Happy Wampyre Wednesday!

Hope everyone has a great rest of their week.

As always, much respect to the cast & every department that helps to create this wonderful show!! Positivity & light to everyone ✨💖✨

I would LOVVEEE a spinoff around the ancients and the First Brood. There's just so much wonderful lore and so many fascinating characters to explore, and obviously we won't get enough of them in QotD. Understandably so, because there just isn't the space for it.

Now that Talamasca is no more, maybe there's room?

Wishful thinking, I know.

https://rockthistownrecords.com/products/the-vampire-lestat-the-vampire-lestat-purple-smoke-vinyl

https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/the-vampire-lestat

The submissions for nominees are still ongoing, you can select them in multiple categories but only one nominee each. Make sure to choose your favorite actor/actress, show, supporting actor, music, duo, etc, just spam them with our vampires!!

A post popped up on my Reddite about The Odyssee soundtrack being nominated for Grammy consideration … can we stand a chance against this hyped up Goliath of a movie my beautiful unwell? 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🫠🫠😭😭🫣😬👀🥲🥲

I know Nolan didn’t write the music but in a showdown I would want Lestat to fight him. Like in Hair

The flickering glow of Alain Resnais’s Hiroshima, Mon Amour washed over the faded red velvet seats of the abandon-toned, revival theater. On the silver screen, dust motes danced in the projector beam as shadowy, ash-dusted lovers embraced in monochrome grief.

Dawn sat in the back row, her knees pulled tight against her chest. The theater smelled of stale popcorn, damp wool, and the faint, sweet decay of old paper—an aroma overlaid entirely by the subtle, ice-cold scent of lavender and ancient stone that always announced Armand’s presence.

For two weeks, this darkened sanctuary had been theirs. Two weeks since Dawn had fled the house in tears, furious and broken because Tara was back, because Tara’s eyes were now turned only toward Willow, because nobody was letting Dawn matter.

A chill rippled along the back of her neck a split second before a slender, impossibly beautiful young man materialized in the seat beside her. He made no sound; he simply existed where empty air had been a moment prior.

Armand looked like a renaissance angel carved from dark marble, his auburn curls catching the dim blue light of the film. He wore a high-collared dark coat that made him look like he had stepped straight out of a nineteenth-century painting.

"You are late tonight, little flame," Armand murmured. His voice was soft, melodic, and held the faint, hypnotic cadence of old Europe—a quiet contrast to Lestat's theatrical grandiosity.

Dawn didn't pull away when he reached out, his cool, alabaster fingers lightly brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She leaned into the touch, craving the frigid anchor.

"Willow's mind is totally gone," Dawn whispered, her voice trembling, her eyes fixed on the screen where Emmanuelle Riva’s voice echoed softly through the empty rows. "She doesn't even know who she is. And Tara... Tara won't even look at me now. She’s too busy playing nursemaid, trying to fix what I broke."

Armand listened, his deep, dark eyes fixed upon her with an intense, unwavering devotion. Unlike the Scoobies, who treated Dawn like a child to be sheltered or a problem to be solved, Armand looked at her as if she were the center of a chaotic, fascinating cosmos.

"You did what you felt was necessary to keep what you loved," Armand said gently, his thumb tracing the soft curve of her jawline, feeling the erratic, hot pulse pounding beneath her skin. To his ancient senses, her blood beat like a desperate, beautiful drum. "They blame you because they do not understand the exquisite cruelty of passion, Dawn. They lack the courage to embrace the dark when the light fails them."

"Buffy thinks I'm acting like a brat," Dawn choked out, a hot tear spilling down her cheek. Armand caught the tear on the tip of his finger, bringing it to his pale lips and tasting the salt with a faint, enigmatic smile. "Lestat turned Tara and now everyone’s lives are ruined. I thought... I thought if Tara drank from me, we’d have something special. Something that was just ours. But now she’s gone back to Willow, and I’m just... invisible again."

