A misguided teenager with a thirst for revenge and her sniping, adoptive fathers who are forever at each other’s throats!!!

This pretty much sums up the entirety of this modern day retelling of Anne Rice’s vampiric saga, “The Interview with the Vampire”. Avid fans of the movie version (1994) may beg to differ; because the televised remake (2022) takes the heart of this gothic thriller and gives it a variable gay twist. While the slow burn camaraderie between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt was much appreciated; it cannot be compared to the undeniable chemistry between Jacob Anderson & Sam Reid, as they take the audiences on a passionate journey of love, revenge and arbid fascination. Their vampire child, Claudia, is at the centerfold of this drama; unlike Kirsten Dunst’s subtle portrayal of this character, Bailey Bass has a huge chunk of conspiracy to manifest. The later episodes focus on the “Visible Cracks in the Wall” as Lestat attempts to hold them prisoners, establishing his dictatorship as their maker. This show gives a classic twist to the concept of immortality; it is apparently appealing as long as you have company. Or else, immortality turns your life into an empty canvas devoid of colors (a sentiment that Lestat would strongly attest to). The finale episodes strongly betray the unrest that settles in the Lioncourt household after Claudia’s inadvertent return. We will be focusing on the intricacies of their unstable relationships as Claudia turns into the harbinger of death and destruction!

Severing of Ties and Relationships

Louis: She’s grown very protective of me. That’s what this is. It’s why it’s hard.

Lestat: She came back altered when she left us. There’s a darkness in her that wasn’t there before.

Claudia’s rebellious streak comes to an end when she crosses paths with another vampire, Bruce. She returns home, a lot more somber, mature and with an agenda- to free themselves from Lestat’s influence. Surprisingly, Claudia and Lestat are like mirror images; Claudia displays the same destructive and manipulative tendencies as her maker. The only difference being, that she genuinely loves Louis and is loyal to him. Unlike Lestat, who keeps playing with their emotions and holds them captive against their will; Claudia is far too perceptive and also street smart. She understands Lestat like no one else and is adept at playing mind games. Lestat grows wary of her, as he realizes that she is slowly jeopardizing his relationship with Louis. While Claudia plots and schemes her way through Lestat’s deception; Louis is left tethering at the edge. He is left with no other option but to choose one between both of them. And he chooses Claudia; the realization that his relationship with Lestat is slowly turning toxic makes it as easy decision. Lestat’s panic at losing control offsets his tight composure and he starts unraveling. Lestat is immensely possessive of Louis (even though he keeps cheating on him), as such he hates Louis’s emotional dependence on Claudia. Despite being her maker, Lestat slowly comes to hate her existence and also her considerable influence on Louis. While the movie version toys with the idea of betrayal briefly, the televised remake gives us the full-fledged version. Deception at its best, Claudia successfully maneuvers her plan and gets rid of the unwarranted deterrent in their lives.

But what happens later? Is Lestat really dead? How will Claudia handle Louis, who has a strong connection with Lestat? Will the severing of their ties affect Louis emotionally?

Gullible Louis and his Undying Love for Lestat

Louis: Write me a song, put your lover’s voice on it. What the fuck is wrong with your head?

Lestat: Louis, you’re soaking wet.

Louis: I swim faster than I drive.

