Typical Her

[k-s-morgan]

A quick personal note (hoping to come back properly tomorrow): my small neighborhood was attacked again, and this time was the deadliest. Many of my neighbors died, my regular grocery shop and my favorite closest restaurant are trashed now.

I finally decided to move. I won't be leaving with my family because they aren't ready to make such a life-changing decision yet, but we decided to compromise. I won't be moving far, to the truly safe part of Ukraine, but I'll temporarily rent an apartment in a much quieter, much safer part near Kyiv, in the countryside. This way, I'll finally be able to start living again, and my family will be able to visit me during weekends or holidays.

As for what happens next, we'll see. Maybe I'll decide to move farther at some point, and my parents will join me once they get their pensions.

[lioncourtz]

Lover Boy Louis

THE VAMPIRE LESTAT 03.06 | "Montreal"

[virginiaisforvampires]

I'm sure by the time you see this you've read that rolin article.

Is he trolling? I genuinely think he's trolling. Because it makes NO FUCKING SENSE.

So, he was show runner for s2 and s3 right? He was the one who in the end approves of what we see on screen. He specifically CHOSE shots where Lestat is SWAYING AND STARRING INTO NOWHERE, shots where Lestat IS FALLING ASLEEP ON THE CHAIR IN BACKGROUND. Someone gave instruction to team to put a make-up bruises on him. Carol (or Sam) talked how pinstripe suit symbolizes restraints and how lestat taking off his jacket is him metaphorically getting ready to go against Armand.

WE HAVE SEASON 3. We have a big boss which Daniel Hart confirmed to he about trial. We have Sam Barclay, who was scared at Lestat, and whom Gabriella specifically hired to make Lestat more productive pushed by his ANGER. Lestat literally mentions several times in ep6 Armand: he gets angry at Louis for comparing him to Armand and specifically calls out Louis believing Lestat killed Claudia.

SAM. SAM WHO SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT LESTAT WAS FORCED INTO TRIAL. WHO MADE ACTING CHOICES TO SHOW THAT.

And what do you mean Lestat realised MID TRIAL. WE SEE HIM REHEARSING TRIAL, HE KNOWS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. YES SAM ALSO SAID THAT LESTAT TECHNICALLY WILLINGLY JOINED. BUT. BUT. SAM SAID HE JOINED SO HE CAN KNOW HOW EXACTLY THE TRIAL IS GONNA GO, SO HE CAN SAVE THEM. HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED LESTAT SPENDING TRIAL CHARMING CROWD SO HE CAN MANIPULATE THEM INTO BANISHMENT EASIER.

This DIRECTLY OPPOSES ROLIN'S "LESTAT CHANGED HIS MIND".

And Lestat so many times mentioned how much he hates Armand's Theatre des Vampires. So, let's imagine rolin is telling the truth, and Lestat is angry and wants revenge. Why would Lestat willingly go to Armand (who he HATED during his keeper era, MIND YOU) and specifically agree to trial that not only humiliates Claudia and Louis in such horrible way (OH AND ALSO. LESTAT SAID HE WAS PROUD OF CLAUDIA, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE) but also humiliates Lestat himself?

Like what kind of stupid plan is this? Lestat was called a slur during this trial, his trauma was exposed, why he would willingly agree?

ONCE AGAIN SAM SAID IN INTERVIEW THAT ARMAND FUCKING PSYCHOLOGICALLY (AT LEAST!) TORTURED LESTAT

Can I be honest?

They already made a mess of the trial with their incomprehensible, contradictory "motivations" and their unwillingness to commit to Armand as the villain.

This has been an ongoing argument for two years now. The moment for clarity has passed. Therefore, I just don't care anymore and to be honest, neither do they. You can interpret the trial however you want, and it would make sense given there is no concrete canon reading presented in the show.

You want to believe Lestat went there for revenge to kill Louis and Claudia? Have at it. The show has done nothing to canonically contradict that reading.

You want to believe Lestat was coerced and Armand was the mastermind? Have at it. The show has done nothing to canonically contradict that reading.

And that wishy-washy "well they're all monsters" bullshit is exactly the framing they delight in. They don't plan on giving a concrete answer because to do that, they'd have to commit to an actual narrative in which Armand is the worst monster out of the three, and they're simply not willing. Just look at how they erased the canon Lesmand dynamic and turned that into Lestat being the "cheater" because lord forbid they depict Armand as Lestat's canon rapist.

I mean, it is what it is. You can either accept it or it's a dealbreaker.

Me? Whatever. Rolin isn't going to give away a plot detail in an interview in which he also says more might be coming wrt the trial, but like I said here, I wouldn't hold my breath on the "more" giving you the answers you want, because it will likely be more vague references about Lestat's involvment that could be read either way. ^^

If they actually commit to Lestat being Armand's victim? I'll be shocked. Hell, they couldn't even commit to Louis being Armand's victim after they spent an entire season depicting exactly that.

So yeah. It's whatever. Think whatever you want about the trial because the show certainly won't tell you what actually happened in its own story.

[cbrownjc]

Let me be clear: I'm happy with the show being renewed, but I always knew it would be. Like, I was in zero fear of that happening. So, for me, the announcement of it being so was, in my eyes, just a formality.

And I don't think the change to the title Queen of the Damned means Lestat's story 100% means that his story got fully shafted. There is overlap between TVL and QotD with the concert stuff.

But let's be real -- they didn't go into Armand and Lestat and what was going on there at all in Season 3. They didn't address the trial or revisit Murder Night, or anything else we've been waiting for since Seasons 1 and 2.

And with Hannah as showrunner now, there is zero guarantee that all that will ever get addressed, examined, or revisited. With Rolin still being showrunner, I did have the belief it would.