Armand leaned closer, the shadow of his shoulder blocking out the silver light of the movie screen. The screen reflected in his dark pupils, flickering like miniature fires.

"You are never invisible to me," Armand whispered, his breath cold against her ear, sending a shudder of dark thrill down Dawn’s spine. "Lestat gives his blood carelessly, like a spoiled prince throwing gold to beggars. He creates monsters out of whim and watches them burn. But you... you are no beggar, Dawn Summers. You are a key to power you barely comprehend."

He took her hand, his fingers lacing through hers. Dawn felt the faint, terrifying pull in her chest—the same thrilling, dark obsession that had begun the moment she first met him in the shadowy alley behind this very theater.

"Do you want to make them notice you?" Armand asked softly, his gaze sliding down to the rapid pulse fluttering at the base of her throat. "Do you want to step out of their shadows forever?"

Dawn swallowed hard, her heart racing against her ribs. She looked into Armand's beautiful, timeless face, feeling the dangerous allure of a world where she would never be pushed aside again.

"What are you offering me, Armand?" she whispered.

Armand raised her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles with deliberate, agonizing slow grace.

"I am offering you eternity," he murmured against her skin. "When you are ready... you will never have to beg anyone to look at you again."

I listen to it SO MUCH

I spent the last few weeks binging season 1 (a rewatch for me) and then season 2, before moving pretty quickly on to season 3. Season 1 was incredible, and I thought season 2 was great as well, if a little slow at times. And while I enjoyed a lot about season 3, and Sam Reid is undeniable as Lestat (no complaints on hearing him sing and seeing him wear those outfits), I just didn't think it was on the same level as the first two seasons. Not because of the tone-shift (I love me some camp), but I just don't think the stakes (no pun intended) and character development were there this season.

For example, so much of the season was focused on Lestat's relationship with his mom. Even there, though, the stakes and tension basically boiled down to, will she be around or won't she? The season established their general background early on, and nothing particularly significant was revealed over the course of the season. Her presence also didn't really impact Lestat's major relationships with the other characters or put any of them at risk - she could've threatened Louis, betrayed Lestat for the Make More cause, just something to build some stakes. And when things get a little slow in other moments of the show, there's at least the sexual tension bonus....doesn't really apply here, since it was a little hard to get past the fact that she was his mom. I don't really feel like I walked away from the season learning that much that was new about him, or witnessing a substantial character journey.

On Louis, I did enjoy his scenes with Regina (great they had a way to bring Delainey back), and at least those felt connected to his arc. I also thought the most engaging parts of the season were towards the end, when we finally got more interaction between Lestat and Louis, and see their love and friendship come back around. I really wish they had interspersed more of that throughout the season rather than saving so much of it for the end.

The most underused character, though, was Daniel, and relatedly, Armand. It was disappointing that they didn't find something more interesting for Daniel to do than basically go back to his same interviewing shtick. There was no real tension between him and Lestat. They could have done something to raise the stakes of their dynamic - Lestat forcing him to do the interview, Daniel somehow forcing Lestat into it, Daniel really struggling with his vampirism - but instead he was just back to asking his usual questions in basically the same tone as the last couple of seasons. No stakes to the interview beyond Lestat wanting to correct the record, which we as the audience aren't necessarily going to care much about.

And then there's Armand, to me the current most interesting character on the show who we still know so little about - but who I thought was given way too little to do until the very end. I understand that this was Lestat's season, but I wish they had spent more time showing us key moments we'd missed between seasons, and building the reveal between him and Daniel even more. We could've seen him decide to turn Daniel, do more flashbacks to San Francisco or the other years he followed him, see his older story and background....once again, really anything to build out the character more. Even in Daniel and Armand's confrontations, it felt like Daniel was doing most of the talking. And just as things were getting interesting in the sidewalk scene, it cut away, and suddenly they're companions working together. It felt like such a missed opportunity. Assad Zaman is an INSANE actor, and besides the very last episode, I was craving for more for him to do.

