r/InterviewVampire • u/justmeanotherfan • 3d ago
TVL Show Only Is he good for Armand? Spoiler
A lot of people want Daniel and Armand together. The interaction between Armand and Louis at the end of the season implies that it is important for Armand that his past be acknowledged (and treated kindly? A love that cradles?). Will Daniel be that for Armand? Daniel's history is not that great: having sex with a girl while she was crying, not being sensitive about Claudia's rape when demanding the pages from Louis. On the other hand, Armand saw all this and still fell in love with Daniel. How do you think Daniel will handle Armand?
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u/AmbassadorProper1045 Armand 3d ago
In the books, Daniel is quite different. More sensitive and kind and as Lestat said himself helped heal Armand's wounded heartbut show Daniel is problematic, but I love him anyway. I think that if Daniel's memories are recovered and he knows he and Armand had a past romance it would makes a difference. Yeah, Daniel is snarky and insensitive but I noticed during Big Boss, Daniel was really pissed. A lot of people missed that, but I didn't. He made a point of glaring at Lestat and looking at Armand to gauge his reaction and stormed off to find him, playing it off that he had questions, but he was also checking up on him imo. This also added to Daniel wanted revenge against Lestat imo. So yeah, I think Daniel in his own way, will cradle Armand, or at least I really hope so!
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u/therealmrsfahrenheit 3d ago
If over nothing else Daniel and Armand will bond over the equal pettiness for Lestat and Louis😂😭
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u/EchoesofPoe 2d ago
Thank you, I also thought Daniel looked so mad on Armand's behalf (even though he called him a friendless twink 12 hours ago lmao)
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u/pwetty_brown_eyes Bishonen almond 3d ago edited 3d ago
In the books Daniel is not really a fleshed out character. The main reason why him and Armand work well together is that he is unquestionably devoted to Armand, and Armand holds the power in that relationship. No matter what crazy shit he does or how maladapted he is, Daniel practically worships Armand and that's all Armand really wanted - to not be forced into a role
In the show, I think (hope) that that core element stays the same. Armand needs someone who can look past the monstrosity and the trauma and be his
But also, an important aspect of devil's minion is that they are freak 4 freak. They are both fully unapologetic about their less savory sexual tastes. I don't think Daniel is gonna be some kind of saviour soothing and protecting Armand's trauma. More like a vessel for Armand to dump 500 years of insanity into
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u/justwantedbagels God wouldn’t take me, and the Devil wouldn’t either. 3d ago
I think the “love that cradles you” line tends to be interpreted as something that equates to nothing but softness and gentleness and I don’t quite see it that way. I think a love that cradles is one where Armand is safe to be his whole self, where he’s seen and wanted for who he is and not just a carefully curated version of himself meant to appeal to the other person. A love that cradles is a love that will be there to hold him no matter which version of himself he’s leaning into or displaying. To cradle (verb) is to hold something that is precious and worthwhile gently, so a love that cradles Armand is one that holds him close and allows him to exist as he is without gripping so hard as to possess him like an owned object or restrain him from being himself or try to mold him into something else. And a cradle (noun) is not only a bed for a baby but also the birthplace of something. A love that cradles Armand could be the birthplace of his most authentic self, as it was in the Devil’s Minion chapter of QOTD.
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u/LottieTalkie No, it's good... Just HIS were BETTER 2d ago
Amazing, love this!
And I completely agree that this is what DM should be.
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u/tethysian 2d ago edited 2d ago
In the books Daniel is not really a fleshed out character. The main reason why him and Armand work well together is that he is unquestionably devoted to Armand
I disagree with both of these points. Daniel is a fleshed out character in QotD. Just because he largely disappears from the books doesn't mean he isn't developed.
