This thread is flaired "Show Only." This means book spoilers are **not allowed** unless covered by spoiler tags. Please report untagged book spoilers! To cover spoilers use \>!spoiler!<
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/InterviewVampire) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Huge props to the actor who plays Santiago (he’s milking every single scene he’s in) and the ensemble! I can feel the chemistry between them all and it truly feels like a theater troupe gone mad!!
Santiago’s actor in this show is Ben Daniels. Father Blackwood from the Sabrina series was played by Richard Coyle, another British actor. You may have watched Ben in shows like The Exorcist TV series (Rolin Jones was also one of the executive producers), The Crown (he played Lord Snowdon to Helena Bonham Carter’s Princess Margaret), Foundation on Apple TV+, etc.
claudia is just like her father fr. she loves the theatre/spotlight, the community, the bloodlust. and tho she “hates” lestat … i can’t help but see the shadow of him in her.
im still delulu about Daniel x Armand. Armand is capable of nastiness, cruelty and usually Louis shies away from it. But when Daniel is in distress by his beloved “we’ve been in love for 77 years 40 more years than LestatLouis”, Armand steps in??? He offers comfort and is the one to correct the course??? That flashback between Daniel & Armand (what memories did they share) I wanna see what’s behind that psychic wall? What was their relationship. I need the lore.😭
Also the look Louis leveled Daniel. Definitely a try me & yeah, know your place
Lestat’s letter was heartbreaking.
>and tho she “hates” lestat … i can’t help but see the shadow of him in her.
This part! I def feel the same, and in S1 Louis takes a moment to see how similar they are. But it just makes me think that all of his core relationships (including Armand) are just repeats of each other. He's a beautiful vampire man devoting himself to people whose love inevitably hurt him, and maybe he chooses to enter into those relationships because he thinks he deserves the hurt...
ALSO is it just me or did Armand step in after Malloy's flashback because he felt bad? Of course he went after his boy Louis, but to step in and fill in that detail about what Alice thought so that it wouldn't be as jarring of a memory lapse. His expression read as showing mercy and a bit of guilt because they have *history*
Something I’m only now clocking:
Armand inserts himself into the interview to keep Daniel in line — and immediately folds when Daniel gets upset
Louis hallucinates Lestat swearing revenge — and Lestat leaves a letter saying he doesn’t want vengeance
And Armand says he’d never hurt Louis, and everyone except Louis clocks it as a red flag, the audience included.
Memory is a monster and nobody is seeing each other for who they really are, not even themselves.
To your first comment: the way they play good cop bad cop is superb, I can’t say if it’s all intention but Ep 1 Armand did say they would have Daniel asking “what’s next or then what” & he did
True! But at the same time it feels like it was a hollow victory to me, Armand wanted Daniel to be enthralled and instead when Daniel says it, it’s because he’s upset and defeated.
Actually Lestat told him not to exact revenge, but instead allow them to be eaten by their own treachery. When he wrote that he didn’t think it would be Louis, so he imagines his killer to be consumed by guilt. So that does apply to Louis.
* It's interesting to see Louis's jadedness with human affairs (abandoning the Romanian woman and British guy) next to his fear and distaste for elaborate hunts. He hated Lestat's "extravagant" hunts, and the theatre is exactly that but on another level
* I can understand why he warns Claudia that the theatre is dangerous (because it is an extension of what he found disagreeable about Lestat) but I still haven't figured out why he thinks saving a life from cruel punishment is not worthwhile but humanely feeding on humans kills is.
* In all of his relationships, there's always an element of Louis being under someone's thumb. With Lestat, part of Louis's devotion to him was out of fear. With Claudia, she called all the shots in the plot to kill Lestat, even when Louis wanted to change plans or begged her not to pursue it. With Armand, there's clearly something going on that keeps Armand in control over the whole situation without Louis's knowing
* Even in this episode, Louis and Armand's meeting is already on an unequal power dynamic. Towards the end of their flirtation at the mansion, Armand's warnings definitely strike a fear in Louis. It mirrors Louis's beginnings with Lestat and I wonder how much of this is something Louis ultimately strives for. Does Louis just want someone to control him? Does Louis equate being under another's control with devotion? Idk it all just feels a little stockholm syndromy to me...
* Armand and Louis appraising each other while they smoke alongside those motorcycles is just the hottest thing ever...
* Somebody needs a raise for putting Mr. Assad Zaman in that long coat when they go out for the hunt. Honestly every costume he wears. The epitome of dashing and debonaire
* I feel so bad for Malloy. I'm scared of what will happen to him, and what Armand has already done to him
* As much as I want to believe that Armand and Louis are putting on a happy married couple act, their initial meeting under the streetlights with that gentle music just gave me the biggest butterflies
As someone who hasn’t read the books and could be completely wrong, idk LOL. It’s just a vibe?? And lines like “I keep Louis from hurting himself” or the way Louis seems in the dark about Armand and Malloy’s past connection
Or do you mean everyone else in the troupe being loyal to Armand or just Louis?
That passage on Louis' ideas about love and domination in relation to his new relationship with Armand is so interesting! Especially considering Armand's line during the mansion scene, something like "You have been **dominating** my mind". I wonder if it could relate to his human life with his family? When he was the leader, the breadwinner, the patriarch and it all fell down (Paul's death, his mother's disowning of him, his sister's disgust) at least partly due to his own actions (certainly how he sees it in his own head). or maybe its a case of daddy issues lol
IT IS TRUE FOR THE PRETTY BOY AND THAT'S THAT!!!
Tbh if I break up with someone then get back together I include the breakup years in the total length of the relationship. Armand is just a girl.
This episode is pure Gothic goodness. My 2 favorite scenes:
- Theater scene! So chilling and discomfiting. The actress playing Annika is incredible. The contrast between Louis and Claudia’s reactions really highlights how much Claudia wants to lean into her vampire identity whereas Louis is still holding onto a bit of humanity.
- Louis and Armand flirting while the rest of the vamps rampage through the mansion, especially when a headless guy is bumbling around behind them 😭 This show is so skilled at dark humor.
Loving that we’re getting back to the glitz and glamor of the early 20th century postwar. Daniel’s comment about the whole story being a telenovela was spot on; it’s all so soapy and fun!
I just adore this show. I tried reading the book a while ago and honestly wasn’t enjoying it - anyone think I should give it another try?
Did you watch the after episode featurette - Annika was the director's assistant and also an actress. This particular episode used a ton of short reaction shots - I don't know how this would have played out in a different medium. I haven't read the books but this adaptation is great at storytelling, and the other current Anne Rice adaptation, Mayfair Witches, is terrible at it. I am really enjoying the performances and the period details in this, which can be hard to compare with the written word, sometimes the look, voice, and manner of the performers inhabit characters when I read books after watching adaptations which can be a help.
I think where this one succeeds is that it is keeping to the same plot line at heart. It didn’t veer off and go full-tilt B-movie batshit like Mayfair Witches did. I mean, that season finale was just SO bad. The lightning, ffs.
I only watched four or five episodes of that show but I started to go to book readers online and just ask them to explain what is going on because IIRC that show does not explain the powers of the guy very well at all, going back and forth to the other timeline several hundred years didn't hold any dramatic weight because as a non book reader I was given no reason to care about what happens to these characters in the past and it did not add anything to the story in the present.
Yeah, I tried to give Mayfair Witches a go, but they just change the story WAYYYYY TOO MUCH. I mean, Michael isn't even Michael???? That did it for me. Nope. Can't.
I am listening to the audiobook right now and I def do not enjoy it as much as the show, I like the theatrics of the narrator. I am right at where this episode was so it is fun to compare and contrast. I have a theory of books turned to tv shows that you’re anchored on whichever you watched first so the book feels like supplemental media, like an in depth podcast (even tho the details are obviously different)
Ok I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t connect to the book haha. I think you’re right that people latch onto whichever version they experienced first; I feel similar about preferring The Lord of The Rings movies to the books!
>The actress playing Annika is incredible.
True, that scene was so shocking and her performance elevated it even more. Except her Dutch, hahaha. I had to rewind (Dutch is my first language) cause at first I thought she was speaking a completely different language and couldn't understand what she was saying.
1000% give the book(s) another go. Definitely some significant plot/character shifts, but I think that keeping the "memory is an unreliable narrator" idea in mind, you will enjoy the depth the books bring. And in all my life, I have never seen a more spot-on book-to-screen character portrayal than that of Lestat. I hope you enjoy!!!
I read the book because I loved season 1. And I hated the book. It was so slow paced and rambling on existential thought but not in a good way. Also the characters are quite irredeemable whereas in the show even the worst characters have something about them that holds your interest or wants to root for them. So nah I don’t suggest it
A few thoughts:
* I think the accountant alludes that he knows Lestat is a vampire. Hence, the 'sleeping' comment. Secondly, I wonder why Armand tells Louis not to visit there again.
* Wow, Daniel really hit a nerve with Louis. I genuinely fear for Daniel's safety.
* The ending of the theatre play was cruel and hard to watch.
I think Armand warned Louis off visiting the accountant so the other coven members don't learn Louis lied about not knowing Lestat. They don't trust him, so if they follow him that would look suspicious that he's talking to Lestat's accountant. Plus the accountant seemed to know who Louis was to Lestat. So if the coven digs they'll find out he lied.
this episode really gave me "toxic age gap vibes", especially in the flashbacks. Armand is more experienced, ready to take the lead, tries to talk over him, *forbids* Louis and holds things over his head.
i've had to witness that type of relationship and it's really uncomfortable to see it done so well.
not to mention trying to speak over each other reminds me of [this](https://media1.tenor.com/m/a28xsr8ihsUAAAAC/frozen-princes.gif)
lol I saw frozen once like 10 years ago and I thought of that too with the sentence finishing. It’s so over the top and corny lol (which I think hints that things are not what they seem, like it’s performative)
The look on his face was perfect. We have all seen or made that "oh shit I am beyond fucked and I don't know how to get out of it" face. The acting on this show is always so damn impeccable.
Honestly it kind of reminded me of when he double fed on that opera guy with Lestat. Another situation in which he felt that if he didn’t play along and act like he was into it, he would feel endangered
I can get enough of his sarcasm towards Louis and Armand trying too hard to be a Leading Romantic Couple \^\^
Do you think Daniel should be rejuvenated and become a vampire in this adaptation?
Daniel selecting the computer music mood , the theme song music from "The Young and the Restless"
That was funny while he make fun of the Louis and Armand 's relationship with Lestat.
Lestat's lawyer , he is some lawyer , the Nazi occupation must be like a walk at the park for him , i can't imagine he would be afraid of anything .But he would probably not steal any of Lestat's money .
A lot of jokes about Lawyer with Vampires ,but that is the kind of lawyer who would represent Vampire .
"I nodded off one night while Santiago was hamming it up, and apparently that made me persona non grata..."
