INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 2 Episode 4 Reaction and Discussion 2x4

[@mixmymusicplease]

Claudia didn't choose to stay with the abuser, she said in an earlier episode that he put her under the floorboards and kept her captive 😢

[@mmandyyyy]

Yes and he broke her bones too so she couldn’t leave. And I wouldn’t call him her abuser he was her kidnapper and r@pist

[@nglulakaja8922]

Who bruce?

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

“Killer” aka Bruce, liked young girls, 14 yo girls were especially adored

[@HuntingViolets]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia If you call that adoration.

[@Xoxo_keyyy]

@@mmandyyyy but that is abuse, by definition he is her abuser.

[@feyrol42]

Some context for the French lady, Madeleine. During WWII when Nazis occupied Paris, some German soldiers raped and/or coerced French women into relationships. These women would get 'protection', food (which was scarce) and other privileges for being with a Nazi officer . Madeline was with a young SS soldier and that is probably why she was allowed to run her business during that time. During the occupation Nazis could shut down your business if they suspected you of being Jewish or against their presence in France. Coco Chanel famously had a relationship with a high ranking Nazis Officer allowing her to continue running her fashion business and booting out her (Jewish) investor that owned a portion of her business. I suppose Madeline was similar, she just said 'fuck it' this is how I'm gonna survive in this situation and was in a relationship(?) with this Nazi soldier to protect herself. The problem is when Paris was liberated women that had these relations with German soldiers were considered traitors. They were shamed, ridiculed, had their heads shaved off, paraded through the streets naked etc. It's why Madeline is an outcast, why Claudia was warned by a random man not to associate with her and why she has people spraying Nazi symbols on her shop window.

[@remholloway2579]

Thanks for the quick history lesson. Really colors that scene in.

[@D_Ella1269]

I believe it's also part of what draws Claudia to the woman. I think she recognizes an aura of loneliness the woman exudes, despite the woman's actions which show defiance in the face of her current community.

[@feyrol42]

@@D_Ella1269 I agree!

[@dyndan19]

She also said that she lost her entire family, every single one of her loved ones, to tuberculosis (TB). Losing everyone, and during the extreme bleakness of war time, I can understand why she said (as you put it) 'fuck it' and accepted the offer to share a comforting moment with a frightened young man who was fated to die. He was posted to Düsseldorf which was almost destroyed by bombing so his chances of survival were incredibly low.

[@HuntingViolets]

It sounded like she was with a young, inexperienced soldier (and maybe only once to give him some experience before he died), not a ranking officer. I may have heard wrong, though.

[@HuntingViolets]

I don't really blame Claudia. She wanted to be in the coven, but that doesn't mean she expected to be punished by playing a little girl forever. She can easily pass as an adult and anyone could play the part in that type of dress -- even one of the guys. All these people are having tantrums. Louis had a tantrum.

[@dyndan19]

Armand wants to drive Claudia mad and prove himself right to Louis.

[@HuntingViolets]

@@dyndan19 I can believe that.

[@endor8witch]

she was impulsive. she just wants to belong but dont bother knowing more before committing.

[@Stephaniacat]

​@@dyndan19that's the first thing that i thought, when he basically forced her to play the part. he probably knows she helped killing lestat and wants to punish her and like you say drive her crazy

[@dyndan19]

@@Stephaniacat He can't directly take Lestat's demise out on Louis without losing his love, and Armand sees Claudia as a barrier to Louis' full attention and affection. Claudia is in a very precarious position, and I'm so frustrated that Louis doesn't see the danger he put her in. She did love him, but it was the love of family. She told him the blunt truth and didn't massage his ego (or use flattery to manipulate him. She calls him out in ep.1: "If he can't take you ballroom dancing, and tell you you're pretty then to hell with him. Is that it?". Such a read!). She didn't fawn over him, but called him out on his BS, cared for him while he was healing and shared in his excitement about the artistic movement in Paris. She loved him in her own way.

[@kev121]

Claudia was fine with the coven until Armand came up with the role in the show where she plays a little girl for the next 50 years. And then to punish her by making her be that character all the time took it’s toll, which he knew it would do. Armand, like Lestat, wants all of Louis’ affection. His plan is to get Claudia to the point where she breaks and destroys herself.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

She doesn’t destroy herself….save that one for satan incarnate Armand

[@JessLoveyy]

Yup. If you seen the original movie you know this

[@decadeofmcfly]

@@JessLoveyy Original movie? Sheesh, at least read the book. Anne Rice herself has issues with the film, don't do that to the Queen.

[@HuntingViolets]

None of these vampires are any more mentally stable than Claudia, as far as I can see.

[@Syntell]

You grow old enough eventually you'll lose your marbles 😂🤣

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@Syntellyup! They all go mad if they don’t go into the earth for a spell

[@alwaysbam]

I will say it again. DELANEY is killing the role of Claudia 🎉

[@Syntell]

She's definitely in her bag. That's for certain.

[@ldhorricks]

not too mention she is a absolute delight to work with...I adore her...all of the cast were lovely and oh so talented.

[@Velociraptour]

"ROMEO? He's barely Balthazar!" Dreamstat really said Armand is not the lead of this story, he's a side character.

