A Bloody, Romantic Story Worth Sinking Your Teeth Into: Interview With The Vampire Season 2
Returning to Anne Rice's world of bloodlusty vampires with an entry as alluring and terrible as its first, the Vampire Season 2 interview Season 2 explores more how these memories can be false, having already established its premise of the nearly 200-year-old Vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) recounting his undead life to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). It also looks at a fresh relationship for Louis that, although not quite as poisonous as the one with Lestat (Sam Reid), maintains the romantic undertones and little risk of the series.
Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror fantasy series examining Louis de Pointe du Lac's life via an interview with a journalist, based on Anne Rice's novel series starting in 1976. Told in flashbacks of Louis's life throughout the interview, the show explores his relationship with the vampire that changed him, Lestat de Lioncourt, and a teenage girl named Claudia whom he transforms. Among Anne Rice's Immortal Universe media projects, this is the first.
The New Cast Members Boost the Ensemble
New cast members for Interview with the Vampire Season 2 join returning performers Anderson, Bogosian, Zaman, and Reid; these additions are all superb in helping to enlarge the world. Hayles replaces Bass as Claudia; the change is almost seamless, with Hayles respecting the work Bass produced in season 1 while also making the role essentially her own. Though not a real newcomer, Zaman has a lot more to do as Armand, highlighting both the sweetness of the character and a more merciless side.
Roxane Duran enters the show as Madeleine, a Parisian woman Claudia has an interest in, and introducing another well-known woman among the ensemble benefits both Claudia's character and the show. Though most welcomed, Duran's participation is another intriguing departure from the literature. Of the fresh cast, though, Ben Daniels's Santiago, the lead actor in Théâtre des Vampires, stands out most clearly. Given Lestat isn't nearly as present as he was in season 1, Santiago is the kind of villain season 2 need for Louis, Claudia, even Armand.
Interview With The Vampire Season 2 Continues To Smartly Adapt Rice's Novels
Originally billed as both an adaptation and a follow-up to Rice's original Vampire Chronicles book, season 2 is an interesting interpretation of the narrative combining elements of later works with its namesake and fresh ideas from season 1. The most important of these is the romantic relationship between Louis and Armand, which although based on events in the books takes more front stage in the show. Central to season 2, their romance is shown in both the past and the present and helps Louis start to move on from Lestat and get more at ease with his vampirism.
Though it might not have the same fire that came with Louis and Lestat's turbulent love affair, [Louis and Armand's relationship] can nevertheless feel at moments intensely passionate, uncomfortable, or even dangerous. Excellent in their performances, Anderson and Zaman do justice to both sides of their relationship—the established, long-term couple and the early flirtation. Though it is not as passionate as Louis and Lestat's tumultuous love affair, it is nonetheless at times achingly lovely, uncomfortable, or even dangerous. It's even more fascinating how Bogosian's Daniel responds to this relationship as he finds himself now questioning two vampires and must decide whose truth he really trusts.
A Heart-Wrenching Trip Louis Is On
Interview with the Vampire season 2 finds Louis and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) arriving in Europe in quest of more vampires, finally landing in Paris after killing their maker (unsuccessfully and unbeknownst to them) in the season 1 conclusion. There they come upon the renowned theatrical troupe Théâtre des Vampires, which consists of vampire actors covering their weekly murders with outrageous, gory plays. While Louis is less sure, Claudia feels this coven will at last satisfy her urge to belong. Still, he finds himself captivated by Armand (Assad Zaman), the coven leader.
Having previously used the deception of being Louis's servant Rashid in season 1, Armand is discovered in the present to be Louis's lover. Daniel is profoundly affected by the twist of Rashid being Armand, which makes him doubt whether anything he recalls from Louis's and his initial interview in 1973 is wholly accurate. Season 2 follows this line of inquiry of whether memories can be trusted, which finally causes Louis to also ask whether his past has been altered and if so, by whom?
The Fresh Season Starts
At its core is another moving performance from Anderson as Louis, deftly dragging viewers along on his road to come to grips with his past and present. One of AMC's best shows is brilliantly continued in the Vampire season 2 interview. It adapts by building on the basis Rice's books set and adding intriguing turns to keep those familiar with the narrative interested. With the new ensemble helping to capture the city's mood, the post-WWII Parisian backdrop lets the show be joyous one minute and then horrific the next. And at its core is another heartbreaking performance from Anderson as Louis, deftly dragging viewers along on his trip to come to grips with his past and present.
The second Vampire season begins on AMC May 12 at 9pm ET.
