"True Blood" Season 5 plunges telepathic human Sookie Stackhouse into further supernatural chaos as her best friend, Tara Thornton, is reluctantly turned into a vampire by Pam, a loyal vampire progeny. Meanwhile, vampire sheriffs Bill Compton and Eric Northman are captured by the Vampire Authority, a powerful governing body, and tasked with a dangerous mission: to find and recapture the ancient and ruthless vampire, Russell Edgington.

The central conflict revolves around Bill and Eric's desperate hunt for Russell, who quickly escapes the Authority's custody and murders Roman, the Authority's leader, plunging the organization into disarray. Under the influence of the ancient vampire Lilith's blood, the Authority, including Bill, descends into religious fanaticism, advocating for vampires to openly feed on humans and destroy True Blood factories. Sookie, meanwhile, uncovers dark secrets about her parents' death, learning she is promised to a powerful, ancient vampire named Warlow. Russell, now empowered by consuming fairy blood, becomes an even greater threat, capable of walking in daylight.

The season culminates in a violent confrontation where Eric finally kills Russell Edgington. Bill, fully consumed by Lilith's blood, undergoes a shocking transformation, becoming a monstrous, Lilith-like being.

Season 5 of True Blood covers episodes 1-12. Here's everything that happened:

Season 5, Episode 1: Turn! Turn! Turn! - Sookie and Lafayette deal with the aftermath of Debbie's death, leading Pam to reluctantly turn Tara into a vampire. Bill and Eric are captured by the Vampire Authority but escape with help from Eric's "sister," Nora. Sam is tortured by a werewolf pack until Alcide confesses to Marcus' murder. The episode concludes with Tara attacking Sookie after her resurrection.

Season 5, Episode 2: Authority Always Wins - Bill and Eric are interrogated at the Vampire Authority headquarters, meeting Salome and facing enhanced interrogation techniques. Tara, now a vampire, trashes Sookie's house and declares she will never forgive Sookie and Lafayette. Bill bargains with Roman, offering Russell Edgington in exchange for their lives. The episode concludes with Russell healing, his eyes opening with a thirst for blood.

Season 5, Episode 3: Whatever I Am, You Made Me - Bill and Eric bargain for their lives with the Authority, promising to deal with Russell Edgington. Tara struggles with being a vampire, seeking refuge with Sam. Pam's flashbacks reveal her human life and how she forced Eric to turn her. Sookie confesses to Alcide about Debbie's death. The episode concludes with Pam going to help Tara, who is attempting suicide in a tanning bed.

Season 5, Episode 4: We'll Meet Again - Sookie confesses to Jason about Debbie's death, while Lafayette's actions inadvertently endanger Sookie, leading her to drown her sorrows with Alcide. Eric and Bill, tasked with finding Russell Edgington, face doubts about their survival. At the Authority, Roman and Salome interrogate Nora, leading to the execution of a traitor within the Council. Pam saves Tara from suicide and forces her to feed. Eric releases Pam from their bond, fearing for her safety. The episode concludes with Sookie and Alcide kissing as Bill and Eric watch.

Season 5, Episode 5: Let's Boot and Rally - Bill and Eric enlist Sookie to find Russell Edgington. Lafayette seeks Jesus' spirit for help. Terry and Patrick are held hostage. Jason has a disturbing dream. Jessica advises Tara. Sam gives Luna bad news. Russell is found in an abandoned asylum. The episode concludes with Russell recognizing Sookie and preparing to feed on her before Vampire Authority soldiers arrive.

Season 5, Episode 6: Hopeless - Sookie is filled with dread after the asylum events. Bill and Eric are retrieved by the Authority, where Russell Edgington escapes and murders Roman. Jason learns about his parents' death from Hadley. Terry's past haunts him, leading him to leave Arlene. The episode concludes with Russell's escape and Roman's death.

Season 5, Episode 7: In the Beginning - Sookie learns using her fairy powers depletes them, bringing her closer to being human. Salome reveals she dug up Russell, and the Authority drinks Lilith's blood, leading to hallucinations and a massacre at a karaoke bar. Eric sees Godric, who urges him to save Nora. The episode concludes with Lilith seemingly appearing.

Season 5, Episode 8: Somebody That I Used to Know - Sookie and Jason seek answers about their parents' murder and learn the killer's name is Warlow. Luna shifts into Sam, becoming stuck in his form. Hoyt is pressured to kill Jessica, but can't bring himself to do it. Bill proposes destroying all True Blood factories. At episode's end, Warlow appears to Sookie, ominously declaring, "I'm coming for you".

Season 5, Episode 9: Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Eric plots an escape from the Authority while Bill embraces Lilith's vision, betraying Eric. Terry, haunted by the Ifrit's curse, kills Patrick, ending their shared torment. Sookie uncovers a clue about her parents' murder, but is endangered by anti-supernatural zealots; Sam saves her by shifting into a pig. The episode concludes with Russell Edgington gifting Emma to Steve Newlin.

Season 5, Episode 10: Gone, Gone, Gone - Pam and Tara deal with a new sheriff at Fangtasia, leading to Tara decapitating the sheriff. Hoyt says goodbye to Jessica and Jason, asking Jessica to glamour him so he can forget them before he moves to Alaska. Sookie and Jason discover a scroll revealing Sookie is promised to Warlow. The episode concludes with Sam and Luna infiltrating the Authority headquarters as mice.

Season 5, Episode 11: Sunset - Bill succumbs further to Lilith's influence, ordering Jessica to harm Jason. Russell glamours Jason into revealing the fairies' location, leading to the fairy elder's death. Eric and Nora escape the Authority. Russell, now with fairy blood, can walk in daylight and sees the fairy realm. The episode concludes with Russell's chilling smile, hinting at his newfound power and access to the fairies.

Season 5, Episode 12: Save Yourself - Eric kills Russell Edgington to save Sookie and the fae. Sam, as a fly, escapes the Authority, later shapeshifting inside Rosalyn Harris, resulting in her gruesome death. Alcide defeats JD and becomes the new pack leader. Bill drinks Lilith's blood, but it was laced with silver. He then drinks the real blood and transforms into a Lilith-like being.