Claudia (Bailey Bass) takes center stage in Interview with the Vampire Episode 4, titled “The Ruthless Pursuit of Blood with All a Child’s Demanding.” The format is a little different from the first three episodes of the season, offering a refreshing change of pace that keeps the show from being repetitive.
As much as I love watching Louis and Lestat fight and makeup, it’s nice that the show understands its parameters and dramatically shifts the story just when you think you have it figured out. Of course, those familiar with Anne Rice’s source material or even the 1994 film will have anticipated Claudia’s arrival as she’s a critical part of the original story.
Another interesting things about Interview with the Vampire Episode 4 is the introduction of a perspective on vampirism and immortality that we can never get with Louis or Lestat, that of a young woman.
Spoilers ahead for Interview with the Vampire episode 4
Instead of continuing the interview, Louis gives Molloy access to Claudia’s diaries, which she religiously kept from the moment she became a vampire. In the aftermath of the fire and rescue, Louis begs Lestat to turn Claudia, and after some pleading, Lestat obliges.
Claudia and Louis immediately form a connection because they can read each other’s minds. Since Lestat turned them both and makers cannot read the minds of the vampires they make, Lestat is left on the outskirts. He implements a new rule: no secrets in this family.
Claudia’s induction into this strange vampire family is more complicated than either male vampire had anticipated. Claudia is a hellion, taking after Lestat in her feeding proclivities. It doesn’t take long for her to adapt to her new predatory nature, and she’s happy to kill in messy gushes of blood.
Welcome to the family
There is some great humor in this episode as Louis and Lestat adapt to becoming “uncles” to a teenage girl. As Claudia adapts, they make room for her in the manor, buying her a coffin and setting her up with her own bedroom.
Louis even introduces Claudia to his family, although it’s not a happy reunion. Louis’ mother passes away, and he gets an invite to the funeral. But his meeting with Grace is laced with tension. She’s disgusted by him and Lestat, even moreso when she sees they’ve “adopted” a daughter. All Grace wants from Louis now is for him to relinquish the house to them since he doesn’t need the money anymore. He agrees to draw up the paperwork to give up his ownership.
Overall, Claudia’s assimilation into a full-blown vampire goes well; she takes to it like a duck to water…at least until her first heartbreak.
One day, Claudia meets a handsome boy named Charlie (Xavier Mills) in town, and they hit it off immediately. But Charlie mentions something Claudia will have to deal with as she ages. Even though her mind will continue aging, her body will stay the same. She’ll be trapped in the body of a young girl forever. Charlie has a hard time believing she’s 19.
A breaking point
Claudia is enthralled by the exhilaration of first love, leading up to the first time she and Charlie sleep together. Claudia loses control and bites him. Unable to stop herself, she accidentally kills him.
Desperate to save Charlie, Claudia brings his body back to Lestat and Louis. She begs Lestat to save him by turning him like he turned her. But since Charlie is already dead, that’s no longer possible. Claudia is furious with her uncle, but there is nothing to be done except clean up her mess. Lestat is particularly cruel, making her watch as they burn Charlie’s body so she can understand the dangers of fraternizing with mortals.
Charlie’s death and the subsequent realization that she’ll be stuck in the same body forever is heartbreaking for Claudia. Distraught and suicidal, she opens the skylight during broad daylight and sticks her arm into the rays of sunshine. The episode ends on a cliffhanger with Claudia’s life up in the air. Will she commit suicide? Surely this can’t be the last we see of her.
Grade: A+
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