Interview with the Vampire 2×01 “What Can The Damned Really Say To The Damned” is a welcome return. Coming into the Season 2 premiere, we were a little bit wary due to the series’ timeline changes in the first season and where this portion of Anne Rice’s story would now align with real-world events. Many supernatural and science fiction shows have visited World War II Europe and the immediate post-war period in the most disrespectful of ways — outright ignoring the tragedy, sensationalizing it, or worst of all, executing a nonsense, minimizing “kill Hitler” plot via time travel…as if that would have been so easy when multiple nations’ militaries failed. This series, thankfully, does none of the above.
Instead, Interview with the Vampire 2×01 intelligently utilizes the devastation of a post-war continent as a backdrop — a metaphor, even — for the devastation of Louis and Claudia’s seemingly hopeless search for other vampires. In this way, the episode feels very much in the spirit of Rice’s own uncanny ability to walk readers through history, using her vampires as our “in.” Basically, this premiere is very, very good and very, very true to the spirit of the story we know — all while continuing to craft something entirely new.
But the episode’s strengths are not only in creatively working with history. In fact, this isn’t even the best part of the hour. No. Instead, there are incredible performances, heartbreaking moments and realizations, and — of course — a messy, combative interview that raises more questions than it even comes close to answering. Oh. And we have ourselves a very interesting relationship dynamic now that Armand is fully Armand, too. Can’t leave that — or Lestat’s mind games — out.
“The night’s no time for traveling…and with a child.”
Some things — the superstitions, the emptiness, bleak landscape, even being brought in out of the dark by well-meaning humans who want our heroes to be safe from things that go bump in the night — about Louis and Claudia’s visit to the Old World don’t depend on anything other than the Old World setting itself. And Interview with the Vampire 2×01 flawlessly blends those elements with the newer (yet still old to us) ones. Some nods to history include our vampire duo using their preternatural hearing to get an early warning for air raids, devouring SS men at checkpoints (thank you for that), and even the Soviet occupation of Romania. At the heart of it all, though, is just one girl’s quest for answers, to not be the only one(s), to discover who she is.
Delainey Hayles comes into this premiere as New!Claudia and simply…embodies all that Claudia is meant to be during her desperate search for her own kind. It’s the exhaustion, as she and Louis — already mid-journey when we return to them — are dragging themselves out of yet another hole, having found nothing yet again. And the frustration with Louis for not having burned Lestat, the thrilled and wide-eyed hope whenever they find literally anything that might be a lead, and almost always, the complete despair when they are again disappointed. But then, we arrive in Romania where it all changes.
As Claudia, Hayles masterfully portrays what it is to see your wildest dreams come to life. When she spots that soulless monster of an Old World vampire in the woods, Claudia is so captivated, so spellbound, so purely joyous as to have no care for her own safety. She doesn’t pick up on just how much different this thing is from herself because he is the closest thing to one of her own she’s come across since she and Louis betrayed Lestat. Even when she finally becomes afraid, she’s still so very excited to tell Louis what she’s found, even though he argues with her and doesn’t believe her. As usual. (Baboon? Really?)
Later, when they find out the thing was simply the failed child of the vampire Daciana, she’s all rapid-fire questions and childlike delight. This is what was missing from Claudia in the series’ first season. Those hints of still being so very young (though much older than Rice intended), even in spite of having lived well beyond the youthful appearance she’s trapped in forever. When Daciana tells her about coming back to the U.S., to the good blood, with Louis and Claudia, Hayles is the epitome of a child listening to, and believing, a great story. And then, of course, all that gets shattered when Daciana goes into the fire. Hayles nails that emotional change, as well.
We don’t need Louis to tell us how “entirely broken” that experience makes Claudia. It’s plainly obvious, written all over Hayles’ expression and demeanor after the fact. In the closing scene of Interview with the Vampire 2×01, the heart simply breaks for her as she sits there, listless, while Louis levels with her about how much their life is sh*t. That if she “were the last vampire on Earth, it would be enough,” and that it’s them against the world. “You and me, me and you.”
And yet. Well…”we’ll get to you.” If you will…
The interview
For as much as Louis and Claudia’s journey through Europe is compelling, the modern-day scenes in Interview with the Vampire 2×01 are where the episode really delivers its best material. In the first place, Eric Bogosian gets some incredibly entertaining moments as Daniel. That’s…maybe not a surprise, given how the first season went. But this premiere makes it clear that Molloy is bolder than ever and not getting over the big Armand reveal anytime soon. (Uh, same, Daniel. Same. Just…in a different way.)
But for as entertaining as Daniel’s irritation is for us, it’s Armand who is quite obviously the most amused. Every time Armand tries to add to Louis’ story and Daniel cuts him off, Assad Zaman delivers these smirks, evidence that the vampire is loving his opportunity to toy with Daniel in a new way. But for as much pleasure as he takes in responding to Daniel’s fire with his own practiced, calm, mocking tone, it’s obviously not all fun and games. Zaman takes all the in-between moments to portray that flash of anger — or a flash of challenge, of the predator testing its prey — that he all-too-quickly wipes away. And the intensity in his stare whenever Louis gets too close to something he — not Louis, Armand — is trying to hide is just…so good.
