IWTV S2 EP 5 PATREON

Happy birthday!

Devon Michelle

As ever I enjoy the mixture of empathy and no-bullshit judgement you bring to every character, but also I just want to note that NO ONE has more audacity than Armand every time he claims (multiple times from S1E7 to this very episode) that he saved Daniel's life and that Daniel owes him. When Armand tortured Daniel and was on the verge of killing him! It's an interesting insight into how Armand will use every lever of guilt-trip to gain power in a situation (probably because he has been made to feel so powerless many times in his life) but also I think a way of distancing Louis and Daniel by emphasizing that Daniel can't trust Louis and Louis doesn't really care about Daniel (which is obviously not true).

Leticia

59:08 😂😂😂 GOD

Calluna Vulgaris

The date rape part is not the sex its the turning. Lestat wasnt just seducing him into sex, he was seducing him to be turned and to be his eternal companion. Seducing him to give up his entire life, his mortality, what he considered his soul. But after his brothers suicide, Lestat was going to lose him for a while, and he didnt want that so he sped up the process and pushed him into accepting "the gift" . He didnt have time to consider it, Lestat pushed every button to get a very coerced yes out of him for a very intimate all consuming change that cant be taken back. That is what i mean by it was kind of like a date rape. If his brother hadnt committed suicide, Louis would not have been in a pushable state of mind. His mother blaming him for it was another token in Lestats pocket. Lestat needed to move fast, before Lous rejected him completely as a devil. Kinda like getting your girlfriend pregnant to make her stay..

Mari Thomas

Glad you're here...I'm on a quick vacation with my girlfriend but I'll be back in a few days 😊🌹

Raymond Walker

It was phenomenal

Raymond Walker

I think this is the best-written episode of season 2.

The Existential Shrew

Broke down and joined the Patreon. Immediately it's Return of the Mac. Hell yeah 🕺

The Existential Shrew

I too signed up for this particular episode's reaction and Taco my man, you did not disappoint. It's truly wonderful seeing your takes on this show. I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets mad when the end rolls around. I want it to go on and on!

Ally

Thank you🙏🏿♥️

Raymond Walker

I like your explanation. I had the impression that Louis initially assumes the dominant role in order to exert control over the coven via Armand and thus get a grip on the danger posed by the coven. Later, he uses Armand's tendency to fall back into the role of slave when he sees no other way out. But I think he actually knows that this is just an illusion and that Armand is actually pulling the strings.

Myra

Lestat has hurt Louis through active deeds. Armand hurts him by withholding help. When Lestat hurts Louis, it is more out of impulse and later he regrets it. He has less control over his emotions than Armand, but he wouldn't have stood idly by and watched Louis suffer for long. In Armand's case, I was sure that he deliberately wanted Louis to suffer for a while. Both behaviors are not okay, but they are different.

Myra

I would like to add my interpretation and am therefore copying a comment I made above. But your interpretation also seems possible to me. I love this series and how much is going on in the background that you can think about. I think Armand really intended to bring about a debate between Louis and Lestat and let Louis go. But when Lestat told him to tell him that he loved Louis, he couldn't and decided to continue manipulating Louis. When Louis put his hand on Armand's cheek, it seemed to me that he had sensed Lestat's presence and that this gesture was directed at Lestat. But after the contact with Lestat suddenly breaks off, Loius feels so hurt again that he denies his love for Lestat and tries to make a new start with Armand.

Myra

I think Armand really intended to bring about a debate between Louis and Lestat and let Louis go. But when Lestat told him to tell him that he loved Louis, he couldn't and decided to continue manipulating Louis. When Louis put his hand on Armand's cheek, it seemed to me that he had sensed Lestat's presence and that this gesture was directed at Lestat. But after the contact with Lestat suddenly breaks off, Loius feels so hurt again that he denies his love for Lestat and tries to make a new start with Armand.

Myra

Lestat is his great love and that scares him to death. Especially because he has always experienced rejection and lacks confidence that Lestat really loves him. And Lestat is so afraid of being abandoned that he does everything he can to get Louis to react in a way that proves his love, such as the whole story with Antoinette. But it is precisely this that makes Louis even more insecure. I think Louis would never have agreed to Claudia's plan to kill Lestat if he had really ended the affair with Antoinette and given Louis a sense of security.

Myra

Yeah, I didn't miss his white skin or his red hair because I read the books after the series and when Armand showed up... I was seeing Assad in the pages. COMPLETELY. The eyes, their expression... As you said, perfectly casted!

Victoria

I think Louis only said that to get Armand to let Daniel live. Daniel shouldn't be a link between Louis and Armand. Louis subconsciously sensed that Daniel had something inside him that could help him later, when he was ready. Daniel was not meant to strengthen the relationship with Armand, but to be Louis' way out if he is not happy with his self-deception after all. His reassurance, so to speak. Perhaps also because he unconsciously knew that Armand was manipulating him. Armand could not bring himself to tell Louis that Lestat loves him. I think Louis would have needed to hear that at that moment. When he put his hand on Armand's cheek, he felt something from Lestat. Armand's ending the conversation with Lestat must have seemed like another rejection of Lestat to Louis. So he tried again to convince himself and Armand that Lestat was only his creator and nothing more. But actually, he knows better and Daniel should be his return ticket in case he will be ready to face the truth at some point.

Myra

Whow. I didn't got that.

Myra

Love this. And althrough Assad Zaman doesn't look as Armand is described in the books (he has red hair and green eyes there) he perfectly expresses the essence of Armand. He is gorgeous. He embodies all the aspects of Armand and in some scenes he even looks very young and just fits this role perfectly. He is simultaneously a powerful vampire, a cunning manipulator, a wounded boy and a rejected lover. And in his cruelty there is always a hint of caring and compassion.