Now? I just don't.

Nothing I've seen out of Hannah's writing during the finale, or her interviews afterwards, told me she has any interest in doing those things with the story. Nothing she has said has told me she understands Lestat, Louis, or Armand as the characters they actually are within the story. (And she has rarely even spoken about Daniel, so who even knows there. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

So yeah, as nice as it is to have the show renewed, it's now just going to be a different show. That can never be helped when it comes to a showrunner switch. And nothing I've seen or heard from Hannah so far makes me confident about the direction the show will be going because of that.

Maybe she'll prove me wrong. But at the moment, I have no confidence about that. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[virginiaisforvampires]

I've already seen some people speculate over Lestat's emotional state and his intentions during the recordings, after Akasha.

How do you think he's doing? (Apart from his apparent guilt-🥲) Do you think he's alone? 💔

I also saw someone being sad about how you could see the difference between our Lestat from the entire season and Lestat post-Akasha... how Akasha had probably taken his flamboyant and unique personality from him.

However, while it did sadden me as a thought, I think that it isn't relevant enough in canon: it was still Post Akasha/Recordings Lestat that came up with phrases like "serving cunt has it's consequences", no? 😅🙂‍↕️

I also saw someone being sad about how you could see the difference between our Lestat from the entire season and Lestat post-Akasha... how Akasha had probably taken his flamboyant and unique personality from him.

That's canon.

In the aftermath of Akasha, Lestat is totally changed. He's more bitter. More jaded. He hates his body. He hates the changes her blood did to him. He's traumatized from what she did to him. He's scared that his monstrous strength will hurt Louis. He's scared Louis will hate him. Being alive is heavy for Lestat at that point. He's tired. Emotionally. Spiritually. Mentally. Physically. That's what you're seeing in that final scene.

His personality remains in tact, yes, but he's carrying a lot of pain and guilt and trauma piled upon the already-existing trauma he'd suffered prior to Akasha.

Props to Sam for conveying all of this in body language alone.

Do you know what I hope happens? (Considering we can't have Loustat run away to their desert oasis! 😣)

Sam says there is a "right way" to sing Brutal Love. He says the way Lestat sings it in Episode 6 is the "tentative version" of Lestat. The one who is unsure of Louis' love.

Well, Lestat now knows that Louis loves him, and Sam says this will change everything about their dynamic.

There's another verse in Brutal Love that we haven't heard in the show —

"Fuck this crown of blood, cast it to the horizon."

We leave them in S3 with Lestat telling Gabriella that he will not sing —

After we saw him and Louis still making their plans to leave —

"Evening primrose?" "Birds?"

What if Lestat "agrees" to the concert to basically renounce his "crown" and to proclaim his allegiance and love to Louis? In other words, his motive is to tell the vampires to find someone else to lead them and don't "make more."

But the music still awakens Akasha and, well, the Loustat future is ripped from them yet again.

Lestat being alone while recording The Failures....he could be staying away from Louis to protect him. He could be blaming himself for Louis' leg.

And, given Louis' development in S3, I'm hoping this means that Louis won't abide the self-imposed isolation and will make efforts to be there for Lestat while Lestat is there for him.

I'm just kicking around potentials. It's the only way I can keep my brain from going crazy. 😅

[virginiaisforvampires]

Sam and Jacob for TV Insider!

It's like glimpsing into heaven. 🥹♥️✨

[virginiaisforvampires]

Hi there - I want to preface this ask by mentioning that I’ve really appreciated your insights into Lestat’s arc this season and I’ve almost always felt aligned with your thoughts about his character. I’m hoping to share this thought as a genuine point of discussion since I’ve seen it come up a few times within the fandom, but most recently in your reaction to the finale. With that said -

I really struggle with the narrative surrounding Lestat’s ability to finally confront Gabi and how this has often been centered on Louis’ influence on Lestat. While I absolutely agree that Louis is an integral part of Lestat and that they’re slowly but surely finding the best ways to love one another, I hesitate to say that Louis is the most significant reason that Lestat is able to rail against Gabi at the end of the episode.

We’ve watched Lestat grapple with Gabi’s abuse of him the entire season. We’ve seen him try to push away from her on his own (for example, the “why won’t you let me hate you” scene). We’ve seen him using an iteration of inner child work in his interactions with Babystat, specifically in the recording studio and long table scenes, although I don’t think he knows he’s actively approaching it that way. We’ve seen him push back against Louis, even, by asserting that it’s unfair of Louis to see his abuse as a sickness. Lestat has gone through a grueling arc separate from Louis this season, and he’s largely done it on his own while being effectively waterboarded by ongoing trauma and his continued attempts to care for Louis and those around him. I think his isolation in navigating these challenges is further highlighted when he blatantly acknowledges that Louis never reached out after the shooting.

Also, Louis said objectively horrific things to Lestat about his victimization. I won’t negate that Louis did apologize, and I see that as growth on his part. But, I can’t imagine that Lestat will easily forget the love of his life accusing him of being “sick”. And not just about the incest piece but the, “source of all of your sickness” line implies that Louis sees additional things he may consider a “sickness” in Lestat. More troubling, Louis tells him that there is absolutely no justification imaginable for how someone could end up experiencing incestuous abuse. Lestat remembers. When he eventually tries to divulge more of his experiences to Louis, as I’m sure he will because of their trust on each other, that statement alone could very well haunt him because it further solidifies his own shame, self-blame, and guilt over his abuse. I believe that forgiveness and reconciliation are possible, but I personally don’t think that Lestat would ever simply forget that Louis still said these things to him in a moment of anger and disbelief.

