[nixscriptum]

The girl dinner archives | pt. II

[novemberrage]

underwhelming finale for a season that basically could’ve been an email

[hesitantlyhappy]

iwtv seasons one and two was like being tucked into bed and read a heartbreaking story by Louis du pointe du lac. The Vampire Lestat is like your blackout drunk uncle trying to tell you an anecdote at a family gathering

[nortism]

It seems like people are automatically assuming that ghost Claudia is 100% telling the truth in regards to her feelings towards Lestat and Louis rather than saying things she knows will hurt Louis out of rage at being stuck in purgatory while he reads her diary entries to her rapist and gets back together with his ex who abused her. Ghost Claudia is clearly in so much pain over her death and separation from Madeleine and is lashing out in the only way she can.

I really don’t think the seance is retconning the Louclaudia relationship into her always having preferred Lestat. I think it makes it clear that Claudia was more easily able to manipulate Louis than he was aware of, or wanted to be aware of. But I also think the ambiguity and the fine line between love and hate remains.

[virginiaisforvampires]

Initial thoughts for The Vampire Lestat 1x07 (Track 7) — SPOILERS INCLUDED!

Track 7: The Failures

As Lestat Says in Episode 3: "Well that was shit."

So y'all know I always give my brutally honest opinions, and I have to say I didn't love this episode. It was....a letdown, to say the least. The season overall? Bloody fantastic. I'm pretending Episode 6 was the season finale. This episode? Giant misstep, imo.

First of all — The long table. I knew this would be a dream sequence of Lestat confronting his "failures" (not actual failures but shit he blames himself for that isn't his fault at all). It's every person who has made an impact on his life telling him what *HE* thinks they think of him. Okay, and? We've known this the entire season. We've known of Lestat's canon self-blame and self-hatred. We've spent six episodes watching Lestat being used and abused and his agency and bodily autonomy stolen from him again and again. Yet now we need an entire episode of Lestat mentally berating himself over this? *sighs* Total waste of time. I found myself checking the timestamps, because I just wanted to get on with it, and that didn't happen with any of the previous episodes. The caveat with this dream sequence? They can retcon whatever they want from it at anytime by simply saying "it was just in Lestat's mind." Again, okay, and? Smh. Whatever, Rolin.

Secondly — As I discussed here, we spent the entire season building. We've been dancing around key elements from The Vampire Lestat and hinting at things via other characters, yet never from Lestat himself. I said I was quite annoyed with that framing, but I'm more IRATE about it NOW given what they've seemingly done with the dynamic they were allegedly building — Lesmand.

Seriously. What was the point of any of this now?

And yes, I am considering Rolin's quote about this season being "part one of part two" and yes, I am aware they could come back to this in S4, but honestly? I doubt it for the simple fact of what they've seemingly done with Armand's canon obsession, which brings me to my next point.

Third — Louis and Armand.

WHAT IN THE ABSOLUTE FUCK WAS THAT?!?!?! 🤬🤬🤬

The majority of this episode was spent in Armand's little butcher shop with Louis' head on a pike while Armand fucking tortured him for an apology because *checks notes* Louis was "mean" to wittle baby Armand for killing his daughter. Seriously. That's it. That's what they've done here. They've made Armand obsessed with Louis, whine to Louis about Louis never loving him, and made Louis have to "acknowledge" Armand's backstory and "understand" him.

Are you kidding me?

Armand tortured Louis in S2. Armand never loved Louis as he admits in this episode. Armand wanted Louis dead in Paris. Armand deliberately fucked with Louis' head. Armand brainwashed him. Erased his memories. Implanted new memories. Gaslit him. Stalked him. Killed Claudia. Lied to him about his involvement in her death. Lied to him about Lestat's involvement in her death. Lied to him about Lestat saving him. Isolated him in Dubai. Cruelly tortured him in San Francisco after his suicide attempt. Deliberately delayed care to his burns after his suicide attempt. Dangled Lestat in his face after his suicide attempt. Orchestrated the Regina spiral just to fuck with his head like he did with the planted Stein photos. Bugged Lestat's apartment to spy on them. Took Regina hostage after mind-controlling her. Killed Larry. Mind-controlled Alex. Beheaded Lestat. Beheaded Louis.

