#also I assume the interviewer is young daniel (?)

[lady-starkiller]

obsessed with the Missing in every line of dialogue in “interview with the vampire”…like you know there is Something Else lurking and it’s seeping through the pages!

[sarahreesbrennan]

Now that Interview with the Vampire ep 5 has aired I was stunned and delighted as expected. One thing I haven’t seen discussed before is that Armand saves Daniel from Louis the first time. But why? Louis was going to kill him. They say it’s because Louis was partial to him, but a) Armand brainwashed Louis to think that and b) Armand certainly knew Louis was more than fond of Claudia, and, well…

Still we know from what Armand says and also the general fact Armand is a creeper (said with love) that he was listening to a lot of that interview, and we know how the interview went.

Young Daniel: you have a coffin!

Louis: I’m a vampire. I know this must be scary…

Young Daniel: Didn’t ask just assumed we’d bang in the coffin! Show me your fangs pretty boy! I’ll be Team Claudia for 50 years and team cocaine for at least another decade. Your loved ones are dead right? You should turn me into a vampire! I’ll be your vampire dad and your daughter!

Louis: …

Louis: … wow this got weird and upsetting.

Armand, creeping outside the door, running in and bowling over a corpse and a hatstand: Daniel! Daniel! I’m a freak! I was rejected for being strange and unsettling by LESTAT DE LIONCOURT! Coach put me IN!

Surely certified freak Daniel Molloy, who went on to argue he loved life three times with Armand when we’ve seen men freeze on a single ‘Rest,’ was saved as rainy day boyfriend material.

[whatshehassaid]

The fact that they keep bringing in characters that are from later in the books (Bruce, Dr. Fareed, Raglan James) makes me think Dubai is farther along in the books than we realize. I feel like some stuff (akasha) hasn’t happened yet… but finding Claudia’s diary in New Orleans, and Louis being suicidal etc are from later in the book series. Has parts of Merrick already happened? Louis said in season 1 that he hadn’t killed since the year 2000. The book Merrick was released in 2000. Armand (as Rashid) “You’re chronicling a suicide.” The fact that they even HAVE Claudia’s diaries in the first place is farther along in the books.

Now why bring Raglan James in so early? I already have a feeling they aren’t bringing David in (they didn’t for Mayfair Witches and he was a big part of that) so why Raglan James SPECIFICALLY? Why not just some random Talamasca member? They’re trying to hint at what’s to come. Daniel being in his 70s and not having David in Mayfair Witches (or IWTV I’m assuming cause it wouldn’t make sense to have David in one but not the other) makes me think they’ve merged Daniel and David into one character.

If you know anything about what happens to David in Tale of the Body Thief you’ll understand where I’m going with this - I’ll put a spoiler warning for the books here.

At the end of Tale of the Body Thief, David gets a new body and Lestat changes him into a vampire without his consent.

If Daniel and David ARE being merged into one character (which makes sense considering David is the one who listens to Armand’s story in The Vampire Armand and the fact David was a main character in the Mayfair Witches book series but was merged with Rowan’s love interest to make Ciprien in the TV adaptation) then that means that something similar could happen to Daniel.

Armand in the books (after 10-12 years of a romantic - albeit it started off fucked up - relationship which includes Daniel being addicted to Armand’s blood and a mutual obsession between the two of them and then they fall in love) turns Daniel in 1985 I think the same night of Lestat’s concert and the awakening of Akasha if I’m remembering correctly. In the TV adaptation since the San Fransisco interview already happened that also means (quite obviously from the new promo) that Devils Minion already happened. Which means young Daniel tried everything on Earth to get Armand to change him into a Vampire. Probably bringing himself super close to death because he wanted to be with Armand forever. Armand has a major trauma from Marius (grooming, child slavery, sex slavery- but also Marius telling him over and over that every fledgling grows to hate their maker- lol ok dude, you literally groomed your first two fledglings from childhood and abandoned them both but yeah, that must be a every maker and fledgling thing). It affects Armand to the point that he vows never to turn ANYONE into a Vampire EVER. But then he meets Daniel and falls in love with him and can’t stand the thought of existing without him. So he turns him.

It seems like Armand in the show didn’t truly believe Daniel loved him. (They have a really wild relationship where Daniel will run away and come back begging for him back and Armand welcoming him with open arms over and over until Daniel finally accepts that he’s in love with Armand too). But Daniel DID love him. Just as much as Armand loved (and STILL loves- because he always will) Daniel. So instead of watching him be chronically suicidal and trying everything to get Armand to turn him he wiped Daniel’s memories thinking they wouldn’t come back. Thinking Daniel could live a normal human life without him.

From what I can see of the preview it seems like Armand and Louis had broken up long ago. Most likely after the first interview in the 70s (I’m pretty sure it’s similar in the book - Louis ends up leaving Armand once Armand tells him Lestat is still alive and he didn’t die in the theatre fire). Hence, Armand saying “I know where he is.” in the promo for 2x05.

That’s when Daniel and Armand fully happen. But in the show instead of turning Daniel he wipes his memories and tries to let him live a normal life because he loves him.

Now Lestat and Louis break up and get back together like ten fucking times in the books and Louis when he isn’t with Lestat always goes off alone or he goes to Armand. Lestat and Armand eventually come to love each other and have a mutual understanding and respect for one another - it takes a while, believe me. Lestat KNOWS he can trust Armand with Louis. That Armand loves Louis too.

What I’m thinking is going on… is some of the events of Merrick have already happened where Louis seeks out Claudia’s diaries and her spirit to try to bring peace to himself. Instead it makes it MUCH MUCH worse. To the point that Louis goes forward with killing himself by burning himself to ashes (Lestat does bring him back don’t worry). But since I think the full Akasha storyline hasn’t happened yet I feel like humans would’ve noticed that (hence the great conversion cause she ends up killing like 90% of the Vamp population…) I think what is actually happening is Louis is trying to kill himself. He’s actively trying by getting Daniel to write this book for vampires to come after him and kill him (hence the “you’re chronicling a suicide”). His depression and despair is getting worse and worse as season 2 goes on, outwardly crying to Daniel thanking him for helping him remember.

I’m not sure if Louis in Dubai knows that Lestat is alive… he certainly doesn’t during the first interview.

Armand is a complicated character and he means well (yes he does do some fucked up shit in the books- some to do with Claudia- I don’t know if they’ll have THAT part in the show). But Armand does love Louis. He feels guilt for what happened with Claudia and he will do ANYTHING to make it up to Louis. To the point of letting Louis walk all over him (he’s had a fucked up human life and vampire life, let my boy live). I have a feeling, since Lestat’s lawyer in Paris mentioned it to Louis that Lestat has gone to sleep. They do that sometimes. Bury themselves underground and sleep- sometimes for decades. If that is the case I’m not exactly sure what happened between them for Lestat to do that but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

What I think happened after the first interview? Armand was trying to protect Louis from himself. There are obvious signs of schizophrenia in Louis and they’ve been hinting at it since season one with the Paul/Bird symbolism. Louis has blackouts. He’s had them even before he and Claudia tried to kill Lestat- that’s why I think we’re getting a revisit to the fight in 1x05 and to Claudia’s turning into a vampire. Either that or we are going to get it from Lestat himself at the trial in Paris (cause yes, the real Lestat is there).

Armand was not lying when he said he protects Louis from himself. That Louis acts out sometimes. The photos of all the men I believe some of them are Louis’ victims from his blackouts. We’ve already seen a glimpse of one incident in season 2 with the man in the park and Louis leaving his dead body there. Armand has suppressed Louis’ memories of what happened in Paris. What happened with Claudia. Probably half because he doesn’t want Louis to run off without Lestat able to care for him and partly because he’s trying to prevent Louis from hurting more people viciously and then going into a guilt spiral.

Louis did know what happened to Claudia at one point… but I think it was making him so suicidal that maybe Armand and Lestat together decided it was best to have his memories suppressed so that he wouldn’t hurt himself. But now? Now Lestat is god knows where and Armand is barely holding onto control. Louis is lashing out at him. He’s lashing out at Daniel. The memories are flooding back and Louis is slowly remembering… not just what happened to Claudia… not just what Armand did… but the probably hundreds or thousands of gruesome deaths he’s caused during his blackout episodes. Including the blackout episode he had with Daniel in 1973.

Now speaking of 1973, Armand was trying even then to keep Louis’ schizophrenia and blackouts at bay. He was suppressing memories that triggered Louis - half because he didn’t want to lose Louis but I also think he genuinely was doing it for Louis’ own sanity. But then Louis goes seeking out someone who will let him speak about it and help bring those memories back - Daniel.

Armand may just think Daniel is another fuck and run, I have a feeling ever since Paris - even though Louis barely remembers it - honestly, probably before then going by the fuckboi tendencies Louis was displaying toward Armand in the last episode, he probably fucks around a lot and Armand lets him. Mostly because he’s trying desperately to make it up to Louis. As I said, he’s desperate to make it up to Louis.

So Armand says okay fine, have your fun. And Louis goes with Daniel. But what Armand DOESN’T know is that Louis isn’t going with Daniel for (or JUST for) sex. He wants him to help him remember. That’s the WHOLE POINT of the interview. Armand doesn’t know about it. The first interview happens…. And then? Daniel pisses Louis off. He triggers him off by asking him to turn him. And Louis blacks out and attacks.

