‘Interview with the Vampire’ Recap: ‘Like Angels Put in Hell by God’

Written by Shae Rufe

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Interview with the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also features discussion regarding domestic and emotional abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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There comes a point where enough is enough. Claudia sees it, she respects it, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make things better. She’s there for Louis, caring for him, helping him heal and recover from Lestat. Being beaten to a pulp, even as a vampire, takes time to heal from. While he does heal, it’s not an easy process. Claudia becomes the caretaker. She’s the daughter, the sister, the caretaker, the filler, the pillar of strength, the crutch, the creation. The Mistake. Above all, Claudia is a stand-up person. Despite what happened to her, despite the trauma of her own assault, she helps Louis with his. Maybe, it helps heal her too, in a way.

Lestat is relentless. He calls. He sends gifts. He brings gifts by. Claudia ignores him and turns him away at every turn. She’s not forgiving. She’s not willing to allow the man back into their lives. Cleaning up his mess and putting Louis back together takes months and years. In a way, Louis never fully recovers. He’s sullen, more reserved. Claudia sees it and won’t allow Lestat to taint Louis any more than he already has. Sadly, Claudia doesn’t have much of a say in Louis’ romantic leanings. The whole thing comes to a head when Lestat sends a record to Louis. It’s a song Lestat wrote and performed for Louis, accompanied by the musical stylings of Antoinette, his mistress. Louis is so infuriated by this that he swims across the Mississippi River, finds Lestat in Antoinette’s house, and confronts him. Of course, Lestat is in bed with Antoinette. She gets kicked out of her own home, and Louis and Lestat have a passionate, rough, reunion.

Lestat is welcomed back. Claudia doesn’t approve nor does she make it easy. Louis is back to being in love with Lestat, which is to be a little expected. After all, Lestat’s love bombing was intense. Truthfully, Louis wants things to be how they were before. Before Claudia killed her first love. Before Lestat was having affairs. Before all the violence. It’s here that Claudia is put into the position of guardian. Louis needs to be looked after and that’s what Claudia will do. He can’t make decisions for himself in his best interest, not with Lestat around. If she can’t keep Lestat away, then she’ll do everything to get Louis to leave.

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​She pokes at Lestat, barbs at him, goads him, does everything she can to remind him and Louis of what he’s done. It all works, because of course it does, he’s a narcissist and poking at his insecurities and flaws only makes his temper worse. The house is in a state, all the broken bits stay as reminders of what Lestat did to Louis. The violent beating that took him months to recover from, the one his mind still isn’t quite ready to forget, regardless of forgiveness. Lestat will always be about himself.

It’s no shock that Antionette is around still, he’s turned her as he did Louis, although he keeps her secret. It’s his escape from Claudia’s constant antagonization. Antionette is his rebellion against their rules and she’s his to fully control. Unlike Claudia and Louis. Although, when Claudia tries to leave, Lestat brings her back with threats of death and pain and a promise that if she leaves, he’ll hurt Louis again. He’s taking back his control.

Or is he? When Claudia beats him at a game of chess, he throws a genuine tantrum. Knocking the board over, throwing the pieces, swearing up a storm in French. Lestat is a ticking time bomb. Louis is finally starting to see that. Claudia is making sure he fully understands it and on the eve of a Second World War, Claudia deems that she is going to kill Lestat, whether Louis likes it or not. He’s welcome to join her, if he chooses. She is going to set them free.

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