'Interview With The Vampire' Season 2, Episode 1 & 2 Overview: Welcome to The Théâtre des Vampires (Spoilers)

(Photo Credits: Larry Horricks/AMC)

The long-awaited return of Anne Rice’s ‘Interview With The Vampire’ has finally graced our television screens once again. If you thought season one was iconic, then you are in for quite the treat with season two. With the series being derived from Anne Rice’s novels, the storytelling in this season is so descriptive and beautifully written that it makes you feel as if you are along for the journey with Claudia (now played by Delainey Hayles) and Louis. With the filming of season two being done in Prague, Paris, and New Orleans, the cinematography shines through and gives viewers an authentic landscape to revel in.

(Image Courtesy of AMC Network Entertainment LLC)

Episode 1: What Can The Damned Really Say To The Damned

The first episode starts off as a continuation of season one. Louis is being interviewed by the renowned journalist Daniel Molloy on his expedition into life or should I say “afterlife.” Needless to say, Molloy is a little skeptical. Armand, the handsome and alluring vampiric partner of Louis, is also present for the interview to make sure everything stays on track.

We get flashbacks of Claudia and Louis in Romania during the midst of war. Claudia is determined to find old world vampires, or at least some sort or inkling that can confirm they are or have been there.

Whilst roaming the streets, Claudia and Louis run into soldiers patrolling the area and are asked to show their papers. Once they are not accepted, a Russian woman approaches the soldiers and warns them that it’s dangerous for them to be out on the streets and that “papers mean nothing if they’re dead.”

The mysterious woman who we now know as Emilia runs a shelter for displaced individuals after the war broke out and invites the vampiric duo to stay the night and enjoy a hot meal. Yet, she does not know they’re vampires. Arriving at the shelter, they are told they can sleep in the boiler room since there are no beds available.

Louis gets settled in with the others just fine as he brought peace offerings of vodka and cigarettes. He insists that Claudia goes to be amongst the other children, hinting that “they probably know everything about this place.” An intrigued Claudia follows and once out of sight, she wanders off into the forest and stumbles upon something sinister.

A vampire maybe? But this specific creature seems to be decaying and more zombie-like than anything she’s ever seen before. Attempting to communicate with the creature, it gets agitated and flings her into a tree. Making her way back to the shelter, she tells Louis of what she saw and he doesn’t believe her.

(Photo Credits: Larry Horricks/AMC)

Exhausted from their trek, Louis and Claudia head down to the boiler room for a night of slumber, only to be awoken by chaos coming from above. They arise to find Emilia has been “attacked” by something in the woods while she was setting traps for rabbits. Claudia knows this wasn’t an ordinary wolf mauling as assumed by Emilia’s soon to be husband, Morgan. Soldiers have now overrun the shelter, planning to shoot Emilia to death as they also believe she was bitten by a vampire.

One of the townspeople chimes in saying they must decapitate her. Morgan pleads Louis to help Emilia and tell them she was only hunting. Louis and Claudia walk away as they can not interfere with human affairs, “their business is in the woods.” In the background you can see an axe being raised and released as the crowd shrieks in terror and Morgan cries out.

Claudia leads Louis to the spot where she saw the supposed vampire and they bring a human sacrifice to lure it out. Once the vampire attacks the soldier, they let it know that they don’t want the body and that it is for him. They show off their fangs to let him know they are one in the same. Suddenly, a woman vampire attacks Louis and the other vampire attacks as well.

(Photo Credits: Larry Horricks/AMC)

Claudia jumps on top of him and gouges his eyes out, leaving him shrieking in pain. The woman vampire consoles the creature saying “mama’s here” and scolds Claudia claiming he was only a child. Ultimately killing the now blinded vampire by bludgeoning it to death with a stone, the mother screams saying “how did you expect him to hunt?!”

They follow the angered but intriguing woman vampire through the woods to where she resides in a castle-like building. Claudia begins speaking to her, informing her that they are in search of fellow vampires. The woman reveals her name to be Daciana, a decaying vampire known as a revenant. They exchange words for a brief moment and she invites the duo to come to America with her; only for her last words to be “we own nothing” and throws herself into the burning fireplace.

