A lot happens in Interview with the Vampire Season 2 Episode 3, “No Pain.” The irony of the episode’s title is not lost when every character suffers some pain in various degrees.
The episode’s hallmark is the appearance of Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), as told by two of his ex-lovers.
But of note, before the interview resumes, Molloy (Eric Bogosian) also gets introduced to a new party.
The interview has always been peculiar because what’s the point? If vampires have managed to stay hidden for so long without so much of a whiff from the general public, a story by some stubborn reporter will not change that.
Some questions about why Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Armand (Assad Zaman) are doing this interview have not been satisfactorily answered.
The entrance of Raglan James (Justin Kirke) thickens the plot and teases bigger developments because something else is at play. While no one is rushing to see the interview end and learn what it is all about, one would also like to know the stakes.
Lestat Returns Through Other People
Lestat has been missing, and given that he’s the most fun character in the show, it was felt.
Just like Armand or Louis, whose lives he animated simply by existing, Reid animates this episode as he plays different versions of the character to reflect how the storytellers remember him.
An important piece finally falls into place as the secret of the extent of Lestat and Armand’s relationship is revealed. It is not surprising that they became lovers because who can resist Lestat?
He is loud and unapologetically himself, which attracts a lot of people.
Armand is a stickler for the rules, which doesn’t make him popular with others or himself.
In some way, he likes being led as much as he likes leading.
Lestat and Armand’s relationship
Armand is used to a pathetic life with his vampires when Lestat arrives with his performance at the Theatre de Vampires. It is a miserable existence that he’s begging someone to pull him out of since he has failed to do it for himself.
Lestat arrives carefree and wild and a welcome addition to Armand’s life.
Lestat doesn’t conform to the world of vampires or humans. He will if he wants to feed on people out in the open. If he wants to take a male lover, he will.
There’s something liberating in that existence, and Armand clings on to it.
Does he love Lestat, or does he love being with Lestat? Is there anything to fall in love with about Lestat?
Louis and Armand’s Relationship
There are uncanny parallels between Armand and Louis’ relationship and that of Armand and Lestat.
Again, Armand is stuck leading a coven that doesn’t have much use for him. Even if he were to leave, they would carry on quite nicely.
But then, another vampire does not care about appeasing vampires or humans. He just wants to lead his life. He is also deep, and Armand finds himself taking several promenades around Paris with this man.
Soon, he catches feelings.
With Louis, however, there is something more profound. They both have a soft spot for humans and everything good about them.
In the Interview with the Vampire Season 2 Episode 3 sneak peek, they discuss things Lestat would have found extremely irritating.
Falling In Love
When it comes time to kill Louis, Armand knows who the man is. He also knows who Lestat is, so he understands where Louis is coming from.
As they walk through those tunnels, he is torn on whether to kill Louis or screw him.
There is also a specific aspect of Louis that makes men weak and prey to his charms.
He is highly vulnerable, and the way he carries himself physically can make anyone pity him. If they made the mistake of falling in love with and pitying him, they’re done for.
Like Lestat before him, Armand was done for.
The relationships are deeply contrasted. Loustat is volatile and physically charged, while Loumand is calm and highly connected.
There is something to be enjoyed about both, but if you’re Louis and you’ve had enough of turbulence with one man for a lifetime, one who will kiss you softly and get lost in your eyes is the best option.
Life Plays Claudia a Cruel Joke
Being a grown woman stuck in a girl’s body does a lot of damage to Claudia.
People never take her seriously, and she can’t find a good item of clothing that doesn’t need to be altered to fit her.
She hates being stuck in the body of a teen girl, which, even if it is stronger than others, is not much less different from that of any other teen girl.
And now she’ll be stuck playing a little girl for the rest of her life. What a joke!
It’s almost like life (or whatever it is for them) finds a way of making her miserable.
What happens when she realizes that Louis has taken another lover and is in love? Can he keep the promise he made?
The Interview with the Vampire and His Boyfriend (Husband?) Continues
The interview at this hour is much less formal. The regular couch talk is replaced by casual conversation around the penthouse.
Sometimes, it’s between Daniel and one or both vampires.
But James’ revelation makes Daniel even more unnerved. Not only is he dealing with two vampires, but something fishy is also happening.
Much doesn’t emerge about the current state of affairs between Armand and Louis, apart from that they are still in love and are making money for what exactly? Just rob a bank. It’s not like you don’t have the power to do it.
Interview with the Vampire Season 2 continues in Episode 4, “I Want You More Than Anything In the World,” on AMC on Sunday, June 2.
Rating: 9/10