Ron Does Stuff

New (to me!) season! Let’s get into it!

The season finale left me with quite the cliffhanger — Rashid is actually the vampire Armand. And since we’ve got Lestat’s ~death~ in the season finale, I am guessing we’re going to be headed to Europe, even though I feel like Louis doesn’t exactly have a connection with Paris the way book and movie Louis do.

We also get a new Claudia for this season, which I understand because unlike a movie, television shows take longer to make and it’s hard to have just one actor play an immortal child when that actor inevitably grows up and matures.

ANYWAYS. Louis and Claudia are in Europe during World War II, specifically when the German Army is marching towards Russia. As we know by now, not the best decision on Hitler’s part.

I also like that this adaptation, despite not being on the same timeline as the book, continues to bring in as much of the emotional states of the characters from the books into the show. Claudia does start to draw away from Louis in the book, and they show it in this show early on.

I also now sorta understand why they had Louis be the one to ~kill~ Lestat? It gives Claudia another reason to draw away from him, especially when he refused to burn it and makes it clear to her that he really does love Lestat and that they’re stuck in this toxic relationship — that apparently is healed in the final book? I just read it from Wikipedia. Believe it or not, this show has really made me want to reread all those books again!

I also like how the show has included their European hunt for vampires, and adapted it smartly to the current time period. I also like how they’ve given Claudia more of a voice in this adaptation through her journals. She was already a great character before, but now they’ve given her new layers for viewers to appreciate.

And Armand being a sassy queen? Into it! I wonder how they’re going to expand on him in this adaptation, know that they’ve given him such a blockbuster introduction. As much as I love the movie, I think Antonio Banderas’ Armand wasn’t the best part of it.

Louis seeing visions of Lestat as he deals with his guilt is also done well, and I think is a great foundation for what’s to come. I know what’s going to happen, since I’ve read the book and movie, but I am so interested in how they’re going to dramatize it, since they really did so well with the first season.

And they’re doing the ~mindless vampire~ part of the book! Interesting! I know I keep saying this, but I really love the creative decisions they’ve made for this adaptation. They make sense and really embody the essence of the book, even with the different timeline.

I am also really interested in the foundation being laid here about Louis’ memory being unreliable. How will this pay off by the end of the season? I already know that it’s going to pay off for season three, because it’s now Lestat’s turn to tell his story, but how will it matter in this season? Also, why is Armand looking at him like that?

And I know this isn’t the same thing, but for some reason, when the Romanian kids in the show start singing, I’m reminded of that scene from Daredevil Born Again.

Outside in the forest, Claudia finally has an encounter with the ~mindless vampire~ and it’s a pretty good adaptation from the book! Again, I’m sounding like a broken record, but what else can you say about a good adaptation like this one other than to repeat that yes, it is good!

The discussion Louis and Claudia have about this ~mindless vampire~ is also interesting, especially with Claudia’s growing resentment when it comes to Louis and Lestat’s relationship. And applause for Jacob Anderson during that one scene where he weeps at the fact that Claudia can still dream. Great work, and the lone blood tears down his face? Fantastic.

This is really just a smashing first episode for the new season, bringing to life a scene from the book that’s never been adapted before. And bringing it to life so skillfully! I haven’t been following the Emmy Awards or whatever, but what I’ve gleamed from social media is that this show was snubbed, and I totally agree!

And just when I thought they’d done everything with the ~mindless vampire~, we get something entirely new! An older vampire, a woman, Daciana, who shows Claudia and Louis the incredible toll that immortality itself can take on a vampire. Brilliant.

After this day’s interview, Louis asks Armand about the missing pages in Claudia’s journal, especially now that he’s remembering bits and pieces of his life. Or rather, remembering bits and pieces of his life correctly. And Armand is very mich against this, which just means that he’s hiding something. I have an idea on what it could be, based on the book, but I won’t mention it just yet because this show has been very good in surprising me, and I don’t want to unintentionally spoil the surprise.

With their Romanian adventure done, Louis and Claudia head to Paris. We get to hear a great monologue from Louis. Jacob Anderson should be nominated for something!