[@feyrol42]

The last scene is twisted. Louis heard Armand's backstory about how he was sold into slavery by his parents, pimped out as a child and how his slaver/abuser/maker/lover pimped him out too. Louis immediately puts on his pimp persona later on. He starts by closing his umbrella before Armand arrives then saying "he's wet", Armand submissively opens the umbrella, but doesn't put himself under it. Then when he tells Louis he wants him more than anything, Louis responds by calling him "Arun", Armand's original name or at least the name he remembers when he was in the brothels. Most tellingly, Armand calls Louis "Maitre" which means master in French. Louis reached way back to bring his pimp game because now he knows Armand has deep trauma and is SO desperate for love. Don't get it twisted, Armand is no meek flower, he is still very powerful - the man is almost 500 years old at this point and had a hard life even before he was turned into a vampire. He's not completely naive. He just knows Louis is insecure and needs to show power. He takes Louis to the Louvre because he knows Louis would like it and he could use it to connect with him. Louis is still salty by seeing how powerful Armand is when he controlled a whole room of people - including other powerful vampires. He knows Louis is insecure about power imbalances in relationships. Lestat hiding powers from Louis and being revealed to be 100x stronger than him made him feel small. So Armand probably feels he needs to take that submissive role to make Louis stay with him. He wants to show he is 'not Lestat' and even better than Lestat, especially considering he's even more powerful than Lestat being double his age and being turned by a very ancient vampire (meaning he was super powerful from the start and only got more so over time). Armand knows he needs to play his role to get Louis to be his. It's also why he is teaching Louis important skills like creating fire. He knows Lestat was keeping a few powers for himself, teaching Louis only the basic ones and hiding general vampire info from Louis (and Claudia). Funnily enough, Armand mentions he likes to "look for vulnerabilities" when using the fire gift. He knows Louis' insecurities, so he is letting him play master. Louis knows Armand is extremely powerful, but also incredibly traumatised and desperate to love and be loved. They are both playing each other in a way.

[@remholloway2579]

Exactly this dude

[@lenorawilson2326]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Louis has become Lestat, you hear Armand call him master basically. When I saw Louis just across the table on Santiago like Wayne Brady say is Wayne Brady going to have to get out and smack a B**ch 😂 Louis stright laid the pimp hand on Santiago I was gone😂😂😂.

[@beautifulloly]

Such good points, thank you ! When Jacob mentionned the submissive/dominant switch I thought it still felt like they were playing roles!! That's such good insight because I totally forgot that Louis hated that Lestat kept his powers from him, I understand why he was resentful in the museum now.

[@erikadixon8341]

This is good 💯

[@jordanparker657]

Lestat was made by an ancient vampire as well Magnus. He wasn't even supposed to make a fledgling because he was over 300 years old and according to the rules that would be too much power to pass to a newbie but he wanted someone to pass his fortune to, hence he made only one- Lestat. At the point Lestat met Louis he had been with and shared blood with the original vampires. He mentioned it in episode 7....TWMBK , Louis asked him what he said but he didn't repeat it , mainly because he's forbidden. So, while Armand is 200 plus years older than Lestat, he's not more powerful. Lestat kept his powers from Louis because as Louis said once, " Lestat thought Louis might see imbalance and feel some kind of way" basically. 🌷

[@amarawombat]

I’m so glad you mentioned the parallels between Armand and Claudia. That’s what makes it so tragic. I think a part of Armand recognises that in Claudia (esp. given his history) and he’s resentful that she doesn’t respect the laws in the same way he did. It’s v tragic

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Yes, Armand knows far too well the mania of being made too young

[@feyrol42]

Rough timeline on Claudia's age. She was born in 1903, turned in 1917, so she stopped aging at 14. Paris was liberated from the Nazis in 1944, they clearly arrived in Paris just after World War II. So I'd say 1945 is when they got to Paris at the latest, they've been in Paris for almost two years now, so we're currently in 1946/1947. So Claudia is actually 43 or 44 now and Louis is 69/70. I agree that because she has lived that long, she does have some adult experiences and perspectives, but due to being turned so young in some ways parts of her mind is like a child's. Lestat mentioned she would be in perpetual puberty. It's why she is so blood thirsty, quick to anger, impulsive. Even Armand mentioned her mind would break and as an almost 500 year old vampire at this point, I believe him. Her mind is constantly wrestling with her adult conscious and her hormonal/underdeveloped brain. Not to mention her child like body and not being treated like an adult, even though she is one. I understand why vampires had rules against this, she should have never been turned.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

In the series, Armand was turned by Marius too young, 16. Marius wanted to wait until he was an adult but Armand was mortally wounded and poisoned so he was changed too young. And Armand was insane for centuries, I think he knows too well the insanity when they are turned too soon

[@feyrol42]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia on the show, canonically he was turned at 27. You're right that in the books he was turned very young. I guess on the show when Armand mentioned Claudia’s mind would break due to being turned so young, that was a callback to the books

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@feyrol42 that’s what I meant, the book series

[@BG-kn3nt]

Someone on Twitter drew a parallel between Claudia’s play where she pretends to be a bird and flys out of the window only to fall and die, to Louis’ brother Paul always fighting with the birds in his head only to fly off the roof and die. Paul also parallels Louis and his relationship to Dreamstat because Louis makes physical space for him - puts out a chair, holds the door open, sits on the far side of the bench.

[@shan0997]

I think that Claudia is fascinated by Madeleine bc she represents everything she wants to be. I do think it's weird that Madeleine is comfortable having that kind of convo with a child. However, I also think that she knows or suspects that Claudia isn't human. When she mentioned that she hasn't changed in two years and Claudia blamed the war. Then she responded by stating that Claudia's eyes were like her shop window. She might not think vampire but she knows something is up imo. That scene in the rain was something else. 😢 And that ending!..🤯

[@erinmurray2367]

the constant blaming of claudia is getting really tired, everything in her life that has happened to her has been forced upon her, the only reason she felt the need to find a family is because louis forced her into this life she didn’t want. he DOES have a responsibility to look out for her and defend her, he just doesn’t care

[@endor8witch]

i think you're misinterpeting things. louis saw her as an adult...eventhough her body is still a teen, so he does not become overbearing when it comes to her

[@belxgarcia]

The scene with Louis saying goodbye to Lestat was so well written that it caught me off guard just as it caught Lestat off guard

[@whatadollslife]

the thing is ......both sides of the conversation are from the mind of Louis ,unless we think that Lestat has the power to reach louis in reality and be stealthy of Armand .

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@whatadollslifehe actually does 😂 in the book series powerful vamps can reach around the world to each other

[@HuntingViolets]

She doesn't think Claudia is a little girl. It was a long time since their previous meeting.

