Why do we feel as if our nude Swedish sunbathing has been agonizingly interrupted by the harsh light of day? Because 'True Blood' has officially collapsed into a gooey puddle of red! HBO has surprisingly declared the long-running vampire soap to air its seventh and final season in 2014, effectively capping the tales of Sookie Stackhouse and her supernatural studs. Did they make the right call?

HBO officially confirmed the news earlier today, as HBO president Michael Lombardo offered his well-wishes for the final drops of 'True Blood.' Previously, Lombardo had been optimistic about the energy infused by the improved sixth season under showrunner Brian Buckner, which sought to return to smaller storytelling in season 7. At least, now we know why:

True Blood has been nothing short of a defining show for HBO. Alan Ball took the books by Charlaine Harris, assembled a brilliant cast led by the magnificent Anna Paquin in the role of Sookie Stackhouse, and crafted a show that has taken its many devoted fans on an unforgettable journey.

Alan passed the baton to Brian Buckner, who led our fantastic writers and crew in crafting a spectacular sixth season, and he will lead us through the seventh and final season of this amazing show. Together with its legions of fans, it will be hard to say goodbye to the residents of Bon Temps, but I look forward to what promises to be a fantastic final chapter of this incredible show.

Elsewhere, we know of ‘True Blood’ season 7 that everyone’s favorite naked viking vampire, Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard), will indeed return, despite a fiery end teased in the season 6 finale. Storytelling will shrink to see more direct human-vampire relationships in light of the Hepatitis V threat, while ‘True Blood’ season 7 will keep to its shortened 10-episode format, initially drafted in season 6 to accommodate series star Anna Paquin's pregnancy with co-star Stephen Moyer.

We've already assembled full details of ‘True Blood’ season 7, but what say you? Are you disappointed to learn that season 7 will prove the last for 'True Blood?' Had the series more life in it yet, after an improved sixth season? Go inside the finale below, and give us your thoughts on 'True Blood''s ultimate end in the comments!

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