29♋️ Obsessively devoted to Devil’s Minion, Eric Bogosian & Assad Zaman..🖤 Sometimes drifting into Old Hollywood ghosts ✨🎥 (hi,Bogart) 🎞️ & always through an autistic lens🪐
I've seen people argue that Assad and Eric couldn't convincingly portray a romantic relationship because Assad referred to Eric as his grandfather. What do you think about that?
Thank you for your question. I’m actually going to use it as an opportunity to talk about something that‘s been on my mind for quite a while now.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve watched more and more people suddenly start discrediting Eric‘s acting, his chemistry with Assad, and even his ability to play a convincing romantic lead. And the common denominator always seems to be the same: his age. Honestly, I‘m tired of seeing it. You don‘t have to find Eric attractive. Attraction is subjective, and everyone has different preferences. However, there‘s a huge difference between saying, „He’s not my type“, and claiming that he isn‘t attractive, can‘t carry a romance, or should be replaced simply because he's older.
Personally, I find Eric incredibly attractive. I love his curls, his eyes, his arms, his smile, his humor, his charisma... To me, he‘s absolutely captivating. I’m not expecting everyone to feel the same way, but just as nobody gets to tell someone they have to find him attractive, nobody gets to tell me,or anyone else, that we can‘t
I’ve also seen people take Assad’s words far too literally and, in doing so, completely miss what he was actually saying.
Before you immediately focus on Erics age or start making tasteless jokes, take a moment to think about what a grandfather actually represents. For many people, a grandfather represents wisdom, guidance, patience, warmth, comfort, trust and emotional safety. Someone who makes you feel protected, supported and accepted. It’s not about how many candles are on their birthday cake.
Assad could have chosen so many different words. He could have simply said friend, mentor, or colleague. Instead, he chose a word that represents trust and comfort.
That’s why I genuinely don’t understand how some people have come to the conclusion that this somehow means they can’t portray a believable romance anymore. If anything, I’d argue the exact opposite. We’ve seen more than enough moments over the years to know that they clearly trust each other, feel comfortable around each other, and have no hesitation when it comes to sharing each other's space. And that‘s a huge advantage, not a disadvantage. Emotional vulnerability and physical intimacy are some of the most demanding parts of acting. They require trust, comfort, and a genuine sense of safety with your scene partner. If you already have that foundation, you’re not working against it, you’re building on it. To me, that makes the prospect of them telling a believable love story even more exciting, not less.
And Assad has been excited about telling this story with Eric from the very beginning. One of the first things he said to him was, „We’re going to hook up“. And when Eric later asked him, „Are you excited about our budding romance in future seasons?“, Assad‘s answer came without hesitation: „Mister I’ve been excited since day one. Since the day I met you, as well“.
None of that enthusiasm has changed over time. If anything, the opposite has happened. As they’ve gotten to know each other better, we’ve also seen their bond grow naturally over the years. They seem more comfortable around each other, more at ease, and more trusting than ever before. And let‘s not forget what Eric once shared in an interview about Assad regularly saying things along the lines of, „Just wait until I get my hands on you“. And then there's Assad‘s... let‘s just call it rather interesting comment under one of Eric‘s photos.🌝
Nothing about what Assad said suddenly erases everything else we’ve seen and heard over the years.
Another thing that’s been bothering me for quite some time is how differently this fandom treats the relationships between the different actors. When Sam and Jacob talk about how close they are, people celebrate it. They call it wholesome, genuine, and heartwarming. But somehow, when Eric and Assad talk about their bond, it suddenly becomes „fan service“ or proof that they couldn’t possibly play a believable romance anymore. And don’t get me wrong, of course there are moments that are playful and meant to entertain the fans. That‘s part of promoting a show, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. What I don’t understand is why that automatically means every kind word, every heartfelt interview answer, or every genuine interaction suddenly has to be dismissed as fake.
And once again, it all seems to come back to one thing: Eric’s age.
I struggle to come up with any other explanation. If Eric were decades younger, or if a younger actor with the exact same dynamic were sitting next to Assad, I genuinely don’t believe I’d have to write this post in the first place. That’s exactly why this feels like ageism to me. Somehow, the moment an older person is involved, people become much quicker to question whether a friendship is genuine, whether admiration is sincere, whether affection is real, or whether love could possibly exist at all. I honestly don‘t understand that. Growing older doesn‘t make someone less worthy of being loved, admired, desired, appreciated, or deeply cared about. It doesn‘t suddenly make meaningful friendships, genuine affection, or even love impossible. Some of the most beautiful friendships exist across generations. The same goes for love between consenting adults. Age doesn’t erase our ability to connect with other people, nor does it diminish the value of those connections. To me, that’s exactly what makes relationships and friendships across different generations so special in the first place.
At the end of the day, I think it‘s genuinely beautiful when people find someone who makes them feel safe, understood, and accepted, especially in an industry that can often be so demanding and, at times, incredibly superficial. Those kinds of connections are rare, and to me, they're something to appreciate, not tear apart. So instead of looking for reasons why this bond somehow invalidates everything else, I‘d much rather appreciate it for what it is: two people who clearly trust and respect one another, and who seem genuinely happy to tell this story together!
Welcome, I guess, to my new, post-season 3, Past-DM happened (AND IT WAS MUTUAL) Era.
I really fucking miss Puppyboy Molloy and Luke Brandon Field, okay? So expect more of that from me.
