Interview with the Vampire Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Like Angels Put in Hell by God
Louis recovers from the fight with Lestat while Lestat tries his best to get his forgiveness on Interview with the Vampire Season 1 Episode 6, “Like Angels Put in Hell by God.”
The focus of this episode is on that relationship as well as Claudia’s place in the family. It also humanizes Lestat in a more vulnerable way, and despite what he did and how toxic the relationship had clearly been, it’s hard not to want Louis to take him back and give him another chance.
Though it’s interesting to hear how Louis describes this as he tells the story to Daniel. He talks about Lestat slowly breaking him down — over many years — as well as their “vampire bond.”
Meanwhile, it’s Claudia who nurses Louis back to health and who stays by his side. She’s devoted to him and has no room in her heart to forgive Lestat. In fact, it seems as though Claudia being there is what gives Louis the strength to refuse Lestat’s efforts for as long as he does.
And Claudia, my goodness. It’s a marvel how Baily Bass embodies her as a growing, maturing woman. There are subtle differences in the way she dresses now, but also in the way she carries herself. That evolution for her couldn’t be done in a more perfect way.
Lestat does eventually win Louis back, though even the way he does it is sick and twisted. That recording — a truly personal love letter — includes a voice that stirs up jealousy in Louis. Antoinette’s voice.
Louis then takes off to find Lestat, and he finds him with Antoinette. Yet there’s such passion there that they can’t stay away from each other any longer, no matter how much hurt stands between them as well.
Claudia is hesitant, of course, and Lestat’s return home includes a set of strict rules. No secrets, Claudia’s role in the family will change, and Lestat must kill Antoinette — among others.
It’s here that we get more of Lestat’s backstory and have the chance to feel a little more empathy for him.
He returns, and as a family, they move forward, with a lot of reflection on the part of Louis. He even begins to understand how Lestat could become the way he is. There’s also more in the way of backstory, and as far as the adaptation is concerned, this is especially interesting because of how it pulls from The Vampire Chronicles series overall.
Two pivotal moments then change everything. First, Claudia’s desire to find other vampires continues to drive her. She begs Louis to go away with her, but he finally insists that she should go on without him.
It’s both cruel and yet loving that Lestat stops her from being able to go. How he does it is hard to watch — he’s wildly violet and the way he toys with a human head is the stuff of nightmares. But his reasoning is that Claudia makes Louis happy.
Lestat: We endure each other for Louis’ happiness.
But here’s the thing. No one should be surprised that Lestat killing Antonionette is, essentially, just a technicality. He turns her instead and continues his relationship with her, which Louis and Claudia eventually find out.
It’s perfectly fitting with his character. He did as he was asked, but he found the world’s most horrifying loophole.
That all leads us to the next big turning point. Claudia resolves to kill Lestat.
Because Claudia and Louis still have the ability to read each others’ minds, they’re able to communicate with one another secretly in the presence of Lestat. That provides some humor at times, but mostly, it shows an interesting divide.
The chess game Claudia and Lestat play is, of course, symbolic. This has been a way that Lestat has been trying to appease Claudia, less because he wants to and more to make Louis happy. But he’s been making some efforts nonetheless, even with the attitude he has toward her.
Claudia finally wins a game that symbolizes a new power of Lestat. She’s confident she can kill him, and deep down, she knows Louis wants that too — at least partially.
The interview taking place is just as important as the story being told, and that’s even more clear on this episode as well. Louis has brought in a doctor to care for Daniel so that they can continue the interview. There’s still some mystery to this setup, and now there’s talk of dreams Daniel has been having — dreams of when he first met Louis.
And we get a glimpse of one of those dreams.
The casting there is eerily perfect. We meet a young Daniel and a different version of Louis. This is a moment to praise Jacob Anderson as well, with the way we’ve been able to see his character at different points in his evolution, also subtle yet very telling.
This flashback is exciting because it’s separate from the interview narration and gives us some insight into Daniel’s mind too. Then the big twist — Daniel sees Rashid in his dream.
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Interview with the Vampire airs Sundays at 10/9c on AMC and streams Sundays on AMC+.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.