The Vampire Lestat Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Gabriella and Lestat’s Bond Takes Center Stage
The Vampire Lestat Season 1 Episode 2, “Toledo,” dives into Lestat’s backstory and explores the deeply complicated relationship he has with Gabriella.
The episode immediately addresses the uncomfortable, taboo nature of their relationship with snarky narration from Lestat. He cheekily refers to the introduction of Gabriella in this story as an “Oedipiphany,” then takes his audience back to his childhood in Auvergne, France.
Lestat’s Backstory:
Through a series of flashbacks, it’s revealed just how awful Lestat’s father and brothers were to him and that he did indeed have the stutter Daniel kept asking about.
Meanwhile, he has a special bond with his mother that shows they understand each other better than anyone else, complete with inside jokes. As difficult as things are for Lestat, he also feels for his mother, who feels trapped and stifled.
It’s this backstory that begins to explain how Lestat became who he is now — not so much in becoming a vampire, but in terms of how he sees the world. The pain and the cruelty shaped him, but the moment when he killed a pack of wolves by himself is a key turning point for him.
This earns him respect in a way he’d never had. It’s also a time when his mother is truly proud — ultimately the reward he was seeking over everything else. He wanted to prove himself to her, taking off after the wolves after her outburst of, “Be men!”
Gabriella tends to Lestat’s wounds, and it’s clear she’s never been quite so proud of her son. With that, there’s also the hint of an inappropriate connection between them, especially as Gabriella shares her dream of getting drunk and seducing any number of men.
However, this is also when Gabriella reveals to Lestat that she is dying. The anguish on Lestat’s face as this realization sinks in and he calls after her is gut-wrenching — and yet another scene that offers an impeccable performance by Sam Reid.
Lestat and Gabriella as Vampires:
Returning to the time period where Lestat is touring with his band, Gabriella is now a captivating, confident vampire who is there to comfort Lestat in his time of need. She is enigmatic, and her presence is profound.
It’s here that we see the progression of Lestat and Gabriella’s dynamic. As Lestat described it in the premiere, she is mother, fledgling, and lover — all at once.
They enjoy each other’s company and have a partnership unlike anything we’ve seen for Lestat so far. And every moment here feels incredibly purposeful.
Near the end of the episode, Lestat plays piano, singing a hauntingly beautiful song in French while a montage of flashbacks takes the audience through the journey of Gabriella’s transformation.
Lestat saves her life by turning her into a vampire, then they become like partners, and return home to kill their entire family together — both as a way of taking control and also of taking revenge.
It’s beautifully done and horrific all at once, and it wouldn’t be the same without Lestat’s voice singing in the background — a stark contrast from his high-octane rock songs.
Following this, Lestat’s narration tries to justify and explain the incestuous nature of their relationship to his audience, then finally stops himself and instead says, “F**k it. It’s different for vampires. That’s it.”
The Band Reacts to Lestat Being a Vampire:
In addition to exploring the relationship between Lestat and Gabriella, this episode also focuses on the band’s reaction to the fact that their lead singer is, in fact, a real vampire.
There’s perfectly timed humor here that creates some necessary comic relief. Lestat’s responses to the band members’ questions about vampires, their horrific reactions, and the lawyer’s way of commanding the situation are funny but significant moments.
So many details are explained here, including how Lestat survives without always having to kill people.
Notably, Lestat also points out that he does have humanity as a vampire. Alex panics, knowing now that Lestat kills people, while Lestat notes that the band members have been protected at times without their knowing.
Alex: You kill people. I’m people. We’re people!
Lestat: And so was I. No vampire was born a vampire.
Within this “band-only meeting” that Larry has called, the band members also have questions about the meanings behind their songs, including how much is related to Louis. (In one especially funny moment, TC pronounces it “Lewis” and Lestat corrects her.)
Lestat also tells them that he can read all of their thoughts, and insists that they have an opportunity now — that their performance the night before was the best they’d had, and that this is what they should be focusing on.
Only one band member leaves — the rest are willing to stick around, despite what they now know. This certainly says something about each of their characters. Larry, in particular, has seemed captivated by Lestat from the beginning.
Lestat and Louis:
As important as Lestat and Gabriella’s relationship is for this episode, Lestat’s relationship with Louis is still very much at the center of the story.
It’s already been noted that Lestat’s band members realize many of his songs are about Louis, and Lestat’s defensiveness over his feelings about Louis is telling in that moment.
However, Lestat and Louis also come face-to-face in a litigation meeting, which further reveals how connected they remain. Louis is seeking compensation for damages in his Detroit hotel — the one that was damaged when Lestat fought the “Fang Gang” on The Vampire Lestat Season 1 Episode 1.
As they argue over these particulars, they take jabs at one another about the book, Armand, and who each of them is sleeping with. Louis says he’s flown down because he thinks Lestat’s actions — including the lyrics of his recent songs — are a cry for help.
Oh, and Louis also owns 45% of Lestat’s merch — a really fantastic detail, if you ask me.
If there was any question about Lestat’s music and its relation to Louis, there isn’t any longer after Louis attends Lestat and his band’s next show. It’s as though this particular show is just for Louis — that he’s the only one there and the only one who matters.
Louis Could Have a Chance at Revenge:
While this season is, naturally, centered on Lestat, that doesn’t mean Louis is merely a small part of the story. This adaptation continues to keep everything connected, including having Daniel and Louis discuss the book.
Daniel even apologizes for not asking permission before publishing.
That apology is followed by another sort of ambush, though. Daniel tells Louis that his producers wanted to meet them, just as they arrive, and Louis has no choice but to speak with them.
They want help dealing with the fallout of Detroit, and while Louis doesn’t want to at first, they give him good reason to consider it.
The coven leader they want Louis to go after is none other than the vampire who once attacked Claudia. This is such a smart way to bring everything full circle and to keep Louis involved in the story, and it leaves the episode on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Louis is very much, after all, still traumatized by the loss of Claudia.
What did you think of The Vampire Lestat Season 1 Episode 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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The Vampire Lestat airs Sundays on AMC/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.