Just watched Fantastic Four and I have to say, I seriously loved Reed Richards, to the point that I think he might actually be one of my favorite MCU characters. He’s just so insanely smart—I mean, he is Reed Richards after all.
But what I really liked about him in this movie is how natural he felt as a leader. You could tell the team (and even the world) trusted him—the kind that comes after years of proving himself. I also heard he’s gonna lead the Avengers in Doomsday which will be interesting as it will definitely be a challenge. The people in Earth-199999 don’t know him like the people in his reality, not to mention lead a team that might not automatically believe in his plans—which only tend to work if you fully trust him.
Anyway, I’m really excited to see how his arc plays out in Avengers.
The real crime of season 2 is the absolute disrespect of never showing us these heels Tom Sturridge was strutting around in. Like, why dress him in the most sluttiest heels and only frame him from the waist up? Show us the heels you cowards!
Honestly, one of the cutest things in the first half of Sandman Season 2 is seeing Dream be to Delirium what Death is to him. He’s so soft and patient with her—it’s just really sweet and so nice to see that side of him.
People saying Lucifer would have helped Stolas if he had been at the trial are funny. I’m sorry, but this man would have 100% had a tea party with his rubber duck and have had zero clue of what was going on around him. Let's be real.
I can see why 1970’s Armand felt the need to microchip Daniel (collar him with a blood filled amulet). Look at this face, 0 survival skills and not a thought in his head
armand had been so delighted, laughing and laughing like a schoolboy as he sat watching, with folded arms. it was the first time daniel had ever heard that soft, silky laughter. so seductive. he got drunk as fast as he could.
Okay, but after that teaser, I need Armand to go viral next season. Imagine people doing a Team Lestat, Team Armand like they did with Twilight. Meanwhile, Armand is completely oblivious to it all until he goes hunting and his victim is fangirling hard, asking him to sign their neck. And Armand's just like…🧍♂️
Okay, so here’s my theory on why Daniel’s eyes shift from blue to orange, matching Armand's.
The fact that we’ve never seen vampires’ eye colour changing in reflection of their makers makes me think that something about Daniel’s turning was... unusually imperfect. Making a vampire isn’t exactly a precise science—there’s a lot that can go wrong, especially for younger vampires and those that never made a fledgling. Consider this: Armand, despite being 500 years old, has never turned anyone before. Undertaking such a task at his age for the first time? That's bound to be tricky, given the immense power that must be managed and transferred. This makes me think that maybe Armand made a mistake—perhaps he gave Daniel too much blood, or didn’t drain him sufficiently, or something else along those lines went wrong. This might also be a unique side effect of Armand’s blood and his age during his first turning.
Regardless, this anomaly could mean that their bond is profoundly stronger than that of any typical maker and fledgling. If Armand truly turned Daniel out of spite, it’s unlikely Daniel would be seeking him out. Old man Daniel seems exactly like the type to say, ‘fuck it, I’ll figure this out on my own’ rather than depend on Armand and look for him, at least for a long while. Yet, perhaps because of their abnormally strong bond, he can’t seem to distance himself from Armand, who is probably just as unwillingly tethered which would explain his absence.
Anyway,I don’t have concrete evidence for this theory; it’s just a concept I love. Imagine Armand turning Daniel out of spite, only to find himself irrevocably bonded, unable to escape each other—very much an enemies-to-lovers scenario. What do you think?
Okay, so instead of sleeping, I'm here writing this, but I just had to share my thoughts on episode 7 and the relationship between Armand and Louis.
I'll probably need to rewatch the episode a few more times to fully grasp everything and maybe make another post but wow—episode 7 was absolutely devastating.
Okay, so starting with Louis… Honestly, I can’t even be mad at Louis anymore. Initially, I was yelling at my screen, wondering if he was just blind. Armand’s manipulations have become so blatant, yet Louis doesn’t seem to notice. Watching this episode, seeing how Daniel doesn’t even get angry or judge Louis or get angry at Armand like he did last episode—it hit me. Louis probably knows deep down that Armand is behind everything, but he’s in denial. Because, as twisted as Armand is, Louis feels he’s all he’s got left. And I think Daniel starts to see this towards the end of the episode. Sure, he still states the facts, as a journalist does, and makes it obvious that he knows Armand is hiding things, but he doesn’t call Armand a liar like he did last episode, he just listens, and is calm because what else can he do?
Not only is there manipulation going on from Armand, but Louis also remembers and tells the story differently from how it happened as a coping mechanism. Because as much as I’d like to blame Armand on everything, the changes in Claudia’s turning, and his fight with Lestat were done by Louis, so he is very much lying to himself.
