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True Blood Season 1 Episode 1

Strange Love

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8.3

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 9/7/08

The series opens with two young adults driving down the road past a store sign advertising Tru Blood. They stop at the store and after a short confrontation with a vampire they take off. Next, Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress at a local bar notices a vampire who walks in and sits down in a booth. After locking eyes with the vampire she confronts him about what he'd like to order. The vampire asks for Tru Blood but due to a lack of local vampire patrons there isn't any in stock. Later Sookie runs out of the bar after the vampire and two people that lured him outside. She finds the two draining the blood from the vampire. Vampire blood is known to enhance the healing process in humans and give a bit of a sex boost. Sookie saves the vampire, who introduces himself as Bill.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (42)

my reveiw at 14 years

8.5

By canadianlady, Jun 15, 2013

the first episode sets you up knowing what the entire series will be like and if you dont like it switch it off i watched it with my mum first time at the age of 13 now im obsessed with it its an amazing program
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Blood, Sex and Fangs

7.5

By pretty_sure, Jun 22, 2012

I know I'm about 4 years late to the True Blood party, but I never liked vampires. I thought this show would be like a more violent and naked version of Twilight. I extremely regret thinking that. From the first scene at the GrabbitKwik I knew this would be my kind of show. It wasn't the best, but it was very good, and better than I ever expected from a pilot. The episode was well acted and, in a few parts, had me on the edge of my seat. The best part was the chemistry between Sookie and Bill, they played off eachother well and have a very strong sexual tension. All-in-all this was a great start to the show, and I can't wait to see what's next.moreless
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Found it dizzying, and then left wondering "is that it?". Hope it will grow on me, looks like with more information, it could be a great show. Could do with less sex scenes, and more character building.moreless

4.5

By Jacstar, Jan 23, 2011

I don't know, I was left a little disappointed. Maybe I just wanted to get on with the "Vampire" aspect of the the show, and it left me unsatisfied and frustrated. Felt the characters were too sterio typed, or is that all the people in the south do? Drink and stick their genitals in anything possible, the sicker the better? Is sex TRULY the be all and end all of every southern born person? Sookie seemed like there was more too her, but everything else drowned her out. In amongst the sex, it caused her to seem prudish or naive, instead of truly pure. Bill, while trying to look like the brooding vampire came across as tired or weary. Take out the soft porn and the drinking, there was about 15 minutes left for Character building. Will give the next few episodes a try, if still nothing, might try the books.

Maybe I should just try and be patient, and the characters will grow on me.moreless
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Not bad, not great I reserve judgement till episode two. There was plenty to like though.

6.7

By SMGslayer97, Jan 23, 2011

As a rule I don't generally expect to much from pilots because they are never really a good indicator of what a show could be or even can become as time goes by. The first episode of True Blood has a lot of typical pilot qualities, they spend a lot of time explaining vampires place in the world and what they are capable above (the stuff about tru blood, etc.) which is all great it works well but it does feel a tiny bit slowed paced at time, all explination nothing to detailed or even anything beyond that. But for a pilot I give it it's credit. It explained everything very well and more importantly interestingly. The characters were also introduced well. I'm not overly fond of Sookie yet but I like her well enough to hope that Bill comes to her rescue. I love Bill, the cast him well and he is very believeable as the old school vampires of lore we are all so used to. I also like the character of Sam, I hope he is a big part of the show because I think honestly their story is with Sookie, Bill and Sam. I thought the episode itself was as I said a bit of a typical pilot, a big introduction the series and not much else but the ending was an interesting choice. In some ways it was great because it makes us all want to watch if for no other reason then to make sure Sookie is okay and possibly who saves her in other ways I thought it was an odd place to end the episode, just because it doesn't exactly fit with the pilot feel of the rest of the episode. But that is a good thing when you really look at it, at least I think so. Overall A for effort, B- for final presentaion but I will be watching episode two.moreless
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The introduction to world where vampires are "out of the coffin" and a young waitress called Sookie with telepathic ability falls for an age old vampire called Bill..