Myra

became a patron just to see the full reaction to this masterpiece of an episode, and I loved it! oh you might actually be my favorite rector from now on! I love how you understand that each of these characters are complex and fucked up, it really is important to the gothic horror genre I feel like and I won't say much about Armand (because my opinion is very. Extremely biased, since he's my favorite character, both in the show and in the books), but I'm so happy you like him and already understand him and his motives. he's a very complicated and flawed character, but that's what makes him so interesting (to me, at least) loved the reaction, and I'm excited to watch the rest of the episodes with you!

Aru

This is in my TOP3 episodes for this series, and your reaction did not disappoint. I was shocked that you stopped specifically to write down the "Armand preserves my happiness..." because it's the one phrase that confirms to us that Armand is messing with some of Louis' memories in order to preserve THEIR happiness. And yes, as a fan of the series and the books, I have to say that you are absolutely right when you say that Armand just wants to be seen and loved, and I'm so glad that you can really SEE his character, even if you haven't read the books or even finished the series... You are soooooooooo good at seeing beneath the surface, it's crazy. And yes, Louis clearly can't get over Lestat, he keeps saying it's because of the vampire bond, but... Lestat is also Claudia's maker and they don't feel the way Louis does for Lestat, so... Yeah, we're not buying it, Louis! 🤣 I'm just so glad you love the character of Armand as much as I do, because no, that doesn't mean we condemn everything he does, but he's a great character. I also loved the actor who plays young Daniel, the scene between him and Armand when Armand is about to bite him... Speechless. Can't wait for the next episode and hope you had a lovely birthday! ❤️‍🔥

Victoria

I posted this on my youtube community..everyone wants to trade places with you 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Raymond Walker

@ArcAngel @FoxTaco I SWEAR. My boyfriend was like "go and say something" but I'm too respectful and I don't like to bother famous ppl when they are living their lives idk, It's enough for me just seeing that face. 🤣

Victoria

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Raymond Walker

Maybe the Farah Fawcet hair spray comment was a bit obscure... That's from Stranger Things (it was Steve "The Hair" Harrington's best beauty secret). Have you guys seen Stranger Things? Taco have you already seen it?

ArcAngel

Omg! Never wash your eyeballs again!! 😍😂❤

ArcAngel

THATS IS FUCKING AMAZING!!!! Glad you got to see one of the goats!!!good thing your bf looked back hahha

Raymond Walker

TACO!!! You're not going to believe this, I'm at the London airport right now just about to board, returning home when I look back and my boyfriend says to me: I can't believe this. And it was ASSAD ZAMAN!!! We saw Armand at the London airport!!! I'm positively shocked. I can't believe this happened to us 🤣 and the only thing I can say to you is that he is even more stunning in person 😭😭😭 omg I've been blessed!

Victoria

happy birthday! glad youre enjoying the show, and this episode in particular

aura aurify

This is so funny because when I saw he was Armand I had to see the first season again and his looks and expressions are gold 🤣

Victoria

Natty you're cooking! I like this

Raymond Walker

I really like they way you put this.

Raymond Walker

Yeah...but it was one of those nights where you wake up thinking "oh good, I got some sleep!" And then you check the clock and its only 30 minutes later. 🙄 And then you repeat the process until it gets frustrating and then give up! But it's fine...last night was much better. Cheers to all the insomnia sufferers -- we are squeezing more than our share of consciousness out of a single lifetime! 😳

ArcAngel

His hair never looked so perfect. He musta saved some of that good Farah Fawcet Hair spray from the 70's.

ArcAngel

Lestat got his dating handbook from the mid 1700s. It shows! 😂😂😂

ArcAngel

And Claudia played 'Lulu' who wanted to be a birdie! Wow I never thought of these things... Thank you, Natty!

ArcAngel

Thank you Kelsi, it's so sad when Daniel put into context all the things "he" messed up but he was able to be great at his job. In the end in sure he would trade it all...immediately made me think of Claudia the gift/curse they gave her

Raymond Walker

🙏🏿♥️

Raymond Walker

Thank you Nicole I hope you enjoyed..and thank you fir the birthday wishes

Raymond Walker

🤣🤣 Armand is definitely Goated 🐐🐐

Raymond Walker

Yea Anderson really put in work on that seen I'm sure on multiple watches it hits even harder

Raymond Walker

Thank you Des🙏🏿

Raymond Walker

Thank you 🙏🏿 it was amazing, I try and give some grace

Raymond Walker

🤣🤣🤣Thank you ♥️🙏🏿

Raymond Walker

Happy Escaped the Womb Day!

MJG Story Creation

If you listen closely to when Louis says "She's calling me" you can hear birds chirping. Louis has the birds in his head like Paul 🥲.

Natty

👀...

Raymond Walker

Thank you🙏🏿♥️ really love this community

Raymond Walker

Hmmmm I don’t agree. They were friends for months. Louis said that Lestat was his coal fire during the winter months. That besides Paul, Lestat was the closest he’s ever been to anyone especially a man. Louis loved Lestat. I don’t get date rape at all. But I respect your opinion.

Jackie Owe

Can you imagine being Armand in season 1? You have to sit politely and listen to your husband opine about the raptures of the sex he had with his ex, who is also your ex. Unhinged.

Aquielle

Love Louis, with that said to me it felt like another Claudia situation yes he saved him but there were conditions..he's liliterally interviewing him again..and is being used as a memento for him and Armands love. IMO from what I've seen so far

Raymond Walker

Hahahha the fit was clean🔥

Raymond Walker

I did thank you Mari😊

Raymond Walker

If you do a rewatch, two cool Armand things to note: When he's pissed and flinging Daniel around and says "We're all fine," his eyes shake! It's so creepy! And then when he's unspooling Daniel's cassette, you can see he's unspooling the other tapes with his mind. I really liked your interpretation of Daniel's gift/curse. Because I like Louis a lot I always view that interaction as just a gift but it's totally a mixed bag like everything else in the show (and life).