All of this for....*checks notes* an apology from Louis. Meanwhile, Louis doesn't owe Armand anything!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'm watching Louis being tortured at Armand's hands AGAIN just because Armand went off the rails over Louis never loving him?!

You know who that dynamic ^^ actually belongs to? Lesmand.

Fourth — Lesmand. If they would've switched this scene to Armand torturing Lestat for never loving him and holding Louis' fate over his head? It would've made perfect sense. You know, any normal person watching this season and knowing the books would expect that to be the case, you know? Canon Lesmand.

Here? They've repurposed it and transferred it to Loumand. For no reason. This makes zero narrative sense. I'm sitting here watching Louis dying while being spitefully tortured because he didn't love the psycho who killed his daughter.

On top of that? Louis has to acknowledge Armand's backstory and "understand" him before Armand backs down. Know who that was in the books? Lestat.

Armand is obsessed with Lestat. Armand is constantly whining to Lestat about "why won't you love me?!" After Armand rapes him, he tells Lestat his backstory and yes, Lestat sympathizes with him and understands him. It's a key part of their dynamic. Yet here in the show, they've inexplicably given it to Louis for no reason, because Armand outright says in the scene that he never loved Louis and wanted him to suffer and wanted him dead in Paris simply because Louis always loved Lestat instead of him. Yes, we knew this in S2. Why are we back here again watching torture porn against Louis for an apology that means nothing other than satisfying Armand's vendetta against Louis "wronging" him? After everything Armand fucking did to Louis?

I really cannot begin to express how utterly disgusted I am with this choice. As I said here, this aspect is WORSE than S1E5. At least that choice made narrative sense. This?! It's the most bizarre writing choice I've ever encountered, and I cannot wait for the interviews in which they attempt to explain away this crock of shit.

LEAVE. LOUIS. ALONE.

He does not owe fuckass Armand anything!

Lastly — The positives!

The long table dream sequence shifted when Lestat replaced Magnus with Gabriella at the head of the table. It slowly morphed into Lestat realizing that Gabriella was the key monster in his life. She was the reason he became what he did....for better or worse. His changed facial expression (from what we initially saw in Episode 2) when it flashed back to the aftermath of the wolves said everything. That was not the first time she'd done that to him and already back then, we could see he was repulsed by her touch. Again, he had this realization back in Episode 3. Why are we still rehashing this? But anyways, I do digress, because it lead to Lestat finally pushing back against her. He finally stands up to her and calls her out for what she is — "you fucking monster!" I cheered. However, that shift in Lestat's stance where she was concerned was always set to happen because of Louis. Episode 6 established that bond between Louis and Lestat. It established that Louis is the one who is going to be the safe haven for Lestat. It established that Lestat was always going to choose Louis over Gabriella. He asked Louis in the bar if it mattered to him, Louis' answer is what truly dictates Lestat's response to her in Episode 7. If it matters to Louis, Gabriella will be packing her bags. There is no world in which Louis' feelings will not take priority for Lestat. The dream sequence finds Lestat accepting himself, flipping his "failures" back to his abusers in acknowledgement of what they did to him, and reaching the point in which he now knows that "failure" meant he at least tried. He did love. He did what he could with the shit bag he was handed, and that brings me to the saving grace of this episode.

LOUSTAT.

Lestat's point of reference for reality in his lucid dream state is Louis.

"Could be nice. Could be. Hands touch."

This is what he periodically repeats to himself. It's as if he's clinging to that promise of a life with Louis as his anchor to actual life, because Lestat is actively dying in this moment. He's fading.

Paul. 🥹♥️

Truly, one of the best moments of the entire season. Maybe of the entire series. In an otherwise horrendous episode, this stunning moment will carry me into the cold, dark abyss of the hiatus. (And another scene, which I'm coming to.)

Lestat is at the point of death. The heavens open for him, which is likely them finally getting his head out of that damn bowling bag, and he sees the silver cords. (Another PL seed!) He's dying, yet what is the one thing on his mind in this moment at the threshold of the afterlife — Louis. The implication being his love for Louis is what grants his place in Heaven.

"He has a hard time saying it. Got that from our daddy. It doesn't mean he doesn't. It's just his way. Thank you for loving him. For loving him the way he needs to be loved."

The only thing Lestat doesn't feel he's failed at? Louis. Loving Louis. The only reason Louis survived the beheading is because of Lestat's blood.

