Interview with the Vampire returned to AMC and AMC+ this glorious, bloody Mother’s Day for its second season. 

The first episode of season 2 introduces the enigmatic Delainey Hayles as Claudia since Bailey Bass had to bow out of the second season due to scheduling issues. Delainey steps into the role with a fierce stare, cutting drawl, and natural charisma alongside Jacob Anderson’s Louis De Pointe Du Lac. 

The previous season ended with a few bombshells. One of which revealed Louis’ loyal servant “Rashid” as the ancient vampire Armand to the surprise of Daniel Molloy, an investigative reporter who has been trying to dig up the truth of Louis’ story as a vampire and the twisted depths that circled Lestat’s death and Claudia’s plan. 

We jump right into the next beat of the story, allowing the audience to keep moving forward while Daniel picks apart the shock of Armand’s truth and Claudia’s ability to kill Lestat despite Louis’ weak interference.

Spoiler warning: We will talk about episode one in full. If you wish to avoid spoilers, watch the newest episode on AMC now and come back to engage with fellow fans!

Synopsis: Not All Vampires – maybe?

Louis sits before Daniel and Armand, laid bare in his memories now that Daniel has helped to peel away a foggy layer of misremembering. He speaks of an account in Claudia’s diary of when they traveled from America into the Old World otherwise known as Romania. 

The 1940s are a dark, bloodied, dire time and as World War II rages around them, Claudia and Louis are on a path of their own that does not concern the plights of humankind. They are dirty, starving, cold, and miserable among the suffering of war while Nazis march towards Russia, blocking the path of two vampires desperate to find others like them. However, the deadly duo tear Nazis apart for food and find crypts that once held vampires like them before the terrible reality of war destroyed the vitality within humans the undead once fueled themselves on. 

The only time the light returns to Claudia’s eyes is when they find the clues of other vampires. Any other time it is clear that while she needs Louis’ companionship based on old loyalties, love, and a need for survival – she is not happy with him. His betrayal of her to try and spare Lestat’s life has driven a rift between them. In the end, her entire mission of finding another one like them is so that she can prove to herself that not all vampires are bastards. That somewhere in the world of the undead, she can find someone who will stay with her, and be her friend. 

Meanwhile, Louis is battling his own demons.

As they march through battlefields and travel through desolate countries, Louis is haunted by Lestat – not by the realities of war.

Among the battlefield of fallen soldiers, Lestat appears to Louis with a throat slit and white clothes ruined by blood. Sam Reid’s Lestat is out of the picture for now, tucked into the bayou, dead and gone (though Lestat is rarely ever counted out so easily). So, to keep Sam Reid’s incredible Lestat in the picture, they keep him as the albatross that haunts Louis’ every moment of regret and loneliness. 

Lestat twirls in Louis’ mind, speaking of melodies in purgatory, slinking close to Louis to remind him that while Louis runs from him – he can never be rid of The Vampire Lestat. 

Oh, and then Lestat’s open throat bulges with the horrific sight of a bat crawling from his vocal chords. A terribly grotesque reminder that Vampires really are horrific creatures to deal with. 

Claudia and Lestat, after months of surviving, scoping out the actions of soldiers shooting up graves, and feasting on sickly humans or rats, finally enter Romania. An old country where the original tales of Dracula spilled into the streets long ago. We meet the inhabitants there, all of them suspicious of the darkness while Russian soldiers occupy their village. And while Louis refuses to believe these humans believe in vampires, Claudia clocks that soldiers wear garlic and crucifixes around their neck. A sign that the Old World’s superstitions rears its heads among the dark forests of Romania. 

For a moment, Claudia and Louis settle in among the village people. Louis offers vodka and cigarettes right along with a weak backstory of why two Black strangers are roaming the very Pale paths of Romania while claiming to be from America, searching for Louis’ wife and Claudia’s mother. Louis sinks back into the atmosphere of adults dancing, drinking, and talking like grown ups. He makes friends with the village leader and an Englishman who does not believe Louis’ story, but does not try to fight him.

And while Louis finds comfort in Edith Plath on the radio and the familiar scene of humans partying, reminiscence of his New Orleans day, Claudia does not lose sight of her mission. She begrudgingly talks to the children of the village and finds the truth. 

There is something in the woods. 

It is only after an encounter where Claudia falls, breaks her arms, and goes back to Louis with an urgency to check on it the next night that Louis finally seems to understand there is more to be discovered in Romania. 

And sure enough, it is when they are face to face with a shrieking vampire whose flesh has nearly peeled from the bone that Louis gives in. “A catfish with teeth,” proceeds to lunge at Louis when the pair gets too close. Despite its horrid appearance fooling us into thinking it could be akin to a weak, sickly zombie – the creature is strong. And when an old woman with wild hair and milky blue eyes comes to the creature’s defense, Claudia launches herself at the ghoul of a vampire. She tears its eyes out, and is then admonished by the strange woman. 