Lestat clings to criticisms of his character (being a villain/monster, the terrible album review, the train scene allegation, etc.) and I don’t think this part of his internal world and characterization goes away because these things were said by Louis specifically. Given how deeply he loves Louis and values Louis’ opinion of him, I think it’s entirely possible that these statements about his abuse would cut deeper than things said by anyone else in his life.

Taking all of this into consideration, I think that attributing Lestat’s ability to confront Gabi mostly, or solely, to Louis’ presence in his life continues to strip away pieces of Lestat’s agency. I’m not, at all, discrediting that Louis has a role in Lestat feeling safe enough to take this step, but Louis has also caused real and meaningful harm to Lestat specifically related to his abuse. I want Lestat to be seen for the internal work he’s done, alone, to get to this point. Centering a victim’s ability to stand against their abuser on another person feels like it takes something away from Lestat, even if that person is Louis.

I know you’re a diehard and true Lestat supporter, as am I, so I was just a little bit surprised to see how much Louis was centered in this part of your reflections on episode seven. I love Loustat, but I also love Louis and Lestat as separate characters. Their ability to find strength in one another is undeniable and beautiful - one of the most central parts of their dynamic - but it starts with the strength they have within themselves. I ultimately just want to see Lestat’s character growth recognized outside of his relationship to Louis - as his own person with strength, insight, agency, and autonomy.

I wanted to put this out there as food for thought because I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. I really do look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Hey!

You're right. There isn't an easy, *correct* answer.

But it ultimately comes down to two aspects for me.

One — Lestat clung to Gabriella as his formative cornerstone and allowed the abuse because he needed her crumbs of affection. Once Louis is back in his life, he doesn't need to abide her abuse any longer, because Louis is there to give him the real love he actually wants and needs. Simplified summation? Yes, but that's the bottom-line.

Two — The thesis statement of Lestat's long table reckoning came down to one thing — Gabriella. The revelation was framed as Gabriella being the reason for every "failure" in Lestat's life. You're right, Louis' words did cut. He called it a "sickness", but what the long table dream sequence did was basically make Louis "correct" about this. It's no coincidence that brutal argument from Louis happened in the previous episode, because Lestat comes to the realization that Gabriella actually is the source of his "sickness", his "failures." Louis saying that to him set this up, imo.

Lestat, deep-down, always knew what she was doing to him. He never wanted it.

It took Louis' words and Louis' comfort before Lestat could even begin to confront this horror, and the dream sequence just further cemented that. Yes, it's a nice notion to think of Lestat being able to handle this for himself, but he also needs Louis. Without Louis, things spiral for Lestat. We saw this all season. It's a resounding statement that the one episode in which Lestat is stable and at peace and genuinely happy is the one episode with Louis.

This breakthrough —

This started because of Louis. I really don't think Lestat's dream would've been what it was without the previous events with Louis, and I don't think he would've felt he had the true support he needed to go against her if it wasn't for Louis. One of the main problems has always been her control and her isolation and her manipulation that kept Lestat under her thumb. It's not a coincidence that until the one person who can take power comes along — Louis — that Lestat starts pushing back against her, and it started in Episode 6, even before Louis learned of the truth.

So in essence, for me, it starts with them being able to find the strength within themselves because of each other. They are the driving forces for why they accept themselves and why they find it within themselves to be, unapologetically, who they are. Lestat understands Louis. The lyrics to Brutal Love speak to this, and now that Louis knows of Lestat's greatest shame, they can begin the healing and reconciliation process, because Louis does want to help him, and Lestat, ultimately, needs Louis to help him.

[virginiaisforvampires]

What did you think of the Loustat scenes?

Everything. ♥️

The way he ran to Louis. 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. The reverence for each other. The quiet appreciation and thankfulness that they're both safe and alive.

They are the beating heart. The touchstone. The spine holding this entire organism together.

[lioncourtz]

THE VAMPIRE LESTAT 03.07 | "The Failures"

[adsari]

Where is Louis?

[virginiaisforvampires]

what are your thoughts on Louis possibly being “in” on the beheadings? Ie, he was conspiring with Armand and Daniel in order to prevent the concert .

It’s just so outlandish but I swear I’m seeing it everywhere! Louis isn’t a schemer, imo, or a very good liar. I can’t imagine him being willing to work with Armand either. Also, why would Louis agree to be beheaded too 😭😭 bc he would NEVER be ok with Lestat being beheaded. But maybe he was double crossed or tricked??

One word: Loumanders.

The same Loumanders who thought the disdainful exchange during the auction was "flirting." The same Loumanders who think Louis is still the same character he was in S1 despite the fact they've also spent weeks whining about the show "assassinating Louis' character."

Because that little theory? Would be character assassination and would totally throw out all of Louis' S3 development and would effectively terminate Loustat, because Lestat would never be able to trust him again after cruelly playing in his face in a repeat of the murder night antics.

The source of that shit should tell you all you need to know.

[k-s-morgan]

A quick personal update: things are absolutely terrible for now :( My neighborhood keeps being bombed, and the bombings are nearly daily. I can't live, I can't breathe, I hit the critical stage where I'm unable to even read or watch something. I start, but I instantly grow distracted, anxious, and indifferent. Waiting for things to get better or to adjust to this new, even more terrifying reality.

Came across this video. Just one example of many daily similar ones.

[virginiaisforvampires]

What do the colors mean

Unpopular opinion? I don't think the posters mean anything. The theories are fun, but I just don't think that much thought has went into them.

