10 Most Watched True Blood Episodes
We’re celebrating 10 years of True Blood this year with a series of special features. Click here to see the whole series and join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.
Today we’re looking back at the 10 most watched episodes of the show. Unsurprisingly, most of the episodes are from seasons 3 and 4, when True Blood was a pop culture phenomenon taking over magazine covers and heating up our summer nights.
Check out the list below, then tell us which of these 10 episodes is your favorite!
Note: We’re using Nielsen’s ratings which includes the number of viewers who watched on the original airdate only.
1. “Let’s Get Out of Here”
Episode: 4.09
Original airdate: August 21, 2011
Viewers: 5.53 million
Official Synopsis: Convalescing after her latest near-death trauma, Sookie envisions a world where there’s room for both Bill and Eric. Jesus tries to purge the restless spirit out of Lafayette; Marcus enlists Alcide to help him deal with the Sam situation; Bill and Nan Flanagan clash over their respective agendas; Hoyt asks Jason to make a delivery to Jessica. Despite Tara and Holly’s misgivings, Marnie plots her next move against the vampires, during a “Festival of Tolerance” event at Shreveport.
Why Did People Watch: This is the episode where Sookie, Bill, and Eric have sexy times! Except it was all a dream induced by Bill giving Sookie his blood to heal her near-fatal gunshot wound. Also in this episode, Tommy “skinwalks” as Sam to cause trouble, Lafayette channels a dead woman and kidnaps baby Mikey, and Sam and Luna hook up.
2. “Fresh Blood”
Episode: 3.11
Original airdate: August 29, 2010
Viewers: 5.44 million
Official Synopsis: Bill tries to earn back Sookie’s trust, but ends up bringing her face-to-face with fresh dangers. Knowing he’s no physical match for the King, Eric tempts Russell with the “ultimate vampire dream.” Jason tries to wrap his head around Crystal’s revelation. Sam embraces his dark side, alienating everyone except Tara. Hoyt and Jessica take their romance to the next level; with Holly’s help, Arlene puts her future in the hands of a goddess; post V-trip, Lafayette struggles with new demons.
Why Did People Watch: The penultimate episode of season 3, all the revelations from the previous episode (#4 on this list) start to have repercussions. Bill rescues Sookie from the Fangtasia basement where she’d been detained by Eric who thinks her faerie blood will allow vampires to daywalk. They are both captured by Eric and Russell, who proceed to drink Sookie’s blood and head out into the daylight – all part of Eric’s plan to kill Russell even if it means sacrificing himself. Meanwhile, a drunk, ragey Sam hooks up with Tara whose previously unrequited feelings blind her to his state of mind and pregnant Arlene goes to Holly for help ending the pregnancy – but the baby survives.
3. “She’s Not There”
Episode: 4.01
Original airdate: June 26, 2011
Viewers: 5.42 million
Official Synopsis: Sookie journeys away from Bon Temps; Eric and Bill try to win back the human public; Jason learns that no good deed goes unpunished; Tara finds refuge in close quarters; Sam bonds with his own; Hoyt and Jessica debate the dinner menu; Jesus urges Lafayette to join a coven; Terry tries to alleviate Arleneʼs fears about the baby.
Why Did People Watch: After a blockbuster season 3 when the show became a pop culture phenomenon, people were definitely curious about the season 4 premiere. The time jump allowed for a lot of character development on a show that typically covered 7-10 days in an entire season. We find out where Sookie’s been and what the rest of Bon Temp has been doing while she was gone
4. “I Smell a Rat”
Episode: 3.10
Original airdate: August 22, 2010
Viewers: 5.39 million
Official Synopsis: A reluctant Bill warns Sookie about the dangers she will face. Jesus is intrigued by the mysterious qualities of V. Sam’s recent fit of rage triggers dark memories. Eric takes precautions and fulfills a wish; Arlene turns to Holly for help with a pressing problem; Jason deals with the unexpected, with both Tara and Crystal; Jessica is torn between Tommy and Hoyt. After communing with Talbot, Russell promises to extract vengeance on his enemies.
Why Did People Watch: We get a lot of backstory and character revelations in this episode, including the big reveal that Sookie is part faerie. We also learn that Sam was a jewel thief and Crystal is a were-panther. This is an expository episode that sets up the final two episodes of the season (#2 and #5 on this list).
5. “Evil Is Going On”
Episode: 3.12
Original airdate: September 12, 2010
Viewers: 5.38 million
Official Synopsis: Eric grapples with his conscience while plotting his perfect revenge against Russell. Fed up with being “vampire crack,” Sookie considers a new life without Bill – or any other vampire. Tara discovers some surprising news about Sam, whose rage resurfaces upon learning of Tommy’s latest transgression. Jason finds a new calling after warning Crystal’s family about an impending drug raid. Plagued by visions, Lafayette turns to Jesus for help, and learns his boyfriend has more to offer than companionship. Hoyt hopes for a future with Jessica, spurning Maxine’s pleas to wed Summer.
