Episode 4 of Interview with the Vampire's second season commences with Claudia's grand entrance at the Théâtre des Vampires. She initially strived with all her might, but as the nights unfolded and the play unfolded before her, she struggled immensely with being treated like a child. It was her worst nightmare come to life, yet Armand reminded her that she had no choice, as she was now a part of their coven. While Armand reminisced fondly about the play's triumph, Claudia longed for its conclusion after the 500th performance. Tragically, even Armand's influence could not end her ordeal. In fact, he urged her to embrace her role with more enthusiasm, forcing her to relive her deepest fears. He commanded her to immerse herself in her costume, hoping she would rediscover her passion for the character.
Meanwhile, Santiago and the coven were displeased with Armand's neutrality towards Louis. Following Claudia's punishment, Santiago stirred the pot, inquiring why Louis enjoyed such leniency at the theater and questioning if they were companions. Surprisingly, Armand promptly affirmed their bond, while Louis denied it. Soon, the two had a heart-to-heart and concurred that they were not companions. Louis' hesitation in defining their relationship and his persistent hallucinations of Lestat spoke volumes.
On the flipside, Armand felt unjustified that Louis refused to acknowledge their true connection, despite the risks he took to safeguard him from the coven. They reached a compromise, with Louis agreeing to visit the theater more frequently. Their confession of love, however, was overshadowed by Lestat's hallucinatory laughter mocking their "I love you's." Molloy intervened, inquiring if Louis suffered from schizophrenia, to which the latter denied.
Louis' revelation of Lestat's vivid hallucinations startled Armand. Suddenly, Molloy mentioned the theater fire, leaving the two vampires bewildered by how he knew. It was then that Molloy began to relive vivid memories of his time with Louis in the 1970s. His mind was constantly drawn to Armand's face. To avoid further questions, Molloy lied, claiming he had one of his researchers delve into Paris's history.
Our attention shifted back to Claudia, still penning her diary entries, unaware that Santiago had discovered them. However, Santiago had a cunning plan in mind and only cautioned Claudia to desist if she wanted to avoid trouble with the coven's leader and members.
That fateful evening, Claudia initiated a conversation with Madeleine, and their initial encounter was not the smoothest. Yet, several nights later, their paths crossed unexpectedly, and a bond of friendship emerged. Madeleine crafted a dress for Claudia and divulged her personal narrative, revealing how she fell in love with a German soldier, thus becoming an outcast among her people. Claudia reciprocated, sharing snippets of her life while refraining from mentioning her vampire identity. Nonetheless, she was deeply moved by Madeleine's warmth and encouraging words.
After the triumphant play, the coven convened for a celebration dinner at a nearby hotel. Louis exuberantly shared his enthusiasm about showcasing his photography and receiving accolades. However, Santiago and Celeste mocked him relentlessly, and the situation escalated when Louis lost his temper, embarrassing Santiago in front of everyone. Amidst the chaos, Armand intervened, freezing time to restore calmness among the vampires. Once again, Armand grappled with his dual role as coven leader and Louis's confidant.
Meanwhile, Louis devoted himself to his photography, aiming to showcase his works in a gallery. The gallery owner was captivated by his portrait of Armand, albeit unintentionally included in Louis's portfolio. When the man insinuated that his photos lacked merit, Louis felt offended. He sought solace in Lestat's spirit, regaining his confidence. Later, Molloy recognized a few photographs in Louis's portfolio as belonging to another renowned photographer, further agitating Louis. Louis apologized profusely, and Armand chastised Rashid for the confusion and inadvertent inclusion of the photos. As Molloy delved deeper into his memories of the 1970s, a headache began to gnaw at him.
We revisit the nocturnal world of vampires in Paris, where Armand escorts Louis to the museum's hallowed halls. There, amidst the grandeur of art, Armand offers a heartfelt apology for his misuse of power during the previous dinner. The lingering shadow of Santiago continues to cast a pall over their relationship. Louis, too, is troubled by Claudia's plight within the coven.
In a bid to win Louis's trust and dispel the comparison to Lestat, Armand decides to reveal his past. Standing before a painting of his creator, Armand recounts his story. He was sold into slavery by his parents, destined to toil in a brothel. It was there that he encountered his maker, whom he named Amadeo. However, Amadeo hesitated to impart the gift of immortality, using Armand as a sex slave for years.
When Armand fell ill, Amadeo had no choice but to transform him. Tragically, soon after, the Rome coven assassinated his maker, renaming him Armand and sending him to Paris to lead the coven abandoned by Magnus, Lestat's sire. Reflecting on his life, Armand confesses that he has always been at the mercy of others' decisions. Even his own identity, including his real name, is a mystery to him. Before Louis can offer solace, Armand is summoned away, tasked with finding Claudia before the play begins.
As he stumbled upon Claudia in Madeleine's embrace, Armand dragged her, kicking and screaming, to the theater. She complained bitterly about her disdain for the play, yet Armand's patience wore thin. In a moment of anger, he revealed that he knew of her and Louis's role in Lestat's demise, using it as a veiled threat to coerce her to continue her work on the play and sever ties with Madeleine. His rage extended to Santiago, who he sternly admonished to stay in his place.
Elsewhere, Louis grappled with doubts about his photography, despite Lestat's spectral encouragement. Claudia, fuming, barged into the house and confronted Louis about Armand. Louis assured her of Armand's trustworthiness, but Claudia felt betrayed once again, accusing Louis of favoring his lovers over her. Louis, unwilling to believe Armand had threatened Claudia with Lestat's fate, retorted by blaming her for abandoning him first in favor of the coven.
After his confrontation with Armand, Santiago crept into Louis's abode and pilfered Claudia's diary. Meanwhile, Louis sought solace on a walk with Lestat's ghost, clearing his mind. He later summoned Armand to discuss the coven's future. Armand confessed his fear of losing the coven and Santiago, pleading with Louis to reconsider leaving Paris as Santiago plotted a takeover. Louis, however, chose to stay and devised a plan to manipulate Santiago by bolstering his ego. He challenged Armand to temporarily relinquish leadership, allowing Santiago to fail before Armand decided on his future role. Deeply, Armand confessed that he desired Louis above all else. Unbeknownst to them, Santiago and the coven spied on the couple, scheming a coup.
Amidst this turmoil, Molloy delved deeper into his memories, focusing on Armand. He listened intently to the tape and perused files from San Francisco, stumbling upon a photo sent by the Talamasca—a snapshot of Lestat and Louis carrying an unconscious figure from a building in the 1970s.