Pairing: Devil's Minion
Rating: E
Words: 2,140
They’re both hard in their jeans, and Daniel’s sure they could easily both get off just from making out and dry humping like teenagers, but there’s something in the air, so light and joyful, that he wants to let it linger. Wants to keep Armand like this for as long as he can.
Daniel carefully extricates himself from Armand’s possessive grasp—which is something he can only do because Armand allows him to—and stands to his feet.
Armand whines, and pouts, and grabs at him, his fingers clinging to the fabric of Daniel’s shirt. “Where are you going?”
“Wait here, baby,” Daniel says, swooping back down for just a second to kiss him quickly. “I’m gonna put on some music, yeah?”
I would imagine it starts with small things and tiny steps… And drinking buckets of your maker's blood, but that's a matter for some art in the future.
Are you stupid? There's no way Daniel could ever cradle Armand. He's a total asshole in both the books and the series.
„How could a creature shimmer with such beauty yet incite such... what was it, revulsion? No, he had never been revolted by Armand, he had to admit it.“
„He dreamed Armand was near him; he awoke weeping stupidly. Then the morning would come and he would be sad but calm.“
„Daniel had been trembling, on the edge of tears. And why was that? So glad to see him, touch him, ah, damn him!“
„He saw this being like a great insect, a monstrous evil predator who had devoured a million human lives. And yet he loved this thing. He loved its smooth white skin, its great dark brown eyes. He loved it not because it looked like a gentle, thoughtful young man, but because it was ghastly and awful and loathsome, and beautiful all at the same time.“
„Daniel, you are a gift to me from Louis. What would I do without you?“
„Damn you, Daniel,“ he said, so that Daniel heard the words aloud. A chill passed over Daniel. Horrid to see him suffering.“
„I promise you nothing. How can I? I've told you what lies ahead.“ „ I don’t care. I’ll go towards it with you.“
„Armand’s eyes were reddened, weary, old. Such delicate clothes these were, hand sewn, dusty, like the clothes of a ghost. Were they what the mind conjured effortlessly when it wanted to be purely itself?“
„I want to live forever with you.“
„He steadied himself, but the sight of Armand made him want to cry. Even in deep shadow, Armand‘s dark brown eyes were filled with a vibrant light. And the expression on his face, so loving. He reached out very carefully and touched Armand‘s eyelashes. He wanted to touch the tiny fine lines in Armand‘s lips. Armand kissed him. He began to tremble. The way it felt, the cool silky mouth, like a kiss of the brain, the electric purity of a thought!“
„I love you“ Daniel said. „Are you certain?“ Armand answered. It made him laugh.
„Is it all right, the way I am now?“ he’d asked Armand. „Are you happy?“
„Armand had stopped, at once surrounded by tiny upturned faces covered in store-bought masks, plastic spooks, ghouls, witches; a lovely warm light had filled his brown eyes“. „I love it well enough the way you turned out,“ he had whispered with a sudden irrepressible smile, the warmth still there. You’re my firstborn, he‘d said. Was there a catch in his throat, a sudden glancing from right to left as if he‘d found himself cornered?“
„It was Daniel, who captured the damaged heart of the vampire Armand."
„Armand and Daniel Molloy were hunting alone in the gentle warm rain.“ -> In literature, gentle warm rain is commonly associated with renewal, healing, forgiveness, emotional openness, and new beginnings. It often reflects a character’s inner emotional journey and marks moments of reconciliation and growth.
„Marius was weary. Marius was anguished. Marius was alone. After all, he’d lost his longtime companion, Daniel Molloy, to Armand again, and these two remained at Court only because of the threat to the Prince, and hoped some night to be free to go to Trinity Gate in New York.“
You know what? This fandom is making me sick.
It‘s really exhausting that you guys keep ignoring the other side of Daniel, the one that‘s just as clearly written in the book, and instead reduce him to his asshole side. (Never mind his exhaustion caused by Armand, his addiction to Armand’s blood, which Armand himself caused, or the fact that Daniel feels like an insignificant mortal lover who is more of a toy than an equal partner -> „And what would a mortal lover matter then, a human who’d been no more than a toy for a decade“?/„Armand had proceeded without him towards a destiny that Daniel would never fully understand“. <-Nevertheless, he wanted to be by Armand’s side. And no, not just because of the blood. The relationship had more to offer than just that toxic side. They took evening classes together, studied art history, went to the movies, got a telescope to look at the stars, traveled, and went sailing together. Armand gave him a damn island with a villa. And an amulet that he had kissed and tried to warm with his hands before hanging it around Daniel’s neck.)
By the way, in Season 3, Daniel ist traumatized and scared, and that's why he acts so out of line.
At the same time, i’m just as tired of seeing Armand constantly reduced to either a helpless victim or nothing more than a villain. Armand is a monster. He does terrible things. The books never pretend otherwise. But he‘s also capable of love, vulnerability, tenderness, devotion, and growth. The exact same thing applies to Daniel. He is sarcastic. He is harsh. He is an asshole. But that‘s not all he is.
Daniel sees Armand for who he truly is and loves him for it. Isn’t that what love is supposed to be like? Seeing someone for who they truly are. Choosing them. Being willing to face even the hardest parts of life together. Wanting to be with them forever. And don‘t we all want someone who can be honest about their feelings and call us out on our bullshit?
Oh and by the way, this is Gothic romance. These relationships are not supposed to be sunshine, rainbows, and perfect communication all the time.
That said, i do find the fandom’s double standards quite amusing at times. Louis and Lestat lied to each other; there was manipulation, cheating, physical abuse, and murder. They both hurt each other, threw nasty words at each other, and Louis couldn‘t even tell Lestat that he loved him. Yet, you have no problem acknowledging the love between them, and can‘t wait to see them reunited. Make it make sense!