[@Drewski217]

I just rewatched this and the prior episode and had a realization - He complains that she chose the coven first BUT by not telling her years beforehand that Armand knew a version of their true past and prioritizing that relationship it robbed Claudia of being able to make an informed decision and in THAT way he chose Armand over her. Even when he confesses that Armand knows he lied and said it was mind reading vs. Louis telling them, another example of him choosing first. Now was it with the best hopeful intentions? Yes. But he's lighting her with gas.

[@Deltadivaix]

This is a really great episode. Lestat disappearing, Louis letting go. The argument with Armand and Louis. And also that ending just had me in a clutch. Can't wait for next week.

[@calientehouston6204]

the way i interpreted claudia outburst of anger is this tragic figure who's been dealt a bad hand everything that's good in her life is fleeting she doesn't choose any of the bad things to happen.. she's given a second chance at life by louis who then introduces her into this toxic/abusive dynamic that was good for a minute until it wasn't..she leaves to find companionship where she runs into bruce who she thinks is nice until he sexually assaults her and keeps her captive doing it again and again and again until he tires of her.. which forces her back into this abusive/toxic dynamic with louis and lestat (yes louis loves and cares for her but he never actually sticks up for her even during lestat death he choked her out for wanting to finish the job allowing that trauma to still exist).. goes to paris looking for something or anyone that would truly accept and cherish her a companion they find the coven she thinks she's found family who will really look out for her and love her but founds the opposite with half the coven secretly despising her because of her connection with louis and another half against her because of her plays success (which she can't even enjoy because it's a form of punishment/secret animosity) so if anyone is valid in their feelings of being upset it's definitely claudia

[@gmunden1]

The images of young Daniel are set in 1973 San Francisco. Claudia is chronologically about 40 in 1946 and physically an adolescent (14 years) when she was turned. Madeleine is ostracized because she had an affair with a young German soldier and was treated as a Nazi sympathizer, but the relationship had nothing to do with politics. They were two lonely people.

[@Just2gofoods]

Lestat’s comments when Louis and Armand are alone are gold.

[@elijahjackson1052]

The way that y'all dont understand claudia at all bothers me so much lmao

[@lisbethqk8923]

I don't think they really care to, especially considering how much disdain they had for her in s1

[@vampr3751]

literally 😅 i feel like they are always dismissing her feelings on every shitty thing that happens to her

[@sashaparrish228]

So much to say about this episode but I’m gonna focus on Claudia bc she’s my favorite. Her interest to the seamstress I think is not only connected to fashion and her womanhood but her human womanhood which Claudia never experienced (forever a baby, forever a bird that cannot leave the nest same as baby Lulu). It’s sad that she came to this coven looking for community but it wasn’t what she thought it would be and Louis (as usual) never sticks up for her (not that there’s much he could do). She’s such a tragic figure and always so alone ☹️

[@sashaparrish228]

Also super interesting to me that the apple did not fall far from the Lestat tree (love of fashion, love of performance, hating not getting their way)

[@sashaparrish228]

Last thought! While she did choose to become a coven member she did NOT choose to become a child vampire. She did not choose the consequences and the treatment and the many abuses that came with it either. So while Louis was partially right she’s allowed to feel some type of way abt him causing all of this then turning his back when he doesn’t want to see the negative consequences of his actions.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@sashaparrish228 I think she will become resentful at Louis for saving her and asking Lestat to turn her

[@beautifulloly]

I think Louis is acting blind on purpose, he doesn't wanna join the coven and he's playing with Armand's feelings because he knows that man is on his knees for him and will allow him to do whatever he wants ! Delainey mentioned that Claudia and the seamstress find each other because they see the pain in each other + She seems to be the first person to actually listen to her. Also the seamstress met Claudia two years before that episode, and she clocked something was weird because she wasn't really growing up + her eyes. In Claudia's defense, the rules are stupid af, clearly Lestat thought the same since left the coven and broke all of them lol. She was happy to be among her peers but she says to Armand he can't ask her to make friends with the coven, so I think they don't like her that much or there's already a mess within the group. That ties in with Armand as a leader, i too think he's good at his job, he just hates it, he can't let it go but the coven is fragile at that point

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

The drama of Lestat walking with the crucifix pales in comparison to Lestat and his own mother, the vampire Gabrielle, walking into the church while the satanic coven waits for the roof to come down on the duo. They become trapped in the church as the sun rises, and Gabrielle and Lestat wake up under the pulpit while church is in service. Gabrielle is terrified and Lestat declares they will rise up like proper vamps and the bust through the floor boards. Awwww perfection

[@beautifulloly]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia hey I havent read your whole comment but it seems like it's book spoilers, i havent read it and would like to discover it myself when they adapt it

[@niyah7139]

What I noticed about Armand seems very cowardice to me. The rule only apply when he wants some to apply. Everybody was forced to join the Covenexcept for Louis and lestat. Because he got feelings for them. His hands are always clean and he seems to get other people to do his dirty work like how he got lestat to break up the coven the first time

[@brittanywallace6485]

Yeah,Armand is good at letting people do his dirty work for him. He also acts like he can’t stop something when he definitely could.

[@_adrian_sean]

Who was forced to join?!? You join cuz you want to. People keep forgetting that.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@_adrian_sean they join or die. The series mildly implied this. Remember Santiago yelling at Armand for letting Louis live after he denied the coven? The books also explains it.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Sad but true tidbit. Claudia was created by Anne Rice after her own 6 year old child, died from cancer. Chris Rice was her only living child. The vampires were born from Anne Rice’s tragedy. Lestat, was her alter ego.

[@pebsa31]

I feel really bad for Armand. He’s got that submissive personality that’s been forced to be dominant. He just wants someone to love him and take care of him like he loves them and he’s terribly insecure.

