In Throes Of Increasing Wonder – The episode begins with Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) introducing himself as an investigative journalist for The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times.

Molloy receives a package containing seven cassette tapes from Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson). He flips on the cassette player to hear himself say, “You weren’t always a vampire, were you.” Louis tells him that he became a vampire at 33. Molloy asks how it happened. Louis says he prefers the real story to the simple answer.

In his letter, Louis proposes the completion of a project, they aborted some 49 years before due to their “boyish youth.” He offers his life story to be written in a location of his own choosing.

Molloy says his editor assumed his meeting with the “world’s most dangerous man” involved Putin or Bezos. Louis admits to being concerned he’d forgotten him since their meeting wasn’t documented in his book. Molloy suggests readers dispute any mention of vampires. Louis says he’s aware of his Parkinson’s disease. Molloy sarcastically asks the location of his coffin. Louis informs him that he’s standing in it before extending his arm in the sunlight. While apologizing for being nervous, Molloy pulls back his collar before switching on his cassette player. Louis describes his behavior as “disrespectful.” Molloy claims to have been high. Louis accuses him of being unworthy of his life story. Molloy says his story might not have been worthy of telling.

Molloy asks what has changed since their last meeting. Louis claims to have changed. When Molloy suggests his researcher handle the unverified information, Rashid (Assad Zaman) informs him that there’ll be no third parties. Molloy demands to get the final edit. Rashid reminds him that wasn’t part of the deal. Louis suggests they begin after their “boy” has rested. An agitated Molloy says he isn’t his “boy,” but an “old man” before stating he’s ready.

Louis tells his story while having a flashback. It’s 1910, five years since Louis inherited the family trust and his father’s death. De Ponte du Lac’s wealth came from sugar plantations. He relocated to Storyville, New Orleans, where black men could conduct their business more freely. Storyville had a red-light district consisting of brothels, pubs, and casinos. Molloy asks him to explain his business operations. He describes his enterprises as being “diverse” with eight sporting houses located on Liberty Street. Molloy suggests he was a “pimp.”

While riding through town, he encounters Finn O’Shea (Jeff Pope) and Peg Leg Doris (Rachel Alana Handler) who warns him of trouble. Alderman Fenwick (John DiMaggio) repeatedly says he’s sorry while holding pressure on his scalp wound. Louis curses before reminding Bricktop Williams (Dana Gourrier) that she hit an alderman. She accuses Fenwick of putting it in her “sh**box.” When Louis applies pressure to the wound, Fenwick orders him to not touch him. After Louis identifies himself, Fenwick says he’s sorry. Paul de Ponte du Lac (Steven G. Norfleet) asks a worker if she knew her body belonged to the Lord. Louis orders Paul to go home. A physical dispute ensues and ends with Louis holding him at knifepoint. Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) watches it go down.

Louis tells Molloy that his hitting his brother, Paul was necessary because looking weak on Liberty Street was out of the question.

Paul suggests they pay tithe to St. Augustine’s before the house comes crashing in on them. Florence (Rae Dawn Chong) assures him that Louis will find the family a more respectable business. He tells her that the family would have a sugar cane business if their father was there. Louis warns Paul that he’d be locked up in the hospital in Jackson. Grace de Ponte du Lac (Kalyne Coleman) admits to dreaming of a quiet breakfast instead of dancing with her husband only a month away from her wedding. Paul says Levi (Christian Robinson) doesn’t respect the Holy Mother because he’s a Baptist. She accuses him of calling her a “witch.” Louis laughs while Florence demands Paul to go out back.

Louis tells Molloy that he made a vow to his father to take care of Paul. He professes to have loved his brother more than anyone else.

Father Matthias (Mike Harkins) tells Paul good morning. Paul sarcastically says maybe for you. Matthias tells Louis that he appreciates the financial donation. Louis describes it as “babysitting money” because Paul finds the church calming. Matthias assures him that the church members will forever be there for him.

When Louis enters Fairplay, he is greeted by Miss Carol (Eugenie Bondurant). He describes Fairplay as a “palace of opulence and splendor.” Thomas “Tom” Anderson (Chris Stack) invites him to participate in a private game on Friday. Louis accepts the offer.

