Initial thoughts for The Vampire Lestat 1x06 (Track 6) β SPOILERS INCLUDED!
"Please. Turn Larry down."
"At the intersections of my many selves, the stutterer, the ape, the actor, the keeper, the tourist, the recluse, the rockstar, the nesting dulls of identity....There is a period of stasis. A hibernation in shabby robe. The Autumn of 2025 was one of these periods. At the time, I thought it a bow on the goodbye box of Lestat, but here I am. Dictating for you. Still Lestat." β What a fitting mantra for him. Still Lestat. Reminds me of what he tells Louis in Prince Lestat. β¬οΈ
βIβm Lestat,β I said in a low voice. βYour Lestat. Iβm the same Lestat youβve always known, and no matter how Iβm changed, Iβm still that same being.β
Memorial show for him and for the vampires. The big concert. Seeds of Prince Lestat.
"Two years to the day we formed."
Also notice the new contact name for Louis β Lui (French for him, but also it's how Lestat pronounces his name. Loo-Wee.) π₯Ήβ₯οΈ
This concert being a final "fuck off" gift to Gabriella. This changes things, too, because it's no longer Lestat doing the concert as a dare to start a vampire war. It's for Gabriella. Again, it's placing Lestat into more of the role of the victim when Akasha does rise, because it was to placate Gabriella in the first place.
"Obligations met. Good luck and fuck off, everyone. Everywhere."
"The future. My new distraction. Who next? How next? I was tying off loose ends. Coming out of a coma. Feeling alive. Or maybe it was him."
"OR. MAYBE. IT. WAS. HIM."
Him. Lui. The contact name. β₯οΈ
It's like I was just pierced in the heart by a million Loustat arrows! Because Lestat is now back home, calm, more at peace. As he says, "alive." "Out of a coma." And why? BECAUSE. OF. LOUIS. He calms with Louis. He rests with Louis. He's thinking of the future. WITH. LOUIS. All of the mess has halted because of Louis. The statement resounds!
Oh, Louis wanting him to cancel the concert. Just like in the book. Protective Louis. Concerned Louis. πβ₯οΈ They've been in contact ever since Louis called. Lestat has been taking care of him. They've been communicating and my my! Would you look at that! Both of them are working towards getting better since they've been back in each other's lives.
Also a moment of appreciation for the beauty of Lestat's home as it was recently confirmed that Lestat designed this home with Louis in mind. Such a beautiful gesture. Just like he designed Rue Royale for Louis. π₯Ή
Louis saying he doesn't sleep in coffins anymore, but Lestat still spoils him with an extravagant coffin. Yeah, this is precious, but I'm gonna need a conversation about Louis' trauma with being locked in a coffin and also I need to see Lestat finding out about the stones in his ankles. That's all I want. Please.
Lestat leaving the little note on the door. Just like in Episode 1 when he bought candy for the kids. π₯Ή
Just look at them. Halloween Loustat. My darlings. My babies. My everythings. Full circle from Halloween Loustat FaceTime calls in Episode 1. πβ₯οΈ
Lestat dressing as the grim reaper. Don't ever lose your whimsy, my love. π₯Ή
Lestat being in a book club. This babydoll. *blissful sigh*
"Topeka!" β The callback to S1 made me tear up, but interesting that Lestat says >he< said it instead of Tom Anderson. π€
"Lem? Ooh, that is cozy. Lemmy. Lemmy Lemmy. Lick me Lem." β Notice this isn't a jealousy thing. This is Lestat knowing that Lem is nothing but a feeding fling. This is a reflection of how they actually behaved with each other back during the Rue Royale era. The other people were never "cheating." They were food and entertainment, and Loustat would laugh about it together. There was always a reason Louis nonchalantly asked "she burn quick?" because that was the norm.
"Fraudia" ππππ
Fuck. The easiness of this friendship. As I said, THIS is how they've always behaved with each other. This softness and openness. No one else gets this version of either of them. Remember DreamStat? Remember Sam saying they don't "perform" with each other? Yeah. π₯Ήβ₯οΈ
Daniel questioning about the reunion and the hurricane. Their evasive answers. Interesting. Why is he even asking?
"It was enough that he showed up."
*deep breaths* π« π« π« π«
Another reference to the "dark monarch." Again, seeds of Prince Lestat.
Lestat has been dreaming of forests and pumpkins and birds. He wants a cabin in the woods to transcribe bird songs. Louis is entranced by this. π₯Ή (I can't do this, y'all. I can't. They love each other so fucking much.)
