Season 2 Episode 1 Nothing but the Blood

The shocking and brutal murder of Miss Jeanette – Tara’s fake exorcist – has the entire town of Bon Temps reeling, and Tara is reluctant to tell the police she knew the deceased for fear that her ex-alcoholic mother will find out about Miss Jeanette’s deception and relapse. She eventually comes forward and is interrogated and her worst fears are realized when her mother, Lettie Mae, shows up at the police station and is told everything. Tara is eventually released and Maryann has some harsh words for Lettie Mae when she arrives to give Tara a ride.

Meanwhile, Lafayette has been kidnapped and is being held with others – including Royce, one of the rednecks who earlier burned three vampires to death – in a basement somewhere. Sookie and Bill’s relationship is put to the test with Bill’s newly made vampire charge Jessica’s impatient ways, even when Sookie attempts to bond with her.

Jason impresses Steve and Sarah Newlin, the leaders of the Fellowship of the Sun anti-vampire church, at a luncheon and he is offered a place at a leadership retreat, where he will learn to serve God. Sam is troubled by the presence of Maryann and reminisces about their sexual encounter when he was seventeen and stole one hundred thousand dollars from her. He also takes on another young waitress, Daphne.

Tara becomes closer with Eggs, Sookie and Bill are put on even rockier ground when she discovers that he murdered her sexually abusive Uncle Bartlett. He tells her that he did it because he loves her too much to let him get away with what he did to her. Sookie forgives him and the two passionately make love. It is revealed that Eric is the one keeping Lafayette captive and the episode ends with Royce trying to escape and Eric feeding on and killing him, spraying Lafayette with blood.