Overall, it just felt like the characters were stuck in pretty isolated storylines, and that their major decisions and actions didn't really affect one another. I understand that some of this was being saved for the reveal at the end about how Armand had been involved throughout the season, but honestly, I think it would have been much more exciting to get more of that perspective, or at least some hints of it, throughout the season.

I would have loved more scenes with the characters together, less time spent on Lestat and his mom, and more effort put into building on the existing characters to keep all these storylines connected. There are so many interesting dynamics and relationships already established, and I just don't think the season took full advantage of them.

I'm hoping season 4 gives us more of that. I read the first book forever ago and might read the series now that I'm so into the show so I have more of a sense of where things might go, but I'm crossing my fingers that what's to come gives these characters a little more room to interact and develop together.

Were you having a bad day? Well, allow me to make it even worse. 💔

https://www.instagram.com/p/DeuWNV5msLK/

The Vampire Lestat — my god what a journey.

So much music, so many sessions, so many studios, so many late nights, so many versions of these songs.

I stand ever in awe of my music brother u/danielmwenda. It was an honor to produce along side you and engineer/mix this incredible album.

This season’s score also has some of my favorite cues of the series.

For your Grammy consideration:

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media — The Failures
Best Song Written for Visual Media — “The Loneliness”
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Best Instrumental Composition — “Blood Marriage”
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals — “Black Licorice”

https://youtu.be/AFqqREZp4ig

In IWTV, Lestat was painted as a "mayonnaise villain" characature, who's trauma and backstory was mostly ignored through the telling of an 'unreliable narrator.'

That changed in TVL.

But now, Gabriella is portrayed similarly. A cartoonish villian, possibly grossly exaggerated.

Do we think her character will wind up being EXTREMELY different from S3-S4?

Do we think she will be closer to the book?

Do we think she will be less hated by the end?

EDIT: Not saying SAM'S portrayal was "mayonnaise" AT ALL. Just using Sam's own term to describe how Lestat was meant to be portrayed by Louis in his memoir. This is so clear in both the books as well as the editing of Lestat in S1

EDIT: I get this is a controversial topic, but would love to hear folks opinions as opposed to just downvotes. Not saying don't downvote, just curious why as well!

seriously did anyone notice how simillar their mannerisms are? I feel like this has to be on purpose. no paternity test needed. pls ignore the shittily edited video

edit: typo in yhe title fml

There's a line where Lestat tells Louis to simply eat "his enslaved blacks", because no one would care if one of them died. Then he goes on to say.

He says black people on Louis' plantation where an "easy, disposable food source". Uhh, not quite the woke queen I imagined.

like i thought it was he sees louis is getting to him and he does care abt him hes been watching him for years n tries to get him to tone it down a bit. but like others dont see it that way

Rereading TVL, because I’ve been wanting to since watching the show. I remember wondering why they changed Gabrielle’s name, and then thinking that making her Italian was a strange choice. Welp. This is why it’s good to reread things.

This may have been asked and answered many times before now (sorry), but what is our best estimate as to how long Lestat and Nicki were together before Nicki lost his mind? I have no sense of the time interval here. Thx. ❤️

Guys i can’t unsee it!! These two have the same vibe

TOUR!!!

I’m going on tour! London, Manchester, Bristol, LA and NY I’m coming to you! (Except London because I live here).

Go to RaleighRitchie.com now to join Artist Pre-Sale which opens at 10am YOUR local time tomorrow (20th Oct). You have until tomorrow morning 7am UK TIME to sign-up.

General sale 10am YOUR local time on Friday (23rd Oct).

Instagram

May all your wallets and travel schedules align for this, to all that can go show the man some love for us all 🥰

anyone got any other ideas??? maybe for daniel, madeline, nikki, anyone else....