That brings us to Louis himself, caught in the middle of these two men. (Or, well. Man and vampire?) Most of the time, he’s so lost to his own memories, he doesn’t even seem to notice what’s happening, right in front of his face, between Daniel and Armand. At least, if he does notice, he’s not quite picking up on the full picture. But that’s fitting, considering he’s lost in his own painful past — and the even more painful realizations that he doesn’t even completely know if he can trust his own memory.
We could say Jacob Anderson is as brilliant as ever here, but that would be a gross understatement. Because when Louis ponders over the horror of not being able to dream, or has to rewind and restart parts of his own story because he remembers what he just said isn’t exactly true, Anderson is better than ever. With that furrowed brow, the clear discomfort written all over him, and those nervously working, twisting hands, he goes somewhere with this character that he has yet to go. And even that isn’t the best of the best.
In that heartbreaking moment where Louis slowly comes to the realization that Claudia could dream, what Anderson does in the moment simply defies language. Just…utterly transcendent. His spark of recognition in the moment — that terrible pause — followed by all that raw emotion, is simply everything. And Louis himself, as portrayed by Anderson, suffers so exquisitely that even Bogosian’s Daniel looks a little bit concerned. It’s such a powerful scene, and it’s just another one of those moments where you sit back and go, “yep. That’s Anne Rice’s tragic character, suffering eternal damnation even as others like him thrive in the Blood.”
“Do you miss me? I miss you…”
No discussion of Interview with the Vampire 2×01 — or, really, anything about this series — would be complete without checking in with Lestat. He is, after all, always a delight…and a menace. Here, Louis’ waking nightmares are, in a word, phenomenal. Sam Reid is, as ever, absolutely committed to getting this character right. It continues to be tragic that Mrs. Rice never got to witness the finished product of him in this role.
And Reid, perhaps more than ever, has his work cut out for him in this premiere. Because the Lestat of Louis’ nightmares needs to simultaneously be that same Brat Prince we know and love…and something much more horrifying. No worries, though. Reid continues to make it look like anyone can do it, as if hitting all of Lestat’s many layers is as natural as breathing. (Literally, no one but him can be this character. We’re convinced.) The extra details that don’t come from Reid — the atmosphere, the gory remains of what once was Lestat’s neck — make these visions that much better. (As in, more horrifying.)
These interactions also give Anderson even more opportunities to put his own talent on display. Even as Louis is clearly disturbed, he’s also always in the unenviable position of pretending not to be. Because Claudia’ around, and showing her any sign of weakness — especially as it relates to feeling remorse for Lestat — is not an option. So, much like Reid, Anderson has many layers to portray. Sometimes, that means flipping a switch from all that angst and fear, right back to…eh. Well. Let’s be real: just a different type of angst — this is Louis, after all. Or. At other times, like in the cart at the end, Anderson plays a Louis who is wary of the thing sitting next to Claudia on the bench…but trying (poorly) to mask it.
But what do we say about the specific messages Lestat has for Louis? He asks if Claudia was worth it, then notices, “you say it like you believe it.” Which, of course, implies Lestat knows Louis does not, in fact, believe it. Or maybe he just wants Louis to think he’s not convincing enough. Either way, it’s all about manipulating those doubts. (Weird how “dead” Lestat is quite the same as he was in “life,” eh?) Perhaps Lestat’s most important message is his warning:
“…but in answer to your question. Yes. I’m gonna f*cking kill you.”
When Louis, in an attempt to convince himself (moreso than the apparition in front of him) that he and Claudia are safe, points out that if Lestat were alive, he would’ve done it already, he doesn’t gain the reassurance he’s looking for. Not even in his own imagination. Nope.
“Oh, love. I’m merely waiting until you’re very happy.”
Talk about putting your ex on notice.
The Lestat that appears at the end of the episode, somehow, manages to deliver that same warning — your time is limited. Just wait — even more clearly just by…being there. Reid’s expression is one that says Lestat’s just patiently biding his time, and for as many times as Louis tells Claudia it’s “me and you. You and me,” one can’t help but see just as many threats off Lestat. We also find it impossible not to see the accusation off Reid’s Lestat: It was supposed to be you and me, Louis. Not you and her.
Basically, we really can’t say enough about the way Interview with the Vampire 2×01 keeps Lestat as such a vital part of the story, even in “death.” And with both Reid and Anderson on top of their game here, we’re thrilled to go on this journey with their characters — even knowing where existing lore says it ends up. No, not “even” knowing. Especially knowing. Because this is…we’re not going to name the chapter ahead of time but if we get to see Reid as Lestat in it…
More on Interview with the Vampire 2×01
- Once again going to say this episode’s title is one of my all-time favorite lines from the book.