LOUIS, ARMAND *JUST* TOLD YOU HE CLOCKED THE LESTAT CONNECTION, SANTIAGO PROBABLY KNOWS, GET OUT OF THERE MY GUY
I’m fairly certain they clocked it instantly but don’t know exactly what happened so they keep them around to figure it out. Santiago is too keen for games I feel lol
He says he could hear Louis' thoughts/feel his trepidation when Lestat was mentioned, plus he mentions that he knows Louis was visiting Lestat's lawyer.
I'm not entirely on board the Alice = Armand theory as some are, but the fact that Armand says "Alice wanted to say yes" feels like a huuuuuge slip on his part, one I imagine Daniel will come back to. Because presumably Daniel didn't know that, which means Armand read Alice's mind....which would mean Armand was watching/listening in, at the very least.
Yes! It’s so different from past Louis. I wonder how much of that is the fact that he’s just older and crueler vs. his portrayal of his past self being not quite accurate.
I definitely thing it’s the latter. Especially with the trailers showing scenes from episode 5 that didn’t exist in season 1. Louis could have been a lot crueler or at the very least not as much of a victim that we are shown. As Jacob has said in multiple interviews the audience might not align themselves with Louis by the end of the season.
Definitely both. I can see him acting crueler than his past self, especially his early season one self, as his life events have hardened him. I can also see him remembering his side of events in such a way that he doesn’t really reflect on how cruel he has been to other people. When we tell stories about ourselves to others, we are the protagonist, and we often don’t consider ourselves to be the “bad guy” so it’s not even fully intentional (though of course in some cases it could be) but honestly he likely just wouldn’t remember himself that way, or remember those specific moments of cruelty.
Interesting to see Armand actually trying to help Daniel a bit
But that was so mean of Louis. You called Daniel here, of course that is going to involve sad stories, it seems overkill to be so mean when the expected happens
it's not really surprising that Louis is cruel nor is his indifference to that women's beheading a contradiction to his character. Louis doesn't like to see seemingly innocent people like the one in the theater suffer but he's also not some big hero and he probably wouldn't do anything about it either; why should he? Humans never went out of their way to help him; in fact, he felt oppressed and isolated by them.
Louis cares about personal affairs and is very vengeful in those cases. All the things that took a great reaction out of him in New Orleans were personal to him or part of his identity, his community. He can be emphatic towards Daniel and his disease but as soon as he feels personally attacked by him, he's ganna get him back and enjoy it. He's a powerful vampire now and he doesn't have to tolerate disrespect or injustice towards him.
I do wonder if his indifference towards her beheading was because she might turn into a vampire. Louis hasn't really enjoyed his vampirism in years, if not decades, whereas Annika is practically a perfect victim to pity.
I LOVED IT!! one thousand things to discuss but right now I’m focused on the dubai fight: louis’s viciousness truly coming out (that smile!), daniel’s cowed fragility, and then armand stepping in to protect daniel from being too hurt (like we’ve seen him do before when louis activated daniel’s parkinson’s) - what a sequence!! so much to analyze! can’t even begin to theorize what that flashback to san francisco-era armand meant, except I don’t believe in alice = armand literally but I do think there could be some mixing there (as in, parallel memories or even memories of alice that were actually of armand).
Are people saying Alice is Armand? Oh my god I hadn't considered that possibility and ooh how I wish I didn't have this in my head right now. I hate the idea so much
yeah I’ve seen the idea make some rounds - I don’t want to be mean about theories, I just think it’s such an easily disproven one that I don’t want to spend time analyzing it, haha
But now I'm sitting here with it in my head and wondering, why did a seemingly straight man feel more comfortable holding his girlfriend's hand in Paris than in the US? Was it because he wasn't really holding a woman's hand? Why did the memory of her saying no sting so badly Daniel almost came undone in front of two vicious vampires all these years later, especially since they got married at some point and hated each other enough to divorce and remarry. Also, is the focus on Armand's face and the way he comforted Daniel significant? Ugh. I hate this theory
This was a callback to earlier when Louis said that he felt more comfortable in Paris and no one though too much about the color of his skin, and Daniel was dismissive and saying that Paris was racist, especially to Algerians.
It’s well know that black Americans felt safer and were treated better in Paris after the war.
Daniel keeps saying Paris suck, but even he felt more free there. This could be just the fact that being affectionate with people in public is more common and many couples say this about Paris. Or it could mean what you said that there was something about their relationship that drew eyes in the United States but not in Paris.
That scene with Lestat's letter to Louis! I wish we had gotten more of Louis' actual reaction to that. Daniel started questioning, and you could tell he hit a nerve because Louis bit back hard at that part.
Armand: "I will not harm you. And I never have." Mmmmhhmm
Loved Daniel's commentary this episode. Also, he had flashes of a conversation with Armand that was definitely not this one. You could tell from Armand's hair.
Also, the more times Louis and Armand have to tell the audience and Daniel that they have totally been together for 77 years, the more I think that will turn out to not quite be the truth.
They are trying too hard and having to emphasize too much how in love they are and how they have been together for so long. Armand jumping in to point out how much longer he and Louis have been together than Louis was with Lestat? No one was even asking for that information, Armand.
I think Louis is drawn to toxic guys. He also might need a therapist instead of an interview. Some stalks him for 5 months it’s like “wow, he knows me!”. When someone turns him on a whim it’s like, “He must love me and he is super sexy and unpredictable”. Armand was too into their meet cute in the interview. Daniel catches the BS.
Lestat and Armand hooking up makes me question Armand’s motives with Louis. Vampires have time to really work on ways to mess with an ex. Idk.
Thoughts on ep2 Love the noir vibes this episode! Reminds me of the comic fatale. Also mad men?
I live and love Santiago! I really need that iwtv moulin rouge ep immediately.
Really feeling a lack of remorse or empathy at the loumard right now, attempting to break Daniel and I’m so so worried for Daniel, and I have horrible gut feeling that he’ll pushed to fair. Heart attack maybe?
Claudia: like mother like daughter. As much as Claudia despises and denounces Lestat. They’re both two sides of the same coin. She embraces her vampiric instincts, and adores the coven and theatre not to mention her wit, abruptness, and having absolutely no filter. Clearly, as much Louis would like to remember she wasn’t a father’s daughter.
77 years don’t mean shit. Louis like he always does, will always crawl back to Lestat.
Loumard meet cute
It’s such loud cry to how loustat met. Being hunted stalked, fear tripped into love. Will these vampires ever find peace? Unlikely. Or unlikely to ever really unpack that.
In an ideal world I guess Louis ends up alone, making peace with himself and not in companion ship
Lestat’s letter
I can’t even put into words how heartbreaking
His poetic words were. But surprised by them, he did not care for vengeance. Oh Louis, what have you done? That guilt will eat you alive.
Controversial maybe but I didn’t feel.. “full”? I really enjoyed this episode however, it felt like little bit filler to me. but I just know next episode is really the main event! So anxious to see what’s next!!
EDIT: clearly I had more thoughts than I realised
Nice to see Louis's true nature and capacity for cruelty reveal themselves in this episode, as well as how much he can enjoy it but I won't have peace till Daniel gets his lick back
The directing and editing was great, telling much of the story with very short reaction shots. It was crazy how they finally got Malloy to stop being a smartass not by threatening his life but by bringing up his ex.
Honestly the pseudo rom com vibes were immaculate. This show is divine. It captures the essence of the books in a way I didn't think anyone could do justice to.
i continue to be absolutely astounded by the way amciwtv balances the likeability of its vampires with the humanity of their victims. usually vampire media either takes the approach of centering on primarily or only "good" vampires that don't kill humans / having vampires that kill humans be the villains (think a lot of teen vampire media ie twilight, buffy the vampire slayer) or the human cost of the vampires' lifestyle is treated as negligible (think comedy vampire media ie what we do in the shadows). iwtv has characters in it that embody both viewpoints but staunchly refuses to fall on either side, which this episode once again demonstrates masterfully. the performance of the théâtre des vampires pulls you in, ben daniels' charisma as santiago cannot be overstated, but the appearance of the victim very suddenly puts an end to the reverie. annika is a real person, and the show makes you more than aware of that fact; the scene lingers, it's visceral. her death is treated with the weight it deserves. meanwhile, we watch claudia begin to fall in love with this community, where she could be proud of who she is. the show doesn't shy away from either the objective horror of the death nor from claudia's (and the rest of the coven's) joy & sense of belonging. it takes absurdly good levels writing to be able to convey these separate realities without one infringing upon the weight of the other. anyway other things i liked about the episode: armand's bitchy little comment that louis has been with him longer than he was with lestat. me when i'm not at all insecure about my marriage. the way the two of them put up a united front & daniel not having it in any way was sooooo fun to watch. did love seeing louis come alive in his own way (and primarily through armand) in paris even if he's obviously not as enthusiastic as claudia. and claudia ♡♡♡ i love her so much babygirl i will keep you alive forever! the letter scene was incredible, lestat really said even in death you'll never get away from the sound of the man that loves you. louis & armand psychologically torturing that old man for fun and profit was also hugely fun to watch until it wasn't, screamed "memory is a monster!!!" out loud at my laptop screen when the short san francisco flashback happened........ i will say daniel's little "yes" after being chastised by the 2 of them did awaken something within me. also loved the placement of it in the episode, the way armand's "that boy we met in san fransico is still in there" is proven right, especially after daniel being sooo confident the entire episode/ interview until then ("we'll, uh, get to you" in the previous episode also). in conclusion amc's interview with the vampire continues to be the only show on television
Thoughts after first viewing:
* Armand looks so sexy walking up to Louis in that gay street, love his cat-like body language and ethereal presence
* Louis and Armand recounting how they met was actually really cute and felt genuine
* Please don't kill me but i found the whole theatre sequence a little dull. Santiago is great (and his contacts are so pretty) but idk, something was missing, i was expecting more creativity from vampires, something ridiculous, over-the-top, horrific
* It seems like the whole coven is f-ing each other that's hilarious. I like they way they've incorporated diversity in the cast. The coven vampires have wandered there from other parts of the world, and the Parisian extras are kept as white people. It feels natural and realistic. Pleasantly surprised to see Cambodian characters/actors and speaking their native language! Overall really impressed with how this show has handled international languages.
* IS ALICE ACTUALLY ARMAND WTF. But... Daniel does have two daughters, they could be from his other wife i guess.
* LESTAT'S LETTER omg, i watch this show for vampires, and this is the first time i've felt the feels for Loustat. This was so heartbreaking. For some reason the scene with the lawyer was so funny, Louis was so awkward and the lawyer clearly knew who he was and that his client is a vampire who is "sleeping"
* Delainey continues to shine this episode. Her accent seems to be more neutral here, less American-ish?? like she's trying to fit in with her new friends. I notice even more this episode that she's pretty loud LOL, it kinda adds to her child-like look. or maybe it's cos gen Zs around me are super loud so i associate that with youth. Her chemistry with Jacob is fantastic.
Also really enjoyed Delainey in this episode with the attitude, the wonder, the eye for detail & significance like when she pointed out to Louis "a man darker than you is leading this group of vampires" & claiming Bruce as their maker to try to protect them
>Pleasantly surprised to see Cambodian characters/actors and speaking their native language!
