The first season of The Vampire Lestat, or the third season of Interview with the Vampire, depending on how you look at it, has come to an end. And what a truly bonkers ending it was. At the end of episode six, Lestat (Sam Reid) and Louis (Jacob Anderson) had their heads chopped clean off by Armand (Assad Zaman) and Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). But being vampires with the most powerful of ancient blood, both disembodied heads survived for a solid hour and change unattached to their bodies. We then spend much of the episode inside Lestat’s seemingly final thoughts, which were an emotional rollercoaster. And they contained a surprise visit from a returning character from early in this series’ history.
The Vampire Lestat Faces All Those He’d Killed or Hurt in His Life
Louis’ ex, Armand, put him (specifically, his head) through his own harrowing psychological torture. But as for Lestat? He imagined a final concert surrounded by those he’d victimized or outright killed in his three centuries on Earth. And there was quite a lot of the latter. Lestat’s vampiric children, such as Gabriella, Louis, and Nicolas, were present. So were other vampires, such as Marius and his maker, Magnus. In what he believed were his final moments, Lestat confronted those he’d hurt. He finally recognized that he was, in many ways, a failure. But he also realized that as long as his beloved Louis de Pointe du Lac loved him, his long life had been worth it.
Louis’ Long-Dead Brother Paul Appears to Lestat
Before it was all over, that gathering in Lestat’s mind welcomed a surprise visitor. As the final seconds ticked by and Lestat was facing oblivion, the spirit of Louis’ brother Paul appeared. The last time viewers saw him was early in Interview with the Vampire, season one. Paul was Louis’ mortal brother, a devoutly religious type, who had killed himself in front of Louis, deeply traumatizing him. After he and his brother shared an emotional moment, Paul got up and simply walked off the roof of their home to his death. This forever scarred Louis, leaving him vulnerable to the seduction of the Vampire Lestat, who had recently arrived in New Orleans.
Paul, once again played by Steven G. Norfleet, sits next to Lestat on stage and comforts him as he looks up toward the light. He speaks to Lestat, saying, “Thank you for loving him the way he needs to be loved.” Then, ever the conservative Christian man, he added, “I still wish you were a woman.” Lestat replies, “Me too, sometimes.” This surprise appearance is a grand moment for the Brat Prince. Because he knows that this spirit of Paul is confirming to him that, despite his many, many blunders, being loved by Louis made everything worth it in the end. Luckily, the Talamasca saves both Lestat and Louis in the nick of time. Soon, their heads are reattached to their bodies.
Does Paul’s Appearance Confirm that Lestat Killed Him?
Many fans believe that Paul’s appearance to Lestat at an event populated largely by those he’d killed or hurt confirms Lestat’s mental manipulations drove Paul to suicide. However, this scenario features the spirits of those whom Lestat has not only killed, but also hurt in some fashion. We don’t think Lestat lied to Louis when he said he had nothing to do with his troubled sibling’s demise. And years ago, a fan wrote to Anne Rice on her Facebook page asking if Lestat was responsible for Paul’s demise. She confirmed that he had nothing to do with it. Of course, the TV version is its own thing. But we have a feeling that Paul didn’t die because of any of Lestat’s mind tricks. And he really did come to give Lestat a degree of comfort when he needed it, whether he truly deserved it or not.
The full season of The Vampire Lestat is now streaming on AMC+.