Lestat says something to Lily (Najah Bradley) in his native tongue. She tells him that it sounds nice even though she doesn’t know what it means. When Louis translates it for her, Lestat asks if he speaks French. Louis points out that his table is difficult to come by before asking how he managed it. Lestat asks how as a black man how he managed to get through the door. She informs him that Louis owns an empire nearby. Lestat says he owes him for his townhouse in the quarter. Louis denies selling it to him. Lestat caresses Lily’s body while providing his explanation.

Louis admits to Molloy that he felt the urge to slit Lestat’s throat. Molloy asks why he didn’t act on his urge. He claims his body was overtaken by weakness. Lestat breaks the trance when he hits the table. Lily suggests he is Lestat’s destiny. Louis and Lestat take turns tossing money on the table. Lestat tosses his ring on the table before walking away with Lily. Louis tells Molloy while he went to Fairplay with Lily on his mind, left thinking of only Lestat.

A man is attacked while putting out street lanterns.

A man says the victim’s body had only minor abrasions but no blood when Louis arrives. When he suggests the new arrival of a rat, Lestat tells him that 6-foot rats in France are called “bureaucrats.” Thomas introduces the two men. Louis tells him that they previously met. Lestat sarcastically says they both “wanted the last bouquet of lilies.” Thomas informs Louis that he recommended Fenwick to partner with him to run the Horton Rooming House. Louis assures him that the establishment could fetch a “decent sum.” Thomas admits he already said Louis would agree to 10%. Louis reminds him that it would require a lot of work before upping it to 15%.

Louis tells Molloy that he’s sure the men looked down on him. As Lestat talks about his wealth, all the men appear to be frozen except Louis. Lestat gives him a card from Thomas’ hand while saying he needs protection if he expects to seize the city’s opportunities. After Louis hands over a card out of his hand, Lestat unfreezes the men. Louis rakes in the chips.

Louis says Lestat never revealed his ability to stop the world. Molloy asks if they started spending time together at night. Louis reminds him of how active New Orleans is at night. Molloy suggests it was the perfect cover for a vampire. Louis admits to confiding in Lestat like Paul.

Louis and Grace discuss the time he and Lestat spend together. She suggests bringing him to dinner. He jokingly asks if she’s searching for a wealthy man. She claims to only want to meet him. He informs her that Paul’s having difficulty accepting her marriage. She tells him there is a facility in Gretna that accepts people like Paul. He reminds her of the terrible shape Paul was in when he was last released from a similar facility. She voices her concern for Paul. He suggests she focus on a wardrobe for her trip to Paris and London while handing her Black Star Line tickets. She excitedly tells Florence that she’s taking a trip around the world.

Paul reminds Levi of Louis having control of all the money before saying Florence will never be his biological mother. Lestat says he and Louis had gumbo after leaving the opera. Paul asks what type of relationship he have with Louis. Lestat says they have some investment interests. When Lestat asks Levi how he came to propose to Grace, Paul asks if he is a Christian. Louis asks him to shut up. Lestat claims to have learned about Christ in a monastery when he wanted to be a priest. He tells Paul the beatings and starvation by his father caused him to forget the testaments. Louis orders him to stop. Lestat apologizes for his answer, which he describes to be like his father’s.

Louis informs Lestat that the family sugar business was on the verge of bankruptcy when his father died. Lestat assures him that he understands what all he does to provide for his family. Louis says he did right by coming to Storyville. Lestat admits it feels like home before giving him a gift, Lily. Louis asks if Miss Carol knows she is with them. Lestat claims she was “handsomely compensated” for Lily’s company. Lily tells him that she told Lestat that they only talk. Louis asks if he enjoys watching. Lestat telepathically says he has been watching him for quite some time. Louis asks how he does it. Lily says do what. He says get inside my head. Lestat tells him that he has a “pretty head.” After Lestat puts Lily to sleep, he and Louis make out. They levitate while Lestat bites his neck.

Louis says he finally came to terms with his sexuality before reminding Molloy of how they met in a gay bar. Molloy describes it as a “great place to score.” Louis asks if he ever got married. Molloy tells him that he married twice. After describing the experience, Louis says he vowed to never revisit it again.