Kelsi Villarreal

Happy birthday, Taco! Hope it was a good one. My god that argument was messy!! Louis is so succinct in his ways of using deepest insecurities against people. And Armand -- your understanding of him! I love that you saw his positives first in this twisted ass situation.

birdie

Finished the episode and yessss you get it! You understand Armand completely

Destini

I getchu - but lowered inhibitions are lowered inhibitions. Louis' inhibitions were lowered. And that opened the floodgates.

xris037

Armand looks like a teenage pretty, boy. Not attractive to me. And I don't trust him. You have to watch out for the quiet ones.

Yvette

Armand and Louis are tied for my favorite character so this episode is rouggghhh. Armand is constantly projecting his insecurities onto Daniel the whole time and it’s so scary to watch. There were so many great lines this episode. His “prison of empathy” line to Louis reminds me of their Dubai penthouse which feels so cold and prison like. Also Jacob Anderson deserves an Emmy. Louis recollecting his own suicide makes me tear up. You can see all the shock, shame, and confusion on his face.

Tommie

He is definitely envious of Daniel's certainty and ego lol He has ZERO sense of autonomy frfr and YES he right there w/lestat idgaf idgaf🤣

AmandaLoLo

Return of the Mack! You have great taste in music! Also, happy birthday!

Nicole Soza

The phrase “bright young reporter with a point of view” was also used before this episode. Daniel says it in his defense when Armand offers him death (1:07:26 here). Daniel also says it to the real Rashid in 2x01 (go to 34:05 in Taco’s reaction ). Armand has this moment of quiet shock and then smirks. Assad plays it so cryptically.

Jessica

Wow how many times have I seen this show and never registered that Armand’s control of the window tint is part of his suicide watch. Thanks for connecting those dots for me!!

Valaree

armand is a fascinating character! thank you for the reaction !

Marjorie Be

Oh no please don’t apologize…I looove your commentary and personality…this comment went exactly the way I didn’t want it to…I love your reactions for what they are…just like you love the show…but it’s parts that irritate you when they happen…doesn’t make you love it any less…it’s just those moments lol…you and Frank are my favorite reactors to this series…if you paused every 10seconds i would still love/hate it lol❤️.

Monte Maurice

No, Armand left Louis to suffer for days. You can tell the blood giving we saw is the first time from Armand because, as Taco noticed, he stopped whimpering ans not long after that he could push himself to stand up. Also Lestat just left Louis away "in shame" after he dropped him. Claudia took care of him alone. So, let's not resort to Abuser Olympics here. there's no trophy for the better abuser

crazykuroneko

Thanks Hannah! I love that plot beat too, so I get the excitement 😈

Valaree

Happyy birthday Taco! Enjoy your day! Idk if you picked it up, but Armand really said the same answer when was asked why he saved Daniel as Louis did at the beginning of the episode. Just how Daniel used the same word as Armand planted into his mind in the '70s when describing that night. Like, Daniel only stayed with them for one week. God knows how much Armand erased and planted into Louis' mind for 77 years...

crazykuroneko

I between the two of you here. I believe Armand when he asks if he will be on suicide watch for the next 1,000 years. That part seemed heartfelt to me. Let’s not forget Armand’s warning about knowing when a vampire will inevitably go insane or be destroyed because he’s seen it before. I think he was blind to Louis’s ability to end his own life until he was burning. I believe this is also why he alone controls the window tinting in their penthouse throughout season 1.

Jessica

You talking about how respectful the discussion is on here compared to other venues - that's all you, my man! You encourage and model thoughtful, open dialogue, don't tolerate rude commenters, and have a lock down on spoilers which minimizes the book/show debates that tend to get heated. I love the space you've curated here ❤️

Amanda Winstead

Whew, almost left a spoiler. Edited

Mari Thomas

I think Armand is trying to pick him apart to see what he can use, i also think he's a tiny bit attracted to Daniel, like Daniel said, How many has he not killed? He couldve easily gone back later and killed Daniel after the first meeting. Or had someone else do it.

Mari Thomas

The problem with louis and lestat imho is that lestat rushed everything and what was a really intense seduction turned into a sort of date rape scenario. If Lestat had let things take their time it might have just become one of those really hot but volitile relationships. Instead louis tried to be as boring as possible to lestat, gave him everything but the silent treatment. But thats just my opinion. Truthfully they were all violated and changed without their consent and/or under extreme coersion. The sexual assault analogy is hard to ignore in almost all vampire stories. At least for me it is.

Mari Thomas

Armand was groomed by a cult lol, the man has skills 😂😂😂😂 and the brain development of a teenager. 😂😂

Mari Thomas

I did!! Lol, really late and then i overslept all my med tumes 😂😂😂😂🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ how did you do? Any sleep?

Mari Thomas

Armand’s death speech is so scary because I think he would have talked me into accepting death. Rest.

Jackie Owe

Idk if I have said this, but Louis loves Lestat’s dirty drawls lol He just doesn’t want to admit it. He doesn’t want to admit he loves the chaos and the drama and the toxicity. He just can’t admit it. Armand was right. He wanted Daniel to publish that interview. Which is why he made up all that stuff about Lestat. He wanted Lestat so angry that he would come find him. Smh. I love all my vampires. All of them. But people think Louis is above Lestat and baby he right there, rolling around in the muck. If only Louis was honest with himself.

Jackie Owe

I already edited it, it’s for the best. I thought I avoided a spoiler by being vague but oops I was blind to my heavy implying. Thank you Sophie & Valaree for pointing it out. I was “leading the witness” even if I avoided details 😅

Hannah G0123

Yall be saving me🤣🤣🤣🤣 i was just about to read no offense to the commenter you don't have to delete or edit what you said I just can't read it🙏🏿♥️ but it can stay

Raymond Walker

🚨🚨🚨 I agree, i think book stuff that hasn’t been realized in the show yet (such as DM) should be labeled as a spoiler.

