Spoiler-free review:
Rating out of 10: 9 and ½
Likes: the acting and casting, the costumes, sets, the soundtrack and motifs and the inherent bisexuality and queerness of the entire work (as is the source material).
Critiques: the writing whilst brilliant could still be stronger and I feel like there are more ways than one to make Armand / Amadeo / Arun both damn scary and sympathetic at the same time without diminishing Nicolas de Lenfent as a character and Nicolas – “Nicki’s” canonical (book) significance.
Spoiler review:
Let’s get the record clear, and out of the way. This TV show is brilliant but is neither the book nor any adaptation that came before it, and frankly, I wouldn’t wish it to be. In my humble opinion, if I wanted the books or the 1994 genre-redefining movie I’d simply watch that again or listen to again Lestat the musical’s cast recording. I have criticisms of course, nothing is above criticism but judged as a queer vampire show and as a reimagining on its own terms, AMC’s Interview with the Vampire excelled even above and beyond season one and as a two-part play of a kind I find they did an excellent job giving Louis even more depth and character growth that eventually leads to narrative closure, ie, “I own the night,” delivered brilliantly by Jacob Anderson.
Addressing the elephant in the room, this show is most certainly not the books, but then, neither is the 1994 movie. I love how they addressed the inherently monstrous nature of vampirism this season, it is one of the few shows that makes outcasts and monsters feel like outcasts and monsters, in the vein (ba dum tss) of Anne Rice and if we’re going off black vampires, Octavia Butler. I love how they gave more variety and nuanced representation of bisexuality-biromanticism this season (as every character save for Louis is bi until proven otherwise), for whilst I adore Lestat de Lioncourt treating him as the sole bi in the chronicles or even in any media ever is rather foolish and a disservice to bi people like myself. My one significant gripe is minimizing Nicki’s character but I put that mostly to Armand’s childish jealousy and present lack of self-awareness. As of May AMC’s Vampire Chronicles adaptation is renewed for season 3, covering The Vampire Lestat. I wait with bated breath for our bisexual-biromantic, blonde, Brat Prince and a more fleshed-out Nicolas de Lenfent. In short, if you haven’t watched this show or haven’t yet watched this show, why? Wait no longer! As for oblivion, we can wait a little while for that, to quote Lestat in the Vampire Chronicles novels.
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