The Story So Far
Greetings Vampire Chronicles Fans. Is it alright to call you Children of the Damned? It fits so nicely. Before we begin, let’s look back at what I wrote about season one: “This is a show that heralds the return of the children of Dracul and you will devour it” and “Interview with the Vampire is drunken and debauched, repressed but flushed with delight, wrapped up in familial bonds and yet bloodier than bloodlines.”
I wasn’t wrong then, and the saga continues along those blood-soaked lines in the second season of the AMC thrillodrama. Different vibe, same energy. We pick up where we left off, with Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) fleeing the States to forget about their act of murder most foul (but probably necessary). Don’t look at me like that, these vampires aren’t your friends—no matter how well you think you know them. The end of season one shook us when The Vampire Armand (Assad Zaman) revealed himself as Rashid. Now, with Lestat (Sam Reid) dead, we get to see what made Louis x Armand happen. S2 opens with Louis and Claudia navigating the war-torn landscapes of Europe at the end of WWII. Claudia is obsessed with finding other vampires, while the pair grapples with fissures in their resentful relationship. The dynamic between Louis and Claudia is colder than their blood, and frustrations mount as they discover rag-tag and mutant vampires who fail to sparkle and seduce the way their maker, Lestat, did. But then they arrive in Paris.
Meanwhile, in present-day Dubai, Louis and Armand continue their confessions to the combative and acerbic-tongued journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Daniel is known to ‘stay mad’ and his interviews add tension, fear, and doubt to the unfolding drama. As I mentioned last season, IWTV is all about the domestic drama. In season one we watched the love between Louis and Lestat rise and fall, with lots of ugly fights in between. This season is a parallel with Louis and Armand. As we jump into the last two episodes—the two-part final—we wonder if the second great love of Louis’ life will burn out as spectacularly as the first. Either way, after watching episodes 1–6, you know it’s going to end in more of the wicked sexiness, bloody skullduggery, and vicious romance that brings out our fangs.
The Final Two Episodes AKA The Two-Part Finale
In “I Could Not Prevent It” and “And That’s The End of It. There’s Nothing Else”, the saga continues at the Théâtre des Vampires, where Armand’s rule is increasingly challenged by That Bastard Santiago (Ben Daniels). Claudia’s longing for someone who is hers and hers alone leads to Madeleine (Roxane Duran), a dressmaker who seeks the dark gift after Claudia saves her from an assault and subsequently begs Louis to turn her. The rebellion inherent to Louis and Claudia turns explosive when he gives in and makes Madeleine a vampire.
In today’s world Daniel has met The Talamasca, a clandestine group of vampire historians. We’re not sure what they’ve told him, but it makes Daniel even more unbearable. Is taunting Armand the best idea? No. Is Louis more dangerous because of his maker and his maker’s bloodlines? Probably.
Breaking the rules and pissing off the jealous Santiago is a choice. One that leads to disaster. If you’ve seen the sneak peek from AMC, you know Lestat saunters into the Théâtre des Vampires for a performance that puts Louis, Claudia, and Madeliene on trial in front of the Vampire Supreme Court of that era. Are you feeling as dramatically ambushed as I am? Good. Go with that tension because these episodes will have you chewing off your nails and screaming at the screen. The forever charmer, Lestat puts on an irresistible show. What verdict will befall our hero and his sister-daughter? I won’t tell but I will say the betrayals and reversals stack up hard and fast enough to give you whiplash.
What to Look Out For
Pay attention to every micro-expression and barely hidden emotion—they add spice to the season. Also, if you’re a fan of the books, the timelines get mixed around in exciting ways. We get a wink at “Queen of the Damned” which sent me into wide-eyed floundering. It’s way too early but also YAY. There are full-blown scenes from “The Tale of the Body Thief” remixed into the last episode. I know! I made the same noise you just did. Not to mention where it all ends will have you whimpering if not wet-faced and sniffling. And, if I’m reading the tea leaves (and the dialogue) correctly, we might finally get “The Vampire Lestat” as the modern timeline for season 3. By the end, Daniel is a changed man. But most importantly: Louis, you in danger boy.
RIOTUS 