The Vampire Lestat finale: Sam Reid reveals why Paul is back

When Sam Reid first sat down with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, they dug into the first three episodes of The Vampire Lestat, focusing on the Brat Prince's perspective on his makers and female fledglings. 

Now, in a post-mortem interview, he's dug into the season's mind-snapping finale, the Failure Finders, what's next for Lestat, and why Paul de Pointe du Lac (Steven G. Norfleet) makes a surprise appearance. 

In episode 7, titled "The Failures," Lestat faces the long table. There, after facing down those he loves and loathes most, he turns it into a stage, where he performs for his long line of victims. But as his time is running out, and it seems his death is coming, it's Louis' long-gone brother Paul — who died by his own volition and not by Lestat's fangs — who comes to share a quiet moment with him. 

Reid reflected on what this scene means to Lestat. 

Why does Paul show up at the long table? 

Reid says of this sequence, "These people at the concert are the ones who he has traumatized in their life, or he has killed. But Paul represents the reason why Louis can't say 'I love you' to him." 

In the scene, Paul seems to come from the afterlife — as Claudia did, but with no wrath — to meet Lestat, and offer a word about what he's realized about his brother. In death (or near it), the religious zealot and the Brat Prince are able to empathize with Louis in a way they couldn't before. 

"The reason why [Lestat] can't get the validation that he needs from the person he wants it from the most in the world," Reid explained, "is because the last time Louis said 'I love you' to somebody, they killed themselves. And Paul is there, saying, 'He does love you,' you know?"

How does that impact the Brat Prince? Reid continued, "Lestat finally understands, 'I've got to stop asking for this. I've got to stop being this person, like railing and needing to get validation from Louis'… Because Louis does love him. He's just got a lot of his own issues, and [Lestat] finally understands."

"It's a heartbreaking realization for Lestat and beautiful and [a] kind of closure," Reid mused, "for him to realize that he is loved." 

Reid noted this epiphany brings Lestat back from the brink of death. "That's the thing that leads him out," he said. "Then he wakes up, and [he says,] 'Where's Louis?'" 

From there, this episode has darkly romantic moments, like Lestat and Louis reuniting — with each other and their bodies — on the tour bus. But as the final reveal of a ravaged world suggests, there's a lot more to endure for Loustat and their shippers. 

What's next for The Vampire Lestat? Reid gave Mashable a few hints.

The Vampire Lestat is now streaming on AMC and AMC+.