“All rockers sing about the road. It’s practically pre-ordained.”
-Lestat
This week Lestat took us on the road. More and more, the band was becoming convinced that maybe they wanted to be transformed. Meanwhile, Armand searches for forgiveness and Louis is reeled in by Regina.
Let’s review!
Devil’s Road
Lestat describes this place, the devil’s road, as a liminal space. We visit it through a couple of different characters over the course of the episode, on the way to Albany. For Lestat, it was on the tour bus between each concert. For Louis, it was a diner he frequented because of the waitress, Regina, who looked like Claudia. Even Alex, the bandmate who had walked away from the band, found his own devil’s road in an AA meeting where he met Armand.
This had to be the most fascinating part of the episode for us, aside from Akasha growing closer to an oblivious Lestat. It’s the quiet space in between the larger parts of life. Visiting that on a show is like getting a behind-the-scenes look at these characters without the overwhelming drama. It’s something we had yet to see during this tour.
The Steps of a Pity Party
Though it’s a serious affair to repent and seek forgiveness for wrongdoings, it was comical to watch Armand pussyfoot through the episode doing just that. That AA meeting at the end of the last episode really got him to see the light, and also put his foot down on the Great Conversion, which is becoming more and more of a big deal. Still, it didn’t overpower his need to try and make things right with those he loves. And, he loves a lot of people.
Daniel wasn’t in the mood for any of it when Armand tracked him down at a bowling alley. Lestat made a debacle out of it at the Albany concert. Still, it was apparent that Armand meant what he said and wrote to each of them. With a potential vampire war and Akasha rising from her slumber, Armand wasn’t wasting precious time. Daniel was the only one to take it seriously by the end of the episode.
Daniel’s realization that Armand didn’t transform Daniel out of pity or as a fluke was stunning. Their chemistry is breath-taking. The two even managed to realize that their unique ability as vampires was not only a deep bond to each other, but a haunting loneliness that physically pushed people away. But. At least they have each other…possibly. It may be a few decades, but they’ve got nothing but time, right?
Honestly, with how brutal Daniel and Lestat were to Armand, we almost feel bad. But, decades and centuries of manipulation can ruin a vampire’s reputation and make it harder to reconcile. We haven’t seen Armand’s attempt to apologize to Louis, but we imagine it’ll be quite special. Maybe Daniel will soften the blow in Armand’s favor.
Mother Dearest
Between the tour bus getting pulled over by a police officer and Alex reuniting with the band thanks to Armand, Lestat gave us a little more backstory about his mother, Gabriella. During their time together as vampires, Lestat came to realize how their relationship changed from mother/son to that of lovers. It was obvious how it twisted and disturbed him, but that he craved it. In the Immortal Universe, it’s not uncommon for such bonds to come into being regardless of previous blood relation, though it doesn’t make it any less troubling.
The intensity of this relationship only grew, and when Gabriella didn’t want to be tied to her old life but be free, Lestat was left feeling abandoned. It lasted even into his present. This did offer more insight into why Lestat is extra salty at Louis for leaving him
Gabriella wasn’t entirely wrong about telling him to grow up. Neither of them was who they once were as humans. They shed those emotions and those lives, but Lestat, with his loneliness, still clung to the small parts. For us, those little things are the humanity that still resides in Lestat.
Yet, Gabriella did share with him that there were so many other vampires out there that didn’t believe he was entirely wrong about stepping into the spotlight. She’d been gone for most of the episode because she was tuning into vampire radio, and listening in on what vampires thought of Lestat revealing himself to the world. Many believed they should be living out in the open and doing what’s in their nature without fear-what they believe Lestat is doing.
While his tour is assumed to have ended earlier than planned due to an overzealous fan shooting him, there still may be hope for one last show with this revelation. Can we expect the Queen of the Damned to show? Or has she been there all along?
You’re Somebody Else
Rather than moving on after disposing of Bruce, Louis has returned to the diner Regina works at time and time again. Though each visit is pleasant, we’re unnerved. Not only did Louie offhandedly reveal what he was to her, but he offered to take care of her after learning about what else she does for work.
Mostly we get unnerved because it became more and more likely that Louie was being pulled in by Regina, not the other way around. She learned that Louie was attached because she reminded him of Claudia and she handled it well. A little too well, even. As if she’d been playing him like a fiddle, but what could she actually want from Louie? Those who know the books inside and out probably have ideas already, but we’re not going to spoil any theories.
However, because Louie is too precious and because we’re in denial, we’re hoping Louie eventually runs far away from this false Claudia. Or maybe it’s time to see what Lestat thinks of this doppleganger.
What did you think of the latest episode? Let’s chat in the comments below.
