Ahead of its premiere at the Beacon Theater in New York City tonight, which includes not just a preview screening but a performance from star Sam Reid, the first reactions for season three of Interview With the Vampire, aptly titled The Vampire Lestat, are in. The verdict? People are finally realizing that this show is good. So good, in fact, that as of now it has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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For those of us who watched this show quietly inch along for two seasons with little fanfare around it, to see it explode in its third season is more than simply gratifying–it feels like people are finally listening and finally tuning in to what was, at a point not so long ago, one of television’s most underrated gems.
These reviews are spoiler-free, of course
Critics so far have been heaping praise on this narrative turn, including The Mary Sue‘s Rachel Leishman, who said, “As captivating as Tom Cruise’s Lestat was in the 1994 film, there is something about Reid’s performance as Lestat that takes the character to an entirely new level.”
It’s a shared sentiment among reviews, it seems. In fact, Reid’s performance this season is utterly transformative, where he gives Lestat life and sound like we have never experienced before. The journey The Vampire Lestat takes viewers on is not one to be taken lightly, either.
“The Vampire Lestat is a glorious mental breakdown, where Rolin Jones crafts a shamelessly chaotic, messy star vehicle for Sam Reid to reach the height of his powers. Episode 3 and 6 has some of the best acting I’ve seen this year. Even when it briefly stumbles, it’s riveting,” said critic Brandon Lewis.
From Kerry Dixon of Mashable, “The Vampire Lestat does not so much premiere as kick down the door of the venue, plug in, and start playing before you’ve finished finding your seat.”
Most importantly, Lestat shows that it knows Lestat. How complicated, imperfect, and messy he is, and how he is still vulnerable underneath all of it.
Alex Valencia from Q+ Magazine stated, “The Vampire Lestat succeeds because it understands Lestat himself. The series does not reduce him to a monster or myth, nor does it attempt to redeem him into a hero. Instead, it presents him as something far more interesting.”
What can you expect from this season?
The Vampire Lestat certainly isn’t an easy ride, but it’s a fun one, and certainly memorable. Removed from its original storytelling narrative of Louis De Pointe Du Lac (Jacob Anderson) relaying the information to Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) in a series of interviews, the story is free to stretch from its confines and expand in ways that will certainly shock–and rivet–you.
Plus: The songs are just really catchy, too.
(Featured image: Sophie Giraud/AMC)
