11, 2011
    5
    I explained this to my friend and he understood, but I am not sure you will but I am going to say it. Even though the show is American, this season became very American. The season is written well and after re-watching the season, I feel Russell to be a good antagonist and someone who we will see a lot more of, but they focused too much on the controversy and the "gruesomeness". The headI explained this to my friend and he understood, but I am not sure you will but I am going to say it. Even though the show is American, this season became very American. The season is written well and after re-watching the season, I feel Russell to be a good antagonist and someone who we will see a lot more of, but they focused too much on the controversy and the "gruesomeness". The head twist was so obviously fake and did they really need to have so many shots of people covered in blood. Still enjoyed it though.… Expand
  16. Kyl3Ruth
    Jun 27, 2011
    10
    I can't see others point. Russell was my favorite so far in True Blood, and I learned characters true motives. I couldn't wait to find out what happens next in season 4!
  17. viniciussawate
    Jun 26, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Season three loosely follows the plot of the third novel of The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Club Dead, and introduces werewolves to the show's mythology through Alcide, a werewolf hired by Eric to help Sookie find Bill. It also introduces the characters of Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi, who wishes to overturn the Vampire Authority. In addition, some characters from the fourth novel Dead to the World are introduced: Crystal Norris as Jason's love interest, her family of werepanthers from Hotshot, and Sookie's "faerie godmother", Claudine. Sookie's heritage as part faerie is also revealed later in the season, a major plot element from the eighth and ninth novels From Dead to Worse and Dead and Gone. This season ends with Jason left to take care of the werepanthers of Hotshot, Tara leaving Bon Temps after a traumatic experience with a vampire, Sookie discovering that Bill was first sent to Bon Temps by the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sam shooting his brother, Tommy, and Hoyt and Jessica moving in together. The final cliffhanger involves Claudine taking Sookie away to the land of Faerie.… Expand
  18. sabrasmith11
    Aug 12, 2010
    10
    True Blood tv show getting better & better as seasons coming along.True Blood faces very positive review from people.I mainly see the tv show online for free on iwatchtruebloodonline.com .This tv show rocks.
  19. TheBear
    Oct 13, 2010
    8
    It's remarkable that the show has continued to improve with each passing season and season 3 is an incredible ride. An outstanding performance from Denis O'Hare, True Blood season 3 is more gripping, more bloody than before. It loses a bit of pace towards the end however this is still a an outstanding vampire show.
  20. MikeK
    Sep 4, 2010
    3
    How the hell is this show on the same network that aired gems like The Wire, Deadwood, The Sopranos? Don't buy into the hype. True Blood is nothing more than a Lifetime Channel soap opera with more nudity, a show put on solely to milk the loathsome fad of vampire romance.
  21. SusieQ
    Sep 23, 2010
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing cast.

    Season 3 was definetly better than the second season. Season finale was a little disappointment compared to what the two episodes before that were promising. Mainly setup for the next season.    … Expand
  22. jennylaika
    Sep 6, 2010
    0
    Ugly actors, terrible show. A few of the supporting characters are worth watching but the main characters are annoying and should be either muted or avoided if you watch this show.
  23. tst
    Sep 4, 2010
    1
    absulutly shcoking

    the first seasonwas better
    definatly
    yours sincerly tst
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  24. truereview
    May 20, 2011
    2
    I really enjoyed True Blood Seasons One and Two. I began watching Season 3 with excitement but was quickly disappointed with the direction of things. Seems great emphasis is being placed on homosexual activity. Even amongst those characters that have had traditional heterosexual roles in earlier seasons. If HBO expects to keep their viewers they better stop the homo crap!!!
  25. mbishop
    Jun 9, 2011
    3
    I hate writing this. I was addicted to True Blood seasons 1 and 2. As I watch this season, I can't help feeling sad. It's laughably bad and I mean that I literally laugh out loud at the inane lines. There are way too many plot lines happening leaving no room for explanation of any of it. My wife and I will often look at each other in bewilderment at the new character who just appears forI hate writing this. I was addicted to True Blood seasons 1 and 2. As I watch this season, I can't help feeling sad. It's laughably bad and I mean that I literally laugh out loud at the inane lines. There are way too many plot lines happening leaving no room for explanation of any of it. My wife and I will often look at each other in bewilderment at the new character who just appears for no reason. Or the sheriff just suddenly quits. Shouldn't we see a few episodes of him getting more and more tired of his job first?

    The plot lines vacillate wildly back and forth and each plot-line is simply filled with conflict between characters and boring conflict at that. There are many writing mistakes in this season beginning with writing a character for which every scene is required to be inside the same house (the King). Also the plot hinges upon the structure of the merging of the vampire royal hierar.... schhnnnhhnnnnn

    The first two seasons were wonderful because we got to see the characters grow and become attached to each other. There was smart satire, sex, suspense, social-commentary, and mystery. This season has characters yelling at each other constantly that has me cheering when another character says to another "that's enough".

