IStake

The iStake is a fictional weapon featured in the HBO television series True Blood. It first appeared in the third episode of season five, "Whatever I Am, You Made Me".

The iStake is a control device attached to an assembly of straps that fits around the chest and abdomen of an individual. Designed primarily for vampires, the iStake releases a miniature wooden stake, which impales a vampire's heart, meting out the True Death. The device is triggered remotely from a user's iPhone. According to one of it's users, Molly, "...there's an app for that".

In 2012, Molly - a member of the Vampire Authority - fitted renegade vampires Bill Compton and Eric Northman with iStakes in order to insure their loyalty to the Authority's goals.

After successfully capturing Russell Edgington (with some help from Kibwe, Sookie Stackhouse and Alcide Herveaux), Roman rewarded Bill and Eric for a job well done by having their iStakes removed. He then had Russell Edgington fitted with an iStake with the intent of having him executed. Roman's colleague in the Vampire Authority, Salome Agrippa, betrayed Roman and had Russell's iStake deactivated, thus enabling Russell to kill Roman.

Molly later tried to figure out why Russell's iStake failed to activate.

When Russell and Salome took control of the Authority, Molly realized that the ruling body was now under the control of the Sanquinistas. Eric Northman tried to get Molly to help him rescue Nora and escape. Molly resisted at first until Eric told her to put away her "baby fangs". Molly tried to get Northman to another part of the building, but was denied access due to having Level 3 clearance only. At which point, they were surrounded by armed guards led by Bill Compton.

Molly was captured and brought before the council. They sentenced her to death and fitted her with one of her own iStakes. Bill activated the device and Molly exploded, suffering the True Death.

Notes & Trivia

 * Presumably, the iStake is manufactured by Apple, Inc., which is also known for developing popular computer devices such as the iPhone, the iPod and the iPad. This is not addressed in the TV show however.


 * There actually is an app for the iStake, but it has no connection to True Blood. It is a free game app where the player sharpens a wooden stake and uses it to impale approaching vampires.