Throughout The Vampire Lestat, we receive fascinating insights into the relationship between the vampires Armand and Daniel. One of the most intriguing of all is that Armand has actually been a fixture in Daniel’s life since he first met him and found him fascinating in San Francisco. Armand confesses to Daniel that “I had a fang in his neck, but I was interrupted and had to let him go. I tracked him down, planned to finish the work, but as I followed him, I found him fascinating… Gradually, over the next 52 years, I was interceding on his behalf.” Of course, whether Daniel was ever aware of these intercessions, we don’t yet know. When Daniel demands to know if Louis was aware of these overtures, Armand notes, “[Louis was] at home, waiting to hear the minute details when I got back. Yes, you sainted him grey in your book, but he’s calculating to the core, and methodically cruel.” But, of course, Armand is known to twist the truth for his own aims. Did Louis really know about Armand’s half-century obsession with Daniel? And if so, did he truly invite Daniel to Dubai with the knowledge of Armand’s intense interest and Daniel’s blindness to it? In an interview, Jacob Anderson told us that, in this case, Armand is telling the truth; Louis did know about Armand’s interest in Daniel after San Francisco throughout the whole of Interview with the Vampire.
When asked if Louis knew about Armand’s overtures with Daniel, Jacob Anderson confirms, “Yeah. Yeah, definitely.” And then delves into how that played into Daniel, Louis, and Armand’s time in Dubai during Interview with the Vampire. Anderson notes, “Yeah, I think that Louis had a secondary objective there. I think it’s true what Louis says in season one. Something’s wrong, and he needs to figure out what it is, and he knows that Daniel will be able to help him. But there’s a secondary objective. I think nothing really changes massively with that knowledge. It was always implied that there was a double-game being played or a triple game, really, being played in Dubai. Yeah, I don’t think it changes much other than it’s a fun detail.”
Of course, secret motivations and hidden games were everywhere during the “psychodrama of Dubai.” But I do find the idea that Louis was aware of Armand’s very intense interest in Daniel a fascinating twist to the whole affair. It’s not clear to me whether the series will address it further, but I’m more curious than ever about whose idea it truly was for Daniel to come to Dubai.
In Interview with the Vampire, Armand seems openly against Louis letting Daniel interview him. But, of course, he might know that his resistance to it might make Louis want to do it all the more. Conversely, if it really was Louis’ desire for Daniel to come finish the interview in Dubai, what did he think would happen with Armand and Daniel, given the intensity of the relationship between them? What were they both thinking when Louis drank from Armand in front of Daniel? Was this interview a methodical cruelty between them? An olive branch? Or something else.
I’ll continue thinking about it, and I bet you will too. And, who knows, perhaps we will see more about the lead-up to Daniel’s arrival in Dubai from Armand’s perspective in time. We’d certainly be seated, if so.
The Vampire Lestat is now streaming on AMC and AMC+. If you’d like more insights into the season, you can also pick up The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice for your reading pleasure.
Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist. She’s a Devil’s Minion gal at heart, but always has some room for the Diabolicule—yes, that’s Daniel/Armand/Louis/Lestat. It’s immortality, baby. Think big.
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