Blood and politics make up the third offering of the remake, with Louis coming to terms with his vampirism, and unexpected forces propell him to a breaking point.
In Episode three, “Is My Very Nature That of the Devil” we begin to see the consequences of Louis’s transformation, not only on his mind and body, but the damage it’s done to his most basic foundations; his place in society as a secondary citizen, brother, and man.
Once again AMC delves deeper into the character of Louis than the books ever do – not only is Louis an exceptional vampire, he’s an exceptional brother, son, and business man in 1910, attempting to transcend devestating racial stereotypes and, until his demise, succeeding.
It’s only after his transformation that he begins to lose his grip on his sense of self. His basic beliefs about himself and his place in life are rocked by the introduction of Lestat. As his business and family life crumble, he’s left with the realization that these things may never have defined him. So what is left?
Well, everything, if Lestat is to be believed. His constant annoyance and impatience with Louis’ inability to make the most of his new gifts highlight Louis as a failure in this somewhat darker and graver episode. Failure to feed on human blood. Failure to take control of his destiny. Failure to hold together his own family. As the episode progresses, we see Louis approaching a breaking point. But it isn’t until Alderman Fenwick makes an offhand racist comment that we see Louis snap, savagely ripping him apart and hanging his corpse on the gates of the City Council building for all to see.
AMC’s decision to use racism as the trigger for Louis’ ultimate breakdown is astoundingly clever; as in most vampire stories it’s society’s fear and hatred that presents its own crisis point for the vampire. As Lestat urges Louis to be ‘more’, it is only when he is reminded that society views him as ‘less’, that he finally loses it. ‘Who are you’ Fenwick asks in his dying moments. Louis replies ‘I’m a vampire.’
Louis’s murderous meltdown brings down racial war upon New Orleans; houses and business are burned in an attempt to destroy black prosperity restore class segregation. As the city burns we see Louis standing alone in the ashes of his life and deepest principles. And it’s at this moment that AMC chooses to introduce his next crucible. Combing through the flames he discovers a discarded orphan left to die in the fire – a burned child that will take Louis into the next chapter of his dark odyssey, a chapter even more violent and horrifying than the last. The infamous Claudia has entered the chat.
Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire airs every Sunday through November 13 at 10 PM EST on AMC. Episodes are available one week in advance for subscribers of AMC+.
Photo via AMC
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