    It feels like it was written by high-school drama students.

    Hint to writers for Season 4. These are the characters I want to see developâ    … Expand
  26. sue66
    Nov 3, 2011
    4
    I was totally hooked with seasons 1 & 2 but season 3 is just silly, difficult to follow and bitty. we need to be back to the fantastic love story and triangle building between Sookie, Bill, and Eric. The whole story in 3 is nonsicle and hard to follow, who is double crossing who, who is truly bad and and who is just acting bad.
    I have gone from a 10 out of 10 to a 4/5. There is too much    I was totally hooked with seasons 1 & 2 but season 3 is just silly, difficult to follow and bitty. we need to be back to the fantastic love story and triangle building between Sookie, Bill, and Eric. The whole story in 3 is nonsicle and hard to follow, who is double crossing who, who is truly bad and and who is just acting bad.
    I have gone from a 10 out of 10 to a 4/5. There is too much script and scene jumping around. I love the jessica story and feel that should be developed more. having not read the books I can not compare but feel the writers should listen to the viewers, get back to the town and the old fashioned Bill and eric. However I do like the way we have found out a little more of sexy Erics past, that and HIM I can do more of.    … Expand
  27. Kit-KAT
    May 22, 2012
    10
    Can I have my review deleted, please? Thank you it is as follows:

    Back when True Blood started, it was a tale of vampire meets girl. Its premise sounded dull and not very intriguing, more so than any other show on HBO. It was also released amongst the still ongoing Twilight craze, people will still roll their eyes when they hear the word " vampire." True Blood had everything going    Can I have my review deleted, please? Thank you it is as follows:

    Back when True Blood started, it was a tale of vampire meets girl. Its premise sounded dull and not very intriguing, more so than any other show on HBO. It was also released amongst the still ongoing Twilight craze, people will still roll their eyes when they hear the word " vampire." True Blood had everything going against it, yet it still became a success. Why? It's mainly because it is more appealing in the way that it's more sophisticated than Twilight, it is a show with cleverness, depth, strong characters, dark comedy, and a strong sense of reality (this show constantly amuses itself and us by letting us know that it knows it is full of itself.) So then, why has the show gone from amazingly great to extremely bad? It's because it went in over its head; it turned into the exact opposite of what it was supposed to be. The show divides its time between story lines that aren't interesting, it has turned the characters into the stereotypes they were trying not to be, and the show became too full of itself and this time nobody is laughing. I've watched every episode of season three and I'm not saying that it changed for the worse, rather it just lost sight of what it means to be an actually good show, hopefully only for the moment. This was an off season, like the first eight episodes of season two were, but instead it dragged on for the whole season without any improvement. Hopefully Alan Ball, the creator of the show, will get things on track again with season four, but I am no longer eagerly waiting for summer, not after this season's extremely disappointing finale.    … Expand
  28. helohe
    Jun 22, 2011
    7
    I'm not a fan of vampire shows. But this one is probably the best out there. It has interesting characters and doesn't centre only on vampires. There are also other 'creatures' involved. What I didn't like was, that each season is one story the seasons themselves do not connect to a greater story line. also everything seems to be very linear, it is like watching someone play a computerI'm not a fan of vampire shows. But this one is probably the best out there. It has interesting characters and doesn't centre only on vampires. There are also other 'creatures' involved. What I didn't like was, that each season is one story the seasons themselves do not connect to a greater story line. also everything seems to be very linear, it is like watching someone play a computer game, where at the end they defeat the big monster.… Expand
  29. mgyukeri
    Jul 10, 2012
    9
    The third season of True Blood really shows that the writers have really mastered the villain, and it really shows in the quality of this season. Yes, Russel is a psycho vampire, but he has a personality that's equally (and impressively) as dark and deranged. Bill and Sookie are as dumb as ever, but True Blood's third season follows the show's tradition of improving season by season.
  30. Madee
    Aug 10, 2013
    8
    Ok, I must admit that this show is as addicting as taking V is to the characters. So maybe I'm a little biased. However, this takes vampire shows far away from the stupid, mundane, romantically moronic stage its been in in a great way. Yeah, the characters are ugly and lifelike I totally dig it! No sparkly images of vampire perfection here! the vamps are raw, gory, and brutal, but they'reOk, I must admit that this show is as addicting as taking V is to the characters. So maybe I'm a little biased. However, this takes vampire shows far away from the stupid, mundane, romantically moronic stage its been in in a great way. Yeah, the characters are ugly and lifelike I totally dig it! No sparkly images of vampire perfection here! the vamps are raw, gory, and brutal, but they're really just humans that have been around for a long time nothing too cheesy here. Maybe they just seem ugly because they look usually do look dead once in awhile there will be a shot of Bill or Eric where they're actually really hot, and its surprising. Maybe these actors are actually attractive in real life! I appreciate the show for how it combines the very real and lifelike settings and characters (you feel like you've met these people before) with the supernatural. Yeah, it can feel a little cluttered with new characters, and sometimes the attempt at suspense is obnoxious (like how long we have to wait to find out "what Sookie is," and the back and forth drama of whether or not Bill actually loves Sookie, if he can be trusted, etc.) In some places the show would have been better to stick with the stories in the book not so manipulated. Also annoying is Tara's tormented soul performance inner turmoil does not have to, and usually doesn't, play out on the face. That's why it's called "inner." And Thank You for not killing off Lafayette in the first book! He's one of the best characters yet. But even though I thought Sookie was annoying at first, I've grown to love her girlishness, her hot temper, her voracious sexual imagination and her larger than life confidence. Reminds me of some 20 some year old women I know!… Expand
  31. maisie
    Oct 10, 2013
    10
    Very addicting. Season three is really great. The only thing annoying about this season is the infuriating beginning of a love triangle, which is so over done.
  32. joao1198pedro
    Oct 19, 2013
    4
    this was the first bad season of true blood, after two good seasons the series fell quality with a terrible script, she started getting good there to the middle yet she was of low quality.
  33. Miyuki
    Dec 29, 2014
    7
    The more I think about it the more obvious it's gonna get - this is the season when it started to go wrong. Characters such as Sam and Tara were cut off from the main story and got some weird personal things to do. And the season's main arc itself went to nowhere as the season progressed.

