Ron Does Stuff

What’s this? Me possibly sticking to a schedule when it comes to posting about this show? I hope I can keep it up! Let’s dive into the third episode of season one!

At the end of the previous episode, we see Louis slowly begin to realize that maybe vampirism isn’t for him, as he can’t really stomach taking a life. Make no mistake, he’s going to kill, but just like in the books and the movie, his conscience is unforgiving.

At the start of this episode, Louis starts having his existential doubts™ and wondering if he and Lestat where put on the Earth for a higher purpose. This then turns into a discussion about how they view the hunt. Louis thinks they should be more selective about who they kill, while Lestat thinks hunting is pure instinct. I’ve only reread Interview with the Vampire, but I think Lestat was the one who did this? I could be wrong! But I do remember that some other vampire brought this up and not Louis.

BUT ANYWAY. Back to the epsiode! Louis tries to convince Lestat to eat only the evildoers, but when Lestat finds him someone that fits his arbitrary standards, Louis still chickens out and eats a cat instead. Chickens and cats in one sentence, I know.

But the decision to not eat the criminal does allow the show to get in a subtextual conversation about gay shame. Lestat accuses Louis of being ashamed of who they are, which on one level is about vampirism but could be taken further. Louis could just as well be ashamed of them being a gay, interracial couple. Period appropriate homophobia, which Louis already admitted to in episode one.

And it’s here that the show does three wonderful things, in my opinion. One, despite the bickering, Lestat really does love Louis and just wants the relationship to work. Two, they set up Lestat for the coming adaptation of The Vampire Lestat, giving him a musicality that wasn’t explored as much in the movie. Three, it still pays homage to the different versions of Louis story while establishing it as the “definitive” one. Of course, it’s not the “definitive one” since the book will always be that but doing so in the show’s universe allows it to really tell its own story while still acknowledging the source material.

And that story is the cracks appearing in Lestat and Louis’ relationship. Louis’ “vegetarian” lifestyle is making him unattractive to Lestat, and Louis doesn’t like sharing. And like every unhealthy relationship, gay or straight, Louis suggests opening up the relationship not because they trust each other, but just to spite Lestat. Good job!

The show also makes full use of the racial tensions that comes with turning Louis into a Black man. I get to find out about Ordinance 4118 — it’s a real thing! — and the show gets to showcase more female characters, which weren’t exactly a big part of either the book or the movie adaptation. Bricks is hilarious and smart and I don’t know how long she’ll last on a vampire show that spans decades but I am enjoying her in her scenes in this episode.

I also like how they’ve expanded on Louis’ estrangement from his family in this show. In the books, Louis’ family just fades into the background, although he does keep financing them, while in the movie Louis literally has no one else but Lestat. It’s heartbreaking to see Louis lose his connection with humanity, but it’s great to see his character get even more layers.

And Lestat being the jealous boyfriend? That boyfriend who suggests opening the relationship but can’t handle it when their partner actually gets together with another person? Hilarious. I also really liked the display of power when he telepathically sends all the soldiers in their house home. It’s all building up to the third season, which I know is going to be telling his story.

But back to Louis story, which in this episode is rising to a fever pitch as the racists of the time continue to press their boots on his neck. Coupled with the fact that he hasn’t been feeding, it leads to Louis’ anger slowly rising to a boil. Is this going to be the equivalent of the plantation burning moment in the book and movie? It looks like it’s going to be, and it’s a great way to do it, fully accounting for the racial implications of having Louis be played by a Black man.

When Louis finally snaps and kills the alderman, it doesn’t just result in the burning of his business, it also leads to the burning of Storyville, giving Louis’ guilt a little more heft, especially when compared to both the book and the movie. The burning of Storyville also leads to Louis meeting with Claudia. And we all know what Claudia brings to the story.