Armand shows up mid attack to find Louis with the boy he spent ALL NIGHT WITH doing GOD KNOWS WHAT and he immediately thinks Louis is trying to replace him with someone else. He gets jealous. Again, he doesn’t know about the interview yet.

Louis blacked out and by that time its morning. Armand probably walked in on him (trying to be like - you’re going to get hurt if you don’t find a safe spot it’s morning!) feeding on Daniel and being burned through the sunlight coming in the window. Armand has jealousy issues. I can’t blame the guy he has a huge amount of abandonment issues and being hurt… so of course he immediately jumps to why is Louis spending all night with this boy? What is so special about this boy that he’ll spend time with him all night but he won’t even look at me the same anymore (since Claudia).

Louis has to hide from the sun… And that’s when Armand jealously curious about this human boy and why Louis is apparently so open with him from what he seen at the bar. He tries to get inside Daniel’s head. “Is that what makes you so FASCINATING?” “Leave him be Armand!”

At some point - with all this mind fuckery which of course is essentially torture and poor Daniel is probably half horny half scared to death - iykyk - Armand sees the tape. He plays it. This isn’t about the boy at all. It’s about LESTAT.

It’s always been about Lestat.

Upset (and rightly so - imagine being with someone for that long thinking they loved you and meanwhile they were still pining for their ex) he has a bit of a meltdown…. And when he calms down enough… he’s defeated and tells Louis the truth. That Lestat is alive and “I know where he is.”

Now… Armand… who is a stickler for the vampire laws… knows he’s tortured this boy… knows this boy can’t living knowing that vampires exist. Because he’s seen into his head he knows there’s pain there. Daniel is an addict for a reason though I don’t think Armand knows the reason at that point… but since he knows the boy MUST DIE because you cannot tell a human about vampires and let them live… he offers him a peaceful death. “I’m the quiet you’ve been longing for”

Daniel agrees. The kid is tired, he probably has childhood trauma hence the drug addiction. He was just attacked by one Vampire and tortured by the other.

Armand starts to drain him… and then?

I think Armand sees himself in Daniel. Whatever it is (I’m not 100% sure - maybe abuse of some kind) stops Armand from killing him. He’s found someone who understands.

He gets Louis (partly burned from the sun) to help him carry Daniel out. Not sure if they take him to a hospital or where they take him but afterwards Louis leaves Armand and goes looking for Lestat.

That’s when Devils Minion happens.

Armand and Daniel somehow fall in love. And a decade later he has to wipe Daniel’s memories because Daniel will not stop until he’s either dead literally or a vampire so he can be with Armand. Or so he says, Armand thinks.

Now fast forward and we have Louis self destructing. Armand trying to hold the pieces together… Louis brings Daniel in not remembering he almost killed the guy and thinking, “Well he can help me get these memories back… i know he’s Armand’s ex and he (Daniel) is missing memories too. maybe if I get his memories back we can help each other”

That’s why Louis keeps bringing things up. Daniel’s mind has filled in a decade of his life with a wife and daughter that probably don’t even exist. (I know, I know Alice is Armand theory… but the farther we get the more it makes sense). Louis is PURPOSEFULLY triggering memories to come back in Daniel so he can help HIM remember too. Armand (until last episode I think) was so focused on keeping Louis together and trying to protect him that he doesn’t even realize that Daniel is remembering him.

Until 2x04.

Daniel brings up the fire.

Armand tries to read his mind to see where he got the information from.

And he sees a flash of himself watching TV in the 70s. And that’s when he realizes Daniel DID love him. If Daniel didn’t why would he be getting flashes of Armand. Not of Louis and the first interview… not of Louis attacking him… no, he’s getting flashes of Armand.

Then he remembers that he suppressed Louis’ memory of everything to do with Claudia’s death (Louis’ main trigger). Louis confused: “the fire?”

As Daniel’s memories come back… so do Louis’. However the more Louis remembers the more unstable he’ll become. I think at a certain point when he remembers everything the suicidal part of him with reach a climax… he’ll snap. Blackout with Daniel in a parallel of what happened in 1973. And Armand is going to have no choice but to save Daniel. I feel like Lestat will sense this happening and I feel like it’ll be the PERFECT segue for present time Lestat. Now will Daniel be hurt badly? I’m not sure. Will Armand have no choice but to change him because Louis hurt him too much, maybe tried to drain him to “get back” at Armand after realizing what was happening?

Is that why Jacob is scared we may hate Louis by the end of the season? I feel like if it was just Louis trying to walk into the sun that comment wouldn’t make sense.

If he tries to hurt Daniel though…..

[camellia-thea]

I'm curious about your thoughts for present day Armand/Daniel. How do you think starting their romance when their both vampires now changes their character arcs and dynamic? It feels crucial that Daniel was human and Armand was a vampire. Granted this is assuming the show is not doing a past version as well.

i'm so sorry, this has been sitting in my drafts for ages; this is such an interesting question, thank you! this was sent in reference to this post about book canon devil's minion. if there's anything here i can clarify on, let me know; this might be a little disjointed as i've jumped in and out of working on it for a week and a half!

i think that it's a little complicated overall, but not in a way that makes a good (for the viewer, not healthy) relationship impossible in the show! i think assad and eric both really love their characters and it's pretty clear to me that they're absolutely fighting for us dm fans. and given the recent interviews with rolin saying that everything between them has been devil's minion so far, i'm certain we'll end up well fed!

i'd love for there to be a past relationship that armand has taken from daniel, and i do genuinely think that it is a potential way they might take it. however, if we're going by the assumption that they aren't, i actually think it will work pretty well! there are obvious dynamic shifts between them, but that was never not going to happen, given the changes the show made to book canon (generally for the better! i think they've handled almost everything very well).

i think that a relationship starting between them with them both being vampires wouldn't work if it had been in the 70s, but i actually think it being old daniel works really well.

obviously the chase is a really really important part of the development of their relationship, but i can see it playing out in both directions; daniel chasing armand because 'what the fuck, man? you turn me and leave?' and on the other end, armand following daniel to keep him safe from other vampires, given he's pulling a lot of negative vampire attention towards him. i'd love for armand to appear for a night, engage in an argument or simply just appear wherever daniel is, then vanish again. i think that there is still a lot that can be played with in regards to the way that armand interacts with daniel as a fascinating creature and a step between the world and him.

i do think that this armand is a lot more in tune with the modern world in comparison to book armand, but i don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. book armand was living in a very different context; he and louis had been separated for a while before daniel was approached, and armand had essentially been drifting since then. a young man who connected with the world, as directly as daniel was trying to, was something that book armand needed. i think that now, with the wound of a very explosive separation from louis, he needs something different. someone (relatively) steady and also someone able to call armand on his own bullshit and lies. daniel has not lost his connection to the world around him, nor his nature of wanting the truth and to see the world. i'll come back to that in a minute.

i think the changes made to daniel match very well with the changes made to armand. older daniel is a lot more direct than younger daniel, and i think that young daniel, while being willing to stand for what he wants, did not have the power to set hard boundaries and expectations. older daniel, both because of life experience and because he is a vampire, comes at it with a little more equal footing. i think that he also knows how to look for armand's red flags, and i think that will help. i don't think that there will ever not be an inherent power dynamic between them, but that's part of the fun. i also think that daniel being more able to sidestep that dynamic.

but the key thing, i think, is that daniel, as he is in the show, understands how to live. maybe not well, but he has lived a full life in a way that armand has not had the opportunity to. i think that vampirism is a way for daniel to reconnect to living, and given the small snippet we've already seen of him, he's thrown himself into it. a book tour, hunting, having fun with mind-reading during interviews, i think he's reveling in what's been given to him. this is something louis was attempting to do with his photography, though the show very specifically makes commentary that he is not managing to connect with his subject matter in a way that daniel is. (i'll come back to this in a different post because it's interesting and i have commentary). armand needs that connection, this armand, book armand, both of them need a new connection to life, and i think that older daniel is a brilliant match.

i don't think armand could ever not love his fledgling. i don't think he could ever not end up obsessed with any fledgling he makes. armand loves completely, fully, and obsessively. his love consumes him enough that he reshapes himself to fit the other person. and given how significant a fledgling is to him, i don't think there could ever not be some sort of relationship there. this is doubled by the fact that armand is so unused to -- and terrified of -- dealing with loneliness, and the breakup with louis means that i think he will be actively seeking the presence of others, specifically daniel, even if that's following him at a distance.

and i'm a little sad at the lack of mind reading that will happen between them, because armand planting thoughts into daniel's head is a personal favourite from the books, but i think they have the potential to play with the sire-fledgling bond instead, which i'm curious about!

i also think it's super important to remember that the next season is the vampire lestat, not the queen of the damned, and that the devil's minion chapter takes place during the space of over ten years. while it's been confirmed that elements of qotd will feature, and i don't think they'll set daniel and armand aside, but it's still very distinctly lestat's turn in with the talking stick, as it were. and i think that it'll be a very good thing for daniel to learn more about armand; the children of darkness (or satan, in the books) is super important and i think that it'll be really interesting to get daniel responding to it.

either way, i think it's going to be good. i know assad and eric are so passionate about it, and rolin has also been very clear about its presence. i trust them to make choices that are justified with the characters, are interesting for the plot, and have good thematic influences.

