The True Blood season 3 finale airs September 12 on HBO, and we’ve got questions. LOTS of questions. To help us while away the time until the finale airs (remember, no new episode September 5 due to the Labor Day holiday), let’s see what clues we have about the finale so far.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

First, here’s the preview for “Evil Is Going On” from HBO:

Next, let’s look at some photos from the set of the season finale. These were taken back in June and show Alexander Skarsgard, Anna Paquin’s stunt double, Stephen Moyer, Denis O’Hare and Alan Hyde (click for larger versions).

Burning Up At Fangtasia

The photos above are all from the Fangtasia set (aka Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, CA) and are part of the scenes involving Eric and Russell out in the sun. The presence of Anna’s stunt double suggests that Sookie will be involved in a fight scene at some point. Skarsgard’s stunt double was also on set (not pictured), and those tubes strapped to his back and arms, used for the prop blood, sure make it look like Eric is going to be very bloody before the end of the episode.

We also see Alan Hyde on the set, dressed as Godric was in his final days (nights?) before he met the sun. The synopsis for the finale says that “Eric grapples with his conscience while plotting his perfect revenge against Russell”, which suggests that Godric appears as Eric’s conscience, likely giving him words of forgiveness and mercy toward Russell.

In the preview, we hear Sophie-Anne say that Russell “is no more” and Bill follows with “Eric as well”, seeming to confirm their final deaths, although Russell says he refuses to surrender to the true death.

Is Russell Defeated?

While Denis O’Hare reported that Russell “weeps tears of joy” during the finale, we’re guessing we already saw that when he stepped out into the sun for the first time in nearly 3,000 years at the end of last week’s episode. However, he also said that Eric, Sookie and even Pam are “really mean” to him. Eric tricking him out into the sunlight is certainly mean, but does Sookie’s backtalk in episode 3.11 count as “really mean”? Has Pam been “really mean” yet? Kristin Bauer von Straten said that Pam “kicks some butt” in the finale and would do anything to save her Maker (Eric). She also revealed that the vampire world experiences a “major shift”, which certainly seems to point toward Russell’s defeat.

Sookie’s Fae Blood

The promise of Sookie’s blood lured Russell to what could be his final death, but the preview above also reveals that Sophie-Anne is in search of fae blood. Was that Bill’s ultimate goal in getting close to Sookie? Does he betray her to the Queen? He seems to be reporting to her about the deaths of Eric and Russell. The fallout from him agreeing to Eric’s plan, without letting Sookie in on it, is going to be hard to watch.

Will Bill & Sookie Stay Together?

Per the official synopsis, fed up with being “vampire crack,” Sookie considers a new life without Bill – or any other vampire. Skarsgard said “she can’t stay with Bill forever“, citing that the series is based on a set of books where Bill & Sookie don’t stay together. However he hedged about whether they’ll split up soon.

Where Is Alcide?

Joe Manganiello is confirmed as a series regular in season 4, but where has he been for the last couple of episodes? We should find out in the finale because Joe confirmed that Alcide will be back to “take care of some unfinished business.” (We get a glimpse of him in the preview above.) Is he also after Russell? Or could he be contending for Sookie’s affections?

What IS Lafayette?

Are we finally going to get some answers about Lafayette’s possible powers? And what about that rumor that Jesus is more than he appears? The season finale synopsis suggests developments: “Plagued by visions, Lafayette turns to Jesus for help, and learns his boyfriend has more to offer than companionship.” Nelsan Ellis elucidated a little further, saying that we’ll find out why Jesus and Lafayette are so “spiritually connected.” So the visions continue, and Jesus might have the answer for how to either stop them or use them.

Sam Keeps Going Down That Dark Path

“Someone in my camp is in big trouble,” Sam Trammell reported. Whether it’s at Sam’s hands or it’s someone he has to rescue is unknown, but after Tommy broke into Sam’s safe last week, we’re guessing little brother is the one with a target on his back. The darkness we’ve seen with Sam recently continues far into season 4, according to reports, including something “very serious, very hardcore” that happens to take Sam’s story to a whole new level. The official synopsis says that Tara discovers something about Sam when his rage resurfaces after Tommy’s latest transgression; did she already know he’s a shifter? Perhaps his rage causes him to lose control and shift in front of her. But what about those glimpses of Sam in the preview, firing a gun (looks like another flashback based on the hair) and saying that someone is a dead man while his hands are covered in blood? At the very least, we know that Sam’s storyline ends in a cliffhanger.

Jason Gets Closer to Crystal

Jason will become even more involved with Crystal and the goings on at Hotshot, bless his well-meaning heart. He warns her family about the impending drug raid, which leads to him finding “a new calling”. Has Jason given up on law enforcement? Or do things go horribly awry, helping him realize that working within the law is safer for everyone?

Jason will also have to deal with Kitch, that cocky high school kid who informed Jason last week that most of the Who’s Who at Bon Temps High are hooked on V. Looks like Kitch will be joining the road crew, and perhaps Jason will be back as his boss?

Hoyt Tries To Plan A Future With Jessica

Despite Maxine’s attempts to get him to marry Summer, Hoyt is determined to be with Jessica. But is it true love or that taste of her blood that has him captivated?

What About Arlene’s Baby?

Now here’s a storyline we can’t figure out. Carrie Preston promised that we’ll see a resolution to the pregnancy storyline in the finale, but “it’s also going to be open-ended.” On top of that, in the preview for the finale, we see Rene behind Arlene, wrapping his fingers around her neck. Another dream? Or, as it appears in the preview, one of Lafayette’s visions? Could Lala be the one who helps Arlene come to a resolution regarding the baby?

Who Survives?

All of the following have been confirmed for season 4: Sookie, Eric, Bill, Sam, Tara, Jason, Lafayette, Pam, Alcide, Terry, Arlene, Jessica, Jesus, Tommy, Holly, Crystal, Claudine, and Russell.

So does anyone die in the finale? We’re sure there will be some blood, but perhaps the most shocking thing will be the lack of deaths this time around.

The True Blood season finale, “Evil Is Going On”, airs Sunday, September 12 at 9/8c on HBO.

Sources:

E!Online

Comic Con

EW

SpoilerTV

TV Guide

HBO