After our brief detour to the (slightly) more recent past in the previous episode, Interview with the Vampire 2×06 takes us back to a time when everything was unraveling around Louis, completely without his knowledge. We’re back, to borrow a line from Episode 5, to “trying to remember what occupied [Louis’] time when [Louis] was ignorant of the plotting around him.” And while the most sinister plot obviously comes from the coven — Armand most of all, though we spend most of the hour setting Santiago up to be the ultimate threat — we also shouldn’t forget how much Claudia takes Louis by surprise with her request. While not a true betrayal, it must feel like one. After all, he’s being asked to let someone he loves deeply go — and at the same time he’s asked to give her someone else who can love her for all eternity.
Overall, the hour is the perfect setup for the big reveal at the end…and every bit of tragedy yet to come that Louis has been hinting at all along. Before we jump in to discussing some of our highlights in the usual way, let’s just say this one definitively. Just like Assad Zaman’s portrayal of the vampire Armand has fixed one of the 1994 film’s egregious errors in interpretation, Lestat’s presence in Paris at the end of this episode fixes another. On a personal note, I happened to read Rice’s novels after seeing, and falling in love with, that movie — and felt so very, very robbed when I reached the Paris chapters and realized what — or who — had been left out. So, after what felt like forever of waiting to see how this series might approach Paris, I could not be more thrilled to see Lestat is here.
And on that note, let’s discuss Interview with the Vampire 2×06.
Santiago takes center stage
As is always the case, while we know we should hate Santiago, we love every scene he’s in. Because, quite simply, every scene Ben Daniels appears in as the treacherous would-be coven leader is far too good not to. Interview with the Vampire 2×06 is no different, except to say that Daniels is, somehow, better than ever. As Santiago rehearses his monologue, there’s really no way to describe the quiet, contemplative, yet somehow still intense way Daniels delivers the lines other than “Riceian.” And that’s fitting, of course, because he is, quite literally, reciting an entire paragraph of Rice’s own words. (From p. 141 in the 1997 Ballentine paperback.)
“The great adventure of our lives. What does it mean to die when you can live until the end of the world? And what is ‘the end of the world’ except a phrase, because who knows even what is the world itself? I had now lived in two centuries, seen the illusions of one utterly shattered by the other, been eternally young and eternally ancient, possessing no illusions, living moment to moment in a way that made me picture a silver clock ticking in a void: the painted face, the delicately carved hands looked upon by no one, looking out at no one, illuminated by a light which was not a light, like the light by which God made the world before He had made light. Ticking, ticking, ticking, the precision of the clock, in a room as vast as the universe.”
Aside from the particular way Daniels delivers this gorgeous chunk of dialogue, his grand performance — as Santiago delivering his own performance — works so well for several more reasons. Let’s highlight just a few. First, it is abundantly clear that Santiago isn’t fooled by Armand’s false praise. Second, throughout Interview with the Vampire 2×06, we see so many loaded looks, the smirks as he communicates with the other coven members using the Mind Gift, and — yes — that exaggerated argument with Armand. It’s all a game, so well played, that Armand is every bit the “buffoon” he calls himself during the interview.
Then, there’s the absolute best sequence — both for Daniels’ performance and the series as a whole. We see scenes of Santiago rehearsing his lines on stage a second time, cut against those of Celeste and Estelle visiting Roget. And, somehow, Daniels’ movement and expression manage to fully embody both the lines he’s delivering at the Théâtre des Vampires and his message to the others. All of this, as the suspense builds because of all the back-and-forth. We don’t need to know the story to know something wicked this way comes. And yet.
Somehow, the soft, almost introspective, notes carefully played on the piano are our ominous ticking clock. And as we pull focus away from Daniels, only to zoom right back in on him, we know that just as the actor is in full command of this performance, his character is fully in charge of everything around him. Everything, from the stage, to the other vampires. Armand has indeed lost the plot.