[theropoda]

SO. The Question. david 8 or 1? i think, in short, Our David(TM)(the custody battle was long and fierce but he belongs to all of us now. fuck weyland) WAS a david 8 in prometheus but this was retconned into him being the First in covenant. in long, uhhhh. it's complicated. let's get to the meat (or...cadmium alloy?) of the matter. apologies in advance if this is like incomprehensible, i'm awful with words LOL

so first of all let's go through the prometheus marketing materials: they all seem to point to david being an 8.

now i don't necessarily believe the david being interviewed in this video is Our David (yeah i'm gonna be calling him that for the rest of this post) but the fact is that this video's purpose was to give us an insight into the david that would star in prometheus, so i assume it implies strongly that the david in prometheus is also an 8

the old promotional website straight up calls him an 8

but now let's look at covenant, where he is retconned to be The First david to be made and activated. covenant opens with our david's activation: notice how old weyland is in this? he's pretty young looking compared to fuckin' methuselah we see in prometheus LOL.

BUT! how can this be? if our david is a david 8 he could have only been activated after 2068, 2068 being the year david 7 was released according to the timeline, by which time weyland, born in 1990, must've been 77.

so weyland must've been over 77 years old by our david's activation IF he is an 8. but as we see he is nowhere near that old in covenant's opening scene. if we're to assume he is activating david 1 here, he would be 34, which looks about right!

(david 8's release isn't even mentioned in the timeline page, which is something which, paired with the aforementioned "happy birthday david" video advertising david 8 models, plus the news page featuring an article dated 2072 that mentions david 8 pre-orders (imagine if they had stupid pre-order bonuses like video games have now lol? pre-order david 8 NOW and he comes with a FREE maid costume!!!!), must mean that the 8th model is NEW by the time prometheus happens. fresh out of the oven, just now available for purchase)

there's also the scene in covenant where walter tells daniels that our david is the first ever david model that weyland made that was "thought lost" in the prometheus mission. unfortunately i don't have a clip on hand of this scene, neither can i find the final movie's script which would have it written out, but i'm sure if you have quick access to the movie like on a streaming service you can find what i'm talking about :P it's sometime after david guides the covenant crew to the destroyed engineer city.

but an outright, blatant confirmation of the idea that our david is the first david lies in an early script of covenant that i DO have access to. behold:

david.....NUMBER ONE!

well i think i've made my case clear....but john, you ask, this has quite the implications about our david's quality and ability! david is so intelligent and emotional, yet this idea would imply he's an inferior model capable of such things. and you're right to wonder that, even the weyland website's investor page seems to say as much

and the answer to that question is.......... ummmm ridley didley didnt think this one thru :) i do think it's an oversight from the writers LOL so it's up to the fans to think about it and explain it.

me personally, i think the difference between a commercial david, be it a david 1, or david 8, is different from our david. our david, the first, wasn't made to be a commercial product, it was to test weyland's abilities and see just how close he could get to creating an artificial person. so he went all out, no punches held back, so we get our david being super intelligent and emotional and human and with a sense of independence. this is not a product: this is weyland seeing how far he can go. so in may ways he is the best, really.

the other davids following him though, including the commercial mass produced david 1's (which i believe the chart shows), up to david 8, these are products meant to be bought and sold. an android that is TOO human is, as walter says in covenant, quite disturbing for people, so these commercial davids actually are a little reigned in and "dumbed down" lest they get TOO smart. like yeah, in terms of materials/resources and technology and stuff, these are the superior ones, but in terms of the ability to think, to feel, to philosiphize and of course create, our david is king. the commercial davids are the better machine, our david is the better human. so that's my take.

of course everyone's free to make up their own minds since the actual films fumbled this a little. @muscari-midala had the idea that our david is a david 8 prototype specifically, or that weyland put our david's memory in newer models as they got released, which is very interesting! there's a lot of ways to go about it in my opinion.

anyways if you made it all the way here CONGRATS!!! you get a david as a prize. check your mail tomorrow.

[supercalifragipopculturevomit]

HONOLULU (2001)

Heard Daniel was in this for only 20 minutes so I put it on while I had a late dinner. Other than that, I knew next to nothing about it.

This was my experience, in a nutshell... ⚠️ MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️

1. Unaware this movie was an anthology of short films, I assumed Daniel either had a role that was minor or met an early demise. His segment was directed by Florian Gallenberger whom he would collaborate in future projects John Rabe (2009) and Colonia (2015).

2. Steeling myself for the worst, I was completely caught off guard when I realized it was a comedy. And a fairly funny one, too. No disrespect meant, only that Daniel keeps saying in interviews that Germany is shit at this genre. But here he was again surprising me with a good one. His segment was hella awkward—just off the charts on the secondhand embarrassment scale—but it was also (bitter)sweet and hilarious.

3. Saw way more of Daniel than I expected. What a Saturday night. HERE, ye curious cat. You're welcome.

4. Breezed through the rest of it, smiling throughout. The whole vibe—from the music to the clothes—is all so nostalgic of the 90s and early aughts. Some shorts are better than others but, overall, a good, light watch. Certainly more worthwhile than 7 Days in Havana, which is another collection of short films Daniel also stars in.

5. Was delighted to see a young Alexandra Maria Lara, who would later play Marlene in Rush (2013), opposite Daniel's career-defining performance as Niki Lauda. Didn't make the connection immediately, but I recognized her melodic voice.

...she's such a babe here, it must be said.

p.s. who knew this hot clip of Daniel smoking would come from such an awkward character in a cringe-inducing movie??

[nalyra-dreaming]

Hi there!

All I can say is that I have more questions/thoughts than I thought I would have at the end of S02E08 and I really wanted to come to you to help me figure them out. I hope you don't mind.

I really don't think I understand anymore why this second interview is happening. Do you think that Louis, because he keeps happily hallucinating Lestat, and has served a 77 year old life sentence out of spite for Lestat's perceived actions in Paris, has realised that something about his memories isn't right, so he turns to the foolish young reporter, who has surely proven his journalistic acumen in the past 50 years, to be the person to help with that? I know that you said you don't think that the 'Lestat in the Magnus tower' moment is true, and so are you assuming that the whole book explanation still holds true- Lestat came to Paris for blood, denied, starved and manipulated, he sells them out (and we end up with Lestat saving Louis on stage) and Armand heads off with a Louis who is functional enough (thanks to his fiery revenge) to be an okay travel partner? I guess Lestat's many 'breakout" moments during the trial and the swaying etc. heavily suggest that he wasn't himself and was under some influence. So, if this is true, how the hell hasn't Armand nipped the idea of a new interview in the bud with this much to lose? I don't care how much Arun likes to please or how amazing he thinks he is against a mediocre star, if it were me, I wouldn't let anyone, especially an investigative journalist and someone who shares his own addling near a memory-addled Louis for anything!! And I realise that he outed himself in season 1 so he could openly run interference after Daniel starts causing breakthroughs but why is this happening at all?????

It seems clear that Louis and Lestat have come to an understanding over their shared trauma and pain of a lost daughter and at least some of Louis' self-loathing over being a vampire. It also looks like they parted and are back in their respective corners of the world. Louis purposely burned Daniel's laptop. That and his jibe about the Talamasca publishing the book suggest he DIDN'T want to have it published. Do you think that since it's happened, Louis has decided to 1) go ahead and be suicidal as originally suggested in Season 1 by Armand, 2) is tired of the non-stop vampire radio threats and has taken the bull by the horns, 3) just provided us with a way to bring in 'Akasha' (please enunciate that the same way Lestat/ Sam did in the episode) where Lestat has heard Louis' radio broadcast, will decide to save Louis with the tour (preferably NOT in 50 years after practicing) and thus wakes up The Great Mother?

Kind of a semi-related thought to point one. Isn't it possible that Louis really DID ask for Armand to take away his 1973 memories because he was mentally breaking out of his self-imposed prison/rebound marriage and he couldn't handle it?

Did Louis just sell out his human security team? Is he bitter over Rashid?

Does Louis realise he has a millennial brother vampire now?

Do you think any of the Paris story of episode 8 is true? It seems logical enough that Armand could've been given a choice by the coven, and realising that he was ONLY Louis' default whatever-you-want-to-call it, decided to pick the coven, regretted it and decided to hedge his bets with Louis once the happy coincidence of Lestat's save had come to pass.

Why the hell didn't Louis wait an extra half hour for Daniel to pack up so they could both catch the same flight back to the U.S. Who leaves the homewrecker with the wrecked after the wrecking?!!!!

Do you feel like this was way too quick for the finale? It was clear that ep 7 and 8 should've been combined although I suspect that they wanted the results of the trial to marinate a little. Still, it seemed rather speedy. I felt like I could literally see them jumping from point A to point B to point C etc on storyboards and it was weird, especially for all the heavy lifting this episode had to do.