A gloomy Paul sits quietly while Grace and Levi tie the knot. Grace honors her father by giving Louis and Paul a pair of tap shoes. After a tap dance, the two men climb on top of the roof. Paul suggests he get married to Hazel. Louis tells him that he didn’t catch her name. Paul asks if he and Lestat are still in business together. Louis acknowledges it’s over. Paul refers to Lestat as the “devil” who told him that he was there to take souls “without moving his lips.” Louis assures him that he will never see him again. Paul professes his love for him before falling off face-first. Louis tells Molloy that it was his last sunrise.

Florence accuses Louis of saying something that drove Paul to do it. She asks why they were on the roof. He says they were watching the sunrise. She tells him that it’s his fault Paul is in hell before walking away.

Lestat approaches Louis as he and his family parade through the town. Louis demands he move on. Lestat admits he waits on the balcony each night. Louis reminds him that it’s his brother’s funeral. Lestat assures him that Paul yearned for the flagstone when Louis shoves him. Finn takes control until he punches him in the stomach.

Louis tells Molloy that Lestat refused to allow him to focus on the sermon. He asks Florence if she’d like him to walk her home. She refuses before asking Levi to do it. Grace suggests she just needs somewhere to put her hurt. Lestat continues to call for Louis to come to him. Louis admits to skipping Paul’s wake to grieve alone but Lestat wouldn’t have it.

Louis visits the brothel to see Lily only to have Miss Carol inform him of her death. She says Lily had the fever that dried up her blood. He pleads with Father Matthias to help him because he’s in his head before confessing his sins. He admits to laying down with the devil. The church begins to tremor when Lestat attacks Father Matthias. Louis repeatedly stabs him in the back. Lestat asks how can he humiliate himself so before slapping him across the room. Louis accuses him of killing Lily because there is no fever. Lestat admits to killing people who deserve it but denies being the devil. The Vicar (Adam Horwitz) cannot escape. Lestat tells Louis that he saw sorrow on his face the first time they met. He says all his sorrow can go away if he only asks before professing his love for him.

Louis says he never understood it, but he was seen for the first time in his life. Lestat pleads with him to be his companion. Louis nods before kissing him.

Louis tells Molloy that Lestat drained him. He feeds on Lestat’s blood. He says the drums were the beating of their hearts, the end, the beginning as the episode comes to an end.

 

Interview With The Vampire Review

After inheriting his father’s financially strapped business, Louis relocated his family to Storyville in New Orleans. He built an empire of eight sporting houses but still felt the white businessmen didn’t respect him. His biggest supporter, his brother, Paul had mental health issues. Grace’s wedding pushed Paul to his breaking point. An already devastated Louis was left to deal with his grieving mother who laid the blame on him.

Louis’ life changed when he met Lestat, an alluring French vampire. Lestat offered him an opportunity to leave his sorrows behind. Louis, at his most desperate, accepted the offer.

Louis later reconnects with Molloy, a controversial journalist, to write his story. Molloy has his own set of issues, including Parkinson’s disease.

Lestat is portrayed as an irresistible vampire with an overpowering desire to have Louis for himself. Louis, on the other hand, is solely focused on his business and family. No matter how hard he tries to resist the temptation, in the end, he relents.

I question AMC’s decision to make yet another adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1976 novel of the same name. I can honestly only think of one. The 1994 film received a less-than-stellar rating from Rotten Tomatoes at 64%. The film grossed $223.7 million, which some contribute to Brad Pitt (Louis) and Tom Cruise (Lestat). If the book-to-film adaptation doesn’t turn out that great, why risk a book-to-TV adaptation?

The show possesses all the elements – suspense, death, blood, and an eerie atmosphere – of a vampire flick. It lacks horror, which many may find disappointing. I will say, it failed to hold my undivided attention for the entire episode. At times, I found myself wishing it would just end. It didn’t help, it got off to a bad start with a blast of wokneness. Had the script stayed on topic, the outcome would’ve been more to my liking.

The tone of Molloy’s voice is annoying.

The cinematography, editing, and acting are subpar. The haphazard execution nearly ruined it for me. The episode deserves a 6. Get more of  Interview With The Vampire recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.