Summary
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Interview with the Vampire
takes a daring approach by adapting Louis’ suicide attempt, offering critical insight into his psychological distress and anguish. - Deviating from the book series, the showrunners pull material from later books to create a concise storyline focused on Louis’ psychological turmoil.
- Louis’ depression and suppressed emotions unravel as memories resurface in the series.
With only three episodes left in the second season, AMC’s Interview with the Vampire continues to astonish audiences with its engaging storytelling and complex characters. Adapted from Anne Rice’s renowned novel Interview with the Vampire, the story follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) as he struggles with his vampiric existence and the profound mark of his inner turmoil and depression. Shame and guilt lead Louis to attempt to take his own life in Episode 5, though the deeper cause of his guilt is yet to be revealed. This scene offers critical insight into his character by delving into his psychological anguish.
The television series took a daring approach in its portrayal of Louis’ suicide attempt, deviating from the timeline in the Vampire Chronicles book series. Louis’ psychological distress being at the forefront of the series signified that the showrunners had to pull material from the books later in the series to create a concise story for television and for audiences to grasp. With this in mind, the writers decided to take this pivotal moment from the seventh book, Merrick, and adapt it to occur within the Interview with the Vampire plot.
Memory Is the Monster in Interview with the Vampire
The long-awaited fifth episode of Season 2 of Interview with the Vampire provided insight into the first interview between Daniel (Eric Bogosian) and Louis in San Francisco in 1973. Louis reveals his vampire nature to Daniel and is determined to share his story and have it publicized to attract Lestat’s (Sam Reid) attention, as Armand (Assad Zaman) deduced in the flashback. At this point in the show, Daniel is experiencing flashes of San Francisco, and these eerie images fuel his suspicions of Armand. Louis believes he knows everything about San Francisco and that Daniel is the only one in the dark, but as they walk down memory lane, he discovers the tragic truth.
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As they recount what happened, Louis and Daniel realize that there are gaps in the story. They work together to fill in the gaps, and one altered moment is uncovered that affects Louis’ character. The original tape recording of the first interview revealed that Louis attempted to commit suicide after a fight with Armand resurfaced memories of the events in Paris. These events involved Claudia (Delainey Hayles), and it’s inferred that they resulted in Louis and Claudia parting ways.
The Changes From Book to Screen in Interview with the Vampire
Louis’ psychological anguish is an arc explored throughout the Vampire Chronicles. In Merrick, the seventh book in the series, fans see Louis’ breaking point. Lestat and Louis are reunited in the book series, but Lestat’s in a deep sleep, and Louis believes that there’s nothing left for him. Claudia’s true feelings towards Louis and Lestat are brought to light in this book, and this is the breaking point that steers Louis to end his existence. Louis’ attempt motivates Lestat to awaken, and he is the one who saves his life.
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The show adapts the story a little differently. As the memories of Paris reemerge in San Francisco, it’s hinted that Louis already knows that Claudia despised him as much as she despised Lestat. Armand reminds him that Claudia never loved him like Lestat, or he loved Louis, which causes Louis to spiral and hear Claudia’s voice calling him to join her. He runs out of the apartment, goes to the roof, and steps into the sun. Armand is the one to save him as he pulls Louis back inside and gives him blood to heal him. This crucial point has fans wondering if this is the definitive portrayal of that significant scene in the books. The show has done a masterful job of hinting otherwise.
Interview with the Vampire’s Portrayal of Depression
Louis’ depression is still present and prevalent in modern-day Dubai. As the memories become more apparent, the suppressed emotions within Louis start to unravel. This suppression indicates that he’s still holding on to the guilt and shame he felt in San Francisco. Now that he knows Armand manipulated his memories, the idea that he’s lost the two people he loved so deeply hits him, similar to the book. The progression of the interview and the truth behind Paris is unveiled is hinted at being a catalyst for Louis to attempt to take his life a second time.
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The signs are there, allowing the writers to adapt the exact sequence from the book to the screen. It would be the perfect moment to introduce the real Brat Prince, as Reid has pointed out that the Lestat audiences have seen is based on the perspective of others and a figure haunting Louis this season. Tune in to the last episodes as the truth unfolds and Louis comes face to face with his reality. Interview with the Vampire is streaming on AMC+.
