Armand (TV series)

This article is about Armand from the AMC adaptation. You may be looking for Armand from the novel or film.

Armand, also known as Rashid, is a recurring character on the AMC gothic horror drama, Interview with the Vampire. However, he has since been promoted to a series regular for the second season onward. He is portrayed by Assad Zaman.

Armand is a 514-year-old vampire who formerly posed as a young human servant to Louis de Pointe du Lac.

Biography[]

Serving Louis[]

Rashid serves as Louis daily servant, tending to his every need. When Daniel arrives at the penthouse to conduct the interview, he tells Louis that anything he can't verify, he'll send to his researcher, a notion that Rashid rejects, reminding Daniel of the terms of their initial agreement, however, Daniel isn't concerned with Rashid's objections. Furthermore, he's ready to conduct the interview without outside interference.^[1]

Rashid approaches Daniel as he marvels at the Venetian painting from an artist named Marius de Romanus, explaining that Louis covets the rare. Daniel becomes concerned with the consistent creaking in the distance, but Rashid informs him that the building simply sways a bit due to the height, but he need not worry. Daniel then turns his attention to Rashid, questioning his motives and loyalty to Louis, to which Rashid replies that it is his honor to serves a god. Before exiting the dining room, he instructs Daniel to sit at the table and prepare to eat, at which point he will be joined by Louis on course seven.^[2]

Claudia's diaries[]

Rashid approaches Daniel and reveals that he is aware of Daniel's scheduled levodopa transfusion, for which he had spoken to his doctor and arranged a physician to administer it at the penthouse tomorrow. In the meantime, while Louis rested, Rashid takes Daniel to the reading room, where he is given access to Claudia's diaries to provide a different perspective. As Rashid prays, Daniel question how Muhammad felt about vampires and how Rashid could worship two gods. He then apologizes for interrupting Rashid's prayer, to which he replied "Asr namozi," leading Daniel to realize that Rashid isn't from Dubai, to which Rashid replies that Dubai is a child and that no one is native.^[3]

As Rashid is fed on by Louis, Daniel reads Claudia's diary, chronicling all her kills. He can't fathom what he's reading, but Rashid insists that his work is no different, revealing to Daniel that when he publishes his book and the other vampires get wind, they will come to Dubai and kill Louis. Daniel is essentially chronicling a suicide. When Louis finishes, he reads Daniel's mind and reveals that Rashid tastes like honey and pineapple. He stuffs himself with it for days before offering himself to Louis. Rashid later comes to Daniel's aid as Louis inflicts his powers on him after Daniel kept pushing Louis to reveal what he was hiding about Claudia.^[4]

As they reach the part of the story where Daniel originally asked for Louis to turn him, Daniel explains that in the eyes of a 20-year-old, Louis was wasting his gift. Because he too is in his 20s, Louis asks Rashid what he thought. He did not agree with Daniel and did not see it as a waste. Louis would admittedly give Daniel the dark gift now, much to Rashid's surprise, with Louis reasoning that Daniel had lived a full life. That evening, as Daniel slept, he had a dream of his first encounter with Louis, during which point, they were joined by Rashid, who looked as young and youthful as he did present day. Louis asked if he wanted to join them, but Rashid told Louis to go ahead and have his fun. Daniel then awakens from his dream, shocked by his discovery.^[5]

The vampire Armand[]

Rashid decides to intervene and cut session 7 short as Daniel began to question the legitimacy of Louis' recollection regarding Lestat's death. Daniel, now turning his attention to Rashid, asks how many days are in the Islamic year and how many names there are for Allah. 355, and 99, Rashid answers. Daniel then asks how a 200 pound bouncer passes out after Louis fed from him but Rashid, just barely over 100 pounds, seemed just fine. Louis brings the conversation back to Lestat, who he confesses he didn't have the will to burn, though Daniel argues Claudia could despite Louis initially claiming that she was reluctant to do so. In that, Louis recalls what actually happened after Lestat died. Claudia pushed him to burn Lestat in the incinerator, but he refused, slamming her against the wall and then crying over Lestat's body. As Daniel contiues to push for the truth, Rashid removes his gloves, takes out his contacts, and begins to float in front of Daniel, revealing that he's a 514-year-old vampire named Armand and the love of Louis life.^[6]

Off the record, Armand sits in on session 9 of Louis' interview with Molloy, who he says is just as unworthy now as he was many years ago in San Francisco. When Louis begins to realize that he's misremembering details and his true memories begin to surface, Armand proposes they take a break, but both Louis and Molloy persist; Armand excuses himself after Molloy accuses him of hiding something. The following day, after Armand agreed to retrieve the torn pages from Claudia's diary so that Louis may read them, he agrees to go on the record for session 10 of the interview.^[7]