[@mayaamis]

this is all true but he's also very smart and master manipulator and knowes how to position situations and people just how he wants them. it's important to remember that about his too, he's not just some poor little victim, Armand is not an idiot he knows what's going on and he's been running covens and people for centuries for a reason.

[@pebsa31]

@@mayaamis I definitely don’t think he’s an idiot, nor do I think he’s innocent. There are no innocents at this point. I just mean that he’s been made submissive and from his beginnings and has this need to please someone and be loved back. He’s had to be cunning and manipulative to survive all these centuries. But I think he so easily submits to Louie, wants to be loved by him, that this is also a part of his natural personality.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Oh girl! You have it partially correct. Armand’s experiences have caused him to be the scariest Mo Fo we have met..Lestat is a choir boy in comparison. In the book he put Claudia’s head on an adult female vampire to mock her, because she hated her child form

[@mayaamis]

@@pebsa31 he submits to Louis but his thing is he likes to do that when he finds someone he likes. he will even manipulate ppl into being the dominant ones. but I also think partly it's.. he sees where Louis is going with this "I am taking control now" thing and is perfectly playing along with him. His "yes maitre" was playing along. Because he knows this will only enrage coven even more... and remember when he was pushing Claudia in the wall and called her out on what she did to her maker? he knew Santiago was there and listening because he felt him and he still said those words in front of Santiago out loud. even if Santiago didn't find Claudia's journal and learned from the book they killed Lestat, he would've heard it from Armand right there. Armand is playing some serious chess, he wants to keep Louis but he wants to get rid of coven, and possibly Claudia too... but he will let others do the dirty and create their own messes lol. having said all that he does honestly want and care for Louis tho but the way he goes about it is... sinister :) he's brilliant like that lol

[@whimsyfan]

While you may be part of a community, I don't think that means that said community has a right to force you to dehumanise yourself or to dehumanise/infantilize you. Or to ignore and dismiss what are very deep core, defining wounds in favor of their own "order". They know she is an adult and a community very much can change or shape itself towards some members' emotional needs as long as there's a unresentful understanding amongst all. That play, if you notice, is basically describing--metaphorically--Claudia's existence, how others see her, how the coven members can and might abuse her, as well as foreshadowing the end of this story Claudia may have chosen to be a part of a coven, and specifically one in theatre, but she did not ask for infantilization. It's like if you have an insecurity and then tried to find a group to "belong" to, say a church community, but you find out right after you joined that you have to basically hone or perform your insecurity many times a week. For Claudia, that's x50. If you go back to the last episode, in the after credits, the directors and actors reveal that for the vampires, performing's only purpose is for them to be as they are (killing humans for glee, blood, etc.) while in front of the very humans they have to hide from so as to not be hunted or else. Claudia has another layer of tragedy--her being a vampire adult stuck in an immortal body. And she has been forced into posing as a child for all of her vampire life, AND she has never been a human adult. While every other vampire she has met has at least experienced--even if they don't remember--what being a human adult was like and have carried whatever makes one "adult"/become physically "mature". Claudia is arrested in childhood not just physically of body but partially of mind, as you said. She has been trying to understand what it means to be a vampire and to be a *realized* vampire all this time, which is why she was so single-minded in finding other vampires--to find any frame of reference as well a a community that knows and appreciates their own vampire "self". So she could then find what she *can* be without it always going back to her entrapped state. Who is she, what is she? The girl who has never been "fully" mature? Who has only known adult" life as a vampire but is trapped with the form of the human self she no longer has any real attachment to? She quite literally doesn't have much clue what it's like being a more *comparatively* complex "human" (kids are still people, still complex, and have good cognitive skills) and has had no mental grasp or sensory experience of "humanness" to actively use when defining-measuring her own actions and self. Or others'. Other than the memories of an abusive aunt and a father who neglected her that are diluted to its most potent foundation of fear that obviously she nor others would want to dwell on, thereby making her even more focused on being a "vampire". There is quite literally nothing like the "leftover" shame Louis has from his mortal life in her, nor something else in the same "family" in potency. Therefore she has no real interest or feeling of proximity or stake in understanding humanity nor her own proximity to the possible meanings of "humanity"--which explains her lack of patience or care or empathy for humans. She has nothing else but vampirism. So yes, there are more sticky, overlapping motivations for her "demanding" is not strictly the same sort of demanding as the kind of a child's natural forwardness, curiosity, & self-centeredness. Rather, this is a separate, related, and mutually informing phenomenon to how she is partially always a child with impulsive, demanding self-concern of a teen/child. No one else has this sort of condition, even if they are also trapped in some ways and by their own actions. Only for her to be forced into playing a child in front of the very mortals she and the others do not think of as actual people. It is also like they are excluding her from their own process of self-actualization of vampirism, even inadvertedly. The effect is cruel and unnecessary. She can play a little person, or Armand can do as she asks and relegate her to the back, but he specifically states how he wont' bec "he said so", she should be "grateful", and that they are making a lot of money. As if that is actually why they perform in the first place. So, it's also form of exploitation. In a way, the coven is "feeding" off of her or she is going through special "punishment" before Armand actually punishes her. Child star, anyone? It's also interesting, considering how she is a walking violation of their laws, how they already show that they hate when their precious rules are broken, and how they resent Armand for making Louis just walk around breaking rules...she likely will/would have always been an outlier--socially--in the community she looked for all her life. So, they could also be said to take pleasure in her de-personing similarly to how they take joy/self affirmation when they kill humans onstage--"look at how we enforce our own laws, watch us punish this girl and watch as how we mock 'innocence', how opposed we are to the very concept." And they literally sucked the joy of performing from Claudia by trapping her in the performance she wanted to use to "free" herself--a thing she would have loved and thrived in, used to destroy her. Claudia is in the most danger if the coven finds out abt Lestat, since Louis is at least in Armand's favor by having slept with him/Armand being in love w/him. And she is physically weaker, smaller as well as a literal "abomination". Louis using the reason of "you were unhappy" is simply not enough in the face of this danger mostly stacked against her, so his superior motivation is that he wanted to keep close to Armand. He had a whole year, mind you, to tell her Armand knows. S2Claudia is not the girl who kept secret the bodies of people she indiscriminately killed after her breakdown last season, which itself again was, as self-destructive and messy for not just her but Louis and Lestat, was a mental breakdown from THEIR actions in turning her as she is now that lead to her killing her first crush/how Lestat handled that. Yes, she needed to know her actions' consequences; however, with Lestat & Louis having not actually not engaging with her as a person but more an accessory-child so they could properly discipline her teenage-child stage, that was also most of their own doing. They needed to connect the consequences of their own actions to their actions that have lead them all to that point--w/o them, Claudia wouldn't have had to live as she did, and that will never change or not matter or not define why she does what she does! (btw, the first crush kill has its own plethora of meaning: it is when Claudia first really comes to realize that she is too dangerous to even that who she could love/value [like a child who's finally broken a much-loved thing what it did not fully internalize was the same as all the other things they did not "love"]). Having read the book, I still believe that this Armand is not at all interested in really incorporating Claudia into the coven on her own merit, but just to keep Louis around, so he tolerates her emotions and psychological state even less. In fact, it works toward his benefit, bc it isolates her from Louis. I think it's good to remember that these people/vamps are not really trying to act in good faith to each other and might=right is what they really respond to unless they actually like you. Which isn't often. Finally, Claudia is fascinated by Madeline bc Madeline is a woman who really lives in her womanhood with no trace of self victimization or apologizing for it. Madeline actively listens to her, to her pain, Claudia is the interested in her own. Madeline is not distracted or putting anyone else above Claudia and is interested in what she has to say. It began with Claudia seeing how isolated the woman was in the other episode, how people tried to "warn" her away from her, and defying that boundary to see for herself what made this woman so ostracized. Like a teenager who doesn't like being told what to do (like Lestat), but also bc she had already desired to see herself in a dress that the woman was making that she wanted to use to see herself as she thinks of herself--a woman. You can compare it to how a trans person will wear clothes they/we see as "feminine" or "masculine" to identify and see their denied inner selves outwards. And the guy telling her not to enter likely re-reminded her of her limitations & childness. Also, Claudia cannot talk to other vampires both bc they are not interested and she would have to divulge information that could get her killed. Which makes Louis' telling Armand all the more enraging for her bc it's not just his secret but hers, she has been keeping the end of the silent deal they have to do so, and he never told her he was thinking of telling anyone--much less the vampire who could destroy them both consequently. In fact, Claudia is so much alike to Lestat. It is true that Claudia is trying to go back to Louis with how the coven is doing what they are doing, but she is very valid in that considering all the above and how we still expect our loved ones to have space for us when we see that the space we found with others is actually not conducive to our happiness or safety or mental stability--as the coven has proven to be and she instinctively knows but is clinging onto she has also felt Louis to be so unhappy even before they arrived at Paris (remember how he talked about wanting to go back home, how she was incessant in her search as if he resented her for the constant movement). In fact, it can be literally be life saving.

