Initial thoughts for The Vampire Lestat 1x07 (Track 7) — SPOILERS INCLUDED!
As Lestat Says in Episode 3: "Well that was shit."
So y'all know I always give my brutally honest opinions, and I have to say I didn't love this episode. It was....a letdown, to say the least. The season overall? Bloody fantastic. I'm pretending Episode 6 was the season finale. This episode? Giant misstep, imo.
First of all — The long table. I knew this would be a dream sequence of Lestat confronting his "failures" (not actual failures but shit he blames himself for that isn't his fault at all). It's every person who has made an impact on his life telling him what *HE* thinks they think of him. Okay, and? We've known this the entire season. We've known of Lestat's canon self-blame and self-hatred. We've spent six episodes watching Lestat being used and abused and his agency and bodily autonomy stolen from him again and again. Yet now we need an entire episode of Lestat mentally berating himself over this? *sighs* Total waste of time. I found myself checking the timestamps, because I just wanted to get on with it, and that didn't happen with any of the previous episodes. The caveat with this dream sequence? They can retcon whatever they want from it at anytime by simply saying "it was just in Lestat's mind." Again, okay, and? Smh. Whatever, Rolin.
Secondly — As I discussed here, we spent the entire season building. We've been dancing around key elements from The Vampire Lestat and hinting at things via other characters, yet never from Lestat himself. I said I was quite annoyed with that framing, but I'm more IRATE about it NOW given what they've seemingly done with the dynamic they were allegedly building — Lesmand.
Seriously. What was the point of any of this now?
And yes, I am considering Rolin's quote about this season being "part one of part two" and yes, I am aware they could come back to this in S4, but honestly? I doubt it for the simple fact of what they've seemingly done with Armand's canon obsession, which brings me to my next point.
Third — Louis and Armand.
WHAT IN THE ABSOLUTE FUCK WAS THAT?!?!?! 🤬🤬🤬
The majority of this episode was spent in Armand's little butcher shop with Louis' head on a pike while Armand fucking tortured him for an apology because *checks notes* Louis was "mean" to wittle baby Armand for killing his daughter. Seriously. That's it. That's what they've done here. They've made Armand obsessed with Louis, whine to Louis about Louis never loving him, and made Louis have to "acknowledge" Armand's backstory and "understand" him.
Armand tortured Louis in S2. Armand never loved Louis as he admits in this episode. Armand wanted Louis dead in Paris. Armand deliberately fucked with Louis' head. Armand brainwashed him. Erased his memories. Implanted new memories. Gaslit him. Stalked him. Killed Claudia. Lied to him about his involvement in her death. Lied to him about Lestat's involvement in her death. Lied to him about Lestat saving him. Isolated him in Dubai. Cruelly tortured him in San Francisco after his suicide attempt. Deliberately delayed care to his burns after his suicide attempt. Dangled Lestat in his face after his suicide attempt. Orchestrated the Regina spiral just to fuck with his head like he did with the planted Stein photos. Bugged Lestat's apartment to spy on them. Took Regina hostage after mind-controlling her. Killed Larry. Mind-controlled Alex. Beheaded Lestat. Beheaded Louis.
All of this for....*checks notes* an apology from Louis. Meanwhile, Louis doesn't owe Armand anything!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'm watching Louis being tortured at Armand's hands AGAIN just because Armand went off the rails over Louis never loving him?!
You know who that dynamic ^^ actually belongs to? Lesmand.
Fourth — Lesmand. If they would've switched this scene to Armand torturing Lestat for never loving him and holding Louis' fate over his head? It would've made perfect sense. You know, any normal person watching this season and knowing the books would expect that to be the case, you know? Canon Lesmand.
Here? They've repurposed it and transferred it to Loumand. For no reason. This makes zero narrative sense. I'm sitting here watching Louis dying while being spitefully tortured because he didn't love the psycho who killed his daughter.
On top of that? Louis has to acknowledge Armand's backstory and "understand" him before Armand backs down. Know who that was in the books? Lestat.
Armand is obsessed with Lestat. Armand is constantly whining to Lestat about "why won't you love me?!" After Armand rapes him, he tells Lestat his backstory and yes, Lestat sympathizes with him and understands him. It's a key part of their dynamic. Yet here in the show, they've inexplicably given it to Louis for no reason, because Armand outright says in the scene that he never loved Louis and wanted him to suffer and wanted him dead in Paris simply because Louis always loved Lestat instead of him. Yes, we knew this in S2. Why are we back here again watching torture porn against Louis for an apology that means nothing other than satisfying Armand's vendetta against Louis "wronging" him? After everything Armand fucking did to Louis?
I really cannot begin to express how utterly disgusted I am with this choice. As I said here, this aspect is WORSE than S1E5. At least that choice made narrative sense. This?! It's the most bizarre writing choice I've ever encountered, and I cannot wait for the interviews in which they attempt to explain away this crock of shit.
He does not owe fuckass Armand anything!