In absolute shock, Louis tells Claudia that they need to leave Romania, and that they will stay together no matter what, but they must stay where they are going for awhile. The two begin their journey to the city of Paris, where those just like them are prevalent.

Episode 2: Do You Know What It Means To Be Loved By Death?

As if episode one wasn’t enough for you, episode two really takes the cake, and it’s just the beginning. Claudia and Louis are now living in Paris, concealing their identity by only hunting pigeons and other creatures they can get their hands on. Louis makes it prominently known that he does not bring home any of his kills, as it could get messy. Trying to get by in the once bustling city, Claudia has resorted to pick-pocketing to have some source of income. Louis insists that Paris is on the up and up and that “she” just needs time.

One evening, Louis is taking a stroll through a park in Paris known for its lustrous crowd. He feels the presence of another vampire, who turns out to be Armand, and this is the story of how they met. Armand tells Louis “I will never harm you” and invited him and “the petite beauty” Claudia to come and watch the show at the Théâtre des Vampires. Excitedly, he rushes home to tell Claudia the news, someone has found them; other vampires. Over the moon, Claudia goes out and has a custom dress made to fit her body for the show.

(Photo Credits: Larry Horricks/AMC)

They arrive at the Theatre and are given “the best seats in the house.” The room is filled with die-hard fans that return week after week and tourists who are curious of the vampiric kind. Armand can be seen at the top of the balcony, smiling down on Louis. The show begins with the star, Santiago proclaiming to the audience that they will be compliant with what they are about to see.

The performance is full of live acting combined with screened images projected onto the faces of the actors to set the ambience. Suddenly, a woman runs onto the stage crying, and screaming for help. claiming that they are real vampires and they are going to kill her. Claudia and Louis look at each other in shock, they know this isn’t part of the show.

The woman who we now know as Annika, pleads for her life. Santiago tells her that he can choose someone else, and that everyone meets death at some point in their life. He chooses a gentleman from the crowd, but claims that it is not his time yet. Santiago consoles Annika and tells her that with her death there will be no pain, and sinks his fangs into her.

The crowd gasps as multiple vampires appear on stage and feast on the body of Annika as her screams can be heard. A standing ovation comes across the room, and even Claudia chimes in “Bravo!” Louis is somewhat appalled by this act, knowing this isn’t the kind of vampires that he was hoping to meet.

(Photo Credits: Larry Horricks/AMC)

The two are invited backstage after the show, as Armand introduces them to the cast of vampires. Louis and Claudia are invited back for another showing, but Louis is hesitant. Over the next month, Claudia has attended every show, and couldn’t be happier to be with her own kind. On this particular evening, Armand leads the vampiric troupe along with Claudia and Louis on a motorcycle ride to a renowned party that is being thrown at a mansion outside of the city.

Santiago approaches the guards at the front and kills them instantly, inviting everyone inside to feast on the partygoers. Armand and Louis reluctantly stay back, Louis claiming he already ate and Armand stating he’s exactly where he wants to be.

I almost forgot to mention, the founder of the vampiric troupe is none other than Lestat de Lioncourt, as Claudia spotted a portrait of him at the Theatre. Plot twist much? Little does Armand know that his new acquaintance is indeed the one who killed his once lover, Lestat. Let me remind you that the interview with Molloy is still being conducted, and he can’t believe what he is hearing. “Lestat, I should have guess, but I didn’t. Two former lovers of him now together.” At this point, Louis is overwhelmed with the memories that are flooding back and Molloy offers him a break, which he refuses.

At this, Daniel Molloy is not buying what Louis has to say. Him and Armand plan to prove to him that everything they are saying is indeed true. By doing this, Louis recalls Molloy’s previous relationship with a woman named Alice, stating many facts that he wouldn’t be able to know unless he was told. The two fire off and Daniel at this point seems clearly upset by the recollection of memories that are now flowing through his mind, instead of Louis.

(Photo Credits: Larry Horricks/AMC)

That was a lot to take in, but for now, we will leave you with that. Make sure to tune in to AMC and AMC+ to watch the third episode of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire premiering on Sunday, May 26th. Also, stay up to date with all of season two right here at Macabre Daily with continued episode recaps.

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