Interview With the Vampire Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: ‘Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light’

After the intense revelations in the last episode of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire, Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape, we couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold in Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light now that Louis (Jacob Anderson) knows Armand (Assad Zaman) has been hiding things from him. 

We’re not gonna lie, the fact that Armand altered Louis’ memory so he wouldn’t remember what really happened in 1873 added layers of intrigue and tension to their already tense relationship. And Episode 6, Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light, did not disappoint. It took us on a thrilling, tension-filled journey between past and present, continuing the story in Paris with Santiago (Ben Daniels) fully aware of what Claudia (Delainey Hayles) and Louis did to Lestat (Sam Reid), and the present-day drama now that Louis and Daniel (Eric Bogosian) know Armand’s been lying to them.

Honestly, a lot happens in this episode, and while we usually like to split our recaps into past and present sections, Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light, just like Episode 5, needs to be told chronologically. The storylines are so intertwined that separating them wouldn’t do the episode justice. We’ll probably keep this approach for the last two episodes as well because they’re just as complex.

Before we dive in, don’t forget to check out our recap of Episode 5 Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape if you missed it, and our spoiler-free review of Season 2.

But anygays, enough with the rambling! We’re here to dive into Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light, so let’s get started!

PSA: If you haven’t caught up on the sixth episode of the second season of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire titled Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light, 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 episode. You’ve been warned, so tread carefully.

In the Past and Present: Drama, Betrayals, and Surprises

The episode kicks off with Daniel and Rashid (Bally Gill) having dinner at a restaurant. Daniel, ever the curious journalist, questions Rashid about how he got the tapes since there was no postage on the package. He speculates that only a mailman could have had the key to open all the mailboxes, hinting that someone got to his mailman. 

Rashid remains silent and excuses himself to the bathroom. Daniel jokes about making a run for it, but Rashid doesn’t seem to care and leaves. As soon as Rashid is gone, Raglan James (Justin Kirk) shows up. He clearly knows Rashid, leading Daniel to quickly conclude that Rashid is part of the Talamasca organization too. 

Meanwhile, back at Louis and Armand’s place, the couple is contemplating a change in decoration, but the tension between them is palpable. They haven’t been seeing eye to eye on anything lately, which we’ve seen building up in past episodes.

Back at the restaurant, Daniel grills Raglan about the size and funding of Talamasca, even wondering if they work with nation-states. Raglan brushes off these questions, instead focusing on why Daniel called him there. Daniel mentions that Talamasca had pictures of him from 1973, but Raglan clarifies that they were actually interested in Louis and Armand; Daniel was just collateral. 

When Daniel asks Raglan if he can protect him, Raglan admits that Talamasca is not great at keeping their assets alive. Daniel, who’s clearly afraid, says that while he wants his book, he also wants to live to tell the tale. When Raglan notices Daniel’s fear of Armand, he warns him that he should fear Louis more than the ancient vampire.

Back in the apartment, Louis suggests using the photographs from Fred Stein they have in his albums as decoration, but questions if having such a tangible reminder of Paris on their walls is a good idea. It’s clear Louis is testing Armand. Armand counters that an interview of Paris is a more tangible reminder than a few photographs. Louis then proposes leaving the walls bare, waiting for inspiration to strike.

At the restaurant, Raglan tells Daniel that Talamasca can help him get a publisher since his current one would likely bury his manuscript. He confesses that the truth about vampires will soon come out, and it’s better if it’s through Daniel’s book rather than a bungling government revelation. Daniel asks what the catch is, and Raglan reveals that Talamasca has a list of questions they want Daniel to weave into his interview. 

When Rashid returns, Daniel addresses him as Agent Rashid, acknowledging Rashid’s true identity. Rashid tells Daniel that it’s time to go, and Raglan reminds Rashid that Daniel wants to stay alive. Rashid coldly replies that if Daniel wanted to stay safe, he should have thrown away the tapes when he found them.

Back at Louis and Armand’s place, the interview continues. Armand picks up his story, explaining that the Paris coven was rehearsing a new play—a flaccid, full-length piece based on the superficial musings of the vampire Sam (Christopher Geary), reflecting on vampiric existence and endurance. Daniel has the script in hand. Louis interjects, finding Armand’s narration strange. 

