In Bon Temps, Louisiana, telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse meets Bill Compton, a vampire, and is drawn into his dangerous world. Sookie wants a normal life but finds herself protecting Bill, while he seeks to understand and protect her. Her brother, Jason, struggles with addiction and legal troubles.

The season's core conflict revolves around a series of murders in Bon Temps, with vampires and humans alike becoming victims. Sookie and Bill investigate, uncovering a conspiracy that puts them both in grave danger. Key turning points include Gran's murder, Bill being forced to turn Jessica into a vampire, and the shocking revelation that Rene is the serial killer.

The season concludes with Sookie confronting and killing Rene, and Bill returning to her side. Jason finds a new path with the Fellowship of the Sun, and Tara embraces a new, potentially dangerous, influence.

Season 1 of True Blood covers episodes 1-12. Here's everything that happened:

Season 1, Episode 1: Strange Love - In Bon Temps, Louisiana, telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse meets vampire Bill Compton at Merlotte's bar. She saves him from vampire blood drainers, the Rattrays. Meanwhile, Sookie's brother, Jason, is arrested for the murder of Maudette. After work, Sookie is brutally attacked by the Rattrays seeking revenge.

Season 1, Episode 2: The First Taste - Bill saves Sookie from the Rattrays, giving her his blood to heal her. Jason is released when Maudette's video reveals she was alive after their encounter. Sookie invites Bill to meet her family, and they share a kiss. The Rattrays are found crushed to death in their trailer. Rev. Newlin, an anti-vampire activist, dies in an accident.

Season 1, Episode 3: Mine - Bill claims Sookie as his to protect her from other vampires, causing tension. Jason's sexual encounter with Dawn is ruined by vampire hallucinations; later, Dawn is found dead. Tara finds solace with Lafayette after a fight with her mother. Sookie, disturbed by the vampire world, asks Bill to leave, fearing she'll never connect with a human.

Season 1, Episode 4: Escape from Dragon House - Jason is arrested again after Dawn's murder. Tara provides a false alibi, while Jason overdoses on V, leading to a painful medical emergency. Sookie, urged by Gran, asks Bill to take her to Fangtasia, a vampire bar, where she meets Eric. A police raid interrupts their investigation. On the way home, Bill and Sookie are stopped by a cop. The episode concludes with Bill using his powers on the officer.

Season 1, Episode 5: Sparks Fly Out - Bill recounts his Civil War experiences at the Descendants of the Glorious Dead meeting. Sookie and Sam's date ends poorly, with Sam acting aggressively. Jason abuses vampire blood, causing Tara concern. The episode concludes with Sookie returning home to find Gran murdered. Bill remembers being turned into a vampire.

Season 1, Episode 6: Cold Ground - Grieving Gran's death, Sookie is overwhelmed by the townsfolk's thoughts at the funeral and lashes out in anger. Jason struggles with V withdrawal and punches Andy. Tara and Sam connect, while Sookie seeks solace with Bill. The episode concludes with Sookie inviting Bill to bite her.

Season 1, Episode 7: Burning House of Love - Sookie reveals her molestation by Uncle Bartlett, prompting Bill to murder Bartlett. Tara pays for Lettie Mae's exorcism. Jason seeks V and meets Amy. Rednecks torch the vampire house, incinerating Malcolm, Diane, and Liam. Bill agrees to rejoin his old vampire friends to protect Sookie.

Season 1, Episode 8: The Fourth Man in the Fire - Sookie mourns Bill, believing he perished in the vampire nest fire, unaware he survived. Jason and Amy escalate their V addiction, leading to Eddie's kidnapping. Sookie helps Eric find a thief at Fangtasia, leading to Longshadow's death when he attacks her. Bill emerges from his grave at episode's end.

Season 1, Episode 9: Plaisir D'Amour - Bill stakes vampire Longshadow to save Sookie, breaking vampire law and incurring Eric's displeasure. Jason and Amy kidnap vampire Eddie to harvest his blood. Sookie discovers her cat has been killed. Bill, facing trial, asks Sam to protect Sookie. The episode concludes with Sam watching over Sookie in dog form.

Season 1, Episode 10: I Don't Wanna Know - Sam reveals he's a shapeshifter to Sookie after she finds him naked in her bed. Tara learns Miss Jeanette is a fraud. Jason decides to free Eddie, but Amy stakes Eddie. Bill faces a vampire tribunal and is forced to turn a young woman, Jessica, into a vampire. Sookie is attacked at Merlotte's, but Sam scares the killer off.

Season 1, Episode 11: To Love Is to Bury - Sookie and Sam investigate Cindy's murder, uncovering a connection to Drew Marshall. Jason and Amy deal with the aftermath of Eddie's death, but Amy is strangled by the serial killer. Tara is bailed out of jail by Maryann. Bill leaves Jessica with Eric. The episode concludes with the revelation that Rene is Drew Marshall, the suspected killer.

Season 1, Episode 12: You'll Be the Death of Me - Sookie uncovers Rene's identity as the killer, leading to a confrontation. Sam shifts into a dog to protect Sookie, and Bill braves the sun to save her. Ultimately, Sookie kills Rene with a shovel. Jason finds solace with the Fellowship of the Sun, and Tara embraces Maryann's offer. The episode concludes with Bill, recovered, returning to Sookie.