𝖁𝖎𝖗𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖆

The ep description seems to imply the psychologically torturous Armand will be reserved for Louis while Lestat is stuck inside his own head. While there’s obviously a lot of room for intersection bc whatever is happening with Louis will almost certainly have to do with Lestat, I don’t want to go into the finale with massive expectations in that regard if it’s something they don’t actually plan on addressing (I know you don’t know anything for certain, I guess I’m just curious as to what your expectations may be and if you have any theories there)

Well here's the thing.

We've spent the entire season dancing around this relationship, yet it's a key dynamic in the books. I've talked about being surprised that so many people took issue with the framing of Lestat and Armand as a consensual relationship, but my surprise was simply rooted in people also loving to take Armand's word at face value. 😅 So I guess you could say I am pleasantly surprised that people are clocking why making them consensual "exes" is an issue. (This wasn't on my non-negotiables list and therefore, I'm meh either way, but I am mightily annoyed with how the show is depicting it as everyone else speaking about the dynamic instead of hearing from Lestat himself about it, but I digress.)

Just for a quick rundown: We've had, what, three actual Lestat/Armand interactions this entire season?

The flashbacks with Nicki and Gabriella

The disturbing shower scene

Big Boss

We've had Nicki/DreamNicki insinuating that Lestat was "cheating" with Armand, which is directly contradicted by Lestat's actual behavior where Nicki is concerned.

We've had Gabriella insinuating Lestat and Armand were consensually fucking, which is a side-eye worthy assessment given she's spent the entire season molesting Lestat and has no concept of consent.

We've had Louis calling Armand Lestat's "ex."

We've had Armand referring to Lestat "sharing his body and blood" while Lestat said "Us? What is us?" and exhaustingly rebuffed his declaration of love.

And yet Lestat hasn't truly directly addressed anything where Armand is concerned (other than the "Us? What is us?" comment). He's directly addressed everything else....mostly. (I'll come to this.) But Lestat, contrary to popular belief, does not have an issue with admitting his faults. In fact, not only does he admit his sins, but he actively takes things upon himself that aren't his fault at all. We really aren't seeing that with the Armand factor. No, we're seeing Lestat evade and hint (the Big Boss lyrics and performance) and what does Lestat evade? His trauma. The abuse inflicted upon him by others.

And that brings me back to the things that have been mostly addressed, because something else that's being danced around? The trial.

We've had Gabriella imply that Lestat killed Claudia. We've had Louis imply that Lestat killed Claudia. We've had Claudia imply that Lestat killed her.

Meanwhile, Lestat himself hasn't actually addressed this other than the Big Boss lyrics, which directly contradict Lestat being a willing participant in her death. We also have Lestat hating Sam for his role in Paris, and we have Lestat immediately shutting down Gabriella's flippant talk about Claudia.

Who else was involved in the trial? Armand.

Consider the hints laid out in S2 of Lestat not being a willing participant in the trial. Consider the book canon of Lestat not being a willing participant. Consider the book canon of the trial being Armand's revenge against Lestat for rejecting his romantic advances.

So needless to say....I would be surprised if none of this is addressed in the finale and especially given the episode is rumored to be heavy on Armand and given what Armand did to Lestat (and Louis) at the end of Episode 6 and given the synopsis says Armand is "testing Louis to his limits", which I speculate means Armand is using Louis' life and wellbeing as the emotional leverage against Lestat (just like he did with both the trial and the call) to make Lestat do what he wants. (Whatever that may be.)

I don't see how you spend an entire season seemingly building up to something and then you just....don't address it.

Note the look that Lestat gives Louis after it's stated she is a descendent of the de Lioncourt bloodline and the look that Louis gives him back.

I mean, Armand knows the way to truly get at Lestat is via Louis.

Did we forget the call?

Hmmm.

I tend to agree, but also no, you know? 😅

That ending is what everyone is predicting, and Rolin did say they "wrote themselves into a corner" with the finale, but Rolin also loves trolling and hyperbole, and this is all mapped out for seasons to come. So I would say Rolin knows exactly how they're "getting out of it" in S4.

