i never understood where this assumption came from, at least in regards to totbt. is it just because he’s old?
It's because David functioned both as Louis and Daniel in the latter books. Louis was intentionally written out/downplayed because of Anne's connection to him vis-vis her grief and having lost a daughter. Daniel, she talked about less, but he represented her (and her husband's) relationship to alcoholism. It's not AS talked about in fandom, but Daniel overindulged to the point of killing himself with it because she did. She's talked about how before Christopher was born and even when she was little (but after Michelle died), she and Stan would break out the alcohol for any little occasion. That they both quit drinking because Christoper deserved better. And then also that Daniel + his turning represented her relationship to booze.
It's not as easily understandable for most of the fandom — even the book fandom! But that's why David in the books ended up being a poor replacement for both.
As to HOW David was a replacement for both, he conducted all of the interviews after his introduction — including ARMAND's — and then also romantically replaced Louis as Lestat's intended companion. There's no need to introduce another interviewer because the show has expanded Daniel. There's no need for Lestat and Louis' relationship to have another foil because the writers have already said and shown that Loustat is the end game. This is a mild confirmation that the writers will split David's arc into its core components and redistribute them out. (And also that this is really the only season with a whole-sale invented Louis arc since he cane take on both his own and David's to make a full, complete arc until he's brought back in in the book narrative.)
Unless they’re going to transfer Daniel’s consciousness into Rashid’s body. And then retire, Eric and have the dude playing Rashid become Daniel? IDK 😅
To me, it would make more sense to lean into the witches and have one of the Mayfairs deage Daniel into LBF than to have him bodyswap to Rashid, but only time will tell how they actually do that, if they do that. I do think Eric is in it for the longhaul though so any replacement plans are either plans B or C.
Really interesting speculation wrt Daniel.
Great AR lore, thanks anon!