Daniel is knowingly watching them like wtf is this? Yeah, this is real love, Dan. The real bond. Not that playhouse of horrors you witnessed in Dubai.
"What's with the tan, Dan?" βΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ
Oh, the theme from when they fed on the tenor together. π« π₯β₯οΈ
"Dan? Always." β THE EYEROLL! I'M CACKLING!
"He's an awkward vamp. He has that 'you think you're better than me' chip on him and we are. It is exhausting to pretend otherwise."
Louis telling him to sing for the fans! Lestat not wanting to do it, but he does it for Louis! How long have I waited to see this in full HD since the filming spoilers for this scene came out last year?! And then the fucking smile when he looks back at Louis! And Louis being proud of him! It's everything I wanted it to be! πππ
Louis thanking him for the coffin and Lestat's expression. Be still my heart!
Oh. He's asking about DreamStat! He had a DreamLou! He must've clung to this as the evidence of Louis caring about him. π
"I wanted to live with you like I had been dragged out of the bayou. Gills to lungs. For you and you only." β Oh. He's a loverboy. π₯Ήβ₯οΈ
Antoinette mention! π€£π
"Oh a voice I could fuck!"
"I know! I know!" β Louis always knew this was never "cheating." *ahem*
"Actually that's not fair. She was a good time, and the book's prose reveled in making her smaller than she was. Justice for Antoinette."
"You made her cut off a finger."
"Oh she did that on her own. She thought the gift would help her grow it back. She was very impulsive." β Told you he would not be that cruel to her.
"To provoke you out of a depression....and then to punish." β How many times did we have this argument that Antoinette was meant to provoke Louis into feeding? π«’
"I have the blood of Akasha in me."
"No, it ain't the blood. It's what you do with the blood." β The tone of this exchange. This is something they've already discussed. Remember in the tower scene when Lestat says he has the blood of Akasha and then looks at Louis and says "he [Armand] doesn't know who that is." Yeah. I would bet money Lestat told Louis about the blood and about Akasha in the actual aftermath of S1E5 that we never got to see.
The way they laugh and mock Louis "licensing and franchising" the blood to make money. This is true unconditional love, baby! Lestat knows his little capitalist Louis. π
"Because, Louis. I'm a monster."
The sad, yet tender look Louis is giving him. The shameful, vulnerable look Lestat gives when he looks away. Lots to unpack there, but the blood and Lestat's canon self-hatred are paramount. This is something that's been discussed between them, and Louis knows this is a source of deep shame for Lestat.
Louis and Gabriella meeting, but he has no idea she is Lestat's mother. Lestat wanting Louis to meet her. Lestat having full confidence that Louis will "do fine." *shuddering breath* The love and pride, guys. The love and pride.
"Yes. He said that you said you don't think he should sing tomorrow." β Lestat telling her what Louis thinks, because Louis' thoughts are important to Lestat.
"It doesn't matter what I think. He's gonna do what he's gonna do." β Not really, Louis. He'd do whatever you said, and I think you know that, too.
Gabriella trying to convince Louis not to attend Lestat's show. Louis says if he doesn't go, it'll hurt Lestat. Gabriella tells him that Lestat would be more hurt if Louis got hurt. So yes, that's true, but I side-eye her true motive for this.
"You should stand by me. I will protect you." β Will you really, Gabs?
Lestat is literally so happy to have Louis back in his life. Look at him floating and twirling to Dancing With Myself. Look at how proud and indulgent Louis is with him. Remember when Sam confirmed about The Loneliness performance that Lestat levitates when he's happy? The callbacks to Loustat's first time in S1E1 and their special floaty sex in S1E6? β¬οΈ
"Itβs a lovely callback to Season 1, when heβs in pure elation or feeling extreme emotion that he just kind of involuntarily levitates,β Reid says.
Yeah. π₯ΉβοΈβ₯οΈβ¨
Whoah, I can feel it. The pull on my thread from a distant restless head. Whoah, how I need it. Just to know that you're out there pulling all you can.
Show me that bitter star, I want it. Give me that brutal love, I want it all. I am the meteor above it. Writing your name in dust as I fall.
Whoah, I can feel it. Every atom like a planet on fire raging at the sun.
Show me that bitter star, I want it. Give me that brutal love, I want it all. I am the meteor above it. Writing your name in dust as I fall.
