‘Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire’ Recap: ‘Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape’

6/10/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Eric Bogosian and Jacob Anderson as Daniel Malloy and Louis De Point Du Lac in Episode 205 of ‘Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire’ – ‘Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape’. (Photo Courtesy of AMC Network Entertainment LLC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this article contains discussions regarding domestic violence and abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.

There is an unfortunate and disgusting mantra that surrounds toxic and abusive relationships. In that, people that step into them are foolish or weak in nature. As though they are nothing more than suckers that found their way into a situation where they should have recognized all the red flags that were in front of them, and that ugly view is only compounded further by the fact that pity is put upon those who escape one situation to find themselves in another. As though they are lovelorn fools that cannot learn from their lessons and well, what makes this so unabashedly gross in nature, is that it is an ignorant view that doesn’t take into account so many other factors.

Such as the fact that genuinely toxic individuals and abusers, don’t offer red flags and troublesome moments. They are as charming as they come and learn quickly how best to prey upon someone they wish to control or manipulate through and through. Alongside the fact that such relationships create trauma and PTSD in some cases, the kind that requires great individual work and leaves that individual vulnerable to more of the same since those types of monsters are always lurking in the shadows, looking for a fresh victim. Which means it can take some time to properly heal from such messes and learn how to best avoid them, and we should not offer disdain and pity, but support and understanding… to help that healing process along.

If anything, this hard truth about such matters, and how history sometimes repeats itself for survivors of toxic behaviors and outright abuse from a lover… is top of mind today because the next episode of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire on AMC, explored that reality in great detail, courtesy of a gift from Armand. For he went on a weird and cruel hunt in ‘Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape’, and that gave Daniel a chance to sit down with Louis and discuss… the troubling echoes in Daniel’s mind and the strange discovery he made in the files he was given. Regarding how there were distressing pictures of his first interview with Louis. That discussion, allowed for both men to uncover the reality, that they had gaps in their memory of that night, and of that week. Since they also discovered that while the interview did end at dawn, Daniel and Louis were inside that apartment for far longer than he expected.

Assad Zaman as Armand in Episode 205 of ‘Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire’ – ‘Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape’. (Photo Courtesy of Larry Horricks/AMC.)

Simply because they collectively remembered that Armand came in that first morning and interrupted Louis’ feeding upon Daniel and that led to a blow out between the two lovers. The kind where horrible things were said by both parties, to the point where Louis committed self-harm by stepping into the sun. But the week in that house went deeper than a nasty fight between two lovers. Because as Louis and Daniel healed, Armand made it apparent… that he was the not the kind and gentle lover he presented. He was no better than Lestat (and he was even speaking with Lestat from afar) for he was an angry and bitter man, and an abuser that wanted nothing more than to have a submissive lover, to have that horrendous control and emotional power men like him crave, and he was biding his time to find the right moment to manipulate Louis into becoming just that.

Which in turn allowed for him to gaslight, manipulate and smooth talk his way into being in charge when Louis was at his lowest, and the reward for submission… was peace… a second chance for Daniel and decades of Louis’ idea of the perfect relationship. Until this moment of course, since this story ended with Daniel and Louis offering a unified front over the truth they uncovered. But what matters more here, is what this story showcased regarding the central theme. Because it took that mantra and perception of abuse survivors and threw it out the window to truly explore how this happens again and how hard it is to recognize and escape. Because up until this point, Armand truly seemed to be a wounded heart in need of mending. But that was the trap he and so many of his ilk lay down to bring in those who are vulnerable.

Because they know that healing hasn’t not taken place, and that the heart wants what it wants and that creates such an unfortunate cycle. Which does not make any of those folks weak or lesser, just in need of guidance and care and understanding and at the moment, Louis has that. He knows what he is up against, what he fell into and hopefully Daniel’s support, since he too was toyed with and abused… can help him heal. But that aside, this was… a powerful and brilliant episode when all is said and done. For it touched upon the complex truth regarding a topic we fear more than vampires, and it offered up a way forward that few stories that even tackle such matters remotely do. Making this an important story for certain, one that will indeed have a lasting impact on the horror landscape, and the story itself… since Louis is now at a powerful and critical crossroads. Until next time.

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