He recalls Armand racing home from rehearsals, excited about how ambitious the play’s concept was. Armand explains that he was merely following Louis’ advice to leave work at work. Louis suggests that Armand might be recalling events with bias due to the surrounding machinations. Armand reminds Louis of his own advice: “Lead with a velvet glove instead of an iron gauntlet.” Louis clarifies that he meant Armand should indulge Santiago, feeding his ego to calm the mutiny with praise.

In a flashback, we see Santiago performing a monologue on stage while the rest of the coven secretly reads Claudia’s diary behind Armand and Claudia’s backs. In the present, Armand admits he thought he was handling the coven well but later realized that they had a secret plan. The play had no roles for women, allowing some members of the coven to roam freely at night. 

In another flashback, Celeste (Suzanne Andrade) and Estelle (Esme Appleton) talk to Pierre Roget (Ed Birch), who comments on the theater being out of season. The lady vamps inform him that the theater is updating its repertoire, and later ask him about Lestat, noting that his fortune has sustained their sacred art for 150 years, and they wish to invite him to the premiere. Pierre says communication with Lestat is impossible as it only occurs one way. 

Telepathically, Santiago instructs them to ask Pierre when they last communicated with Lestat. Celeste and Estelle use their powers to force Pierre to reveal that Lestat’s last communication with them was a telegram from New Orleans in early February 1940.

Back in the present, Armand acknowledges his naivety, admitting that the real buffoon was himself all along, and not Santiago. Daniel isn’t buying Armand’s excuses and points out that as an ancient vampire, Armand could read anyone’s mind. Armand counters that he was in love, and Daniel asks Louis if he believes that. Louis thinks Armand got lazy from being in power for too long but reluctantly agrees that it was also probably love. 

Louis’ attitude raises Armand’s suspicions, prompting him to ask Rashid if Daniel spoke to anyone during dinner. Rashid claims they only spoke to the chef while ordering. Armand asks if Rashid was with Daniel the whole time. Rashid lies, saying Daniel was in the restroom for about five minutes. Armand gets angry, insisting Rashid wasn’t supposed to leave Daniel alone. Daniel quips that Rashid stood by the hand dryer like a creep. Louis intervenes, asking Armand why he’s questioning Rashid.

To distract Armand, Daniel reads Claudia’s last diary entry, where she talks about finding a friend she can trust and dismisses the vampires she’s been with. Louis reveals that this friend was Madeleine (Roxane Duran), Claudia’s immortal beloved—or soon-to-be immortal beloved. Daniel notes to himself that everything related to Claudia from this point on lacks written corroboration. In the ensuing silence, Armand grows suspicious of Daniel, while Daniel toys with him.

The scene shifts back to Paris. Madeleine is ironing clothes at her boutique when the usual vandals—who paint her windows with Nazi symbols—show up and start harassing her. Tired of it all, Madeleine throws her iron at the window, breaking it. The vandals seize the opportunity to break in and attack her. Two men drag Madeleine to the back of the shop while the woman laughs at the counter. A businessman across the street watches but does nothing. 

As Madeleine’s screams intensify, Claudia arrives to save her. She kills the neighbor first, then the woman, and finally, the two men who were seconds away from assaulting Madeleine. A very shaken Madeleine watches it all and slowly approaches Claudia, who is feeding off one of the attackers. Madeleine seems shaken by the discovery of Claudia’s true nature. 

Claudia asks if she’s going to run, and then tells Madeleine not to since they already made a lot of noise and they’re in the middle of Paris. She promises to clean up quickly to avoid trouble for Madeleine. Madeleine, not knowing what else to do, sits on the floor. Claudia approaches her carefully, assuring her that she’ll clean up and then they can talk.

Back at the theater, Louis arrives carrying a painting. He goes to Armand’s office to show it to him. It’s a painting by Wols, and Louis tells Armand that he’ll be able to sell it for five times its price in a year, maybe even thirty times if the artist keeps drinking and dies. Armand asks him what he plans to do then, and Louis says he’ll reinvest in more paintings—Wols, Mathieu, Soulages—maybe even in real estate or dividend stocks with compound interest. Louis adds, maybe a plane. 