Show me that bitter star, I want it. Give me that brutal love, I want it all. I am the meteor gliding. Writing your name in dust as I fall.
He's singing to Louis, and Louis is fucking mesmerized! Everything has faded! It's only those two! Louis is moved! He's fucking crying! Look at how they're looking at each other! Cannot take their eyes off each other!
My soul is ascending to another realm. I had to pause to cry and scream and pace around my living room. The urge to run through a wall was prevalent in my nervous system!!! Because WHAT DO YOU MEAN in the year 2026 that I'm watching Lestat singing to Louis as a callback and that it's BETTER than I ever dreamed it would be?!?!? πππ
In addition to Lestat describing his bond with Louis and how he can feel Louis pulling on his soul, even when they're separated, he's also saying that he wants Louis' love, ALL of it, even the brutal parts. He wants Louis unconditionally, even if it means death or violence or brutality or destruction, and Lestat will love him unconditionally, even as he falls forever writing Louis' name in the sky.
Oh shit! Gabriella is realizing it's Louis! Not her! Louis is the great love! Not her! Her fucking face as the camera focuses on Louis while she fades in the background.
LOUIS. IS. THE. GREAT. LOVE. πβ₯οΈ
He's singing Come To Me! π
She's trying to mark her territory. Left her scarf on his piano. Lestat no longer wants to leave with her. He's pushing back against her and calling her out.
"Show Alex some affection. He could use his mother." β Oh. Oh oh oh. The statement! THE. STATEMENT.
And he leaves with Louis. This is what I meant about Louis taking her power. With Louis back in his life, her hold on him is no longer what it was, because Louis becomes the ultimate priority. He becomes the lighthouse for Lestat. The beacon in the darkness, and Lestat listens to him.
Bloody hell! Daniel (and Armand) releases a salacious video of Lestat and Gabs having sex as "revenge" for Lestat protecting Nicki's memory with the telepathic mind trick. In Episode 1, Lestat says "It's not much of a reveal I guess. I know it's common gossip now. The first thing one thinks about when my name comes up." This is why. π€¬βΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ
Also note that Lemuel is the one who sent the video to Louis. π«₯
Who filmed this, btw? Yet another example of Lestat being exploited and violated to the world against his will while everyone looks down on him and judges him for the abuse. That fucking meta commentary.
Lestat being so upset and ashamed that he starts throwing up! (Anyone still want to deny the abuse?! This poor baby! π)
The portrait in their coffin room was, in fact, Gabriella.
The meta commentary happening here, too. Louis represents the human stance. It's a very real reaction. The repulsion. The outrage. The blaming because he doesn't understand it. The fandom stance. "Seek a professional." Yeah. How many times has the fandom said this? Meanwhile, Lestat represents the vampiric stance. Gabriella is other. The sad thing? They're both technically *correct* here, but the road the show has taken? Gabriella is a sex predator. She's the root of Lestat's problems. She's sexually abusing him. And Lestat? He knows this, and he knows it's wrong, and he's ashamed of it. He deflects and justifies, but I have to say I agree with Louis' stance (not the cruel judgement! but once he realizes!) β It's not okay! It's not "different" because she's a vampire! That argument (one that I previously entertained going into this season) went out the window ages ago!
"And what do I say?! Do I say that you're sick, Louis?! Do I say sickness?! No!" β The way his voice is breaking here. The way you can hear the love and devotion, even in the midst of this. Louis confessed his shame about Regina, and Lestat didn't judge him. Lestat just showed him love and understanding.
He's been taking care of Louis for a month and a half. He gave Louis shelter in his home. He's arranged the seance to try and help Louis. Yes. He does love Louis. To the haters: How do you want those eggs on your faces cooked?
The hyperventilating panic attack. I had to pause here. It broke me. I've thought of nothing but his stuttering wheezing for weeks. If y'all thought I was protective over Lestat, you ain't seen nothing yet! Everything flooding out of him. The years of sexual abuse. The years of emotional dependency. The years of neglect. The years of being used as her vessel. The years of being abandoned by her. The years of only feeling valuable to her for what he could do for her. I'm sick! He's so ashamed. He's so ill over this. And he can't stand it anymore, and THANK GOD! Louis is there for him. FINALLY! We see caring and protective Louis. About damn time!
