Interview With the Vampire Season 2 Episode 1 Recap: What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned

As the curtains rise on the second season of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire (read our spoiler-free review of the season here), we’re greeted by the captivating episode titled What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned. Penned by the talented Hannah Moscovitch and brought to life under the meticulous direction of Craig Zisk, this installment seamlessly extends the narrative arc established in the previous season, promising a continuation of the intense and immersive storytelling that has captivated audiences.

Contrary to what one might typically expect, What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned isn’t a fresh start to a new season, but rather a direct continuation from the Season 1 finale, serving as the eighth episode overall. What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned smoothly transitions between Louis’ (Jacob Anderson) nostalgic narration of the past with the exciting events unfolding in present-day Dubai. 

It’s worth noting that Louis’ retelling of his life skips over a portion of his story and picks up roughly four or five years after he and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) disposed of Lestat’s (Sam Reid) body, providing glimpses into their European escapades amidst World War II. However, in the present-day Dubai timeline, the interview with Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) continues without a significant time jump, having only passed a few days. 

So everything is the same, the only difference, perhaps, is that now Armand (Assad Zaman) is no longer hiding and has joined the conversation, bringing his own flair and intrigue to the interview. Daniel knows it, we know it, Armand’s got secrets up his sleeve, so this adds an extra layer of suspense and excitement to the mix.

But anyway, for clarity’s sake and to make this recap easier to follow, we’ll first dive into Louis’ thrilling recounting of the past before jumping into the juicy details of what happens in the present-day interview. So let’s go! 

PSA: If you haven’t caught up on the first episode of the second season of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire titled What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned, you might want to hit pause on this recap and come back once you’re ready. From this point forward there will be a lot of spoilers for the premiere episode. You’ve been warned, so tread carefully.

In the Past: Claudia and Louis’ European Odyssey

As mentioned above, Louis’ recount of the past immerses us in the years he and Claudia spent traversing the old continent in search of more vampires. Their journey through war-torn Europe during World War II proves to be a vivid tapestry of survival, exploration, confrontations, and haunting recollections. 

Despite their deep connection, there is now an undeniable tension between Louis and Claudia, stemming from her lingering resentment toward Louis for not ensuring Lestat’s complete demise by burning his body. This unresolved conflict permeates their sparse conversations, with Claudia’s silence ironically speaking volumes. 

Meanwhile, Lestat’s ghostly presence, vividly brought to life by Louis’s subconscious, serves as a haunting reminder of past betrayals and looming threats. And honestly? The addition of this spectral apparition of Lestat is, in our opinion, an absolute delight!

While we’re aware that this Lestat is simply a figment of Louis’ imagination, a creation of his uneasy subconscious, the depiction is so authentic that we can’t help but wonder: could this be the real Lestat haunting Louis as he regains his strength? It’s a tantalizing possibility, considering the doubts about Lestat’s true demise. But either way, every time this made-up version of Lestat shows up, there’s a palpable tension in the air—a sense that it’s only a matter of time before he reclaims his power and seeks retribution against Louis for his past actions.

But anyway, Louis and Claudia’s path leads them to Romania, where Claudia’s vampire senses immediately tingle at the sight of Russian soldiers decked out in garlic bulbs and crucifixes. Louis, ever the skeptic, takes a more cautious approach. Their arrival in the village brings a warm reception from Emilia (Stephanie Hayes) and her partner, Morgan (Black Ritson) — a British correspondent for the Daily Herald. However, not everything goes as planned.

Claudia is quickly brushed off to join the village children; however, her adventure takes an unexpected turn when she ventures into the woods. There, she encounters a chilling sight—a vampire-like creature (Dirk Rogers) feasting on a soldier. This creature is unresponsive to her attempts to communicate verbally, but when she attempts to communicate telepathically, the encounter quickly turns violent and results in a dislocated shoulder.

Back in the village, Claudia’s return coincides with a tense moment in which Morgan, fueled by alcohol and suspicion, questions Louis’ fabricated backstory. Accusations fly as Morgan challenges Louis about his true identity, suggesting he might be a deserter or even sympathetic to Bolshevik ideologies. Louis, maintaining his composure, deflects the probing questions as best he can, eventually excusing himself with Claudia. 

Despite her injury, Claudia is bursting with excitement over her discovery, animatedly sharing details about the vampire-like creature she found as Louis expertly resets her dislocated shoulder. Louis’ casual disregard for Claudia’s encounter adds tension to their already strained relationship, causing the young vampire to express her frustration by labeling every vampire she’s ever met as “the worst,” highlighting her quest for better company among their kind.

As night falls, their tranquility is shattered by a disturbance outside. Emilia, the local villager who took them in, falls victim to an attack marked by a clear vampire bite on her neck. Claudia, validated in her suspicions, opts to leave the chaotic scene behind and ventures into the woods, followed by Louis, who despite Morgan’s urgent pleas for intervention, dismisses the situation as human affairs unworthy of his attention.