"I have the blood of Akasha."

"No, it ain't the blood. It's what you do with the blood."

Yeah. Takes on an entirely different meaning now, doesn't it? Because Lestat's "monstrous" blood saved Louis' life. The thing Lestat most loathes about himself just saved the love of his life.

I just —

And that brings me back to Louis.

"Love of my life was him. Heard the witch. Must've heard the bench. Me. Him. Then. Even now. Still thinking about him."

"LOVE OF MY LIFE WAS HIM." 😭😭😭

"OR MAYBE IT WAS HIM."

Jaw on the floor. He actually fucking said it! You could hear my shrieks and sobs all the way to their home in New Orleans! I mean, we knew this, but hearing Louis admit it out loud?! Oh, my heart! Louis, also on the threshold of death, is only thinking of Lestat. Louis is refusing to back down from his love for Lestat. Not even to save his own life or Regina's life does he ever deny his love for Lestat. This is perfection. Absolute perfection. Louis loves him! Louis would die without Lestat!

It was never Claudia. It was never Armand. It was never Gabriella. It was never Antoinette. It was always them. Louis and Lestat. Lestat and Louis. ALWAYS. 🥹♥️

As soon as Lestat wakes and is able to come to himself, his concern? Louis.

"Where's Louis?!"

The way he RUNS to Louis. The way we can literally see the relief washing over him.

The way they're looking at each other says everything. The gentle way they touch each other's neck scars. The profound emotions laden beneath this tender exchange. Seriously don't even talk to me right now. This + Paul assuring Lestat of Louis' love saved this. I'm telling y'all. Without this Loustat thread throughout the entire episode? Geez. I shudder to think. They are the beating heart. The touchstone. The spine holding this entire organism together.

And then this —

The dream sequence wasn't the catalyst for this. Louis was the catalyst. Lestat standing up to her. Lestat having Louis as his rock. Louis finally giving him the courage. The knowledge that Lestat's love for Louis is where his true power lies. His blood saved Louis. He's not a failure. He deserves better than the shit Gabriella has subjected him to. The way his expression instantly darkens when Gabriella starts harping on him while he's looking at the damage done to Louis.

"This is you, right? Right? This is your idea!"

"You go on stage! You get torn apart!"

I don't know how they'll get him on the stage, but the fact remains the mayhem and carnage that ensues will, ultimately, be because of Gabriella. Lestat is blaming himself for it in the aftermath while recording The Failures, but the driving force behind it was always Gabriella. Remember when I said I don't predict she has any fans after this season? Well, here we are again. Arriving at that conclusion. I loathe her.

LEAVE. LESTAT. ALONE.

Let him run away with Louis to their trailer in Utah and Nevada. Everyone else can fuck right off!

A few other things —

Lestat calling Raglan "a friend" in the recordings. Well, Raglan did save their lives. I bet that is how the body thievery will be explained.

Lestat saying that Louis told him about what Armand did to him in the aftermath of Akasha. So that means that's when the canon love confession to Lestat will happen, because Lestat knows in the recordings what Louis said to Armand about the love of his life.

The witches' place being framed as Gabriella trying to get Lestat to flee Auvergne at, *checks notes* age NINE. I'm sorry but what? Either she wants to be him and use his "organ" or she wants him to be free? Pick a lane, Rolin.

I'm glad Regina survived. The last thing we needed was her death at Armand's hands so the writers could spend another season regressing Louis back into the grief spiral after placing him at his PL point of development exactly as they've done yet again at the end of S3.

Daniel's fate is left unknown. I don't care. That asshole threw the world's biggest toddler tantrum and beheaded Lestat just because he was pissed at Lestat for not allowing him to exploit Nicki.

Armand's whereabouts are left unknown. In the words of Blanche Devereaux, "Eat dirt and die, trash."

