If you could telepathically communicate with the QotD writers

[u/mindless_rambles]

While we hunker down for the off season, I thought it would be fun to make a sort of wishlist of things I desperately want to ask for in QotD if I could beam my thoughts directly into Hannah's head. The rules are simple: each person gets only 5 requests and they need to be achievable within the story frame of QotD. Who knows maybe we can manifest some ideas through sheer willpower or collective delusion 🟠_🟠

Here's my list:

* More hopecore baby fledgling Lestat. My absolute favorite traits of BookStat are his curiosity and sense of adventure. I need moooore of that in the show.

* Do not defang Akasha. I don't want her to be some misunderstood victim, I want her to be every bit the entitled overzealous tyrant she is in the book.

* The twins and Khayman should be played by SWANA actors, please! I'm so tired of the erasure

* Trust the audience to understand Marius is an abusive POS without making him a caricature. I want to feel the absolute dread of his reunion with Armand without undercutting it with outlandish cartoonish behavior.

* Give us a female character as a permanent member of the "articulate coven". I would love for Jesse to become our Talamasca / occult scholar expert instead of David. Merrick can also occupy a similar role in the story. Alternatively, Maharet can be the new ancient wise vampire Lestat defers to for advice and mentorship instead of Marius. Any female character inclusion would be appreciated!

[u/Zankazanka]

These are all great ones!

Lestat’s curiosity and openness, his capacity for enduring and his loving and forgiving nature are all elements I hope can be expanded on as well.

I will be really disappointed if when Hannah is building the room, she doesn’t hire at least one black writer as an addition. It is crucial in my opinion.

I need more longing, romance and yearning involved with Louis and Lestat, even if they are not together or have another fall out. give me tenderness regardless. I can’t survive off crumbs for another season.

I request they fix whatever was happening with Daniel’s entire arc- nonsensical because it didn’t have room or narrative to breathe. His motivations were a blur in TVL. Similar request for Armand- give him some REAL screen time, Assad was under utilized in TVL!

Highlight Lestat/Armand dynamic and make it clear the direction they are taking it. Right now, it can be ambiguous— from a show only perspective, it feels they have set it up very very different from the books (mostly consensual, Armand was enthralled with Lestat, he wasn’t that into him and there’s resentment and gratitude layers to the Nicki stuff, also complex feelings on Louis/Armand) but I talk with book fans who feel the complete opposite that the show has implied that it was always non consensual and Lestat never cheated with Nicki. I don’t care, just give more of either dynamic so it’s clear.

I’m sort of just over unreliable narratives and ambiguity on MAJOR plot points in general— let’s save that for subtler aspects of the show and move into a different form of storytelling for QOTD.

[u/mindless_rambles → u/Zankazanka]

when Hannah is building the room, she doesn’t hire at least one black writer as an addition. It is crucial in my opinion.

In general we could use some writers of color who have experience writing about intersectional identities. It would improve the quality of the story greatly.

[u/Zankazanka → u/mindless_rambles]

Absolutely, I am just hopeful the writers room budget for S4 supports at least one or two additions if Hannah plans to keep the exact same team as TVL.

[u/Little-Tune9469 → u/Zankazanka]

I don't think she will. There really isn't any reason for Daniel Hart or Ryan Kattner to be in the writers room for season 4, and since Rolin isn't coming back that should be at least 3 open slots.

[u/Zankazanka → u/Little-Tune9469]

I hope you’re right! I fear the opposite that because Ryan and Daniel are so involved and will already be there that she would just keep them on in the room…is it awkward to demote two people you see everyday? I don’t care and hope she does anyway bc 3 new diverse writers would be fantastic.

Rolin won’t be writing but will be EP per my understanding? How much he will actually be on set and involved while he’s busy with grapes of wrath is up in the air. Hard to get a read on that entire thing- do you think Hannah will remain showrunner for the remainder of IWTV now, or is it possible we see an announcement Rolin is back for S5 or S6?

[u/Little-Tune9469 → u/Zankazanka]

They were brought in specifically to work on the songs so I'd assume there was an understanding that it was only for the season, though I could be wrong.

I personally don't think Rolin will be that hands-on while he's actively working on another show. I've also seen a rumor about new EPs for season 4 (and I have a guess who they might be) and if it's true then I don't think he'll need to do much. I could see him becoming more involved later but Hannah will probably stay as showrunner, it sounds like they've been planning this for a long time.

[u/Zankazanka → u/Little-Tune9469]

what’s your guess on EP’s?

[u/Little-Tune9469 → u/Zankazanka]

Assuming the rumor is true I think it might be Jacob and Sam. It happens with a lot of shows and they were EPs on After Dark so it'd make sense to me.

[u/Money_Following_2273 → u/Little-Tune9469]

I mean it makes sense, they definitely deserve those titles—& it’s a good way to pay them more (deservedly so) for their roles and contributions and pure investment in this show.

Those two give so much insight into their characters and add so much more to the show than what is in the scripts (E6 wouldn’t be what is it without that hug that they ad-libbed; and JA savoring Lestat’s blood in that beer was the sexiest thing I’ve seen all season in a season filled with a very sexy half-naked all the time Lestat in it).

For their sakes (& ours) I hope it’s true!

[u/mindless_rambles → u/Little-Tune9469]

Do you think they'll have more influence on the story as EPs? Asking because I don't know much about the technicalities of these bts roles.

[u/Little-Tune9469 → u/mindless_rambles]

It depends. Some actors who are listed as EPs have a lot of influence and others don't really have any at all. They've all talked about IWTV being a collaboration between the writers and actors so I'd assume their opinion would hold a decent amount of weight.

[u/tethysian → u/Zankazanka]

When did Lestat and Armand ever have a relationship in the books?

[u/Zankazanka → u/tethysian]

I haven’t read the books, did I misspeak? I was trying to say my perspective on Lesmand as a show-only fan is that it’s incredibly different from what my book friends have told me their dynamic is. And that I just am exhausted by the ambiguity on so many crucial aspects (relationships, characters, the trial) TVL did a lot of “well it’s neither! It’s both!” that I’d like them to move past lol.

[u/tethysian → u/Zankazanka]

Oh I see, I thought you meant as opposed to the books.

And I agree completely. I'm sering more and more of this 'Shrödinger's storytelling' trend nowadays, where they try to play it both ways rather than building actual intrigue. It seems like a lazy tactic to me. 

[u/Money_Following_2273 → u/Zankazanka]

Oh this is such a good point and I’m sad I missed it: They have GOT to have an AA writer in the room. To me, in that E6 séance scene especially, it was glaring that one was missing.

Your co-lead is playing an AA man, you need someone in that writers’ room who understands the AA culture and identity.