4.0

By boywunda, Jan 23, 2011

The pilot episode opens with interesting premise that vampires are semi-integrated into society and no longer feed on humans, and have their blood lust fulfilled by drinking synthetic blood designed in japan.. we are introduced to Sookie who has the ability to read thoughts, ably played by X-Men's Anna Paquin.. her little diner in a quiet town hasn't seen any vampires, that is until Bill strolls in one evening. Sookie finds that she is unable to read his thoughts and strangely drawn to him. After rescuing Bill from a couple seeking to drain his blood to sell on the black market.. Bill is now drawn to her as a feels Sookie is a little more than human.. The basic storyline is slow moving with Paquin's performance holding your interest throughout, although the same cant be said of Stephen Moyer's portrayal of Bill, his phoned-in performance fails to spark any interest in his character.. Hopefully his character will have more personality injected into him as the series progresses.. he certainly cannot hold a torch to previous TV vampires, such as David Boreanaz's Angel..moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Anna Paquin	Sookie Stackhouse
Stephen Moyer	Bill Compton
Ryan Kwanten	Jason Stackhouse
Sam Trammell	Sam Merlotte
Rutina Wesley	Tara Thornton
Chris Bauer	Detective Andy Bellefleur

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Josh Kelly	Frat Boy	Guest Star
Danielle Sapia	Maudette Pickens	Guest Star
Jessica Stroup	Kelly	Guest Star
Jessica Tuck	Nan Flanagan	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (5)
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- When Sookie comes home from work the first night, her grandmother is reading Last Scene Alive, written by Charlaine Harris who also wrote the Sookie Stackhouse books "True Blood" is based on.
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- The camo-clad hunter/vampire purchases the synthetic drink "Tru Blood" in the form of a 4-pack of bottles. Typically wine coolers are sold in 4-packs, beer is generally sold in 6-packs. The tag line for "Tru Blood" is "Real Blood is for suckers!"
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- Vampire Bill Compton is 173 years old.
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- The frat boy and sorority girl, Kelly, pull over at the "GrabbitKwik" convenience store. Maudette Pickens, the murdered woman, is mentioned to be an employee at "GrabbitKwik".
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- Nan Flanagan of the American Vampire League is shown on television doing an interview with Bill Maher. Bill Maher is host of the talk show Real Time with Bill Maher which also airs on HBO.
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QUOTES (17)
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- Lafayette: (Thinking about Sookie joining Vampire Bill at his table) Looks like she likes 'em tall dark and dead.
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- Sookie: I am NOT psychic!
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- (Customer snaps his fingers to get Tara's attention for a drink)
  Tara: Uh-oh do... do not snap at me. I have a name. And that name is Tara. Isn't that funny a black girl being named after a plantation. No I don't think it's funny at all. In fact it really pisses me off that my momma was either stupid or just plain mean. Which is why you better be nice if you plan on getting a drink tonight.
  Customer: Sorry.
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- (Discussing hookers who specialize in vampires)
  Gran: Wonder how much one would charge for something like that?
  Jason: A thousand bucks.
  Sookie: See, now that just makes me sick.
  Gran: I know. What kind of cheap woman could ever do something like that?
  Sookie: No it makes me sick that they're getting a thousand bucks to lay there and do nothing while I bust my ass for ten bucks an hour plus tips.
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- Vampire Bill: Vampires often turn on those who trust them you know. We don't have human values like you.
  Sookie: Well, humans turn on those who trust them too.
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- Denise: You don't wanna be on my bad side.
  Sookie: I'm not so sure you even have another side you no-account backwoods trash.
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- Sookie: What can I do for ya'll tonight?
  Mack: (Thinking) You can wrap your sweet lips around my slim reaper.
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- Woman in bar: (Looking at the man with her thinking) Don't you dare gripe about me eatin' fries. Not after what I did for you last night in the bedroom. Which, by the way, was disgusting. Although I kind of enjoyed it.
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- Camo-clad vampire: (To the clerk who pretended to be a vampire) You ever pretend to be one of us again and I'll kill ya. Got it?
  Clerk: Yeah.
  Vampire: (Flashing fangs) Have a nice day now.
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- Sookie: (Realizing there is a vampire in the bar) I have been waiting for this moment since they came out of the coffin two years ago.
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- Teenager: (Thinking) What the hell is this music? Man, I can not wait to get the hell out of this podunk town.
  Sookie: (Responding to the teen's thoughts as if he spoke out loud) Well make sure you do, and before it's too late. Because every year you wait you just get more and more stuck here. Believe me, I know.
