Interview with the Vampire Season 2 Review

Interview with the Vampire (2022-)

Season 2 - 8 episodes (2024)
Rent Interview with the Vampire on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Rolin Jones
Starring: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, Ben Daniels
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
Based on Anne Rice's iconic novel, Louis de Pointe du Lac's epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality are told to journalist Daniel Molloy.

Verdict
While the first season followed a rocky relationship, this one initially focuses on one that's healthier. The show still explores characters, their emotions upon reminiscing, and choices as Louis revisits events from his incredibly long life. Revelations abound as Louis rediscovers moments with a fresh perspective and recalls things he'd rather wish stay forgotten. This season is just as engrossing as the first, though it does mark the end of Louis's biography.
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Review
In season one, Louis (Jacob Anderson) contacts journalist Daniel (Eric Bogosian) to finish the interview they started forty years ago. Louis was transformed in 1910 by the charming Lestat (Sam Reid), but he didn't have a choice or know the repercussions. Lestat took advantage because he wanted a companion. Louis has to reconcile his urges with his nature, forever feeling guilty. It's that guilt that causes him to turn Claudia (Delainey Hayles), to save her. He pays for that. While the three are a family, she creates a rift between Louis and Lestat. The driver is that all of them are afraid of ending up alone. We wonder if the story Louis relates to Daniel is biased. He struggles with who he is and wants to be. It's easy to modify the story to adjust how he's perceived, and Daniel realizes that. The first season culminates in Louis and Claudia attempting to kill Lestat. In the present, Louis's companion Rashid is revealed to be Armand.

Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman play Louis, Daniel, Armand

Interview with the Vampire Season 3, retitled "The Vampire Lestat," is expected to premiere in 2026 on AMC. The next season will adapt Anne Rice's second book in the Vampire Chronicles series, focusing on Lestat's life as a rock star.

Daniel (Eric Bogosian) grows impatient with Louis's (Jacob Anderson) story of how he and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) traveled across Europe during World War II, begging for food and housing. The pair finally discover another vampire in Romania, albeit feral. That ends up being a dead end. It's not long after that they end up in Paris where Louis meets Armand.. Armand leads a coven of vampires that reveal their abilities on stage during theater performances and the audience is none the wiser, thinking it's all part of the experience. Louis is shocked, but Claudia loves it. Lestat (Sam Reid) cofounded the troupe, and Daniel finds the coincidence difficult to believe.

Louis resists joining the coven, but Armand reveals his relationship with Lestat while his connection to Louis flourishes. Their relationship is underscored by how close they seem in the present with Armand joining the interview. Claudia joins the coven but tires of the monotony; as the newest member she's given menial tasks. The coven sees Armand's favoritism of Louis and grow restless. Santiago (Bend Daniels) looks to overthrow Armand as the leader.

During the interview Daniel recalls more memories of Armand from their interactions in the 70s. He only recalls glimpses, but the thoughts are troubling.

Assad Zaman, Jacob Anderson play Armand, Louis

Season one explored the rocky relationship between Lestat and Louis. This season marks the ups and downs of Louis and Armand. They argue, but it's always clear they care about each other. Their current devotion is tested as Louis learns things about the past surrounding Lestat's return.

Episode seven might be the best of the season as Louis and Claudia face a trial arranged by the cove with Lestat as the accuser. This episode builds upon the entire season as Louis revisit these memories, ones he's forgotten or would like to. He has to relive them and thus the experience. The distance, looking at them now, provides new revelations.

The convoluted love triangle between Louis, Armand, and Lestat emerges, and that causes Louis and Armand to face difficult truths. The past is no longer the past. This show takes such care in developing the characters and emotions. It's what pulls you in. These characters aren't perfect, they make mistakes. Despite the underlying tension between humans and vampires, Louis's recollections and reactions seem authentic. He's visiting a past in a very long life. Some of those experiences look different from his vantage now.