The tale spans more than a century, but you only need a few hours.

The essential Interview With the Vampire episodes to prepare you for The Vampire Lestat

The tale spans more than a century, but you only need a few hours.

By Tiffany Kelly

Tiffany Kelly

Tiffany Kelly is a staff editor at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wired, GQ, and Ars Technica.

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June 3, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET

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‘Interview With the Vampire’ stars Bailey Bass, Assad Zaman, Sam Reid, Delainey Hayles, Eric Bogosian, and Jacob Anderson. Credit:

- ** picks its favorite episodes from AMC's *Interview With the Vampire series.*

- The adaptation of Anne Rice's *The Vampire Chronicles* book series premiered in 2022 and was followed by a second season in 2024.

- Season 3, newly titled *The Vampire Lestat*, premieres on AMC and AMC+ on June 7.

AMC's *Interview With the Vampire** *manages to teeter between campy ridiculousness and heartbreaking romance with remarkable ease. Even those who don't have a taste for blood can appreciate the series for its unique approach to storytelling and strong performances.

The adaptation of the beginning of Anne Rice's *The Vampire Chronicles* book series, which premiered in 2022 and was succeeded by a second season in 2024, follows the vampires Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and their tumultuous, on-again, off-again relationship, chronicled by journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian).

To make sure everyone's ready for season 3, now titled *The Vampire Lestat*, which premieres Sunday, June 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+, ** has pulled together a list of our eight favorite episodes from the series below. And if you’re new to the *IWTV* world? As Louis says in the first episode, "Let the tale seduce you." Then strap in for a wild ride!

“In Throes of Increasing Wonder…” (season 1, episode 1)

Louis de Point Du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) in 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Alfonso Bresciani/AMC

Our story begins during the pandemic. No, not a pandemic from 100 years ago — the one we recently experienced. It's 2022, and Louis is living in a high-rise in Dubai, where he's being interviewed by Daniel about his life as a vampire. He was turned in 1910 by the mysterious Lestat, while both of them lived in New Orleans. The first episode feels like a mini movie and packs in a lot of plot, so you definitely don't want to miss this one on a rewatch or first watch of the series.

”…The Ruthless Pursuit of Blood With All a Child’s Demanding” (season 1, episode 4)

Claudia (Bailey Bass) in 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Alfonso Bresciani/AMC

To make Louis happy, Lestat turns a teen girl into a vampire. Not surprisingly, it changes their lives in a big way and the two dads have their hands full teaching 14-year-old Claudia (Bailey Bass) how to survive and become accustomed to bloodsucking before she's figured out her place in the world. This episode also features a scene with Louis and Lestat fighting in French, and Bass perfectly delivering the line, "I'm so hungry I think I'm gonna die!"

“A Vile Hunger for Your Hammering Heart” (season 1, episode 5)

Louis de Point du Lac (Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), and Claudia (Bailey Bass) on 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Alfonso Bresciani/AMC

Louis and Lestat's relationship suffers after Claudia decides to leave New Orleans. When she returns, Lestat and Louis engage in a violent fight that ends in the air. Yes, Lestat reveals he can fly! (Or *float*, as Louis calls it.) A heartbroken Lestat tells Louis, "I have patiently waited in vain for you to love me as I love you," before dropping his lover from the sky.

Well, that's one way to break up!

“The Thing Lay Still” (season 1, episode 7)

Louis de Point du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) share a kiss on 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Alfonso Bresciani/AMC

Every TV show needs at least one epic episode centered around a wedding or party, and *IWTV* achieves this with its season 1 finale. After Lestat finagles his way into becoming the King Raj of Mardi Gras in 1940, the vampire trio throws an extravagant bash that ends in a bloodbath. All the while, Claudia and Louis plot to kill Lestat and travel to Europe. But first, Loustat (their ship name) share a romantic dance, where they gaze deeply into one another's eyes and passionately kiss in front of a shocked crowd. Of course, Louis can't burn Lestat — which would guarantee death — after that! Instead, he and Claudia poison Lestat.