Sophie Heflebower

Hope you got some sleep! ❤

ArcAngel

It's such a treat to have a show full of eye candy AND brain candy!! I'm gonna gorge myself on this show for quite a while, methinks!

ArcAngel

I like Armand, too. I love everyone, I guess. Coming into this show fully expecting everyone to be both good and bad ...maybe that helped. Also, I do think differently about the characters because they are vampires (having endless time, never aging, being almost indestructible)...it doesn't feel right to judge their actions in exactly the same way as if they were human. All those things considered, I find all the characters fascinating (poor Armand thinking he isn't fascinating -- how can a 500+ year old vampire not be fascinating??). Color me fascinated!

ArcAngel

Yeah, I mean, I really value and appreciate when a reactor is genuine and is not afraid to speak their truths, that's why I also enjoy Frank reactions so much, even if we have very different opinions about some of the characters in this show🤣 but in this series in particular it is also truth that you have to be very open to appreciate the whole, because it's a show where nothing it's what it seems, all the characters are multilayered and complicated, all are villains and heroes at the same time, good and bad, so I personally can't fathom someone fully hating any of the main characters, mostly when this is going to be an impediment for you to appreciate other layers the character may show on the future. I don't know if I explained myself well enough, english is not my first lenguaje but I think you get the point of what I'm saying 🤣❤️‍🔥

Victoria

I’d love to hear your thoughts on reaction videos and how they interact with fandom!

Valaree

🚨 this is a spoiler!

Valaree

Aahhh ok not gonna lie, I've been wondering where you've been 🙏🏿..hope you are enjoying yourself

Raymond Walker

Thank you Victoria 😊

Raymond Walker

Wait people start hating Armand for this Episode?, I mean I understand being mad about what he did to Daniel and Louis but we've gotten crumbs to why he would feel this way over the last 3 episodes and literally all of season 1 playing the wall(in the backgroud) so even if we may disagree with how he has went about things..it makes sense from a character standpoint. It's so disheartening everytime you all tell me this because I understand the position reactors are in...( i literally want to make a video on this and just speak about our position the role social media plays in it and fitting into the social norm..it's hard for some people to speak their true thoughts and even then their "true" thoughts may be guided by social media and the fear of being on an island by themselves

Raymond Walker

In some ways, everything Armand threw in Daniel’s face from picking his mind apart was a mirror. “Bartering with desire?”, “A splinter of coldness?”, “An instinct to self efface?”, “I’m not sure there’s much to you other than a HOLE.” Not that Armand is self aware enough to notice this big projection, but I do think Armand is wondering why he has all these qualities himself, yet they’re more attractive in Daniel. Armand & Daniel have honestly become the most fascinating (hehe) dynamic in the show for me. The show writers have managed to make the two characters more complicated and better imo.

Hannah G0123

Yeah, in that scene he SERVED!

Victoria

Hey Taco! I'm on holidays and so I didn't get to see this or last episode yet (this is the first thing I will do once I get home) but I saw it was your birthday so... HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you had a beautiful day! 🌹💌

Victoria

Yeah this is why Taco is the best IWTV reactor for me! He's always so open to understand!

Victoria

Thanks and happy birthday!

Kelsi Villarreal

Love your jam sessions! Just know that I'm always jamming right along with you! 😂 Happy birthday. 🥰

Holly Robertson

Wishing you the happiest of birthday's Taco! 🥳 Love from the UK

Janey P

He also cuts out from Lestat without saying what state Louis is in leaving Lestat screaming for Louis. So he manages to hurt Lestat at the same time.

Ms.Mews

And I think this also links to Louis "you're boring" statement. Being with someone like Armand can feel great at first, especially for someone like Louis whose needs were kind of neglected or looked down upon in his previous relationship with Lestat. So meeting Armand who changes himself to fit Louis needs and who admires his individuality probably feels really validating. But spending decades with someone who never really shows his true self, who in a way mirrors you instead of following their own aspirations becomes draining and lonely.

Robin

Thank you for being the first person I've seen review this episode and not jump on the Armand hate train. (I love him and I am his defense lawyer) The fact that you understand that each of these characters contains multitudes is very precious to me. I think so many people just pick a character to be a woobie and decide that everyone else is the bad guy. But they are all bad guys, that's what makes them interesting, their flaws is what makes them so achingly human. That said have a great birthday, and thank you for Return of the Mack.

Aquielle

HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY TACO 💕💕💕💕

Anna Németh

Im gonna say one last thing and then im going to bed.. sorry for the novel lol.. but look Armand is essentially a cult leader, but he is also a product of the way he was turned.. when he says he was groomed, pfft he was damn near programmed. and turned sooo young... So part of what you said about him not knowing himself is likely true in that he did grow old enough to know anything about himself before he was kidnapped and groomed. But like any successful cult leader, putting on empathy and love like a mask is his claim to fame. so when he says hes been good to him.. has he really? or is that another mantra like all the others

Mari Thomas

so so so fine.. they picked some flawless sexy men for these roles woo

Mari Thomas

I feel like what is meant by Daniel being "fascinating" might be that he has a really strong character. He has his passion as a reporter, he is opinionated, he has a way about him that clearly makes him Daniel. Whereas Armand has always molded his character to fit other people. He becomes what other people want him to be in order to be loved and accepted or respected as the coven leader. Maybe a behaviour he developed early on in his childhood to survive the abuse he faced. But because of that we don't really know who he even is, what does Armand stand for, what does he believe in and he probably doesn't know that himself at this point.