THANK YOU, LOUIS! ππππππππππ
That hug was so needed. That comfort was so needed. *relieved sighs* Lestat needed Louis, and Louis was there. Growth. Progress. As I've stressed to the haters, Louis is trying. Louis holding Lestat and telling him it's alright over and over....it really is the one thing I've wanted out of Louis since the beginning. πππ½
Oh. Louis was sexually molested, too. A cousin stuck his fingers in Louis and gave him a dollar. Ah. Yeah. The tone of this conversation. They've already discussed this, too. That tone from Lestat as if it's something hurtful that Lestat doesn't wish to dwell upon, because he doesn't like thinking of someone doing to Louis what Gabriella is doing to him. This is something just between them. Not for Daniel or anyone else. Just as Lestat confiding in Louis about Gabriella is just between them.
Lestat saying nothing happened until she came to Paris, but also not outright answering Louis if anything happened before. Oh, there's a lot there. When did it start, Lestat? The silence and the deflection imply the horrifying truth.
"Your mother called you the devil." β Confirmation that Louis did tell Lestat what happened in S1E3 when he went to visit Grace and he was shunned. Note this is Lestat pointing out how Florence traumatized Louis and that he [Lestat] recognizes that trauma.
"Never had sex with her."
"And then she blamed you for Paul's death." β Again, confirmation that Lestat was aware of Louis' issues back in NOLA.
"Which you then blamed on me."
"I let it go. I took it back. I was wrong."
"The blame. If we can find the blame, if we agree on the blame, then it's all mapped. The why we are. The why we do. I conduct the chaos. She's one of the many chainsaws I juggle." β Lestat is saying that assigning blame is only to assuage helplessness (and/or culpability) in traumatic situations. He's saying he doesn't assign blame, because he conducts the chaos in his own life i.e. he's telling himself that Gabriella is one of the many wounds he's been burdened with carrying. The double-meaning also being Lestat feels there's a part of him that has invited this chaos. The canon self-blame.
"A hill to climb. Vampire or not." β Louis is agreeing that Gabriella is a challenging situation.
Louis asking Lestat for the blood for taste and then drinking Lestat's blood while Lestat watches him in tender wonder.
The shame and embarrassment from Lestat. Louis trying to tell him that it'll blow over.
"It matters to you?" β Fuck. The vulnerability here. The worry that Louis will be disgusted with him now. Geez. But Louis is trying. He's really really trying.
"I am my own zip code of mess right now. I'm not proud of how I just was. I'm sorry."
"We should probably cancel."
And here's the seance. Lestat arranged this to help Louis with his guilt and grief over Claudia. See? He will do anything for Louis. He only wants to take care of Louis.
"Spirits can be unruly. But those snatched out of life. A burned girl. Motherless monster. Called up by her killers."
"The implication, I believe, was giving Claudia the gift."
"Oh. I thought you were talking about Paris."
"And the implication there was that I killed her."
"No. You implied it." βThere's no way we're not coming back to what really happened in Paris. There's no way. βΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ
She has to move them apart. Says they're "jinxing it" with their connected emotions. π
"You back with him?" β And she's talking to Lestat.
"I'm sorry." β Louis not realizing she's talking to Lestat and inadvertently confirming he considers them "back together." βΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ
"You weren't even my favorite. I liked him better. He knew who he was. You're not even my maker. You're not even my blood. That's my maker! I even thought about poising you instead of him. You know why I didn't? Cause there's a little etch on your ribcage that says you're a slave. I knew I could count on you to trail me like a dumb dog anywhere I went until I could ditch your ass for something more worthy of me. Who the fuck are you? Don't even know you!" β I want her words to marinate here. That narrative of Louis and Claudia having to escape big bad abusive Lestat? It just imploded with this. She didn't kill Lestat because he was so evil and abusive. She killed him because Louis was her dumb dog who'd let her do whatever she wanted. Meanwhile, Lestat, the real parent, was her favorite.
The fact Claudia is unloading about Louis to Lestat. She's addressing Lestat with these complaints. Echoes of the reality of their dynamic. Remember Delainey saying Claudia wanted Lestat back in Paris because Lestat was always on her side? Yeah.
"I hate you to the pit of all things! Burn the diaries! Burn this dress! Stop saying my name!"
Lestat's face though. The concern and worry for how this is going to impact Louis.
"Bring your malice." β He knew her.
"Some joy I know knowing is how good I humiliated you in New Orleans. How I ginned up the train for the slave here."
"Lestat said he'd do worse than rape me, Daddy Lou."
