Interview With The Vampire: Season 2 – Review

In its second season, “Interview With The Vampire” finishes covering the first book of the “Vampire Chronicles” and may push readers and non-readers to tears.

Plot Summary

Season 2, or part 2 of “Interview With The Vampire,” completes the book’s storyline as Claudia and Louis relocate to Paris and get involved with a local vampire coven.

Characters and Cast

Character’s Name	Actor’s Name
Louis	Jacob Anderson
Claudia	Delainey Hayles
Daniel	Eric Bogosian
Armand	Assad Zaman
Lestat	Sam Reid
Madeline	Roxane Duran
Santiago	Ben Daniels

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Stick Around)

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Highlights

Delainey Hayles As Claudia

Like most people, I’m not fond of recasting characters. Bailey Bass was perfect as Claudia in season 1 and was able to make the character her own, with little need to compare her to Kirsten Dunst by the time the season was over. So, having yet another Claudia introduced in Delainey Hayles seemed like it would be a challenge.

However, it ultimately wasn’t. In some ways, even though Claudia is immortal and can’t grow up, you can see a shift from being a teenager and young adult to a full-grown woman due to how Hayles plays Claudia. Is she still bratty in some ways, like a child? Yes. But it is because of the push and pull between what she has to pretend to be and what she is assumed to be vs. how old she knows she is and feels.

Hayles balances this out wonderfully, and at times, you are left to think that Claudia wasn’t recast as much as the torch was passed so someone could complete the story. Like in “House of The Dragon,” Milly Alcock passed the torch to Emma D’Arcy to complete Rhaenyra’s story.

Daniel’s Affect On Louis and Armand’s Relationship

Louis and Armand have their moments, but watching them as a couple is often the worst part of “Interview With The Vampire.” There is just something missing there, and thanks to Daniel, we see what – honesty.

As he picks apart their relationship and pushes us to see the dynamics of it ebb and flow, Daniel becomes a HUGE asset in seeing present-day Armand and Louis. Making it so you don’t have to dread when we see everyone in present day; never mind just think the point of them focusing on the present is to set up or tie in the show with the various properties AMC is setting up for the “Immortal Universe.”

Roxane Duran As Madeline

When it comes to a lot of reoccurring characters, or ones bound just to this season, they do their job and do it well. Ben Daniels as Santiago is an example, as his performance almost seems like a long audition for Lestat.

But, among those introduced this season, I would like to spotlight Roxane Duran as Madeline. As one of the first people who Claudia feels could be her person, and she could be theirs, there is something undeniably sweet about their relationship. However, rather than just being proof that Claudia could be loved without a trauma bond being involved, Madeline is also given a backstory.

With her backstory, she is presented as a survivalist. So when it comes to Claudia, you have every reason to believe that she’d backstab Claudia if it meant living to face another day. However, in episode 7, a different path is chosen. So, while Claudia’s fate was already sealed, I would submit Duran’s work as Madeline made what was already bound to be an emotional moment all the more tear-inducing.

Low Points

Episode 5 Ruins The Surprise Of Lestat Being Alive

If you read the book or know about the “Vampire Chronicles” franchise, you know Lestat did not die because of Louis and Claudia. However, because it is revealed in episode 5 that Lestat was alive just in the 70s, you know when it comes to Louis’ trial later on in the season, Lestat is going to be able to attend the trial.

Now, is this the worst thing? No. However, if you aren’t aware of what happens in the books, I feel like they took away a shocking moment.

On The Fence

At Times You’ll Grow Tired Of Louis

There is a reason the “Vampire Chronicles” is built around Lestat, and not Louis is because Louis loses his luster quickly. Even with Jacob Anderson portraying him, Louis feels like a middleman to a more interesting character, and as noted above, what doesn’t help is Armand.

When it is Louis and Claudia, we witness a wonderful dynamic that jumps from father and daughter, brother and sister, and platonic life partners. With Armand? They look like a cute and debonair couple, but the more they talk, the less you have any reason to be interested in the two.

Armand, for his age and accomplishments, is boring, and a bit conniving, and you can understand why Lestat abandoned him with ease. Then, for Louis, by the time the season ends, you are almost left thinking that Louis is with Armand to spite Lestat than because he loves the man beside him.

Then, when speaking of Louis on his own, unfortunately, Louis is not a character worth noting. He needs Lestat, Claudia, someone with far more charisma or presence than himself. Otherwise, he flounders like a fish out of water.

Background Information

Network	AMC
Genre(s)	Drama Fantasy Romance LGBT+
Renewal Status	Renewed
Series Page	Interview With The Vampire
Character Guide	Interview With The Vampire – Cast & Character Guide