David Bridges
As Interview with The Vampire: Half II — because the second season’s opening title card calls it — heats up, we not solely be taught extra about Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), but additionally his highly effective lover Armand (Assad Zaman). Pulling from Anne Rice’s broader Vampire Chronicles, showrunner Rolin Jones brings views from her different novels into Episode 10, “No Ache.” And with them, a touch of the tragedy of Lestat’s old flame, Nicolas de Lenfent.
Sure, earlier than Louis, earlier than Armand, Lestat (Sam Reid) was all about Nicolas (Joseph Potter). And whereas episode 10 abandons the poor violinist within the orchestra pit, readers of Rice know the place his story actually ends.
Who’s Lestat’s companion, Nicolas de Lenfent?
As a sequel to the novel Interview with the Vampire, Rice’s The Vampire Lestat gave the oft-bitter backstory of her titular Brat Prince. Earlier than he was a blood-sucking vampire, Lestat was a humble human actor in 18th-century France, besotted along with his childhood good friend Nicolas de Lenfent. As younger males, the 2 pursued the humanities collectively in Paris, with the previous as a theater actor and the latter as a passionate violinist. That’s, till Lestat was unceremoniously kidnapped by the mad vampire Magnus and become a creature of the night time. Nonetheless, Nicolas and Lestat fashioned a bond as people so sturdy that it lived even after the latter was turned undead.
‘Interview with the Vampire’s newest Easter egg may tease a significant plot twist
Armand paints Nicolas as a dalliance for Lestat.
Assad Zaman as Armand in “Interview with the Vampire,” Season 2.
Credit score: Larry Horricks / AMC
In “No Ache,” Nicolas is launched haphazardly in flashback as Armand recounts his personal story to human journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). When the vampire Lestat rolls into Paris, Armand’s centuries-old vampire blood can sense the debonair fledgling. Ruling over a subterranean coven that believes vampires ought to conceal within the shadows and observe strict codes of conduct, Armand is affronted by Lestat’s returning to the stage, a vampire on show.
“No vampire ought to ever reveal his true nature to a mortal and let that mortal reside,” Armand explains to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), “And right here he was, prancing and preening in entrance of 500 mortals each night time, like some tarted-up dervish.” (Props to Reid, whose Lestat is resplendent as a capering theater performer with extra bravado then sense!)
Mashable High Tales
Watching Lestat frolic for the human crowd, Armand is in awe and enraged: “I needed to convey him beneath my management by any means.” His efforts start by taunting the prancing vampire by telekinesis, promising the solutions about their form that Lestat’s sire couldn’t provide. When that fails to convey Lestat beneath management, Armand kidnaps his human lover, as Armand believes their romance is “extra heresy.”
A quick scene of Nicolas and Lestat strolling down the late night time streets of Paris is all Armand will provide of their relationship. To rescue Nicolas (or Nicki, as Lestat calls him within the guide), the brash vampire not solely crashes into Armand’s coven’s dank lair, but additionally disillusions the lot of them. The cult dissolves, and Lestat escapes with a tortured Nicki in his arms. The subsequent TV viewers will see of the violinist is within the orchestra pit of the Théâtre des Vampires, watching helplessly as Lestat seduces Armand — earlier than abandoning them each. (Or not less than, that is what Armand says.)
What occurred to Nicolas within the books?
Lestat (Sam Reid) barges into Armand’s lair, carrying a crucifix to rescue Nicolas (Joseph Potter, decrease left).
Credit score: Larry Horricks / AMC
After the kidnapping, Nicolas begged to be made a vampire, and Lestat obliged. However Nicki did not take effectively to the darkish present, which overwhelmed him in despair and insanity. For a time, he turned an admired member of the Théâtre des Vampires, whose undead ensemble dubbed him “Our Divine Violinist.” Nonetheless, Nicki turns into more and more indiscreet.
He has public outbursts, and his expertise with the violin turn out to be so extraordinary that it is drawing the fallacious type of consideration. Hell-bent on preserving people clueless concerning the fact of vampires of their midst, Armand cuts off Nicki’s palms to cease him from taking part in violin. Finally, Nicki exits the metaphorical stage by strolling willingly into a fireplace, very similar to the Romanian vampire in the beginning of Season 2.
This darkish finish might clarify why Nicolas is not current on the theater when Louis and Claudia arrive. Although it is exhausting to say if Interview with the Vampire: Half II will reveal his destiny immediately, or depart it as implied by the mournful eyes forged from the orchestra pit to the looming balcony of betrayal.
The best way to watch: Interview with the Vampire: Half II airs Sundays on AMC and AMC+.
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Daniel Mercer
Ethan Carter