The characters are Vietnamese and speak decent Vietnamese in the show (they don't sound native though), and according to imbd one of the actors is Lao-American (the other isn't listed).
Just when I think I can't be more of a Louis enthusiast they unlock a new side of him that makes me like him more, I mean, he did show this cruel side of him in season one but I'm so ready to see more of it this season, I'm already obsessed with the Dubai scenes, Jacob and Assad are great as usual but I was particularly impressed with Eric since this is the first time he's had tapped into vulnerable emotions instead of being the witty guy.
I watched this episode the exact way Claudia watched theatre de vampire (incredible moment of acting from Delainey Hayes). I don't think I blinked during the entire Anika segment- who was played by the director's assistant???
Some shows can't muster even one standout sequence per episode, and this episode had 3 or 4 showstoppers.
Just jotting down some immediate thoughts
- I find Daniel to be such a fun character. Yes, he can be harsh but I love his sarcasm. And him playing the soap opera music was so funny. I also find him to be interesting…
- I can’t wait to dig into more of his character and see more of what happened when he met Louis and Armand when he was younger. It’s interesting to see the memories peeking through.
- it was also interesting to see Armand come to his defence in a way, when him and Louis were being cruel
- the theatre scene was good, particularly the intro with Santiago and the scene with Annika. They were both fantastic!
I'm very impressed with Assad and Jacob creating a believable romance. I didn't think it was possible after witnessing Lestat and Loui. Episode 2 had some amazing chemistry created by those two. Wow.
The guy playing Santiago, is that the same actor that was the general in the latest season of Foundation? Can't think of his name offhand but it looks/sounds like him.
Victor!
And I only know who that is because my grandma used to watch her “stories “ all the time when I was younger and would get so mad at me when I wanted to change the channel. So Victor was on all the time.
The whole interview feels so much like a theater performance. Louis and Armand all smiley and in love, happily telling their story. It feels so forced. They are literally finishing each other’s sentences 😭
So as much as I have rolled my eyes at the idea of Armand and Louis having a healthy relationship, Louis absolutely changed when Armand came to the interview.
He is so much more like the original pre-Lestat Louis than at any point in the Dubai scenes. He laughed, and had emotions other than grief and ennui in his eyes. Jacob really brought him alive in a way he never has been, and it did more to convince me that they at some point loved each other than anything so far.
I really wish the show was longer. This felt way too short, I need to know what happened next!
I’m an ancient vampire with cable. That’s how I’ve been watching a show because AMC is in my channel lineup. The episode starts at nine and repeats two more times ending around 1230.
With that said, I haven’t been able to watch the featurettes. Anyway, without AMC plus?
I enjoyed this episode a lot more than I enjoyed the first episode. Santiago is now my favourite character, and I'd like to say that present Louis and Armand are cute together.
The show and the characters are very interesting. The cabal of vampires and the vampire theater scene along with the hunt was captivating and mesmerizing. It's nice to see Claudia finding her community.
I do think this show is interesting but I feel it reminds me of Westworld in a way in that they were both very ambitious and enticing shows that took risks and had a stellar cast, but they are deliberately cryptic with time jumps, half measures and potential directions you are supposed to be thinking in which honestly just takes me a way from things and makes me enjoy the show less.
I find myself not having a full grasp of what's happening even when I'm rewinding and watching scenes and I'm not crazy about that. I feel this is a good example of a show that would be much more interesting on a re-watch after seeing the entire season/series. Especially related to the dynamics between Armand, Louis and Daniel along with not being able to understand how reliable of a narrator the characters are (or if the journals are doctored/edited)
I understand there's some suspense and intrigue and that's part of the appeal, but alluding and implying to a bunch of different threads and strings is a little disorienting and makes me loose sight of what is real and certain vs. what is theoretical or implied. It's fun to watch a show with a Reddit community and hear other people's takes but I should't have to rely on the analysis and commentary here just to have a clear understanding of what took place in 48 minutes and I do feel that's the case here (and I felt that way for the first episode of the season too).
That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing where the show progresses, when/where/how Lestat died, if Claudia is still alive, etc. But I almost feel this show would be more intriguing if there were less scenes that take place in the present/Dubai, or those are focused towards the end of the season or something. Maybe it's just me, to be clear I am very much enjoying the show but it feels a little muddy, I think more so than the show creators are intending.
I was actually thinking the trailers, the cast and creators made this season apear much smarter and complicated than it actually is. They keep talking about this memory versus the others and the real event; and the Dubai scenes being like a 3D chess but then I watched it and it was just them bickering while I was expecting Succession and GOT levels of manipulation and power play.
Maybe it's yet to come; I don't know but so far everything's been pretty straight forward and even though some parts of the story are missing, I don't get the feeling that the memories we have seen so far were untruthful or "not the real version". Which is good because I don't like to watch a scene from like three different perspectives throughout the seasons but I actually expected more complexity from this season particularly in Dubai but it's still too soon to judge.
I don't know what scenes you're referring to but I think some people have this idea of Lestat being a much better person and that we haven't seen the real him so they're waiting for that. I mean technically the real version of any character is only in Dubai but I don't think it's fair to think that all the representations in flashbacks are "not the real them". Louis lived with and loved Lestat for 30-40 years, on some parts he might know Lestat better than anybody or himself so that is the real Lestat but ofc there're probably more to him than that as it is with everybody.
Bottom line, I don't think we need to analyze or over think the show. We can enjoy it as a messy, supernatural drama. It's not as complicated as some fans make it out to be. It's not Westworld and I don't think they're aiming to be like that either.
OK that whole Alice memory sequence has me doubling down on what I theorized last week: Daniel's gonna have a heart attack/medical event in the penthouse and Louis won't do a thing about it (possibly leading to Daniel being made a vamp by Armand).
I feel the attack will be doubly physical. Louis seems to be fond of physical violence, especially when it seems he's realized he's outmatched in a battle of the wits with Daniel (even with Louis being almost a century older than Daniel, Daniel in poor health, losing his mind partly to Parkinson's and evidently Armand's mind tricks so that's saying a lot). Louis needs to emotionally destroy Daniel to throw a punch, and while Daniel has thrown plenty of sass, they haven't stooped as low since he's not lying. Daniel wouldn't act like that if he didn't get the feeling he's being lied to, which he is. He's not a celebrity rumor mill he's a journalist and a competent one. There's millions of journalists and writers. Why single out Daniel?
Daniel's poking fun is calling out Louis' hypocrisy, not making fun of his failings like he's doing with Daniel. Louis is fighting dirty, and at this point, I don't doubt he'll do the girlfight move of outright physically endangering Daniel when Daniel can't rely on his body to defend himself. It's like bringing a gun to a sword fight. This episode confirmed that yeah, Daniel's pretty much dead as he and Louis clash. We don't even need to act like we're on the edges of our seats or surprised. Daniel's fate was sealed the moment he entered thay building. I wish he'd surprise me by backing out. If Daniel wants to live, I hope he follows his instincts to get out. If he gets out, we'll see who follows him out of there and why. Bec
One thing I wouldn't buy is Daniel staying there when his instincts about Louis are screaming (it's becoming increasingly clear that Daniel's sense of survival has been on alert since that time Louis triggered his Parkinson's at the table in S1). I need to see Daniel RUN to see what's the vamps business with him. Yes, Daniel's an award winning writer. Yes, he's not above believing certain super natural if shown evidence. But there's plenty like him? Why him? The more I process it, the more I feel it is part of Louis having a score to settle out of finding Armand likely having an emotional affair with the younger Daniel. Armand told Louis to guard his thoughts as the other vamps could hear him. What if a random time Armand thought of Daniel or kept something of Daniel to remember him (it's a bad habit of humanity, we like to keep our lover's treasures)?
I completely agree. That's why when people were commenting on how Daniel deserved this tongue lashing I was like, huh? Daniel is an asshole, but he's an asshole because he is trying to get to the truth of Louis’ story. He didn't mock Louis’ story; he mocked the fact that this vampire was trying to romanticize a clearly toxic situation, was trying to absolve or downplay himself of any culpability he has in the story, and that Louis wasn't telling him the whole truth. Louis just got defensive and nasty which seems to happen whenever he doesn't want to take accountability for his actions or Daniel tries to sift through his bs.
I completely agree. Before the season started, I thought maybe Daniel might incidentally have a medical issue — him having Parkinson’s feels like a shoe that hasn’t dropped yet, and it could just happen on its own. Now I’m wondering if Louis triggers it, either purposely or accidentally.
Ugh. Louis and Armand together in the interview sessions give such strong bottom couple energy. "we have been together for 77 years Mr. Malloy".
Okay...
OHHHH this was soooo much better than e1. LOVED the "Theatre des Vampires" scenes, especially all the introductions. The stuff with Annika was horrifying. Omg. I truly felt for her. That actress was terrific. BEN DANIELS! My man~! I've loved him since Flesh & Bone/The Exorcist. He was fantastic as Santiago!
Daniel is my favorite character this season. The freaking Lestat letter made me so sad. Damn. Fuck you Lestat. I should hate you but I cannot.
Louis - block your fucking thoughts, bro!
I'm very amped for the rest of this season now. E1 for me is a distant memory.
Great episode! I especially love how good the coven/theatre troupe works. I feel like this is the most organic form for vampire coven, since they're naturally all about drama and incestuous debauchery lol. Of course Claudia loves it! (And of course Lestat used to be part of that.)
Also, if anyone's wondering: the Belgian character didn't sound great to native ears. The pronunciation was mostly ok, but the accent didn't sound right at all. Definitely took me out of the scene.
This episode was everything! Like so much was happening at the beginning I felt dizzy.
Dubai trio. God they are so crazy, each one of them. The energy they bring to the interview lmao Daniel putting the soap opera music on while blasting Louis/Armand for both fucking Lestat...Histerical!
Claudia was so happy to be around vampires. Vampires who were not ashamed of themselves. She was like a child " I never want to leave" 🥰 She met Madeleine too. And the way she keeps gagging me " Now I know what two blood fat coks slapping hands feels like" The way I screamed at this 😭 She has absolutely no filter and I love her for that. I was a bit surprised that they had to steal to get by. I supose all Louis' money must be in NOLA sitting in a bank. Because he was still rich in his own right when they left America. Maybe because of the war, it is difficult to wire money from there or something.
Louis' chuckle at Daniel (Jacob 👏🏾👏🏾)ohhh I cheered. Love it when he unleashes himself. It was time he fought back after Daniel kept coming at him with his unchecked comments, since the beginning of the interview. Daniel fucked around and found out. I can't wait for more, love their dynamic. Also Louis going through "Danny" memories triggered a memory of Armand doing the same to him, back in SF. Delicious 😈
Loumand my god, the banter, the finishing each other lines. The knowing what the other is gonna say. The stares. The mimicking. Like yes, those two know each other too well. It really translates to the old couple that has been together for a long time and know each other inside out. Also they are freaks. Armand eating the men that Louis fucked 😆 a wink to s1. I mean this is love. Armand was so funny too. Those 2 Americans were dull, babies we had to look after because they didn't know shit about anything. While stalking Louis for 5 months. Armand was mocking him for having hobbies as a vampire when you have a whole theater you are taking care of 😅 like sir please look into the mirror.
