There is more to Sam Reid’s Say More interview than we knew at the time.
When the star of Vampire Lestat sat down with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, she had only seen the first three episodes A Conversation with a Vampire‘s lusty season three. So, she and Reid delve into its details, talking about her Taylor Swift-esque song about her abusive suitor Magnus and the dark truth of what she and her budding Claudia have in common.
Now, with episode 5 of “New York” live, we look back at what Reid teased back then. In particular, he talked about how Lestat started the season by putting on a facade by using his rock star self. Of course, Louis and Armand aren’t the only unreliable narrators in this enigmatic franchise.
In an interview with Mashable, Reid addressed the season arc of Lestat, saying, “It’s definitely kind of, like an artist portrait, which was Rolin. [Jones]’ point of orientation and continuous point of reference. Lestat is a creative person, and the way he finds himself, works for himself, worries about his problems, is because of his art. And that’s one of the most important things about this season, is that you start the music as a turning point in how you’re portrayed. [Daniel’s] book.”
Reid went on to explain that Lestat first brings out the vampire “schtick” to the public, adding, “But I think deep down, he actually wants to be taken seriously as a singer, as a singer. And continuously throughout the show, the music changes. He’s still searching for his sound, and especially by the time you get to the fifth episode, everything changes, and the music gets bigger.”
How does Lestat’s music change in episode 5
Lestat’s songs, written by Daniel Hart, have varied in influences from T. Rex and David Bowie to Taylor Swift and The Police. “Long Face” (and possibly “Black Licorice”) is about her tumultuous romance with Louis. “Your Biggest Fan” is about the fan Magnus, while “Why Should I Feel?” tells about the loss of Nicky, whom he loves. In episode 4, he gives a diss track to Armand’s “Big Boss”. But in episode 5, Lestat analyzes theatrics, swagger, and sex appeal with a song about Claudia called “Stained Glass Eyes.”
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At the end of the episode, he plays the song himself on the piano. He stripped down two guitars, a bass, a violin, drums, and a Brat Prince facade. What remains is his grief and regret.
He sings:
The day you were born, I was shaking like a leaf on an old oak tree.
He remained like a thorn. The red roses rained down on me.
Even when we parted, you didn’t turn around
You didn’t turn your eyes away
And I still know, I still hear you say,
“Don’t finish that. I’m burning in your mirror at night.
No, don’t you dare call it longing. It is the fear that I am right.
Don’t try to forget all the things you regret.”
In those stained glasses, stained glass eyes.”
As he sings, he sees Claudia staring at him, as he has seen his murdered brothers, Nicky, Magnus and others. As she sings about “you didn’t turn away… your gaze,” the episode cuts to Claudia’s death. His sunburnt flesh flies into ash as he stares at Lestat, his father, uncle, maker and mirror. This time jumps to the present as the ashes of her murder fall into her hair as she sings on the set.
As the band notes when they play the finished song again, “Stained Glass Eyes” doesn’t match the catchy and catchy songs they’ve been playing on tour. Lestat knows. He says they kill the other tracks and start over. This leads to Larry’s dangerous and deadly journey (RIP, Larry), and the rest of the group asks to be turned into vampires so they can stay on this musical odyssey with their ex.
Lestat leaves the action in episode 5.
This shift from sexy to serious reflects something Reid said in our Say More interview, about how Lestat has been trained to deal with the two biggest influences in his life and death.
“You’ve got two makers, you know,” Reid thought. “He’s got his mother, and he’s got Magnus. Both of those figures have a big influence on what makes him a character, too [both] they are abusive. He is a very sexual character, because he has been having sex since the beginning. Even if his mother wants to love him till the end with about him, because he wants to live freely through him, or even if it is his maker who wants what he sees on the stage, that kind of actor, that spark, and arouses his passion and makes him this kind of perfect, immortal being. The only way he knows how to express himself is by jumping on stage and walking around. So we ask the audience to go on a journey with him. Maybe I don’t understand it at first, but it’s a little bit of irritation and they start to unravel.”
How to view: Vampire Lestat premiered on AMC and AMC+ June 7, with new episodes every week.