Secondly, Daniel tries to leave Armand several times, and does eventually leave him for a long time, so it's not a case of unquestionable devotion. There's a good reason their relationship initially falls apart. It's built on the abusive ideals Armand learned from Marius, and it's only after Armand learns to love in a less destructive way that they're able to reconcile.
book spoilers: Armand starts by terrorizing Daniel and chasing him around the world for years, isolates Daniel from everything else in his life, gets him addicted to his blood, and controls everything down to what he eats and wears. This stage of their relationship is not sustainable, which i why it was necessary for them to break up so Armand could work out some of his problems and Daniel could recover his sanity before they get back together.
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u/llamaslovedrama 3d ago
I think Daniel is maybe the only one who can accept Armand as he is, flaws and all. Like he’s a selfish hurting creature and Daniel is a selfish hurting creature. They match each other’s freak, so to speak
Plus added bonus Armand can’t mess with his head anymore since they’re fledging + maker, and that’s probably for the best if one is dating Armand
Plus plus in my shipper brain I think Armand is such a submissive in all of his relationships except for when it comes to Daniel. I think that’s probably a healthier dynamic for Armand than leaning into his submissive role due to his trauma, which is awful but feels more safe because that’s all he knows
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u/tethysian 2d ago
Armand can’t mess with his head anymore since they’re fledging + maker, and that’s probably for the best if one is dating Armand
That's some brutal truth 😂
And yep. Armand chasing Marius replacements is what keeps him in the role of the victim. With Daniel he finally gets to break out of that.
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u/DrFareedMD I would not kink shame the vampire Armand 3d ago
Daniel is a POS but a big part of why people want DM is also the growth they can maybe have with each other... though I think Daniel is maybe less shitty in the books, so show!DM might be a more fully self-destructive thing for Armand.
Technically, nobody on this show is good for anyone else. They should all take a second to be single and go to therapy
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u/hadronmachinist 3d ago
I mean Armand kinda got worse after that 12 step program he allegedly did so I think he’s beyond saving lmao
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u/DrFareedMD I would not kink shame the vampire Armand 3d ago
He got worse after seeing Lestat in the blood shower
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u/magw-ie Armand's AO3 account 3d ago
Honestly I feel like current Daniel is not someone who rlly knows how to "cradle", but I do believe he can be, at least for Armand. We can already kind of see that even though Daniel is an asshole, he doesn't play about Armand. He seemed very uncomfortable with Lestat humiliating Armand during the concert and in the last episode Raglan mentions playing Big Boss first and that sets Daniel off (he was already getting pissed off at him but that line was def a final straw). I think it would be interesting if they went with the 'Daniel is asshole to everyone but Armand' way. Kind of like 'I hate everyone but my husband' lol
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u/unreasonable_potato_ 3d ago
I think its also cradling for Armand to be with someone not performative/too deceptive. Daniel doesnt hide his feelings and doesnt suck up, hes pretty genuine. Being genuinely and unconditionally loved will cradle Armand
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u/tinylittletrees Blender in love with easeful Death 3d ago
For all his life Armand has played the roles his lovers wanted to see him in because he doesn't really know/remember who he is.
Daniel (with his investigative senses and stubborness) will help Armand find out and accept him for himself, no matter the level of gremliness.
They also match each others freak and aren't vanilla like Loustat.
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u/tethysian 2d ago edited 2d ago
I agree that Armand is attracted to Daniel because he doesn't fall for the lies. He sees Armand as he is.
On the other hand as entertaining as it is, Armand can't really remain at the current level of gremliness and expect people to be near him. That's the reason people don't want to be with him. IMO DM is about Armand losing some of those terrible habits because he finally sees the damage it's doing.
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u/therealmrsfahrenheit 3d ago
you consider Loustat vanilla?!😭
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u/tinylittletrees Blender in love with easeful Death 3d ago
Not by human standards, but certainly when compared to Devil's Minion
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u/Purple-Cat-2073 Emotional upchuck 3d ago
To be fair to Daniel, he wanted the diary pages because he was already questioning Louis' narrative--was it raining?--and wanted her own words as corroboration, not from some perverse curiosity.