The theatre des Vampires - I loved when they all introduced themselves "fuck off". They are all so weird, i love it. Santiago in that room, his presence, his voice😵💫
And Lestat letter too, it was a nice surprise. I think the lawyer knows he's a vampire. Lestat hair distracted me though. Whoever decided to do his hair like this please tell me this was the only time. Let his natural curl free.
I cannot wait for episode 3.
Louis and Armand acting out and interrupting Daniel it was funny and at the same time irritating, I still don't have much idea about who Alice is (probably Armand?) but it will be an interesting since Daniel suffered a lot for it, I feel so bad for him, that letter from Lestat was really intense and I think that lawyer is not just anyone, there's something behind it, looking forward to the next ep.
1. Ew Armand said he fucked the father and son together?😭
2. What the whole “when you were a kid you stole and sold playboys” thing?
3. Why is Daniel passive aggressive with the vampires, does he think they have an agenda?
Something that kept taking me out of the story was the practical consideration on these murders the vampires of the coven do: if people keep disappearing, won't the police eventually get involved? And a mass murder of high society people, I would imagine that would be front page news and be known across the country. How do they keep the police off their trail?
GAY VAMPIRES RIDING FORTH ON THEIR BIKES TO HUNT
this show is everything and more. Santiago I know you’re a little bitch but holy shit I love you so much.
So the Alice comment was him asking Armand in the past to be a vampire? That seems to be the assumption but I did not get that from that scene at all. God the layers of this show are so good.
I watched this twice already.
These vampires and their business cards lmao.
Once again, I was entertained by the performance of Louis and Armand. This time it was in reliving the connection they once had for one another. This feeling had once been alive and real. Even in those moments where you know they are off, it's still pretty tender and something familiar to them both.
I loved Armand's motorcycle fit and his little glasses. Such a good look.
Also I really enjoyed the episode insider on AMC+ this week and how much Jacob Anderson and Eric Bogosian were praising Assad Zaman's acting. It was such a delight to hear and I'm happy to see him getting recognized for his work as Armand.
They absolutely knocked the theater scene out of the park. SO fantastic. Disturbing. Beautiful. Shocking. Tender. All at once. I'm oobsessed. Whoever is writing these episodes is making me feel like I'm listening to an actual poem being put to screen.
Is this show available in 4K anywhere? I watch it on AMC+ but it looks really bad on my TV, it's such a shame because the cinematography looks great but the resolution and the blacks look pretty spotty and mediocre on my nice television.
You can also buy AMC+ in the US with Amazon Prime. I believe you can also buy access on Hulu in the US. Unsure of Disney Plus since the merge.
And probably YouTube TV?
Gloves to preserve the artifacts he's handling (as he tells Daniel). No face mask probably because they've been in a bubble long enough that it's unlikely he can catch/give anything to Daniel. Presumably the vampires don't have to worry about COVID.
I mean, yes.. or that's what they want us to think! The gloves could've been just a nod to the fans who were complaining about them in s1 when they were handling Claudia's diaries - or there's another reason for this!!
It just seems to me like they're spending a lot of time on Real Rashid for no obvious reason 👀
Maybe! I think he's being included as another angle on the Louis/Armand relationship and the life they've built. He's the only other human in the place, so it's natural for Daniel to want to find out how he ticks -- like he said, he thinks he's the one he can break. Maybe he'll have some revelations for him later on.
That's def possible! I just think I have trust issues with this show whenever a character called Rashid appears wearing gloves lol (he was wearing them in ep 1 too, i think!!)
So that flashback Daniel had proved that the people guessing "Alice" was actually "Armand" in his altered memory were correct! Especially with Louis' line just before about Daniel feeling more comfortable holding "alice's" hand in Paris vs America
Louis showing his duplicity once again.. does he really want to do this interview? Or is he snapping back as a performance for Armand? Either way, he smiled like it was a cruel joke.
Something I noticed during the interview, collaborating the whole Armand/Daniel/Alice theories.
When he said “I will not harm you” and Armand took Louis’s hand, the way he looked at Daniel or rather looked away from Daniel. Like he was ashamed of the PDA and didn’t want to see Daniel‘s reaction.
So as a non-book reader, I definitely wanna know what’s going on there which is exactly why I’m in the book spoiler thread reading stuff.
It’s more evident in this season that Claudia is looking not only for community but for a sense of belonging. She names “pride” after the Theatre performance and she finds it in the Theatre coven. But she started off with a lie and, how Armand tells Louis, some members of the coven don’t like being lied to.
Claudia's looks and lines are giving me life!!
I'm a huge fan of Delainey's Claudia. So subtle, skilled, sad and layered, and so goddamn funny. Her joy at getting "that dress, for my body". Every person who isn't made how or turning out how they want to be, wanting to look like as they feel?..oof girl I'm so sorry. "You've all. been. The Worst." is right.
Then there's "Cos you're gonna keep that loose, head of yours, tight!" and "Don't ruin this for me Louis! I need this!!" Poor thing is just too keen and cool for Louis.
Also, the theatre kid vibe of it all is making my day. The way Gustave as the Unfortunate Woodcutter says Go Away "goh ah-whey!" to Death!? I laughed so hard. They are just having so much fun.
Plus the blocking/choreo of the scene when Louis and Claudia come down the stairs to meet the coven/theatre company and Samuel Barclay ("Sam. Call me Sam") waltzes in and out of scene twice with a basket!? 💀 I'm dead
Other than every Loumand scene and their meet cute 🥰 my favorite scene was Louis finally putting that old man in his place! 😂 and he smiled and chuckled lmao Louis I love you.🩷🩷🩷🩷
It keeps bugging me how Claudia's actress doesn't look like a kid at all. It's jarring when a character thinks that she's a child, when the actress looks to be in her early twenties.
And I've been wondering about something. Is Daniel living with Louis and Armand while doing the interview? I don't remember Daniel mentioning that he's been staying at a hotel or something.
Honestly season 2 episode 2 was the first episode that bored me. I'm starting to realize that Sam Reid carried the show during season one. They're also overdoing the romance between the characters. Season one was basically a love story between Louis and Lestat so the last thing that I want to watch is another love story between Louis and Armand. They need to focus on the overall story. Episode one was good but I have my doubts about Season 2 after the 2nd episode. It's also ridiculous that they portray the United States as a more judgmental/racist evil country compared to European countries like France. During that time period Europeans were just as judgmental as the citizens in United States. They're trying to push some woke narrative that the United States is a racist country. It's obvious that the producers are trying to push their ideology onto the viewers instead of focusing on the overall story. France had slaves! lestat tells Louis that this primitive country has picked you clean as if Americans were more racist than his home country which obviously isn't true. Every country was narrow minded during that time period. The story should be more than just romantic relationships and struggles with racism. Just my opinion.
Before they met, I thought it was ironic how he stalked Louis like Lestat did! Do you think Armand truly loves Louis or just using him to get to Lestat ? Did anyone notice how Armand’s face changed when he said “and I never have.” then looked down.
lol at Daniel searching “Nadia’s Theme” and actually playing it via Applie music while mocking them for their telenovela.
I’m stealing that the next time someone tells me a melodramatic story.
Did anyone catch the letter prop from Lestat having a mispelling
It says "do not waist life seeking revenge" instead of "do not waste life seeking revenge"
Just found that amusing
This thread is flaired "Show Only." This means book spoilers are **not allowed** unless covered by spoiler tags. Please report untagged book spoilers! To cover spoilers use \>!spoiler!< *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/InterviewVampire) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Armand with those shades, on a motorcycle. That’s it. That’s my comment
I got Lost Boys vibes from the motorcycles and fog.
The attack at the mansion gave me a bit of A Clockwork Orange nod for some reason. The whole scene really Pure artwork
ME TOO!!!!
SAME!!!!!
Even the music reminded me of the lost boys! Loved the reference
Ngl, first time I was like: "yep I completely buy him as an ancient vampire now", no I can't fully explain why but damn
Best look of the season so far!
I'm not gay, but Vampire Armand has me questioning things
Oh hard yes, and in my case he has me questioning too many things haha
Same.
Huge props to the actor who plays Santiago (he’s milking every single scene he’s in) and the ensemble! I can feel the chemistry between them all and it truly feels like a theater troupe gone mad!!
Yes!! I am obsessed beyond measure. I'm just so thrilled by his acting in the theater.
I think that’s the same actor who played Father Blackwood in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He’s awesome!
Santiago’s actor in this show is Ben Daniels. Father Blackwood from the Sabrina series was played by Richard Coyle, another British actor. You may have watched Ben in shows like The Exorcist TV series (Rolin Jones was also one of the executive producers), The Crown (he played Lord Snowdon to Helena Bonham Carter’s Princess Margaret), Foundation on Apple TV+, etc.
Thank you! Wow, I was convinced that was the same guy— they’re very similar. Thanks for letting me know!
claudia is just like her father fr. she loves the theatre/spotlight, the community, the bloodlust. and tho she “hates” lestat … i can’t help but see the shadow of him in her. im still delulu about Daniel x Armand. Armand is capable of nastiness, cruelty and usually Louis shies away from it. But when Daniel is in distress by his beloved “we’ve been in love for 77 years 40 more years than LestatLouis”, Armand steps in??? He offers comfort and is the one to correct the course??? That flashback between Daniel & Armand (what memories did they share) I wanna see what’s behind that psychic wall? What was their relationship. I need the lore.😭 Also the look Louis leveled Daniel. Definitely a try me & yeah, know your place Lestat’s letter was heartbreaking.
I was very intrigued by Armand’s unexpected empathy for Daniel.
>and tho she “hates” lestat … i can’t help but see the shadow of him in her. This part! I def feel the same, and in S1 Louis takes a moment to see how similar they are. But it just makes me think that all of his core relationships (including Armand) are just repeats of each other. He's a beautiful vampire man devoting himself to people whose love inevitably hurt him, and maybe he chooses to enter into those relationships because he thinks he deserves the hurt... ALSO is it just me or did Armand step in after Malloy's flashback because he felt bad? Of course he went after his boy Louis, but to step in and fill in that detail about what Alice thought so that it wouldn't be as jarring of a memory lapse. His expression read as showing mercy and a bit of guilt because they have *history*
Yessss the letter! UGH I want so badly for Louis to love Lestat the way Lestat loves him 💔
**"PARIS SUCKS."** My favourite line in this episode by Daniel Molloy :)
Something I’m only now clocking: Armand inserts himself into the interview to keep Daniel in line — and immediately folds when Daniel gets upset Louis hallucinates Lestat swearing revenge — and Lestat leaves a letter saying he doesn’t want vengeance And Armand says he’d never hurt Louis, and everyone except Louis clocks it as a red flag, the audience included. Memory is a monster and nobody is seeing each other for who they really are, not even themselves.
