True Blood Season 4: What Will Happen?

HBO's hit fangbanging show "True Blood" ended its third season on September 12 and there were many, many loose ends left untied. It leaves fans wondering, what will happen on "True Blood" season four? HBO has renewed the series for a fourth season, which will begin airing in summer 2011, but fans who were not satisfied with the end of season three will continue to wonder what the next season will bring. See Did 'True Blood' Season 3 Suck?

Just like previous seasons, season four of "True Blood" will most likely be very loosely based upon the next novel in the Charlaine Harris series upon which "True Blood" is based. The fourth book in "The Southern Vampire Series" is titled "Dead to the World" and features a number of surprises.

How closely will "True Blood" season four follow "Dead to the World?"

In season three of "True Blood" we met werewolves, werepanthers and fairies and in season four, Producer Alan Ball has promised more supernatural creatures. Season three introduced us to witchcraft. The plot line of the novel "Dead to the World" centers around a coven of witches and a war in which the werewolves, fairies and vampires team up to fight against the witches who are using their powers for evil.

At the end of season three, Sookie "disappears" into a magical world of the fae, so I expect season four to pick up from there and just like "Dead to the World," the fairy world will become part of the plot. We will begin to learn much more about the fae and how they are connected to Sookie's past and future.

Favorite werewolf Alcide Herveaux shows up once again in the fourth book and appeared in only a few scenes in season three of "True Blood." Alcide is played by actor Joe Manganiello and the character has been slated to become a regular for season four. So yes, there will be more Alcide Herveaux/Joe Manganiello in season four of "True Blood" and Manganiello himself has hinted at a war within the werewolf pack (which does happen in later books, but not book four).

What will happen with the romantic relationship between telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse and vampire Bill Compton in season four? In "Dead to the World," Sookie is angry at Bill after learning all she has learned. In the previous book, "Club Dead," Bill left her for his maker Lorena and later almost killed her by feeding frantically on her and later raping her. In the "True Blood" series, this was portrayed differently, but in the book, Alcide's ex, Debbie Pelt shoved Sookie into the trunk of a car with the half-dead vampire Bill. When he awakens, his vampire instincts take over and he brutally attacks Sookie, drinking her blood then he rapes her. It was a lot prettier in the "True Blood" series.

In the fourth book, Sookie wants nothing to do with Bill and will barely even acknowledge his existence.

What about Sookie and Viking vampire Eric Northman? At the end of season three of "True Blood," Sookie wants no further contact with Eric either. This follows the third book, "Club Dead," but Eric is thrust into her life again in "Dead to the World" and Sookie's protective instincts--and her secret feelings for Eric come into play.

In "Dead to the World," a witch places a spell on Eric and causes him to lose his memory--forgetting who he is. Somehow he ends up at Sookie's house (how he ends up there is revealed in later books) and Sookie takes him in to keep him safe and hidden from the witches who are after him. What transpires is a rather sweet yet very, very sexy romance between the two.

Will there be some Sookie and Eric lovin' going on in season our of "True Blood?" Yes, I believe there will be. The novel "Dead to the World" details a very passionate love affair and I can think of no reason why Alan Ball would not run with that plot line. It's delicious and fans will love it.

"Dead to the World" also details a side story about Sookie's brother Jason and the werepanthers of Hotshot. In the book, Jason is kidnapped by a rival for Crystal's affections and he is bitten several times by the man. What does this mean? In "Dead to the World," it means Jason will become a werepanther of sorts himself, so it will be interesting to see if "True Blood" season four brings this tidbit into play. I could definitely see this plot line being brought in.

Other loose ends: Lafayette no longer exists after the first book in the Harris series but with "True Blood's" fourth season, I believe more will be revealed about any "special powers" Lafayette might have. I see this as a definite plot line that will be explored.

Arleen's baby will probably be an interesting side story that will be played out during season four of the series. This is another one of those plot thickeners that never happened in any of the books, but it continues to add elements of mystery that connect previous seasons so I can definitely see it being a part of "True Blood's" next season.

Debbie Pelt (who is NOT a werewolf in the books, but is instead a shifter who turns into a smaller animal) does appear in "Dead to the World" and she has an interesting ending which becomes an important piece of plot lines in later novels. Debbie's role in "True Blood" season four is unclear, but I can her definitely causing trouble in some way.

Tara, Sam, Tommy Mickens, Jessica and Hoyt and others will remain to be seen. Many of the things portrayed in "True Blood" with these characters never appeared in the books, so it is hard to know what will happen. The characters of Tommy Mickens and baby vampire Jessica are not in the books at all. Tommy Mickens has the potential to be a difficult and even "bad guy" character in season four and it will be interesting to see where Alan Ball goes with that--if Tommy even survived season three. Season three left viewers with a cliffhanger, wondering if Sam killed his brother.

Jessica is a delightfully fun character and I can see "True Blood" capitalizing upon her popularity with fans. I can see Jessica being a big part of season four and more conflict between her and Hoyt's mother.

Tara is a minor character throughout the books, so her role, beginning with season one, has been huge and not at all like the books. I can see more exploration of Tara's demons and her stress over the tortures she received at the hands of Franklin Mott during season four.

Finally, what about Russell Edgington? His character has obviously been put on ice--or rather in concrete--but not killed, so "True Blood" may be saving him for something "special" later on.

So what will actually happen during "True Blood" season four? Producer Alan Balls reveals little in a thank you message that was posted as the third season ended - watch it HERE. As usual, there will be blood, death, mayhem, sex, confusion and lots of boundaries being pushed. Fans can only wait and speculate until the fourth season starts in 2011.