True Blood

:

Season 5
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 7, 2008
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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Critic Reviews

  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    Jun 8, 2012
    100
    They've added a new element that makes it something I can finally (I'm sorry) sink my teeth into. They've added politics as blood sport.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Jun 7, 2012
    100
    Summer TV at its witty, riveting best.
  3. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Jun 6, 2012
    100
    A densely packed, well-paced gothic horror soap with surprisingly funny twists placed at the worst.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Jun 14, 2012
    83
    What starts out lean and mean can grow flabby and sentimental, and flaws can turn into handsome plot twists. Which is one reason to just bite down hard and go with the show.
  6. Denver Post
    Reviewed by: Joanne Ostrow
    Jun 8, 2012
    80
    Beneath the craziness and violence are some great character studies, meditations on the nature of humanity, clever social commentary, fun flashbacks to vampire lives in past centuries and, as always, cable-ready hard bodies.
  7. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Jun 8, 2012
    80
    True Blood is well on its way to staking its claim yet again as the summer guilty pleasure with TV's bawdiest bite.
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jun 6, 2012
    80
    Series creator Alan Ball and company have assembled a solid ensemble and instilled such a cheeky attitude the show remains great fun, and clearly benefits from being back on a better-directed course.
  9. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Lori Rackl
    Jun 8, 2012
    75
    While politics come into play later, it is human emotions such as grief, regret and loss that fans can look forward to sinking their teeth into at the start of the season.
  10. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Jun 5, 2012
    75
    The show is still crazily entertaining. [11 Jun 2012, p.41]
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  11. Salon
    Reviewed by: Willa Paskin
    Jun 8, 2012
    70
    It's with much appreciation that I report that Season 5 of True Blood is not about the introduction of any new magical creatures (though the fairies are up to some B-story shenanigans), but the long-discussed Authority, the seven-member governing body of all vampires everywhere.
  12. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    Jun 8, 2012
    60
    Silly doesn't even begin to describe most of what goes on in the first few episodes....And yet, like an addiction to free-range hemoglobin, there's something undeniably compelling about the characters, human and otherwise, in a series whose plotting grows more twisted every year.
  13. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Phillip Maciak
    Jun 11, 2012
    50
    True Blood has never been a show with a conscience, so it's awkward watching it try to get one in a hurry.
  14. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jun 8, 2012
    50
    There's still some fun to be had watching True Blood but it offers more soap than satire or social commentary these days.
  15. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Jun 11, 2012
    25
    The first four episodes of Season 5 find True Blood at its most directionless and meandering.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best TV Season of 2012
24
#24 Most Discussed TV Season of 2012
97
#97 Most Shared TV Season of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 181 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 125 out of 181
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 181
  3. Negative: 29 out of 181
  1. Igonge
    Jun 13, 2012
    5
    There are still too many characters to care about. This is what season 4 suffered from. I think they need to slow down a little bit and cutThere are still too many characters to care about. This is what season 4 suffered from. I think they need to slow down a little bit and cut the number of storylines because the show has become too fast paced.… Full Review »
  2. hennarinse
    Jun 13, 2012
    0
    An utterly unwatchable episode, filled with cheesy dialogue, recycled plot twists, and tired characters that no amount of gratuitous nudity onAn utterly unwatchable episode, filled with cheesy dialogue, recycled plot twists, and tired characters that no amount of gratuitous nudity on the part of the comely cast can overcome.… Full Review »
  3. theatreshorror
    Jun 23, 2012
    2
    This Show is based off a really good series of books. Season one was fantastic in sticking to the storyline. Now 4 seasons later in season 5 iThis Show is based off a really good series of books. Season one was fantastic in sticking to the storyline. Now 4 seasons later in season 5 i use the therm "based" loosely. The Series has strayed from the original storyline and flew off in it's own direction. I'm NOT happy about it and don't wish to continue watching something that has gone so far from the original story. If you have seen the show but not read the books, don't read past book one.… Full Review »
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