[@jordanparker657]

This is beautiful. And I confess, because of Delainey's portrayal of Claudia for the first time I am not annoyed by her presence and would give anything if Lestat would come and spirit her away to safety. At the same time knowing that's such a departure from canon, Rolin and his team wouldn't do it. You have written this summary perfectly. 👏👏

[@smolson8471]

This is a perfect explanation of the tragedy of Claudia. Very well written and thought out

[@alwaysbam]

Ok. So Claudia. Her experiences have aged and brought knowledge. But her mental makeup stuck in teenager land. Yes she chhose the coven. BUT Lestat made them and did not educate them. For all his knowledge. He kept them ignorant. 😊 which is foul for a maker to do

[@struggleskywalker1025]

True, but then again, he figured that any coven he made would never venture into Europe looking for the others. And while he may not have given explicit details, he did tell her the vampires in Europe are vicious, but she refused to believe him. Now, just like any rebellious child who doesn't listen to their parents when they say “don't do something” Claudia is finna fuck around and find out that big bad Uncle Les was not bullshitting when he said the European vamps are not to be fucked with.

[@xdiavolo]

The replaced photograph scene had some great parallels with what was going on in Daniels head, his memories had been replaced and he is just starting to remember what really happened in San Fransisco, similar to Louis becoming aware of the photograph he didn't take and that someone is replacing his photographs

[@whatadollslife]

do you think there is the possibility that Armand "replaced" the ending of the original Interview book in Daniels mind/publishing to keep the truth from Louis ......I feel that at some point Armand has thrown Louis into a coffin to keep his ,I just don't know what era he did that in .......if the original ending to Interview was changed what does that mean to Claudias fate????? how did Louis go from not wanting to kill in New Orleans to being so comfortable with killing in Paris or even SF

[@Vienne2Luv]

This episode was quite impressive, executed flawlessly... from the acting to the dialogue! Both Louie & then Armand jumping bad was a definite moment & revealed even more re: their subjective powers.. loved it!! Lestat as always owns every scene he appears in. I cannot wait for the 'real' Lestat to finally return! Claudia also displayed quite righteous outrage! As Louie should have told her that he'd already advised Armand about Lestat's murder.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

More like Armand read it from his mind :)

[@struggleskywalker1025]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophiliayeah, but he still confirmed it with his own words. He could have still lied his ass off, but instead he chose to tell Armand “yes, I did and he fucking had it coming”. And while it may be true, that didn't mean he should have volunteered that information to Armand.

[@Vadrian7]

"Oh no. Everybody be quiet. And sleep." 😂 Yes!!! I LOVED that whole scene. When he slammed his hand down and they all dropped and collapsed on that table I stood up and clapped my hands. Yes sir!! Let the children know! But Santiago is relentless. He was not stifled for long. He was soon back at it. All up in Louis's and Claudia's apartment discovering and stealing the smoking gun.