Robin

Also, happy Birthday Foxtaco! Do something amazing and have a great day :D

Mari Thomas

Also, return of the Mac is the best song for sooo much of this series lol

Mari Thomas

hehehehe, i tried to do the same and no dice.. so i sat up playing Dont Starve together by myself and now im having tuna salad and about to watch the reaction again.. or well at least listen to it.. hugs, i hope you get some sleep soon.. sigh i hope we both do. lol

Mari Thomas

Fyi: it's 3:54 and I can't sleep...so I'm responding to your comment! I know I must get some sleep tho, so I'm about to Audible The Vampire Lestat... cuz it's soothing and if I'm lucky, it might positively influence my dreams! Fingers crossed! 😇

ArcAngel

I have to make one totally obvious observation: Armand looked so fine at the end of the episode when he got home from "dinner"! Sorry...not an elevated comment...but it had to be said. 😍

ArcAngel

Wait a minute!! what is everyone doing up this late with me.. lol i thought i was the only one sitting up at 3 am waiting for the household to go to be so i can watch this. . Maan, i have been waiting for this one.. i even made my favorite soup.. lol

Mari Thomas

And then make you feel it! I mean...don't get me wrong it's all very morbid and ghoulish and whatnot, but there's definitely worse ways to go! 😂

ArcAngel

Heey!! yea, ive been waiting for a quiet moment to watch your reaction. :D. As someone who grew up in a manipulative family and had several manipulative relationships, the way they did this series is both triggering and super fascinating for me. I cant wait to hear your break down.. Especially when we get to the finale :D Ann Rice was an amazing writer and the show runners actors everyone involved really did her work justice. :D

Mari Thomas

Happy birthday Taco!!! Hope you have an amazing time with your family. I see Louis is still not climbing your list 😫😂 (I thought you would’ve given him brownie points for saving Daniel).

Val

His style is very much the woodcutter at the Theater. Do you know what it means to be loved by death? 😬

Jessica

Armand is manipulating him while he is in extreme pain, that he is the only one who can ease. Armand is not kind, he is controling . He pushed the buttons that sent him into the sun, tormented the "boy" while manipulated Louis at the same time, then, to boot. he calls lestat and lets him know louis tried to kiss the sun but refused to tell louis that lestat said he loves him. If he is manipulating this he manipulates other things, all the time. at best that gets boring at worst it is suffocating.

Mari Thomas

Armand never gives of himself, you will never see the whole or the real Armond and both Louis and Lestat are good at checkin masks that people wear. Part of why Armand wants to keep Louis is because Lestat had him. Armand is partially interrogating Daniel to find a mask to put on that he can use to keep Louis enthralled. He also doesnt want Louis to do this anymore so part of him dressing down Daniel is about letting Louis hear what will happen to the next "boy" he runs off and takes to a room. Lestat is calculating in the extreme. They are all monsters

Mari Thomas

Alcohol can make you speak your mind more easily doesn't mean it's the truth though..and drugs, there's no evidence shown that drugs make you tell the truth

Raymond Walker

The acting in this is superb.. You reaally feel like they are having this fight

Mari Thomas

Listening to Louis and Armand fight feels like eavesdropping on your neighbors fighting through the wall, like something you shouldn’t hear 😬

Julia Barrera

Drugs and alcohol make you more truthful.

xris037

No, Louis does not get a pass.. Loius is every bit the monster lestat is, that is what lestat saw in Louis

Mari Thomas

The fight with Armand here is perfectly contrasted with the fight in 1x05. When he’s reading while Lestat is burning cards. Louis even triggers Lestat in the same way when he brings up Claudia (who has been traveling for years), and Lestat says her name the same way Armand says his. (Claudia. Claudia. Claudia. I cannot listen to this insanity about Claudia one more time.) Louis’s relationships seem to fall apart due to boredom, and he always wants the person he can’t have. He ends up resenting the person who stays.

Jessica

💀🤣🤣

Raymond Walker

FuCk mAn, ArE 🤢 YoU thE ZoDIac KiLleRRrr

Jessica

MARI🙏🏿♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️😊

Raymond Walker

That pre episode soundtrack though hahahahahahaha,, But who is it for? hahahahahaha

Mari Thomas

Toxic asf lol..and thank you Mia

Raymond Walker

Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy it 🥳 I made sure to have my snacks for this reaction bc this episode was messsy! Louis is toxic man thats why i think him and lestat belong together. He gets bored easily

Mia Hernandez

Yeeees!! Ive been waiting on this episode.. the mental health issues on display here are.. just muah... chefs kiss..

Mari Thomas

Aahhh ok glad you're sister and the baby are well😊♥️♥️

Raymond Walker

First off Happy Birthday!! 🎂🎉 Wishing you many blessings and more. For the episode loved the actor who played young Daniel. Simply amazing! The fighting words between Louie and Armand🫣. Louie said this vamp was boring, flavorless and a beige pillow 🤣. I’m sorry but that took me out. Despite how I feel Louie manipulates (or maybe is more reactive), I definitely feel Armand does too. Just from S1, lurking in the shadows, the book shelf high knowing Louie likes to read, the pages torn out and not allowing Louie to read them, and swapping out his photos, and now it looks as if he’s edited Louie’s memories. He states that Louie could leave his prison of empathy to go back to his chaos with Lestat but excuse me 400 year old vamp you could have definitely left Louie at boy #1 not 105. I truly don’t know Armand’s end game. I don’t even think he truly loves Louie. He is an interesting character. I have a love/ hate relationship with all the characters.

Partrice

Hahahaha🤣🤣 will do thanks for always supporting Arc🐕

Raymond Walker

Hope you enjoy🙏🏿

Raymond Walker

Yeah...they don't really give you the ideal choice in this episode, do they? But...have you read the books? They explain the ...uh...'Armand experience' more explicitly in the books. Which I guess isn't some sort of secret...Louis tells us how Armand operates normally (didn't he say Malik would be "begging for it"? Something like that?). I love your makeout idea best, tho! "wow, this guy LOVES my neck!" 💀😃💀

ArcAngel

I screamed when I seen this uploaded

Destini

Mmmmmm ok Natasha i see you 👩🏽‍🍳 you COOKIN!

Raymond Walker

Like ideally he’d just mind control me into thinking we’re making out and he’s really into necks until oops I’m dead. You don’t gotta convince me I’m worthless and would be better off dead my dude.