[saintfem]

the paul scene really really solidified the fact that rolin has fundamentally misunderstood what is interesting about loustat. absolving lestat of any wrongdoing and going as far as having FUCKING LOUIS’ DEAD BROTHER come in and THANK lestat for “loving louis the way that he needed to be loved”. loustat, and i say this as a firm loustat girlie, is NOT HEALTHY. lestat did not SAVE louis with his love. louis was not saved by his love. they are both CURSED with loving each other.

louis was coerced, manipulated, intentionally isolated by lestat. lestat killed lily, the only person who he confided to, accelerated louis into severing contact with his family (whom he did love), and LOATHED paul from the one instance where he met him, because it was clear he did not approve of them. paul’s death and his stance on lestat was the eerie foreshadowing for how lestat would go on to treat louis throughout season one. i.e., enraged that in spite of all his UNWANTED efforts to receive louis’ unconditional affection, there was deep resentment from louis for stripping of something that he valued as much as his humanity.

and louis was not resentful because it is his nature. he was not cold to him because “it is his father’s way” like paul said. he was cold to him because louis is embittered by the fact that the majority of his suffering would have never happened if he had never met lestat. just as the majority of his greatest euphoria would have never happened if he’d met lestat: claudia entering their life, becoming bold enough to truly define who he is, experiencing a love that he was constantly told was wrong and unholy. but none of that changes the fact that lestat TRAPPED him—louis is constantly battling between these two opposing facts regarding the love of his life, and he learned to utilize resentment and coldness to make lestat feel the same constant turmoil and insecurity that lestat made HIM feel.

louis and lestat do not love each other BECAUSE of what they’ve been through. they love each other IN SPITE of what they’ve been through. they’ve made each other’s lives a living hell, but the love is STILL there and it always has. that’s what makes them interesting. they’ve lost everything for loving each other. yes, as the episode pointed out, lestat was insulted, betrayed, had his throat slit by louis. but what they failed to mention is that louis suffered for loving lestat as well. claudia detests louis in large part because they still love each other. louis lost everyone in his human life. louis is constantly facing threats from LESTAT’S past, his mother, theatre des vampires, whoever else. they’ve damned each other: lestat damns louis, louis damns lestat, and the cycle always continues because they cannot fucking resist each other. it is the love and the hatred, euphoria and abject misery, profound connectedness and the most acute loneliness. they are EVERYTHING to one another. rolin’s incessant need on victimizing lestat is butchering one of the best gothic romances of all time.

[aviewtodeath]

Animal Farm, a book criticising totalitarian governments, is getting a visual adaptation where there are silly animals selling their crops to those they're supposed to hate.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, a book written by an author who got imprisoned for sodomy, is getting a visual adaptation where the two characters with clear homoromantic undertones are turned into brothers.

Dracula, a book about a group of friends that explore the themes of antagonism and Victorian anxieties, is getting a visual adaptation where the count falls in love with one of his rape victims.

Wuthering Heights, a book that beats the reader over the head with a bat about how the POC protagonist wants to be privileged and white, is getting a visual adaptation with a white person as the protagonist and a POC as the one he envies.

The Odyssey, a book about a man from Ancient Greece trying to get home from war, is getting a visual adaptation coated in a "Hollywood" aesthetic that rejects accurate armour and casting.

2026 is not a good year for classic literature fans all around.

[millaysmaeve]

so i've been thinking a lot about screenwriting lately (no kidding, another show i like is currently sucking at season 3) and looking back at the gilded age' season 3, and honestly, the major problem with writers these days is that they can't commit to the choices they make. it's such a cowardice that wrapped up gladys’ marriage that way, and they probably do the same if georgebertha’s fight to make room for his addiction (like they'll probably never address that george was screaming at her before getting shot or dismissing her work, but this is chat for another post). like gladys is happy, and it worked so they don't have to talk about it, and the conflict is over. but they barely addressed it; they barely exposed both sides cuz they knew that in the end they would make gladys find love in her marriage, so they didn't need to waste their time showing the viewers a more nuanced portrait of an arranged marriage. like they know the answer they want for this conflict, so they don't bother to actually make room for both cases being discussed. but also, they know it's bad to drag your daugther to make something against their will and they don't want to "pass the massage" that they're defending forced marrige so there's no space for bertha defend her case, it's really vague and fragile and still we as the audience have to buy bertha's intetions cuz we know how it was the social rules at the time and that's it. in end, you can see the writers pulling the strings of the characters to do what they want (and by saying this i mean the way the plot was wrapped up). instead of naturally lending arc's conclusion. it's fragile, and you're reminded that you're actually watching something instead of experiencing an event.