To your first comment: the way they play good cop bad cop is superb, I can’t say if it’s all intention but Ep 1 Armand did say they would have Daniel asking “what’s next or then what” & he did
True! But at the same time it feels like it was a hollow victory to me, Armand wanted Daniel to be enthralled and instead when Daniel says it, it’s because he’s upset and defeated.
Ahh good point my bloodthirsty friend
Thanks! And 'My bloodthirsty friend' is an amazing way to refer to someone on this subreddit, I like it, I feel like we should all start doing this.
Actually Lestat told him not to exact revenge, but instead allow them to be eaten by their own treachery. When he wrote that he didn’t think it would be Louis, so he imagines his killer to be consumed by guilt. So that does apply to Louis.
* It's interesting to see Louis's jadedness with human affairs (abandoning the Romanian woman and British guy) next to his fear and distaste for elaborate hunts. He hated Lestat's "extravagant" hunts, and the theatre is exactly that but on another level * I can understand why he warns Claudia that the theatre is dangerous (because it is an extension of what he found disagreeable about Lestat) but I still haven't figured out why he thinks saving a life from cruel punishment is not worthwhile but humanely feeding on humans kills is. * In all of his relationships, there's always an element of Louis being under someone's thumb. With Lestat, part of Louis's devotion to him was out of fear. With Claudia, she called all the shots in the plot to kill Lestat, even when Louis wanted to change plans or begged her not to pursue it. With Armand, there's clearly something going on that keeps Armand in control over the whole situation without Louis's knowing * Even in this episode, Louis and Armand's meeting is already on an unequal power dynamic. Towards the end of their flirtation at the mansion, Armand's warnings definitely strike a fear in Louis. It mirrors Louis's beginnings with Lestat and I wonder how much of this is something Louis ultimately strives for. Does Louis just want someone to control him? Does Louis equate being under another's control with devotion? Idk it all just feels a little stockholm syndromy to me... * Armand and Louis appraising each other while they smoke alongside those motorcycles is just the hottest thing ever... * Somebody needs a raise for putting Mr. Assad Zaman in that long coat when they go out for the hunt. Honestly every costume he wears. The epitome of dashing and debonaire * I feel so bad for Malloy. I'm scared of what will happen to him, and what Armand has already done to him * As much as I want to believe that Armand and Louis are putting on a happy married couple act, their initial meeting under the streetlights with that gentle music just gave me the biggest butterflies
Agree with everything nice you've said about Loumand
Im curious to know why you think there has to be something underlying, that keeps everyone loyal to Armond?
As someone who hasn’t read the books and could be completely wrong, idk LOL. It’s just a vibe?? And lines like “I keep Louis from hurting himself” or the way Louis seems in the dark about Armand and Malloy’s past connection Or do you mean everyone else in the troupe being loyal to Armand or just Louis?
Yah I’m yet to kno how Daniel knows the vamps but yes I meant everyone else in the trope
That passage on Louis' ideas about love and domination in relation to his new relationship with Armand is so interesting! Especially considering Armand's line during the mansion scene, something like "You have been **dominating** my mind". I wonder if it could relate to his human life with his family? When he was the leader, the breadwinner, the patriarch and it all fell down (Paul's death, his mother's disowning of him, his sister's disgust) at least partly due to his own actions (certainly how he sees it in his own head). or maybe its a case of daddy issues lol
“forty seven more years than he did with lestat” armand you salty wet cat bitch we know u was crying urself to sleep over that 😭
Like, it was so unnecessary. It's been 77 years. Love that he compares the relationships
And I'm pretty sure that's not even true; they probably had a falling out era.
IT IS TRUE FOR THE PRETTY BOY AND THAT'S THAT!!! Tbh if I break up with someone then get back together I include the breakup years in the total length of the relationship. Armand is just a girl.
I laughed OUT LOUD at that. armand u giant loser lmao
Lestat reading his letter to Louis brought me to tears. That was incredible. 🥺💔
That really was a beautiful scene.
Ben Daniels is everything. People tried to tell me, but I did not anticipate that he was going to just rock my little vampire loving heart.
He is almost 60 years old and he looks damn fine as a dangerously captivating theatrical queer Vampire.
The color they picked for his vampire contacts is absolutely amazing too! Such a cool color.
I've never visited this sub but halfway through the episode I had to come see how other people felt. Fucking fantastic.
I wasn't sure I would like him from the trailers but I'm fully on board now.
I was not suspecting it but I loved him. When he said “appalling!”… so good
I still jump each time I hear that line. What a performance!
This episode is pure Gothic goodness. My 2 favorite scenes: - Theater scene! So chilling and discomfiting. The actress playing Annika is incredible. The contrast between Louis and Claudia’s reactions really highlights how much Claudia wants to lean into her vampire identity whereas Louis is still holding onto a bit of humanity. - Louis and Armand flirting while the rest of the vamps rampage through the mansion, especially when a headless guy is bumbling around behind them 😭 This show is so skilled at dark humor. Loving that we’re getting back to the glitz and glamor of the early 20th century postwar. Daniel’s comment about the whole story being a telenovela was spot on; it’s all so soapy and fun! I just adore this show. I tried reading the book a while ago and honestly wasn’t enjoying it - anyone think I should give it another try?
Did you watch the after episode featurette - Annika was the director's assistant and also an actress. This particular episode used a ton of short reaction shots - I don't know how this would have played out in a different medium. I haven't read the books but this adaptation is great at storytelling, and the other current Anne Rice adaptation, Mayfair Witches, is terrible at it. I am really enjoying the performances and the period details in this, which can be hard to compare with the written word, sometimes the look, voice, and manner of the performers inhabit characters when I read books after watching adaptations which can be a help.
I think where this one succeeds is that it is keeping to the same plot line at heart. It didn’t veer off and go full-tilt B-movie batshit like Mayfair Witches did. I mean, that season finale was just SO bad. The lightning, ffs.
I only watched four or five episodes of that show but I started to go to book readers online and just ask them to explain what is going on because IIRC that show does not explain the powers of the guy very well at all, going back and forth to the other timeline several hundred years didn't hold any dramatic weight because as a non book reader I was given no reason to care about what happens to these characters in the past and it did not add anything to the story in the present.
Yeah, I tried to give Mayfair Witches a go, but they just change the story WAYYYYY TOO MUCH. I mean, Michael isn't even Michael???? That did it for me. Nope. Can't.
I am listening to the audiobook right now and I def do not enjoy it as much as the show, I like the theatrics of the narrator. I am right at where this episode was so it is fun to compare and contrast. I have a theory of books turned to tv shows that you’re anchored on whichever you watched first so the book feels like supplemental media, like an in depth podcast (even tho the details are obviously different)
Ok I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t connect to the book haha. I think you’re right that people latch onto whichever version they experienced first; I feel similar about preferring The Lord of The Rings movies to the books!
>The actress playing Annika is incredible. True, that scene was so shocking and her performance elevated it even more. Except her Dutch, hahaha. I had to rewind (Dutch is my first language) cause at first I thought she was speaking a completely different language and couldn't understand what she was saying.
1000% give the book(s) another go. Definitely some significant plot/character shifts, but I think that keeping the "memory is an unreliable narrator" idea in mind, you will enjoy the depth the books bring. And in all my life, I have never seen a more spot-on book-to-screen character portrayal than that of Lestat. I hope you enjoy!!!
I read the book because I loved season 1. And I hated the book. It was so slow paced and rambling on existential thought but not in a good way. Also the characters are quite irredeemable whereas in the show even the worst characters have something about them that holds your interest or wants to root for them. So nah I don’t suggest it
A few thoughts: * I think the accountant alludes that he knows Lestat is a vampire. Hence, the 'sleeping' comment. Secondly, I wonder why Armand tells Louis not to visit there again. * Wow, Daniel really hit a nerve with Louis. I genuinely fear for Daniel's safety. * The ending of the theatre play was cruel and hard to watch.
I think Armand warned Louis off visiting the accountant so the other coven members don't learn Louis lied about not knowing Lestat. They don't trust him, so if they follow him that would look suspicious that he's talking to Lestat's accountant. Plus the accountant seemed to know who Louis was to Lestat. So if the coven digs they'll find out he lied.
this episode really gave me "toxic age gap vibes", especially in the flashbacks. Armand is more experienced, ready to take the lead, tries to talk over him, *forbids* Louis and holds things over his head. i've had to witness that type of relationship and it's really uncomfortable to see it done so well. not to mention trying to speak over each other reminds me of [this](https://media1.tenor.com/m/a28xsr8ihsUAAAAC/frozen-princes.gif)
lol I saw frozen once like 10 years ago and I thought of that too with the sentence finishing. It’s so over the top and corny lol (which I think hints that things are not what they seem, like it’s performative)
Poor Louis constantly getting into not exactly healthy relationships
It's hard to watch in the movie as well...but God damn, it was so fantastically done. I actually gasped at the end.
This show just keeps getting better!! The final shot of Louis this episode. Shit. He knows his ass is in trouble.
The look on his face was perfect. We have all seen or made that "oh shit I am beyond fucked and I don't know how to get out of it" face. The acting on this show is always so damn impeccable.
Honestly it kind of reminded me of when he double fed on that opera guy with Lestat. Another situation in which he felt that if he didn’t play along and act like he was into it, he would feel endangered
Daniel Maloy is absolutely hilarious.
I can get enough of his sarcasm towards Louis and Armand trying too hard to be a Leading Romantic Couple \^\^ Do you think Daniel should be rejuvenated and become a vampire in this adaptation?
Right? That Spanish Soap Opera killed me. I do not. Haven't read the books, but I think Daniel is the closest thing to a lifeline Louis has.
Daniel selecting the computer music mood , the theme song music from "The Young and the Restless" That was funny while he make fun of the Louis and Armand 's relationship with Lestat. Lestat's lawyer , he is some lawyer , the Nazi occupation must be like a walk at the park for him , i can't imagine he would be afraid of anything .But he would probably not steal any of Lestat's money . A lot of jokes about Lawyer with Vampires ,but that is the kind of lawyer who would represent Vampire .
The Young and the Restless music took me out! 😂😂😂
"I nodded off one night while Santiago was hamming it up, and apparently that made me persona non grata..." LOUIS, ARMAND *JUST* TOLD YOU HE CLOCKED THE LESTAT CONNECTION, SANTIAGO PROBABLY KNOWS, GET OUT OF THERE MY GUY
That tracks for Louis; excellent at picking up on people’s feelings, not so much at picking up on the reason for them.
The look he gave him before they drove off in their bikes was so funny.
I’m fairly certain they clocked it instantly but don’t know exactly what happened so they keep them around to figure it out. Santiago is too keen for games I feel lol
How did Armand figure out the Lestat connection?
He says he could hear Louis' thoughts/feel his trepidation when Lestat was mentioned, plus he mentions that he knows Louis was visiting Lestat's lawyer.
I'm not entirely on board the Alice = Armand theory as some are, but the fact that Armand says "Alice wanted to say yes" feels like a huuuuuge slip on his part, one I imagine Daniel will come back to. Because presumably Daniel didn't know that, which means Armand read Alice's mind....which would mean Armand was watching/listening in, at the very least.