Now, as for the show version of Daniel; We’ve already seen that there‘s far more to him than the sarcasm and harshness that people often reduce him to. Whether the show continues building on that remains to be seen.
But whatever the show does, it doesn’t change what‘s already written. You can call me stupid or disagree with me if you want. But you can’t change what‘s already canon.
Daniel and Armand love each other. They find their way back to each other.
I watched the finale again and sat with some of my thoughts for a while. I have many thoughts about where things are being left off, specifically in regards to DM, and what is being set up for their relationship in future seasons (if there are any).
Spoilers are under the cut for anyone who still hasn't gotten their hands on the finale.
Despite the entire season being told through Lestat's POV, what little we can understand about Daniel and Armand's relationship from Lestat's perspective on events gives us some things that are potentially very interesting. One thing to consider is that Lestat may be making half of it up, or that he is overstating the nature of their relationship because he views them in a negative light. Such as, if Lestat imagines Armand as a jilted ex and Daniel as the rebound, constructing a narrative where they get bloody, murderous revenge after Armand gets humiliated and Daniel has been a complete jackass for the entire season, then, well, that would make a lot of sense. Lestat is kind of a dick as a general rule. It has already been thoroughly established that he does not like Daniel and finds him annoying, as he stated at the start of the series, and he was not a fan of the book at all.
About Daniel
Daniel has been so thoroughly mischaracterized throughout the entirety of TVL that it's easier to believe it's an intentional decision to show Lestat's dislike of him through Lestat's own narration than it is to believe the writers just forgot who they were fucking writing about. Daniel Molloy is not so insensitive and crass as to be constantly throwing around racist and ableist remarks just because he is a vampire now. Yes, he has that "splinter of coldness" in him and is not really a good person, but he does have principles. Such principles are often the root of his criticisms and digs at Louis and Armand throughout the first and second seasons. The principles in and of themselves are why he dug his heels in so hard about exposing Armand's lie.
I do not believe that the Daniel we are acquainted with in TVL is an accurate representation of how Daniel would take to vampiric life. I think a lot of what he says, does, or how he acts in general is strongly exaggerated or outright fabricated by the fact that it is coming from a place of resentment in Lestat. Daniel is not cruel because he feels like he has a right to be or even because he gets enjoyment out of it. His conversations with people are not all just snarky one-liners and mean comments. Even in the first two seasons, as funny and sarcastic as he was, it was because he was actively listening and trying to understand — and when he was cruel, when he did get mean, it was because he was unraveling something that he knew was not the complete truth.
This is what makes him such an interesting character. He is a deeply troubled person who has lived most of his life fighting addiction and depression, and the thing he feared the most throughout his youth, death, became an impending reality he could not avoid when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I have always been interested in Daniel's relentless and often self-endangering pursuit of the truth. Not even what he believes to be true, but the search for the objective truth, what actually happened, what people actually think and feel. His search for meaning and to leave something of himself behind, but none of it was ever able to leave him feeling truly fulfilled. Daniel's entire life was one long quest for significance and purpose. Drugs were unfulfilling, so he tried to get clean. Sex and relationships were unfulfilling, so he slept around. Being a husband and a father was unfulfilling, so he threw himself into his work.
This quest for purpose and fulfillment ties very well into the themes of addiction and dependence that permeate his story, both with and without his relationship to Armand being a factor. Addiction is often described as constantly chasing that first high and never being able to feel the way it made you feel the first time again — Daniel, too, is chasing his first high, desperate to feel as fulfilled and complete as he wants to. He chases it with drugs, with sex, with danger, with attempts at love, with work. All of these things are very important motivations behind his actions. The one thing Daniel absolutely cannot make himself do is pass up the opportunity to unravel a good story.
His motivations are almost always intrinsic. He is selfish. The things that drive him are the things that he wants, the pursuit of how something will make him feel. Did he ever achieve that fulfillment? No, not really, which is why throughout TVL, he questions his integrity and abilities as a journalist. Daniel is dead now, and the one thing that he committed the hardest to for his entire lifespan is no longer something that he feels so confident in doing. The one thing Daniel had to show for himself in the end was that he was a damn good journalist, and now that his life is over and a new one has begun, he's questioning that. He's questioning himself, his purpose, his significance, and he's questioning a lot of things that he thought he knew about himself — and having to reckon with the idea that Armand was a much more substantial part of his life than he had ever imagined connects very seamlessly with those themes.
I don't think Eric was wrong about reading between the lines and finding that Daniel's arc in this season and the coming season is very existential. Daniel has always been chasing something. He tried to find it in his wives and could not. He tried to find it in his daughters and could not. He tried to find it in his work and, ultimately, could not. What, exactly, is Daniel looking for? What is it that is going to fulfill him? I don't think the answer is loving Armand. It's too reductive.
It isn’t possible to look at the two of them as completely separate characters because of how much impact each of them has on each other's lives and arcs. At the core of their relationship, Daniel is a representation of two things. The most obvious one is a need for honesty. It's why he was the one to expose Armand's deception and, in a way, do for Armand what Armand would have likely never been able to do himself. Daniel loves to crack a story, and he does not particularly hold the emotional fallout that it might cause in high regard. He is principally concerned with finding out the truth above all other things. He wants to know the truth — even when it hurts. When it is ugly, painful, when it threatens stable ground. Daniel's honesty is what makes him cruel, drawing a complete contrast to Armand, whose cruelty comes from his dishonesty.