In the woods, Claudia and Louis try to lure the vampire-like creature using a bleeding soldier as bait. Predictably, the creature emerges from hiding, drawn by the scent of blood. However, as Louis gets a closer look, he’s taken aback by its appearance, likening it to a “catfish with fangs” rather than a traditional vampire. This unexpected encounter takes an even more surprising turn when they uncover the creature’s sire, an Old vampire named Daciana (Diana Tofan).

Daciana, who appears to be an older woman with gray hair, initially attacks Louis. However, Claudia’s intervention changes things. To save Louis, she tears out the creature’s eyes, surprising the elder vampire. This act brings out sadness and rage in Daciana, but despite her emotions, she decides to end the creature’s suffering and kills him. As Daciana leaves, feeling sorry for the fledging she lost, Claudia and Louis follow her, curious to know what they can learn from this old vampire.

Back at Daciana’s lair, Claudia and Louis discover that the old woman has been attempting, albeit unsuccessfully, to create more vampires. Louis speculates that the quality of blood available might be the reason for her failures since this has been tainted by the suffering and pain of wartime. Upon learning that besides Daciana, no other vampires remain in Romania, Claudia extends a friendly offer to Daciana, suggesting a fresh start in America. However, Daciana, resigned to her circumstances, chooses a different path and throws herself into the fire.

After the harrowing events in Romania, Claudia is visibly disheartened. Louis tries to cheer her up using a combination of firmness and tenderness. He acknowledges the challenges of their vampire existence with “hard words,” but assures Claudia of their resilience together. Louis vows to remain steadfast by her side, never giving in to the temptation to “taste the fire.” He emphasizes that even if they were the only vampires left, their bond would be enough for him. Claudia finds solace in Louis’ words, feeling a sense of hope and security on their shared journey for the first time since leaving New Orleans.

As Claudia and Louis journey onward, they find themselves in France at the end of World War II, greeted by the twinkling lights of a revitalized Paris. Amidst the charming cobblestone streets, they share a moment of reassurance, their connection proving to be the greatest strength they have. However, lurking beneath this newfound sense of security is the looming presence of a new vampire coven—teased by Armand’s cryptic interjection in present-time Dubai—casting a shadow of uncertainty over their seemingly idyllic discovery.

In the Present: Louis, Armand, and Daniel

In the present-day segment of What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned aka 2022 Dubai, Louis’ narration of the past unfolds amidst the complex dynamics that reign with Armand now being thrown into the mix. Louis wants to remember, Daniel wants the real story, and Armand? Well, who knows what his motives are. But for now, his presence just adds complexity, intrigue, and conflict to the narrative, and we’re here for it.

The banter between Daniel and Armand is exquisite. On the one hand, we have Daniel calling Louis and Armand’s servant Real-Rashid (Bally Gill), now that Rashid has turned out to be Armand in disguise, all while he keeps reminding Armand of the off-the-record nature of his inputs. And then there’s Armand, referring to Daniel as “unworthy in San Francisco, unworthy in Dubai”. These clashes just show how despite the passage of time, their dynamic remains charged, setting the stage for ongoing tension and revelations throughout the season.

But anygays, now that Louis knows that his memory can’t be trusted, the interview takes on a deeper significance, highlighting the intricacies of Louis’ storytelling and the quest for truth amid centuries-old memories. Louis is desperate to get things right, to remember accurately, and that occasionally puts him at odds with Armand, who doesn’t seem to want his partner to remember certain details from the past. 

Side note, it seems that Louis is attracted to sketchy, toxic vampires, first Lestat, now Armand, but we digress. This obsession that Louis develops with wanting to know exactly what happened raises questions on what other things we may discover as the episodes roll on. 

Armand, sensing Louis’ newfound focus on precision in remembering, decides to take a more active role in the interview and, despite his previous reluctance, goes on record—especially after Louis rejects the idea of sending Daniel home after Armand points out that Louis has lost control of the interview. 

This united front that these two vampires present to Daniel the next day completely shifts the dynamic. And despite Daniel’s adept handling of the situation, Armand’s presence looms large, hinting at hidden agendas and unresolved narratives from the past. Especially from that first interview in 1973 and the pages that we now know Armand himself removed from Claudia’s diaries.

What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned has raised numerous questions about the future. What are Armand’s true motives, and how will Louis navigate his newfound obsession with accuracy? Will he be able to piece together his memory? What’s there to unearth? Join us next week for a recap of the second episode of the new season, titled Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death.

Watch this space after the episode premieres Sunday on the East Coast. Until then, keep your senses keen and your fangs at the ready!

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The first episode of the second season of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire “What Can the Damned Really Say to the Damned” is available to stream exclusively on AMC+. Interview With the Vampire airs every Sunday on AMC. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of AMC. Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC