We’ve talked about already about how AMC’s hit show’s second season was heading to Netflix and now that the show is streaming for more audiences to see it, let’s talk about why this is a love story for the ages.
Interview With the Vampire is based on Anne Rice’s novels and details the love story of Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt. Played by Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid, the series starts in New Orleans as the books do and takes us through their time as vampires after Lestat turns Louis in 1910. But what makes the series so special, especially since many of us know the story, is the way that Rolin Jones and his writers weave in the twists and turns.
It isn’t easy to make an adaptation like Interview With the Vampire work. The 1994 film from director Neil Jordan is beloved by fans and the film was adapted by Rice herself. So the show had a lot, originally, working against it. But Rice also, famously, was not a fan of the movie initially. She was someone who wasn’t really a fan of anyone altering her stories and the series does make changes to the source material.
However, the AMC series is a beautiful look at how adaptations can work. Sorry to Rice and her dedication to keeping her vision intact (never forget her campaign against fanfiction) but a new take on this story is beautiful and that’s why this show means so much to fans.
If you haven’t fallen in love with Louis and Lestat yet, the entire series streaming on Netflix means there is no excuse now and trust me, this is the kind of show you do not want to miss out on.
The best kind of toxic love story
Both Louis and Lestat are toxic for each other and yet it is captivating to see how the two love each other. We are seeing this entire story through Louis’ eyes. It is his interview, his take on the situation, and his view of Lestat. But when we do get the brief moments of breakthrough where we can see how Lestat isn’t as toxic as Louis believes, it makes their love story pop that much more.
This is literally a story of he said/he said between the two characters. Seasons 1 and 2 are through Louis’ story and when we get The Vampire Lestat, we will get Lestat’s view of the world. And that’s beautiful to me. Imagine talking about an ex for days on end, they probably would not be painted in the best of lights. But when Louis does love Lestat, you can tell.
This show is how I think we should look at adaptations as a whole. It takes liberties, makes changes, but is, at the end of the day, truthful to Rice’s work and it is perfect. So if you have not yet taken the dive into Interview With the Vampire, what are you doing?!
(featured image: AMC+)
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