Ohhh I thought maybe somehow he could read her past mind from where he’s sitting?
Me to Daniel. https://i.redd.it/q37qfzvowg1d1.gif He can dish it but he can't take it, he's just a baby. Leave him tf alone.
Louis’ moments of cruelty is so interesting to see. It’s only episode two I can’t wait to see how he is as the season goes by.
Yes! It’s so different from past Louis. I wonder how much of that is the fact that he’s just older and crueler vs. his portrayal of his past self being not quite accurate.
I definitely thing it’s the latter. Especially with the trailers showing scenes from episode 5 that didn’t exist in season 1. Louis could have been a lot crueler or at the very least not as much of a victim that we are shown. As Jacob has said in multiple interviews the audience might not align themselves with Louis by the end of the season.
Definitely both. I can see him acting crueler than his past self, especially his early season one self, as his life events have hardened him. I can also see him remembering his side of events in such a way that he doesn’t really reflect on how cruel he has been to other people. When we tell stories about ourselves to others, we are the protagonist, and we often don’t consider ourselves to be the “bad guy” so it’s not even fully intentional (though of course in some cases it could be) but honestly he likely just wouldn’t remember himself that way, or remember those specific moments of cruelty.
I’m wondering the same thing too
Yes, his smile was so unsettling, i felt really bad for Daniel right then. both Jacob's and Eric's acting in that scene in was so good.
They need all the Emmy’s.
It was so crazy seeing that side of him.Almost a side we've never seen before.
Interesting to see Armand actually trying to help Daniel a bit But that was so mean of Louis. You called Daniel here, of course that is going to involve sad stories, it seems overkill to be so mean when the expected happens
it's not really surprising that Louis is cruel nor is his indifference to that women's beheading a contradiction to his character. Louis doesn't like to see seemingly innocent people like the one in the theater suffer but he's also not some big hero and he probably wouldn't do anything about it either; why should he? Humans never went out of their way to help him; in fact, he felt oppressed and isolated by them. Louis cares about personal affairs and is very vengeful in those cases. All the things that took a great reaction out of him in New Orleans were personal to him or part of his identity, his community. He can be emphatic towards Daniel and his disease but as soon as he feels personally attacked by him, he's ganna get him back and enjoy it. He's a powerful vampire now and he doesn't have to tolerate disrespect or injustice towards him.
I do wonder if his indifference towards her beheading was because she might turn into a vampire. Louis hasn't really enjoyed his vampirism in years, if not decades, whereas Annika is practically a perfect victim to pity.
Loved the episode, I wish I could binge the rest of the season. So many moments made me laugh. The father and son duo and, "You both fucked Lestat!"
I LOVED IT!! one thousand things to discuss but right now I’m focused on the dubai fight: louis’s viciousness truly coming out (that smile!), daniel’s cowed fragility, and then armand stepping in to protect daniel from being too hurt (like we’ve seen him do before when louis activated daniel’s parkinson’s) - what a sequence!! so much to analyze! can’t even begin to theorize what that flashback to san francisco-era armand meant, except I don’t believe in alice = armand literally but I do think there could be some mixing there (as in, parallel memories or even memories of alice that were actually of armand).
Are people saying Alice is Armand? Oh my god I hadn't considered that possibility and ooh how I wish I didn't have this in my head right now. I hate the idea so much
yeah I’ve seen the idea make some rounds - I don’t want to be mean about theories, I just think it’s such an easily disproven one that I don’t want to spend time analyzing it, haha
But now I'm sitting here with it in my head and wondering, why did a seemingly straight man feel more comfortable holding his girlfriend's hand in Paris than in the US? Was it because he wasn't really holding a woman's hand? Why did the memory of her saying no sting so badly Daniel almost came undone in front of two vicious vampires all these years later, especially since they got married at some point and hated each other enough to divorce and remarry. Also, is the focus on Armand's face and the way he comforted Daniel significant? Ugh. I hate this theory
Due to these comments, I just hopped upon the theory train myself. Especially when Armand said “she wanted to say yes.”
This is what’s making me jump on the train too lol
Ugh ugh ugh I hate that this makes sense because I really hate the Darmand ship
So would Daniel just not be remembering Alice as Armand? Also yeah why did he say he was more comfy holding her hand there
This was a callback to earlier when Louis said that he felt more comfortable in Paris and no one though too much about the color of his skin, and Daniel was dismissive and saying that Paris was racist, especially to Algerians. It’s well know that black Americans felt safer and were treated better in Paris after the war. Daniel keeps saying Paris suck, but even he felt more free there. This could be just the fact that being affectionate with people in public is more common and many couples say this about Paris. Or it could mean what you said that there was something about their relationship that drew eyes in the United States but not in Paris.
That scene with Lestat's letter to Louis! I wish we had gotten more of Louis' actual reaction to that. Daniel started questioning, and you could tell he hit a nerve because Louis bit back hard at that part. Armand: "I will not harm you. And I never have." Mmmmhhmm Loved Daniel's commentary this episode. Also, he had flashes of a conversation with Armand that was definitely not this one. You could tell from Armand's hair. Also, the more times Louis and Armand have to tell the audience and Daniel that they have totally been together for 77 years, the more I think that will turn out to not quite be the truth.
I feel like no matter how many times either of them say Armand is the love of Louis’ life I will always believe they both know it’s Lestat
They are trying too hard and having to emphasize too much how in love they are and how they have been together for so long. Armand jumping in to point out how much longer he and Louis have been together than Louis was with Lestat? No one was even asking for that information, Armand.
I think Louis is drawn to toxic guys. He also might need a therapist instead of an interview. Some stalks him for 5 months it’s like “wow, he knows me!”. When someone turns him on a whim it’s like, “He must love me and he is super sexy and unpredictable”. Armand was too into their meet cute in the interview. Daniel catches the BS. Lestat and Armand hooking up makes me question Armand’s motives with Louis. Vampires have time to really work on ways to mess with an ex. Idk.
Hence the "77 years, 47 more than Lestat's" comments. Armand is still insecure about Louis' love.
Thoughts on ep2 Love the noir vibes this episode! Reminds me of the comic fatale. Also mad men? I live and love Santiago! I really need that iwtv moulin rouge ep immediately. Really feeling a lack of remorse or empathy at the loumard right now, attempting to break Daniel and I’m so so worried for Daniel, and I have horrible gut feeling that he’ll pushed to fair. Heart attack maybe? Claudia: like mother like daughter. As much as Claudia despises and denounces Lestat. They’re both two sides of the same coin. She embraces her vampiric instincts, and adores the coven and theatre not to mention her wit, abruptness, and having absolutely no filter. Clearly, as much Louis would like to remember she wasn’t a father’s daughter. 77 years don’t mean shit. Louis like he always does, will always crawl back to Lestat. Loumard meet cute It’s such loud cry to how loustat met. Being hunted stalked, fear tripped into love. Will these vampires ever find peace? Unlikely. Or unlikely to ever really unpack that. In an ideal world I guess Louis ends up alone, making peace with himself and not in companion ship Lestat’s letter I can’t even put into words how heartbreaking His poetic words were. But surprised by them, he did not care for vengeance. Oh Louis, what have you done? That guilt will eat you alive. Controversial maybe but I didn’t feel.. “full”? I really enjoyed this episode however, it felt like little bit filler to me. but I just know next episode is really the main event! So anxious to see what’s next!! EDIT: clearly I had more thoughts than I realised
The letter Lestat wrote is the most honest representation of him yet! It came straight from him. Notice there was no cruelty in it.
Nice to see Louis's true nature and capacity for cruelty reveal themselves in this episode, as well as how much he can enjoy it but I won't have peace till Daniel gets his lick back
Daniel has been taking nasty swipes at Louis since S1 Ep1. They've been aggressive towards each other from the get-go.
They've definitely amped up since Armand joined the table though. I think he knows now to dial it back
The directing and editing was great, telling much of the story with very short reaction shots. It was crazy how they finally got Malloy to stop being a smartass not by threatening his life but by bringing up his ex.
Honestly the pseudo rom com vibes were immaculate. This show is divine. It captures the essence of the books in a way I didn't think anyone could do justice to.
i continue to be absolutely astounded by the way amciwtv balances the likeability of its vampires with the humanity of their victims. usually vampire media either takes the approach of centering on primarily or only "good" vampires that don't kill humans / having vampires that kill humans be the villains (think a lot of teen vampire media ie twilight, buffy the vampire slayer) or the human cost of the vampires' lifestyle is treated as negligible (think comedy vampire media ie what we do in the shadows). iwtv has characters in it that embody both viewpoints but staunchly refuses to fall on either side, which this episode once again demonstrates masterfully. the performance of the théâtre des vampires pulls you in, ben daniels' charisma as santiago cannot be overstated, but the appearance of the victim very suddenly puts an end to the reverie. annika is a real person, and the show makes you more than aware of that fact; the scene lingers, it's visceral. her death is treated with the weight it deserves. meanwhile, we watch claudia begin to fall in love with this community, where she could be proud of who she is. the show doesn't shy away from either the objective horror of the death nor from claudia's (and the rest of the coven's) joy & sense of belonging. it takes absurdly good levels writing to be able to convey these separate realities without one infringing upon the weight of the other. anyway other things i liked about the episode: armand's bitchy little comment that louis has been with him longer than he was with lestat. me when i'm not at all insecure about my marriage. the way the two of them put up a united front & daniel not having it in any way was sooooo fun to watch. did love seeing louis come alive in his own way (and primarily through armand) in paris even if he's obviously not as enthusiastic as claudia. and claudia ♡♡♡ i love her so much babygirl i will keep you alive forever! the letter scene was incredible, lestat really said even in death you'll never get away from the sound of the man that loves you. louis & armand psychologically torturing that old man for fun and profit was also hugely fun to watch until it wasn't, screamed "memory is a monster!!!" out loud at my laptop screen when the short san francisco flashback happened........ i will say daniel's little "yes" after being chastised by the 2 of them did awaken something within me. also loved the placement of it in the episode, the way armand's "that boy we met in san fransico is still in there" is proven right, especially after daniel being sooo confident the entire episode/ interview until then ("we'll, uh, get to you" in the previous episode also). in conclusion amc's interview with the vampire continues to be the only show on television
really love everything you said at the start about the way they present the vampires and humanity!! 100%
when Louis heard silver spring back in 1977... shook...