Daniel also represents acceptance, something which we are told numerous times is not only what Armand needs to heal, but also the thing that he desires the most internally. Daniel's nature as the "honest" character positions him to essentially be the perfect partner for Armand. Daniel cannot and will not love a lie; his relationship to Armand, whatever it may be, will always be influenced by his desire to understand and know who Armand actually is. Any love that Armand feels for Daniel is a love where, if he wants that love to be reciprocated, he has to become more honest. He knows that the version of Armand other characters are familiar with — see the "gremlin" or "good nurse" line — is not who he actually is.
How do these themes reflect back on Daniel as a character? I've already talked the honesty and truth theme to death, but acceptance plays a part for both Armand and Daniel in different ways. Daniel finding out that his view of his entire life has been skewed is going to have a lot to do with acceptance. More specifically, can he accept it? Can he accept the person that it makes him? Can he accept that he had loved Armand, and can he accept the reality that he, obviously, still does? Can he accept that Armand's decision to erase his memory came from a place of love? Can he accept that, to Armand, letting Daniel go was the most loving choice he could have made — a choice that stood in direct opposition to his inability to let go of love before?
Since they are evidently together now, at least according to Lestat, the obvious answer to those questions is yes. Daniel accepts the truth and accepts who it makes him, and accepts who it makes Armand. Is Daniel, then, a love that can "cradle" Armand? There are arguments to be made in both respects. If we are to take Lestat's interpretations of Daniel as fact, then absolutely not. If we are to take these broader themes and Daniel's attitudes in the prior seasons, however? His love for Armand may not be "cradling" in terms of hopelessly romantic tenderness, but he would cradle him with acceptance and understanding. Acknowledgement of Armand's many, many contradictory traits; of love and malice, of gentleness and cruelty, of dishonesty and a desire to be wanted for who he is, all the same. Daniel is the only person who does not want Armand to become different for his sake. He does not want a persona that Armand constructs to please him; he wants to know him, he wants to understand him. What is more than that, however, is that Daniel would not be willing to settle for anything less.
The love that cradles Armand, truly, would be the love that gives Armand what he needs the most. Acceptance, understanding, and someone who would hold the darkest corners of him in hand and love them, not despite what they are, but because of what they are. I do think that Daniel could be and will be that. If Daniel can accept how the inevitable revelation will change him, then he, in turn, can grow to accept what it will change about Armand. It will recontextualize their relationship and Daniel's nature overall in significant ways. Daniel's ability to accept this is what will define how their relationship develops.
About Armand
Armand is a little more difficult due to how much we can assume Lestat's judgments about him may be complicating the narrative that TVL is giving us. I do also feel that Armand is being equally mischaracterized. Boiling his motivations down to simply wanting someone to love him gently is a ridiculous notion, because Armand is so much more complicated than that and has so much more nuance to his perceptions of relationships and desire for true companionship. Yes, Armand's desire to be with someone is a major motivating factor for his character, but the only things we really understand about him as of now are told through the lenses of people who were knowingly taking advantage of this desire.
Lestat and Louis both took advantage of the fact that Armand is willing to alter himself substantially to convince his partner that he is deserving of being loved, and to convince them that he is worth staying for. Lestat did not truly reciprocate Armand's feelings; this much is obvious, and largely because he had already been involved with Nikki. Louis did not truly reciprocate Armand's feelings, either, because he was still very deeply in love with Lestat. Despite knowing this, both of them were willing to accept what Armand was offering.
Armand has been the second choice in both of what we, the audience, understand to be his two most meaningful relationships thus far, not including Daniel in the 70s and 80s. Both Louis and Lestat were massively significant for Armand. The only person, then, that he has been in a relationship with who would have truly chosen him was Daniel. Daniel, a human boy who Armand should not have been with to begin with, who did not have any desire for the many personas that Armand constructs to please others. Daniel, who had both witnessed first-hand and been the subject of Armand's cruelty and brutality, wanted him still. Daniel was desperate for Armand to turn him, not purely for the sake of achieving immortality, but so that he could be with Armand forever and not just a fleeting part of his eternal life.
This is not something that Armand, at the time, would have been able to accept. Someone loving him so intensely that they were willing to give up their human life for the sake of being with him would have been a completely unfamiliar concept. Hence, he erased Daniel's memories of their relationship and fled, because — as he mentioned when he was talking about "Alice" — he did not feel that he could trust him. Of course, when it comes to Daniel and Armand's relationship, this is also its tallest hurdle. Armand may be in love with Daniel, but Daniel does not remember having been in love with Armand.
Armand is poorly adjusted to having his devotion returned in kind. While he has always given his heart in its entirety, he has never been able to say that anyone he has loved has loved him in the same way. He would not have trusted that Daniel was truly willing to give up his human life to be with him. Although he was able to read his mind and understand his motivations that way, Daniel is also a very complicated person. Although wanting to be with Armand may have been a substantial motivator for him, as we are well aware, he is also very selfish, and we already knew that he wanted to escape his own mortality. Perhaps, then, this is what distracted Armand; perhaps it was easier for him to believe that Daniel's fear of death was the primary motivator over his love for Armand, rather than the other way around.
I do not think Armand would be not angry at Louis, either, if he had returned to his relationship with Daniel. I could envision a version of Armand where the more time he spends with Daniel, the more he realizes that he could have spent decades that he now believes were wasted on Louis with him, and the angrier he would get. Not entirely at Louis, but rather, largely at himself for making that decision. Armand obviously feels incredible guilt over altering Daniel's memories at all. His love for Daniel is what brought him back into his life to begin with, in an effort to prepare and protect him. If Armand had taken the time to immerse himself in the way that he feels toward Daniel after all of these years, and realized that what he felt for Louis was not love so much as it was a desire for stability and companionship, then I could envision him being angry.