Meeting Louis[]

Armand takes Louis and Claudia to meet the rest of the coven

Armand approaches Louis for the first time in a park known for gay hookup five months after he and Claudia arrive in Paris. He assures Louis that he means him no harm and invites him to the Théâtre des Vampires. After the show, Armand introduces Louis and Claudia to the rest of the coven, at which point, they discover that it was cofounded by Lestat. One month later, Armand invites the two of them to join the coven on a hunt. They arrive at the De LaCroix estate, where the coven feasts upon the guests inside, whilst Armand and Louis take outside. Armand mentions that Claudia is particularly skilled at blocking her thoughts, but Louis must work harder on that, as he felt some trepidation when Lestat's name was uttered. Louis feigns ignorance, but Armand is aware that he's hiding something and will wait until Louis is ready to share what that something is, but the coven can be volatile and unforgiving when lied to, so he urges Louis to shut his mind down if he hears Lestat's name again. He also tells Louis to never visit Lestat's law firm again. That sort of inquiry can open all sorts of trouble. Louis and Armand are then joined by the rest of the coven.^[8]

Leading the coven and loving Lestat[]

In 1556, the Roman coven sent Armand to lead the shambolic Paris coven called the Children of Darkness. They lived in squalor, hunted in shame, all in strict obedience to medieval law put in place to protect them from humanity. He ruled over the coven in Paris for 239 years, when one random night, one year after Lestat's transformation, he arrives to Paris - where Armand could feel Lestat's presence and follows it to a theater, where he senses that Lestat was sired by one of Armand's deserters, Magnus. There, Lestat was close to breaking the fourth of the Great laws: "No vampire shall ever reveal his true nature to a mortal and let that mortal live," and yet there he was prancing and preening in front of 500 mortals a night. Armand telepathically tells Lestat to come with him, but Lestat rejects his offer. A few weeks later, he directly confronts Lestat, using his abilities to overpower him and take his mortal lover Nicolas as leverage. As expected, Lestat follows Armand back to his lair, where he exposes to the coven that Armand has been lying to them and that a better life awaits, resulting in the coven abandoning Armand.

With nothing left, the only thing keeping Armand from the fire are the old rituals. It is then that he is joined by Lestat, who wants to learn Armand's powers and who has turned Nicolas into a vampire but whose mind is rejecting the Dark Gift. Lestat then feeds from Armand's arm before inviting him to attend his next show, where not only the coven awaits, but Lestat explains to Armand how they can use the theater as a cover. Armand and Lestat proceeded to grow close over time, however, their relationship ends abruptly when Lestat seemingly disappears one day. Flash forward to 20th century Paris, and now Armand is falling for Louis and is hoping to convince him to join the coven, though Louis refuses. After finally getting Louis to confess to killing Lestat, Louis goes into a frenzy and viciously kills a man in the park, drawing attention to the coven, who look to Armand to do what needs to be done. However, instead of killing Louis, he kisses him after walking him home.^[9]

Coven mutiny[]

Armand accosts Claudia for her lack luster performance, but she's grown tired of performing, as have some of the other coven members, who come to her defense, namely Santiago, who questions Armand for disciplining Claudia but allowing Louis to run wild, leaving many of them to wonder if he and Louis are companions. Armand says yes, but Louis says no, leading to a deeper conversation between the two regarding the nature of their relationship. However, "companions" isn't necessarily the word Louis would use to describe them. The following night, Armand takes Louis to an art gallery and shares his life story, how he was sold him into slavery, tortured at a brothel, and was later rescued from a brothel when he was 15 by his maker Marius De Romanus. After putting both Claudia and Santiago in their place, Armand meets with Louis in the park, where he expresses his concern of a nearing mutiny. Louis advises Armand to throw Santiago a bone, make him feel as though he's Armand's heir apparent. He'll overplay his hand, and everyone will see him for what he is. When they know they have no alternative, they'll beg for Armand back, and that's when he'll decide if he wants to go back or something else. Armand says that he wants Louis more than anything in the world. "You sure about that, Arun," Louis asks. "Yes, Maitre," Armand replies.^[10]