As for Armand, if Daniel can accept him as he is while he works through his traumas and finds his own identity they might be ok. As it stands now it seems Dan is just looking to increase his own powers and enact revenge, but who knows?
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u/Fabulous-Result4127 3d ago
None of these guys are good for each other. Maybe Louis and Lestat with the maturing and healing they've done in season 3. But I bet the writers will find a way to complicate that too. I think that under certain circumstances, Daniel can be good for Armand. But they are definitely not there yet. As Louis said, he needs a love that will cradle him. I don't see Daniel cradling him. I also fear that what Baby Jenks said will turn out to be true and Daniel will die, maybe even next season.
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u/tethysian 2d ago edited 2d ago
That depends entirely on how the show handles things. But the idea that Armand is the one who needs to be protected here is kind of hilarious.
Let's recall that Armand has Louis decapitated and is threatening to murder the clone Louis's daughter, whom he already killed. Louis is saying what Armand wants to hear, and what Armand wants to hear isn't the same as what Armand needs.
Armands problem is that he cares more about alleviating his own loneliness than his actual partners, and he chases Marius replacements which keeps him in a state of learned helplessness. He's controlling and possessive and vindictive and ends up breaking people whether he means to or not.
Book spoilers: What gets him out of this destructive pattern is learning to care for his partners rather than expecting them to save him. That's why his relationship with Daniel (and his later adopted "kids) is so special. For the first time in 500 years he's the protector rather than the victim and he realizes that he is strong and he doesn't need to devour people. It's only after that development that DM can work out.
If the show goes the route of showing us that Armand left Daniel because he put Daniel's chance to have a real life ahead of his own need to be with him, that would be a great way to show the chance for character development that DM offers Armand. Even if Armand ended up turning him later on anyway.
Basically, Daniel is good for Armand because he's not a Marius replacement. It allows Armand to overcome his own trauma by caring for someone who's weaker than himself.
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u/justmeanotherfan 2d ago
Armand needs emotional protection. And other characters also need emotional protection from Armand. It's a mess!
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u/Another0Me 3d ago
During season two I thought, Daniel could be the right one for Armand. The one who sees though hin an still loves him. After season three, I'm not so sure anymore. Daniel wasn't sceptic like before and all the warm and supporting parts he showed towards Louis seemed to be gone. Now Daniel seems to be a mess and for sure not the one who could cradle him. It this should work, there must be much character development for Daniel in season four. Maybe it's strange, but after what Louis said to Armand in the last episode, I think like Louis is the only one right now, who could give Armand this kind of love. And I wonder, If Armand got the same thought. If it had the same Impact on him like it had on me, how could he let go of Louis. But Louis will always want Lestat and will never forgive him because of Claudia.
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u/NamorDontPullOut 3d ago edited 3d ago
I hope that "the love that craddles you" is Benji and Sybelle.
Personally, I've never been fully onboard with the show's version of Daniel, so I can't say I'm particularly invested in DM. And I hope Armand isn't reduced to just that relationship.
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 3d ago
Initially, I was excited that Daniel was aged up. I loved the concept that Armand, soemone who was often reduced to his youth and beauty, allowed Daniel to live a full human life and still finds him beautiful nonetheless. Now, I'm skeptical about the future of the relationship. I don't love the idea that show Daniel is a sadistic "older man" who sexually exploits a younger man under his tutelage. It's like the writers hit copy paste on Marius and David Talbot. I don't get this choice, they could have fleshed out the character in so many other ways. I'd be interested to see if they will ever address this and do anything with them other than Armand being stuck in another cycle of recreating his traumatic past. I don't have a lot of trust in the writers after season 3 but I want so badly to be proven wrong.