- Still not convinced our issues with Season 1 Claudia were about the acting, for what it’s worth.
- “Of course, she might’ve said that to shut me up.” Confirmed!
- “Some would say a poorly-timed European holiday.” “DISREGARD.” I absolutely adore them both.
- “All those years scouring libraries for evidence of our kind, she wasn’t going to let humanity’s idealogical rift delay her.” First of all: Our kind!!! Second: …that is…one way of describing the war.
- “The horrors we walked over every night, the precision of trains speeding to atrocity, they only calcified her determination to find others she could better relate to.” If I didn’t know better, I’d think Rice wrote this herself.
- Iconic shot of Claudia tossing Louis the heart.
- Something about the way Zaman reclines with that one arm lazily tossed over the back of the chair is utterly perfect. Just like everything else about his Armand.
- Anderson is hilarious in that one-sided conversation where he/Louis does both voices. And, notably, Claudia is listening even if she pretends not to. We see that at the end with Daciana.
- Another place where even Daniel looks like he cares/is worried about Louis: Claudia’s diary entry that calls him “dead weight” for suggesting they go home. Tragic.
- “And I want to thank you, Louis, for yesterday’s eight hours on how to avoid the sun and torpedoes while cruising in the Mediterranean war theatre. And tonight’s…two hours and counting on chasing Old World vamps who cannot materialize…” Bogosian’s delivery here is everything.
- The practiced, slow way Armand turns his head to look at Daniel.
- EVERYTHING ABOUT ARMAND IS EVERYTHING.
- The smirk when he gets to interject with “disregard” before Daniel does!
- “I do” over and over. Is this…vampire marriage? But if so, where would that leave Armand?
- “My distraction from the monochromatic landscape, the gray of an obliterated world. The gray-brown of a charred and bullet-ridden city.” So very close to passages in the book where Louis describes the pain of only seeing nighttime waters, never blue.
- “Davai, davai, davai” had me thinking I was watching a Russian gymnastics team for a second there.
- “Papers don’t matter if they’re dead.” Hilariously on point without even knowing it.
- “…man with good looks.” A euphemism, if I ever heard one.
- Wow, ok. There’s even an Englishman named Morgan in this retelling. (Might or might not have totally forgotten his part of the book until flipping through it for a refresher pre-writeup…oops.)
- “And if they’ve got something to hide, they always start with some kind of disguise. Not literally — not some dumb halloween costume. Gloves, contact lenses… — they tell jokes. They’re charming. And then, at some crisis point — when I get close — it drops away. And I see a flash of the truth.” Daniel, stop trying to get yourself killed.
- “That’s why I’m coming after you, real Rashid. You, I can f*cking break!” Laugh out loud funny.
- “Never mess with a magical vodka n***o.” He basically said, “I know y’all are racist, so I’m using it against you for funsies.”
- “Mortals scared of vampires in a part of the world known for vampires ain’t a surprise. Or evidence. Of an actual vampire!!!” Louis is so done. They’ve had this fight every night, huh?
- “I mean, what are we looking for here? Adam and Eve of the damned? God? Are we looking for God, Claudia?” 1) Oh, you’re so close, Louis. It’s actually King and Queen… 2) Yes, this is very Anne Rice, too, actually.
- “Nah. I’m a vampire. That’s a f*ckin…catfish with teeth.” A comedy. Again.
- “What, after all, can the damned really say to the damned?” SCREAMING. Hearing this Louis say that line…SCREAMING.
- “Tell her about the blood.” See? She did listen!
- “Too much sadness, too much pain…we feel it, too, when we drink. We can’t get warm. And our bodies…hurt. Maybe you need…better blood.”
- “Cezare Romulo. He was a droll one. Killed a traveling circus in the Sibiu, everyone but the bear…but all those in darkness go into darkness.”
- “We own…nothing.”
- “My name is in some of those pages.” No kidding.
- That bedroom scene is giving trouble in paradise. That’s all I could think. Especially when Armand returned Louis’ kiss, but then, when Louis was all cuddly and not really paying attention anymore…those eyes…
- Nothing good is going to come of any of this.
- We’ll do it together. Like everything we’ve done for the past 70 years.” We love a toxic, codependent vampire relationship!
- “The vampire Louis and the vampire Armand” Help.
- When he holds that finger up on “we’ll get to you.” Again: Stop trying to get yourself killed, boy. (Old man.)
- Claudia is so sad. Protect her.
- (Futile.)
- That entire “our life is sh*t” monologue is so painful, yet so well done.
- Also, the way they utilized the score there made it 10 times more painful. Thanks for that!
- And…Paris.
- Let’s go.
Thoughts on Interview with the Vampire 2×01 “What Can The Damned Really Say To The Damned”? Leave us a comment!
Interview with the Vampire airs Sundays on AMC and AMC+.