A woman who reveals herself to be a vampire named Daciana, one of the last vampires in Romania. She makes it clear that something is wrong with the vampires, and Louis with Claudia as a translator tells her the vampires are dying out because the blood of the humans is tainted with war. And while Claudia offers Daciana a chance to come with them, to be rid of the misery and live a life overseas where the blood is good – Daciana does not take the offer. Instead, she throws herself into flames, and Claudia’s excitement on finally finding another Vampire, is reduced to ash. 

Louis and Claudia decide to leave Romania then. The Russian occupation has become volatile among the threat of forest dwellers and there are no more Vampires left to find. They pack up their things and head to France; those war-torn streets are still bright, despite the lights being put out. And on their way, Louis reminds Claudia that while they are in the middle of a fight, he will stick by her. Even if they were the last vampires on earth, it would be enough. 

And while Claudia seems to lean into that speech, just a little – we are reminded of Louis’ wayward heart as the camera pans over to show ghostly Lestat, still bloodied, and staring right at Louis. 

The episode ends much like how it begins. Claudia and Louis, side by side, stepping into the unknown. 

Analysis: Hard Words and Soft Words

The grim realities of war mixed with the desolation of Claudia and Louis’ life together is such a stark contrast to how the first season of Interview with the Vampire began. The richness of New Orleans gave some brevity and style to the series. I trust the future episodes will add that color and vibrancy back into the story, but some of the campiness that gave the series its draw is missing. 

The times where it felt fun were when Lestat was back on screen. And while I know this first episode of the season sets the stage for Louis and Claudia in their next phase, there is no denying the absence of Lestat gives the series a colder undertone. 

Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) picked up some of the humor and sarcasm that was missing, however. He continues to be a character I want to see on screen more. His dry wit and relentless badgering of questions provides a fiery, human element that strikes against the cool and composed ice of Assad Zaman’s, Armand. Their continued back and forth is something I look forward to witnessing as the season unfolds. The chemistry the two actors share as two sides of the same coin, hungry for truth and power, puts Louis in the middle of a battle he has to navigate carefully.

Speaking of Louis… 

Jacob Anderson continues to show that he has a deep, emotional depth that I feel has yet to be fully unleashed. As he looked into Daniel’s eyes and thanked him for how he uncovered hidden memories and the lies Louis told himself – I believed him. “I want to remember.” Such a simple phrase, delivered with trembling breaths and bloodied tears. 

As Louis sat with Claudia while they traveled to France, his Hard Words and Soft Words monologue reminded me of his speech in Season One, Episode One where he poured his heart out in the confessional. Anderson takes the role seriously and portrays a complicated vampire whose love for the people around him makes everything in a world of cruelly and blood sucking that much more complex. 

Hayles’ portrayal of Claudia has barely begun, and while I do miss Bass, I have faith that the casting directors chose well for a replacement. Hayles has more maturity than Bass does, which is fitting since at this point in time, Claudia is over 40 in terms of vampire and human years. She has traded in her doll-eyed love of Louis for a reality check. Her vampiric brother-father-friend turned on her in the last season. That is not a betrayal anyone could easily move on from and Claudia’s wake-up call to Louis will be weaponized more than once. Which is desperately needed since Louis still dances with Lestat’s ghost in the recesses of his heart. 

I am excited for how the rest of this season will play out, but also nervous. I know what happens within the Interview novel, written by Anne Rice, and I know every episode gets closer to certain plot points that will just break my heart. 

Final Score: (4.5 of out 5 Stars)

AMC’S Interview with the Vampire has been one of my most anticipated returns since Season One ended so violently.

I have a very concerted love for Jacob Anderson as an actor – his previous role as Greyworm on Game of Thrones charmed me- and as a singer. Seriously, check out his work under the stage name Raleigh Ritchie. He delivers emotional hip-hop, R&B, and orchestral pieces that lays his heart bare. I admittedly began watching Interview because of him and a dear friend’s love of the series. And man, I am so glad I hopped on the Vampire Chronicles train.

Because the entire cast of Interview is dedicated to the story. Their press interviews are not only fun, but insightful. They often speak of the characters, the complexities, and the mad genius writings of Anne Rice with respect and consideration.

It is not a series for the faint of heart, whether it is the novels, the show, or even the 1994 cult-classic film starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Kirsten Dunst. The themes of the Vampire Chronicles will challenge anyone who takes a look.

But as a queer-horror romp through historical America and modern times post-pandemic, it is worth the undertaking.

New episodes release every Sunday at 9 PM EST on AMC. And if you’re like me, desperate for the next bloody fix, AMC+ releases new episodes of Interview with the Vampire as soon as Sunday arrives.

Featured Image: AMC (via Rotten Tomatoes)

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