    It's gonna sound weird, but what "True Blood" should have done in this season (Which itself isn't    The more I think about it the more obvious it's gonna get - this is the season when it started to go wrong. Characters such as Sam and Tara were cut off from the main story and got some weird personal things to do. And the season's main arc itself went to nowhere as the season progressed.

    It's gonna sound weird, but what "True Blood" should have done in this season (Which itself isn't bad, but affects the rest of the show) is to actually kill of some unimportant characters to make it feel like something matters or is at stake.    … Expand
  34. MorbidPig
    Aug 19, 2014
    8
    Season three isn't quite as entertaining as season two, but it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and theSeason three isn't quite as entertaining as season two, but it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and the result is a rather grand spectacle of comedy, action, horror, and fantasy. Just a warning, however, that this season ends on a rather ridiculous note, but it's not a major blow to season three overall. Worth watching in my book.… Expand
  35. fbtimes
    Mar 30, 2015
    8
    Season three is just as entertaining as season two, and it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and the resultSeason three is just as entertaining as season two, and it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and the result is a rather grand spectacle of comedy, action, horror, and fantasy. Just a warning, however, that this season ends on a rather ridiculous note, but it's not a major blow to season three overall. Worth watching in my book.… Expand
  36. fbtimesofficial
    Aug 17, 2015
    8
    Season three is just as entertaining as season two, and it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and the resultSeason three is just as entertaining as season two, and it's an improvement over season one as well. Too many new characters are introduced and it's hard to connect with them on a personal level, unlike a majority of the others present in the show. Nonetheless, True Blood still keeps its remarkable balance between great television and shallow mediocrity tipped in its favor and the result is a rather grand spectacle of comedy, action, horror, and fantasy.… Expand
  37. RETROBOTER
    Jul 10, 2016
    9
    You want vampire action for adults, beastly fights with werewolf's, witches and other mystical creatures? Then watch the 3rd Season of True Blood.

    Things getting complicated between Sookie and Bill, new Villains turn up and the vampires fight among themselves for the right to feed oneself by human. Sam recognizes the sad truth about his parents and his brother, the werewolf's, leaded by    You want vampire action for adults, beastly fights with werewolf's, witches and other mystical creatures? Then watch the 3rd Season of True Blood.

    Things getting complicated between Sookie and Bill, new Villains turn up and the vampires fight among themselves for the right to feed oneself by human. Sam recognizes the sad truth about his parents and his brother, the werewolf's, leaded by the vampire king getting murderous frenzy pushed by his strong blood. What is the next step of the authority? Find it out on Season 4!    … Expand
  38. Lucas565
    Jun 29, 2021
    10
    Uma das melhores séries que eu já assisti eu recomendo ela é maravilhosa mesmo

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best TV Season of 2010
19
#19 Most Discussed TV Season of 2010
61
#61 Most Shared TV Season of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    80
    The show, as fast-paced as ever, is crammed with subplots this season, some of which will be more engaging than others.
    Read full review
  2. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    75
    The discussion of vampire politics seems toothless at times, but True excels at setting up episode-ending cliffhangers. The episode pacing is superb.
    Read full review
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    75
    The werewolves appear ready to supply some interesting, if rough-edged stories, but certain Season 3 plots wouldn't be missed if they faded away.
    Read full review
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