Spoiler Alert: You might find a couple of mild spoilers below
Last summer, the third series of True Blood announced its arrival in the US with a controversial Rolling Stone cover, in which the show's three big stars – Anna Paquin (Sookie), Stephen Moyer (Bill) and Alexander Skarsgard (Eric) – stood naked, in a mutually grabby pose, splashed with blood. Those already acquainted with HBO's vampire smutfest will know that that picture is a fair and accurate representation of what it's all about. The show is built on gore and sex – sometimes separately, often at the same time. But the Rolling Stone cover wasn't merely a handy visual guide for newcomers. It was an indication that season three would be going all-out: more sex, more violence, and by the looks of it, more corn syrup and red food dye.
And we're finally getting to see it over here, first on FX (Friday, 10pm), then on Channel 4 later in the year. To recap: series one set the scene for a world in which humans lived alongside vampires, establishing the codes and relationships between them – which is to say, how much they like getting off with and killing each other. Season two opened up the world of the supernatural a little more, introducing a mythological villain in the form of maenad Maryann, who made the townsfolk of Bon Temps have orgies and commit murders. True Blood likes to stick to its key themes. And what fun they are.
But season three promises to be a slightly different beast. While its predecessor explored bigotry and prejudice using the anti-vampire evangelist church The Fellowship of the Sun, this season hones in on inter-vamp political relations, making more use of Evan Rachel Wood's deliciously bratty Queen Sophie-Anne. Previous series have played up the ambiguity of whether vampires are good or bad, but this season really runs with it: the goodies turn mean, and the baddies turn caring, always when you least expect it.
There are also new supernaturals on the scene, in the form of werewolves – not angst-ridden loners like Being Human's George or homoerotic brothers like the Twilight pack, but rather, a sort of hairy biker gang with a fondness for Pedigree Chum. And, of course, those smaller characters who always steal the show, back with less showy but equally important storylines. Baby vamp Jessica has to learn more tricks of the trade after accidentally killing a trucker and hiding his body. Lafayette finally gets some love action. And Pam's "sweeter" side appears, sort of, as she defends her loyalty to maker Eric, who gets a lot more screen time, as is only right and fitting.
True Blood could easily just be a one-dimensional show about supernatural beautiful people, but as always, it's saved by its sense of humour, whether it's in Jason's new incarnation as accidental town hero or an unmissable scene in the first episode involving Bill, Sam and a shower. And since it's been such a massive hit for HBO, and season four is already filming, now's a good time to get involved, if you're not already a "fangbanger". Yes, there's a name for it. There are T-shirts and everything.