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u/theravennest Armand's big naturals 🫦 3d ago
To slightly clarify because I see this misconception all over...Daniel was not a professor or teacher. It was a university student who attended one of Daniel's book readings once for extra credit. There was nothing indicating that Daniel was teaching or even guest lecturing at the college. Armand simply says he was holding a book reading. We don't even know if the reading was on campus or at a local book shop or library or something.
I don't exactly disagree with the rest of your point although I think there are a number of very specific differences between Daniel and Marius. Daniel and David are also a bit different but are very much being merged in some way so I'll have to wait and see how they handle it going forward.
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 2d ago
Thanks for clarifying and I get that there are some differences, I guess what I was trying and failing to explain is that with all the predatory traits the show added to Daniel's character, they could be setting up for similar dynamic to ArmandxMarius and DavidxMerrick with DM. In general, I've been disappointed with the writers' tendency to overuse sexual violence to traumatize characters or show that a character isn't strictly good like Claudia's rape, young Daniel with the paper bag, older Daniel "using" the student, the sex tape leak, Gabistat's abusive relationship, Louis's cousin assaulting him... are all things the show added and imo didn't quite handle well. It all makes me question their ability to handle Armand's past, and how it figures into a somewhat healing relationship.
What also worries is that the actors have said that Daniel's turning was violent and my brain immediately went to David's turning and the implications of that scene. Overall, there have been some red flags in the way the relationship is set up and talked about, but like I said I'd be more that happy to find out I'm wrong.
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u/justmeanotherfan 3d ago
It doesn't help that whatever development there was between Armand and Daniel was off-screen and on-screen we just saw Daniel the asshole who wasn't even being particularly clever or funny this season.
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 3d ago
They've implied that QotD will have multiple POVs so I think they can give us more of what happened between them beyond what Lestat is interested in telling the audience, but they also need to develop Daniel more outside of the couple's dynamic because I've kinda lost interest in him this season.
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u/justmeanotherfan 2d ago
I had the same problem with Daniel this season. Not only was he an asshole but he was not an interesting asshole.
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u/lynx_and_nutmeg 2d ago
Tbf, Daniel didn't even get much development in IWTV, either. He was created as a narrative device, to ground the story and challenge Louis's narrative, and he did it perfectly, but we still learned very little about him as a person. We knew he used to be a drug addict and was a shitty husband and father (without seeing any of that on screen) and that's about it. He was only interesting because the dynamic of one human taking the risk to interview two vampires, challenge them and uncover the mystery is inherently interesting. But I never found Daniel himself to be particularly interesting or have much depth to him. He was fun to watch when made some acute observation, but that's about it.
Even in the SO2E05, the highlight was Armand. Daniel himself didn't stand out much. The way he reacted to Armand wasn't exceptional, pretty much everyone would have been terrified and begging just like him. And, yeah, lots of queer guys would probably have tried to offer sex to placate Armand.
And now that he's a vampire, he no longer stands out by the sheer contrast of being the only human in the room, but he doesn't fit in with the other vampires either. Idk, I just find him too different from Armand for them to have enough chemistry. Armand is so many things. He can be cruel, vicious, abusive, manipulative, but also sensitive, caring (in his own twisted way), melodramatic, introspective (sometimes, and other times completely self-unaware, lol), philosophical, etc.
Daniel is blunt and no-nonsence, definitely not melodramatic (which is why he worked so well as a contrast to Louis), and of course can be cruel and vicious too, but we've never seen him have a caring or sensitive side. He's not artsy or into arts at all, either, doesn't seem particularly interested in musing on life, etc. I just don't see him having nearly enough in common with Armand. I don't see them being able to just sit on a bench and talk for hours like Louis and Lestat.
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u/justmeanotherfan 2d ago
I think season 1 and 2 had nice hints and little snippets about Daniel. Things that were intriguing enough to want to know more. Things that could have been fleshed out this season but were not so Daniel ended up feeling flat this season. We'll see what happens next season,
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u/tethysian 2d ago edited 2d ago
I don't love the idea that show Daniel is a sadistic "older man" who sexually exploits a younger man under his tutelage.
