you have not failed this city

Hiii, newbie, love your blog. So, i'm still reading iwtv and i just watched the first 2 episodes of the show. They changed the , like, relationship timeline a bit and while (because im not done with either show or book) im still processing it and don't have any negative or positive feelings towards any of it yet, i was wondering what you thought of it. You've had more time with the story as it was in the books and im curious what you think about the way they did it, what did it do the same, what did it improve or fail a bit ? (the main thing im sure i missed was Louis laughing at his brother before he went over the edge, i dont know why, i needed that and i really liked how louis describes the differences in the way he experiences the world after the turn, but I'm guessing they can still show that)

Oh boy hahaha there is a TON of context needed to answer this.

First, this is their own TV universe, or modern retelling—just as every Addams family remake that comes out is it’s own universe or every Batman movie. Also that this show is an adaption of the Vampire Chronicles not just Interview with the Vampire. But also, there’s some things you should know about the “canon.”

“The Canon:” The books exist in-universe for the vampires to communicate with each other so all of the narrators are unreliable. Louis has his POV, Lestat has his POV, Armand has his POV, etc. Louis is doing his interview in 1973 and hasn’t reunitied with Lestat yet. So the relationship timeline of Loustat is contradictory in the series. In Lestat’s books you learn more context about the events especially the 50 years that Louis, Lestat and Claudia spent together especially through Lestat’s eyes. Lestat is angry that Louis made him out to be the villian and explains that he and Louis were happy for a time and had some good years together. He is even upset that the readers didn’t think otherwise. When Louis and Lestat reunite in 1985 they are very affectionate and deeply moved to be back together so seems about right that Louis just didn’t want to talk about those sweeter moments. Hence, why the show is going with this idea that Louis lied during the 1973 interview and that he’s now telling the “true story.”

What matters to me the most is the characters which so far they got down spectacularly. The characters are iconic and very interesting. The book series itself is very werid. It doesn’t have a linear story. It is mostly about the vampires having relationship drama and Lestat doing and saying weird sh*t. Which is why for the purpose for TV, it’s almost nessicary for them to make their own universe and storyline using these iconic characters. 

To me Lestat is perfect. He is exactly the Lestat I know from the Lestat books and putting him in the events of Interview. They even got down his backstory that they are bringing up here and there and I love that. 

Although the backstory of Louis is different he resembles the Louis from the book in personality a lot more than he ever did in the movie in my opinion.

The transformation scene of Louis in the church is so far the best improvement from the book, by using lines from the book but having it in the context of sealing the deal with a kiss right in front of Jesus was incredible and I will never get over it.

There isn’t too much in the show I’m missing. Maybe the events of Babbette I would have liked to see but it’s minimal in comparison.

So far the show has the very core of the Vampire Chronicles in mind and that’s why I love it. It’s dark, fun, weird, and has some of the best toxic characters in fiction. I just hope that it doesn’t stray to far from some future events an characters from the sequel books...but yeah we shall see...