Especially now given that the episode posters have Lestat in green and the other wrap for SDCC has Lestat in green —

[virginiaisforvampires]

Hi! I don't know if this has already come up for you, but I've seen a lot of tweets that the CSA in regards to Louis was just meant as a metaphor & not something that really happened to him. An insensitive comment by Louis that didn't land. And a lot of people are in favor of this narrative.

I think that it what happened to Louis was real & that he said it in that moment, because he wanted to put a mirror to what Gabriella is actually doing to Lestat. I could also imagine that Louis' own experience fueled his initial reaction by seeing Gabistat.

What do you think? Do you think Louis' line is ambiguous enough that it could go either way?

Hmmm.

It didn't read as metaphorical or ambiguous to me. It was framed as if it was something that Louis and Lestat had already previously discussed as a testament to their relationship. Lestat's tone read to me as Lestat being hurt at the thought of someone doing to Louis what Gabriella is doing to him, and he quickly wanted to convey to Louis that they didn't need to rehash it.

When you look at the comment within the full context of the conversation, it's telling to me, because Lestat points out that he knows Florence called Louis the devil and blamed Louis for Paul's death. Lestat knows Louis' most shameful trauma, which sheds light on the fact they did communicate their deepest feelings back in the day. They were trusted best friends first and foremost, and that was on full display the entire episode. So I think Louis was trying to tell Lestat that the "dollar" from the cousin didn't justify sexual abuse, because Lestat was trying to frame Gabriella "helping him" to picture the larger life outside of Auvergne as if he owed her this access to his body. It read to me as Louis saying he relates, but it's not okay no matter what the other person gives you. I just don't see something as profound as that being metaphorical.

I do wish someone would ask Jacob about this scene. I watched After Dark hoping for a good discussion on the entire Gabriella reveal, but I should've known better. The interviewer has been abysmal all season. 😑 In fact, I'm not seeing many good discussions about it, because so many simply don't seem to understand grooming and incest, which brings me to your other point about Louis' reaction.

Louis' initial response to this was horrific, yes. He said some very grotesque things to Lestat. However, it was a very real reaction. Look no further than some of the fandom reaction, because they think Lestat being an adult means it's not abuse and that he's a willing, consenting participant. No. That's not how it works at all, and the scene at the bar heavily implied this relationship crossed the lines into sexual abuse long before Lestat was turned. Combine that with the fact Gabriella traumatizing him at the witches' place is why he has the stutter, and it's a chilling picture of what his life was actually like with her. Lestat hides this for a reason. Lestat was sick at the thought of Louis knowing about this for a reason. It comes with a stigma, and Lestat is aware of this.

With Louis, he wasn't aware of what >we< know about it at that point. He didn't know the backstory. All he saw was Lestat seemingly having consensual sex with his mother. It's hard for people to comprehend that the very dynamic of a parent-child relationship means the child cannot consent. No matter how old they are. And really, Louis took offense to the fact Lestat had "lied" about it. That is what really pissed off Louis. He spent decades with Armand being deceived and having his brain scrambled and now he's back with Lestat, they're trying to be open and honest with each other again instead of the petty games, and here's this big reveal that spirals back centuries that was under Louis' nose the entire time, yet Lestat never told him the full truth of it. We just saw in the previous scene that Louis is frustrated, because he wants to know all of Lestat. He wants to know his backstory, but Lestat explained that he just wanted to live a new life with Louis and for Louis. It's a romantic enough gesture, yes, but the truth behind that is the shame and the trauma. That's when Lestat looks away in shame and self-loathing and simply responds with "Because, Louis. I'm a monster."

There is way more laden into that statement than just the shame about his blood. Victims of incest and sexual abuse often hate themselves and blame themselves for the abuse they suffer. Their abusers often gaslight them and brainwash them into believing that they (the abuser) are the only one who will ever "love" them. That is exactly what Gabriella has done to Lestat. She was doing it in the previous scene after the rehearsal when she said Louis "likes his phone." The leading implication there is that >she< appreciates Lestat in a way that Louis does not. It's manipulation, gaslighting, isolation, and emotional abuse. She's trying to drive a wedge between Lestat and Louis by asserting herself as the "better" companion by taking shots at Lestat's self-esteem in relation to Louis' perception of him. It's an insidious pattern, because Lestat believes that Louis will find him disgusting and will abandon him if he knows about the abuse. It's what Gabriella has made Lestat believe.

It's not until Lestat has the full-blown panic attack that it finally clicks with Louis that this is something way more sinister than just "Lestat fucks his mother" and when he realizes, he's immediately apologizing and trying to comfort Lestat. That's one of the horrors of the relationship. Lestat, the victim, is victim-blamed for the simple fact one has to understand the layered and complex psychological mechanics of incestuous sexual abuse and people don't understand.

But Louis is trying to understand, because he loves Lestat, and he knows he messed up by judging something that he didn't know, but as soon as he got it thanks to Lestat's gut-wrenching reaction? He showed sympathy and understanding and basically told Lestat in the bar scene that he would carry that burden with Lestat. "A hill to climb."

The entire context of the reveal spoke to the magnitude of their relationship, complete with the hints about the kind of things they'd reveal only to each other (Louis' CSA + Louis' family trauma), and I just wish people would be more gentle with Louis about this. He didn't know what was truly happening or why Lestat hid it from him, but he does now, and he's trying.

[virginiaisforvampires]

We're getting Loustat wraps at SDCC! 😍💕🙌🏽

[virginiaisforvampires]

After that episode ending and having to wait a week (I swear the screeners are the world's strongest solders) I really really hope we get the epic pre concert loustat kiss from the books 😭😭😭

Although how all that would happen is beyond me since everyone is beheaded

Did you see the teaser that dropped yesterday?

They get their heads back and as we know from Lestat's narration, the final concert happens, and the beheading happened the night before.

