I Could Not Prevent It

I don't understand the great ratings here. They just reenacted the first season on stage. It was pretentious and overdrawn... if I could have skipped longer than 10 seconds at a time I would have. Lestat is one of the best characters and his return could have been done a thousand different ways, but instead they just rehashed everything the viewer already knew. And if you've read the books, lord help you. It's pedantic and low. It's bad writing and even more poorly executed. The second season lacks in a thousand ways, but this is by far the worst episode and I don't hold out much hope for the third season after this.

This was undoubtably the best episode of the season and not at all what I was expecting. Every actor brought their A Game to the storytelling, but the MVP without a doubt was Sam Reid's long awaited return as LeStat.

This was the first time we get to see events from LeStat's view point and as he was retelling his story, I genuinely felt his pain and emotion. Some of the best acting Ive ever seen from any actor.

I also thought this was an amazing performance from Delainey Hayles as Claudia. Not only did she have the tough job of picking up the role this season from another actor, but she stood out in this episode in particular with her trademark determination and promise of revenge right to the bitter end.

Also Roxane Duran who played Madelaine. Even though she's only been in a handful of episodes I loved her performance as the dazed and confused vampire who ultimately stood up for Claudia rather than save herself. Even though she didn't have alot of lines until right at the end it was her non verbal communication that won me over.

Then there's Ben Daniels as Santiago - he was so exceptionally villianous this episode that he also stole the show.

Jacob and Sam's made the whole love tradegy so believable even though for most of the episode they barely looked at each other, yet you could still could still feel both the chemistry and tragedy of these characters even when they weren't facing each other.

It has sure set up one hell of a cliffhanger for next week's episode and this show is almost guaranteed to win an Emmy now for the performances in this episode alone!

Lestat hasn't lost his flare for the dramatic

The episode is the trial of Louis and Claudia's crimes, specifically the intentions on killing Lestat back in New Orleans. With almost no energy and all words they speak being restricted, they are at the full mercy of Lestat and his testimony.

It's a great episode, seeing Lestat back is fantastic, he was my favourite in S1 and hasn't lost the allure. It's also very interesting to see what Louis had been saying but from Lestats perspective as it does change things and even Louis comes to understand that.

It was a bleak episode, but in a good way, it has set up for a big finale and I'm very much looking forward, this was a great one, 9/10.

Others seem to love the episode. Fine. Each to their own! But personally was not a fan of an entire hour of vampireception where every layer is just one big ol' expository conversation. Felt like Jackanory does misery-porn Ally McBeal but with the added bonus of migraine-inducing squeaky-noise shaky cam. Great acting and a few fantastic plot twists and reveals a long time coming... just a massive shame that with very few minutes of exception it was all delivered as narration meets clip-show. If I'd wanted to watch gothic Judge Judy I'd have recorded that instead. Somehow.

Decent punch-up though.

This episode feels like the storm that's been quietly brewing all season has finally hit. Grief, betrayal, and a twisted kind of love crash into each other with devastating results. It's not just good television, it's high tragedy.

Plot: 9/10 Every thread comes to a head. Claudia's story takes center stage, and it's heartbreaking. The courtroom setting might be contained, but the emotions explode far beyond it.

Acting: 10/10 Delainey Hayles owns the screen. Her Claudia is fierce, wounded, and determined. The entire cast brings their A-game, especially in the silences between the spoken truths.

Writing: 9/10 Sharp, emotional, and laced with inevitability. Dialogue cuts straight to the soul, and nothing feels cheap or rushed.

Visuals and Direction: 9/10 Elegant and haunting. The lighting and framing make even stillness feel like it's vibrating with tension.

Pacing: 8.5/10 Measured but gripping. It lets every moment breathe without dragging.

Overall: 9/10 This is the series at its dramatic peak. A sorrowful, powerful unraveling of relationships that leaves no one untouched. Claudia's journey is gutting and unforgettable. A quiet, beautiful gut-punch of an episode.