Valaree

thank you and happy birthday!

.

Haha thanks make sure you Watch all the eps, glad you're here 🙏🏿 welcome to the family

Raymond Walker

saw u watched this on youtube and ran so fast to buy your patreon

.

I can admit to possible bias, as a member of the Armand fan club 😅

Valaree

I disagree! I’m watching for the reaction, and the more in-the-moment the better. He does a good job of jumping back a bit to catch the flow after he comments in my opinion.

Valaree

Truth.

Yvette

that's how i saw that scene as well. i think armand's motivations are very clear in that he's desperate to be needed and to be loved and he'll take what he can get from louis despite it being clear that louis' heart is not 100% his and i feel for him in that way but, imo, what he's doing here is 100% manipulative and he knows it. i have my own thoughts on armand's emotional/mental abuse versus lestat's physical abuse on louis and how fandom reacts to it in comparison but that will have to be saved until the finale.

1234

We all know Real Rashid x Dr. Fareed is the one true ship! Fight me!

Valaree

Re: Armand's particular feeding/murder style, I mean...yeah it's creepy to ease people into submission, but maybe that's better than scaring the beejezuz outta people while viciously ripping into them? I dunno...I think I'd rather be happy and peaceful (even if deluded) while being eaten? Obviously I'd rather not be killed for dinner at all...but if I MUST be dinner, probably I'd rather not be screaming in terror and agony? I dunno...

ArcAngel

I’m not convinced that Armand leaves Louis to suffer. At one point he’s crying to Armand “the pain is back”, and then Armand immediately gives him blood. Saying it’s “back” implies he had given Louis blood earlier to help with the pain and healing, and it was just wearing off. They don’t show everything that happens for those 5ish days, I think Armand was taking care of him the whole time. Lestat never came back to feed Louis his blood after dropping him from the sky. He let Louis suffer, absolutely.

Valaree

That's how I interpreted that scene with Armand contacting Lestat as well. It's interesting that people have come away with different interpretations.

Jessie

hmm. i have a different, far less kinder take on that scene. "if you want to leave this prison of empathy i've locked you away in" screams manipulation. louis is writhing in pain and armand is out here going "oh you can just leave if you want to" (something many abusers often tell their partners). it just feels incredibly disingenuous to me especially considering what gets revealed about armand in this episode alone.

1234

Personally I went into this season sus af because of the deception in S1. I’m also unfortunately a Lestat ride or die and there’s only room in my heart for one toxic Louis “soulmate” 😂😂 In this episode specifically, it really set me off to find out how much Armand has manipulated Louis’ memory, considering how important his own story is to him. Like, he’s struggling with an honest reckoning of his own story and then we find out Armand has edited overtop of it too? Very similar to the pages being removed from Claudia’s journals imo, which is also a red flag for me.

Natasha

Have fun with your birthday celebrations with mom and everybody! Happy birthday, Libra Man! (aka: Mr. Impossible! 😂). ❤❤❤

ArcAngel

Of course Natasha i will ask him, just curious were people like extra mad at Armand during this Episode?👀 I mean outside of the Daniel bits

Raymond Walker

Happy Birthday!! Great reaction, I love how much you understand Armand. He’s just a messed up little guy. You asked why he tried to connect Louis to Lestat telepathically. I think he was being honest: “one last act of service before I leave you”. I think he had intended to essentially give Louis back to Lestat. He thought Louis wanted to leave him and go back to Lestat, so he was trying to reconnect them. He changed his mind when Louis refused to answer Lestat, he realized Louis was choosing him and decided to stay at that moment.

Valaree

ACTING!!! 😤😤😤 😂

ArcAngel

he never specified what he saw but there are some people in the fandom incapable of separating a character from the actor and they were (and continue to be) downright nasty about sam because they hate lestat (a fictional character). i think like with all fandoms, iwtv fandom is best when you curate your space and block/mute people who spend all their time in fandom being miserable about a show (that they claim to be fans of).

1234

This episode and your reaction made me appreciate Armand more than ever... I honestly forgot he was even in season 1, and when you kept mentioning that he blended in then, I was like, oh Ray is bugging. But he really does become whatever he thinks the person he is with needs. Sad as hell, especially when he's the most powered up vamp on the show now. I wonder if you caught Armand asking Louis whether he has atoned for his part on Paris, whether he had crawled forward an inch? Oh and while you took your time before saying that Louis looked timid, I said "like a b!tch" in the silence 🤣.

Indi500

My exact reaction when I got the notif 😭

Natasha

Happy bday!! 🎉

Natasha

K first, your pre-reaction pump up song choice fits so well with the episode I almost thought it was intentional hahaha You have SO MUCH more empathy for Armand than I do and it’s really interesting to hear your thoughts on him. Like a completely different take that took me a second rewatch to even start thinking about. I don’t want to hint to ANYTHING coming up but would really love a post-series (so far) discussion once you’re done the season. If you and Frank could make it work it would be so cool to hear you guys talk it through. Great video once again 👌🏻👏🏻

Natasha

Hard to judge. Armand is never mad When Louis first got burned by the sun, Lestat carried him up the stairs and looked after him. Armand let him suffer until he was ready.

Yvette

aye man im sorry. im just doing what i've been doing the entire time. and there was no intentional shade i really just dont talk for like 20mins at a time. Im glad you are here and ill accept all the criticism because you said this is your fav episode. With that said this is a comment i would love to see as a private DM. I hope you have a blessed night and im gonna go and try and enjoy my birthday festivities. Again i really appreciate you being here Monte

Raymond Walker

All valid points! Thank you for responding.

