The Lestat/Magnus and Claudia/Bruce Of It All Doesn’t Have to Work For Everyone But It Is Important

The Vampire Lestat brings fans into Lestat’s (Sam Reid) world. Meaning we learn a lot about him, both the good and the bad. In episode 3, titled “Toronto,” Lestat is confronted with the abuse he suffered at the hand of his maker, Magnus (Damien Atkins).

We knew roughly that Magnus assaulted Lestat but were not aware of the extent of it. It took Lestat telling Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) a flowery version of it through “Your Biggest Fan” to have Lestat actually unpack what happened to him. After Lestat leaves the interview, he’s in a car where the ghost of Magnus haunts him, mocking him for hiding the truth of what happened.

As Lestat is remembering his assault/forced transformation, the scene cuts to Louis (Jacob Anderson) killing Bruce (Damon Daunno) but first reading him Claudia’s (Delainey Hayles) diary. Claudia in season 1 (played by Bailey Bass) was sexually assaulted by Bruce when she went to learn about being a vampire in the world.

The scene has earned some pushback from fans online but not because of its graphic themes. Instead, many fans are angry that the scene “tries” to compare Lestat and Claudia’s trauma.

The comparison isn’t the problem!

I did not mind the scene because it helps to drive home a point I have been making for years. But not everyone has to like the structure of the scene. The incredible Bobbi Miller, who hosts the Culture Kitsch channel, shared her thoughts on the scene and how she almost stopped the show because of it. She then shared though why she doesn’t love the scene and it isn’t because Lestat and Claudia’s traumas are being compared.

“I understand the function,” Miller said. She went on to talk about how the scene is once again Louis “invading her privacy.” And as Miller said, maybe it is time to let Claudia rest. But the things that Miller didn’t like about the scene were things I found compelling about Louis and how he constantly used Claudia’s words and memories as almost torture porn in both his telling of their lives and now his encounter with Bruce.

I use Miller as an example because her argument isn’t against the comparison to Lestat and Claudia’s trauma, that does exist and always has. Instead, it is about the editing/choice of the show to yet again bring Claudia into Louis’ mess. That is, in my mind, an incredibly important distinction because it differs from the online conversation surrounding Lestat.

It’s okay you don’t like Lestat but you’re missing the point

The anger fans have over Claudia and Lestat being compared to each other means they’re missing what the tool of comparing their situations is meant to do. Claudia wrote that Lestat threatened her on the train. Lestat’s anger over that part of the book makes sense when you see what he went through. Do I think he said something inappropriate to her? Absolutely. But in that Lestat way where he meant it as a fear thing and not like he himself would hurt her.

But more than that, the two have them have always been similar. Both in their trauma and in the way they react to things. Having it shown so plainly in this scene drives home that Lestat and Claudia are more alike than she ever was to Louis. That being said: It doesn’t completely erase the pain and hurt Lestat has caused.

It is okay that if you think Lestat is a monster. These are vampires, after all. But complaining about the comparison tool when these two characters have ALWAYS shared this trauma and pain? It gives that you miss the point of this relationship.

(featured image: AMC)

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