There is no version of their relationship in which it is realistic for Daniel to agree to be with Armand without remembering what they had shared. Daniel does not trust Armand, maker/fledgling bond or otherwise, and he would not be able to trust him at all until he can be sure that Armand has committed to being forthright with him. Armand revealing what he has been hiding to Daniel would, perhaps, be the most substantial display of this commitment of honesty to Daniel, especially if Armand made the decision to tell him of his own volition.
Fresh with the knowledge of how easily Armand will commit to decades of living on the premise of a lie, Armand would need to reveal their shared past to Daniel for him to a) believe him when he tells him that he is in love with him, and not believe that it is just some freaky obsession, and b) be willing to trust him enough to be his companion and go along with his crazy insane plan at all. If this is the case, then it is safe to assume that this conversation was (reasonably) had off-screen, because Lestat would not be privy to those details. Maybe they walked down memory lane during all of the daywalker training. Maybe it happened in a different way. There is, of course, the possibility that they were not even in a relationship at this time, but once Lestat finds out that they are later, he just kind of assumes that they would've had to have been shortly after Daniel and Armand reunited.
When we are told that, in the finale, someone finally "understands" Armand, is this so? Louis's understanding that Armand has been horrifically traumatized seems like an extremely cheap way to describe someone understanding Armand. If we are reading into this subtextually — even though the apology scene was most definitely what they were referring to — Daniel agreeing to be Armand's companion may in and of itself be the most significant act of understanding possible. To assume that they are together now (which, if we trust Lestat's narrative that they were companions when this was happening, they are) would require us to assume that Daniel understands Armand's erasure of his memories as an act of love, and not something he did because Daniel was a toy he could play with. Or, at the very least, something that Armand believed to be an act of love.
Devil's Minion Itself
Character analysis aside, what is actually being set up for resolution in their relationship?
Assuming that Lestat's understanding that Daniel and Armand are now companions is the correct one, and they were companions during the events of the finale, then there are several things we can infer must have been happening whilst we were not actively following their POVs in order to get them to that point.
It would be interesting if, perhaps, in the next season, part of the story would be about exploring that conversation. Armand's recollection of the time that he and Daniel spent together, and how Daniel reacts to it. Perhaps what Daniel begins to remember of it himself as the story goes on and Armand continues to jog his memories. Since Armand can no longer interfere with his mind, we can assume that he would also not be able to undo the damage that he's done; however, memory is not simply "forgetting" and "remembering". It is a far more complicated process, and it is entirely likely that Daniel would be able to remember some of his own perspective on those events if Armand were to give him the necessary information. He was able to remember San Francisco on his own with the help of the tapes. There is no reason it would not be the same for the 12-year relationship he had with Armand.
Louis telling Armand that he "deserves a love that cradles him" in the same episode where it is unceremoniously announced that he is now in a relationship with Daniel, his canonical endgame romance, is clearly a set-up for what we can expect to see out of Devil's Minion going forward. Armand is going to stay with Daniel, so this resolution to his arc with Louis allows us to infer that Daniel is going to be what Armand deserves. We have seen more or less every character in a relationship except for Daniel. We understand how people like Louis, Lestat, and Armand view love and how they behave toward their partners. The only thing we know about Daniel is that he had turbulent marriages that ended in divorce, but how much of that was a fault of his personality, and how much of that was because of losing Armand?
The crux of Armand and Daniel's relationship has always been that what they share is different from what they have shared with others, so incredibly unique and fulfilling for them both that they come back to each other after so many years apart. "True love" seems like a very trite way to describe it, but that is fundamentally what it is about. They spend decades without each other, and ultimately, find each other again, as in love as they were before, both in the book series and, apparently, in the show. I would really like to see all of these themes explored with Daniel, because I think this would be a massive shift for him, and seeing how he handles it would be an incredible thing. Especially if we understand that he is going to be the love that "cradles" Armand — how does he go from point A to point B?
I am not entirely trusting in the writers at the moment, given everything that has happened, but I can certainly hope that they will do it justice with everything they have set up.
My Body Swap Thoughts Because I Can't Handle Two Years of "Daniel's Getting Bodyswapped"
Daniel Molloy is not David Talbot. Period. Full stop. End of sentence.
Daniel Molloy is Daniel Molloy. He has been handed some traits of David Talbot, in the same way that many other traits have been redistributed between other characters.
His David Talbot traits? He's old. He's the Chronicler. That's it.
Nothing about his character in any way is anything like David Talbot's (some people will argue he also gets the non-consensual turning, but I still maintain that Daniel will be receiving DANIEL'S book turning).
But there are two other characters who have also had David Talbot traits redistributed to them.
The first is Louis.
Louis is Lestat's companion and endgame. In a show adaptation of TTOTBT, there is no reason why they would not have Louis be the one to go on a rescue caper with Lestat. Daniel certainly isn't going to. They're not friends. I don't know that they're ever going to come back from Daniel hacking his head off.
The second is Raglan James.
Raglan James in the book is ex-Talamasca because he's been sacked for being a fucking freak. In the show he is still a fucking freak but he—like David Talbot—is a current Talamasca agent. Raglan is also apparently, by the time of the recording of The Failures, someone who Lestat considers a friend. Much in the same way that, by the end of QOTD, Lestat randomly, seemingly out of nowhere is besties with David Talbot leading into TTOTBT.
