Spoilers for the first season ahead.
This season of "Interview WIth the Vampire" is based on the second half of the Anne Rice novel of the same name. After the death of Lestat, Louis and Claudia go to Europe, and meet a new group of vampire characters, including the ancient writer Armand (Assad Zaman) and thespian Santiago (Ben Daniels) at Paris's Théâtre des Vampires. These events are not as exciting as the first season, because the thrill of discovery has been tempered considerably, and Lestat doesn't get nearly as much screen time (he's still hanging around in Louis's head as a projection of his guilt), but this is an excellent adaptation of the source material - and a big improvement from the Neil Jordan film.
The story has been expanded to fill eight hour-long episodes, so we get to see Louis and Claudia adjusting to life in Paris, their relationships with various members of the Paris coven, and quite a bit more character development for everyone involved, especially Claudia. She's played by Delainey Hayles this season, who does an admirable job as a more mature, more thoughtful Claudia, whose yearning for connection with other vampires leads her to some very dark places. I don't quite buy Hayles as a teenager, but Claudia's frustration and longing are portrayed beautifully. Also, a brief notice at the beginning of the first episode of the season, announcing the actor substitution, is the best handling of this kind of situation I've ever seen. We also learn more about Armand much more quickly, and the vampire fledgling Madeleine (Roxane Duran) actually has a personality and some agency in her relationship with Claudia.
Additional material is also created for the characters in the framing story. Daniel continues his interview, but is contacted by an outside party who offers information about his first encounter with Louis in the 70s. This leads to my favorite episode of the entire season, a flashback to young Daniel (Luke Brandon Field) in the immediate aftermath of the original interview that questions Louis' trustworthiness as a narrator, and Louis' whole relationship with Armand. Louis and Armand's relationship suffers a bit from not being as fun to watch as Louis and Lestat's relationship, but the characters are so fascinating that I was very invested in the twists and turns of the pairing pretty much immediately. The ending of this season also plays out a little differently from either the book or the film versions, creating a much less gloomy and much more satisfying conclusion for the hopeless romantics like me. It's a little indulgent, and I don't know if Anne Rice would approve, but for this adaptation it feels well earned.
The production values continue to be excellent. I adore the show's version of the Théâtre des Vampires, and their macabre productions. Having the actors share the stage with projected film clips is a fun conceit, and Ben Daniels has such a wonderful presence as the Théâtre's stylish leading man and master of ceremonies. The violence and gore don't feel quite up to the same level of intensity as the first season, probably because there is less intimate partner violence. However, there are some pretty spectacular fights and showpieces this year, including a harrowing show trial. I continue to enjoy all the historical revisionism and allusions to other artists. A fun addition is Louis deciding to take up photography as a hobby in Paris, and becoming frustrated that he turns out to be a pretty mediocre one. Jacob Anderson continues to be the show's best performer, and his final line in the last episode sent a wonderful chill up my spine.
With "Interview" nicely wrapped up, and a third season announced, I look forward to more Lestat-centric stories moving forward. However, I never liked any of the subsequent books in this series nearly as much as I liked "Interview," and the show's creators will have their work cut out for them, trying to match the quality of these first two seasons. But then again, if anyone should try, it's this team. And I wish them the best of luck.
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