"Worked good, didn't it?" β She made up the train.
"The train. Antoinette. Tom Anderson. Slit throat. Took your black queen and ran off with him across the ocean and shitty little bitch that you are revenge swelled in your brain. How long you rehearse my death, Antoinette? Memorize your every line of that play just for fun, Mr. Anderson? And your little make-'em-ups not in the script! I'd have done the same thing if it were me. Sat on my hands watching you char up the thunderous applause. Only I wouldn't have saved his ass and waited for a hug in the hurricane." β She's basically telling Lestat he's pathetic for loving Louis and that his "revenge" was what she would've done. Yeah, we're coming back to the "revenge" angle. He's pissed at Sam. He's pissed at Armand. He's pissed at Louis *implying* he killed Claudia. Again, this is an elephant in the room. What truly happened in Paris? ADDRESS. ME. Also? Is she saying Lestat is in the same league as Antoinette and Anderson? Or is she saying Antoinette rehearsed her death for murder night while Anderson played his part well in murder night, which was also essentially a play? How much did Claudia manipulate the entire Mardi Gras fiasco? After all, she did knowingly look at Lestat when Anderson hurled his "petty slight" about Lestat being Raj, which was allegedly what signaled to her that Lestat would go after Anderson. π€
"Dress on the wall. Song the radio."
Yeah. First of all, the acting here. Delainey owning the moment while Jacob and Sam are just reacting in sheer brilliance. The horrified pain on both their faces. The pain and terror and rage from Claudia. Absolutely heartbreaking. They loved her. It just wasn't enough, and that's the tragedy of it all. I'm not even gonna gloat over this one. It's really a paltry victory, because Claudia deserved better. So much better. She was never going to be their priority, and that's the tragedy of it all.
"Pretty much closes the door on that."
"She spared us the ambiguity."
Two grief-stricken parents who have no choice but to live with their mistakes.
Lestat wanting Louis to know about Gabriella. That subconscious part of his heart that wanted it known because he wants Louis to be his shelter. He wants Louis to be his safe haven. He wants Louis to be his protection from the wolves. I'm fine. This is fine.
"Why do I actively, manically pursue failure?" β The canon self-blame. The bar conversation. ^^ The juggling chainsaws.
"Maybe it's just the vampire's burden. What do you replace death with? What's to live for if there's no end? Maybe it's just how you keep your nights straight." β Louis assuring him that the pursuit of "failure" is simply a way to "keep the nights straight." As in, the failure is what makes a being better. The true mantra of the season. Reminds me of Lestat's quote about suffering merely adding more resonance. β¬οΈ
From Queen Of The Damned β
Itβs an awful truth that suffering can deepen us, give a greater luster to our colors, a richer resonance to our words. That is, if it doesnβt destroy us, if it doesnβt burn away the optimism and the spirit, the capacity for visions, and the respect for simple yet indispensable things. Please forgive me if I sound bitter. I donβt have any right to be.
"The songs are about me?"
"Most of them." βΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ
"You opened a restaurant three blocks from my house because?"
Just look at how Lestat looks at him. FUCK!
"If it was just the two of us again, cause yeah, who else is gonna have us? A trailer park. Nevada. Utah. The desert. A couple folding chairs. Plant some flower boxes. What blooms at night?"
"They got birds in the desert?"
"There's birds everywhere."
The piano version of Loustat's love theme playing. The callback to the S1 pinky touch with Louis making the move. The way they're looking at each other. The LOVE in their eyes. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! Louis being the one to plan their future together!
Am I still alive? I don't know anymore. I don't care anymore. All I care about is THEM.
And then, the most insane moment because WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?! Alex "distracts" them while Armand and Daniel behead them?!?!?!?
Did Armand blame Larry's death on Lestat? Is this Armand trying to stop Lestat from taking the stage?!?! That comment from Fareed about how long Lestat could last without his head.....yeah. I knew it was interesting at the time, but what about Louis?!?!
And you know, maybe this will lead into us finally getting the proper Merrick Loustat moment of Lestat reviving Louis? If that be the case, I'll accept this monstrosity.
Otherwise, what the fuck?! GIVE THEM BACK THEIR HEADS! π€¬π€¬π€¬
About damn time the real Armand fully showed up!
1000/10! ππ½ππ½ππ½
Standing O! ππ½ππ½ππ½
Best. Episode. Of. The. Series. πβ€οΈβπ₯
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