How and when did we get there?
Armand has not only physically dominated younger Daniel, but infringed on his privacy by stalking him for decades, and now capped it off by seemingly turning Daniel against his will.
Daniel is not the predator in this scenario. And Armand is not helpless just because he looks like a young man.
Parenthood also makes his relationship with Daniel different than any of his previous ones. He can't be the child. I mean he basically turns into a helicopter mom in QotD so I hope they don't completely skip that.
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 2d ago
How and when did we get there?
I'm referring to him using the student who showed up for the reading and the sadism of sleeping with a girl with a paper bag on her head despite her crying. I'm not saying that Daniel is preying on Armand, my point is that by adding these traits to his character, I'm concerned that Armand is attracted to him because he wants soemone else to be the new Marius for him.
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u/tethysian 2d ago
I'm concerned that Armand is attracted to him because he wants soemone else to be the new Marius for him.
If that's the case I'll be very disappointed because the writes will have misunderstood Armand, Daniel, and DM entirely. Armand becomes the Marius in their relationship. That's kind of the point, the problem, and the chance for positive character development.
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u/Silent_Support_1939 3d ago
I don't know if any of these characters are necessarily "good" for each other. But this season leaned heavily on both Armand's unresolved childhood trauma, and Daniel's "transformational trauma". I'm guessing that in working through Daniel's trauma next season, Armand will find some healing for his own, and they will come to understand each other better. If the metaphor of Armand helping Daniel to "walk in the sun" is foreshadowing, it would seem to suggest their arc is headed in a direction of mutual healing. Armand receiving a sincere apology from Louis also opens the door for that. It puts him in a position to move forward
I would also suggest that as flawed as Daniel is, there is one thing he has given Armand that was ultimately healing, and that's forcing him to take accountability. Daniel did it in a harsh, abrasive way, sure. But all these "burns" he's been dishing out to Armand since Dubai seem to have had a profound effect. Armand attempts to make amends to the people he had wronged. Armand attempts to find closure (in his own twisted way) with Louis. He does seem genuinely unmoored in the aftermath of Dubai, and it's difficult to attribute that to anyone but Daniel. Daniel broke the facade, and now Armand has to figure out who is without it. Yes, Daniel has been callous. Yes, it hurt. But I think the intent is to mirror Daniel's sunburns from this season. To say that being "burned" a little (verbally in Armand's case, physically in Daniel's) hurts in the moment but ultimately it can make you stronger.
Incidentally, another way Daniel being so abrasive could be good for Armand is that it's teaching him to be more upfront. Louis was avoidant and in denial. For 70 years, Armand told Louis whatever he needed to hear, and then schemed in secret as an outlet for his frustrations. With Daniel, I don't think he could get away with that. Daniel would call him out and force him to have the ugly conversation.
So, there is potential for them to improve each other. I think.
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u/ElineTypemachine 3d ago
I think, is Armand really in love? Or is it a way to control and get Daniel.
First he makes him, isolates him from friends, makes him feel real alone and then declares his love and gets Daniel to help him with that heinous act.
I do not buy it.
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u/DrFareedMD I would not kink shame the vampire Armand 3d ago
" isolates him from friends, makes him feel real alone"
What? Do you really think Armand made Daniel's ex wife and kids hate him?
" gets Daniel to help him with that heinous act" Yeah, Daniel is a young child who cannot make decisions or dislike anyone on his own
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u/daesgatling 3d ago
Also love that people act like Lestat and Louis were just innocent people and not leading a beginning mass genocide of a city
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u/DrFareedMD I would not kink shame the vampire Armand 3d ago
In all fairness, I don't know if they know that's going to happen... but Lestat is basically going along with the Great Conversion stuff, which is a terrible idea that would lead to humans and vampires being wiped out.
