In the city that never sleeps, we follow The Vampire Lestat at a crucial precipice. The band records its album as Lestat recalls his encounter with the Queen. Meanwhile, Louis find himself in a dilemma and Armand professes his true love.
Lestat is dead. Or at least that’s what the band wants the public to believe. The enigmatic frontman allegedly perished after the shooting, igniting conspiracies around the band’s future. In the shadows, TVL records their anticipated debut with Lestat pushing the members to their limits. Sofia is now their manager with Sam attached as a producer. Amidst the chaos, Lestat flashes back to meeting Queen Akasha.
Following Gabriella’s departure, Lestat buried himself in a borrowed grave. But a stranger finds and tasks him with watching over the vampiric mother and father. Broken in stone, Lestat is to play music and provide ash sacrifices to sustain Akasha – but never blood. Years pass and Lestat has grown accustomed to his duty. New Year’s Day, 1900, he witnesses the Queen awaken. She beckons him and under her trance, they exchange blood.
In the present, Daniel conducts on-the-street interviews when Armand arrives in disguise. He reveals he’s followed Daniel for 52 years, from San Francisco, to his estranged daughter’s college graduation; a guardian angel. And he’s returned to steer his child again, revealing Sofia’s true identity and relation to Lestat.
Louis and Regina continue the charade as brother and sister. Gradually, Louis yearns to prove whether the familiar stranger is indeed his lost companion. He recruits Lestat to make the final judgement. Upon seeing her, Lestat is flooded with emotion, seeing flashes of his daughter throughout her brief existence. He physiologically rules Regina out — and forbids her from seeing Louis again.
Mourning her, Lestat returns to the studio and records a new ballad. Sonically different from their current work, he orders the band to re-record the full LP. Larry refuses finally leaves the band. But Alex and the other two remain. Lestat states only vampires can make this beauty, and warns them his tainted blood will drive them to their end. They ignore his warning, volunteering to be transformed.
Later, an ecstatic fan finds Larry in the subway. Their conversation is cut short after he admits he’s left the band and is too tired to talk. Suddenly, Armand appears, confirming Larry’s need for rest. The fan’s joy turns to terror as Larry leaps into a rushing subway’s path.
“New York” delivers empire-sized drama, emotion and narrative depth with Emmy-worthy performances. The best episode of the series, overshadowing the reaches of “Toronto.” Both entries benefit from Lestat’s vulnerability with not only himself, but others. Sam Reid’s ability to embody Lestat’s many manic emotions is captivating. We also see Gabriella’s abandonment as the root of his pain; his fear of being alone causing him to “make more” despite the known consequences.
As Reid’s Lestat seeks community, Jacob Anderson’s Louis sorrowfully seeks atonement, subjecting himself to the abusive arrangement with Regina. Kudos for Lestat saving him from himself.
Reid’s duality is matched by Assad Zaman and his frustratingly unpredictable Armand. The Gremlin remains true to his name, playing coy lover boy with his fledgling, only to show his true nature with Larry. One can only imagine what he’s plotting against his former lover.
Fianlly, we are given a great prize in the anticipated arrival of Shelia Atim’s Akasha. Her scene-stealing monologue powerfully teases the power she embodies. The god amongst gods, we can only pray for more of her and how she disrupts the narrative.
Rating: 10/10