Based on the novels by Charlaine Harris, HBO's series True Blood started off strong, as an exciting blend of fantasy and politics set in a small Louisiana town. The promising series began in the summer of 2007, but quickly disappointed as the seasons progressed, sucking itself dry of intellect, and becoming simply drama and sex-obsessed, too much like other sensationalist vampire television shows.

The politics of how humans and vampires could live together in a civilized manner-paralleling similar issues in the gay and racial minority communities-were left by the wayside in favor of more fantastical storylines, clouding the show's potential. This summer, True Blood celebrated its sixth season on HBO, a season that, once again, did not live up to its potential.

Throughout the show, Bill's (Stephen Moyer) character has seen significant change, beginning as a brooding and sweet local vamp, and then transforming into an arrogant, intolerant vampire king. Moyer's ability as an actor to play both sides of the coin is something to be appreciated.

His character effortlessly changes from being loved to being despised, and in season six, viewers see him regress into a version of his old self. Possessed by the vampire god Lilith (Jessica Clark), Bill is made to do her bidding.

At the end of season five, Bill rose to the height of his conceit when he drank Lilith's holy blood. Moving into season six, a still impossible Bill realizes that he has taken his power too far, and finally, struggles to do the right thing.

Meanwhile, Governor Burrell (Arliss Howard) declares war on all vampires. He takes over the TruBlood factories in Louisiana, poisoning the drinks with "Hep-V," and creates test and torture facilities for vampires. This storyline could have truly turned the show around for the better; it brings back the political edge the show lost sight of. However, it falls short: Governor Burrell is too comical and irrational to be an authentic leader and is unable to swing the show back on track.

The season finale, called "Radioactive," (named for Imagine Dragons' hit song, which plays during the credits) aired on August 18. Though one of the season's better episodes, it still failed to grab the audience with the same gripping suspense seen in the first season. The possessed Bill loses all of his godly powers and returns to a normal, slightly dazed state of mind after freeing the vampires from their prison.

He feels a great deal of remorse for how horrible he has been to Sookie (Anna Paquin) and when Lilith leaves Bill, he says, "It came at a price." He has a far away look in his eye and we get a glimpse of that altruistic hero who was present in the first few seasons when he was Vampire Bill of Bon Temps. And, with that side of Bill, inevitably comes his love for Sookie.

The introduction of werewolves into the show led to an unfortunate number of additional magical creatures. But there was one positive aspect, Alcide (Joe Manganiello). Alcide was the good, safe guy Sookie needed in her life. He was a big hulking pile of good-natured, raw man. Though Sookie was preoccupied most of the time, she and Alcide had tense and erotic chemistry.

Jumping ahead six months, we find them in a committed relationship, a relationship that now seems "normal" and boring.

Another interesting twist, Sam (Sam Trammell), a shifter, has been elected mayor of Bon Temps, a highly unlikely scenario as most of the humans are living in fear of anything that is not human. Not only is Sam mayor, but he asks that the humans to enter into an agreement with local vampires to ensure everyone's protection from the growing group of Hep-V infected vampires.

In exchange for protection, the healthy vampire will be able to feed on humans. Humans are protected and vampires are fed. Everyone wins.
All those who agree to enter into this agreement gather together for a barbecue complete with grilled alligator so the vampires and humans can mingle to find their match. At the barbecue Tara (Rutina Wesley) is approached by her mother Lettie Mae Daniels (Adina Porter).

The two go to a secluded area where Lettie begs Tara to let her make up for all of those years of neglect. "Let me nourish my baby girl," she says. 

After intensely staring at her mother, Tara kneels down and violently and erotically feeds on her mother. Tara's relationship with her alcoholic, abusive mother was one of the very real issues that set True Blood apart from most other television shows in the fantasy genre.

This scene is the kind of quality we saw in season one. It portrays an overflow of raw emotion that is not ruined with cheesy dialogue, rather spoken through action, which was a key component of True Blood's initial success. But the moment does not last long.
Sookie and Alcide are just leaving the barbecue when Bill shows up and offers Sookie his protection. Old tension between Bill and Alcide immediately begins to bubble, but their macho growling is cut short when they both smell something. A group of infected vampires emerges through the trees, thirsty for blood.

The season ends with the prospect of a vampire-zombie apocalypse as Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" plays over credits. AMC's The Walking Dead meets The CW's Vampire Diaries?

The war between humans and vampires is set aside and they now have a common enemy as True Blood gears up for its seventh season, making it HBO's longest running show yet.
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