And this?

I think this is from Episode 7, and I think the famous Loustat concert kiss is highly likely.

[virginiaisforvampires]

Initial thoughts for The Vampire Lestat 1x06 (Track 6) — SPOILERS INCLUDED!

Track 6: Montreal

"Please. Turn Larry down."

"At the intersections of my many selves, the stutterer, the ape, the actor, the keeper, the tourist, the recluse, the rockstar, the nesting dulls of identity....There is a period of stasis. A hibernation in shabby robe. The Autumn of 2025 was one of these periods. At the time, I thought it a bow on the goodbye box of Lestat, but here I am. Dictating for you. Still Lestat." — What a fitting mantra for him. Still Lestat. Reminds me of what he tells Louis in Prince Lestat. ⬇️

From Prince Lestat —

“I’m Lestat,” I said in a low voice. “Your Lestat. I’m the same Lestat you’ve always known, and no matter how I’m changed, I’m still that same being.”

Memorial show for him and for the vampires. The big concert. Seeds of Prince Lestat.

"Two years to the day we formed."

Mary Rick = Merrick!

Also notice the new contact name for Louis — Lui (French for him, but also it's how Lestat pronounces his name. Loo-Wee.) 🥹♥️

This concert being a final "fuck off" gift to Gabriella. This changes things, too, because it's no longer Lestat doing the concert as a dare to start a vampire war. It's for Gabriella. Again, it's placing Lestat into more of the role of the victim when Akasha does rise, because it was to placate Gabriella in the first place.

"Obligations met. Good luck and fuck off, everyone. Everywhere."

"The future. My new distraction. Who next? How next? I was tying off loose ends. Coming out of a coma. Feeling alive. Or maybe it was him."

"OR. MAYBE. IT. WAS. HIM."

Him. Lui. The contact name. ♥️

It's like I was just pierced in the heart by a million Loustat arrows! Because Lestat is now back home, calm, more at peace. As he says, "alive." "Out of a coma." And why? BECAUSE. OF. LOUIS. He calms with Louis. He rests with Louis. He's thinking of the future. WITH. LOUIS. All of the mess has halted because of Louis. The statement resounds!

Oh, Louis wanting him to cancel the concert. Just like in the book. Protective Louis. Concerned Louis. 😭♥️ They've been in contact ever since Louis called. Lestat has been taking care of him. They've been communicating and my my! Would you look at that! Both of them are working towards getting better since they've been back in each other's lives.

Also a moment of appreciation for the beauty of Lestat's home as it was recently confirmed that Lestat designed this home with Louis in mind. Such a beautiful gesture. Just like he designed Rue Royale for Louis. 🥹

Louis saying he doesn't sleep in coffins anymore, but Lestat still spoils him with an extravagant coffin. Yeah, this is precious, but I'm gonna need a conversation about Louis' trauma with being locked in a coffin and also I need to see Lestat finding out about the stones in his ankles. That's all I want. Please.

Lestat leaving the little note on the door. Just like in Episode 1 when he bought candy for the kids. 🥹

Just look at them. Halloween Loustat. My darlings. My babies. My everythings. Full circle from Halloween Loustat FaceTime calls in Episode 1. 🎃♥️

Lestat dressing as the grim reaper. Don't ever lose your whimsy, my love. 🥹

Lestat being in a book club. This babydoll. *blissful sigh*

"Topeka!" — The callback to S1 made me tear up, but interesting that Lestat says >he< said it instead of Tom Anderson. 🤔

"Lem? Ooh, that is cozy. Lemmy. Lemmy Lemmy. Lick me Lem." — Notice this isn't a jealousy thing. This is Lestat knowing that Lem is nothing but a feeding fling. This is a reflection of how they actually behaved with each other back during the Rue Royale era. The other people were never "cheating." They were food and entertainment, and Loustat would laugh about it together. There was always a reason Louis nonchalantly asked "she burn quick?" because that was the norm.

"Fraudia" 😭😭😭😭

Fuck. The easiness of this friendship. As I said, THIS is how they've always behaved with each other. This softness and openness. No one else gets this version of either of them. Remember DreamStat? Remember Sam saying they don't "perform" with each other? Yeah. 🥹♥️

Daniel questioning about the reunion and the hurricane. Their evasive answers. Interesting. Why is he even asking?

"It was enough that he showed up."

*deep breaths* 🫠🫠🫠🫠

Another reference to the "dark monarch." Again, seeds of Prince Lestat.

Lestat has been dreaming of forests and pumpkins and birds. He wants a cabin in the woods to transcribe bird songs. Louis is entranced by this. 🥹 (I can't do this, y'all. I can't. They love each other so fucking much.)

Daniel is knowingly watching them like wtf is this? Yeah, this is real love, Dan. The real bond. Not that playhouse of horrors you witnessed in Dubai.

"What's with the tan, Dan?" ‼️‼️‼️

Loustat.

Oh, the theme from when they fed on the tenor together. 🫠🔥♥️

"He seemed off."

"Dan? Always." — THE EYEROLL! I'M CACKLING!

"He's an awkward vamp. He has that 'you think you're better than me' chip on him and we are. It is exhausting to pretend otherwise."

Louis telling him to sing for the fans! Lestat not wanting to do it, but he does it for Louis! How long have I waited to see this in full HD since the filming spoilers for this scene came out last year?! And then the fucking smile when he looks back at Louis! And Louis being proud of him! It's everything I wanted it to be! 😭😭😭

AAAAHHHH!!!!

Louis thanking him for the coffin and Lestat's expression. Be still my heart!