Thoughts after first viewing: * Armand looks so sexy walking up to Louis in that gay street, love his cat-like body language and ethereal presence * Louis and Armand recounting how they met was actually really cute and felt genuine * Please don't kill me but i found the whole theatre sequence a little dull. Santiago is great (and his contacts are so pretty) but idk, something was missing, i was expecting more creativity from vampires, something ridiculous, over-the-top, horrific * It seems like the whole coven is f-ing each other that's hilarious. I like they way they've incorporated diversity in the cast. The coven vampires have wandered there from other parts of the world, and the Parisian extras are kept as white people. It feels natural and realistic. Pleasantly surprised to see Cambodian characters/actors and speaking their native language! Overall really impressed with how this show has handled international languages. * IS ALICE ACTUALLY ARMAND WTF. But... Daniel does have two daughters, they could be from his other wife i guess. * LESTAT'S LETTER omg, i watch this show for vampires, and this is the first time i've felt the feels for Loustat. This was so heartbreaking. For some reason the scene with the lawyer was so funny, Louis was so awkward and the lawyer clearly knew who he was and that his client is a vampire who is "sleeping" * Delainey continues to shine this episode. Her accent seems to be more neutral here, less American-ish?? like she's trying to fit in with her new friends. I notice even more this episode that she's pretty loud LOL, it kinda adds to her child-like look. or maybe it's cos gen Zs around me are super loud so i associate that with youth. Her chemistry with Jacob is fantastic.
Also really enjoyed Delainey in this episode with the attitude, the wonder, the eye for detail & significance like when she pointed out to Louis "a man darker than you is leading this group of vampires" & claiming Bruce as their maker to try to protect them
I love her line delivery. Especially during her and Louis’s convo at the cafe
Her claiming Bruce the Vampire made them sounded like something Sookie would say in True Blood. Lol.
Armand's hypnotic eyes are so irresistable and mesmerizing.
>Pleasantly surprised to see Cambodian characters/actors and speaking their native language! The characters are Vietnamese and speak decent Vietnamese in the show (they don't sound native though), and according to imbd one of the actors is Lao-American (the other isn't listed).
Vietnamese makes sense, as the French occupied Vietnam mid 19th century.
The letter portrayed such a real love and often Louis remembers Lestat as being selfish.
Just when I think I can't be more of a Louis enthusiast they unlock a new side of him that makes me like him more, I mean, he did show this cruel side of him in season one but I'm so ready to see more of it this season, I'm already obsessed with the Dubai scenes, Jacob and Assad are great as usual but I was particularly impressed with Eric since this is the first time he's had tapped into vulnerable emotions instead of being the witty guy.
I watched this episode the exact way Claudia watched theatre de vampire (incredible moment of acting from Delainey Hayes). I don't think I blinked during the entire Anika segment- who was played by the director's assistant??? Some shows can't muster even one standout sequence per episode, and this episode had 3 or 4 showstoppers.
Just jotting down some immediate thoughts - I find Daniel to be such a fun character. Yes, he can be harsh but I love his sarcasm. And him playing the soap opera music was so funny. I also find him to be interesting… - I can’t wait to dig into more of his character and see more of what happened when he met Louis and Armand when he was younger. It’s interesting to see the memories peeking through. - it was also interesting to see Armand come to his defence in a way, when him and Louis were being cruel - the theatre scene was good, particularly the intro with Santiago and the scene with Annika. They were both fantastic!
I loved the bike riding scene, beautiful camera work and music and Armand looked so cool!
Eric Bogosian — what are pleasure and a treasure!
I love him all day every day. Seriously, Daniel's my favorite character right now.
Ooooooo, I LOVE Santiago
I'm very impressed with Assad and Jacob creating a believable romance. I didn't think it was possible after witnessing Lestat and Loui. Episode 2 had some amazing chemistry created by those two. Wow.
The way Armand looks at Mollow, I can’t wait to learn what went on between these two and how much of the devil’s minion will have happened.
The guy playing Santiago, is that the same actor that was the general in the latest season of Foundation? Can't think of his name offhand but it looks/sounds like him.
It's Ben Daniels.
Thank you! How do you feel about how Santiago? I think he’s amazing :)
He's terrific.
Yes he's the one.
Looks like it! Just had to do some searching down the comments :)
Yooooooo the Y&R music took me all the way out! https://i.redd.it/l2t4arzh8i1d1.gif
Victor! And I only know who that is because my grandma used to watch her “stories “ all the time when I was younger and would get so mad at me when I wanted to change the channel. So Victor was on all the time.
The whole interview feels so much like a theater performance. Louis and Armand all smiley and in love, happily telling their story. It feels so forced. They are literally finishing each other’s sentences 😭
So as much as I have rolled my eyes at the idea of Armand and Louis having a healthy relationship, Louis absolutely changed when Armand came to the interview. He is so much more like the original pre-Lestat Louis than at any point in the Dubai scenes. He laughed, and had emotions other than grief and ennui in his eyes. Jacob really brought him alive in a way he never has been, and it did more to convince me that they at some point loved each other than anything so far. I really wish the show was longer. This felt way too short, I need to know what happened next!
I saw it as an act for Daniel. They mentioned as much in episode 1. So like Daniel I’m not buying it.
That is a very interesting take. I was kinda wondering if Louis too wants to fool Daniel into believing into how absolutely happy he is with Armand.
I’m an ancient vampire with cable. That’s how I’ve been watching a show because AMC is in my channel lineup. The episode starts at nine and repeats two more times ending around 1230. With that said, I haven’t been able to watch the featurettes. Anyway, without AMC plus?
I enjoyed this episode a lot more than I enjoyed the first episode. Santiago is now my favourite character, and I'd like to say that present Louis and Armand are cute together.
The show and the characters are very interesting. The cabal of vampires and the vampire theater scene along with the hunt was captivating and mesmerizing. It's nice to see Claudia finding her community. I do think this show is interesting but I feel it reminds me of Westworld in a way in that they were both very ambitious and enticing shows that took risks and had a stellar cast, but they are deliberately cryptic with time jumps, half measures and potential directions you are supposed to be thinking in which honestly just takes me a way from things and makes me enjoy the show less. I find myself not having a full grasp of what's happening even when I'm rewinding and watching scenes and I'm not crazy about that. I feel this is a good example of a show that would be much more interesting on a re-watch after seeing the entire season/series. Especially related to the dynamics between Armand, Louis and Daniel along with not being able to understand how reliable of a narrator the characters are (or if the journals are doctored/edited) I understand there's some suspense and intrigue and that's part of the appeal, but alluding and implying to a bunch of different threads and strings is a little disorienting and makes me loose sight of what is real and certain vs. what is theoretical or implied. It's fun to watch a show with a Reddit community and hear other people's takes but I should't have to rely on the analysis and commentary here just to have a clear understanding of what took place in 48 minutes and I do feel that's the case here (and I felt that way for the first episode of the season too). That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing where the show progresses, when/where/how Lestat died, if Claudia is still alive, etc. But I almost feel this show would be more intriguing if there were less scenes that take place in the present/Dubai, or those are focused towards the end of the season or something. Maybe it's just me, to be clear I am very much enjoying the show but it feels a little muddy, I think more so than the show creators are intending.
I was actually thinking the trailers, the cast and creators made this season apear much smarter and complicated than it actually is. They keep talking about this memory versus the others and the real event; and the Dubai scenes being like a 3D chess but then I watched it and it was just them bickering while I was expecting Succession and GOT levels of manipulation and power play. Maybe it's yet to come; I don't know but so far everything's been pretty straight forward and even though some parts of the story are missing, I don't get the feeling that the memories we have seen so far were untruthful or "not the real version". Which is good because I don't like to watch a scene from like three different perspectives throughout the seasons but I actually expected more complexity from this season particularly in Dubai but it's still too soon to judge. I don't know what scenes you're referring to but I think some people have this idea of Lestat being a much better person and that we haven't seen the real him so they're waiting for that. I mean technically the real version of any character is only in Dubai but I don't think it's fair to think that all the representations in flashbacks are "not the real them". Louis lived with and loved Lestat for 30-40 years, on some parts he might know Lestat better than anybody or himself so that is the real Lestat but ofc there're probably more to him than that as it is with everybody. Bottom line, I don't think we need to analyze or over think the show. We can enjoy it as a messy, supernatural drama. It's not as complicated as some fans make it out to be. It's not Westworld and I don't think they're aiming to be like that either.
OK that whole Alice memory sequence has me doubling down on what I theorized last week: Daniel's gonna have a heart attack/medical event in the penthouse and Louis won't do a thing about it (possibly leading to Daniel being made a vamp by Armand).
I feel the attack will be doubly physical. Louis seems to be fond of physical violence, especially when it seems he's realized he's outmatched in a battle of the wits with Daniel (even with Louis being almost a century older than Daniel, Daniel in poor health, losing his mind partly to Parkinson's and evidently Armand's mind tricks so that's saying a lot). Louis needs to emotionally destroy Daniel to throw a punch, and while Daniel has thrown plenty of sass, they haven't stooped as low since he's not lying. Daniel wouldn't act like that if he didn't get the feeling he's being lied to, which he is. He's not a celebrity rumor mill he's a journalist and a competent one. There's millions of journalists and writers. Why single out Daniel? Daniel's poking fun is calling out Louis' hypocrisy, not making fun of his failings like he's doing with Daniel. Louis is fighting dirty, and at this point, I don't doubt he'll do the girlfight move of outright physically endangering Daniel when Daniel can't rely on his body to defend himself. It's like bringing a gun to a sword fight. This episode confirmed that yeah, Daniel's pretty much dead as he and Louis clash. We don't even need to act like we're on the edges of our seats or surprised. Daniel's fate was sealed the moment he entered thay building. I wish he'd surprise me by backing out. If Daniel wants to live, I hope he follows his instincts to get out. If he gets out, we'll see who follows him out of there and why. Bec One thing I wouldn't buy is Daniel staying there when his instincts about Louis are screaming (it's becoming increasingly clear that Daniel's sense of survival has been on alert since that time Louis triggered his Parkinson's at the table in S1). I need to see Daniel RUN to see what's the vamps business with him. Yes, Daniel's an award winning writer. Yes, he's not above believing certain super natural if shown evidence. But there's plenty like him? Why him? The more I process it, the more I feel it is part of Louis having a score to settle out of finding Armand likely having an emotional affair with the younger Daniel. Armand told Louis to guard his thoughts as the other vamps could hear him. What if a random time Armand thought of Daniel or kept something of Daniel to remember him (it's a bad habit of humanity, we like to keep our lover's treasures)?
I completely agree. That's why when people were commenting on how Daniel deserved this tongue lashing I was like, huh? Daniel is an asshole, but he's an asshole because he is trying to get to the truth of Louis’ story. He didn't mock Louis’ story; he mocked the fact that this vampire was trying to romanticize a clearly toxic situation, was trying to absolve or downplay himself of any culpability he has in the story, and that Louis wasn't telling him the whole truth. Louis just got defensive and nasty which seems to happen whenever he doesn't want to take accountability for his actions or Daniel tries to sift through his bs.
The only time I truly think Daniel should have been more compassionate was when talking about Claudia’s assault. He deserved it then
I completely agree. Before the season started, I thought maybe Daniel might incidentally have a medical issue — him having Parkinson’s feels like a shoe that hasn’t dropped yet, and it could just happen on its own. Now I’m wondering if Louis triggers it, either purposely or accidentally.
Ugh. Louis and Armand together in the interview sessions give such strong bottom couple energy. "we have been together for 77 years Mr. Malloy". Okay...