Armand asks who will fly the plane, and Louis says he will. Armand laughs at Louis’ ambition to be the first vampire capitalist and the first vampire pilot. Not caring about Armand’s opinion, Louis commands his partner to take his clothes off. Armand, who is working and reading Sam’s new pages, hesitates. Louis orders Armand to obey, suggesting he can read the pages to him while they have sex. Armand complies.

Meanwhile, back with Madeleine and Claudia, Madeleine finishes reading all of Claudia’s diaries and asks what it’s like to drink blood—if it’s like drinking life itself. Claudia says it’s warm and thick, not the answer to life’s mysteries, just food that she needs. Madeleine asks if Claudia can feel her blood, and Claudia admits she can feel it going through her veins. Madeleine offers Claudia a sip by opening her sleeve, but Claudia refuses. When Madeleine asks why, Louis enters, saying it’s because once Claudia starts, Madeleine won’t be able to stop her.

It turns out that Madeleine and Claudia are at Louis and Claudia’s place. Louis isn’t happy about Madeleine reading one of Claudia’s diaries inside his own coffin. Claudia tries to calm him down, but Louis expresses his frustration, asking Claudia for just a couple of months without her causing trouble. 

Claudia ignores him and introduces Madeleine, explaining that she’s the dressmaker who sold her the purple dress, that she’s funny and blunt, and that although it’s a long story, Claudia killed in front of her. Claudia explains that Madeleine sat in a corner while she cleaned up, didn’t cry, didn’t fluster and that since then, they’ve been talking. Louis asks if the relationship is romantic, and both Claudia and Madeleine say not yet. 

Claudia tells Louis that he was Lestat’s and now he’s Armand’s, that she’s been a third all her life, so she now gets to pick something for herself—and that is Madeleine. Louis asks if Claudia wants a companion, and when she hesitates, Madeleine answers for her, saying that Claudia does. Claudia reminds Louis that her previous attempts to find a companion failed, and the boys all died.

Louis admits he’s never turned a vampire and isn’t sure he can. Claudia says she wants Armand to do it because Louis’ blood is Lestat’s. Louis then asks Armand to turn her. Armand is unhappy about the request, but Louis argues that no one at the coven will miss Claudia when she’s gone and that they would be much happier without her. 

Armand reluctantly agrees to speak with Madeleine, calling Claudia a manipulator, which is ironic given his own mastery of manipulation, but we digress. Armand asks both Claudia and Louis to close their minds as he goes to speak with Madeleine. Claudia laughs at Louis’ words about being happier without her, and Louis explains he only said it to get Armand through the door. Claudia asks if he meant it, but Louis evasively says it doesn’t matter since he got the result they wanted.

Armand’s conversation with Madeleine isn’t going well, but Louis is optimistic that Armand will say yes. Claudia points out that Louis has gotten stronger and harder, sensing his determination. Armand questions Madeleine about living for eternity and what she will do when Claudia throws herself into the fire, as Armand believes she will. Madeleine argues that maybe she is what Claudia needs to survive.

Back in the present, Louis shares with Daniel that Armand said no, but Armand interjects, clarifying that he said he wouldn’t do it because he had never made a vampire before. Daniel is surprised, noting that Armand led the Parisian coven for two centuries. Armand says the idea of turning someone repulsed him and still does. Louis comments that at least they can agree it was a disingenuous act. Armand and Louis argue, unable to agree on the matter. To get the interview back on track, Daniel reminds them of Claudia’s last words in her diary: “fuck these vampires.”

In the past, the coven is rehearsing the play. Santiago and Armand are particularly nasty to each other. Armand is in a bad mood, and Santiago mocks him, hinting at possible disagreements with his companion, Louis. Armand, irritated, tells Claudia, who is cleaning one of the stage lights, to go find something else to clean. He then starts reprimanding Santiago, attempting to assert control over him again. Santiago resists, complaining about the new play’s lack of events. He argues they do horror shows to eat people in plain sight and, flying off the stage, yells at Sam that he’s fangless. However, telepathically, Santiago tells Sam that he loves his work and apologizes. It’s all an act.

