The ego death of The Vampire Lestat

Beneath his on (and off) stage hip thrusts, melty guitar riffs, and glitter, Lestat is left with no choice: face your trauma. It’s stored in the hips after all. In this first episode of Season 3, Daniel is cataclysmic for the drama, per usual. He’s heading the documentary that Lestat is making about his tour and his life. He said he’s taking it to Cannes. But you might be surprised at how friendly the two have become in the process. Of course, “friendly” is a choice word for these two.

This first episode catapults you into a tone unlike that of the first two seasons. A live-wired orchestration of witty narration and rambunctious melodies has replaced the contemplative string percussion of Louis’ self-pity and introspection. Slow burns don’t exist for the Brat Prince. At least, not when he’s telling the story.

The visual storytelling jumps between the omniscient lens of the show itself and the black-and-white documentary lens, with comedic editing that’s shy of a homage to What We Do In The Shadows. Let’s be real. Interview with the Vampire was a comedy in the same way that The Bear is: deadpan and ironic. Most times, it’s in the delivery of a line or the reaction to a conversation that makes us laugh (are you schizophrenic, Louis?). But the groundwork was already laid out for showrunner Rollin Jones and his writing team.

Lestat’s natural command and bravado come through on the page in Anne Rice’s original novel. He’s funny, arrogant, and opinionated. The real gem of the season is how the team behind the production conveys the world through Lestat’s eyes. We’ve heard Armand’s perspective, Claudia’s, and Louis’. Ultimately, this season is about taking control of your own story.

When Lestat gets his hands on Daniel’s book, he’s beyond offended by Louis’ recount of their relationship. He mentions feeling like a “caricature of Daniel Molloy’s creation”. He combats this with a tour with the band that lives across the street from him. If he’s going to be a caricature, it’ll be on his own terms. With Daniel tagging along, though, Lestat is forced to reckon with memories that he’s suppressed with sex. Molloy is quite the journalist, but he’s also the harbinger for an ego death.

Lestat haters will find themselves endeared by his perspective of the life he’s lived and the name he continues to make for himself. And this season, more than the previous two, will expose how much perception (true and false) has altered our own engagement with the show and its characters. It opens the door for new characters, new mythos, and changed opinions!

Catch the first episode of The Vampire Lestat on AMC+ and AMC come June 7th!