Another season of AMC’s Interview with the Vampire comes to a close as the fall-out from San Francisco 1973 continues to reverberate in the present.
Missed a Review: Horror Queers Review of S01 / S02E01 / 2.02 / 2.03 / 2.04 / 2.05 / 2.06 / 2.07
Episode Fifteen: “And That’s The End of It. There’s Nothing Left”: Molloy questions the fiery fallout of Louis and Claudia’s trial.
Following the emotional devastation of last week’s trial, Interview with the Vampire closes the book on Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian)’s titular interview of Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Armand (Assad Zaman) in an episode that seems as concerned with wrapping up S02 storylines as it does in setting up the recently greenlit S03.
There’s a solid amount of time spent on Louis’ burial in the crypt. It’s unclear exactly how long he’s there, but moments like Armand commenting on his screams of hunger or the idea that there are still little rocks in his foot when Louis’ severed Archilles healed are particularly memorable. And throughout the episode, Louis repeatedly says the words “Claudia is dead”; it’s as much a reminder to himself as to the audience of what has been lost.
It’s no surprise that Armand secretly provides Louis blood that enables him to escape, and the period immediately following, as Louis feasts on a cemetery worker and other individuals in a fugue state is appropriately disorienting.
Alas Louis’ “madness and rage” (the other oft repeated line of dialogue in the finale) is somewhat less satisfying. Obviously the build-up to Claudia’s death and the extended role for Lestat (Sam Reid) at “The Trial” merited a full penultimate episode of its own, but here series creator and writer Rolin Jones rushes the narrative along. This means that the deaths of Celeste (Suzanne Andrade), Estelle (Esme Appleton), and even Santiago (Ben Daniels), feel both rushed and far too easy.
Perhaps that’s the point and no amount of prolonged torture or murder would satiate Louis’ loss, but in a one-hour long episode that’s trying to do *a lot*, it would have been nice to savour this retribution. Yes, it is undeniably enjoyable watching Estelle and Celeste go up in twin fireballs on the bridge, as is witnessing Louis goad Santiago into a trap by preying on his vanity. But considering what a presence Daniels, in particular, has been this season, a quick little chop job by Louis feels too sudden and simple for a delectable villain like Santiago.
But it’s required because there is another villain waiting in the wings…and his name is Armand.
Following the deception from 2.05 – the season’s best episode – we should have been anticipating more lies and half-truths from Louis’ lover, but this is another great reveal by the show’s creative team. Leave it to Molloy to figure out, view a handy copy of Armand’s script for ‘The Trial’ provided by Talamasca, that it was actually Lestat (Sam Reid), and not Armand, who saved Louis’ life from the bloodthirsty theatre crowd.
It’s a perfectly executed moment. Molloy has been so glib about the untrustworthy nature of both of Louis’ partners across the two seasons, so naturally he would pick at the loose ends to see if something turns up. Dialling back on the violence between Louis and Armand is also smart; we’ve seen what vampire boyfriends in a tizzy look like back in S01, so shifting the fight offscreen gives Bogosian a good comedic moment to play as Molloy simply looks on in awe as part of the roof caves in around him.
It also undercuts the unexpected reveal in the coda when the show jumps ahead in time. Initially it seemed like Molloy’s life would be threatened by Armand, but Louis protects him, allowing the manuscript to go to print (despite Molloy’s computer going up in flames). In the episode’s final moments, the ramifications of breaking the Vampire Law #1 can be felt as Louis’ betrayal is on the mind of every vampire around the globe…including Molloy.
So what happened here? Once again, readers of Anne Rice‘s source material, as well as viewers of Neil Jordan‘s film, will know, but intriguingly the series refrains from confirming when or by whom Daniel was turned. Seems like fodder for S03 of Interview with the Vampire, which will return next year as the focus shifts to Lestat. Should be interesting!
Other Observations:
- The show has done an excellent job of teasing fans with name drops through the season. With Lestat’s mention of Akasha (uttered in Marius’ crypt no less), we have another hint of things to come. If you know, you know!
- Speaking of Lestat: the anti-hero is seen actively practicing music* with the intent of going on the road (in 50 or so years). In these moments, it seems delusional: Lestat has been living on a diet of rats brought to him by a sullen “Millennial” fledgling he clearly resents. But the logline released for S03 confirms that Lestat will soon be rocking out, so clearly he’ll pull himself together.
- *Well…sort of practising music? When Louis enters, Lestat asks Siri to pause the soundtrack so they can chat.
- The show has been surprisingly chill when it comes to queer sex scenes (Lestat & Louis in the series premiere; a hint of bedroom action between Armand and Louis), but there is something deeply romantic about L&L’s reunion during a hurricane in New Orleans. It’s like their love can rip the roof off!
- Some choice lines throughout the episode, including Daniel’s refusal to mince words when Armand’s betrayal is confirmed: “You wasted everyone who could have told you differently. Seventy-seven years based on a seismic lie.”
- Credit Bogosian for Molloy’s entertaining clash while promoting his book on TV. Yes, the interviewer is being a dick, but it’s still pretty funny to see how defensive Daniel gets at the suggestion that he’s flushed his credibility to go Bigfoot hunting. Joke’s on the interviewer, though: 5M copies sold in 4 months is *astronomical.* So yeah, Daniel is laughing all the way to the bank.
- Of course the best line of the finale belongs to Santiago. After Louis insults the size of his manhood, the Maître claps back: “She only thought it was small because my testicles are enormous.” God, Daniels will be missed next season.
- Having spent a season seeing the YA version of how Black people are written out of their own history over on Pretty Little Liars, it feels accurate when New Orleans tour guide Crime Dawg gets most of the details wrong about what went down at 1132. Louis’ amusement at being called a Creole hustler with a child bride who practiced voodoo is pretty spot-on.
- RIP Claudia and Santagio. You will both be missed in S03.
Interview with the Vampire has finished airing S02 on AMC