“The forbidden friend”
And so, we come to the part of the story where Claudia finally gets herself a companion. Madeleine and Claudia have been unlikely friends for most of this season, sure. But the secret of who — more specifically, what — Claudia is has always prevented them from really getting close. Well, the scene in Interview with the Vampire 2×06 where Claudia saves Madeleine from the locals destroys that secret about as skillfully as Claudia devours those mortals. And, yeah. They had it coming.
Side note: It’s possible to tell a “woman in danger” story without always going to attempted SA. Just saying!
…but anyway.
A few things about the attack stand out. First of all, because the mortal woman actually does nothing to save Madeleine, completely selling another woman out, it’s extremely gratifying to see the way Claudia handles her. As in, Claudia makes sure she suffers the slowest, most painful death of all. And Claudia even does her the favor of pinning her to the wall with those scissors in her neck so she has an excuse for not speaking up. (TL;DR Claudia said women support women or else.) Second, Roxane Duran is amazing throughout — from Madeleine’s toughness in throwing that iron through the window, to her terror as she fights back against people who she probably knows will win, to her moment of realization. Spot on.
But it’s Delainey Hayles who utterly steals every single scene between these two characters. We know Claudia’s tendency toward brutality. She is a willing and capable monster. But, in case anyone actually could forget, Interview with the Vampire 2×06 gives us a damning reminder as we see the carnage through Madeleine’s eyes. Also through her eyes, though, we see the girl she’s come to love immediately pull away from feeding. We see her so quiet, unsure of herself — completely and utterly vulnerable as she stops and asks Madeleine if she’s “gonna run.” And then, Hayles’ eyes, voice, and demeanor all practically beg as she says, “don’t run.”
Sure, she mentions the trouble Madeleine might be in if she does run. But that’s just a cover, to protect herself. Because Claudia is very clearly begging this woman not to run from her. To see her, accept her, and love her. For her. Because nobody has ever done that, not really. Not even Louis, who has always loved some idealized version of her. Besides, even when she does let him see the pieces she hides away, Louis is always far too distracted by his relationships — first with Lestat, now with Armand. So, Claudia doesn’t just want Madeleine to stay for practical reasons — she needs her to finally be the one who stays. For her.
As we know by the end, Madeleine not only does stay, but she also reads every single word of Claudia’s diaries. Not only that, but when she does read them, she isn’t repulsed. Doesn’t run away screaming. She’s curious to know more. Isn’t that all any of us has ever really wanted in a companion? To be seen, and loved, and have that person who sees and loves us actually be more interested in us as a result? Certainly, it’s what Claudia has always wanted. And the way Hayles just lights up when Claudia just…matter of factly describes drinking blood is pure brilliance.
“I’ve been a third. All my life. not saying that to fight, just saying that it’s true. I feel like, I get to pick one thing. For myself. And it’s her. A weird white lady I met by happenstance.”
So, when Louis shows up and is all “angry father scolding a child,” for lack of a better descriptor, Claudia doesn’t explode. Not this time. Why? Because she’s at peace. For once in her life, she’s about as rational and calm as it gets — even worries over Louis for a bit when Armand is alone in the room with Madeleine. She has her person. Someone loves her. That’s all that matters.
If only it could have really, truly lasted for all eternity. But no, despite quite obviously being impressed by all Madeleine’s responses to his interrogation — fantastic again from Duran and Zaman here — Armand can’t and won’t make her a vampire. That leaves Louis and Claudia to do this thing together. In some ways, that was always going to be the only way it could happen. Him, giving her one last gift. But one can’t help but wonder, given all Armand’s distaste for giving the Dark Gift and Louis flagrantly violating one last Great Law…if that’s why he makes the choices he does later.
After all, we have seen what Armand did to Daniel in the ’70s out of jealousy. For Louis to love Claudia enough to not only let her go but also give the Dark Gift to another for her…well. That’s certainly a kind of love that might spark envy, isn’t it? To be more direct: Louis loved Claudia enough to create Madeleine, together. Armand neither loved Louis enough to do it nor could get Louis to love him enough not to. Sit with that angst for a bit.