1973 San Francisco interview[]

When Louis does not return home by sunrise, Armand goes over to the apartment to find him feeding on Molloy. Armand scolds Louis for his recklessness, for making another mess that Armand has to clean up. Louis exclaims that Armand is boring and dull, adding that the 10 hours he spent with Molloy were more exciting and fascinating than decades with Armand, who begins to mock Louis and his self-hatred. Armand expresses true frustration with Louis for saying Lestat's name, which went unuttered in their home for 23 years until last night. Upset, Louis rushes to the roof and into the sunlight in an attempt to kill himself, but Armand intervenes and pulls him back inside, though Louis is severely injured, and his skin is charred. With Louis incapacitated, Armand turns his attention to Molloy, questioning what exactly makes him so fascinating to Louis, but it remains a mystery to him. So he returns to Louis, and while putting him in his coffin, he says that he believes Louis is still chasing after Lestat. And if that's the case, Armand is prepared to part ways. But before doing so, he reveals that he knows where Lestat is and telepathically calls out to him, but Armand cuts it short when Lestat begins to express his love for Louis. Louis insists he only loves Armand, who decides to stay, intent on cleaning up Louis' mess by killing Molloy. Louis instructs him to leave the boy alive.^[11]

Betraying Louis[]

Armand takes Louis' advice by feeding Santiago his own ego back to him and smothering mutiny with praise. However, unbeknownst to him, Santiago is conspiring behind his back. After refusing to turn Madeleine into a vampire at Louis and Claudia's behest, Armand is approached by the coven and given two options. They have learned that Louis and Claudia tried to kill Lestat. They instruct him to set a trap for Louis and Claudia. Although reluctant, Armand agrees to do so, meeting with Louis, Claudia, and Madeleine at a club, where Santiago and the rest of the coven grab them and bring them back to the theater for trial.^[12]

Present day, Armand realizes that Louis' hostility towards him must be because he remembers what happened in San Francisco and is mad at Armand for erasing it, but Armand insists that he has no right to be, as Louis asked him to do it. Additionally, the pages torn from Claudia's diary, most of those they destroyed together and the ones Armand tore out on his own were to protect him from Molloy. He doesn't owe Molloy his shame or his one act of cowardice or the series of abhorrent consequences that followed. Armand spent the rest of his life trying to make up for it, which he never will, but Louis forgave him for it, though Molloy hasn't. Armand apologizes for wiping his memory but insists that both he and Louis thought it was better that way at the time. According to Armand, Louis asked him to erase it after he came out of the shower in their Sausalito home, three days after they abandoned Molloy.^[12]

Louis' trial[]

Armand watches helplessly from one of the theater boxes as Louis, Claudia, and Madeleine are tried for their crimes. When it finally comes time for sentencing, all three of them are found guilty. Claudia and Madeleine are sentenced to death, burned alive. Whilst Louis, through Armand's intervention, as he uses his power to mind control the jury, is banished, placed in a coffin and buried with the rest of their damned.^[13]

Armand is demoted and ridiculed after Santiago suspects he rigged the audience to spare Louis' life. He makes certain Armand will not forget his insubordination as part of his penance. In spite of this, Armand devises a plan to free Louis, doing so as everyone slept. However, rather than flee Paris as Armand hoped he would, Louis enacts his revenge, warning Armand not be at the theater tomorrow night at curfew, as that's when Louis sneaks in and sets the coven ablaze. After killing the lot of them, Armand and Louis convene at the apartment, where Armand comes clean to Louis about his dishonesty. Armand promises to spend his life trying to make it up to Louis, but Louis says he can never make it up. That night, they track down Lestat to Magnus' lair but ultimately leave him unharmed, at least physically. Despite his betrayal, Louis and Armand spend the next 77 years together, traveling the world, until present day, when Molloy outs Armand. He reveals that not only did Armand direct the trial and execution but that he lied about saving Louis from death, as it was actually Lestat. Upset, Louis breaks up with Armand and tells him to leave. However, before doing so, he turns Molloy into a vampire.^[14]

Powers and abilities[]

Powers[]

A vampire of five centuries, Armand is exceptionally powerful; possessing heightened senses, and superhuman strength and speed, which he flaunts at will. Armand also possesses the ability to read minds, telepathic communication, pyrokinesis and powerful mind control abilities; as he was able to freeze a room full of humans and vampires, halting moving objects and rendering everyone silent to maintain control. Armand also possesses the ability of telekinesis; as he was able to slam Lestat into a wall, levitate young Daniel, and unravel cassette tapes without touch. Armand also possesses the ability of flight, which he uses to move through the air gracefully; an ability which only ancient vampires possess. He also demonstrates the ability to manipulate memories and perceptions, and subtly influence flame. However, overexertion of his abilities can leave him weakened and drained; as seen when maintaining control over large crowds.