Ron Does Stuff

The previous episode was one that was supercharged with emotion and recollection, where we find out that Armand might have possibly tampered with Louis memories. How are he and Daniel going to confront Armand in this episode? Let’s find out!

We don’t immediately see the aftermath of the confrontation that was promised at the end of the last episode. Instead, we see Daniel and ~real~ Rashid having some cake. I think it’s cake? Daniel’s trying to find out from Rashid how the tapes of the original interview got to him, but Rashid isn’t talking and goes to the bathroom instead. As Rashid does that, in walks Raglan James, who says Daniel shouldn’t worry about Rashid.

Over at Louis’ place, he and Armand are talking about their home’s interior design. Are we just going to completely ignore the ending of the last episode? Also, I love that I recognize some of the artists because RM has talked about them.

Check out one of RM’s latest songs, by the way!

Stream it on Spotify too!

While Louis and Armand are talking interior design, Daniel is asking Raglan about the Talamasca. He also wants to get out of the interview alive, which I’m guessing means that the three of them talked the memory manipulation out? It’s still unclear to me!

We then get to see that Louis and Armand aren’t just having a genteel discussion about interior design. They’re being passive-aggressive with each other about what happened in Paris, and if you’ve read the book, you know exactly what happened in Paris. Well, at least it’s not an all-out fight, I guess?

Back at the restaurant with Daniel and Raglan, we find out that the Talamasca is willing to help Daniel’s book get published and expose the existence of vampires, which if I’m remembering correctly is different from their purpose in the books. I don’t know how to feel about this yet, but since the show has made all the right decision when it comes to changes so far, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Also, that nod to The Tale of the Body Thief? Oh, they are playing the long game. And maybe I’m slow, but it’s revealed that Rashid is an agent of the Talamasca. I’m slow, okay?

After all of those things happening in the current time, we go back to Paris, where the Théâtre des Vampires are workshopping a new play that honestly is just Interview with the Vampire. And in the current time, Louis and Armand are sniping at each other about their recollections of this event, which at this point is clear even to stupid me is fallout from the revelation of Armand’s manipulations.

These time jumps are great, lemme say, and it’s throwing me off a little now because I don’t know whose recollection this is now. Either way, as they’re rehearsing this new play, the rest of the Théâtre des Vampires are reading Claudia’s journals and her plan to kill Lestat. And they’re also putting their plan in motion to execute Claudia, overthrow Armand, and put Santiago in charge.

The tension is also rising in the current time, as Louis continues to doubt his entire relationship with Armand, and Armand is beginning to suspect that Daniel may have been getting some help from…let’s say third parties. But we sublimate (sUblimATE?!?) that tension for now as Louis recalls how Claudia and Madeleine finally get together, and once again this is a great way to deviate from the books but still carry that essence. It also gives Claudia more agency compared to the books, and gives Madeleine more layers as well.

I also like how they’ve decided to show Louis’ business acumen the way they have in the show. Louis being good at business is canon in the books, and him being an art dealer, real estate mogul, and good at stocks is just a great way to update that particular characteristic. And also Louis not being a mopey bottom — at least in that particular “face down in the coffin” moment — like he was in the books? Refreshing!

Now, about the decision to have Armand turn Madeleine. I wonder what they have planned. Why him in particular? Although, looking back on it now, it didn’t really serve any purpose having Louis do it in the books. Again, at this point in my journey with the show, I trust most of the decisions they make.

AND THEN IT TURNS OUT THAT HE DIDN’T MAKE MADELEINE. OHHHH. We also get the reveal that Armand had never made a vampire before and…I think that’s true? I dunno, still not done with my The Vampire Lestat reread and The Vampire Armand is still a long way away!

All these little events in Louis and Armand’s personal life make them blind to the machinations of Santiago and the rest of the Paris coven, who are collecting all they need for what they’re about to do. Are they going to strike once Madeleine is made, just like they did in the movie?

That transformation sequence, by the way? Beautiful. I loved how it made Madeleine so much more than what she was in the book and movie, and really was just a loving depiction of her. I shouldn’t have been surprised because this show has been doing so well when it comes to its choices, but it still manages to surprise me!

Back in the present, Armand is claiming that Louis asked him to erase the memories of San Francisco, but I don’t know what to think about that. AND SOON ENOUGH I DON’T REALLY CARE BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT ARMAND DID BETRAY LOUIS.

I love how they did this, by the way. And to have the “trial” be done in front of a live studio audience, so to speak? Chills. And to have Lestat there like he was in the books. Chills. This show constantly hits it out of the park.

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