IWTV has finally returned! The story continues and while there are new faces, I’m still beyond thrilled to witness Louis tell his story. Now more than ever he’s diving into his memories with purpose and with Daniel’s help. And, with Armand having been introduced at the very end of season 1, I’ve been biting my nails to the quick with anticipation for this new season.
Let’s dive in!
Warning: It’s about to get spoiler-y!
The episode began with Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Daniel (Eric Bogosian) continuing the interview right where they left off at the end of season 1. Louis and Claudia (Delaney Hayles) were in Europe, avoiding World War II but managing to stay hidden on only scraps of soldiers.
More so, Claudia’s bitterness had grown immensely and she wasn’t the girl-vampire that only threw temper tantrums anymore. She was on a mission to find other vampires in search of community. She still believed that Lestat (Sam Reid) should’ve been burned. I can’t disagree, but his toxic personality is addictive! He oozes charisma and whatever room he walks into always hushes at his presence.
Armand’s (Assad Zaman) presence as Louis continued to share his journey across Europe, delving deeper into his memories with Daniel (Eric Bogosian) was subtle but didn’t go unnoticed. He certainly offered up an enigmatic sense of control where Louis was concerned, but Daniel wasn’t having any of it. The tension between Daniel and Armand is sure to come to a head. It’s commendable that Daniel is so fearless, but history might repeat itself if he isn’t careful.
Since Louis’s mind was cleared and memory more clearly restored, he’s gained a strong vigor to tell his story rather than continue to dwell on the dread of being undead. Instead, he truly wanted to open up about Claudia and was finally ready to. Still, with Armand hovering, will Louis divulge everything?
Do Vampires Dream or Just Damned?
Louis asked and faced a unique question. Do vampires dream? This stemmed from Louis’s constant contemplation about being damned. According to Claudia, no. Vampires did not dream. Even Louis agreed, though not completely. He’d confessed that he did dream but it was erratic.
Louis tended to dream of Lestat the most, reflecting on the betrayal of trying to kill Lestat. I’d find it crazy if Louis didn’t dream about Lestat. This really showed that Louis felt guilty and was even mourning Lestat even though Lestat had been so brutal to him. For Louis, dreaming of Lestat almost seemed welcome compared to the war-torn landscape he and Claudia ventured across in search of old-world vampires.
This question was poised to be the emotional centerpiece of the episode. Telling his story has certainly felt like more of a therapy session. In tears, Louis managed to remember that Claudia did dream more than halfway through the episode. That he wasn’t alone. It was so clear that this rediscovery gave Louis a stronger sense and connection to humanity. That, inside, he (nor Claudia) was completely dead and unfeeling.
In the Dark of the Night
Claudia and Louis had more to fear than daylight and scraps of soldiers. Towns, especially in Romania, were becoming much like Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Garlic and crucifixes were hanging from windows and doors. Dead bodies were being dug up and shot then re-buried. Superstition was running rampant. That, or Louis and Claudia weren’t being careful enough. With the slew of bodies Claudia was leaving behind, it could be a little of both.
During their layover in a small town, Louis and Claudia were once again reminded that they weren’t human. They couldn’t get too involved with humans or they’d be discovered. The loss of a brief acquaintance due to a disfigured vampire of the woods was like a pinprick.
Daciana
Claudia had her own little adventure in the premiere. Amid feeling angry constantly, she was shooed away to join other children when she and Louis were welcomed into a village for refuge.
For the first time in (probably) a long while, her curiosity was piqued when the children, who were rather creepy, sang about a woman named Daciana. She was dared to go meet her through a hole in a wall that led out into the woods.
This was quite a move and made for a great build-up. Sure, Claudia is the one to be scared of, but that doesn’t make going out into the woods all alone in the dark of night any less spooky. And spooky, it became. Going into the woods alone, at night, where legend has it that a monster eats people? What a classic.
Claudia witnessed a disfigured vampire attack soldiers and then drag one away. This was the scary Daciana. She was excited and understandably so, but the encounter was a violent one that got her a dislocated shoulder. This introduction to another vampire was straight out of a monster movie, but that filled her with hope.
I’ve got to give Claudia credit when it’s due. Though the run-in with the disfigured vampire was a tad nasty, she was determined to figure out if this vampire was good or bad, especially since her only other interactions with vampires had been traumatic.
You and Me, Me and You
Claudia’s desperation came to a head when she brought Louis to the woods to meet Daciana. However, when he was attacked, Claudia didn’t think twice about saving Louis and ending the disfigured vampire’s life. Her love for Louis overpowered her bitterness toward him.
This led them to meet their first old-world vampire, the real Daciana, who looked much like a witch out of a Grimm fairytale. Filled with dread and sorrow, the woman spoke poetically of grief and loneliness before throwing herself on an open fire. This had Louis wondering once more if he were truly damned. Worse, Claudia started to wonder as well.
A time of war is no easy place to live for vampires. Due to the turmoil and misery, the blood tasted bad which in turn left them unnourished. More so, it left them refugees much like the humans running from the front lines. No place felt safe. With Claudia sinking into despair, Louis reminded her that no matter what they had each other.
In the End…
By the end of the episode, Armand was irritated by how much Louis had shared in the interview, thinking it wasn’t good for Louis. Louis refused to keep anything hidden. This was his chance to come clean. This was his chance to open up and it felt good.
Though not thrilled, Armand became willing to join this storytelling, on the record. He would eventually be introduced in Louis’s interview anyway. Then again, this may just be a ploy to manipulate Louis’s story. To what end? Maybe there’s something he’s hoping doesn’t come out during this portion of the interview. Armand has come off as quite the controlling vampire.
For Louis and Claudia, the episode ended with them finally coming to Italy, still determined to find others like them. Their encounter with the old-world vampire had been dreadful, but also hope. If they’d found her, Louis was certain they’d find others.
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