S02.E06: Like the Light By Which God Made the World Before He Made Light

[AngieBee1]

Official description: Claudia asks Louis for a life-changing favor.

[magdalene]

The way this is playing out is so much worse than both the book and in the old movie.

It's so much worse because Claudia and Madeline are beautiful together.

Even vile Armand cannot possibly have enough power to hide this kind of betrayal from Louis forever. Though he certainly has tried.

Lestat!. I missed him so.

I wonder whether Lestat is at this farce out of his own free will, in the book 

Spoiler

Armand forced him through starvation and torture.

 

Edited June 16 by magdalene

[Mari]

I'm glad things are starting to move.  

Armand and Louis billing and cooing could only be interesting for so long.  Watching them set themselves and everything else (figuratively) on fire should definitely be fascinating.  I particularly enjoyed the redecorating fight that was clearly just a proxy fight for their other issues.  

Probably in the minority, but I'm ready for Claudia to go.  The actress(es) have done a brilliant job, but I don't think I'm seeing the same character the production team.  Claudia is very clearly incredibly intelligent, but she doesn't come across to me as an adult stuck in a child's body, she seems like someone who is stuck permanently with the body and with the emotional processing (and brain) of a teenager but smart enough to know she's missing something--and I don't mean that she'll never grow full breasts or be okay independently.  As part of that, she and Madeline were sweet in their little bits, but I can't help wondering how long it would be before she's done with Madeline, too.  After Claudia's achieved something, it seems as though it is not long before she's done with it.

The after interview mentions that Armand has kept Louis and Daniel in their own boxes through the years.  Does that mean Armand has been more involved with Daniel than Daniel and Louis even realize?

[babyrambo]

I usually like the present day cut-ins but I could do without the Talamasca stuff. Maybe it’s how they’re presenting it, but right now it’s extremely boring to me.

But Claudia and Madeleine were interesting, even if their relationship progression felt rushed and slight. They both made somewhat grand declarations of wanting and promises of eternal companionship but given the brevity of their prior conversations, I didn’t entirely buy it. Also, the writer’s using another sexual assault as a shortcut to cement their connection instead of really exploring their relationship outside a handful of backstory, felt a little lazy and handwavey to me. Madeline’s line about finding another ‘dangerous love’ to survive was revealing; she seems genuinely fond of Claudia but it’s clear their partnership isn’t all that’s driving her want for vampirism either. Would’ve liked to know more about that.  

I know they need to get the characters in place for the big picture but the writing has been so thorough with the other relationship dynamics that the lack in this one really stood out to me. It was nice to see Claudia happy though. Sad that it was so short lived.

The second Armand stood up, I knew their joy was over, but I didn’t expect things to proceed so quickly afterwards. Or for Lestat to be there. He only said a few words but it’s obvious Dreamstat pales in comparison. Or maybe I’m biased because I found entire motive ham-fisted and dull. Either way, I’ve missed his extra dramatic flair and can’t wait to see how Louis and Claudia react to seeing him. Or how Louis ends up surviving. I’m guessing Lestat will make a case to spare his life but maybe that’s too romantic for where their relationship is now. 

[nodorothyparker]

Ye gods, what a lot of tedium to sit through to get to the inevitable Lestat reveal at the end. 

If the show wanted us to buy all the melodrama over who was going to turn Madeline because Claudia's just too small, maybe they shouldn't have cast not one two actresses in the role who were basically adult sized young women. Keeping that bit of explanation for why Louis has to do it and thus giving him another thing to endlessly wring his hands over is just ridiculous when we can all see her right there.

[Snow Apple]

I didn't want the first season to end but I'm looking forward for this season to end. I'm still interested enough to watch and this season had good moments but I miss Lestat, New Orleans, and Louis' family.

Despite the ending of this episode, they changed so much from the books (including Claudia and Madeline's relationship and Armand and Daniel's relationship) that I'm beginning to be afraid they'll change Claudia and Madeline's fate somehow. I hope I'm wrong.

I think it was a mistake to cast an adult, even a young looking one, as Claudia. The tragedy was she was stuck in a five year old body (or 10 in the movie). I like both the actresses on this show but I never felt sorry for her since she can pass for 18. 

[peridot]

I really hope Louis doesn't fall for that "you asked me to" bs from Armand.  Wasn't expecting for Rashid to be a mole!  When the Talamasca guy said that Daniel should be worried about Louis instead of Armand, that got me curious.  Who is the biggest monster of the two?

Why on Earth did Madeleine and Claudia return to Paris!?!  That's giving the finger to the Paris coven.  Armand is truly a coward.  I wonder if Louis stayed with him because he's relieved not to be "burdened" by Claudia.

Wasn't expecting to see Lestat in the flesh!

[Snow Apple]

7 hours ago, peridot said:

When the Talamasca guy said that Daniel should be worried about Louis instead of Armand, that got me curious.  Who is the biggest monster of the two?

Didn't he say Daniel should be worried about "the other one"? I don't remember the wording. I thought he was warning him about Louis too which puzzled me, but then wondered if he was talking about Lestat. Or even Claudia?

One thing for sure, we can't rely on the books.

[Mr. Sparkle]

8 hours ago, nodorothyparker said:

Ye gods, what a lot of tedium to sit through to get to the inevitable Lestat reveal at the end. 

After last week's episode, which was my favorite of the season and maybe the show, this was a slog. Hopefully the finale they're setting up for will be worth it. 

8 hours ago, nodorothyparker said:

If the show wanted us to buy all the melodrama over who was going to turn Madeline because Claudia's just too small, maybe they shouldn't have cast not one two actresses in the role who were basically adult sized young women.