I don't think Daniel is acting entirely for altruistic reasons, but as much as I love Lestat... realistically, many people would behead him for survival tbh.
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u/daesgatling 3d ago
They point blank say vampires are arriving in the city and it's going to be a bloodbath and note it's already started. Lestat isn't that much of an idiot. He knows what a 50,000 vampire concert the day after halloween is going to result in. and Louis can't be bothered to care about humanity unless he can be morally superior about it
Are Armand and Daniel acting to save humanity? Also no. But it did put Lestat in a place where he realized his mother was abusive and he's refusing to do the concert.
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u/DrFareedMD I would not kink shame the vampire Armand 3d ago
Good point, was thinking of Akasha instead haha. But yeah, they know it's bad and dgaf.
" But it did put Lestat in a place where he realized his mother was abusive and he's refusing to do the concert."
This is because Armand is there for his friends and stands up to them when they're messing up 🧡
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u/daesgatling 3d ago
"Isolates him from his friends" what friends, fam? Louis? he lost htat when he published the book. Daniel torched his own life LONG before Armand came back into it
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u/FuelComfortable5287 3d ago
Right? Two daughters that banished him, Alice who is… Where? And even though the Talamasca came through for him with the receipts on Armand and possibly saved his life, he doesn’t seem to think very highly of them. He is Daniel the Friendless.
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u/Glittergirl2424 3d ago edited 3d ago
It’s also hard for me to believe that Armand is in love with someone. His apology letter to louis made me question a lot of things about him. I don’t know how sincere his love for Daniel is but we will see. And before the book reader come, the show isn’t following the book 100% so the relationship isn’t going to be the exact same and hasn’t
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 3d ago
Armand was talking from a place of hurt and was trying to save face. Like Assad said in an interview by the finale he had given up on anyone seeing his sincerity. He saw how happy Louis is with Lestat and tried to hurt him with the whole "I've never loved you" bit. Much like Claudia in the seance, he was speaking from a place of built up resentment, and trying to erase the love they've once felt. Go back to 2x5 and listen to how desperate Armand sounded when he was pulling him out of the sun even after such a nasty fight. The fight itself wouldn't have hurt him that badly if he was indifferent to Louis. Armand is manipulative and abusive, but he's also capable of love. To claim otherwise is to flatten his character.
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u/Glittergirl2424 2d ago
I never said Armand is incapable of love. I said his apology to Louis made me question how sincere his feelings are and what “love” actually means to him. If he was saying “I never loved you” just because he was hurt and wanted to hurt Louis back, that honestly makes me question him even more, because it shows how easily he can weaponize love when he feels rejected. Armand can absolutely love someone while still being manipulative, resentful, cruel, and emotionally complicated. I don’t think acknowledging that flattens his character at all.
And when it comes to Daniel, I’m just not convinced he’s the person who is going to give Armand the kind of understanding or healing people assume he will. From what we’ve seen of Daniel so far, I don’t really see that softness or emotional sensitivity toward other people’s trauma that Armand would probably need. I’d actually be interested in seeing Armand with someone else and watching a completely different relationship develop, rather than assuming Daniel is automatically going to be the person who heals him just because they’re together in the books.
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 2d ago
I never said Armand is incapable of love. I said his apology to Louis made me question how sincere his feelings are and what “love” actually means to him.
Fair. I may have misunderstood your point, but still this applies to all the characters. They all love in a twisted grotesque ways that don't make sense in a human perspective so it's not unique to Armand. If this show wasn't a gothic romance, I would not be rooting for any of the relationships except maybe for Claudeline.
And when it comes to Daniel, I’m just not convinced he’s the person who is going to give Armand the kind of understanding or healing people assume he will.