[@hopet7090]

It’s seems very evident that Armand was there for the original 70s interview but has glamored Daniel to forget him. And in regards to my baby Claudia, you can join any group but that doesn’t mean you should just take abuse from them that’s not what you signed up for. It’s like getting a job and suddenly you’re given the responsibility of 8 other people and we’re gonna dehumanize you and separate you from your only family but I should just take it? Nah and Armand knows exactly what he is doing cause he wants Louis to himself and her out the way

[@Syntell]

It's starting to feel like Armand is playing the long game on everyone. We already know he's powerful, but do we fully understand just how powerful.

[@hopet7090]

@@Syntell he’s older than Lestat he probably has even more powers than he’s showing us. The actor is doing a great job. He has a verbal subtle commanding presence. And if he did wipe Daniel’s mind it makes me wonder if he’s done it others maybe Louis

[@mayaamis]

they way you cut of your last sentence there at 24:27... nicely played lol. this is the most maddening cut off the show has ever pulled lol

[@looniegurl]

She isn't connecting with the women of the coven because of Louis.They dislike Louis. Since she is connected to him they avoid friendship with her.

[@Ladygothii12]

Ah nah. Louis is projecting hardon Claudia. Claudia did not pick the coven over Louis like Louis is doing with Armand. In t the front of the episode, when the rest of the coven was honing in on Louis , Claudia , turned the conversation back to her, even though she is still trying to win their favor and she is the youngest , least powerful in the group. She stood up for him in public , but Louis spoke up for her in her in private , which favor Armand saving face. And even then Louis only brought up the treatment of Claudia after he voice his discontent of Armand showing off his power at the restaurant. Claudia still lives with even instead of the coven , she still tells him what goes on when he isn't there. As soon as she she learned that Armand knew their secret she came straight to Louis . She gives him all her attention w at dinner when it comes to his art, and backs him up against Santiago but he reads during her punishment . Louis had known Claudia for over 30 years, he has known Armand for about 2 and his first reaction is " that doesn't sound like him" re you kidding me, Armand mentioned how he's keeping their secret in bed earlier this episode and you are turning around with " well that doesn't sound like him". Despite all the red flags he is still indeed "picking another one" over her.

[@NYerCarl]

I think there is something about the glam Armand uses on Daniel that may give us more clues. Notice he appears younger in those scenarios and Armand himself may have been turned underage which is why we now have rules about turning teens. The painting definitely shows a teenage Amadeo as he was known back then.

[@jordanparker657]

Yes, in the books Armadeo was about 19 when turned but he says he was 20 in the painting and turned 7 years later. So in the show he was 27 not a child. And that's probably because they increased Claudia's age to 14 and in the book she was turned at 5 years old...a true child which is against the rules.

[@brittanywallace6485]

Armand was turned in his 20s in the show. Either 25 or 27. He was purchased by Marius at 20.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@jordanparker657he was turned at 17, younger than Marius wanted..but we know why.

[@jordanparker657]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia Thank you. Yes, I know. Stay away from visiting lower (appointees) royalty 👑. 😉😙

[@erruh1514]

the way they just blame claudia..💀

[@Jev_the_fluorescent_shrimp]

And they are completely right

[@mialove3050]

@@erruh1514 Yeah she isn’t completely innocent obviously but it’s so annoying how they blame her for so much all the time lol. I don’t feel like they understand her much( my opinion)

[@erruh1514]

@@mialove3050 no they don't, and they don't really bother trying to understand her. out of everyone i really empathize w/ claudia because she never got a choice and is stuck in child form forever:(

[@mialove3050]

@@erruh1514 Literally! And she’s my favorite because of how relatable she is. She has experienced nothing but pain and it hurts so much knowing that she never really got her happy ending. Atleast madeleine chose her❤️.

[@erruh1514]

@@mialove3050 yess her story is so sad, her and madeleine deserved a happily ever after smh i wish they escaped

[@Kennia1998]

UGH This show is so good!! it's my fav at the moment

[@HuntingViolets]

"Lestat is very well-learned" -- but that's not really Lestat.

[@lisbethqk8923]

Lol righ

[@lenoraGrayce]

Our human hypothalamus does not fully mature until about the age of 25. So for as much knowledge as Claudia has, her mind is still not fully developed and thus she still has the mind and emotions of a prepubescent girl. Also, can you imagine the Hell of having to put up with puberty for the rest of your immortal life?

[@charlierayed]

I love him and literally all the characters but I would agree that Armand is not a good leader. He's the only character that I completely disagree with his choices. I understand Santiago & why hes upset with the Louis situation. I understand Louis and why he doesn't want to join the coven (he's tired of being ruled over plus the coven are all miserable). I understand why Claudia wanted to originally join but why is she miserable now. But Armand is just making bad decisions imo by not making Louis join and break rules while also punishing everyone else. Armard is only in power because of the rules & the fact that he's the most powerful but hes not a leader and doesn't want to be. I loved finding out his back story because it puts everything into perspective. He's prefers being submissive and Louis misses being dominant. He had to let go of Lestat to really get back to that side of himself.

[@Incite-westworld]

Bien l’bonjour, I initially noticed they’re all trapped in their own roles/lives… Also Louis is absolutely the triggering event for chaos (always: season 1/Paris/in the 70’s/the interview/and so on)… And sorry but I absolutely cannot trust Armand. Lastly P.I.M.P. Louis persona is back, the dominant side of him (Louis said « I’m wet, Armand took the umbrella, and Armand calling him “maître” meaning Master). Been following your reactions for some time, keep them coming ! Sending some love from Paris France 🇫🇷 👋🏾

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Armand is a nasty devil. Claudia won’t leave that theater. Ever

[@Matthewgreen7779311]

I always look forward to your reactions to this show.

[@cullenarthur8879]

I think the pictures and audio Daniel was looking at at the end (along with the news article about the Theatre de Vampire being burned down) were files put on his computer by Raglan James of the Talamasca. They were probably surveillance pictures and audio recordings made by the Talamasca, who monitor vampires. They probably had Louis and Armand under surveillance when Daniel got involved with them.