Do you think that Devil's minion is pre or post Dubai?

All the awards for Sam Reid's delivery of "Did you hurt yourself?" That line just about killed all the strength I had left in me.

Lastly, isn't it amazing just how little Armand has understood in the years since SF? All that 'you forgave me already for this', let's let bygones be bygones etc as he chases after Louis. No Armand, it's mind gift usage for you, or bust!

I am sure there are more but I think this has been more than enough. Thank you so much!!!!!!

Hey :)))

Okay *cracks knuckles* :))

1) You know I actually agree with you there that it’s very muddied waters there. I THINK it’s actually a lot to do with whatever the Talamasca subplot hints at (I have my suspicions re Marius and Raglan and the body thief) and the Talamasca… finally got (a bit of) what they wanted. I think… Armand let it happen bc he wanted to see Daniel again and bc he thought he could steer it. And Louis… Louis wanted it to happen bc things did not add up anymore. But he kept “being edited“, and therefore took a step back into the wholesome romance every time he discovered something.

So… probably all three. And the Talamasca really wanted that book out, obviously. But… why… 😈

2) I think that NOLA meeting, as beautiful as it was, will turn out to be the contested NOLA meeting. As such Lestat‘s book/whatever will be an answer to Louis‘ book. I think Lestat’s rockstar career will indeed both shield Louis and wake Akasha, but probably with twists. I do not think Louis is suicidal. I think he has accepted, to a big part at least.

3) Said it before, it’s absolutely possible Louis asked for the memory erasure at some point. OR Armand interpreted a similar request like that.

4) Louis does not care for humans anymore. That has been clear since 2x01. “Their problem.“

5) I don’t think that is Lestat‘s fledgling. I think that term is only meant to hint at the age. I don’t see Lestat actually making a fledgling in that state. He may have made a lot of fledglings, but always from love, and that was not that.

6) A derivation of that, likely, yes. Decisions are made from kneaded feelings.

7) At that point Daniel was still mortal. Louis would travel by oversized trunk. He probably thought that impractical. And he thought Armand would still obey. AND his thoughts were already with Lestat I think.

8) Mhhhhh. It was already 10 minutes longer. That said I bet they coukd have given us 2h. It didn’t feel that rushed to me, since they stayed closer to the book I did see some things coming, but I would have loved even more, obviously:))

9) BOTH :)

10) God yes. That is when I cried. 😭

11) Armand does need to learn a lot still. But… he will. Daniel will challenge him to learn and Armand will erise to the occasion. … But it’s not an easy journey.

I hope my answers make sense?! I hope you enjoyed the finale, nonny, I definitely did 🤗

[kellyvela]

Sophie's Hon Vol. VI Spring/Summer Edition 💐 ☀️

After wrapping her movie Trust in Mexico, Sophie is back home in the UK and has been *having fun* with Perry 😎

BRITISH VOGUE INTERVIEW

In her latest interview with Chioma Nnadi for British Vogue's June 2024 Issue, published online on May 15th 2024, Sophie briefly described what it's like dating Perry:

[...] she’s not entirely alone in Paris. In the past few days, she’s been papped on more than one occasion floating around the French capital with her rumoured new beau, Peregrine Pearson, a handsome British property developer and viscount’s son. “I am having fun dating. It’s very fun,” admits Turner, her striking blue eyes sparkling. “I mean, it’s strange when you get married so young. It’s like you never really learn how to date. So it’s all very new to me.” —British Vogue June 2024 Issue

And they are having fun indeed! During the last two months (May-June) they were seen attending costume parties, enjoying sunny days at his family estate, traveling to Italy, being VIP on Taylor Swift concerts & after concert parties, and more. Let's see!

~~~

LOLA

On Saturday night, May 18th 2024, Sophie posted a picture of Lady Lola Affrica Crichton-Stuart, also known as Lola Bute, on her IG stories:

I'm mentioning this since this was the first crumb we got after Perry's visit to Mexico while Sophie was filming Trust there.

So, since Lola is friends with Perry, it was easy to assume that he was with them that night.

Lola and Sophie started following each other on IG after that outing.

~~~

COSTUME PARTY

On Sunday, May 19th 2024, a picture of Sophie and Perry wearing costumes appeared on this forum.

Sophie looked super cute as Super Girl, while Perry opted for a Batman mask and cape.

After some research I found out that the costume party was a birthday celebration for a relative of Perry.

~~~

COWDRAY ESTATE

Sophie and Perry enjoyed a sunny day at Cowdray Estate (Perry's family estate in Midhurst, West Sussex).

They were joined by some friends and a few of Perry's relatives.

~~~

HEATHROW AIRPORT

On Saturday, May 25th 2024, Sophie and Perry were spotted at Heathrow Airport, leaving London for a romantic getaway to some European destination:

~~~

CAPRI

On Saturday, June 1st 2024, we discovered that Sophie and Perry's European romantic destination was Capri, Italy.

They were seen leaving a bar/restaurant and walking through the streets of Capri, while she was was carrying a shopping bag and smoking a cigarette, and he was holding a glass of white wine and carrying a deck of Monopoly playing cards.

As you can see, Sophie was wearing Perry's navy blue jumper, the same he wore the day they flew to Italy.

She just likes borrowing her boyfriend's clothes ❤️

~~~

THE PENINSULA LONDON GRAND OPENING CELEBRATIONS

On Tuesday, June 18th 2024, Sophie attended the Peninsula London Grand Opening Celebrations, where she was seen with Eleanor Wellesley and Camilla Blandford, who are two of the first friends that Perry introduced to Sophie last year.

~~~

TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT

Sophie and Perry are now *Taylorfficial*

On Sunday, June 23th 2024, Sophie with Perry and friends Tabby Doherty and Rupert Gorst, attended Taylor Swift's third concert of her Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium in London:

~~~

The four of them enjoyed the concert from the Vip Tent. Here are some pics, gifs and videos:

Sophie and friend Tabby Doherty:

Sophie shared this one on IG. This picture was probably taken by Perry.

~~~

Sophie and singer Gracie Abrams:

~~~

Sophie, Tabby Doherty and Danielle Haim:

~~~

Sophie and friend Tabby Doherty singing Cardigan next to Fleabag's actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, while Perry was talking with an old gentleman in the back (I think one of Taylor's uncles):

~~~

Sophie singing and dancing Look What You Made Me Do:

~~~

Sophie and Danielle Haim effusively singing and dancing All Too Well (Ten Minutes Version), while Tabby Doherty and Perry shared a hug in the back. In the end of the second gif you can see Sophie hugging singer Gracie Abrams:

So, Tabby Doherty is the Sophie's friend that hangs the most with the couple and seeing Tabby and Perry being this friendly makes me think that, maybe, the anons that messaged me with their suspicions that it was Tabby the common friend that introduced Perry to Sophie were right! 🤔

~~~

Sophie next to Fleabag's Hot Priest actor Andrew Scott:

~~~

Applause for Travis Kelce in the Vip Tent following his stage performance:

In the middle of the video you can see Perry fistpumping Travis in the back 🤜🤛

~~~

Sophie getting friendship bracelets from fans:

She's adorable 😍

~~~

Sophie going and coming (to the bathroom I presume) during the concert:

~~~

Perry holding Sophie and Sophie's bag 🤭:

(After watching this video someone asked me if they were a throuple 🤨)

~~~

In summary, Sophie had the time of her life at Taylor's concert:

~~~

CHILTERN FIREHOUSE

After the concert, Sophie and Perry joined Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce for an after party at Chiltern Firehouse:

Last night, an exclusive eyewitness source reported to Deuxmoi that they were seated next to none other than America's prom king and queen Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at London's Chiltern Firehouse. Taylor celebrated the end of her Wembley shows with a bang, and who better to join the party than the Kansas City Chiefs tight end himself? According to the source, the two were "kissing and looking like they're having so much fun!" The source continued, "Sophie Turner  joined their table, too!" In addition to Turner, Gracie Abrams, the rising singer-songwriter, was seated with the group along with Hayley Williams from Paramore, and English actress-screenwriter Phoebe Waller-Bridge. What a turn out! [Source]

The after party lasted until 4:00 a.m., and when they were leaving Chiltern Firehouse the paparazzi were ready to take the most unflattering pictures of the tired couple. They basically shot their flashes directly at their faces inside their car . . . .

~~~

ROMANTIC PICNIC IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

On Monday, July 1st 2024, Sophie posted a carousel on IG with a couple of pics from a romantic picnic date with Perry somewhere in the countryside 😍:

Perry took the second picture and is tagged on it ❤️

The caption of the carousel is: "🌞 sun, sex and suspicious parents 🌞." That particular caption is a reference to an old BBC Show precisely called Sun, Sex and Suspicious Perents, a documentary -reality television series, where people in their late teens and early twenties go on their first girls'/lads' holiday abroad under the belief that they are getting away from their parents. However, their parents are also sent to the holiday destination and secretly watch footage of their children on video screens and also spy in their hotel rooms and at nightclub locations. The parents then reveal themselves on the last night of the holiday, to the dismay of the children, and tell them what they've seen and learned.

What were you guys doing??? 👀 🤭 🙈

~~~

And this is all for now.

