'True Blood': Sookie and Bill.

Deadly new twists threaten Sookie Stackhouse and everyone around her” in the 12-episode Season 2, HBO warns/promises. The comedy-drama-thriller-mystery-romance from Alan Ball (”Six Feet Under”) started slowly but built enough audience by its second outing to be picked up for a second season, and now it’s considered a full-fledged hit. Love the concept of this show, love the romance, but couldn’t stomach the graphic violence in the early going. What do you say — should I try again? Convince me!

Watch the Season 2 trailer:

Here’s what HBO has to say about the first three episodes of the new season.

June 14: A shocking murder outside Merlotte’s has Bon Temps reeling. Meanwhile, Sookie’s (Anna Paquin) relationship with Bill (Stephen Moyer) is tested when she learns about Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll), and of his involvement in her uncle’s death. Sam (Sam Trammell) recalls a shape-shifting encounter he had with Maryann (Michelle Forbes) as a 17-year-old. Jason (Ryan Kwanten) gets a sudden windfall that allows him to pay for a leadership retreat with the Fellowship of the Sun. Two adversaries find themselves sharing a mysterious dungeon and, possibly, the same fate.

June 21: Sookie is forced to cope with Bill’s obligations to Jessica, as well as the romantic inconveniences the teen vampire’s presence creates. At the Light of Day leadership conference, Jason makes a favorable impression on its ambitious leaders, Steve (Michael McMillian) and Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp), though not on his jealous roommate Luke (Wes Brown). Maryann casts her spell on Merlotte’s patrons, and Sam proves helpless to stop the revelry.

June 28: When Sookie is attacked by a mysterious creature, Bill must enlist Eric’s (Alexander Skarsgard) help to save her. At the Light of Day retreat, Jason has second thoughts about the sect’s anti-vampire agenda, but Sarah and Steve counter his doubts with flattery and promises. After snapping at Tara (Rutina Wesley) and new employee Daphne (Ashley Jones), Sam decides to cut and run. A bored Jessica heads over to Merlotte’s, where a smitten Hoyt (Jim Parrack) falls under her spell. At another Maryann-hosted party, Tara finds her attraction to Eggs (Mehcad Brooks) interrupted by a swirling, aphrodisiac fog.