Melissa

Monte Maurice

Thank you! Happy Birthday to you too 🥳. She had an emergency c section and it was kind of scary but he's here now and everyone is doing well... ❤️❤️❤️

Kimberly Bellow

I’d actually like to know what was said to him or about him

Martin Gage

I have a small amount of push back for this one Yvette. When Lestat was put in the "Cycle of Louis" it resulted in him whooping him and dropping him 30,00 feet from the sky. My opinion on the matter is NO character usually handles these situations in the right way. So to say Lestat wouldn't leave Louis to suffer while true doesn't mean he wouldn't take his "fair share" of flesh as well.

Raymond Walker

ah there’s some toxicity on tumblr as well, but not nearly as bad as other fandoms i’ve been in. there seems to be a divide on tumblr and twitter (but mostly twitter) among shipping one couple versus another, if you’ll allow me to be vague for spoiler reasons.

Sophie Heflebower

I believe Armand wants Louis because he was with Lestat. It will always go back to Lestat for Armand.

Yvette

Have a happy birthday :) I’m so happy Assad didn’t know he auditioned for Armand and we were blessed with him in this role. The boys did their big one.

icedchy

It will be here when you're ready lol

Raymond Walker

Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy time with family and loved ones. As always, your reaction was fantastic. I felt like I was hit by a mack truck after this episode. It's incredible. That fight. The acting. Armand terrified me and simultaneously made me feel for him. Louis going into the sun. A few things: 1. Vamps can heal faster when given blood esp from someone powerful like Armand. It makes me angry that it takes A so long to give L blood. 2. The channeling of Lestat can be read as loving (even though painful for A), but I've always read it as manipulation, like "Oh, you want Lestat back??!! Well, here he is!" Then he withholds the "I love you, Louis" bc he's too afraid Louis might leave him. He also "disconnects" from Lestat who must be freaking out not knowing what happened to Louis and if he's okay or not. 3. Armand reducing himself and then Daniel to a "black hole" -- yikes. So so so messed up and sad. 4. Armand calls it a "prison of empathy" - interesting. 5. Louis is so passive aggressive until he explodes. He also withholds. I can understand both Lestat and Armand's frustration with him, but Lestat is pure chaos and Armand is lethal. These characters are so human -- with the added complications of living forever and being monstrous. Anne Rice is brilliant.

Melissa

😎🕺🏿🕺🏿

Raymond Walker

I got you🙏🏿

Raymond Walker

🤣🤣

Raymond Walker

🙏🏿♥️

Raymond Walker

While Louis is in such pain and this shows a big difference between Armand and Lestat. Lestat wouldn't have left Louis in pain for so long. He loved his soulmate. That's why we love Lestat above all.

Yvette

I got rid of it years ago for good reason. Poor Sam doesn’t deserve anything but respect!

Ms.Mews

🙌🙌🙌

Melissa

Agreed & I thought the song's lyrics actually tied into the episode events!!!

Melissa

Excellent commentary! I don't like the "pimp" label for Louis either. I know not all "prostitutes" decide to do so willingly, but there are sex workers that are doing so with agency. Louis runs a business -- he's not a pimp stereotype who abuses his "property." I think it's easy to fall into using that word because - again - (racial) stereotypes. (That's NO SHADE because I don't believe anyone is conciously or unconsciously being racist. I'm just noting it bc it is relevant.) Louis even has women running the business with him. I think his angry, vengeful side is often conflated with the fact that he ran a brothel (a "pimp"), and while I totally understand the point of that comparison, I think we're simplifying, and perhaps vilifying, Louis too much with that label. The whole Marius/Armand thing is a much more fucked up and complex issue. Armand was a child. I haven't finished reading The Vampire Armand (honestly, I had to stop because it was so upsetting to me), so I don't want to say much more without the expertise.

Melissa

I view Armand as Louis’ rebound guy after Lestat…Hence, he can’t appreciate Armand & lets Lestat continue to rule his heart.💙

Mizzhoneymy

Def do not go on twitter. There’s a reason Sam Reid stopped going on social media after season 1.

RÆY

i agree! i dislike the way fandom discusses that dynamic in particular because a lot of the analysis feels incredibly surface level. i'd say more but it's probably too spoiler-y right now.

1234

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I never noticed the parallels between Daniel and Claudia. Daniel being dragged into Louis’ relationships shit. I’m very upset on Daniel’s behalf. I’m also intrigued to rewatch the last episodes with that in mind. I have a lot to process. I was gonna say something else but decided to delete cause it’s a little spoiler-y #mindfulness lol. Enjoy your bday weekend!

darkparadise.

Regarding your comment on how this community behaves… for whatever reason, IWTV seems to have the least toxic fandom I’ve come across. The irony that this is a show focused on these toxic relationships is so funny to how respectful the fans tend to be to each other. That being said, I really only dig into things on Reddit and hang out here, so maybe other spaces aren’t so nice and I’m being delusional lol.

Ms.Mews

The show takes on so much more nuance watching it back from the beginning after finishing season 2. I hope you get a chance to watch it again like this once your eyes are doing better!

Ms.Mews

I agree with your take here. Would just point out that Amadeo isn’t his ‘slave’ name, it’s just what Marius calls him when he rescues him from the brothel. Very curious what the show will do with Armand’s full back story in Venice, or if they’ll go there.

Ms.Mews

👀foreal??!! Hmmmm🤔💭💭💭 ok ill wait for that then

Raymond Walker

Yea I was warned to be cautious in thr comment section moving onward for here but I really really do trust the patreons 🙏🏿♥️ you've all do e so well of feeding me nothing

Raymond Walker

Oh no I know! I didn't mean to imply that, apologies! I'm just very excited for you to finish the season 👀 because I think we will all have more to discuss with you about this episode when you do!

sam

HAPPY BDAY 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁

Elle

ah, you literally said that it wasn’t over hyped as I commented that. glad to hear it!