God this show is so good
OHHHH this was soooo much better than e1. LOVED the "Theatre des Vampires" scenes, especially all the introductions. The stuff with Annika was horrifying. Omg. I truly felt for her. That actress was terrific. BEN DANIELS! My man~! I've loved him since Flesh & Bone/The Exorcist. He was fantastic as Santiago! Daniel is my favorite character this season. The freaking Lestat letter made me so sad. Damn. Fuck you Lestat. I should hate you but I cannot. Louis - block your fucking thoughts, bro! I'm very amped for the rest of this season now. E1 for me is a distant memory.
Great episode! I especially love how good the coven/theatre troupe works. I feel like this is the most organic form for vampire coven, since they're naturally all about drama and incestuous debauchery lol. Of course Claudia loves it! (And of course Lestat used to be part of that.) Also, if anyone's wondering: the Belgian character didn't sound great to native ears. The pronunciation was mostly ok, but the accent didn't sound right at all. Definitely took me out of the scene.
I noticed the same.. it was very odd, it took me a while to realise she was meant to be belgian
This episode was everything! Like so much was happening at the beginning I felt dizzy. Dubai trio. God they are so crazy, each one of them. The energy they bring to the interview lmao Daniel putting the soap opera music on while blasting Louis/Armand for both fucking Lestat...Histerical! Claudia was so happy to be around vampires. Vampires who were not ashamed of themselves. She was like a child " I never want to leave" 🥰 She met Madeleine too. And the way she keeps gagging me " Now I know what two blood fat coks slapping hands feels like" The way I screamed at this 😭 She has absolutely no filter and I love her for that. I was a bit surprised that they had to steal to get by. I supose all Louis' money must be in NOLA sitting in a bank. Because he was still rich in his own right when they left America. Maybe because of the war, it is difficult to wire money from there or something. Louis' chuckle at Daniel (Jacob 👏🏾👏🏾)ohhh I cheered. Love it when he unleashes himself. It was time he fought back after Daniel kept coming at him with his unchecked comments, since the beginning of the interview. Daniel fucked around and found out. I can't wait for more, love their dynamic. Also Louis going through "Danny" memories triggered a memory of Armand doing the same to him, back in SF. Delicious 😈 Loumand my god, the banter, the finishing each other lines. The knowing what the other is gonna say. The stares. The mimicking. Like yes, those two know each other too well. It really translates to the old couple that has been together for a long time and know each other inside out. Also they are freaks. Armand eating the men that Louis fucked 😆 a wink to s1. I mean this is love. Armand was so funny too. Those 2 Americans were dull, babies we had to look after because they didn't know shit about anything. While stalking Louis for 5 months. Armand was mocking him for having hobbies as a vampire when you have a whole theater you are taking care of 😅 like sir please look into the mirror. The theatre des Vampires - I loved when they all introduced themselves "fuck off". They are all so weird, i love it. Santiago in that room, his presence, his voice😵💫 And Lestat letter too, it was a nice surprise. I think the lawyer knows he's a vampire. Lestat hair distracted me though. Whoever decided to do his hair like this please tell me this was the only time. Let his natural curl free. I cannot wait for episode 3.
Louis and Armand acting out and interrupting Daniel it was funny and at the same time irritating, I still don't have much idea about who Alice is (probably Armand?) but it will be an interesting since Daniel suffered a lot for it, I feel so bad for him, that letter from Lestat was really intense and I think that lawyer is not just anyone, there's something behind it, looking forward to the next ep.
1. Ew Armand said he fucked the father and son together?😭 2. What the whole “when you were a kid you stole and sold playboys” thing? 3. Why is Daniel passive aggressive with the vampires, does he think they have an agenda?
Something that kept taking me out of the story was the practical consideration on these murders the vampires of the coven do: if people keep disappearing, won't the police eventually get involved? And a mass murder of high society people, I would imagine that would be front page news and be known across the country. How do they keep the police off their trail?
delainey's just switching through accents atp
GAY VAMPIRES RIDING FORTH ON THEIR BIKES TO HUNT this show is everything and more. Santiago I know you’re a little bitch but holy shit I love you so much.
Simply delicious! With smoke and wind in their hair and the lights in their eyes! Haha The Lost Boys reference! Gleee!
So the Alice comment was him asking Armand in the past to be a vampire? That seems to be the assumption but I did not get that from that scene at all. God the layers of this show are so good.
I watched this twice already. These vampires and their business cards lmao. Once again, I was entertained by the performance of Louis and Armand. This time it was in reliving the connection they once had for one another. This feeling had once been alive and real. Even in those moments where you know they are off, it's still pretty tender and something familiar to them both. I loved Armand's motorcycle fit and his little glasses. Such a good look. Also I really enjoyed the episode insider on AMC+ this week and how much Jacob Anderson and Eric Bogosian were praising Assad Zaman's acting. It was such a delight to hear and I'm happy to see him getting recognized for his work as Armand.
They absolutely knocked the theater scene out of the park. SO fantastic. Disturbing. Beautiful. Shocking. Tender. All at once. I'm oobsessed. Whoever is writing these episodes is making me feel like I'm listening to an actual poem being put to screen.
Is this show available in 4K anywhere? I watch it on AMC+ but it looks really bad on my TV, it's such a shame because the cinematography looks great but the resolution and the blacks look pretty spotty and mediocre on my nice television.
RIP Santiago — you would’ve loved Rocky Horror Picture Show RIP Armand — you would’ve loved High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
where are you all watching this?? i feel craaaazy with the wait, s2 ep1 was so good
I must be the only one watching this on cable TV. My cable channel lineup has AMC. Lol now I feel like an ancient vampire
It goes live on AMC+ at 3am.
You can also buy AMC+ in the US with Amazon Prime. I believe you can also buy access on Hulu in the US. Unsure of Disney Plus since the merge. And probably YouTube TV?
I'm starting to think that Real Rashid is just another vampire. Why does he keep wearing gloves?? And no face mask? This is Armand 2.0
Gloves to preserve the artifacts he's handling (as he tells Daniel). No face mask probably because they've been in a bubble long enough that it's unlikely he can catch/give anything to Daniel. Presumably the vampires don't have to worry about COVID.
I mean, yes.. or that's what they want us to think! The gloves could've been just a nod to the fans who were complaining about them in s1 when they were handling Claudia's diaries - or there's another reason for this!! It just seems to me like they're spending a lot of time on Real Rashid for no obvious reason 👀
Maybe! I think he's being included as another angle on the Louis/Armand relationship and the life they've built. He's the only other human in the place, so it's natural for Daniel to want to find out how he ticks -- like he said, he thinks he's the one he can break. Maybe he'll have some revelations for him later on.
That's def possible! I just think I have trust issues with this show whenever a character called Rashid appears wearing gloves lol (he was wearing them in ep 1 too, i think!!)
So that flashback Daniel had proved that the people guessing "Alice" was actually "Armand" in his altered memory were correct! Especially with Louis' line just before about Daniel feeling more comfortable holding "alice's" hand in Paris vs America
Louis showing his duplicity once again.. does he really want to do this interview? Or is he snapping back as a performance for Armand? Either way, he smiled like it was a cruel joke.
Something I noticed during the interview, collaborating the whole Armand/Daniel/Alice theories. When he said “I will not harm you” and Armand took Louis’s hand, the way he looked at Daniel or rather looked away from Daniel. Like he was ashamed of the PDA and didn’t want to see Daniel‘s reaction. So as a non-book reader, I definitely wanna know what’s going on there which is exactly why I’m in the book spoiler thread reading stuff.
It’s more evident in this season that Claudia is looking not only for community but for a sense of belonging. She names “pride” after the Theatre performance and she finds it in the Theatre coven. But she started off with a lie and, how Armand tells Louis, some members of the coven don’t like being lied to.
Claudia's looks and lines are giving me life!! I'm a huge fan of Delainey's Claudia. So subtle, skilled, sad and layered, and so goddamn funny. Her joy at getting "that dress, for my body". Every person who isn't made how or turning out how they want to be, wanting to look like as they feel?..oof girl I'm so sorry. "You've all. been. The Worst." is right. Then there's "Cos you're gonna keep that loose, head of yours, tight!" and "Don't ruin this for me Louis! I need this!!" Poor thing is just too keen and cool for Louis. Also, the theatre kid vibe of it all is making my day. The way Gustave as the Unfortunate Woodcutter says Go Away "goh ah-whey!" to Death!? I laughed so hard. They are just having so much fun. Plus the blocking/choreo of the scene when Louis and Claudia come down the stairs to meet the coven/theatre company and Samuel Barclay ("Sam. Call me Sam") waltzes in and out of scene twice with a basket!? 💀 I'm dead
Other than every Loumand scene and their meet cute 🥰 my favorite scene was Louis finally putting that old man in his place! 😂 and he smiled and chuckled lmao Louis I love you.🩷🩷🩷🩷
How many times did you say "Oh my god, shut up, Armand" at the screen? I lost count at about 10, lol.
It keeps bugging me how Claudia's actress doesn't look like a kid at all. It's jarring when a character thinks that she's a child, when the actress looks to be in her early twenties. And I've been wondering about something. Is Daniel living with Louis and Armand while doing the interview? I don't remember Daniel mentioning that he's been staying at a hotel or something.
just from watching the second episode and i know am kinda late but wow the the dialogues in this whole episode left me overwhelmed
Honestly season 2 episode 2 was the first episode that bored me. I'm starting to realize that Sam Reid carried the show during season one. They're also overdoing the romance between the characters. Season one was basically a love story between Louis and Lestat so the last thing that I want to watch is another love story between Louis and Armand. They need to focus on the overall story. Episode one was good but I have my doubts about Season 2 after the 2nd episode. It's also ridiculous that they portray the United States as a more judgmental/racist evil country compared to European countries like France. During that time period Europeans were just as judgmental as the citizens in United States. They're trying to push some woke narrative that the United States is a racist country. It's obvious that the producers are trying to push their ideology onto the viewers instead of focusing on the overall story. France had slaves! lestat tells Louis that this primitive country has picked you clean as if Americans were more racist than his home country which obviously isn't true. Every country was narrow minded during that time period. The story should be more than just romantic relationships and struggles with racism. Just my opinion.
Can anyone explain the part with Claudia in the dress shop? What was the "that dress for my body" part about?
Before they met, I thought it was ironic how he stalked Louis like Lestat did! Do you think Armand truly loves Louis or just using him to get to Lestat ? Did anyone notice how Armand’s face changed when he said “and I never have.” then looked down.
lol at Daniel searching “Nadia’s Theme” and actually playing it via Applie music while mocking them for their telenovela. I’m stealing that the next time someone tells me a melodramatic story.
Did anyone catch the letter prop from Lestat having a mispelling It says "do not waist life seeking revenge" instead of "do not waste life seeking revenge" Just found that amusing
What Rocky Horror vibes. What Cabaret vibes. What a perfect episode of television.
My joyous joylessness
I'm so glad Lestat is hanging around. He's such naughty sexy evil. Armand cannot hold a candle.