In the present, Louis explains that the Berlin Blockade ended in May and the Geneva Convention was agreed upon in August, dominating the front pages. However, in the filler sections of the newspapers, there were strange, unsolved crimes happening in Paris.

Back in the past, Louis and Armand argue about Madeleine’s possible transformation. Louis wants to persuade Armand, but the vampire remains resolute. Armand realizes that Louis is going to transform Madeleine himself and asks when. Louis replies that it will happen that same night. Armand says it’s forbidden and reminds Louis that Claudia doesn’t want Madeleine to have Lestat’s blood. 

Louis asserts that Claudia doesn’t have an option. Armand warns that the transformation could fail, turning Madeleine into a drooling revenant like the ones Louis and Claudia saw during the war. Despite this, Louis trusts Armand enough to invite him to witness the transformation. Armand asks if Louis is asking or making him. Louis understands that Armand can’t participate, so he only asks him to ensure they aren’t disturbed.

Everything is ready for Madeleine’s transformation. Claudia tells her that if she gets scared, all she has to do is see the light and listen to her voice. Madeleine comforts Claudia, reassuring her about Lestat’s blood, saying it’s the same blood that made Claudia, so it’s all good. Louis bites Madeleine.

In the present, Louis tells Daniel that Madeleine welcomed his fangs, like a lamb smiling up at the wolf with unsettling passivity. In the past, Madeleine’s eyes are fixed on the lamp as she whispers in French that the room is spinning. Claudia guides her softly down the dark path. Madeleine, in whispers, encourages Claudia to bite her, and so both Louis and Claudia feed on her. 

Present-day Louis narrates that Claudia drank with reverence, while he drank with obligation. Disjointed fragments of Madeleine’s life filled his head—memories of good and bad stuff she endured all her life. But among them all, he saw Claudia, in an impossible afternoon light she could never survive in. But that was Claudia as Madeleine perceived her: resplendent, rendered even more beautiful by her beholder. Louis knew then with certainty that Madeleine would be a better companion to Claudia than he ever had been. So, he cut his wrist and fed her with the gift.

In the past, when Armand arrives at the apartment, he finds it bloody, and both Claudia and Madeleine are gone. Louis informs him that he asked them to leave town and knows they are away because he can feel Madeleine, his fledgling. Louis himself is bleeding. Armand asks what happened, and Louis explains that he reopened his wrist and gagged himself trying to throw the blood back up. 

He shares with Armand that he expected to feel like he was losing Claudia, but he didn’t care and finished the job. Claudia grabbed his hand and said something about being even, but he didn’t care. He admits that Armand was right about transforming someone. Armand tells Louis to give her time, as she’s difficult but worth having. He reassures Louis that he and Claudia will find their way back to each other. Louis then asks Armand what he has in the suitcase he brought. Armand responds that it contains some clothes, books, and a cutting from a magnolia tree he’s been growing.

Armand then confesses that he could have fought and might have been killed, but they could have haunted the three of them down (Louis, Claudia, and Madeleine), caught them, and burned them. He’s unsure if leaving will satisfy, that there might be hostilities or the first bloodless vampire coup. Louis surprised then asks if Armand broke with the coven, to which Armand replies, “they gave me a choice, I chose.”

In the present, this topic still seems to be an issue between them. Louis recounts to Armand that that’s what he told him as he was standing in his blood, stroking his hair. Louis says that’s his memory of the events, but since Armand was there too, maybe there’s something he missed or added later. Armand realizes what’s going on and asks Louis to stop, saying the moment they’re sharing is too important for games. Daniel asks if there’s a game being played. 

Armand tells Louis that he knows what’s happening—Louis remembers what he did to himself in San Francisco and is angry that Armand erased it. Louis admits that he is very much angry. Armand counters that Louis has no right to be angry because he asked Armand to do it. Daniel doesn’t believe him. Armand says he failed Louis once in his life, and it wasn’t in San Francisco.