I was hoping that Sophie and Perry's next Summer activity would be Glastonbury, but sadly that didn't happen, as far as I know 😔. But the picnic date pictures were truly an unexpected and lovely gift from the lovebirds ❤️

~~~

You can read the previous editions here: Vol. V - Vol. IV (Appendix) - Vol. IV - Vol. III - Vol. II - Vol. I

Until the next report 👋

[devilsminion-armandaniel]

apologies if you've been asked this already, but im curious what your hopes are for dm in the show (in terms of happened in the past/will happen in the future/both/secret fourth option(?) and what you think is most likely to actually happen, if those arent the same thing

(it turned into a pretty long post when I had it all typed out, sorry.) I think my hopes are pretty much in line with what I expect the show to do. I definitely think we're getting Past Devil's Minion. it's been hinted at in promo too much for us not to see Luke again. Luke did a lot of promo to begin with for a one episode character, especially if we wouldn't see him again for the rest of the series. Compared to Madeline who was in more episodes. Now, you could argue Luke is better know, but I don't think Luke is anywhere near a household name. We have seen all three them of them talk about Young Daniel. Eric wants to see Luke do a scene with his ex wife/ex-wives, Assad wants a threesome scene where Daniel and Luke merge into each other. And Luke would like it if Alice was Armand. I think if Young Daniel was a closed chapter the actors would be discouraged from talking about it, as to not raise fandom expectations the show had zero plans on filling. Not to mention we had Vampire Sam at the big opening of the season 2 and we had Luke there as well. No other TdV actor was there, only the 'big' characters and actors. And where we haven't seen much of Vampire Sam yet, we will be seeing him again in S3. So, I think Luke being there and pairing him up with Assad for promo was a deliberate choice. There are some things in the show itself that also make me more sure that Young Daniel will return. We know old Daniel has a faulty memory and that he is still missing pieces. And that he also doesn't remember everything properly from how thinks it went. His own auto-biography isn't a correct story, as highlighted by Louis being the stranger he once met. Memory is the monster. Daniel feeling freer in Paris to hold 'Alice' hands, Armand triggering Daniel's memories. Raglan knowing Armand wouldn't harm Daniel. Armand caring about Daniel enough to stop Louis from hurting him, from crossing lines, offering comfort and apologies. None of that makes a lot of sense if they weren't something at some point in the past. Especially because Jacob said in an interview that after San Francisco Armand and Louis kind of went their own way, where they didn't always check up on each other. Armand, according to Daniel, would disappear for long stretches of time in the book, which could easily be during the chase. Armand going from Daniel to Louis and back. We also don't really know much about Louis' past and if Armand was always there. Nor do we know when Armand discovered he could walk in the sun. We have a good 50 years of 'nothing' that we still need to see. We still have to learn when and why Louis believed Lestat was dead and murdered by him and Claudia. Or when Louis found out Claudia hated him. And when he forgot about that. Why did Louis stop killing in 2000. What happened that made him want to change. Who did he kill? If we still have to get all that knowledge I have to assume, there is knowledge in those years that we also need about Armand, Lestat and Daniel. So, I guess, I always simply look at the book as being slightly altered but not much. Past DM is still the QoTD chapter bare the turning which is now their separation. And instead of Daniel going mad and being with Marius, the show aged him, gave him wives and daughters. The present is the show's version of the Prince Lestat trilogy. When they reunite. Anne never wrote those scenes out, so the show has a lot of freedom to decide how to go about this. And I think with this set up, Devil's Minion can be the best couple on tv in a very long time. With all the drama, love, lust, longing, fighting, toxicity and warmth, that only they can have. With the whirlwind rollarcoaster romance and the heartbreaking separation of the past, to the challenging, yearned for, longed for, painful, healing and hopeful reunion. I'm not psychic though, but i do really hope this is the direction they are going in, it's the one I would pick and I think it's the one that will have the highest success rate storywise.

[marley-manson]

12, 18, 21, & 23 for hawkeye?

Thank you!

12. What’s a headcanon you have for this character?

The majority of the sex he's had in his life has been gay because it was easier to find willingly casual partners and hookups in the gay scene in the 40s, and he canonically had a shitload of casual sex pre-war. He also enjoys the company of gay men more than the straight world, so that's where his closest social circle comes from, at least post-war. All the het sex during the war is yet another way of making do - not because he's not into women but a) he doesn't enjoy leading them on and b) he'd prefer to be having more gay sex than he gets. And c) he canonically doesn't like that the nurses are all military, as he alludes to in The Interview.

I recall seeing a post once that was like 'when would he have the time to have a bunch of gay sex when he dated carlye' but that relationship lasted 2 years at most (took place during a surgical residency which are 2 years) and he's at least 30 by the time he was drafted, he had time to have plenty of sex with other women based on everything about him and how he talks about his love life (eg people assuming he'd end up married to a stripper), and I'll also headcanon that he dove into the gay scene extra hard afterwards to try to get over her.

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

Like most of his relationships with the cast, I think he's p great with everyone. Love his professional respect with Charles and early Margaret and compassion with later Margaret, love his friendship with Henry and refusal to treat Henry like a boss, love his older sibling/parental vibe with Radar, love his two bffs, love his animosity towards Frank (very admirable) and his solidarity with Klinger and gentle respect with Mulcahy. Potter's the sole exception in not really liking that relationship, but even there I enjoy aspects, like Hawkeye's protectiveness towards him when he acts like an idiot (The Young and the Restless or Red White Blues).

I think I'll go with his dad though? I love that they have a very positive relationship, Hawkeye is very effusive in discussing his admiration for him and telling him he loves him etc, and it's sweet. Daniel sucks in some ways in how emotionally reticent he is lol, but I love how Hawkeye deals with that and gently scolds him for it.

21. If you’re a fic writer and have written for this character, what’s your favorite thing to do when you’re writing for this character? What’s something you don’t like?

I love writing his point of view because it unlocks Fun Writing where I can describe things in colourful ways with lots of funny metaphors and jokes. I'm a close 3rd person writer so I can't do this if I don't think it fits the character.

I also enjoy his shamelessness and the way he's so open about everything, it makes his reactions to things more unique (at least in the fanfic world where writers often like to default to emotional reticence and insecurity) and interesting imo. If he doesn't like something he will say something, if he wants something he will pursue it unless he has a good reason not to, etc. It's fun to imagine how he reacts to things because of that.

There's not much I don't like about writing him, but it does kind of suck that I have such a solidified sense of characterization for him because it makes it hard to make some premises I'd otherwise really enjoy work in my brain, because I can't imagine Hawkeye behaving how he'd need to for it to work. Eg Hawk/Frank endgame, or Peg/BJ/Hawkeye trainwreck, or post-canon miserable Hawk/BJ relationship. I just think Hawk would have the awareness, experience, and self-respect to hit da bricks, unfortunately.

23. Favorite picture of this character?

I absolutely can't narrow this down to one favourite screencap lol, but here have one of my favourite moments:

[crazykuroneko]

Rewind the Tape — IWTV S1E04 Rewatch

Finally, I'm back with my rewatch for @iwtvfanevents after having to microdosing Ep 4 because of limited time, mood, and I just fell unconscious once I hit my bed. Again, FYI from before: this is my first time rewatching the show (excluding indirect watch through YouTube reactions), and its purpose for me to refresh my mind and noticing things. So, I won't dwell on certain ongoing or past theories, but I'll take notes about the possibilities I notice as the rewatch goes for myself. Also, disclaimer, because I've had people put words into my mouth before: When I'm assuming the reason a certain character does what they do, it's not to give them an excuse. It's my way of trying to understand what the writers have in their minds. For me, if the action of a character doesn't make sense in that character's eyes, based on their personality, then it's bad writing.

Okay, that's long enough. Be careful with the S2 spoiler alerts. Time to meet ✨ Claudia✨

• It's been 10 years since Daniel published a book and his publisher seems questioning his ability to write a book.

• Armand barely gets any sunlight here.

• *Googling* Levodopa is used to reduce Parkinson's symptoms, like tremors, stiffness, and slowness, which are caused by lack of dopamine. It works by being converted to dopamine in brain.

• "Electronic mailbox" Armand, you're so funny.

• Resting? Wait, have they ever did an interview during mornings before? Ep 1, it's night. Ep 2, during dinner time to late at night. Okay, it seems Ep 3 starts in the day to night. Gonna pay attention to this more. 

• The interior designer is a woman. "Louis is missing the 'natural' world" What tree is that again? I'm bad with plants.

• Claudia wrote her name and the year on her first diary. Cute. (But ofc she probably stopped doing that after Loustat read her diaries)

• They arrived in Paris November 14, 1945. A week after Lestat's birthday, fyi. There's a headcanon Armand's (it seems people got it from a wikia, which was taken from an official calendar, but no one has checked that calendar) is November 11. 

• They're in Ploiesti in 1941, eating POWs.

• My caption doesn't write it, but Lestat says, "Impossible. Elle est trop jeune." (She's too young) Oh, Louis 😔

• "I just need her not to die". And Lestat probably recalled Louis crying on their bed over not able to have a child, and there they went to doom themselves and Claudia. Anything (because unlike Louis, he knows all the consequences) to keep Louis happy AND stay with him. 

• The contrast between Louis' and Claudia's transformation. Lestat doesn't let her to drink much, just enough to turn her. There's no gentleness or anything when Lestat holds her. In fact, the camera stays on his rough hold, highlighting the ugliness of it. Isn't in the books being turned without consent seen akin to rape? 

• "Hell demons" lol. I wonder when she got his first diary and when she arrived at that conclusion. 

• "It's my new house?" "It is if you want it to be" as if she has another option. Louis, you're so funny. 

• Delaying to tell Claudia that she needs to feed on humans. Telling her there's another "choice" than eating humans. Expecting Claudia to feel regret the next day after killing a human. Louis, stop putting your own feelings in her.

• "He has to relay on my words to understand me. Just like humans." "We are a family?" Monsters who have to keep a bit of humanity to get along, who are also playing house like humans.

• You could tell Lestat is already sensitive about being left out in the telepathic conversation since the beginning.

• Claudia witnessing queer relationship for the first time is so amusing lol

• Claudia says ACAB 😌

• This scene doesn't feel "smooth" to me. I don't know if it's the editing or the writing. First, that last line by the cop is too long for such a short action. Second, i think they could pick a better intonation for "not a cop" there. Plus, the placement makes it feel like they almost forgot to put it. 

• Claudia needs twice amount of blood than Loustat. She's still energetic when the sleep time comes. Noted. 

• "Kill juice" Lestat and Claudia are bonding over vampirism.

• "Have you seen my slippers?" "Under the chair by the window" The domesticity uwu.

• The lines about Lestat talking about Claudia's writing habit are so witty when you remember he canonly writes the Vampire Chronicles books. A platonic kiss for IWTV writers again.

• Claudia's new coffin is called The Feathered Nest. A call back to Louis saying him in Lestat's nest in Ep 2. 

• Since the beginning, Claudia likes to ask and figure out things that she doesn't know, while Louis won't say anything to not rock the boat.

• "We try to accustom her to the thought of coming home to God" Oh gosh, Louis is so bad at lying 😭

• Okay, seriously. We know in Ep 2, after Louis is just turned that /at least/ his sight and hearing becomes more sensitive. And in this episode, Claudia can smell the cop's blood from afar. But this lore doesn't consistent with the stinky bodies at their home in Ep 5 and the fact Claudia can stalk Lestat many times (and ofc Claudia and Louis at Antoinette's place in Ep 6 as well). This uncontinuity gives me a headache. OR after they manage to control their senses (Lestat's saying "focus on my voice, a single strain"), their senses basically become normal and only can do more when they willing it? I'm trying to make sense of it here.

• "I miss sleeping with you." So, in good days, they sleep together in Louis' coffin. They /probably/ haven't been doing it since Antoinette thing started (I mean, I wouldn't). That's 8 months. (The sanctioned infidelity narration is on Feb 1917, Claudia started to write her diary in late Sept 1917 and she still sleeps with Louis by that time. Based on this timeline)

• "Sometimes, you gotta be careful where you dig, you understand?" Not to fast forward to S2, but this sounds so ominous. 

• Louis in the night with this pink striped shirt 🥰

• "Is that what he's up to when he goes out alone?" No wonder stalking Lestat is the first thing she does after Charlie. 

• Do I believe Louis' answer is true? I do, because writing-wise, I don't see there's any reason for Lestat to cheat (as in having a relationship with someone else, because I could see him still making out with humans before eating them) when they keep spending their time together except when Lestat is hunting and Louis and Claudia go out together like in this scene. Plus, unlike in Ep 6, during this era Claudia still follows the no telepathic talking rule. (See: Claudia's "I'll tell Uncle Les you talk to me this way" later) Something, I assume, makes Lestat feel alienated from the two and goes to cheat to find a connection with another on his own. But I digress.

• "Used to caught up in human affairs. Then you."

• Okay, at least Daniel waits Armand to finish his sunnah prayer before interrupting him, though Armand should continue doing his Ashr prayer soon. Anyway, i wish they used adhan that's clearer. I mean, I could only listen the beginning of each phrase, not the end.

• Claudia throwing a thing at Lestat and he barely reacted and proceed to pick it off the floor right away. For a period of time, Claudia is indeed the queen in that house. "This was given to me by a marquis..." If that's from Lestat's father, which makes that a family heirloom, and he gave that to Claudia. That means big for a Provider man like Lestat. (hashtag me and Lestat loved Claudia once propaganda) They are supposed to have 6 years of "good time".

• "When they can't (figuring out their problems), I can always get between them and make it right." Claudia is literally a band-aid. I suppose she helps them communicating because as I said in previous episodes, Loustat tend to not address the real problem, just shift to something that will make them feel better and forget it until it comes up again.

• *S2 spoiler alert* No, never think about how Claudia's interest in acting probably grew from the times Loustat bringing her to watch picture shows and Lestat acting them out in front of them. And in the end, it's what makes her fall into the trap of the troupe easier in S2. No, we're fine.

• "Know what her last words are?" I love her psychopath side, obsessing over last words after being called a devil in one.

• Oh, Grace's inflection when saying "uncle". They have heard a lot of homophobic jabber and satanic accusations from Florence over the years, no doubt. 

• This is from Claudia's POV, so it's interesting how she's paying attention and remembers to write it down. 

• Louis really has put down his dutiful son and brother "hat" after having a family himself.

• I think this is probably the last time Claudia admits she has a lot in common with Lestat *insert xie lian's idk whether i have to cry or laugh here*

• That scene of Claudia eating the guy is so classic horror, complete with the blood splatter on glass. Love.

• Lestat really brings her to Lovers' Lane without thinking about the effects. He probably thinks because her appetite stays big like a kid, her mind will stay like that forever. 

• "I don't remember buying that outfit" Lestat bought all Claudia's outfits ofc. (I don't regard interviews as part of canon, but Sam did say that Louis chose Claudia's outfits)

• My theory: Lestat could notice when Claudia and Louis telepathically speaking if he pays attention to their expressions. I mean, he clearly has a thing for being alienated by telepathic connection (for a good reason, if they adapt that part of the book, cmiiw), so it makes sense if he just can tell. 

• THE HORSE IS CALLED BELLA LOL

• She really has a crush on the first good man she meets. So adorable, if not for her monologue 

• She knocks the railing every time she walks towards Loustat's room? Oh I would like to know the backstory that causes this rule/habit 👀. But if it's a rule, it's an interesting when you recall Lestat's "Child. Intervening the romance of the parents" or something like that in Ep 6.

• Waiting on balcony just like her father in Ep 1. The writers are strong with their "Evil of my evil" propaganda.

• Claudia figures out how to block people's thoughts since teenager. Louis has never had a reason to do it

• Again, Claudia is such a curious girl. She dives right in with Charlie

• Sorry, but the editing in this episode is kinda sloppy. I keep noticing things 😭

• This connection Claudia has with last words. It's been awhile but I wonder if we'll get to see it again. *S2 spoiler alert* Perhaps Madeleine says something to her before you-know-what. Or Claudia says something to Louis instead. I just love patterns yknow. 

• Daniel Hart is just slaying in the background with his music. 

• Vampires feel "loose" when they're aroused, which leads to become very bitey.

• That's why she goes to find out how vampirism works right away. Suddenly Lestat can't do what he did to her. She realizes she knows nothing about her current life

• That scene of Lestat and Claudia at the incinerator... Past Louis doesn't know they're burning Charlie and what exactly what Lestat says there. Imagine reading the latter in her diary.

• The transition from Lestat's whole speech about not being close to a mortal to Daniel 🤌🤌🤌

• If Daniel is true that Louis has had all of the diaries in '70s, so my guess Louis doesn't look fine at all in the flashback is right. He's "wearing hats" again.

• I wonder what Louis wanted to say. But knowing him and judging from his reaction to Daniel's brashness, it's something that sugarcoats  Claudia's position in their "family"

• The way Claudia knocks the railing but then it goes weaker, she doesn't really care about the houserules or childish habits anymore 

• The last scene is a nice hint/nod to you-know-what, but also I once read someone saying that what she does is the equivalent of a teenager doing self-harming when they're depressed, and I can't unsee that anymore. I think that's a spot-on.

• This is the last episode we hear "In Throes in Increasing Wonder" as a closing music btw. You know, the music that represent Loustat's love. They really say we're going downhill 

Summary:

For the previous episodes, I always finished my rewatch and tried to figure out what theme of that episode. Of course it's always about Louis because this is Louis' season first and foremost. But for the theme of this episode, I think it's: Louis' first meeting with Claudia and the first time he has failed her. The first part is obvious, the second part, like I said above, Louis only finds how far Lestat's action is to Claudia after he reads her diaries later. I think, he sees that as his first failure to her; unable to stop Lestat making it worse for her.  And we will see Claudia criticize this more in Ep 6.

This episodes also shows Louis' misconception about Claudia. He expects Claudia to react the same way to vampirism as he is. And we will see more of this in the later episodes (but of course the most obvious one is in Ep 7)

This episode is in Claudia's POV, but I like to call it "the closest thing to ideal life Louis has ever gotten", at least until Charlie happens. Like Lestat says in the church scene, Louis wears a lot of "hats": being the good son and good executive in charge of their fortune for his family, being the good straight man, being the good savvy businessman for his family and his own people, and later being a good vampire for Lestat. This time, he gets to take most of them, if not all, off and focus himself wholly on Claudia and Lestat, his family. He says himself, Claudia's existense silences all the noise, chaos, the crisis of his former existence. He has a daughter who has literal telepathic connection to him, someone who can know what he feels without saying anything. Someone by whom he doesn't feel being judged because he can know what she thinks. He has a husband who spends most of his time with them as a family. Who takes their daughter together to shop, Louis choosing the stuffs, Lestat paying for it. Who protects their family when they need to fulfill their daughter's needs (see: the buying coffin scene). Who also has a quality time with their daughter, even though it's mostly about killing humans. Unfortunately, it's rigged to burn, because Claudia won't be a child forever despite her body, outgrowning the very particular role Loustat need from her to maintain their play house.

Oh, I almost forgot, I wonder what the arrangement is with Louis' diet during this happy period. He doesn't do as much action as he did in previous episodes and we do see him eating animals still, but it looks like his sex life is thriving. He has control over his emotions pretty well. So, I assume he doesn't starve himself completely. At least, not as bad as he did before. Perhaps, this is one of the problems Claudia says she has "to smooth out". Though we know later she has never said directly to Louis how she actually doesn't completely agree with his diet choice from Episode 7. *S2 spoiler alert* And we know he later decides to eat human every other day to survive their European trip. My long time theory is Lestat manipulates him into drinking from him at least once a week as a solution. (and that's why he's more powerful than his book counterpart when he's not completely starving himself) 🤔

By the way, since this is the middle of the season, I'd like to say I think this is overall my least favorite episode so far. Mostly from the technical side, but I still love how they sprinkle hints of Claudia's own personality. I think my most favorite episode overall is Ep 1. I just love how their built Louis' personality in it. The performance is crazy, and the directing set the tone of the rest of the season. The directing in Ep 3 is top notch as well, especially towards the end. You really could feel the growing tension. The writing weaving all this history and race problem into Louis' personal life is genius as well.

[volkswagonblues]

5, 6, & 9 for the writers asks!

I assume it's for let the rock roll (interview with the vampire)!

5. What's a piece of lore you haven't shown in your fic or don't think you'll be able to add in?

More renaissance Italy stuff about Amadeo's life. I just really like the idea that Amadeo wasn't this woobie victim but he was this real person growing up with a lot of other young men and there's all sorts of pettiness and interpersonal drama and gruelling work they all had to do. And there's a death by one thousand cuts aspect to Amadeo's life where yeah, there's the obvious huge trauma of being enslaved, but also when you're a teenager, nothing matters more than the opinions of other teenagers.

A snippet i cut:

Armand is twisting and untwisting his fingers again. “I liked the other apprentices. Most of the time. But sometimes, my master…it’s hard to describe what it was like. Amadeo didn’t understand him. Maybe it was the crudeness that Amadeo picked up from the other apprentices that annoyed him. And the favouritism of my master rankled the others. One day, we were singing songs in the courtyard, being taught to us by Silvio. He was an older assistant at the studio. He seemed a giant to us, though he could not have been more than nineteen or twenty at the time. When it was Amadeo's turn, he made a poor attempt at it. He had a poor voice, it can’t be helped. "Albinus found it very amusing. He said, 'Amadeo, you may have the eye of a master, but you have a voice of lead.' He was teasing, you see. But Silvio said, 'It doesn’t matter what his voice is, for Amadeo has a cock and asshole made of gold, and that’s where his true talent lies.'” And the others all laughed. Daniel touches Armand's shoulder. "That's just classic schoolboy bully bullshit. He was jealous." "He was right," Armand says.

6. What's a subtle quirk your protag has? How do you convey it in your writing?

Armand is nothing but quirks. My fav though is that I think one of his Special Autistic Interests is like, the life and work of Daniel Malloy. My dude refuses to pay for spotify premium but he shelled out 99$ for Daniel's journalism masterclass. He's doing a lot of work to mask it though so it comes through only in a few spots. From chap 4:

“I don’t know the colour of your underwear, and you don’t have a favourite pen. You think writers who fetishize their stationery are no better than ‘proud toddlers praising their dicks for pissing into the bowl.’” “That does sound like something I’d say.” Armand looks grave. “Because you did say it. April, 1989. In a guest column for The Village Voice. Scanned and digitized on a Daniel Malloy fansite in 2009. Easily accessible through Internet archives.”

9. What is your favourite line/interaction in your fic?

from the upcoming chap 7 of let the rock roll:

“Did you actually want to die?” he asks. It feels important to make sure. “That night when you found out I looked through your sketchbooks—all that bullshit about draining you like Louis should have drained me—you weren’t seriously asking me to kill you?” Armand scrapes the dessert glass for the last of the whipped cream. “You’re asking me two different questions.” “Then give me your two different answers.” “Number one, I don’t want to die,” Armand says. “Number two, I wouldn’t mind if you kill me.” “What the fuck, Armand?” “One day I will have to die, and on that day I’d like it to be you. However—” Armand drops his spoon with a clatter. “Like I said, I hope I don’t die just yet. Shall we get going?”

[dumdeeedum]

"Interview with the Vampire" bitching, and what? Spoilers ahead.

The only good things about this week's episode of "Interview with the Vampire" was making it so Madeline saw Claudia as a sister figure and friend, which is much better than having Claudia go with a woman who basically would see her as a child and daughter forever because she didn't want that. I never quite got that in the books and if someone has some idea of wtf that was about I'd love to know. For real. Though I don't see it for Madeline as a character. Is the idea that she's suited to be a vampire because she'd do whatever it takes to survive including fuck Nazis? So like... Claudia killed anti-Nazis...? And one of those anti-Nazis was a woman who was totally cool with the men she hangs out with raping a woman? Alright. (shrug) The other good thing was Lestat finally coming back so the show will be less BORING?? Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if they wrote this show thinking it'd only have 2 seasons so instead of setting up a bunch of Vampire Chronicles stuff that would be so intriguing as to pique interest enough for a season 3 and on they just made this one story much longer and worse. And they didn't have to do and the way they did it is very bizarre. Things DRAG, WHY TO THINGS DRAG?! Why is it sometimes difficult to verbalize what HAPPENED in an episode because it can be summarized in a few words and everything else was just justification for the budget and extras. They had so much extra time to flesh so much out and just... didn't? I have a really hard time staying off my phone through most of these episodes. I looked up when Raglan James showed up again because I like the actor but was confused as to why it wasn't David. It has me assuming they're going to do something where they give Daniel David's body switch body story perhaps? Not entirely happy with that but at least a body switch means I don't have to see that TERRIBLE young Daniel stage ass actor again. He was bad. Armand and Louis are so boring, holy shit. And it wasn't that they weren't also boring in the book but at least I didn't have to sit through hours of it. I'm not even here for them fucking because I bet that's boring too! Fade to black, fine, whatever, otherwise I'd fall the fuck asleep. I just wish I recognized these characters so that even if the story was a bit different it didn't feel so utterly foreign. I don't recognize Armand, Louis, or Daniel and that's pretty bad. These characters are those characters, really, in name only. Instead of using all of the books to flesh out the existing characters they're just making shit up and having these characters do shit they wouldn't do.

I also wish a lot of the changes didn't feel so "edgy" for the sake of it. We don't need things to be gritty just for the fuck of it and in bizarre places. It actually IS more interesting that Armand drives Daniel to alcoholism (they could even have made it drug use) and madness than to have him just be a drug addict with no explanation that might give us some insight into the character. And it's also more interesting to have him do it over the course of YEARS rather than a few nights that didn't actually contribute to Daniel's drug problem and didn't seem to change whom he'd become in any meaningful way other than Daniel going "wtf was that about?" years later and not really remember. So far they seem to be continuously kicking Daniel's characterization can down to who knows when because all that Louis and Armand have been doing is using Daniel's nebulous problems against Daniel either to talk shit to him or make fun of him for it. Daniel isn't forthcoming about the whys of his life and the show doesn't seem concerned with exploring that in any meaningful way that justifies 2 seasons of it. They're dragging their feet in every possible way and it doesn't justify the time spent. What is the function of Daniel being a "gay for pay" drug addict when in the books he was a pretty run of the mill, queer writer who was hot enough to get Louis attention? If he's going to be this fucked up why does he even WANT to be a vampire? How will that solve the problems he has, what ARE the problems he has? At least in the book Daniel was mundane and bored and that contributed to him seeing vampires as fascinating and wanted to be one of them. This Daniel characterization seems more like book Louis in that he's lived as long as he has in SPITE of himself or something? I'd love an explanation if I FULLY missed something but like... the fuck? This is such a weird product all around, I'm so confused, and I really don't want to hear it from anyone about why I'm watching it, mind your own fucking business is why. I really wish they'd set up ALL of the deeply fascinating things Vampire Chronicles has in store instead of teasing JUST Raglan James? Did I miss any mention of "those whom must be kept?" I feel like there was some little throwaway thing? Don't remember now. I don't know, stuff like this is why I think they're writing this show thinking they'd just get to finish "Interview" at best and that's just a weird way to have to do things. I don't even necessarily blame the writers entirely on that account because we know how these networks do things these days and it's in the most asinine way possible that makes it VERY difficult for ANY show to set up several season's worth of content for fear they'll be cancelled after 1 or 2 without getting the opportunity. But it really could have been done just a LITTLE better because they CERTAINLY had the time to do it.

