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The Best Episodes of True Blood Season 1

Every episode of True Blood Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of True Blood Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 39m•Peaking at 8.5/10

Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed overnight from legendary monsters to fellow citizens. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    True Blood Season 1 Episode 12 - You'll Be the Death of Me
    8.5/10(2302 votes)

    S1:E12

    Sookie finds a link to the string of killings in Bon Temps; Tara wants to make the most of her second chance; Jason finds a new calling; Bill tempts fate; Sam is upset by an encounter with an old acquaintance.

    Director:Alan Ball
    Writer:Raelle Tucker

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  2. True Blood Season 1 Episode 10 - I Don't Wanna Know
    8.3/10(2161 votes)

    S1:E10

    Sam shares a secret with Sookie; Lettie Mae and Tara celebrate; Jason and Amy debate what to do with Eddie; Bill faces a harsh penalty.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Chris Offutt

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  3. True Blood Season 1 Episode 5 - Sparks Fly Out
    8.2/10(2406 votes)

    S1:E5

    Bill wins over Adele's church group with his vivid recollections from the Civil War; Sam reveals his feelings to Sookie; Jason gives vampire blood another shot with the help of Lafayette, and hurts Tara in the process.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Alexander Woo

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  4. True Blood Season 1 Episode 9 - Plaisir D'Amour
    8.1/10(2171 votes)

    S1:E9

    Bill must pay a steep price for protecting Sookie; Jason and Amy break a taboo; Tara consults with Miss Jeanette about exorcising her inner demon; Bill enlists an unlikely bodyguard.

    Director:Anthony Hemingway
    Writer:Brian Buckner

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  5. True Blood Season 1 Episode 11 - To Love Is to Bury
    8.1/10(2086 votes)

    S1:E11

    Sookie and Sam investigate her most recent vision; Jason helps clean up Amy's mess; Tara becomes angry with Lettie Mae; Lafayette visits a senator.

    Director:Nancy Oliver
    Writer:Nancy Oliver

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  6. True Blood Season 1 Episode 4 - Escape from Dragon House
    8.0/10(2498 votes)

    S1:E4

    One of the barmaids from Merlotte's is murdered and all signs point to Jason as her killer. Also evident is the fact that she had been around vampires, and Sookie knows just where to go to find out who the girl had been with. Bill introduces Sookie to Fangtasia, the biggest vampire bar in Shreveport, and Eric, the oldest vampire in Shreveport. Her search could lead her into territory she never thought she'd cover.

    Director:Michael Lehmann
    Writer:Brian Buckner

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  7. True Blood Season 1 Episode 6 - Cold Ground
    8.0/10(2354 votes)

    S1:E6

    Sookie seeks refuge from her friends' and neighbors' inner voices; Jason wrestles with withdrawal symptoms; Tara's mother needs her help; Sam and Tara make a connection.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writer:Raelle Tucker

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  8. True Blood Season 1 Episode 7 - Burning House of Love
    8.0/10(2283 votes)

    S1:E7

    Sookie's painful childhood revelation spurs Bill into action; Tara agrees to pay for an exorcism for Lettie Mae; Jason travels to Fangtasia in search of V juice.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Chris Offutt

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  9. True Blood Season 1 Episode 8 - The Fourth Man in the Fire
    7.9/10(2209 votes)

    S1:E8

    Sookie tries to hold herself together in the wake of another possible tragedy; Tara lashes out at Sookie and Sam; Amy charms the crowd at Merlotte's.

    Director:Michael Lehmann
    Writer:Alexander Woo

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  10. True Blood Season 1 Episode 1 - Strange Love
    7.8/10(3816 votes)

    S1:E1

    Across the country, vampires have “come out of the coffin” following the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood. In Louisiana, Sookie Stack house, a waitress with telepathic abilities, falls under the spell of sexy, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton whose thoughts she can’t read. After saving Bill from the Rat trays, a pair of ruthless “vampire drainers”, Sookie tests the limits of Bill’ s gratitude when the two are left alone in the dark. Meanwhile, Sookie’ s best friend Tara goes to work for Sam merlette at his bar and grill, while Sookie’ s roguish brother Jason finds himself in hot water when a “fang-banger” with whom he’s been intimate meets a tragic end.

    Director:Alan Ball
    Writer:Alan Ball

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  11. True Blood Season 1 Episode 2 - The First Taste
    7.8/10(2815 votes)

    S1:E2

    After Sookie gets saved by Bill she suffers a lot of injuries and Bill tries to save her "the Vampire way". The next day her brother is released from police custody and the bodies of Sookie's attackers are found. Later that day Bill goes to visit Sookie's family and gets a not so friendly welcome.

    Directors:Alan Ball, Scott Winant
    Writer:Alan Ball

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  12. True Blood Season 1 Episode 3 - Mine
    7.7/10(2592 votes)

    S1:E3

    Tara visits LaFayette seeking comfort from her woes, Sookie meets some of Bill's rowdy friends and saves them from harm from a human among them, and, Sookie and Hugo visit the Church of the Fellowship of the Sun.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Alan Ball

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"You'll Be the Death of Me" is the best rated episode of "True Blood" season 1. It scored 8.5/10 based on 2302 votes. Directed by Alan Ball and written by Raelle Tucker, it aired on 11/23/2008. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "I Don't Wanna Know".