7 hours ago, Snow Apple said:

I think it was a mistake to cast an adult, even a young looking one, as Claudia. The tragedy was she was stuck in a five year old body (or 10 in the movie). I like both the actresses on this show but I never felt sorry for her since she can pass for 18. 

Agree. I'm a huge fan of this show, but the fact is Claudia looks like a young woman, not a pre-pubescent girl, and it makes a lot of the plot ring untrue. 

Edited June 17 by Mr. Sparkle

[tennisgurl]

I knew that something would go wrong when Claudia and Louis were on their double date, but I didn't expect this to happen so soon. Its pretty wild that Louis forgave Armand and has been in a relationship with him for decades after this, even with Armand messing with his memories.

The inevitable tragedy of Claudia and Madeline has been rushed but its still quite meaningful in how badly we know this has to go. Giving Claudia this love interest really does highlight how much she looks like a young woman and not a child and it does take me out of the story here. The whole tragedy of Claudia is that she's an adult woman who's always going to be treated as a child, but that's lost when she's clearly a grown woman, even when the actresses are doing an admirable job at playing younger. 

Lestat returns! Just in time for even more drama! I am really interested in seeing how having him back in the story as Armand and Louis are talking about him together, will they remember things differently? Will Armand try to rewrite more things to make sure Lestat looks as bad as possible?

[Chaos Theory]

Claudia and Madeleine felt really rushed but gosh darn it I am shipping the hell out of them and am really pissed at Armand more then ever now.   He couldn't just let them run.   I think making Claudia a teenager is a different feel that people are noticing now that Claudia is in a real relationship.   

I am still mostly enjoying the current history stuff between Malloy/Louis/Armand.   Malloy being really pissy in the beginning was funny.   I am curious as to where this is going.   

Edited June 18 by Chaos Theory

[ruby24]

I wish Bailey Bass had been able to stick around as Claudia because she at least looked a little younger. I still think it probably wouldn't have been believable, but Delainey Hayles looks much older than she did.

And you know, if they wanted Claudia to be 14, they could have cast an actual teenage actress, like 14-16. People this age look really young these days, younger than their actual age, most of them. It would have worked better. They didn't have to go with a 19 year old.

[Starchild]

19-yr old Bella Ramsey played 14 pretty effectively in The Last of Us.

But yeah, if only they could have found a child actress of Jodie Foster's talent.

[AngieBee1]

The SAG-AFTRA Young Performers handbook have restrictions on how long a minor actor could work.  IWTV had an overnight filming schedule (at least it was in season one) so a performer under 18 could only work until 10:30pm on a school night, 12:30am on non-school nights.

[silverstream]

Armand brought up the real question of the episode: How does Madeleine eat an apple?

[magdalene]

I am pretty pissed that Louis stays with the lying liar who lies after what sweet boo bear Armand does to Claudia. And what has poor Madeleine done to deserve this?

So, real Lestat is back but Sam Reid said not willingly.  So more mind control by Armand. I am so sick of Armand.

[Cosmocrush]

I had to laugh at Claudia reading How to Win Friends and Influence People while hanging out with Madeline.   She was really trying to get along with the coven!

[Cirien]

On 6/18/2024 at 9:40 PM, silverstream said:

Armand brought up the real question of the episode: How does Madeleine eat an apple?

LOL a lot of people brought up the way that Madeline was eating the apple but over on the Interview with the Vampire subreddit they pointed out it's a very old fashioned way of eating an apple especially if you had bad teeth. Given that this is post war its not inconceivable that Madeline (and others) had jaw and teeth problems from malnutrition due to rationing 

[Ohiopirate02]

26 minutes ago, Cirien said:

LOL a lot of people brought up the way that Madeline was eating the apple but over on the Interview with the Vampire subreddit they pointed out it's a very old fashioned way of eating an apple especially if you had bad teeth. Given that this is post war its not inconceivable that Madeline (and others) had jaw and teeth problems from malnutrition due to rationing 

Also, Madeline may have started to eat her apples like that during the war when food was scarce for ordinary Parisians--take your time and savor it because that apple may be the only thing you eat today.  

[silverstream]

3 hours ago, Cirien said:

LOL a lot of people brought up the way that Madeline was eating the apple but over on the Interview with the Vampire subreddit they pointed out it's a very old fashioned way of eating an apple especially if you had bad teeth. Given that this is post war its not inconceivable that Madeline (and others) had jaw and teeth problems from malnutrition due to rationing 

 

2 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Also, Madeline may have started to eat her apples like that during the war when food was scarce for ordinary Parisians--take your time and savor it because that apple may be the only thing you eat today.  

Yeah, I've read that too since. Still seems to me like it would make more sense to cut it into small pieces (also easier to save some for later that way)... I think the next time I'm going to eat an apple I'm going to try doing it with a spoon, who knows, it might be nice.

[Cirien]

19 hours ago, silverstream said:

 

Yeah, I've read that too since. Still seems to me like it would make more sense to cut it into small pieces (also easier to save some for later that way)... I think the next time I'm going to eat an apple I'm going to try doing it with a spoon, who knows, it might be nice.

I've read it was the way you fed apples to babies before the advent of canned apple sauce bottles 

[Harvey]

Spoiler

No one made a thread for episode 7 so I have to say it here but wow? Best episode of the season. I really loved hearing Lestat's side of the story, specially about their much discussed big fight. Loui is really evil.

 

[astrohip]

17 hours ago, Harvey said:

Spoiler

No one made a thread for episode 7 so I have to say it here but wow? Best episode of the season. I really loved hearing Lestat's side of the story, specially about their much discussed big fight. Loui is really evil.

 

So either start a thread, or wait. Not one single word about a future episode should be entered in an older thread. Not even "it was great".