Armand explains that the pages he tore out of Claudia’s diaries were done together by him and Louis. Louis argues that not all of them were. Armand admits that the ones he did on his own were to protect himself from Daniel. He didn’t want Daniel to know his shame or his one act of cowardice and the series of abhorrent consequences that followed. Armand says he has spent the rest of his life trying to make up for it but will never succeed. Despite this, Louis forgave him. 

Daniel says that he did not forgive him. Armand argues that drugs did more damage to Daniel’s mind than he did. Regardless, Armand apologizes to Daniel, saying he and Louis thought it was the right thing to do. Daniel retorts that Armand was going to drain him, so Armand “apologizes again.”

Louis is struggling with the bombshell of information Armand has dropped and asks if he really asked Armand to erase that memory from his mind. Armand confirms this, stating it happened three days after they abandoned Daniel. Louis appears sorry for his attitude towards Armand, even though he doesn’t say anything, while Armand plays the victim. Daniel isn’t buying any of Armand’s story. Armand, continuing on the record, confesses that he was a coward.

In the past, we see Madeleine and Claudia having drinks with Louis and Armand, and everyone is in high spirits. The ladies are sharing stories of their life together, appearing very happy. Louis asks Madeleine about the little girl who died, whose memory he saw during her transformation, and inquires if Claudia is her replacement. Claudia acknowledges that she saw the memory too and that they have talked it out. 

Armand asks if they’re considering returning to Paris, but the girls express a desire to live elsewhere and wander. Louis is surprised because Claudia always seemed to want to find her home, the X on the map to settle, but Claudia says Madeleine is the X. Claudia apologizes to Armand for not making things easy for him. 

Madeleine tells Louis that she can’t read his mind, and Louis explains that as her maker, that’s the way it is between them—they can’t read each other’s minds. Madeleine mentions she still feels connected to him and even Armand by proxy because Louis loves him. Louis laughs and asks Madeleine to stop sharing his soul, joking that he doesn’t want Armand’s head to get too big to fit through the door. The scene is filled with fun and good family vibes.

Armand seizes the happy moment to step out for a smoke, as Louis, Madeleine, and Claudia laugh. Madeleine asks Louis why he doesn’t want Armand to know how much he loves him, but the scene focuses on Armand’s face, who looks concerned and already regretting whatever he’s about to do. In that instant, time freezes, and Santiago enters the bar along with the rest of the coven, capturing Louis, Claudia, and Madeleine.

In the present, Louis repeats Armand’s words, saying, “they gave him a choice and he chose.” 

In the past, the Théâtre Des Vampires is filled to the brim. There’s going to be a one-time-only performance, a play called “Trial: The Treacherous and Unnatural Crimes of the Vampires Louis and Claudia, and the Fledgling Madeleine.” It’s a matinee, the first ever at the Théâtre Des Vampires. The audience is ecstatic to be part of the jury, and Santiago asks them to sit down as the curtain opens. 

On stage, we see Madeleine, Claudia, and Louis. They’ve been hurt and seem disoriented. Santiago starts to read the crimes of which they stand accused. Meanwhile, backstage, a member of the coven warns a very much alive Lestat that it’s ten minutes until his entrance. And the episode ends. 

Did y’all scream like we did with that finale? Yeah, ok, good. As we said at the beginning, this was a tension-filled journey back and forth between past and present, and we loved every minute of it. We’re not going to lie—seeing Lestat back was the highlight of the episode for us. 

In this publication, we support Lestat’s rights and wrongs, and Louis’, and even Armand’s because we love a good toxic love polygon. The redder the red flag, the better—in the specific context of this show, of course.

But anyway, we can’t wait until episode 7 ‘I Could Not Prevent It’ is out. Until then, we’ll be screaming about the show in our offices as we’ve been doing for months now. We’ve said this repeatedly, but no show is doing it like Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire, and we really hope we get to enjoy many more seasons of it.

So AMC, if you’re reading this, renew  Interview With The Vampire already!

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The sixth episode of the second season of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire “Like The Light By Which God Made The World Before He Had Made Light” 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: Courtesy of AMC. Photo Credit: Larry Horricks.