HBO is known for its habit of abruptly ending major characters in popular series like “The Sopranos,” “Game of Thrones,” and “True Blood.” The latter, which captivated audiences during its run, was HBO’s most-watched series since “The Sopranos.” Each episode brought fans back to Bon Temps, Louisiana, eager to discover the latest happenings. For many viewers, the arrival of each new episode meant preparing for a shocking departure of one of the characters.
Reflecting on characters who felt like our very own family members, it came as a harsh realization when one of them either perished permanently or remained undead faced their final end. In remembrance of this, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to revisit five of the most surprising and heart-wrenching departures from the show’s beloved seven-season journey.
1) Roman
In the initial episodes of Season 5 on True Blood, Christopher Meloni regularly appears as a character named Roman, who is a prominent figure within the Vampire Authority. Known for upholding law and order and living harmoniously with humans, Roman was preparing to execute Russell, a former Vampire King and radical supporter of vampires, using his own stake. However, before this could occur, Russell manages to turn the situation around, fatally stabbing Roman with the very stake he intended for Russell.
Despite Roman’s unexpected demise causing quite a shock, it adds an intriguing twist to the storyline that keeps things engaging, steering the plot towards an unexpected path. In the aftermath of Roman’s death, Russell surprisingly teams up with The Authority, adopting a Sanguinista agenda in Roman’s stead.
2) Adele Stackhouse (Gran)
Fans of the TV show “True Blood” were taken aback when the character played by Lois Smith, named Adele, passed away. She was a calming influence on the series and provided a counterbalance to some extreme characters who showed little understanding or acceptance of diversity. Tragically, it’s one of these very harsh characters that takes Adele’s life in the show’s initial season. As many viewers may recall, Drew Marshall (portrayed by Michael Raymond-James) ends up killing Adele during a failed attempt to eliminate the lead character Sookie (Anna Paquin), who was labeled as a “fang banger” due to her association with vampires.
Adele is a nurturing spirit devoid of any harshness. She often acts more like a mother to Tara, Sookie’s friend, than Tara’s biological mom. Despite appearing vulnerable due to her kind demeanor, Adele’s demise in Season 1 underscores that no character’s longevity on the show is certain over the long run.
Read Next
3) Alcide
In the gripping seventh season of “True Blood,” I found myself witnessing a heart-wrenching moment as Alcide met his untimely end. A band of bigoted humans, harboring an intense fear and prejudice towards supernatural beings, gunned him down while he was on a mission to protect Sookie. This brutal act serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities portrayed in this series – being different often leads to contempt and hatred. The fact that Alcide’s demise was orchestrated by cowards only amplifies the tragic impact of his shocking departure.
Although Alcide’s death was unexpected, by Season 7 it was clear that the cast was going to shrink and that there would be further losses. Yet, this understanding offers scant solace to viewers who grew fond of Alcide since his debut in Season 3.
4) Terry
In a more relaxed and conversational style: Terry (Todd Lowe) is an exceptionally intelligent character with a tender heart. Instead of becoming callous due to the atrocities of war, he chooses to embrace his sensitive nature even more. Despite his courageous attempts to overcome his past, Terry tragically chooses to ask a friend to help him end his life.
The surprising aspect is that Terry’s death in Season 6 occurs shortly after Arlene (Carrie Preston) asks a vampire to glamour him, intending to erase his past torments. This glamour seems effective, giving the impression that Terry could finally live peacefully as a devoted family man. However, it turns out that Terry had already set up his own demise before the glamour took effect, so he has no memory of this and tragically gets shot by a sniper while disposing of trash at Merlotte’s Bar and Grill.
5) Tara
We reserved what many consider the most startling death from “True Blood” for the finale. One reason why Tara’s real demise is so surprising is its seemingly random nature. In the opening minutes of Season 7, Tara gets caught in a cruel vampire’s grasp in an act of selflessness as she shielded her mother, Lettie Mae (Adina Porter), from harm.
Tara’s sudden and seemingly insignificant end in the story leaves many viewers in disbelief. In fact, her character meets her untimely end even before the opening credits finish. Some found this ending to be less dramatic or impactful than expected. However, there is a glimmer of hope – Tara’s storyline persists posthumously, with her appearing in a series of dreamlike sequences to Lettie. Despite this, most viewers feel that Tara deserved a more fitting end.
Read More
- Masters Toronto 2025: Everything You Need to Know
- We Loved Both of These Classic Sci-Fi Films (But They’re Pretty Much the Same Movie)
- ‘The budget card to beat right now’ — Radeon RX 9060 XT reviews are in, and it looks like a win for AMD
- Valorant Champions 2025: Paris Set to Host Esports’ Premier Event Across Two Iconic Venues
- Forza Horizon 5 Update Available Now, Includes Several PS5-Specific Fixes
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Street Fighter 6 Game-Key Card on Switch 2 is Considered to be a Digital Copy by Capcom
- The Lowdown on Labubu: What to Know About the Viral Toy
- Karate Kid: Legends Hits Important Global Box Office Milestone, Showing Promise Despite 59% RT Score
- Mario Kart World Sold More Than 780,000 Physical Copies in Japan in First Three Days
2025-06-17 22:41