  Teenager: (Thinking) How'd she know what I was thinking. That's weird.
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- Nan: We're citizens. We pay taxes. We deserve basic Civil Rights just like everyone else.
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- Lafayette: Hey, Hookah. How you doin'? what are you doing here?
  Tara: I work here.
  Lafayette: Oh, no the hell you don't!
  Tara: Oh, yes the hell I do too, you ugly bitch.
  Lafayette: Shit. Sam must've lost his damned mind because you should not be allowed to work in no situation where you actually have to interact with the people.
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- Jason: I hooked up with Maudette last night, we had sex. That's all.
  Andy: How would you characterize the sex?
  Jason: Eh, it was okay.
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- Tara: If I did work here...
  Sam: It would only be a matter of time before you went off on somebody. I don't wanna drive my customers away.
  Tara: I only go off on stupid people.
  Sam: Most of my customers are stupid people.
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- Sookie: (Covering her neck with silver) I'm not a total fool.
  Bill: Oh, but you have other very juicy arteries. There is one in the groin that is a particularly favorite of mine.
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- Tara: My life sucks.
  Sookie: Tara, don't you be feelin' sorry for yourself. That's just lazy.
  Tara: But why can't I keep a job?
  Sookie: Maybe because you can't keep your mouth shut.
  Tara: Bitch, who asked you?
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NOTES (8)
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- Special billing is given to Bill Maher (Special Guest Star) and P.J. O'Rourke (Special Guest Star) for this episode.
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- International Episode Titles:
  Czech Republic: Podivná láska (Strange Love)
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- This episode won both the 2009 Artios for "Outstanding Achievement in Casting-Television Pilot-Drama", and the 2009 Eddie Award for "Best Edited One-Hour Series For Non-Commercial Television". Plus, the opening credits were nominated for the 2009 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Main Title Design", and the scene where Bill meets Sookie won that same award for "Best Breakthrough Performance".
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- In the original pilot, an unidentified woman is seen in the woods overlooking the fight between Sookie and Mack. It is implied that the unidentified woman is responsible for the telekinetic choking of Mack.
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- International airdates:
  -Canada: September 7, 2008 on HBO Canada.
  -Denmark; Finland; Norway; Sweden: October 22, 2008 on Canal+ Scandinavia.
  -Spain: December 4, 2008 on Canal+ Spain.
  -France: December 23, 2008 on Orange Cinemax.
  -Portugal: December 23, 2008 on MOV.
  -Israel: January 6, 2009 on Yes Stars Action.
  -Brazil: January 18, 2009 on HBO.
  -Latin America: January 18, 2009 on HBO Latinoamerica Este.
  -Belgium: February 1, 2009 on be.tv.
  -Czech Republic; Hungary; Slovakia: February 3, 2009 on HBO.
  -Bulgaria; Croatia; Moldova; Montenegro; Romania; Serbia; Slovenia: February 6, 2009 on HBO.
  -Poland: February 7, 2009 on HBO.
  -Asia: February 9, 2009 on HBO Asia.
  -Australia: February 10, 2009 on Showcase.
  -South Africa: February 10, 2009 on M-Net.
  -Italy: April 27, 2009 on Fox.
  -Germany: May 11, 2009 on 13th Street.
  -Russia: June 5, 2009 on Fox Life.
  -United Kingdom: July 17, 2009 on FX.
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- Actress Brook Kerr was originally hired to play the part of Tara Thornton. Rutina Wesley replaced Brook after two episodes. The first two episodes were redone with Rutina in the role of Tara.
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- Featured Music:
  
  -Y'All Think She'd Be Good to Me by CC Adcock
  -Goodbye Good Lookin' by Robbie Fulks
  -Soulful Garage by Southern Culture on the Skids
  -The Dreaming Dead by Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter
  -Strange Love by Slim Harpo
  -Lake Charles by Lucinda Williams
  -Still Beating by Josh Ritter
  -Dang Good Stuff by Kim Lenz and Her Jaguars
  -Stumble and Pain by Joseph Arthur
  -Bones by Little Big Town
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- Tagline: Thou Shall Not Crave Thy Neighbor.
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- HBO
  
  Arlene: Honey, if Rene tells you you're too young to watch a scary movie on HBO then I'm siding with him.
  
  Arlene mentions HBO which is the station that True Blood airs on.
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- Hustler
  
  Jason: You know I read in Hustler that everybody should have sex with a vampire at least once before they die.
  
  Hustler is a monthly adult magazine published in the United States. It was first published in July 1974 by Larry Flynt.
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- Katrina
  
  Clerk: New Orleans is a mecca for the vampire.
  Frat Boy: Even after Katrina?
  
  Hurricane Katrina is one of the 5 deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. In August, 2005 the hurricane devastated the city of New Orleans in Louisiana where the television series is set.
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