Cast of HBO's "True Blood"

Alan Ball’s adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, will return on HBO, adding necromancing witches to the mix of vampires, fairies, werewolves, maenads, shapeshifters and werepanthers.

From the shows newest trailer, which premiered after a recent episode of "Game of Thrones," it seems as though Sookie (Anna Paquin) will be making her way back to Bon Temps only to have vampires Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bill (Paquin’s real-life husband Steven Moyer) and werewolf Alcide (Joe Manganiello) try to win her heart. Again. However, a promo scene for this season suggests Eric suffers from some memory loss that could work in his favor. And with Eric less evil than usual, his progeny, Pam (Kristin Bauer) will hopefully continue on as sassy as ever. 

 The shapeshifting Sam (Sam Trammell) gets a new girl, but other Merlotte’s staff members are not so lucky in love. Despite last season’s happy ending for baby vampire Jessica (USC alumn Deborah Ann Woll) and nice-guy Hoyt (Jim Parrack), their new newly revived romance will not last for long. Cousins Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) discover some new powers that have been hinted at in previous seasons.

As for Sookie’s brother, the sex-obsessed Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten), it seems that the other werepanthers might not warm to him the way Crystal (Lindsay Pulsifer), his feline love interest from season three, did. This serves as yet another excuse to feature Kwanten with his shirt off.

Other than these general plotlines, it will be interesting to see where Ball takes the series this season. But, one thing is certain. With "True Blood" comes a lot of controversy. The show’s fourth season is sure to include sex, supernatural creatures and the never-ending battle between vampire rights activists and the religious right.

If you can’t wait to start watching, the first eight minutes of the season premiere are online now.

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