The long table dream sequence shifted when Lestat replaced Magnus with Gabriella at the head of the table. It slowly morphed into Lestat realizing that Gabriella was the key monster in his life. She was the reason he became what he did....for better or worse. His changed facial expression (from what we initially saw in Episode 2) when it flashed back to the aftermath of the wolves said everything. That was not the first time she'd done that to him and already back then, we could see he was repulsed by her touch. Again, he had this realization back in Episode 3. Why are we still rehashing this? But anyways, I do digress, because it lead to Lestat finally pushing back against her. He finally stands up to her and calls her out for what she is — "you fucking monster!" I cheered. However, that shift in Lestat's stance where she was concerned was always set to happen because of Louis. Episode 6 established that bond between Louis and Lestat. It established that Louis is the one who is going to be the safe haven for Lestat. It established that Lestat was always going to choose Louis over Gabriella. He asked Louis in the bar if it mattered to him, Louis' answer is what truly dictates Lestat's response to her in Episode 7. If it matters to Louis, Gabriella will be packing her bags. There is no world in which Louis' feelings will not take priority for Lestat. The dream sequence finds Lestat accepting himself, flipping his "failures" back to his abusers in acknowledgement of what they did to him, and reaching the point in which he now knows that "failure" meant he at least tried. He did love. He did what he could with the shit bag he was handed, and that brings me to the saving grace of this episode.
Lestat's point of reference for reality in his lucid dream state is Louis.
"Could be nice. Could be. Hands touch."
This is what he periodically repeats to himself. It's as if he's clinging to that promise of a life with Louis as his anchor to actual life, because Lestat is actively dying in this moment. He's fading.
Truly, one of the best moments of the entire season. Maybe of the entire series. In an otherwise horrendous episode, this stunning moment will carry me into the cold, dark abyss of the hiatus. (And another scene, which I'm coming to.)
Lestat is at the point of death. The heavens open for him, which is likely them finally getting his head out of that damn bowling bag, and he sees the silver cords. (Another PL seed!) He's dying, yet what is the one thing on his mind in this moment at the threshold of the afterlife — Louis. The implication being his love for Louis is what grants his place in Heaven.
"He has a hard time saying it. Got that from our daddy. It doesn't mean he doesn't. It's just his way. Thank you for loving him. For loving him the way he needs to be loved."
The only thing Lestat doesn't feel he's failed at? Louis. Loving Louis. The only reason Louis survived the beheading is because of Lestat's blood.
"I have the blood of Akasha."
"No, it ain't the blood. It's what you do with the blood."
Yeah. Takes on an entirely different meaning now, doesn't it? Because Lestat's "monstrous" blood saved Louis' life. The thing Lestat most loathes about himself just saved the love of his life.
And that brings me back to Louis.
"Love of my life was him. Heard the witch. Must've heard the bench. Me. Him. Then. Even now. Still thinking about him."
"LOVE OF MY LIFE WAS HIM." 😭😭😭
Jaw on the floor. He actually fucking said it! You could hear my shrieks and sobs all the way to their home in New Orleans! I mean, we knew this, but hearing Louis admit it out loud?! Oh, my heart! Louis, also on the threshold of death, is only thinking of Lestat. Louis is refusing to back down from his love for Lestat. Not even to save his own life or Regina's life does he ever deny his love for Lestat. This is perfection. Absolute perfection. Louis loves him! Louis would die without Lestat!
It was never Claudia. It was never Armand. It was never Gabriella. It was never Antoinette. It was always them. Louis and Lestat. Lestat and Louis. ALWAYS. 🥹♥️
As soon as Lestat wakes and is able to come to himself, his concern? Louis.
The way he RUNS to Louis. The way we can literally see the relief washing over him.
The way they're looking at each other says everything. The gentle way they touch each other's neck scars. The profound emotions laden beneath this tender exchange. Seriously don't even talk to me right now. This + Paul assuring Lestat of Louis' love saved this. I'm telling y'all. Without this Loustat thread throughout the entire episode? Geez. I shudder to think. They are the beating heart. The touchstone. The spine holding this entire organism together.
The dream sequence wasn't the catalyst for this. Louis was the catalyst. Lestat standing up to her. Lestat having Louis as his rock. Louis finally giving him the courage. The knowledge that Lestat's love for Louis is where his true power lies. His blood saved Louis. He's not a failure. He deserves better than the shit Gabriella has subjected him to. The way his expression instantly darkens when Gabriella starts harping on him while he's looking at the damage done to Louis.
"This is you, right? Right? This is your idea!"
"You go on stage! You get torn apart!"
I don't know how they'll get him on the stage, but the fact remains the mayhem and carnage that ensues will, ultimately, be because of Gabriella. Lestat is blaming himself for it in the aftermath while recording The Failures, but the driving force behind it was always Gabriella. Remember when I said I don't predict she has any fans after this season? Well, here we are again. Arriving at that conclusion. I loathe her.
Let him run away with Louis to their trailer in Utah and Nevada. Everyone else can fuck right off!
Lestat calling Raglan "a friend" in the recordings. Well, Raglan did save their lives. I bet that is how the body thievery will be explained.
Lestat saying that Louis told him about what Armand did to him in the aftermath of Akasha. So that means that's when the canon love confession to Lestat will happen, because Lestat knows in the recordings what Louis said to Armand about the love of his life.
The witches' place being framed as Gabriella trying to get Lestat to flee Auvergne at, *checks notes* age NINE. I'm sorry but what? Either she wants to be him and use his "organ" or she wants him to be free? Pick a lane, Rolin.
I'm glad Regina survived. The last thing we needed was her death at Armand's hands so the writers could spend another season regressing Louis back into the grief spiral after placing him at his PL point of development exactly as they've done yet again at the end of S3.
Daniel's fate is left unknown. I don't care. That asshole threw the world's biggest toddler tantrum and beheaded Lestat just because he was pissed at Lestat for not allowing him to exploit Nicki.
Armand's whereabouts are left unknown. In the words of Blanche Devereaux, "Eat dirt and die, trash."