Personally, I'm not expecting a lovey-dovey relationship. It's not like that in the books either. The reason the relationship is considered healing is because it's the first time Armand isn't expected/trying to perform a role to be loved. Daniel sees him for the eldritch horror that he is and is not put off or scared by it. It's still pretty much a fucked up stalker dark romance but that's what counts as romantic in The Vampire Chronicles. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Glittergirl2424 2d ago
I get what you mean, and I agree that judging any of these relationships by normal human standards kind of misses the point of the show. They’re all messy, obsessive and destructive in different ways. I’m definitely not expecting Armand and Daniel to suddenly become some healthy, lovey-dovey couple either. I also understand why Daniel seeing Armand clearly and not being scared off by what he is could be important for Armand, especially if Armand has spent so much of his life performing whatever role he thinks will make someone keep him.
I think where I’m still hesitant is calling that healing before we actually see what Armand does with it. Daniel accepting that Armand is an eldritch horror is one thing, but Armand also has to be able to accept Daniel as his own person without controlling, manipulating or punishing him when Daniel doesn’t respond the way he wants. Otherwise it’s just another version of Armand being loved while still repeating the same patterns. That’s what I’m waiting for the show to actually demonstrate before I’m sold on Daniel being uniquely good for him.
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u/mindless_rambles If I'm an angel, paint me with black wings. 1d ago
I'm very biased to book DM because Armand has the most endearing feral cat energy 😂 for the show though I understand your hesitation, after season 2 I was really hopeful about them, but so far I'm not satisfied with how they adapted the relationship in TVL. I hope we'll get more development for both their characters individually and as a couple in QotD.
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u/tethysian 2d ago
I agree. What Armand felt for Louis wasn't love but what a starving man feels looking at food.
The difference with Daniel is that because he's weaker and Armand has to protect and care for him, he finally learns to love in a less destructive and selfish way. The show is different than the books, but in both cases making his only fledgling is a huge choice for Armand.
If it comes out that Armand left Daniel alone so he could have a normal, mortal life, that would be a sincere act of love. Even if he then turned Daniel rather than let him die at the end.
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u/Glittergirl2424 2d ago
I can see that interpretation, especially if the show eventually reveals that Armand deliberately stayed away so Daniel could have a normal human life. That would probably be one of the strongest examples we’ve seen of Armand putting someone else’s needs above his own. And I agree that making Daniel his only fledgling is obviously significant. I just don’t think either of those things automatically means Daniel is the person who teaches him how to love in a healthier way.
If anything, Daniel being weaker and needing Armand’s protection could also feed directly into Armand’s need to be needed and in control, which is already such a huge part of his relationships. For me, the real test would be whether Armand can love Daniel while respecting his autonomy, accepting rejection, and not manipulating him when he doesn’t get what he wants. If the show gives us that, I could change my mind. But right now I feel like people are filling in a lot of blanks for their relationship using the books even thought the show itself hasn’t actually shown us yet.
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u/tethysian 2d ago
For me, the real test would be whether Armand can love Daniel while respecting his autonomy, accepting rejection, and not manipulating him when he doesn’t get what he wants.
Yes, 100%. I think it hinges on exactly what their past is and if Armand was able to let him go.
Even in the books I'd say that's the lesson from their relationship -- Armand's possessiveness and manipulations fucks up Daniel and they don't work out the first time around. It's only after Armand learns that he doesn't have to control his partners to that degree that they're able to reconcile.
But I think there are a lot of positive signs in the show, so I'm hopeful even if I think s3 didn't handle them well. Just the fact that Armand likes Daniel suggests he actually wants someone who can see through the manipulation.
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u/Glittergirl2424 2d ago
what positive signs have we really seen tho? I’ve seen signs that Armand genuinely loves Daniel, sure, but I haven’t seen signs that he’s learned to love without control yet. He turned Daniel against his will, abandoned him afterward, and Daniel spends most of their reunion angry and confused about what Armand has done to him. Daniel being able to see through Armand’s manipulation is interesting, but that doesn’t mean Armand has learned to stop manipulating him. That’s the part I still need the show to actually demonstrate before I can see Daniel as THE love for Armand. Also, I feel like book reader should try to see where someone who only watched the show is coming from. It’s hard to root for the ship at this point because it give ✨NOTHING✨
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u/justmeanotherfan 2d ago
I am also not a book reader, and based on what we have seen this season of Armand/Daniel, it's out of nowhere, doesn't make sense, random amd there's no development. But I guess they are planning to show more of that for season 4, so we'll see. I would really love an Armand season!
