Interview with the Vampire Season 3: The Vampire Lestat Review

nterview with the Vampire (2022-)

Season 3: The Vampire Lestat - 7 episodes (2026)
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
Watch the trailer

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.

In season three, Lestat reinvents himself as an international rock star, embarking on a dark, theatrical, cross-country tour while confronting centuries of trauma and his complex relationships.

Verdict
This season changes the format, focusing on Lestat instead of Louis. It's a very different tone, which reflects Lestat, but this just doesn't have the depth despite the attempt. The first season was an introspective exploration of life and loneliness. This succumbs to vampire tropes, coasting on past seasons. Yes, Lestat is a tortured soul, but the overlay of this rock star persona, which is a response, dulls that exploration. The attempts to be shocking seems like a cheap ploy.
Skip it.

Review
The series began with journalist Daniel Molloy interviewing vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac who recounts his turbulent relationship with Lestat de Lioncourt beginning in 1910. They turn Claudia, hoping to find peace as a family to no avail. At the end of season one, Louis and Claudia betray Lestat.
In season two Louis and Claudia move to Paris, joining a theater troupe. They're eventually tried by Armand and the troupe for murdering Lestat. Louis thought Armand saved him from the sentence, starting their decades long relationship when Louis rejected Lestat again. Turns out it was a ruse. Louis only realizes it during the interview with Molloy. Lestat saved Louis, not Armand.

To open the season, Louis (Jacob Anderson) bids on Lestat's (Sam Reid) belongings at some point in the future. That includes a record from the rock star that serves as the season's narrative. In the present Lestat joins a band. Part of it is Lestat's affinity for theatrics, the rest he claims is to refute Molloy's book and provide his side of the story. He's not secretive about his powers, but it's not until a coven attacks him for that openness that his band discovers he's a vampire.

S3E3: Sam Reid plays Lestat de Lioncourt

This also delves into Lestat's past. He became a vampire to save his mother, but their relationship is complicated to say the least. That aspect of the story exists for shock value more than anything else. Lestat's mother becomes his first fledging. She reappears as Lestat emerges as a rock star.

I wondered how much time we'd spend with Lestat while he was with Louis. The answer is not much. Molloy published his interview with Louis despite objections. That created a rift in Louis and Lestat's second round. In turn Lestat hires Molly to create a documentary about him. While Lestat relays how he was turned and turned others, Molloy doubts the veracity of the story. He tries to get to the truth, but Lestat toys with him, unwilling to be so forthcoming.

Louis has yet to deal with his feelings over Claudia. He hires a woman to pretend to be Claudia. Times are tough and money talks. Armand also returns for apologies all around, though it seems to just fill episodes.

S3E6: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid play Louis, Lestat

After a man attacks Lestat to prove he's a vampire that can't die, Lestat considers quitting before he begins recording a posthumous album. It's self referential and confessional. While there's a lot happening this season, it's like a band playing out of sync. His band is a way to work through his feelings. Less prominent is Lestat being used as a catalyst for the "great conversion" with vampires taking over and reducing the population. Without a great explanation, it seems more like a hollow threat to add tension to this season.

After a century apart, Louis and Lestat reconcile as they seek closure for Claudia through a witch. Molloy and Armand try to undermine them, but the end of episode six gets a big ending. Separately Louis and Lestat are forced to confront the past. Armand wants an apology from Louis, and Molloy wants to prevent intervening powers from capitalizing on Lestat's all but publicly admitting to being a vampire.

I appreciate how the first two seasons explore the loneliness of living forever. This season, like Lestat, is so over the top that it doesn't generate the same level of introspection. We explore how Lestat's persona is a mask to hide pain, grief, and trauma. It's just not as thoughtful as previous seasons. 

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