Don't Be Afraid, Just Start the Tape

As much as I loved Season 1 of IWTV, the second season has raised every aspect of the show by several notches: acting, production design and above all: writing and direction.

It's such a pleasure to see such a fully realised world executed so well, and with real adult writing, rather than the perennial teen-age soap-opera that inflicts so much horror-themed TV.

The two Daniels must have worked closely to realise the synchrony of event and memory we see here. If there was one episode to re-watch this season (so far) then this would be it. I am only sad that Anne Rice did not live to see this masterful re-interpretation of her work.

This episode encompasses everything that makes amc's interview with the vampire so great. The pacing, the dialogue, the acting, everything is deliciously executed and makes for a truly spectacular viewing experience. IWTV has always managed to balance entertainment for the unbaptized viewer and for the seasoned book reader and this episode is no exception. The tagline of the season is "memory is the monster" and this episode really delivered on that theme. Watching Daniel and Louis try to piece together what happened in San Francisco while trying to do the same as a viewer is nothing short of thrilling and engaging. I loved every minute of it.

An astonishing piece of television, probably beating the very first episode as an example of flawless conceptual design, writing, characterisation and performance.

I was always a fan of the book by Anne Rice, and was very dubious about this show when it was in development, but I don't think I've ever seen a greater example of excellent source material being transformed into something far greater by show-makers who - unlike the majority of Hollywood-style content makers - really, truly know what they are doing and how to do it perfectly.

Saying anything else would be simply padding, but padding is what IMDB wants, so a few more words were apparently necessary. These were those.

This episode feels like everything has been building to this moment. It is intimate, brutal, and dripping with uncomfortable honesty. A slow-burn explosion in velvet and shadows.

Plot: 9/10 The structure is tight and the stakes are high, even without action. It leans into the emotional horror of the characters' choices. The tape recorder becomes a weapon more dangerous than fangs.

Acting: 10/10 Jacob Anderson and Assad Zaman go all in. Their chemistry is tense, magnetic, and at times deeply sad. Both are delivering career-best work.

Writing: 9/10 Raw and fearless. The script pushes the characters into dark corners and lets them sit there. Nothing feels wasted. Dialogue lands like confessions in a church with no forgiveness.

Visuals and Direction: 9/10 Shadowy and stylish. Even the quietest scenes feel dangerous. The direction keeps the emotional tension tight without overdoing it.

Pacing: 8.5/10 Deliberate and confident. It trusts the viewer to sit with discomfort and pick apart the layers.

Overall: 9/10 This is Interview at its most intense. Emotional horror, brutal honesty, and unforgettable performances. It's not easy to watch, but it is impossible to look away.

Knowing this week was a slow down episode and kind of a stand alone I presumed it would be a bit slower, boy was I wrong !!

As Armad heads out for lunch, Daniel wants to dive deeper into San Francisco and what happened in his first meetings with Louis way back. They both try to uncover lost memories and it paints a frightening picture.

The episode is very good, it confirms suspicions I have been having for a while. The earlier story was definitely tampered with. I don't want to say too much about the episode as one thing leads to another but all I'll say is that there is something much darker beneath the surface, 9/10.