Now, some people are concerned that, because the last time we see Daniel he's squaring up with Raglan, he's about to get implicated in the whole body swap fiasco, but TO ME, that scene is all about Raglan having his lightbulb moment.
Personally I think that moment for Raglan, the confirmation of a soul, was the first time he's really considered that he could actually steal a body. The fact that he looks over to Lestat's head in the bag and then goes on to ingratiate himself in Lestat's circle, indicates that Lestat's is the one he wants (obviously, that's the body he steals after all).
All of this is to say that in the show universe, there is no reason for TTOTBT plot to involve a random third person who ends up permanently inhabiting an extra body. Is it a convenient option to have open on the off-chance they did need to replace Eric for some reason? Sure, I guess. But from all the vibes I'm getting, Eric is giving no indication of wanting to leave this show. Even in the Backstage Pass Short after the finale he's like, "I fantasize about the power of vampires, I can't wait to fight everyone". The man is locked in.
So no, Daniel is not "taking on David Talbot's storyline" in the show. He's being set up to fulfil Daniel's OWN storyline, that being the Devil's Minion arc. He merely has been given some traits that once belonged to David Talbot. As has Louis. As has Raglan James. A direct swap between Raglan and Lestat is all that needs to happen in an adaptation of TTOTBT. An extra body is superfluous.
Not to excuse what Daniel did to Loustat with Armand, but the fact remains that Daniel was clearly deeply affected by the sense of vampiric loneliness this season. It’s an inherent part of being a vampire, of course, but he was already quite isolated to begin with as human—his ex-wives and daughters weren't speaking to him—not to mention that Louis started giving him the cold shoulder over the book now (the nerve of him). He was also clearly trying to make sense of his feelings for Armand and asked Louis if he felt the same way about Lestat—only for Louis to lie and say no. So, while they might not experience that specific phenomenon where everything around them fades away, they do share that sense of connection. It’s a form of soulmate bond that manifests differently among vampires. Then there was Lestat driving him up the wall with the interview and their exchanges—constantly taking digs at each other, especially Lestat’s jabs about Daniel’s trauma (which Daniel obviously denied) and his connection to Armand (which clearly annoyed him). Not to mention his obvious jealousy at seeing Louis and Lestat gently reconnect, knowing that his own relationship with Armand remains complicated, even though they are trying to start building something. And all that part about preventing the Great Conversion (from his point of view when Armand just want an apology from his ex-husband Louis), which was mix with his desire for revenge against Lestat. I really feel like a lot of people overlook the fact that Daniel wasn't doing very well this season. All of that was compounded by the euphoria of being a young vampire—feeling like a teenager all over again... So yes, Daniel is a huge asshole. But an asshole who, like Armand, Louis, and Lestat, was under a great deal of emotional strain this season.
Any TV show deserves criticism; it's how writers grow and improve, but TVL deserves real fucking criticism for a lot of things. It can be really easy, however, to dip into hate mail - which will not be treated seriously by the company or show runners - so here are some tips on how to write a critical review that will be taken seriously. I recommend, even if you enjoyed this season and the finale, you write your own critical review - it doesn't need to match the examples I list below.
An email address will need to be provided for the form, so if you have/have had an AMC account, be sure to use that one. I also am unsure if there is a character limit, so try to keep the review concise and 2000 words or less.
Your goal is constructive criticism
I know, this feels like playing nice, or giving them flowers they may not deserve, but the people receiving the review will not know you participated in good faith unless you show your work. This is basic communication 101; you need to communicate that you see TVL as a work of art, and show that you did engage with the material with intent to understand. Lie, if you have to, but pure vitriol will not be taken seriously.
Before you start writing the review, identify:
1 or 2 CREATIVE decisions you liked. This could be actors, costume, set design, original content, dialogue, music, ect. These are things that make the work artistic. Map them out, and treat them seriously: for example, I really liked that the gift to walk in sunlight is a skill that can be taught, and doesn't come from age.
1 or 2 ADAPTIVE decisions you liked. This could be how they condensed something satisfyingly, an ambitious change that you think was compelling, character choices that surprised you, ambiguous details that have you thinking, or things you thought were interesting and were disappointed they did not explore more. Adaption is an art, so let them know how the art impacted you. For example: I really liked the choice to have Magnus be depicted in a music video first, and return as an aggressive and haunting muse. I think it was extremely effective, and I would have liked to see more music-video style narration.
1-2 points of strong criticism. It is easy to dogpile on a whole bunch of flaws, especially when you are irritated, upset, disappointed, or disgusted. Take a deep breath, and make sure your criticisms are substantial. I think everyone who reads this post should make one of these points reference the offensive and poorly framed racialized dialogue, and the striking and hurtful orientation of Louis as a character punished by the narrative.
The conclusion should include actions you wish to see taken to prove the creative team has considered and respected our critique. One or two requests are enough, and I will share my example at the end.
Once you have clearly identified your points, you can move onto the next step
Organize your points
Part of what makes a successful critical review is how it summarizes and analyzes a text's strengths and weaknesses, which means you won't just be writing bullet points. In academia, this would be an introduction and paragraphs based around topics abc, but we don't have to do that. These will be organized into "sections," but that's more to prevent rambling than to grade you. I'll include examples of what I would say, but don't be afraid to use your own voice and just use my words as inspiration.
I'll give you guys 3 methods you can choose between:
Concerned Viewer
If strong criticism scares you, this is a good option.