Why Did People Watch: The season 3 finale was chock full of drama and surprises, including Tara discovering that Sam is a shapeshifter and subsequently leaving Bon Temps, Jason being left in charge of the residents of Hotshot, Hoyt proposing to Jessica, Lafayette discovering that Jesus is a brujo, Eric and Bill encasing Russell in concrete, Bill attempting to kill Eric who escapes and reveals to Sookie that Bill was sent to procure her for Sophie-Anne, Bill challenging Sophie-Anne to a duel, and Sookie choosing to join Claudine in the faerie realm in the cliffhanger ending. Whew.
6. “New World in My View”
Episode: 2.10
Original airdate: August 23, 2009
Viewers: 5.33 million
Official Synopsis: Sookie, Bill and Jason return to a Bon Temps turned upside down by Maryann. Lured to Merlotte’s by Arlene, Sam and Andy find cold comfort in their refuge from a group of bloodthirsty revelers. Bill discovers that traditional vampire techniques don’t work on Maryann; Hoyt and Jessica try to keep a lid on Maxine’s madness; and Sookie tries to push through the darkness consuming Tara. With all hell breaking loose, Jason takes the bull by the horns to rescue Sam, at least for the moment.
Why Did People Watch: This episode continues the storyline in Dallas and follows the death of Godric, a fan favorite and beloved sire of Eric. It also contains a pivotal moment in the Sookie/Eric relationship – she comforts him as he grieves for Godric, leading to them making love for the first time. Except! It’s all a dream, thanks to Eric tricking Sookie into ingesting his blood in the previous episode. Back in Bon Temps, Maryann has taken over the town. Jason, Sam, and Andy concoct an elaborate scheme to get the orgy out of Merlotte’s, which does work. When Bill and Sookie return from Dallas, they find the party has moved to Sookie’s home and, in then ensuing skirmish, Sookie’s non-telepathic power is revealed for the first time.
7. “Burning Down the House”
Episode: 4.10
Original airdate: August 28, 2011
Viewers: 5.31 million
Official Synopsis: As all hell breaks loose in Shreveport, Sookie summons her most potent powers yet to save Bill, in the process breaking a spell and leading Marnie to re-evaluate her mission. Jason urges Jessica to glamour him for Hoyt’s sake; Terry drags Andy to “Fort Bellefleur” for an intervention; Alcide reconsiders his allegiances after Marcus’ fight with Tommy. Jesus, accompanied by Sookie, Lafayette and Jason, tries to breach the Moongoddess Emporium’s defenses to liberate Tara and Holly, while Bill leads a brigade of vampires committed to blowing the place to kingdom come.
Why Did People Watch: Sookie breaks the spell on Eric as the war between witches and vampires intensifies. Marnie and her coven – including Holly, Tara, and Lafayette – stand against Bill, Eric, Pam, and Jessica at the Moon Goddess Emporium while Sookie and Jesus attempt to broker a truce.
8. “Spellbound”
Episode: 4.08
Original airdate: August 14, 2011
Viewers: 5.3 million
Official Synopsis: As Bill and Marnie brace for a dangerous midnight face-off, Sookie and Eric pledge their allegiance to the King. Jason is torn between friendship and passion, and Jessica is spurned from two homes. Lafayette becomes the pawn of a tormented spirit; Tommy takes a walk in someone else’s shoes; Sam contends with yet another adversary in Marcus, Luna’s ex and the leader of Alcide’s new pack.
Why Did People Watch: This was the episode with the reimagining of the famous Sookie and Eric “shower scene” from the books. It also ended with Sookie getting shot and Alcide trying to save her, which leads to the threesome scene in the next episode (“Let’s Get Out of Here”, number 1 on this list).
9. “Me and the Devil”
Episode: 4.05
Original airdate: July 24, 2011
Viewers: 5.26 million
Official Synopsis: Sookie nurtures Eric; Bill gets involved personally in the necromancy crisis; Pam takes the veil; Sam becomes Tommy’s accomplice; Arlene and Terry look to religion to solve their problem; Jesus and Lafayette head to Mexico to harness a shaman’s power; Jason convalesces.
Why Did People Watch: Eric, under Marnie’s spell, is staying with Sookie until Tara finds out and informs the amnesiac of all the wrongs he’s done against Sookie. We also encounter some long-dead characters: in separate dreams, Godric appears to Eric and Gran appears to Sookie. Meanwhile, Sam’s brother Tommy kills his father and accidentally kills his mother in a storyline fans never really embraced.
10. “Hitting the Ground”
Episode: 3.07
Original airdate: August 1, 2010
Viewers: 5.24 million
Official Synopsis: Imperiled by Lorena, Sookie goes to extremes in her attempt to save Bill – with unforeseen consequences. Sam infiltrates a dog-fighting ring to extricate Tommy from his parents’ greedy influence. Jason heads to jail to uncover the truth about Crystal; Summer makes a home-cooked play for Hoyt’s affections; Debbie vows revenge on Alcide; Eric uses Hadley as bait to get information from Sophie-Anne; Russell turns his back on the Authority, and on the Magister.
Why Did People Watch: The Lorena storyline comes to a head and Sookie stakes her with some help from Bill. The Magister storyline also concludes when Eric, Russell, and Sophie-Anne rescue Pam from Fangtasia then Russell forces The Magister to marry him and Sophie-Anne, consolidating their power, before Russell kills The Magister. We also see the fae for the first time when Sookie meets Claudine, setting up the season 3 finale and the storyline for season 4.
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