Who did Lestat turn into a vampire? 'Vampire Lestat' Episode 2 reveals major turning point as past resurfaces
The latest episode of 'The Vampire Lestat,' titled 'Toledo,' explored the titular vampire's intriguing past. The show jumps back to 1772, when Lestat (Sam Reid) lived with his parents and brothers in the de Lioncourt family mansion in Auvergne, France. Lestat's father and brothers were evidently abusive since his childhood. His brothers constantly mocked him for his stuttering, and his father cast him aside as well. These incidents turned Lestat into a timid child, whose only support was his mother. However, as seen throughout the episode, Gabriella's position wasn't much better, as she had little to no control in the household.
Marquis (Peter Outerbridge) does not seem to like Lestat, but constantly interferes in his son's life. From interrupting his education at the monastery to stopping him from interacting with a troupe of traveling actors, Marquis does everything possible to keep a terrified Lestat under his thumb. His other two sons also help in the pursuit by beating Lestat whenever he does not follow Marquis' orders. In a major turning point in Lestat's life, he bravely ventures into a forest to confront wolves attacking Marquis' tenants. He hopes either to lose his life in this pursuit or become "a man." The latter proves true when he manages to kill eight wolves.
Lestat returns to the mansion with multiple injuries, and it is evident that no one is happy except his mother. Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle) declares his triumph a victory for the family and retreats with Lestat to treat the wounds. Here, Lestat confesses to his mother that while slaughtering the wolves, he fantasized about killing his father and brothers. The revelation does not startle Gabriella at all, as she and Lestat have long been subjected to the brutalities of this violent family together. Like Lestat, she also feels stuck, believing that the marriage "sacrificed her youth" and "squandered her intellect."
Lestat feels deeply for his mother and, therefore, is devastated when she shares her fatal tuberculosis diagnosis. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that the mother-son duo did indeed get their happy ending, as Lestat turned Gabriella into a vampire and both of them joined hands to kill their family. In the present day, Gabriella is seen enjoying her long-desired freedom alongside her son. However, things take a suspicious turn when she samples Lestat's blood and talks about the 'Great Conversion.' These moments suggest that Gabriella may want a lot more from Lestat than the vampire is aware of. Lestat's hallucination about his brother also hints that he might be falling into a trap. Another important development in the episode is Satan's Night Out discovering Lestat's true identity. Ultimately, only Alex (Seamus Patterson) leaves the group because of this revelation, but not without a psychic threat from Lestat.
Estranged ex-lovers Louis, aka Thomas Pitt, and Lestat also meet in the presence of Christine Claire (Jeanine Serralles) and Lemuel (Moses Sumney). The discussion, which is initially about a damaged hotel, quickly turns into the duo airing out their dirty laundry in front of their lawyers. The conversation ends with Lestat giving Louis a free ticket to his performance. Louis attends the concert, where he catches up with Daniel (Eric Bogosian) and vows to fight him until the end because of the latter's betrayal. Lestat, irritated by Louis' wandering thoughts, grabs his attention by floating over the crowd. Louis also has his past come back to haunt him when Raglan James (Justin Kirk) from Talamasca asks him to eliminate the Detroit Coven. Though he is initially uninterested, Raglan manages to grab Louis' attention by revealing the coven leader's name, Bruce (Damon Daunno), the vampire who kidnapped and assaulted Claudia (Bailey Bass). To find out how Louis and Lestat's story unfolds, watch new episodes of 'The Vampire Lestat' every Sunday night on AMC and AMC+