Oh. He's asking about DreamStat! He had a DreamLou! He must've clung to this as the evidence of Louis caring about him. 😭

"I wanted to live with you like I had been dragged out of the bayou. Gills to lungs. For you and you only." — Oh. He's a loverboy. 🥹♥️

Antoinette mention! 🤣💀

"Oh a voice I could fuck!"

"I know! I know!" — Louis always knew this was never "cheating." *ahem*

"Actually that's not fair. She was a good time, and the book's prose reveled in making her smaller than she was. Justice for Antoinette."

"You made her cut off a finger."

"Oh she did that on her own. She thought the gift would help her grow it back. She was very impulsive." — Told you he would not be that cruel to her.

"You dangled her."

"To provoke you out of a depression....and then to punish." — How many times did we have this argument that Antoinette was meant to provoke Louis into feeding? 🫢

"Why?"

"I have the blood of Akasha in me."

"No, it ain't the blood. It's what you do with the blood." — The tone of this exchange. This is something they've already discussed. Remember in the tower scene when Lestat says he has the blood of Akasha and then looks at Louis and says "he [Armand] doesn't know who that is." Yeah. I would bet money Lestat told Louis about the blood and about Akasha in the actual aftermath of S1E5 that we never got to see.

The way they laugh and mock Louis "licensing and franchising" the blood to make money. This is true unconditional love, baby! Lestat knows his little capitalist Louis. 😌

"Why?"

"Because, Louis. I'm a monster."

The sad, yet tender look Louis is giving him. The shameful, vulnerable look Lestat gives when he looks away. Lots to unpack there, but the blood and Lestat's canon self-hatred are paramount. This is something that's been discussed between them, and Louis knows this is a source of deep shame for Lestat.

Louis and Gabriella meeting, but he has no idea she is Lestat's mother. Lestat wanting Louis to meet her. Lestat having full confidence that Louis will "do fine." *shuddering breath* The love and pride, guys. The love and pride.

"Yes. He said that you said you don't think he should sing tomorrow." — Lestat telling her what Louis thinks, because Louis' thoughts are important to Lestat.

"It doesn't matter what I think. He's gonna do what he's gonna do." — Not really, Louis. He'd do whatever you said, and I think you know that, too.

Gabriella trying to convince Louis not to attend Lestat's show. Louis says if he doesn't go, it'll hurt Lestat. Gabriella tells him that Lestat would be more hurt if Louis got hurt. So yes, that's true, but I side-eye her true motive for this.

"You should stand by me. I will protect you." — Will you really, Gabs?

Lestat is literally so happy to have Louis back in his life. Look at him floating and twirling to Dancing With Myself. Look at how proud and indulgent Louis is with him. Remember when Sam confirmed about The Loneliness performance that Lestat levitates when he's happy? The callbacks to Loustat's first time in S1E1 and their special floaty sex in S1E6? ⬇️

"It’s a lovely callback to Season 1, when he’s in pure elation or feeling extreme emotion that he just kind of involuntarily levitates,” Reid says.

Yeah. 🥹☁️♥️✨

BRUTAL. LOVE.

Whoah, I can feel it. The pull on my thread from a distant restless head. Whoah, how I need it. Just to know that you're out there pulling all you can.

Show me that bitter star, I want it. Give me that brutal love, I want it all. I am the meteor above it. Writing your name in dust as I fall.

Whoah, I can feel it. Every atom like a planet on fire raging at the sun.

Show me that bitter star, I want it. Give me that brutal love, I want it all. I am the meteor above it. Writing your name in dust as I fall.

Show me that bitter star, I want it. Give me that brutal love, I want it all. I am the meteor gliding. Writing your name in dust as I fall.

*sobs*

*screams*

*falls to knees*

He's singing to Louis, and Louis is fucking mesmerized! Everything has faded! It's only those two! Louis is moved! He's fucking crying! Look at how they're looking at each other! Cannot take their eyes off each other!

My soul is ascending to another realm. I had to pause to cry and scream and pace around my living room. The urge to run through a wall was prevalent in my nervous system!!! Because WHAT DO YOU MEAN in the year 2026 that I'm watching Lestat singing to Louis as a callback and that it's BETTER than I ever dreamed it would be?!?!? 😭😭😭

In addition to Lestat describing his bond with Louis and how he can feel Louis pulling on his soul, even when they're separated, he's also saying that he wants Louis' love, ALL of it, even the brutal parts. He wants Louis unconditionally, even if it means death or violence or brutality or destruction, and Lestat will love him unconditionally, even as he falls forever writing Louis' name in the sky.

Oh shit! Gabriella is realizing it's Louis! Not her! Louis is the great love! Not her! Her fucking face as the camera focuses on Louis while she fades in the background.

LOUIS. IS. THE. GREAT. LOVE. 😭♥️

He's singing Come To Me! 😭

She's trying to mark her territory. Left her scarf on his piano. Lestat no longer wants to leave with her. He's pushing back against her and calling her out.

"Show Alex some affection. He could use his mother." — Oh. Oh oh oh. The statement! THE. STATEMENT.

And he leaves with Louis. This is what I meant about Louis taking her power. With Louis back in his life, her hold on him is no longer what it was, because Louis becomes the ultimate priority. He becomes the lighthouse for Lestat. The beacon in the darkness, and Lestat listens to him.

Bloody hell! Daniel (and Armand) releases a salacious video of Lestat and Gabs having sex as "revenge" for Lestat protecting Nicki's memory with the telepathic mind trick. In Episode 1, Lestat says "It's not much of a reveal I guess. I know it's common gossip now. The first thing one thinks about when my name comes up." This is why. 🤬‼️‼️‼️

Also note that Lemuel is the one who sent the video to Louis. 🫥

Who filmed this, btw? Yet another example of Lestat being exploited and violated to the world against his will while everyone looks down on him and judges him for the abuse. That fucking meta commentary.

