Thinking about the contrast between the finales of 1x01 and 2x01 vs 3x01. How for the first 2 seasons they end on a promising note. Meanwhile in this 3rd season, it’s a foreboding one.
The purpose of the 2022 interview is Louis wanting to learn the truth. He wants to examine his family, how he ended up losing them all, and how he came to be where he is. He’s not aiming to lie, he wants to show vulnerability and, above all, get better. The whole point is self improvement.
Whereas with Lestat, the purpose of the doc/recordings is the direct opposite and is to run from the truth. He doesn’t want to do self reflection or reveal genuine vulnerability. He’s not trying to get better, he’s trying to feel better. He’s not seeking self improvement, he’s seeking self satisfaction.
And so like, 1x01 and 2x01 end with Louis and Claudia respectively in places of vulnerability. Louis’ at one of his lowest points after Paul’s death, Claudia after Daciana’s, and the episode ends with them being comforted by the person they currently trust most in the world. It’s genuine displays of affection and family and love. Louis’ journey across these 2 seasons is one that will ultimately end on a positive or at least bittersweet note.
But with 3x01, Lestat is also extremely vulnerable and at one of his lowest points, so he calls out to his last resort of comfort. His mother, who he believes may be the last person he can trust most. But the tragedy is that this is just not true. The episode doesn’t end in affection and family and love, it ends in assault.
Loustat at the altar & Louclaudia in the truck have Louis either receiving or giving consoling words. Lestat asks Gabi for help, desperate and clearly scared, and Gabi says nothing. She offers nothing. Well, actually she does worse than that, she takes and proceeds to assault Lestat.
I think about Louis, drenched in sweat and grief, reaching to kiss Lestat first out of appreciation and love. I think about Claudia, still fragile from loss, reaching to hold Louis’ hand first out of the same. Meanwhile, Lestat is covered head to toe in wounds and is the picture of violence and pain and yet it’s Gabi who reaches for him first, beckoning him for a kiss. In his vulnerability, she takes.
I was surprised the episode ended on such a disheartening, tragic note, but I think it’s to emphasize that where Louis’ arc across S1 and S2 ended in something close to positive, Lestat’s arc right now will be a downward spiral where things will only get worse for him from here on out.
The whole thing feels like an inverse of the interview, where there’s a hopeful tone underneath all the wreckage. But with just this first episode, it feels like there’s only more destruction to come.
