You guys already hit on most of the awfulness of this season, I just want to add:

The sad fact is, I didn't CARE about any of the characters this season. Russel wants to eat Sookie? Ok. Tara's a vampire now? who cares.

I will say though, that I wish that Tara had kept that bitch from high school around as her slave for a while..that might have been fun.

How about Lafayette and his lover? Boring.

Eric was even a bit of a Pussy. One of the things I LOVE about Eric is his complete lack of being a pussy. That and he's effing hot.

I almost stopped watching this season, and if next season is any more - or even AS lackluster as this season, I'm done.