[lestapppp]

you’ve heard of found family, now get ready for ✨forced family✨

[cucurb]

hey guysss so unfortunately the rumors are true and im leaving the narrative. Buttt the good news is my absence will create such a gaping hole in your lives that it will become a sort of presence itself, and so in a way it will kind of be like i never left! But i am. Leaving just to be clear.

[lovetorant]

TASACAK BU DENIZ EP 30 TRAILER MADE ME CRY.

I can’t wait for the episode, I’m so glad my Koçari family is together …

Also oruc and iso deserve whatever’s gonna happen to them , they shouldn’t have sacrificed other ppl happiness and their families to save their own , who IMO is the last family they should’ve saved 🙄

And the ANNE BABA and the CRYING ?!?! IN TEARS oh my I love them so much ❤️❤️❤️

[shakilyluckyknowledge]

Ep 30 is a promise of what will happen next.

If serif uses the excuse that emse accepted the money to say that she knew of the crime would that mean he let go of his feelings for her?

How old was fatih when he caused all that chaos?

Also ive seen ppl say that esme is a traitor Because she is letting adil punish and hurt oruç and iso. Id say she wanted to for a very long time but she wasn't able to so for that time period she just ignored how wronged she felt by the entire furtunas. It's what makes her reunion with adil meaningful since she can only be free enough to experience hurt and greif and anger when she is with adil amd elini or at the very least away from the furtunas.

This is something that has been hinted at on many ways in the show my favorite being that they make sure to give esme braided hair when she is on the furtuna side and her hair ia free when she is free of them.

This detail is even noticeable in the flashbacks, whenever esme is in a suffocating environment, her hair ia braided and still, if she is relaxed and happy/comfortable her hair also reflects that.

[liarider]

Esme'ye hepimiz kızıyoruz baştan beri ama Adil kendini feda etmesiyle bile onu suçluyor. Esme 20 yıl önce sadece 1 hata yaptı. Küçük savunmasız Esme, ailesi tarafından bile Adil ile sevdalık etti diye hor görülen Esme, Adil ölmesin diye sadece Şerif'le evlendi. Ondan sonra kızının ondan alınması, satılması, saklanması... Zaten baştan beri Adil'e bir kızı olduğunu söylememek Furtuna'nin planiydi, Esme'nin değil. Kadın 20 yıl boyunca sevilmedigi, değer görmediği, boşandığı an evsiz kaldığı bir eve ve aileye mahkum kaldı. 20 yıl sonra Adil'i arsa için vurdu diyenler, hayır arsa için değil arsa uğruna Şerif'e bir şey yapıp hapse girmesinden korktuğu için vurmuştu Esme. Esme en başından beri Adil'in özgürlüğü için her şeyi yapıyor. Adil onu ilk ne zaman dinledi peki? Ölen bir kızlarının olduğunu öğrendiği bölümde. Ondan sonra da dinlememeye devam etti. Adil o 20 yılı evet acı çekerek yaşadı ama en azından ailesi yanındaydı. Esme ilk saniyeden beri kaybetmekten başka bir şey yapmıyor. Adil ile yakalanmadan önce bile, İlve ve Gezep yani Adil'in ailesi ilişkilerine onay vermişti, Esme ailesinin gazabından korkarak kaçıyordu İstanbul'a. Adil'in son sahnede dediklerine hala kanım kaynıyor. Sevdalısı ile evlenmek ve 20 yıldır öldü bildiği kızına bir aile vermeyi 'sana cehennem mi olur bilmem umurumda da değil'e indirgemek... Adil sen bu kadını hala 20 yıl önceki Esme mi sanıyorsun? Sen Furtuna'dan hep babanı ve sevdiğin kadını aldılar diyerek uzaktan nefret ettin, Esme onlarla yaşayarak yaşadı bu nefreti. Çıldıracağım.

[lovetorant]

Update : I still hate oruc idc what he does.

Eleni wouldn’t be all alone and thanking oruc for not leaving her alone if he had told her abt her mother ?! Like she’s only getting close to him because she has no one else !!!

Eleni deserves the world and oruc deserves whatever Adil has in store for him 🤟🏾

[gvzel]

Taşacak Bu Deniz  / 1.27

[gvzel]

Taşacak Bu Deniz  / 1.25

[dangermousie]

Sane one as a leash on the insane one is a great trope, but two insane ones who are a leash on each other is way way better!

I love how their trauma and separation aren't magically fixed. How could they be, they don't have a time machine...