The last episode of the first season of True Blood is upon us and it looks like things could go off in a big way. Jason’s in jail, Tara is in the hands of the pig lady, Sookie broke it off with Bill, Amy the hippie is dead and Rene is the killer. Luckily for the fans, True Blood will be back with another season so its only a question of how far out the cliffhanger at the end of this season will go.

Renee knows that Sookie is on his tail and it certainly seems as though he’s gonna take her down ASAP. The scene is set for a crescendo. Sookie is driving somewhat nuts by the sounds of all the townspeople’s thoughts and decides to be alone for a while. Rene approaches her after sabotaging her truck. He offers her a ride home and once their back at Sookie’s house its only a matter of time. Sam smells the scent of the killer on Rene’s work clothes, transforms into a dog and runs to help. At the same moment, Sookie has a vision and realizes that Rene has come to kill her. Bill’s connection with Sookie is reawakened but as its daylight he begins to burn as he trudges out into the sun and tries to come to her aid. Sam makes it in time to stop Rene, but in his dog form. Bill awakens Sooke just before he’s melted by the sunlight and Sookie drives a shovel right through Rene’s neck, killing him. Its as grotesque as you’d imagine, but Sam leaps into naked action burying Bill in an attempt to save him.

Andy the dumb ass sheriff if forced to let Jason go as its been proven that Rene is the killer. Its a nice moment of comeuppance for Andy, though I’m worried that the embarrassment will drive him nuts.

Tara wakes up in the comfy guest bed and waited on by Maryanne the pig lady’s butler. Tara lounges by the pool and relaxes for the first time all season. A handsome guitar playing man tries to put her mind even more at ease. We see Maryanne communing with a pig in the yard. It becomes clear that Maryanne is also a shape shifter and has some prior connection with Sam. She’s been looking for him and he’s clearly scared of her.

Bill heals in his Sam made grave and he visits Sookie. She turns down the quick heal of his blood, but the two end up in each other arms again. She’s such a child and this scene is just absolute drivel.

Suddenly, we get the two week later tag. The town is getting back to normal. LaFayette has disappeared after Bill fed on him, and I tell you this, if Lafayette is gone permanently this show is gonna be on life support.  Eric the boring returns Bills annoying vampire girl, throwing a monkey wrench into his new happy life with Sookie. Sam appears to making a run for it as he’s loading up all his cash.

There’s also a new body found in Sherrif Andy’s car as the credits roll on the end of the first season. As end of season enders go it was pretty tame. I propably expected too much from a series that wasn’t sure of its fate when it fiished shooting. There is a lot of ground left to cover and a lot of big plot points dangling out there, so next season should be pretty interesting. On the whole, the first season of True Blood was entertaining. I was surprised at how shallow it was considering all the build up that was given regarding the allegorical qualities of the civil rights of vampires. The series saved itself though, with great performances by Amy the hippie, Eddie Lafayette and Tara and the occasional trip to the goth bar.