Lestat being so upset and ashamed that he starts throwing up! (Anyone still want to deny the abuse?! This poor baby! 😖)

The portrait in their coffin room was, in fact, Gabriella.

The meta commentary happening here, too. Louis represents the human stance. It's a very real reaction. The repulsion. The outrage. The blaming because he doesn't understand it. The fandom stance. "Seek a professional." Yeah. How many times has the fandom said this? Meanwhile, Lestat represents the vampiric stance. Gabriella is other. The sad thing? They're both technically *correct* here, but the road the show has taken? Gabriella is a sex predator. She's the root of Lestat's problems. She's sexually abusing him. And Lestat? He knows this, and he knows it's wrong, and he's ashamed of it. He deflects and justifies, but I have to say I agree with Louis' stance (not the cruel judgement! but once he realizes!) — It's not okay! It's not "different" because she's a vampire! That argument (one that I previously entertained going into this season) went out the window ages ago!

"And what do I say?! Do I say that you're sick, Louis?! Do I say sickness?! No!" — The way his voice is breaking here. The way you can hear the love and devotion, even in the midst of this. Louis confessed his shame about Regina, and Lestat didn't judge him. Lestat just showed him love and understanding.

He's been taking care of Louis for a month and a half. He gave Louis shelter in his home. He's arranged the seance to try and help Louis. Yes. He does love Louis. To the haters: How do you want those eggs on your faces cooked?

The hyperventilating panic attack. I had to pause here. It broke me. I've thought of nothing but his stuttering wheezing for weeks. If y'all thought I was protective over Lestat, you ain't seen nothing yet! Everything flooding out of him. The years of sexual abuse. The years of emotional dependency. The years of neglect. The years of being used as her vessel. The years of being abandoned by her. The years of only feeling valuable to her for what he could do for her. I'm sick! He's so ashamed. He's so ill over this. And he can't stand it anymore, and THANK GOD! Louis is there for him. FINALLY! We see caring and protective Louis. About damn time!

THANK YOU, LOUIS! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

That hug was so needed. That comfort was so needed. *relieved sighs* Lestat needed Louis, and Louis was there. Growth. Progress. As I've stressed to the haters, Louis is trying. Louis holding Lestat and telling him it's alright over and over....it really is the one thing I've wanted out of Louis since the beginning. 😭🙌🏽

"Ridiculous night."

Oh. Louis was sexually molested, too. A cousin stuck his fingers in Louis and gave him a dollar. Ah. Yeah. The tone of this conversation. They've already discussed this, too. That tone from Lestat as if it's something hurtful that Lestat doesn't wish to dwell upon, because he doesn't like thinking of someone doing to Louis what Gabriella is doing to him. This is something just between them. Not for Daniel or anyone else. Just as Lestat confiding in Louis about Gabriella is just between them.

Lestat saying nothing happened until she came to Paris, but also not outright answering Louis if anything happened before. Oh, there's a lot there. When did it start, Lestat? The silence and the deflection imply the horrifying truth.

"Your mother called you the devil." — Confirmation that Louis did tell Lestat what happened in S1E3 when he went to visit Grace and he was shunned. Note this is Lestat pointing out how Florence traumatized Louis and that he [Lestat] recognizes that trauma.

"Never had sex with her."

"And then she blamed you for Paul's death." — Again, confirmation that Lestat was aware of Louis' issues back in NOLA.

"Which you then blamed on me."

"I let it go. I took it back. I was wrong."

"The blame. If we can find the blame, if we agree on the blame, then it's all mapped. The why we are. The why we do. I conduct the chaos. She's one of the many chainsaws I juggle." — Lestat is saying that assigning blame is only to assuage helplessness (and/or culpability) in traumatic situations. He's saying he doesn't assign blame, because he conducts the chaos in his own life i.e. he's telling himself that Gabriella is one of the many wounds he's been burdened with carrying. The double-meaning also being Lestat feels there's a part of him that has invited this chaos. The canon self-blame.

"A hill to climb. Vampire or not." — Louis is agreeing that Gabriella is a challenging situation.

Louis asking Lestat for the blood for taste and then drinking Lestat's blood while Lestat watches him in tender wonder.

"Mmmm. The suntan." 🤔

The shame and embarrassment from Lestat. Louis trying to tell him that it'll blow over.

"It matters to you?" — Fuck. The vulnerability here. The worry that Louis will be disgusted with him now. Geez. But Louis is trying. He's really really trying.

"I am my own zip code of mess right now. I'm not proud of how I just was. I'm sorry."

"We should cancel."

"We should probably cancel."

And here's the seance. Lestat arranged this to help Louis with his guilt and grief over Claudia. See? He will do anything for Louis. He only wants to take care of Louis.

"Spirits can be unruly. But those snatched out of life. A burned girl. Motherless monster. Called up by her killers."

"I didn't kill her."

"The implication, I believe, was giving Claudia the gift."

"Oh. I thought you were talking about Paris."

"And the implication there was that I killed her."

"I didn't say that."

"No. You implied it." —There's no way we're not coming back to what really happened in Paris. There's no way. ‼️‼️‼️

She has to move them apart. Says they're "jinxing it" with their connected emotions. 💀

"You back with him?" — And she's talking to Lestat.