Start with a short introduction using casual language: "Hi, I am a fan of AMC's Immortal Universe, and I wanted to reach out to share some concerns I had watching the latest season of 'The Vampire Lestat.'"
Next, mention one of your negative points, and follow up with a positive point: "When watching the adaption, I was struck by the realization that ___. This disappointed me so much, because the story and themes could have added so much more to the world and characters, but I don't feel ___. I was happy that some elements made it through, such as ____. I would have loved more moments like this."
The next section should be this, but reversed. Start with a positive point, end with a negative point: "____ really stood out in their performances this season. ___ and ____ stuck with me for days after I watched. I was, however, distracted from complete enjoyment because of _____."
-- I will address the conclusion under a different header --
End with: "I would love to continue to watching The Immortal Universe franchise, however I do not feel comfortable returning to the franchise unless these criticisms are taken seriously. Thank you."
Analyst
This is a good structure if you have very precise critiques that extend beyond surface-level impact that you want to convey.
Start with a strong overview of your impressions of the season. Briefly address one good point and one bad point. You will return to these later: "Dear writers and producers of 'The Vampire Lestat,' as I have tuned into this season weekly, I found myself increasingly dismayed at ____ which damaged my enjoyment of ____ and I wanted to convey my impressions to all concerned parties, to avoid a repetition of this experience."
First section should include your weakest points. You're leading them into the criticism. It is good, also, to describe what story-telling elements you were paying attention to: "I was most excited to see the portrayal of ___ to explore the themes of ___. I was, however, distracted by ___, and found my attention torn between enjoyment and confusion."
Next section should hit your most appreciated moments, but why the flaw you chose made this feel lacking, despite your appreciation: "I was most impressed by ____ which landed with me in ways I didn't expect [fill in details]. However, the ____ were not only distracting, they completely circumvented my deep appreciation for ____ [fill in with details].
-- I will address the conclusion under a different header --
End with: "I am disappointed in the result of this project, despite how interested I was in the story being told. Unless these points are seriously addressed, please do not consider me to be a returning viewer."
Offended Viewer
If you cannot find it in yourself to be polite or logical, you are not a problem. There are ways to structure your argument to convey that emotion without having to "play nice." This will be if you can't seriously commit to the positives from above, but you should still mark things you COULD have enjoyed if the other things didn't ruin your experience.
Start with a direct address (don't name names - yet.), and then give a summary of your issues: "For those at AMC who take criticism for 'The Vampire Lestat,' I have some things that need to be said. ___ and ___ were flaws of the project that ruined my enjoyment, and taxed by emotional and intellectual well-being because I tried so hard to give this adaption a fair chance."
Next section, start with the creative/adaptive things you were looking forward to, and then transition into the moments/episode when you realized that they disappointed you. If you can name the scene, do so. Precision will get you everywhere.
Next section is when you really beat the drum. Name head writers of the episode that pissed you off, detail 2 or 3 moments that you cannot in-good-conscience accept as art, and then provide the summary of what the show seemed to tell you while depicting these things. Tell them what the story impressed on you, because a message delivered ignorantly is still as painful as a message delivered intentionally. Make sure they KNOW what you took from the story.
-- I will address the conclusion under a different header --
End with your earnest disappointment and frustration, and what guided you to this show in the first place: "I expected to enjoy this season. I wanted to respect the changes and experimental approach. I wanted to see ___ and ___, but I did not enjoy it, and my opinion of the project is forever changed because of it."
Conclusion and Action
I put this under its own header because any activist will tell you that you get the most reward out of being united, and if our demands are the same, or are similar, we are more likely to see the results we want. Giving them actions to prove they have listened will also tell the audience if it's worth it to tune into the next season.
You can shift this to be in your own words, with your own criticism. You can even choose different actions. This is just my example, to help you see exactly what I mean.
I do not expect to find myself returning to 'The Vampire Lestat,' unless I have proof that the criticisms I outlined here have been heard and understood.
First, because of the failure of the narrative framework to build a substantial critique of racism -- that included racially offensive dialogue and insults directed at Black characters -- I will not return to The Immortal Universe unless two or more Black writers are hired to share their voices in the creative space. I do not trust the creative team to further address the topic of anti-blackness without them. Second, I request a public and published acknowledgment of the creative missteps, and the insult they have given, so that I have evidence that the creative team is interested in audience feedback.
I know some people are probably not interested in returning and I get you, but I encourage you to lie anyway. Executives speak in numbers, much to my absolute disdain, so if they know they could do something to get you BACK, they will have more incentive to actually do it.
So lie: lie for the fans who want to return, for the actors who want to return, for AMC to treat us seriously, and because it's fun to give a little lie to people who won't be harmed for it. Does AMC really deserve our total truth?
You can screenshot this post, share it on other social media platforms, discord groups, group chats, whatever you need. You can do it without crediting me. Just get the word out there, so AMC's creative team is aware of the impact of their massive fumble of the season.
This isn't about personal taste, it's about solidarity and refusing to accept anti-black writing without calling it out.
You can reach out to the AMC Network through the following contact us form: https://www.amcnetworks.com/contact-us/ or by visiting the AMC N
Dissatisfied with Devil's Minion in The Vampire Lestat?
Might I offer you this Devil's Minion series I wrote between Seasons 2 and 3 for these trying times?
It's a story cycle, so essentially the end ties back to the beginning, so you can just keep reading it around and around and around until we get them back on our screens. Or, you can just read one or two or however many you want. Fluff, smut, humour, romance, angst with a happy ending. They're very much in love. Past DM happened and it was mutual. Most are old man Daniel except Say the Word, My Love (although there are puppyboy flashbacks in In Hell Together).