(Special mention to Lestat for saying, "Bach is beyond you.")

'The Vampire Lestat' star Sam Reid fought to sing live on the show

'The Vampire Lestat' boss reveals Louis' 'heartbreaking' expanded role (exclusive)

“Do You Know What It Means to Be Loved by Death” (season 2, episode 2)

Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) on 'Interview With the Vampire' season 2.

Larry Horricks/AMC

After traveling through Europe at the end of World War II, Claudia (played by Delainey Hayles in season 2) and Louis settle down in Paris, where Louis takes up photography. Everything feels a little lighter for our characters until they meet the vampires who run Théâtre des Vampires, headed by Louis' present-day partner, Armand (Assad Zaman). Just when it seems like the pair of travelers has finally found their community in the City of Light, we see Lestat's portrait hanging on a wall in the theater. Lestat's the co-founder! Louis and Claudia decide to keep their past history with Lestat — and the fact that they poisoned him and left him to die — a secret from the French coven.

We also learn that both Louis and Armand dated Lestat before dating each other. Daniel can't contain himself over this revelation, yelling out, "It's a telenovela!"

“Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape” (season 2, episode 5)

Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) on 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Larry Horricks/AMC

This episode is a fan favorite for a reason. We see a young Daniel (Luke Brandon Field, perfectly cast) meet Louis at a bar in San Francisco in 1973. When Louis invites him back to his apartment to start the interview, Daniel misreads the vibe and takes off his shirt. Present-day Daniel asks Louis if they hooked up that night, since he can't remember. (No, they didn't.)

Eventually, they both realize Armand altered their memories. Armand tortured and planned to drain Daniel, but Louis stepped in to save him. Louis is also left writhing in pain after intentionally walking outside during the day.

“I Could Not Prevent It” (season 2, episode 7)

Madeleine (Roxane Duran) and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) on 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Larry Horricks/AMC

Ah, the trial episode. The thespian vampires abduct Louis, Claudia, and the newly turned Madeleine (Roxane Duran) and put them on stage to face their crimes. Lestat returns to testify, and dramatically recall the events from New Orleans. However, when it comes time for the audience to gleefully sentence Louis to death, Armand uses his powers to save him from that fate and be be banished instead. The vampires take Louis to their crypt, lock him in a coffin, and cover him with rocks to starve for the rest of eternity. Claudia and Madeleine are burned by the sun and killed on stage, as Lestat watches with tears in his eyes.

In a haunting final image, Santiago (Ben Daniels) picks up Claudia's dress from a pile of ashes.

“And That’s The End of It. There’s Nothing Else” (season 2, episode 8)

Armand (Assad Zaman) on 'Interview With the Vampire'.

Larry Horricks/AMC

The season 2 finale is the best episode of* IWTV*. Thanks to Daniel’s smooth follow-up questions, the bombshell of the series is revealed: Armand* didn't *save Louis. Lestat did! Yet since Lestat didn't take credit for his gesture, Armand swooped in.

And then we get the ending that feels as if it's pulled from a rom-com. Louis rushes back to New Orleans, where Lestat is currently living (and teases his plan to go on tour as a musician), and tells him what he's learned. Lestat saved him from death, yet he didn't say anything for 77 years.

"I don't like to point out my virtues," Lestat simply says.

They embrace as a hurricane rages on outside, acting as if they are the only two people on the planet. Cut the cameras!

But before all the romance, let's rewind a bit and appreciate Louis going full John Wick on the French coven who killed Claudia and shoved him in a coffin. The shot of Louis slicing off Santiago's head is iconic. Luckily, though, one vamp escaped, and that’s how Daniel ended up with the annotated script decades later, showing that Armand directed the play and intended for his boyfriend to die.

Daniel goes on to publish his best-selling book. Oh, and one more thing: He's a vampire now, thanks to Armand.

All episodes of *Interview With the Vampire* are streaming on AMC+. *The Vampire Lestat* premieres Sunday, June 7, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on AMC and AMC+.

Watch the extended trailer, below:

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Drama”