"I'm sorry." — Louis not realizing she's talking to Lestat and inadvertently confirming he considers them "back together." ‼️‼️‼️

"You weren't even my favorite. I liked him better. He knew who he was. You're not even my maker. You're not even my blood. That's my maker! I even thought about poising you instead of him. You know why I didn't? Cause there's a little etch on your ribcage that says you're a slave. I knew I could count on you to trail me like a dumb dog anywhere I went until I could ditch your ass for something more worthy of me. Who the fuck are you? Don't even know you!" — I want her words to marinate here. That narrative of Louis and Claudia having to escape big bad abusive Lestat? It just imploded with this. She didn't kill Lestat because he was so evil and abusive. She killed him because Louis was her dumb dog who'd let her do whatever she wanted. Meanwhile, Lestat, the real parent, was her favorite.

The fact Claudia is unloading about Louis to Lestat. She's addressing Lestat with these complaints. Echoes of the reality of their dynamic. Remember Delainey saying Claudia wanted Lestat back in Paris because Lestat was always on her side? Yeah.

"I hate you to the pit of all things! Burn the diaries! Burn this dress! Stop saying my name!"

Lestat's face though. The concern and worry for how this is going to impact Louis.

"And you, Uncle Les."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Bring your malice." — He knew her.

"Some joy I know knowing is how good I humiliated you in New Orleans. How I ginned up the train for the slave here."

"Lestat said he'd do worse than rape me, Daddy Lou."

"Worked good, didn't it?" — She made up the train.

"The train. Antoinette. Tom Anderson. Slit throat. Took your black queen and ran off with him across the ocean and shitty little bitch that you are revenge swelled in your brain. How long you rehearse my death, Antoinette? Memorize your every line of that play just for fun, Mr. Anderson? And your little make-'em-ups not in the script! I'd have done the same thing if it were me. Sat on my hands watching you char up the thunderous applause. Only I wouldn't have saved his ass and waited for a hug in the hurricane." — She's basically telling Lestat he's pathetic for loving Louis and that his "revenge" was what she would've done. Yeah, we're coming back to the "revenge" angle. He's pissed at Sam. He's pissed at Armand. He's pissed at Louis *implying* he killed Claudia. Again, this is an elephant in the room. What truly happened in Paris? ADDRESS. ME. Also? Is she saying Lestat is in the same league as Antoinette and Anderson? Or is she saying Antoinette rehearsed her death for murder night while Anderson played his part well in murder night, which was also essentially a play? How much did Claudia manipulate the entire Mardi Gras fiasco? After all, she did knowingly look at Lestat when Anderson hurled his "petty slight" about Lestat being Raj, which was allegedly what signaled to her that Lestat would go after Anderson. 🤔

"Dress on the wall. Song the radio."

Yeah. First of all, the acting here. Delainey owning the moment while Jacob and Sam are just reacting in sheer brilliance. The horrified pain on both their faces. The pain and terror and rage from Claudia. Absolutely heartbreaking. They loved her. It just wasn't enough, and that's the tragedy of it all. I'm not even gonna gloat over this one. It's really a paltry victory, because Claudia deserved better. So much better. She was never going to be their priority, and that's the tragedy of it all.

"Pretty much closes the door on that."

"She spared us the ambiguity."

Two grief-stricken parents who have no choice but to live with their mistakes.

Lestat wanting Louis to know about Gabriella. That subconscious part of his heart that wanted it known because he wants Louis to be his shelter. He wants Louis to be his safe haven. He wants Louis to be his protection from the wolves. I'm fine. This is fine.

"Why do I actively, manically pursue failure?" — The canon self-blame. The bar conversation. ^^ The juggling chainsaws.

"Maybe it's just the vampire's burden. What do you replace death with? What's to live for if there's no end? Maybe it's just how you keep your nights straight." — Louis assuring him that the pursuit of "failure" is simply a way to "keep the nights straight." As in, the failure is what makes a being better. The true mantra of the season. Reminds me of Lestat's quote about suffering merely adding more resonance. ⬇️

From Queen Of The Damned —

It’s an awful truth that suffering can deepen us, give a greater luster to our colors, a richer resonance to our words. That is, if it doesn’t destroy us, if it doesn’t burn away the optimism and the spirit, the capacity for visions, and the respect for simple yet indispensable things. Please forgive me if I sound bitter. I don’t have any right to be.

"The songs are about me?"

"Most of them." ‼️‼️‼️

"You opened a restaurant three blocks from my house because?"

"Mmm. Yeah."

Just look at how Lestat looks at him. FUCK!

"If it was just the two of us again, cause yeah, who else is gonna have us? A trailer park. Nevada. Utah. The desert. A couple folding chairs. Plant some flower boxes. What blooms at night?"

"Evening primrose."

"They got birds in the desert?"

"There's birds everywhere."

"Could be nice."

"Could be."

The piano version of Loustat's love theme playing. The callback to the S1 pinky touch with Louis making the move. The way they're looking at each other. The LOVE in their eyes. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! Louis being the one to plan their future together!

Am I still alive? I don't know anymore. I don't care anymore. All I care about is THEM.

And then, the most insane moment because WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?! Alex "distracts" them while Armand and Daniel behead them?!?!?!?

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!?!?

Did Armand blame Larry's death on Lestat? Is this Armand trying to stop Lestat from taking the stage?!?! That comment from Fareed about how long Lestat could last without his head.....yeah. I knew it was interesting at the time, but what about Louis?!?!

And you know, maybe this will lead into us finally getting the proper Merrick Loustat moment of Lestat reviving Louis? If that be the case, I'll accept this monstrosity.

Otherwise, what the fuck?! GIVE THEM BACK THEIR HEADS! 🤬🤬🤬

Also?

About damn time the real Armand fully showed up!

1000/10! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

Standing O! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Best. Episode. Of. The. Series. 😭❤️‍🔥