AMC's "Interview with the Vampire", season 2 Episode 1 Recap

May 22, 2024

Courtesy: AMC Networks

"What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned" is the first episode in season 2, and it did not disappoint! Louis and Claudia (now played by Delainey Hayles) travel to Europe at the end of World War II, searching for fellow vampires, and we see the toll it takes upon them in their relationship. In Romania, the episode provides a deadly glimpse of the ravishes of war as corpses litter our screens. Claudia is determined to find other vampires, while Louis remains weary.

Claudia is emotionally distant, still upset that Louis chose to dump Lestat's body instead of burning him. Meanwhile, Louis is tormented by images of Lestat. In his hallucinations, Lestat confesses that he misses Louis and believes Louis misses him too. Furthermore, Lestat mentions that he's bidding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to kill Louis when he's happy. Louis reflects on his past, admitting to killing 7,000 people, but emphasizes that Lestat was the only one who felt like murder. One would think that both Claudia and Louis would feel release in his death, but Claudia is filled with anger, and Louis is riddled with guilt. Sigh!

The locals are firm believers in the existence of vampires. They have plenty of garlic and crucifixes on their doors, which excites Claudia as it brings them closer to finding other vampires.

Louis and Claudia seek refuge in a communal shelter offered by a woman named Emelia, where they are warned about various dangers. Claudia ventures back into the woods and encounters a grotesque vampire attacking two soldiers that eerily resemble a zombie from "The Walking Dead." Despite attempting to communicate with the vampire, Claudia is overpowered and it drags off one of the soldiers.

Courtesy: AMC Networks

Louis wakes up to chaos as he discovers that Emelia has a neck injury, and the terrified locals are about to attack her. Louis signals to Claudia telepathically that it's not their concern, leaving Emilia to be decapitated. Ouch!

After using a soldier as bait, they encounter the vampire and his maker, Daciana, in the woods. Following Daciana back to her home, one of the most interesting scenes of the episode comes when Louis suggests that the locals blood may be tainted with too much sadness. Claudia offers her blood for Daciana to sample, which Dancia describes as tasting like cream. Feeling optimistic, Claudia invites Dancia to return with them to America; however, unexpectedly, Dancia throws herself into the fire, declaring, "We own nothing." Bummer!

In the present, Louis recounts their encounter with Old World vampires. Armand avoids interacting with Molloy, who retaliates by consistently engaging the real Rashid in conversation. Funny stuff! When alone, Louis requests Armand to show him the pages of Claudia's diary they intentionally removed, assuring him that he won't share it with Daniel. Armand suggests they can influence Daniel to comply with their wishes if they work together, just as they have done for the past seventy years.

As they hold hands, Armand and Louis approach Daniel, who is taken aback by Armand's newfound willingness to participate in the interview. Louis explains that Claudia was devastated after Daciana's suicide and believed Paris, known as "the mother of New Orleans," would be a good new destination. Louis reassures Claudia that although their lives have been tough, a difficult life is better than no life. He promises to intervene if he ever sees her attempting to end her life and encourages her that they will find others like them. However, Louis admits that it would be enough for him if Claudia were the last vampire on Earth. In his mind, he sees Lestat next to Claudia (frankly, he would have it no other way).

Interview with the Vampire airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC and AMC+.