[@HuntingViolets]

Alice was his second wife, as far as we know now. He is supposed to have two ex-wives.

[@shanahocker3811]

I find it interesting that Claudia and the Jewish woman have bonded. Claudia can't bond with the European Parisian vampire women in the coven. They see her as a slave, the help.

[@Triskaan]

And another fantastic episode, looking forward to get your take on it. :)

[@walksonair]

Well…. I’ll keep it short. Good luck with next week’s episode😩🙏🏽 looking forward to your next reaction!

[@NyikoDoris]

Loumand’s dubai fight is so funny because if you listen really carefully you can hear some of what they say Armand: “you’re being ridiculous.” Louis: “I’m being ridiculous?!” A: “yes.” L: “[…] you wanna see ridiculous?!” A: “No.” L: “I’ll show you ridiculous! LALALALALA!” Mind you they are 145 and 514 years old respectively 😭 Louis would passive aggressive Lestat but he’s met his avoidance match in Armand so while he wants to scream and fight, Armand simply takes back whatever he said or gives one word answers, which pisses Louis off more. The Claudia and Armand parallels are so delicious. How both were victims of abuse but while Armand still sees his biggest abuser in a ‘good’ light, served him and still mourns him, Claudia hates her abusers and ’killed’ one of them. Armand has tied his freedom to vampirism and thus his maker who was also one of his abusers cannot do wrong while Claudia’s maker who was one of her abusers is tied to a life where she’s miserable and that makes her hate him even more and Armand cannot understand why someone would do that to their most amazing wonderful maker and that makes him hate her. She’s a victim like he is but he doesn’t see himself as one so he hates her :( I don’t think Armand is keeping everything away from Louis, I think some things they both decided to take from Louis mind but since he wants to tell his story he would have to grapple with what he’s willingly forgotten but if those things make him sad or show how detached he was, he blames Armand. And because Armand wants to be loved, he takes it. Louis thrives off of pretending like he’s the most gentle ‘human’ vampire, but what do we think of humans who don’t speak up for their kids or siblings when their partner is being horrible to them? We call them cruel and he can’t take the fact that he let Claudia down so much so Armand becomes the object of his ire. He hates that the only picture Daniel somewhat liked wasn’t even his so now you hear him say “do you think I have to be coddled?” As though this all powerful vampire would replace Louis pictures with pictures of an artist he could recognize knowing full well they’re gonna look at said pictures? It doesn’t make sense to me 😭

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Armand is the biggest devil of them all. Makes Lestat look like a choir boy

[@NyikoDoris]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia he’s a bigger devil…than the guy who bought a child and would ‘donate’ him to his friends? I think that for a fandom that’s very big on ‘no one is perfect, everyone has shades of grey’ Book fans are very quick to be like ‘well except Armand. Armand is the complete devil no redeeming qualities!’ Personally I support each and every crime he commits and any crimes that I don’t support, him and I will talk about in private🤷🏾‍♀️

[@HuntingViolets]

Didn't expect the Santiago-Claudia bonding.

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

He’s manipulating her. Getting her comfy before Armand quietly pulls the puppet strings in the foreground, all while telling Louis he can’t control the coven

[@Jew3L_left4ded]

Can’t wait for ep 5

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Hey guys! We met an insane yet important player in this episode. Raglan James, a rogue talamascan who’s obsession with Lestat and vampires is an obsession, has Daniel already met Lestat? Was it Raglan? 😂

[@struggleskywalker1025]

Tin foil hat is on. I think it's Lestat. And I think season three and maybe four are gonna explain how it happened plus Lestat’s origin and his time as a rockstar

[@iseemelanie]

I love your reaction videos! I just started watching IWTV about two months ago and I'm absolutely in love with the show! My opinion on Amand is kinda in between both of y'alls. I think he's generally effective but he's loosing his grip. I haven't read the books, so I don't know if this could come into play, but I'm so curious about Santiago's maker and what he did to get himself killed, and how exactly Armand plays into it. There's something about Armand that I just don't like or trust. And in some ways I think he's even worse than Lestat. He might not be physically violent, but he plays way too many mind games.

[@TezzyDE]

the final scene remindined me of the episode of GEN V that ened the same way so i think Armand or Louis herd him and got in his mind and shut him down before he found out anything eles.

[@rachreid8746]

Aww man. Watching non book readers reminds me of me before something that’s going happen

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

You mean the ones that say “awwww Armand is so great and he truly loves Louis, and Armand is just a sad broken vampire boy who needs true love, unlike that awful awful Devil of a vamp, Lestat” *me internally snickering, knowing what Armand is about to do*

[@rachreid8746]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia I read about 100 books a year and I read these series about 20 years ago. I have yet to encounter any fictional character that I hate as much as I hate that slimy evil goblin named Armand. F him forever

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

@@rachreid8746 💯!! The devil with the face of an angel!

[@rachreid8746]

@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia ugh.

[@iwillcry]

I've also been paying attention to the parallels between Armand and Claudia this season, it has to be on purpose, right?

[@jimmymcfan]

Louis is definitely attracted to powerful men, and military men

[@stars-are-fire9765]

wait till ya'll find out what's actually going on between armand and daniel. devil's minion is wildddd

[@DoubleBlack2.0]

Ohhhh, it’s painful how wrong you guys are about Santiago. It’s physically painful!! 😂😂 (I realize you know this now, having completed the season, lol.)

[@pookiesis1465]

The dressmaker may take the place of the doll maker from the book

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

Yes she’s Madeline

[@niyah7139]

Calling a former child prostitute by their slave name is actually really diabolical. Louis taking on the role of being Armand's Master is insane. It's starting to make sense while Armand was playing a servant in the first season. This is a toxic BDSM relationship. Louis is officially Armand's pimp. It makes sense when he talked about how him and Armand took pictures and would bring younger boys into their bedroom. I think Daniel was one of those boys and it could be a situation where Armand did something heinous to Daniel out of jealousy and that's why he erased his memories. It also makes sense while Louie is so disrespectful to Armand when talking about Lestat

[@PerfectlyImperfect93]

His slave name was Amadeo, his real name is Arun. Louis is giving Armand his identity before he became a slave back. Giving him a choice to get out of the coven.