Louis: I hate you

Lestat: As you should

The macabre rendition in this show focuses on the emotional dependence that most vampires share with their maker. It could lead to gratitude or even revenge; or in Louis’ case, it could lead to very erotic, queer romance that foreshadows the societal norms and questions traditions. Initially, a savior from the doctrines of the cruel heterosexual society, Lestat slowly grows into a tyrannical dictator. His obsessive nature becomes the catalyst to the end of their toxic relationship as Louis slowly begins to question their love. Claudia constantly adds fuel to the fire by raising doubts about their relationship, which makes the situation worse. Lestat isn’t exactly the faithful type; he loves to squander and beneath the veneer of his gentlemanly ways lies a dormant beast who loves to hunt his prey perversely. He enjoys the hunt and is least bothered by sentimentality or emotions. Louis is a sharp contrast to Lestat’s inhumane nature; he is kind, caring and sensitive. He has morals, the very thing that Lestat finds ridiculous. So, how does this relationship work? In spite of their abundant differences, Louis and Lestat are codependent on each other. Despite his cheating ways, Lestat can’t stand the thought of being separated from Louis. Though Louis repeatedly questions the liability of their relationship, in the end, he always forgives Lestat. There is love but there is also derision, hurt and hatred. The finale highlights this dexterity as Lestat finally relinquishes control; he knows about Claudia’s far fetched plan to kill him. He does take precautions, but Claudia is far too smart and outmaneuvers his act. As compared to the movie version, where Claudia slices his throat and later Lestat is burned to death, the televised version takes a detour from this relevance. So, when Louis slices Lestat’s throat, the effect is devastating and overwhelming. He does it to save Lestat rather than kill him; because it’s common knowledge that vampires can only be killed when they are beheaded, burned, or fed blood from the dead. Louis does neither; in fact, he even refuses to burn Lestat’s supposed corpse. His strong rebuttal betrays his emotions; though they are escaping from Lestat’s clutches, he is giving a second chance to his former lover.

The season finale leads to the conclusion that Lestat is most probably alive somewhere; will he return to take revenge or reclaim his lost love?

The Shocking Revelation

Daniel Molloy, I would like you to meet the vampire Armand, the love of my life- Louis

If you have watched the movie version closely, then the cult leader, Armand’s (Antonio Banderas) avid fascination with Louis, might seem unusual. Because the movie version doesn’t have any queer elements, it could only be attributed to the fact that Armand desires a companion; someone as strong as Louis (Brad Pitt). The televised version takes this friendship and gives it a shocking, unwarranted gay twist. Throughout the retelling, it’s obvious that Daniel ((Eric Bogosian) feels disturbed about Louis’s close relationship with his assistant/blood donator, Rashid (Assad Zaman). On the surface, Rashid seems very loyal and subservient. He worships Louis and is quite attentive to his needs. But he is also very possessive, assertive and dominant- attributes that don’t match his lowly status as the servant. So, when Louis gets done with the retelling, Daniel takes a dig at the various loopholes and inconsistencies rigging the story. He points out the fact that several pages are missing from Claudia’s diary. This could probably mean that they had some disagreement after Lestat’s supposed death. Daniel also questions Louis’s decision to dispose of Lestat’s body into the trash; which obviously gives him a chance to recover. Louis starts panicking when Daniel insists that Louis is misleading him again. And this is where the grand reveal happens- Rashid steps in and reins in control. He reveals his true nature and his name- Armand. I was shocked to say the least, but then Louis’s proclamation about Armand being “The Love of his Life” is even more bewildering. I’m still trying to figure out the dynamics of this relationship; because it’s obvious that Louis seems to have some gaps in his memories.

Has Armand been brain washing Louis? What happened after Louis and Claudia relocated to Paris? How did these two get together? If Lestat is alive, does he know about their relationship? Was the entire retelling a farce or a tactical plot placed in Louis’ subconscious?

Final Impressions

AMC’s Interview with the Vampire is indeed a modern recounting of Anne Rice’s novels or even Neil Jordan’s movie version. It’s difficult to compare, but Rolin Jones is trying to adapt the Immortal Universe into a marketable franchise. It is expansive, speculative and intriguing. The dynamics between the main leads are far too riveting. The undeniable chemistry between Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid makes it obvious that Louis & Lestat were indeed a queer couple; shackled by societal norms and racism. The show might be a complicated diversion from the original source material, but that doesn’t take away the uniqueness or the mystique which drives the narrative forward. The drama has already been renewed for a second season; the series aims at broadcasting 15 episodes. So, the sequel will comprise the remaining eight episodes. The season finale has left us with more questions than answers; the scriptwriters will have a tough time building a climax that is all-encompassing. The show doesn’t draw any parallels to the movie version, and that is its strongest point. The next season will draw the curtain on important questions- Claudia’s possible death and the Lestat-Louis-Armand love triangle. Director Rolin Jones has promised a fun filled ride and we are holding onto this promise!

Rating- 4 out of 5

Streaming on- AMC Plus