'True Blood' finale Sunday, Sept. 13

HBO's southern gothic pot-boiler cooked up by Alan Ball, based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novel series, is coming to a close for the season. Oh Eric, you delicious Viking, speak more of that Norse please... Alexander Skarsgard - 2009 Entertainment Weekly and SyFy Comic Con Party - Arrivals - Hotel Solamar - San Diego, CA. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Oh Eric, you delicious Viking, speak more of that Norse please... Alexander Skarsgard - 2009 Entertainment Weekly and SyFy Comic Con Party - Arrivals - Hotel Solamar - San Diego, CA. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR PhotosEpisode #24: “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ ” is his season finale, airing Sunday September 13, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT.Other HBO playdates: Sept. 13 (11:30 p.m.), 15 (11:30 p.m.), 16 (10:00 p.m.) and 19 (11:30 p.m.)HBO2 playdates: Sept. 14 (8:00 p.m.), 17 (10:00 p.m.), 18 (11:30 p.m.) and 20 (6:00 p.m.)The premise:The mayhem in Bon Temps reaches a fever pitch as Maryann (Michelle Forbes) prepares for her ultimate bestial sacrifice, conscripting Sookie (Anna Paquin) to be maid of honor at the bloody nuptials. Meanwhile, Sophie-Anne (Evan Rachel Wood) warns Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) to keep the lid on Bill’s (Stephen Moyer) inquisitiveness; Jason (Ryan Kwanten) leads Andy (Chris Bauer) into the heroic abyss; and Hoyt (Jim Parrack) has a hard time swallowing Maxine’s (Dale Raoul) endless stream of insults. Deliberating on what may be his final move to save Sookie and the town, Sam (Sam Trammell) is forced to put his trust, and his life, in a most unlikely ally.This finale was written by Alexander Woo and directed by Michael Cuesta.