[@whimsyfan]

Arun was his birth name, not his slave name. Slave name was Amadeo, Armand is his vampire/coven name.

[@brittanywallace6485]

Not to spoil anything but bringing boys back and involving them in your relationship is more of an Armand thing.

[@remholloway2579]

Arun is his name when he got sold into slavery. By Louis using that name, he is putting Amanda back into that state of mind when he was physically and psychologically helpless. Arun was the name he had when working in the brothels. Amadeo is the name that Marius gave to him when he bought Armand in order to set him free (I believe he was lying when he said Marius donated him). So Louis is playing him in a very toxic sort of way. But then again I believe Armand is also playing Louis.

[@NyikoDoris]

Arun is the name his parents gave him. Amadeo is the name the vampire who Armand convinced himself saved him but was also still abusing him gave him, Louis is telling Armand he sees him in all his entirety by calling him Arun. They are saying we see what the other needs and are giving it. Armand WANTS to follow Louis and he knows that Louis NEEDS to feel as though he has some power in his relationship with a vampire that is almost 500 years old. Their dynamic is changed with both of their consent

[@0l._.l0895]

Louis saying she picked the coven isn't a good argument. There would be nothing to pick if she actually had vampires she not only wanted to be around but if she was never made in the first place. Just like when Louis told Lestat "you took my life" the same thing goes for her. She never got to even start a life and the one she got was shit. All she wanted was a companion, someone to understand her. She dragged Louis around like dead weight for who knows how long and then he does the same thing again? yeah, no.

[@HuntingViolets]

Every character on here is toxic. Of course it's someone toxic saying it.

[@jordanparker657]

😀😁😆

[@antemiuenteri]

man... what an awesome recap, i wanna support and watch the doctor who ep but im not dealing with that again, even in PinP

[@Wattsupwithhybristophilia]

I have two words! Rowan and Lestat. Romantic couple? Yes! It happens!!

[@HuntingViolets]

Is Armand just finding out about Dreamstat now?

[@Syntell]

Dreamstat, now I gotta steal that

[@jordanparker657]

@@Syntell He's been called Dreamstat all season by everyone, Jacob came up with it while they were filming.

[@lisbethqk8923]

Nah you guys are waaay too pro-establishment c'mon now lol.. Claudia can be mistreated for a thousand years, and its ok because she wanted to join the coven herself? Lol

[@rebeccaburgess8710]

Hey do you know when Doctor Who: dot and bubble will go up on the Patreon ?

[@snakeriver5688]

...i don't like the way yall talk about claudia. talking about "she asked for this", no she didn't ??

[@ElGatoBlanco1970]

These are all Unreliable Narrators. Ill be interested to see Lestats version. And it seems to me that Armond was Definitely around at the time of the first interview and has been glamored into not remembering key things, much the same way Louis is having his memory messed with. Lots of Gaslighting going on. And Claudia obviously wants to Be that other woman, looking at her like a Doll.

[@jordanparker657]

The thing is if the show rehashed this for Lestat's version it would be an addition to the tale and done in quick order because the next book, TVL doesn't discuss these things at all, it's his backstory from childhood to being with Nicolas being turned- coming across Armand's cult ( much different than in the show) , creating The Theatre de Vampires and leaving to travel with his mother Gabrielle, and meeting other powerful Vampires..... through becoming Rock Star Lestat. So while it would be great to know his version, we may never really know....as Ms Rice intended it.😊

[@Tez.92]

❤❤

[@romanmccoy5074]

Loius is the villain of the story. Every person or group he meets was thriving before him. After they meet him they all end up dead or broken hes an emotional vampire

[@niyah7139]

Facts 😂😂

[@profissionalgp608]

I mean, pretty much everyone he knows FORCED themselves into his life (except Claudia ) and tried to change him, so I’d blame them honestly lmao. Villain would be a harsh word. He doesn’t really do anything to anyone. That’s pretty much his character actually: very passive

[@romanmccoy5074]

@@profissionalgp608 being passive can be just as bad as being active.

[@_adrian_sean]

FACTS 💯 it took me awhile to realize it. But I see it now

[@lolilol5346]

Yeah many ppl like Louis exist irl , passiv toxic , you don't even realize it until its too late

[@erinmurray2367]

the constant blaming of claudia is getting really tired, everything in her life that has happened to her has been forced upon her, the only reason she felt the need to find a family is because louis forced her into this life she didn’t want. he DOES have a responsibility to look out for her and defend her, he just doesn’t care

[@lisbethqk8923]

I'm saying! What is this line they've taken against Claudia all about..no matter how shit she's treated, they're like..wellll she deserves it. Like huh?

[@elijahjackson1052]

@@lisbethqk8923 its very weird! I dont think they took the time to try to understand claudias perspective because they were more interested in louis and lestat. They're both very annoyed by claudia for some reason lol

[@lisbethqk8923]

​@@elijahjackson1052and they especially give way to much slack to Lestat, which is so weird considering how poorly he treated both Louis and Claudia in s1. Claudia wanting a place to belong does not mean it's ok for her to be constantly mistreated by the coven...also they don't even acknowledge how badly Louis sometimes treats Claudia, like ugh, are we watching the same thing or what...

[@elijahjackson1052]

@@lisbethqk8923 Louis consistently lets claudia down. His comment about how she wasn't happy in New Orleans or Paris is so tone deaf considering what she experienced and what he knows shes been through. All louis cares about is finding his great love and he pretends to love claudia equally because he feels guilty about her creation.

[@Jev_the_fluorescent_shrimp]

They are absolutely based