Sophie Heflebower

awesome, awesome reaction! loving your commentary on iwtv. i want to address some of the ideas around louis and armand's past. the former pimp and former trafficked child dynamic is unavoidable but i don't think it actually manifests the way people think at first glance. i think the power dynamic and the way it's showing on screen is getting blurred. louis falls back into his role as a pimp in the way that he's making a grab for control, and armand is falling back into arun, his birth name (not his slave name- that is amadeo) as a reach for submissiveness. armand doesn't not want to have all the control yet he is one of the most powerful beings in existence. the power dynamic he and louis are trying to establish will not work because of that fact. armand is too powerful to feign weakness as he does, and louis is too optimistic (at best) or delusional (at worst) to see he will never have the power he wants in the relationship. rather than attempting a "healthy" conversation between two lovers, armand initiates the roleplay. and I'll be honest, i don't like how most in the fandom comment on the pimp thing because somewhere down the line they equate louis to marius in relation to CSA and prostitution as if louis is pimping armand out. just sharing my thoughts, forgive me if i rambled! again, thank you for the reaction!

Maia

Right now I feel like I can’t really comment on your observations in this episode because they’re all too spoiler-y. I loved this reaction and i hope this episode lived up to the hype for you! definitely my favorite.

Sophie Heflebower

Oh no no it's only a rule because my eyes are weak 😭..it isn't something I take some sense of pride in

Raymond Walker

I think so too, especially after getting more context.

RÆY

have a great birthday!!

Sophie Heflebower

Amazing reaction as usual! I'm too scared to accidentally spoil you to comment on any of your observations, but I will say that I suspect this show will make you break your rule of never re-watching episodes lol. Oh, and your comment about how Louis ranting about Lestat reminded you of how a lot of reactors talk about Lestat made me bark with laughter lololol. Also, have a wonderful birthday!

sam

I knew you would love this episode! One of my favorites of the season, and I love how well you understand these characters. When you said Armand wants to be loved, I was screaming “YES!” and if you think about it, so did Lestat. I said this to one of my friends who loves Armand and she agreed with me that based on their wants/needs, Lestat and Armand are similar characters in different fonts. As for whether or not Louis is justified for being nasty to Armand, that is very complex and I HATE that I can’t comment my thoughts on it until after the finale, having watched the full season it recontextualized some things. EDIT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

RÆY

🙏🏿♥️

Raymond Walker

Damn....smh that's a really good call out!!

Raymond Walker

Ok I love the jam sessions! Don’t stop! Your playlist is like mine, all over the place. 💕

Tarabee

Happy Birthversary!

Gaux

Yeah 😬 I mean talk about abandonment issues….his parents sold him, his maker traded him and then died, his coven broke down, lestat left him and now Louis is all he has left and he is desperate to ensure that he is never abandoned again by playing all these mind and memory games

Caitlin 🥀

Exactly!! There is so much to talk about when it comes to Armand and Louis dynamic because it is so off-balanced. From the outside it doesn’t seem that way but scratch the surface and you start to see the cracks - “without him I am nothing” / “are you sure about that Arun” / “I preserve his happiness when he can’t or won’t”

Caitlin 🥀

It’s interesting to me that Louis was a pimp when alive and Armand was a prostitute while mortal. The two of them are locked in the same power play that questions who has the power

Acacia

Ahhhhh nooooo I can't watch until after my son goes to bed!!! Looking forward to this tonight 🤩 Hope you're ok after being put through The Horrors!

Amanda Winstead

Happiest Birthday Ray!!!

Yvette

Agree 1000% on top of that Lestat left Armand as well🫠🫠🫠

Raymond Walker

The Armand/Louis fight was very Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

Karen Wood

I loved what you said about Armand still feeling like that “background character” and I think that’s exactly it! If you think about Lestat, he was this shiny, extravagant, chaotic thing that commanded attention and adoration and Armand immediately wanted him. Louis in Paris was new and exciting and mirrored Lestats rebellious nature which is what drew Armand to him. They are all fascinating whereas Armand feels like he sinks in comparison. He’s so deeply insecure of still being in, not only the shadows, but Lestats shadow specifically especially with Louis.

Caitlin 🥀

I’m so mad I’m still at work and can’t watch rn…will return with many many things to say because oh BOY this episode is insane…

sierra's reaction corner

return of the mack! happy birthday eve!

darkparadise.

Happy birthday man, hope it’s a good one and thanks for all your iwtv reactions 🙂🎂

Martin Gage

Just finished watching your episode 4 reaction! Perfect timing!

Claire

🤣🤣

Raymond Walker

Got me groovin out in the beginning, makin me forget I'm here to watch a IWTV react

Jessie

Congrats!

Jessica

🙏🏿😊

Raymond Walker

Aaahhhh congratulations to your sister..maybe me and the baby will share birthdays October 12th...please let me know DM pllleeeeaassee..sending love and prayers to your sister ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Raymond Walker

Happy advanced birthday 🎂 🥳

Valentine

Have a wonderful birthday!

Karen Wood

Ill be off for a little while peeps, tomorrow is my birthday October 12th🙏🏿🎂 enjoy 😊 ask me questions or to expand oon certain things if I didn't enough in the reaction

Raymond Walker

can’t wait!!!

darkparadise.

the fight scene between louis and armand was assads first day of filming for s2 and subsequently his first day playing armand and he came to ACT like he was unbelievable, im pretty sure my jaw was on the floor for the entirety of this episode

Olivia

Ooh I'm excited to hear your thoughts on this one. I'm at the hospital bc my sister is giving birth right now but I'll be watching this when I get home tonight 😁

Kimberly Bellow

I'm still at work! Shut this down so I won't get distracted!! Lol, kidding ... Been looking forward to this one! Such a roller coaster from here on 😁

Indi500

Been WAITING on this one haha

Caitlin 🥀

Oh OH you just gonna SURPRISE us like that?! Well, I love it. Thank you. Happy birthday eve!! Not the first thing you wrote down being the line they tie back to at the very end.

Amanda Hill

BABE WAKE UP, 🌮 HAS SEEN THE BEST HOUR OF TV THIS DECADE

Jessica

AHHHH YES

Sophie Heflebower