[teiasviago]

"and all things plot... i have a lot that i could say but i won’t LOL"

I'd love to hear your thoughts one day (if you're comfortable saying them)

It’s not that I’m scared to say it or anything, it’s that my thoughts are very critical and I don’t wanna bum people out by shouting it from the rooftops, lol. And it’s hard to say it all because there’s just...so much. Like, so much that I’m very slowly writing a revamp of the episode in script format. There’s no other way to fully articulate what I’d change and what I’d change it to and what I’d get rid of and what I’d add. (And then some that are just a reward for me to keep going lol.) But what the hell. I’ll give it a shot. It’ll be good to get it all out.

I don’t think any of it is Gillian’s fault, per se. Like, you’re in a writers room—it’s usually collaborative. And when all those people working on the show agreed to make her idea into an episode, that means that it’s supposed to be part of the collaborative process of making a TV show. There’s just a...je ne sais quois to the episode (the same one that I see in “Never Again” but somehow even worse) that my gut is telling me means that people working on the show (once again) viewed it as not worthy of the same level of effort as the others.

I don’t believe that’s an outlandish thing to think, especially considering that one interview that circulated on our dashes a week or two ago where Gillian said that FOX couldn’t very well say no because they barely had women writing/directing any episodes. So they had to do it. And at first glance, it seems like the script didn’t get enough passes around the critique table, but that’s not it. There was just a lot cut, and we can see that. Well, I see it. And that’s not fair. It’s fucking misogynistic. None of the other episodes look like that! Why this one? Like “Never Again,” I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “All Things” was treated like this. Maybe that was Gillian’s choice, I don’t know. (Whoever’s responsible, you did a goof.)

But I don’t know. I don’t really have proof of all that. It’s a gut feeling. But it’s the same gut that was right about Scully sitting in a room of old men as a young woman in the pilot being an integral part of the show’s thesis, and it was right that something was missing from the scene back at Ed’s apartment after the tattoo scene (they fucked on the floor—where’s that raw desire in the final product???). And I don’t wanna sell myself short. Anyways, into the thick of it:

1. Scully & Daniel’s Relationship

So, apparently it wasn’t Gillian’s intention to imply that they were actually sexual. Scrap that idea. Like we assume in the episode, they were sleeping together. It adds weight to the tension throughout the episode and to the characters’ interactions. But, we’re not even going to pretend that Daniel is a real choice. Not one bit. Not as a point of MSR supremacy but because of the maturity gap between him and Scully when they were together. He was in his 40s, she was in her 20s. Not appropriate at all. She’s not devoid of responsibility, of course, but when you have power over someone like Daniel did, you also bear the responsibility of turning down any advances. (I assume it was Scully who really started it based on her behavior in “Never Again,” even if Daniel wasn’t as firm as he should’ve been when they were getting closer.)

And I don’t like that Scully genuinely seems to believe that she could choose Daniel. Why did she leave him? Did they break up? Or did she finish school and they went their separate ways since he was still with his wife? Gotta answer those questions, and I much prefer Scully realizing that she’s a complete asshole for dating a married guy and that if Daniel’s willing to cheat, how can she trust him? Especially if we make it so she ran in the same circles as Daniel’s daughter Maggie.

2. Scully’s Issue

I still don’t really understand what Scully wants. Like, I do because I’m fixated on TXF and I know her character, but I think it can be shown better than her ignoring Mulder while he’s explaining why they’re going gallivanting off to England. It seems like she’s just tired of feeling like Mulder’s not committed to her and to their relationship, and it’s bringing up those old feelings from “Never Again,” but then it suddenly escalates to her thinking that maybe she should just get back together with Daniel. Like, WOAH, slow down, we’ve just met this dude!

I don’t think the X-file part came out right, either. It just...doesn’t feel right that she believes for Daniel and then all Mulder says is something to the effect of “crazy week, huh?” if I’m remembering correctly. It just ain’t right. It’s one of the things that I can’t quite pin down. But honestly, I’d just get rid of this through-line. I think Scully believing is tackled in the other episodes of the show and it won’t adversely affect the episode with its absence. Scully can still work through her side of the rough patch she and Mulder are going through without it.

3. Scully & Maggie’s Relationship

This is what needs to be elaborated on instead of the X-file. I think I’ve said this before but not every episode actually needed an X-file, and this was one of them. (Also “Irresistible,” Never Again,” and “Orison.”) Instead of weird things happening (although the woman in grey/Mulder in grey thing should totally stay lol), we need to learn more about Scully and Maggie’s relationship. It comes back to that idea of Scully realizing she was an asshole for sleeping with Daniel, and now she has to deal with the fact that Maggie feels obligated to care for her father but she feels no obligations towards Scully, so she’s taking out a lot of anger on her—some of it rightful.

Scully being the catalyst for Maggie’s life being turned upside down is such a tense, compelling piece of the puzzle! Especially if Maggie was the friend of a friend and so Scully heard about some of the effects of her relationship with Daniel on his home life and how it was tearing the family apart. The guilt of that mistake, and it driving her to making the impulsive decision to join the FBI. Yes, to make a difference in the world, that, too. But the initial consideration? The boost needed to send her resume and application?

Sigh... I have a version of the episode that lives in my head that I much prefer over the actual thing, although I do have a soft spot for the end. I adore that softness. And when I change that scene, I want to keep that. And just...make it mean even more.

[carlando]

I think Carlos knew Lando’s gonna become the center of the McLaren project (I mean he’s a young British guy, showed himself really well in his first year, it just makes sense), so when Ferrari contract fell into his lap, it probably seemed perfect to him - he gets to go to a top team he’s most likely dreamed of driving for, and he also gets to be proud of what he contributed to McLaren in a pretty short amount of time. And when it comes to Lando, knowing Carlos is leaving probably made things a lot easier for them - they could just focus on getting 3rd in the constructors and it worked perfectly, 2020 was less about them beating each other and more about working as a team. Lando is still very adamant on beating Carlos in particular and he’s not shy talking about it in interviews so yeah, if they stayed teammates, it could’ve turned south… when people have that kind of chemistry, the relationship is really good when it’s good, and it’s really bad when it’s bad. I’m glad they avoided and are still managing to avoid that second path. 

Anyway, maybe Carlos thought things at Ferrari would turn around for the better like they did when he came to McLaren, but that’s not the case. I definitely agree that to thrive he needs an environment like it was in McLaren and he’s not getting it at Ferrari but refusing to admit it. He’s stronger than me, I would’ve left long ago haha This year in general was several layers of weird for Carlos both on track and off track, so let’s see what 2024 brings for him.

No, I get what you’re saying and it makes sense. It’s just odd considering that the Carlos and Lando had that weight to carry the team in different ways; but they had their tasks and the team treated them like leaders in their own right. Carlos for experience and development, and I think a lot of the team learned with Lando as he got used to the sport.

Breath of fresh air, as Andreas put it. I don’t know why Carlos would assume Lando’d be the automatic center of the team going forward when they had no ill will with him, opposite being they loved him for his two years. Like Carlos isn’t pessimistic unless it’s for his own consideration. And seeing the competitivity of the McLaren car past three years, they wouldn’t have fought. Lando with Daniel or Oscar never got so tense or irreputable because of their chances. And neither fought with Lando for image of the brand.

Carlos’ major fear would’ve never come to fruition.

[cbrownjc]

Holy HECK your last answer straight up doubting the idea of Armand and Louis acting like this is the first time a vampire has come out blows my mind. I’ve been trying to figure out why that line “chronicling a suicide” felt so off and out of place. I’d just put it down to the absence of a similar self awareness comment in, frankly, any of the books. But in the books, the point was nothing like this had ever happened before. It was also a book published by a no one, not a multiple Pulitzer Prize writer.

Game freaking changer. Love your work and great points.

Hello!

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoy my points and comments! 😁

I don't remember if when I first started watching the show if I immediately thought this was the first time a vampire was exposing themselves to the world. I know it was in the books, but I don't think I ever assumed it was the same for the tv show.

Yes, the first book is being adapted here, but I guess I never doubted that events from the other books could have still happened in the past given the move-up in the timeline to when Louis and Daniel are once again doing this whole interview.

If Daniel does actually publish this book in the show's universe, it'll have his multiple Pulitzer award-winning name attached and footnotes that Ken Burns can choke on. A far cry from the young boy no-name writer who, even then, used a pseudonym when it was published.

In the show's universe, just Daniel's name on the book will give the story he writes a lot more credibility to the larger human world, that is for sure. And expose Louis to the wider vampire populous from it in an even more direct way than he was in the books as well.

Maybe even in a similar way someone else might have already tried to do before.

And why Armand clearly feels he knows exactly what is going to happen if this book ever is published.