And what can Daniel do? What would Louis do if the last thread holding him was cut? Can Daniel do that to him? Does he have the right to do that? Would he cause him even more pain by doing that? Because as much as Louis is ignoring the obvious manipulation, as soon as it all comes to light, that bubble will burst and there will be no going back. At the same time, Daniel is not excusing Armand. I mean, the look he gives him in this scene is so telling. His voice is soft and almost surprised. "Wow, you saved Louis. How nice of you." But the way he looks at him, it's as if he's saying, "I know this is all a lie and you're the one behind all this, but I'll play along for now." I mean he could have easily just asked Louis if all of this doesn’t seem weird to him, driven that point forward more like at the beginning of the episode or last episode, but he just says “but not her” and that small sentence nearly broke the bubble of ignorance around Louis but oddly enough Daniel stops there, does not push a bit more. (I guess we’ll wait and see if this remains the same next episode).
As for Armand…I mean, I love him, and I think he’s a is brilliantly written character because he didn’t just isolate Louis; he stripped away everything in his life, turned his heart further against Lestat, and crafted scenarios where, even if Louis confronts the truth about his manipulations, he’s still trapped. Because what can Louis do? Abandon the only semblance of connection he has left? Lestat remarked in this episode that anything is preferable to loneliness for a vampire. Consequently, Louis would rather turn a blind eye than sever the last tie he holds. Even when Louis considered ending it all—something he already tried before—Armand wouldn’t permit it. Louis can’t even challenge Armand, given the disparity in their power. So, what else can he do!!
As for wether or not Armand is a villain, I can’t really say without watching the last episode, but I will say that know it’s easy to label him as merely evil and manipulative—traits he undoubtedly possesses—but I beg to differ on the notion that he feels no remorse. Yes, he’s orchestrated some truly horrible acts, even gave himself a front-row seat to watch it all go down, but to say he harbors no regret? I don’t believe that’s entirely accurate. I think, in his own warped way, a part of him believes he’s helping Louis, possibly as a coping mechanism for his own guilt.
As for what he did to Madeleine and Claudia, it was downright horrible and he 100% meticulously planned it all, still, I suspect a sliver of guilt does linger within him—not specifically for what he did to them, but for the essence of his actions and the hatred towards the loneliness that’s shaped him.
I mean, we have to remember that this is a man who endured unimaginable horrors even before he was turned, and has lived in solitude for 500 years! Lestat, at 150 years old, moved a man to tears by sharing his loneliness. Can you imagine the depth of pain, loneliness, self-loathing, sadness, anger, and a myriad of other emotions this man has borne for half a millennium?
This isn’t to say that Armand’s actions are justified—far from it. But it does highlight the devastating impact of loneliness on vampires and how it can profoundly twist their minds. For 500 years Armand has been alone and the only light he saw through that darkness was to take this half broken man, take everything he had and make him as broken as him to make sure he would always be his. Again, this does not justify his actions, but merely explains them.
All of this being said, the presence of guilt, albeit slight, likely twists inside him. Armand might reinterpret this feeling as ‘helping’ Louis, keeping him blissfully unaware of the harsh truths as a way to alleviate his own conscience. Kind of like, “I know I did this horrible thing, but there was no way around it, and I hate myself for it—for being this way. But I have to keep this man by my side for his own good and my own, by any means necessary.”
Also, just adding this, can we take a moment to discuss the lighting in this shot? Notice how Armand's face is partially shadowed when facing Louis, yet the side that's illuminated is turned towards Daniel. Honestly loved the lighting in this entire episode.
Anyway, this is precisely why I believe Louis DID asked Armand to erase those memories in San Francisco
And why he remove the torn pages from Claudia’s journals. Because he prefers a life of blissful ignorance over the agony of truth.
Of course Armand willingly, and easily went along with all of this because it keeps Louis by his side, so it plays nicely into his manipulations. Still, I do believe that Louis did in fact ask him to erase those memories. Does his consent to all of this make it any better? If anything, it makes it worse. This is a man so ensnared and without any escape that he’d rather erase painful memories—those that remind him of the grim reality of his situation—than live with them. And Armand’s mind is so twisted that he probably convinces himself it’s all right. In his mind, as long as he has consent, he isn’t doing anything wrong.
Anyway, that’s all I have for now but honestly, Louis’s only real escape now is through Lestat. Otherwise, he needs to figure out how to outmaneuver the master manipulator himself—because I doubt Armand will let go without a fight.
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