In The Vampire Lestat‘s finale, we receive a series of tremendous sequences between Assad Zaman’s Armand and Jacob Anderson’s Louis de Pointe du Lac. In what can only be termed as a total shattering, but in some senses also an unveiling of the true self, Zaman’s Armand forces Anderson’s Louis to confront the ruins of their relationship. He pushes Louis to take an honest look at Armand, himself, and where they went so terribly wrong. Of course, on Louis’ end, the sentiments offered to Armand are not, perhaps, the whole truth… His head has been severed from his body and put on a pike, after all… Although they are studded with sincerity. But on Armand’s end, he feels finally seen, the traumas that created him and the scars that litter him at long last acknowledged by someone. Zaman delivers a peerless performance throughout The Vampire Lestat‘s finale, shifting effortlessly from incandescent rage to chilling cruelty to a crushing sorrow conveyed only through the minute shifts of his eyes. It’s clear that this time with Louis in the season’s finale had an impact on The Vampire Lestat‘s Armand. But is it enough to change him… Or at least shift his worst, self-destructive impulses a little bit? Here’s what Assad Zaman had to say about what Armand takes away from Louis’ amends.
Zaman shares, “I think the one thing about Armand that we know is that he’s so far gone in his destructive sort of characteristics and life and personality that it’s hard. I think that kind of trauma is hard to ever let go of. I think he’s always going to be somewhat messed up in the head. And I think the final scratching of an initial in Louis’ chest was sort of a hint that, as much as he has heard and been moved by what Louis said, he’s still got those sociopathic tendencies inside of him. But I think he knew he wanted some acknowledgment from Louis, and he knew that that’s the whole reason why he brought him there and sort of made this elaborate plan. But I don’t think he was ready for acknowledgment like that.”
And it’s that acknowledgment that Armand has long been seeking. Zaman continues, “I think this is what’s been hard to sort of talk about in past interviews, about ideas like ‘Where is Armand now? What does he not want?'” And in truth, some of this acknowledgment is what he’s wanted. “We’ve only seen little bursts of him up until episode seven,” Zaman shares, “And each one, the thing that he’s missing from each one is this acknowledgment, everyone belittles him, everyone degrades him, everyone degrades whatever he’s been through or makes jokes of it, makes fun of it. And no one’s really, I think the audience as well to an extent, haven’t really fathomed what it actually is that happened to him. And this is the one time, this is the first time, I think, that it’s spoken of. The only other time you ever really get to sit in the Armand trauma is when Armand himself is talking about Marius, when he looks at the painting, and he’s talking about the Boy Arun and how he was taken from his home. That’s the only other time. And that’s Armand talking about it himself. And this is the first time anyone else has really acknowledged what happened to him and where this insane psychopath has come from.”
Ultimately, Zaman deems that Louis’ amends to Armand in The Vampire Lestat finale do change him. He notes, “I think that is enough to change him. To what extent? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s like a switch. I don’t think we’re going to see suddenly good and pious Armand next season. I think he still has work to do, like all these characters do. They all have a lot of work to do. But this was, I think, a good cathartic thing for him to have that acknowledgment.” A step, perhaps, in the right direction for Armand. A step toward some kind of growth. Given that Armand’s trauma has not been acknowledged in 500 years, we can see how hearing someone give some credence to it might be a true intensity for Armand. Perhaps it will help him to understand that what he seeks is some more of that understanding from someone.
After all, Louis notes that Armand should have “a love that will cradle [him].” And it seems like Armand, in his current state, would really struggle to achieve that. But, perhaps, Armand, undergoing some of these changes, powerful, however small, will allow him to open himself up to someone that will actually suit him—instead of simply reaching for what’s most available.
Briefly, I offer the notion that Daniel’s “bartering with desire” in his youth might be a trauma that’s not the same as Armand’s, but has a similar shade to it, is in conversation with Armand’s traumas in some way. And maybe, that could open up a path for more understanding and acknowledgment from someone in Armand’s life. “That’s really interesting,” Zaman considers the idea with an approving nod.
We’ll have to wait and see where this collision course with himself takes Armand in the future. For now, The Vampire Lestat is now streaming on AMC and AMC+ in full. You can snag The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice to read, if you’d like to know a little bit more about what’s going on.
Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist. She wants only good things for Armand, please and thank you.
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