‘Talkin’ Vamps’ Episode 2: ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Is a Slow-Burn, Let It Cook [TMS Recap]

Welcome to week two of our recap series for The Vampire Lestat! In case you missed our first episode, you can watch it now on The Mary Sue’s YouTube. Every week, myself and Editor-in-Chief Rachel Leishman (AKA The Rachels, for short) get together to break down and discuss the newest episode of AMC’s hit vampire series. And do we have a lot to discuss this week.

For episode two, “Toledo,” we jump in quickly with Lestat’s backstory. Daniel Molloy has hinted at knowing some of it as he continuously rankles Lestat by asking him if he was a stutterer as a child–something that Louis once told him.

With this season from Lestat’s point of view, we are seeing things as he wants us to see them. One example is the wigs his family wears in his flashbacks. They seem to be purposefully bad, which is an insight into Lestat’s feelings towards them. He’s remembering them as he wants to, and he wants those listening to share that sentiment.

This episode takes an Oedipal turn

We are introduced in this episode to Lestat’s mother, Gabriella (or Sophia, as she is going by in our current time). And yes, it is exactly what you are expecting if you are familiar with the novels. He and Gabriella are having sex, and yes, he is aware of what it looks like.

Look, we get it. It’s part of the plot, and Lestat himself even goes so far as apologizing that he has to recount this for his listeners. It doesn’t mean that we have to like it, though. Especially, as we discussed, the power imbalance of it all.

“He’s trying to get somebody to hear him and like tell him no, that’s not okay what she’s doing to you. Even though you are her maker, that’s still your mom, she should know better, and so I think it’s very interesting his way of trying, in my opinion, to get people to hear him and help him is to just be like, ‘It’s fine, it’s fine,’ and you’re like, no dude, this is not fine actually,” Leishman said.

The similarities of Claudia and Lestat

The death of Claudia last season has left indelible marks on both Lestat and Louis, but for different reasons. In this episode Lestat mentions her after a feeding frenzy with Gabriella, but in a way that, as someone pointed out online, is a little mean. And it is interesting how he reacts to it.

Louis has always been the one to be the most affectionate towards Claudia in the show, treating her like a child or a little sister. But when it came to Lestat, he was more guarded, a little bit harsher. And we could see, as the show went on, that he and Claudia were much more alike than her and Louis.

It is something we discussed in depth in this episode because it is something that we both agree on, and is a plot point I would love to see explored more.

Said Leishman, “I have always said I think him and Claudia are a lot more alike than she ever was to Louis.”

I agreed. “You know, I think if circumstances had been different, it would have been really cool to be able to see Claudia become someone that’s kind of like Lestat.”

Make sure you tune in next Tuesday for our recap of episode three!

(Featured image: The Mary Sue/YouTube)

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