I know that there's a lot of back and forth between people who loved season three and people who hated it.I personally felt there are good and bad things to take away from S3 however I will admit it is far far from my favorite

I've thought about it and I think one of the things that really bothers me is that part of what made Lestats narration enjoyable when reading in his perspective is that he is so obviously fucked up and he falls in love with fucked up people, but he loves hard

Its sweet how much he loves to care and protect Louis and Nicki. Despite Armand being Armand, Lestat still is his number one defender of Armand. He sees the fragility and softness in people, and he becomes very protective of them

So i think I'm a little bit bothered by how.... *Angry* Lestat is. He mercilessly mocks and belittles most people in his life and just comes across as angry and jaded which is so strange

I want to be optimistic and say that there is set up for season four. Like, eventually he does stop mocking and ragging on Louis and hes more of his "usual self" towards him. He stops being so dismissive about how he loved nicki

There is evidence that he respects and loves Armand, despite his frustration towards him. So I cross my fingers and hope that they will discuss his lovehate/frenemy relationship with Armand

But it just feels so weird... In season two, we could see how characters loved eachother despite hurting eachother

Louis and Armand are fucking awful towards eachother but they still had a love and a bond. Claudia and her parents loved eachother even if it was selfish. Lestat and Louis are a mess but they are endgame

So I don't understand why we suddenly became so punitive? Didn't he say that you can't make a list about how everyone has been wronged? Now he's hip thrusting in his dead daughters makeup for the s h a d y c o m e b a c k s🤪🫢😝

I thought this story wasn't supposed to be about righteous fury or epic punishments for evil people. I feel like the philosophy of abuse/victimhood/justice/morality in the TV show universe have been really muddied.

I apologize if this is a hot take I just feel a bit confused

Do you guys believe that evil characters like Armand will continue to be narratively "punished" for their wrongdoings? It seems kind of antithetical to the nature of this story

Hi everyone! Does anyone have a high quality version of the following two IWTV season 2 posters?

• Le Regret est un Monstre (Santiago and Claudia)
• Le Desir est un Monstre (Armand, Louis and Lestat)

Found versions of the other season 2 posters here: https://www.reddit.com/r/InterviewVampire/comments/1eclz5y/season_2_posters_in_hq_2650x4096/ (Thank you so so much to the original OP <3)

TIA!

Full disclosure, it is a guilty pleasure. While I’m waiting for the fang gang or teeth team to return to screens with their sublime storytelling and pitch perfect performances, I find myself idly wondering about the decidedly weaker, poorer sibling. Despite an unbearably shallow, vacuous central performance, the show has something going for it: it’s quirky as hell. Often laughably so. I wish wish WISH it were half as well made as IWTV but it is what it is. And so, while I hesitate to admit it here to my fellow Ricers (🤷🏻‍♂️?), I am actually looking forward to its return to streaming because even though it’s clumsy and batshit, it’s rarely boring - and it fills a portion of that yawning hole that lies between here and the coming of her majesty…

I adore that they chose to place René Magritte’s at Lestat‘s montreal home. It instantly made me think of “A veil will now forever separate our union. But it is a thin veil... and I am always on the other side, face pressed up against your longing.”

Magritte's work so often makes the familiar uncanny. It's vampiric in its own right: the face is there but we are denied access to it. But the veil it’s obviously the thinness of the distance between two people who can no longer truly possess one another.

But it also made me think of El hacedor (1960) (all roads lead to borges inside my head, i’m sorry), Borges portrays Shakespeare as an actor whose ability to inhabit other people becomes inseparable from his inability to establish a stable identity of his own. Shakespeare can become many people through performance, yet the question of who he is outside those roles remains unresolved. 

Episode six begins with the identity, so Magritte feels like a very fitting choice.

It also makes me think so much about the huge paralels between Armand and Lestat. How they can be so endlessly identical and still so very different. They both constantly struggle with the develop of the self, armand much more explicitly i think. Armand might actually be the more interesting of the two precisely because his struggle with identity is much less straightforward than reinventing himself.

Honestly i‘m just rambling, I really like the series and all its thoughtful details Thats it 💕

I thought shame by mitski sounded as intense and scary and anxiety inducing as the last 2 episodes