Trouble in paradise
Throughout Interview with the Vampire 2×06, the modern day scenes make one thing abundantly clear: Louis can not forgive Armand. He is openly combative — not just in the interview but also even when deciding what to do with one of the walls in their home. And, while we could attribute all of this to Louis realizing what Armand did to his memories of San Francisco, that would mean ignoring how many old wounds the interview reopens.
If we pay careful attention to Jacob Anderson’s performance here, we gain a deeper understanding. Yes, in the beginning of the episode, that openly combative way Louis responds to Armand is probably more about recent revelations than anything else. But that part of Anderson’s performance is quite understated, whereas the further we get into the interview — and the closer we get to Armand’s betrayal — the more overt the character becomes in his anger. Not just his anger, no. But also being 100% unconvinced and 100% unimpressed with Armand’s version of events. Because Louis knows Armand has lied to him once before. And he knows the way his love — boy is that word delivered with exactly the opposite feeling at one point — utterly failed him back then.
We must also point out the actual, physical distance between Louis and Armand and how that grows throughout Interview with the Vampire 2×06. Earlier in the season, they were all snuggled up together during their interview sessions. Now, they’re in separate chairs, and those chairs have a physical gap between them. And then, it’s like that distance grows. The actors spend quite a lot of time looking away from each other, crossing their legs away from each other — anything and everything to show just how much memory is able to tear them apart in front of our very eyes. It adds an extra punch to the already-powerful blow that the performances — and, simply, the facts of the characters’ history — creates.
Eventually, we do get to a point where Armand and Louis have to face what Armand did in San Francisco. And Zaman is a force to be reckoned with here. First, his character’s usual practiced calm completely abandons him to scream “STOP IT!!!” And then, as he shows how deep and raw many of his own wounds are:
“…the [diary pages] I did on my own were to protect me. From you, Mr. Molloy. Why did I owe you my shame? Why did I owe YOU my one act of cowardice…the series of…abhorrent consequences that followed? I spent the rest of my life trying to make up for it — I’ll never make up for it. But he forgave me…”
But, for as powerful as that entire scene is, it still doesn’t resolve that tension in the room. How can it, when we are approaching the point of Armand’s ultimate deception? When we — and they — are about to relive the night when Armand takes Louis, his new fledgling, and Claudia out for a carefree night, just to set them up for the coven to ambush them? And in the present day, just as we see that great betrayal, Zaman gives us even more as Armand. That breath, the way he looks down and to the side…The great 500-year-old vampire can feel shame. And here is what makes him feel it.
But what it all boils down to, in the end, is this:
“They gave him a choice. He chose.”
…and so, we have come to the inevitable. Insert praise for Anderson’s delivery on that last line here, both the defeated way he begins the sentence and the absolutely gutting way it breaks on “chose,” here.
More on Interview with the Vampire 2×06
- “I’m gonna make a run for it. Rashid. They’re gonna turn you into broth bags because you couldn’t hold it.” Daniel Molloy, never change. And Eric Bogosian, please never stop delivering like this. Ever.
- Raglan James saying he “wouldn’t worry too much about Rashid” is funny AF, given we absolutely could not say that about Fake!Rashid in season 1.
- It’s Anderson’s very much “F you” tone in the “then, then, then” diatribe for me…
- Vampire husbands on the cusp of divorce, I fear.
- “Can you protect me?” “Ah! From being killed? No. We’re particularly poor at keeping our assets alive.” If. I. Speak.
- “You fear Armand; you should fear the other one.” I’m going with both.
- Oh, ok. We’re still mad about our husband slipping someone else’s photographs in with ours.
- The physicality in the way Anderson just…walks away while we get that shot of Zaman’s very rigid back. Amazing.
