Our Interview with the Vampire Season 2 recaps continue with episode 3! Catch up on our previous recaps, spoilers below!
In the present, journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), taking a break from his interviews, is approached by Raglan James (Justin Kirk) in an Abu Dhabi seafood restaurant. Those familiar with Anne Rice’s “Immortal Universe” will understand that Raglan is a member of the Talamasca, an ancient organization that keeps tabs on supernatural beings. Raglan tells Daniel they were tracking 900 vamps a month ago, and they’re tracking 1,600 now. It’s “the Great Conversion.” Raglan adds that he’s left info in an encrypted file on Daniel’s poorly protected laptop.
While they wait for vampire Louis (Jacob Anderson) to awaken with the sunset, vampire Armand (Assad Zaman) tells Daniel that vampires used to be “shadows crouching behind stone” before Lestat’s (Sam Reid) “transformation.”
1556. The Roman vampire coven left Armand to lead the French vampires, who obeyed medieval laws meant to protect them from humans. Armand had never led anything before and, by 1794, felt he was failing. Then he sensed Lestat (Sam Reid).
Lestat is a popular actor playing to full houses of human audiences. Armand feels that everyone (himself included) falls under Lestat’s spell, but that he must bring Lestat under his control. Armand speaks telepathically to Lestat, but Lestat ignores him. The coven is fascinated by Lestat’s disregarding their laws and Armand himself.
Armand stops Lestat and his human lover, Nicolas (Joseph Potter), on the street. When Lestat dismisses Armand again, saying he doesn’t want to trade his comfortable existence for living with other vampires in gutter conditions, Armand uses his power to knock Lestat and Nicolas onto their backs.
Armand finally has Lestat’s attention – psychokinesis is a power Lestat doesn’t have. When Armand brings Nicolas to the coven, Lestat follows. One of Armand’s coven members tells Lestat that the vampires serve God, through Satan, through Armand. Lestat calls this “a muddy trinity.” Vampires are their own gods.
In the present, Armand explains that Lestat voiced what Armand had been thinking for half a century. The coven wouldn’t have believed it if it had come from Armand. The coven disbanded and wrought havoc in Paris, though some couldn’t handle the change and committed suicide.
Armand felt suicidal himself. Then Lestat comes to him and pitches the Théâtre des Vampires, where they can drink blood in plain sight. The concept takes off with both vampires and unwary human audiences.
Lestat and Armand profess their love for one another in their theatre box. This draws the jealous attention of Nicolas, who has been turned by Lestat.
In the present, Louis enters and says that a week after Armand had taught Lestat about how to use his psychic gifts, Lestat vanished, leaving behind a lawyer and enough money to run the theatre in perpetuity. He broke Armand’s heart, which Armand says remained locked away for the next 150 years, until Louis arrived.
In post-WWII Paris, Louis and turned-at-age-14 vampire Claudia (Delainey Hayles) work on getting their stories straight about their supposedly suicidal maker Bruce for the coven at the Théâtre des Vampires. They can hardly say it was Lestat whom they killed (at least, they think they did) and who the other vampires knew and revered.
Claudia now has a backstage job at the Théâtre. She addresses Armand respectfully as “Maître” (Master). Louis has never seen Claudia happier.
Claudia is introduced to “the wet room” as part of her duties, which is where the vampires keep the live human victims pre-performance, and where they dispose of the corpses afterward, via hungry rats. There is also a mausoleum in the walls for coven members who have gone, mostly “heretics and lawbreakers.”
Unlike Claudia, Louis doesn’t want to join the coven. Armand observes that the coven is envious of Louis’s independence, and it’s a problem.
In the present, Armand says that he was supposed to lure Louis in, but instead, Louis is causing Armand to yearn for his own freedom.
Claudia asks Santiago (Ben Daniels) how he gets the mortals to accept death with his false onstage promise of “no pain.” He explains that he gets into their heads and finds their secret shame. Claudia learns that Santiago has only been a vampire for 20 years. She had thought Armand was Santiago’s maker, but Santiago says his maker is in the walls. Armand put him there and he deserved his death.
Louis and Armand debate the nature of good and evil in a nightclub. Louis envisions Lestat at the piano, singing that Louis only wants Armand because he’s depressed. Louis finally admits to Armand that Lestat is his maker; they were together for 30 years, that he killed Lestat, and Lestat had it coming. In Louis’ imagination, Lestat says that’s debatable.
Armand says he’s known the truth for months. Louis asks if Armand will kill him now, and what this means for Claudia. Armand says Louis broke one of the great laws. Louis says he doesn’t know about the laws and that Lestat didn’t tell him anything. Imaginary Lestat says, “I told you I loved you.”
Louis runs out into the night and imagines Lestat kissing him, saying he’s the only one Louis really trusts, and then telling Louis to kill him again. Louis gets violent; this turns out to be with a mortal victim.
Louis wants to warn Claudia about the laws, but Claudia pre-empts him and says the coven is going to let her join them. She is joyous.
In the present, human servant Rashid (Bally Gill) interrupts the interview – Armand and Louis must attend to a business matter. Daniel uses the opportunity to access Raglan’s computer files.
During that night’s performance, Santiago notices Louis in the audience. Santiago telepathically tells Armand that Louis’ attack on the mortal has made the newspapers. Armand hasn’t converted Louis, and the coven demands Armand take care of it. Armand says he’ll do it after Claudia has pledged herself to the coven.
Santiago ritually leads Claudia through the reading of the vampire laws. After each law is stated, Santiago asks, “Will you abide?” Claudia replies that she will.
The five vampire laws:
1) Each coven must have a leader, and only he can make new vampires
2) The “dark gifts” must never be given to “the crippled, the maimed, or to children”
3) No vampire may expose the history of vampires
4) No vampire shall ever reveal their true nature to a mortal and let the mortal live
5) No vampire may ever destroy another vampire except the coven master, who is obligated to destroy those who have broken these laws.
Claudia drinks from each coven member. They present her with a costume and a new play written just for her.
Only coven members are allowed to witness the ceremony, so Armand takes Louis for a walk. Louis knows that he must leave Paris. Armand says Claudia will not last long – her mind is too fierce. He’s seen it all before. Armand asks if Lestat has broken Louis. Louis says no but that he carries Lestat with him. Armand says that he does as well. He kisses Louis, and even though he still doesn’t know if Armand means to kill him, Louis invites him upstairs.
“No Pain” plays up the poignant drama of Claudia loving her new existence, but at the same time, she is unaware of how dangerous it is to her. We have to take it on faith how much Louis and Armand miss Lestat. Yes, Lestat was Louis’ maker and Armand’s professional inspiration. But now that Louis and Armand have found each other, they are each arguably as physically attractive as Lestat, and both are inarguably more fun to be around.
It seems unfair that Raglan doesn’t tell Daniel more about the Talamasca, mainly since it puts the portion of the TV audience who haven’t read about that organization at a disadvantage to those who have (to say nothing of who Raglan turns out to be in the larger scheme of things).
New episodes of the Interview with the Vampire TV series are available every Sunday on AMC & AMC+. Season 2 premiered May 12. For more, catch up on our Interview with the Vampire episode recaps.
