Akasha’s Speech In The Vampire Lestat Single-Handedly Pulled Me Into The Franchise

All it took for me to be completely in on The Vampire Lestat after being a longtime holdout was hearing Akasha’s monologue this season.

Episode 5 of The Vampire Lestat, “New York” introduced Sheila Atim’s Queen of the Damned to the universe. And, her brief appearance had me literally sitting up in my chair. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed the Brat Prince basically worming his way into the hearts and minds of the public. But, despite a number of fun moments throughout this season, I still had some distance. Akasha splashing onto the scene changed that for me. And, I think Season 4 is going to be appointment viewing because of it.

Now, there are other things to like about “New York,” especially because we get Claudia back. But, there are some other hysterically charming moments from Sam Reid’s protagonist. That’s all well, and good. But, the second Atim’s character woke up from her extended nap, things got real, and in a hurry.

For the uninitiated, Akasha is the Queen of the Vampires and was in captivity under the “care” of Marius, Armand’s maker. Marius entrusts Lestat with watching over the Queen and everything goes sideways. She awakens and finally comes to the realization of why she’s been cooped up in this room for a long time.

A Speech That Brings The House Down

Akasha asks in escalating intensity, “And why does he tell her what God has said? / And why Amel in their mouths? / And why must my voice be smooth? / And why must I sing so low? / And why is she kept? / Why must she be kept? / And why in this place must she be kept?”

If you’re anything like me, these are questions that have bounced around in your head for a long while. Authority asks us to shrink ourselves. Even as the outside world continues to get more chaotic by the day. Those who mean us harm ask us to lower our voices in service of a vision of this country that no longer exists. If the social contract is dead, then why are we keeping up appearances? It’s that Daisy meme for the entire populace right now.

Akasha Truly Is “The Answer”

The last couple of years has seen rising inequality on basically all fronts. One of the only joys that anyone can seem to agree on lately is our little shows on TV. The Vampire Lestat, and Interview with the Vampire before it, has been a wave building on the horizon. Social media had enthusiastic fans all over telling you it was the best show on TV for years. 

Then, The Vampire Lestat era began, and the hype increased 10 fold. Now, it’s at an all-time high coming off of a massive season. We have to mention that wild concert with Reid out there literally playing to the crowd. If there was ever a moment that was going to draw me into the faithful, this was going to be it. 

Akasha’s entrance was the moment that got me all the way in though. Yeah, The Vampire Lestat was entertaining. But, something wasn’t quite hitting me until that point. And, one moment really just flipped all that for me.

 “And what is it to see and to know, but to be told… / You have not seen, you have not known / And why is her tongue cut out? / And why is her death prolonged? / And when will it stop? And who will stop it?,” Akasha pondered. “And why must they, must we, must I, must he, must they, as the millenia unfold / Why the girl curled? Why her eyes lowered? / Why on the side of the road? why limp in the straw?”

Fury Is A Necessary Thing

Rage is good actually! Getting that endorphin rush from stepping into yourself fully is something I want for everyone. Watching The Queen of The Damned absolutely wreck shop next season might add years to my life.

One thing that has been absent from a lot of the recent hits on TV is a sense of distrust and outright fury at everything that stands in your way. Plenty of distaste has danced onto our screens over the last half-decade and change. But, when’s the last time you saw a character really set some problems aflame. It’s time. There will always be complicated boy idols for us to obsess over. That much is true. But, sometimes you really need a moment of “I’m not the only one that feels like this” to set it off.

Our queen argues, “I am the girl! / I am the god! / I am the voice! / I am the song! / I am the night! / And I can answer! / I can arrange it! / I can say rise, and I can say speak! / And I am her! And I am she! / And I-I-I-I-I am the answer!”

I look forward to seeing her demolish the test in short order!

(featured image: Sophie Giraud/AMC)

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