Jacob's suggestion was they spend the entire episode sitting on a bench talking, they obviously didn't do that

....would you care if the episode was just them talking on the bench?

i’m honestly in awe, and we got lucky on almost every front like they are our louis and lestat we hit the absolute jackpot and it’s also so fantastic that they have a team willing to collaborate like how many writers and directors are known for shutting down actors and their input, this is why jacob and sam speak so highly of those they work with and vice versa

Yes! The director, Jane Wu, confirmed it!

Rolin needs to let them write the Loustat episodes. I'm so serious. I cannot imagine that scene without the hug. I mean, what even?!? It's inconceivable to me.

I'll say this.

I have heard through the grapevine that a certain Twitter user and their behavior of dropping spoiler-filled "trigger warnings" has resulted in AMC only providing the episode to main outlets at this time.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!?!

THE. HUG.

WAS.

UNSCRIPTED!

This was just....Sam and Jacob?!?!

This was Jam responding to each other and just improvising what felt natural to them as Loustat?!?!

I just....

I don't have words anymore. Seriously.

This was Jam. They gave us this hug.

They're unbelievable. Absolutely incredible, and we got so lucky with them as our Louis and Lestat.

I mean, DO YOU REALIZE?!?! The gift that is Sam and Jacob! Again, no words.

Not me rewatching Brutal Love for the thousandth time and marveling once more at the lyrics describing Lestat *feeling* Louis pulling on their joined thread. The bond. The cord. Yet Gabriella, also Lestat's fledgling, is rendered to nothing in that room. Everyone has disappeared and it's only Lestat and Louis.

The great love.

I don't think there was a plan, but I think Louis is more in touch with his emotions and is more willing to let his guard down than he previously was as a result of their spirals due to their separation from the hurt and betrayal of the book.

And yes, I do believe it caught Lestat off guard.

As Sam said in the interview with Autumn —

"He doesn’t feel fully loved in return. He's not the same Lestat from the first season where he was much more into the profession of love, all ripped out of his heart."

The book hurt him. Badly. It made him believe Louis felt certain things about him and didn't feel other things about it.

It's also interesting that Sam labeled the Episode 6 performance of Brutal Love as the "still tentative Lestat" and pointed out that there's "a right way to sing it" i.e. the "right way" will come now thanks to the catharsis that was the bench moment, because I do think Louis' vulnerability on the bench was incredibly touching for Lestat. They both had to lance certain wounds — Gabriella and Claudia — before they could move beyond the fissure that the book created.

It’s just so outlandish but I swear I’m seeing it everywhere! Louis isn’t a schemer, imo, or a very good liar. I can’t imagine him being willing to work with Armand either. Also, why would Louis agree to be beheaded too 😭😭 bc he would NEVER be ok with Lestat being beheaded. But maybe he was double crossed or tricked??

One word: Loumanders.

The same Loumanders who thought the disdainful exchange during the auction was "flirting." The same Loumanders who think Louis is still the same character he was in S1 despite the fact they've also spent weeks whining about the show "assassinating Louis' character."

Because that little theory? Would be character assassination and would totally throw out all of Louis' S3 development and would effectively terminate Loustat, because Lestat would never be able to trust him again after cruelly playing in his face in a repeat of the murder night antics.

Yes to everything!

I was waiting for this episode so that everyone could see how different Lestat is from the previous episodes just because Louis is back in his life. As I've said, it's quite the statement.

Also? I saw it mentioned that we've seen Lestat having panic attacks in the previous episodes, but Episode 6 is the first time anyone comforts him, and that realization makes me want to scream.

Because yes, if you go back to Episode 1, we saw Lestat begging Gabriella to just come sit with him. He just wanted her company, but he had to pay the price. The "expectations."

But with Louis? He does just sit with Lestat and offer him company and solace and understating.

Also the fact Lestat wanted Louis to know? He subconsciously wanted to bring this shame and trauma to Louis? It says everything about how much Louis means to him and about how much he trusts Louis.

"I brought her to you or you to her."