In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, I’m joined by my wife, Sarah, as we head back to Bon Temps for a full retrospective on HBO’s True Blood. We look back at the series’ Southern Gothic atmosphere, the vampire boom of the late 2000s, and the characters who made the show unforgettable, including Sookie Stackhouse, Bill Compton, Eric Northman, Pam, Lafayette, Tara, Jason, and Jessica.

We also talk about the show’s strongest seasons, villains like Maryann and Russell Edgington, the arrival of witches, werewolves, faeries, and werepanthers, and whether True Blood eventually became too crowded with supernatural mythology. Along the way, we cover the rise of Billith, the Authority, and Lilith; the show’s use of religion, prejudice, addiction, sexuality, and politics; and whether the final season gave these characters the endings they deserved.

More than a decade after the series ended, does True Blood still hold up? Is it really a horror series, or is it equal parts vampire romance, supernatural soap opera, dark comedy, and Southern Gothic chaos? We also share our favorite characters, villains, storylines, biggest disappointments, and where True Blood ranks among vampire television shows.

If you’re a fan of True Blood, vampire horror, HBO horror series, Southern Gothic stories, or supernatural television, join us as we return to Bon Temps and remember one of the wildest vampire shows ever made.