Bone Apple Teeth.
I'm Guessing You Haven't Heard From My Maker?
Rating: Explicit
Words: 9,505
Summary: What Daniel got up to after he hung up from his vampire call with Louis at the end of Season 2
An Air-Obic Evening
Rating: Explicit
Words: 6,128
Summary: Armand teaches Daniel the Cloud Gift and they use it to perform a bald eagle death spiral before fucking in the sky
Kissing and Snuggling With Dead Things
Rating: Mature
Words: 3,769
Summary: Armand and Daniel being soft as hell because Armand is a Grade-A Snuggler
I'm Good At Getting Angles
Rating: Explicit
Words: 4,586
Summary: Armand punishes Daniel for bratting out in interviews, sexual style
Say the Word, My Love
Rating: Explicit
Words: 7,289
Summary: (Past DM era) Armand and Daniel make love for the first time one stormy night in a shitty motel in the middle of nowhere
In Hell Together, After All
Rating: Explicit
Words: 75,600
Summary: In the aftermath of the Dubai interview, Daniel regains more and more memories of his past with Armand. The two start gently working things out together before Daniel is turned out of love and desperation.
Dinner and a Show (Set between Chapter 10 and the Epilogue of In Hell Together)
Rating: Explicit
Words: 7,067
Summary: Armand takes Daniel for a romantic anniversary weekend getaway in some murder woods. They fuck in the woods.
@angrybubbles plans to publish a guide on how to write constructive feedback to the showrunners. It will include tips on how to express your thoughts and feelings respectfully (and where to send your feedback) so that it has a better chance of actually being read, rather than being dismissed as hate comments. I think there are definitely some things the showrunners should hear and seriously reflect on. Nobody knows whether this will change anything or not. But i think it’s important to let them know how the audience experienced this season.
So if you‘ve been wanting to share your thoughts but weren’t quite sure how to go about it, it might be worth checking out once it‘s finished!
no spoilers here, i just wanted you to know after watching the finale i immediately thought of you and i hope you're okay. you okay? im not okay. but i think we'll get through it 🫶sending hugs
Hey, thank you so much for thinking of me. That's really sweet of you! At the same time, i’m really sorry that you're not ok..🫂 I haven‘t watched the finale yet, but of course i‘ve stumbled across a few spoilers.
⚠️ Spoiler warning
The best news i read today was that Daniel is alive and that Eric is still our Daniel. That honestly makes me so happy and already takes a huge weight off my shoulders! As for Armand‘s storyline... it sounds very disappointing. But it also reminded me of something that gave me a small glimmer of hope, something i’d like to share:
Anne Rice originally intended Armand to be the villain. It wasn’t until she wrote Devil‘s Minion that her perspective on him changed, and he became a much more complex character.
Maybe they’re taking a similar route with Armand, and that‘s why things look the way they do right now. It also makes me wonder if the same could be true for other characters, and whether everything will come together more clearly in Season 4. Of course, i know that i might be connecting things here that have nothing to do with each other. But after two incredible seasons, i‘d rather believe there’s a bigger picture than assume the writers forgot who these characters are. So please, let me hold on to my hope! 🙏
Anyway, tonight i’m going to watch the Heartstopper movie before i let the TVL finale break my heart on Sunday. 😅 Once i‘ve done that, i might have a lot more to say!
I do get a bit nervous when Ebogo’s peers like Sam Neill and Anthony Stewart Head are passing suddenly in their 70s. But then again, one of my besties is pushing 80 and she’s slowing down, but I did climb a freaking 3500m mountain with her last summer. So much variety with aging.
And Dick Van Dyke and David Attenborough just turned 100.
Jane Fonda and Ian McKellen are nearly 90.
There are so many working actors in their 70s and 80s.
The painful reality is, any one of us, at any age, could step out in front of a bus tomorrow.
I'm so sick and tired of people acting like Eric has one foot in the grave when he, by all accounts, is an active and healthy 73 year old. Like can we please stop sending that kind of energy his way? Especially when we KNOW he is active online??? Like he can see that shit! Knock it the fuck off! (not you anon)
The scariest part of the 52 years of stalking isn’t even the stalking. It’s that Armand knows every bad thing Daniel has ever done and he doesn’t care.
Daniel knows he’s an asshole. He’s potentially the most self-aware character. He knows he hurt his ex-wives and his daughters. He understands that they hate him and he frequently validates their decision to do so. He gets it. He’s not hiding from his mistakes. He knows what he’s done. People leave him because anyone sane would. There’s no malice there. He knows who he is.
But here is this beautiful, ancient creature who has lived through some of the most incredible periods of human innovation in modern history, who lived in Renaissance Venice and witnessed Paris return to its former glory after World War 2 , who has been exposed to some of the most important works of art in history, who has had so much time to absorb humanity and all its most impressive creations, and this creature tells him he’s in love with him, some random kid he met half a century ago by chance.
And not just that he’s in love with him. That he was actively in love with him while he was doing all the terrible things. None of it ever mattered. Armand has seen every shade of Daniel’s soul, more than anyone else ever has, and he is in love with him because of it. It is one thing to have your mistakes exposed, it’s another entirely for someone to see them and decide to stay.
Armand has so freely given to Daniel what he has been trying to find for himself for half a millennia. The only thing he has ever wanted: to be truly known and accepted for everything you are, including the unseemly, ugly parts. How utterly and completely terrifying.
