‘Interview with the Vampire’ 2×02 review: “Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death”

The allure of Paris has become intoxicating for Louis and Claudia on AMC’s Interview with the Vampire. It was captivating for us to watch at home, as well. “Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” is Interview with the Vampire at the top of its game. Glitz, glamor, and romance mixed with camp, horror, and death; it’s everything you need from this beloved tortured vampire story. More of the wild chemistry between Louis and Lestat, would’ve skyrocketed the episode even further. Still, “Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” is perfection on its own.

A night at the theater

Fans of the movie and the Anne Rice book series have long been anticipating the tales of Paris and the Théâtre des Vampires. The subtle hints in the TV series foreshadowed a time filled with death and debauchery. Now with its introduction, it’s great to see these artistic vampires didn’t disappoint – they lived up to those expectations. The troupe was wild and eccentric, while still creating an air of danger wherever they appeared on screen. You know these vampires aren’t trustworthy, regardless of how much they “welcome” Louis and Claudia into the fold. And Ben Daniels’ debut as the elaborate yet cunning Santiago perfectly channeled the calm before the storm of this iconic villain.

The performance in the Théâtre des Vampires looked so visually eerie and fun. The use of the projection screen for background animations added a touch of whimsy to the show’s dark comedy. Santiago’s exaggerated role as the host added lots of humor and darkness to the macabre of their tales. It was easy to understand why the Théâtre des Vampires developed a loyal audience and became an attraction for visitors. Who wouldn’t want to tell stories of the weird vampire theater they saw in Paris? In that era, the show would be such a marvelous feat to witness. And the darkness of witnessing someone “die” on stage would be just enough terror to excite and disgust its patrons.

What also makes “Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” tantalizing is the undercurrent of tension throughout. There is a noticeable shift from the reveal of Lestat’s painting, both from the flashbacks and during the present-day interview. Even through Daniel’s teasing, the absurd coincidence couldn’t take away from the danger level. These vampires love Lestat, and if they find out his fate at Louis and Claudia’s hands, they would be thrown into a frenzy. No amount of Armand’s protection would help them from the troupe’s desire for retribution. The Théâtre des Vampires own the streets of Paris; they had control over Claudia and Louis from the second they stepped inside.

Finding hope in Paris

Speaking of Claudia and Louis, Interview with the Vampire Season 2 continued their story arcs of growth and separation. On one side, we had Claudia continuing to search for her adult identity and a community. “Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” furthers that narrative by showing her a future of what she had been craving. For example, Paris introduces her to more adult clothing and feeding with a group of vampires. Her sheer pleasure during the performance and after the party bloodbath is the happiest she has been in a very long time. Claudia felt complete in these moments. It’s a shame that her joy will eventually come crashing down on her; that the people she thought were her possible family will soon turn on her.

On the other side, we had Louis encountering a new world of romantic possibilities. His introduction to Armand was mysterious; there wasn’t anything overt that pulled them together, but it was in the subtle looks. Their moments together had electricity – it’s not the same with Lestat, but it was captivating nonetheless. A subdued romantic love between them instead of a passionate and toxic wildfire. And if Claudia’s mindreading is accurate, they’ve got a lot of passion between them. Since we know Armand and Louis are together in the present, we can trust that Armand will be there for him in the past. Well, for the most part. There’s no doubt trouble is coming their way once the Lestat truth comes out.

Daniel becomes the prey

When it came to the present, Louis’ frustrated turn on Daniel was an interesting change in their friendship. There had always been a calm understanding between them, but this was the first time where Louis really put Daniel in his place. He “bared his fangs,” as it were. Louis could easily destroy Daniel and he could do so simply with the truth of the past – Daniel’s past. “Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” gave us a new dynamic change. Here, Louis could be the aggressor and Armand could be the one showing Daniel the patience. Interview with the Vampire keeps us on our toes.

“Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” is the true start of the next chapter of Interview with the Vampire. Sure, the adventures in Eastern Europe continued Louis’ and Claudia’s stories. However, it was a bridge between both major arcs. The emergence of the Paris vampires kicks off an electric run for this next batch of stories in Louis’ retelling.

Interview with the Vampire airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

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Images courtesy of Larry Horricks/AMC