"INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE" S2, Episode 3: The Truth Always Reveals Itself (Spoilers)
(Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
Alas, we reach Sunday yet again. This means a new episode of Anne Rice’s ‘Interview With The Vampire’ has returned. Don’t worry, if you don’t have the chance to watch it, we’ve got you covered. WARNING: there will be spoilers. Last week, we left off during the intense interview with Louis conducted by Mr. Daniel Molloy, yet the tables were turned for this session and Louis got into Molloy’s mind to make him relive memories that he wasn’t too fond of back to.
This week, we dive into the world of love and misery between three vampires. The relationships of Louis, Lestat, and Armand. Claudia also gets her chance in the spotlight at the Théâtre des Vampires, but is it more than she bargained for?
We all know how strong the bond between two vampires can be. But what happens when a third party is involved? This episode titled “No Pain” was especially enjoyable to watch. We learn the backstory behind Armand and Lestat and how they come to be together, but we also see Louis opening up to Armand in a way that he’s been dreading.
Back in old Paris, Armand was the leader of the Coven, living beneath the depths of the streets in filth; or as Lestat would say “living as a grub.” At first glance, Armand admired Lestat. His lavish clothing, and the way he presented himself on stage, with not a care in the world as to how we would be perceived. Armand claimed that Lestat’s thoughts have run through his mind for hundreds of years, and now he has found him.
(Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
Lestat was a performer of the ages. Crowds would roar with applause when he was on stage. Armand on the other hand, knew Lestat’s true form and believed that he should be using his powers to his full capability. He has been following Lestat in the shadows, ever since he first laid eyes on him. Knowing this, Lestat finally calls out to Armand in the street whilst walking with his partner, Nicholas (a mortal, which is forbidden in The Ten Laws of the vampiric rule).
Once making his appearance, Lestat is disgusted by the dirty street dweller and brushes him off. Armand is furious by this and flings both Nicholas and Lestat into the cobblestone. Now intrigued, Lestat must know how Armand uses mind power to move objects, and with such strength. In hopes of Lestat following, Armand whisks away with the body of Nicholas.
As the night grows longer, to our surprise, Lestat breaks down the door to the underground fortress of the Coven and approaches them with a monstrous-sized crucifix. Seeing how the others are living, he encourages them to leave the Coven and roam the streets of Paris, to live as they please amongst the mortals.
Armand is infuriated by this, as the members of the Coven abide by Lestat’s offer; he throws Nicholas over his shoulder and leaves the decrepit stone structure. As the night goes on, Lestat returns, in hopes that Armand will teach him his ways of power. Flattered by this, he can’t help but admire Lestat’s alluring looks and personality.
(Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
Lestat ultimately leaves Nicholas and develops a bond with Armand. Now a regular patron at his performances, Armand notices that the last act has taken quite a turn. As the curtain drops, and with Lestat’s newfound powers, the vampires come out and attack the mortal crew in a brutal bloodbath.
Everything seemed to be taking a turn for the better in Armand’s eyes; he was in love. A love so strong that he couldn’t believe what was to come next. One day, Lestat ups and leaves without a trace to go to America. You guessed it, this is where his relationship with Louis begins.
Back to present-day Dubai and returning to the interview, Louis awakens from his slumber as Armand finishes the portion of his interview with Molloy. Now we get Louis’ side of the story. When Louis first met Armand, he was frightened but also intrigued by him. He claimed that he looked like a young man, but could sense his powerful energy.
At this time in Paris, Claudia was still attending the shows at the theatre and started to work backstage for the troupe. She longed for that sense of belonging with other vampires, and they gave her that. Claudia tells Louis that she was offered to join the Coven and wants him to be there for the ceremony, but hesitantly he accepts. Mind you, at this point, Armand doesn’t know that Louis also had a relationship with Lestat.
(Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
During the ceremony, Armand starts becoming suspicious of Louis that he is hiding something. Earlier in the evening, Santiago confronts Claudia who they refer to as “Pruce” and tells her that one of the aspects of becoming a great actress is the ability to lie. She stays silent, put off by this comment and fearful of being outed by the Coven for lying about her relationship with Louis and their backstory.
Santiago who is now also suspicious of the two vampires, tells Armand that he needs to “take care of them” which can only mean one thing. Armand lures Louis down to the sewers while Claudia is finishing her initiation into the Coven. Fearful of being killed, he confessed to Armand that he and Claudia indeed lied and that he and Lestat were partners in America. Claiming he already knew this, Armand states that he just “wanted to hear him say it.”
(Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
Once the initiation concludes, Claudia is presented with a baby doll-like dress from the troupe and it is announced that she will be starring in the newest play “My Baby In The Window” for the next 50 years. The play became an absolute hit; merchandise, multiple performances through the week, everything was falling into place for Claudia. Over 500 performances later, she is exhausted and claims that she “doesn’t have the love for being on-stage” like she once did.
After stating that she has been infantized her whole life being a 14-year-old vampire, she realizes that this was the troupe’s plan all along; to embarrass her, mortals ridiculing her. Louis was distraught as he could see the disappointment and exhaustion on Claudia’s face.
Back to the present day, Molloy is sneakily doing research on his laptop while Armand and Louis go to take a business call. He received an intriguing bit of information from another mortal by the name of RJ while at an omakase sushi tasting for lunch. The man claimed that he knew about vampires and how the mortals live amongst them; that there are more lurking in the shadows than we are to believe. At first, brushing it off, but now curious as to what he meant, Molloy realizes that RJ uploaded documents to his laptop for him to do a little digging of his own.
(Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of AMC Network Entertainment LLC)
This episode in particular gave us a lot in insight into three of the most coveted vampires personal life and we can’t help but want more. There is definitely a lot of key points to keep up with; for example the fact that Lestat is still attached to Louis and appears whenever he pleases. The extent of emotions that Lestat provokes within Louis is remarkable and terrifying.
In the flashback from Paris when Louis frantically goes to the park and finds “Lestat”, they immediately begin kissing in an act of passion until Lestat tells Louis to “kill him again.” In doing so, he bashes Lestat’s head repeatedly into the stone wall. Coming back into reality, he realizes it was an innocent mortal man. I’m pretty sure he was just as shocked as we were…
Lestat isn’t finished making his presence known just yet. It seems that he may want to sabotage Louis, or even go farther as to killing him. An eye for an eye, right? But would he kill his once true love? It also must be mentioned that there has to be more to the story with Molloy and RJ; what does he really want from Louis and Armand? Hopefully the next episode will give us a little more.
Stay tuned for next weeks episode overview on episode four of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire, premiering on Sunday, June 2nd.
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