Booking a Ticket to the Vampire Lestat Tour

Review by Nick, Library Specialist

AMC’s backstage peeks into the third season of Interview with the Vampire have set the stage for the Vampire Lestat, inspired by the second novel in Anne Rice’s series of The Vampire Chronicles.

As the world awaits its return, there’s only one option – preparing for the revenge tour by bingeing the rest of the series!

The TV series is definitely more of an adaptation than a perfect retelling. There are changes to the source material that, depending upon the person, benefit or detract from the story being told. While there are a few plot points that I wouldn’t rave over, at least I can understand and appreciate a lot of the creative decisions that the production crew has chosen. In my opinion, the changes don’t diminish how well the story flows.

The Interview with the Vampire cast proves that they don’t need any star-studded, household celebrities to accomplish the renown that the series has achieved thus far. Both Sam Reid (Lestat) and Jacob Anderson (Louis) have received several nominations, and even landed a few awards specifically for their acting roles in this series.

As a whole, the series has received a total of 47 nominations, landing six awards so far. Impressive for a romantic horror series starring a queer, interracial couple!

As I have watched and rewatched Interview with the Vampire, I can’t fathom any other actors in the roles for Lestat and Louis. Not only have Reid and Anderson honed in on the very essence of their characters, the chemistry that has developed between them is palpable and intoxicating, and just like Louis, I was enraptured by Lestat’s obsessively romantic overtures despite the (blood) red flags.

In the first season, our cast debut starts with Louis and his full family, followed close behind by the introduction of Lestat to unsuspecting New Orleans. As the season continues towards its violent and seemingly inevitable end, Louis loses more and more family and friends until he’s left with Lestat as his sole, meaningful companion, a portent of on the narrative arc of abuse, gaslighting, and manipulation that Lestat inflicts upon Louis throughout decades together. That is, until Louis stumbles across Claudia (Bailey Bass), a 14-year-old girl suffering the consequences of a beleaguered Louis’ act of revenge against hateful white supremacists.

Overwhelmed with guilt and desperate for a family of his own, Louis impulsively rescues her from a burning building to rebirth her into the daughter who will surely mend his and Lestat’s crumbling relationship. And although children cannot fix a broken marriage, an underdeveloped teenager transformed into a permanently stunted vampire has not only the motivation but the time and power to do so. This decision ultimately leads us to the climax of the first season.

Of course, as we navigate through the story controlled by a most unreliable narrator, we have our unrelenting interviewer, Daniel Molloy, to call out Louis’ every questionable word, thought, and action for us. This is actually Daniel’s second time placing his life between the less-than-proverbial lion’s jaws, and wrath and resentment follow him on this visit, compelling him to seek the truth despite the frequent threats against his life.

Unbelievably, Season Two manages to outperform the first by leagues, between the gorgeously detailed sets, the beautifully intricate costumes, and the incredibly realistic special effects makeup. Honestly, I could use most of the word count for this review alone to effuse about the production value. Everyone involved in this production deserves all the flowers.

And, of course, all of the cast stands out front and center stage. The theatrical acting experiences of many of the actors and actresses joining the cast in the second season contribute perfectly to the story playing out at the Théâtre des Vampires. Every character contributes to the detailed tapestry thickly woven with lush, inviting symbolism. There’s intention packed into almost every line of dialogue, every scene, every action and reaction. With every re-watch, there’s more to discover in the richly storied lore.

Without spoiling too many sordid details from the most recent season, we follow along with Louis and Claudia through war-torn Europe as they travel in search of other vampires, hopefully better than the ones that they have already encountered. Along the way, they settle into Paris, France where they stumble upon a coven hiding themselves in plain sight at the Théâtre des Vampires. Louis is reluctant to involve himself with any other vampires, whereas Claudia is desperate to find herself amongst kin.

In this, we set the stage for the intense climax of the second season. As they unbury dead history, Louis and Daniel start making their own shocking realizations as the interview approaches modern day. Past and present begin to rapidly accelerate toward an unavoidable and catastrophic explosion, revealing unexpected alliances and unexpected betrayals.

While Louis and Lestat attempt reconciliation at the end, will the contents of Louis’ interview undo all of that work? I, for one, won’t miss the revenge rock tour of the century coming this summer.