Returning for its fifth season, True Blood is HBO’s sexy, scary, wildly entertaining drama series based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.

In addition to returning cast favorites - human/faerie waitress Sookie Stackhouse, her vampire suitors Bill Compton and Eric Northman, soul-searching pal Tara, shape-shifting boss Sam, rakish brother Jason, clairvoyant Lafayette and teen-vamp Jessica - Season 5 introduces a whole new wave of otherworldly characters.

There’s Vampire Guardian Roman, president of the Vampire Authority, who wants co-existence between humans and vampires; vampire zealot Salome intent on recreating the world in God’s vampyric image; Authority Chancellor Nora, who shares the same maker as Eric; werewolves J.D. and Martha, who want a reluctant Alcide to take his rightful place as packmaster; and many more.

Mixing romance, suspense, mystery and humor, True Blood: Season 5 goes deep into the battle between the Vampire Authority and “vampire fundamentalists” - a political power play whose outcome could decide not only the fate of Sookie and her Bon Temps friends, but of all human existence.