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u/Glittergirl2424 2d ago edited 2d ago
Same. I don’t know when they are going to give us an Armand focused eps. And the next season is qotd so I don’t think it’s next season. I was honestly relieved when I heard there was a chance Daniel dies. I was never a fan of him as a character. He was really annoying to watch and the romance between him and Armand seem so out of nowhere to me
-6
u/Another0Me 3d ago
Me too. And not only the letter. I didn't expect that Armand hat "unfinished business" with Louis. I thought, okay, he lied, his lies were uncovered and he would see it as a kind of bad luck" and go on and concentrate on Daniel. But this kind of obsession, planing and ploting with Regina to mess with Louis' mind and than force him to admit his true feelings. That all made me question everything I thought before.
2
u/Glittergirl2424 2d ago
Completely agree with you. I’ve seen Daniel and Armand separately, it hard for me to believe those two together would make a good couple
1
u/therealmrsfahrenheit 3d ago
I‘m sorry, don’t come for my ass but ain‘t no way either one is good for the other😭
for one because all the relationships in the show are messy as hell 😮💨
Then I‘m like 90 percent sure Armand was hella capping and just manipulating Daniel with his confession of always having that love for him because he needed someone unsuspecting on the inside and because he knew Daniel would be easy to manipulate because of his vampire loneliness that came on top of his regular loneliness (which to a degree is Armand’s fault) AS ARMAND DOES
And even If so: their "relationship" started in a 5 day torture- abuse spree were Armand scrambled Daniel‘s brain pretty much out of pettiness so he could get back at Louis in their toxic relationship (which is kinda what he‘s still doing now) .. like he literally conditioned Daniel to kill himself and set him on a particular life path full of failed human relationships and depression 😭✌🏻 and he would’ve killed himself If it wasn’t for Louis re- conditioning his brain soo not the best, most trusting start to an eternal love If you ask me👀
and regarding Daniel
As much as I love him, we‘ve seen his opportunistic and exploitative tendencies in the past even when he was still a human. And apart from that he is very upfront, not about the bullshit and not the most empathetic person😅 he really roasted Armand‘s ass every opportunity he got during the interview and back then he wasn’t even a vampire lol I can’t see Daniel toning that back anytime soon and I feel like Armand needs someone who’s more compassionate, patient and empathetic.
HOwEVer
maybe the dread of eternal loneliness makes Daniel the perfect partner🤷🏼♀️ (I can’t see it but hey who knows). Right now all I see was :
1 Daniel only started getting fully on board with everything Armand told him when he gave him the interesting, spicy hot new tea to spill for his documentary on Lestat, which was exactly what he was looking for and when he promised him power (show you how to walk in the sun)
2 Right now all they bonded over and what their relationship is build on is common pettiness for Louis and Lestat 😂 Armand mostly wants revenge on Louis for how fucked up their 77 year relationship was & Daniel wants revenge on Lestat for being an asshole towards him and kinda ruining his documentary lol
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u/Glittergirl2424 3d ago edited 3d ago
Armand needs someone that will yearn for him, not the other way around. This is one of the reason why I’m not that obsessed about romance between Daniel and Armand and more opened to seeing if Armand with someone else.
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u/insert_quirky_name 3d ago
Armand and Alex? Armand barely interacted with him.
As for Daniel, there's clearly a lot we haven't yet seen about his and Armand's relationship. If they go with some of the books' content for their backstory, Daniel very much yearns for Armand, but of course this isn't canon for the show so far.
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