- “I think…if I could swap bodies with you, I’d be running the order by now.” Be careful what you wish for there, buddy. Also: Can we talk about how great Justin Kirk is here? Raglan James is so…careful and formal about everything. But that tiny hesitation before “professionally charged” is everything.
- “The buffoon was waiting in the audience, scribbling in the margins. Oblivious to the conspiracy uniting around him.” Sure, sure. My dude has the blood of Marius in his veins but claims he had no agency here. Please.
- Zaman’s shocked, broken, disgusted expression when Louis made it clear he didn’t buy his “I was in love” excuse, though. Oof.
- “He didn’t. Stood by the dryer like a creep.” The. Writing. On. This. Show.
- “Why do you ask? Love.” Jacob Anderson’s delivery!
- “F*ck these vampires.”
(Shoutout to SEO for making it so I can’t type that out because, like, what a line.) - “Just our memories of her.” SO. MUCH. PAIN.
- “You’re a…”
- Love, love, love how wrapped up in that painting Louis gets. To the point of not even realizing his “companion” is so very checked out.
- “Clothes off, face down, in the coffin. You can read ’em to me while I f*ck you.” Where’s. The. Fic.
- “Probably reads shallow now.” Claudia is me whenever I write something and send it to my bff to check that it doesn’t suck. So true.
- “I had you covered.” Oh, baby, if only,
- The way Madeleine and Claudia clasp hands and heart-eyes each other!!!
- Claudia not wanting Lestat’s blood for Madeleine…My TV-rotted brain can’t help but reference “look how great you turned out” re: Olivia Benson on SVU.
- “You want to be one of us?” “No. I want to be with her. And you, you can go f*ck yourself.” What an absolute queen.
- (But I still love Armand forever.)
- “…without the burden of me.” Another great one from Hayles. Claudia is trying so hard to be “in” on it with Louis here, but there’s still that touch of insecurity.
- “Maybe I’m what she needs to survive.” I’m going to sue these writers for pain and suffering.
- “The idea repulsed me — it repulses me.” The vampire Armand, folks.
- Can not handle the husbands shouting over each other.
- “Louis’ opinion.” “Claudia’s opinion.” “Let’s see, uh…f*ck these vampires!” I love him.
- “But I was a firm believer that those we make ourselves will always despise us for it.” (The Vampire Armand, 1998, p. 274)
- The way Armand is turned totally away, totally refusing to even listen to Louis’ description of creating Madeleine…superb.
- Love, love, love getting to see the flashes of Madeleine’s life, however tragic. And seeing Claudia in that light, as Louis described her in that heartbreakingly emotional way…no words.
- “I saw Claudia.” The awe.
- Louis’ depression, about as spot-on as it gets, with the “I did not care.” So empty.
- “That’s what you said, right? Standing in my blood, stroking my hair.” “You know it is.” And, again, he’s turned away. And it’s Zaman’s chance to nail playing total emptiness.
- “Continuing on the record, Mr. Molloy. I was…a coward.”
- A vampire can feel their maker. So…a certain someone’s “ghost” this season…yep. That was your warning, folks.
- “Why don’t you want him to know how much you love him?”
- “There he goes. Mmmhm. There he goes. Will he get through the door with that biiiig head?”
- The way Anderson’s face slowly goes from all that love and confidence and just…drops when Louis realizes something’s up.
- And Armand just…staring out the window, away from it all, the whole time. A coward indeed.
- Love the reveal on Lestat. Not just because he’s actually here this time as I detailed above. But the way Sam Reid can make an entrance by just…sitting in a chair, holding a cigarette just so…Hell yes.
- And the shot of his face in the mirror???? ART.
- “Thank you. Ten minutes.” Anyone notice how Lestat doesn’t exactly sound enthusiastic about being here? Hm.
What did you think of Interview with the Vampire 2×06 “Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Made Light”? Leave us a comment!
Interview with the Vampire airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC. Or watch it early on AMC+.
