At 1st I was like nah but when you think about it... He was weirdly obsessed with her. I don't think they got together sexually but there was something there. That's probably why he did what he did to her ashes.
I noticed something going on with them but after the last episode Louis revealed that Santiago (Francis) was insecure. Claudia seemed to look up to Santiago. Santiago liked being liked because it stroked his ego and made him feel better.
I agree so much. It’s quite obvious Santiago has a fondness for Claudia, he’s never talking against her, never looking her down, even tries to cheer her up. When Santiago is taunting Armand, she’s laughing at his jokes. They have a kind of chemistry, of bond. I believe Claudia sees in the coven and particularly in Santiago everything she wishes to become, and he’s so proud to be a model. She admires his strength. And I believe he likes to be a mentor in vampireness for her. I don’t know if they’d be as close as to have physical intercourse, but they were close for sure. She was part of the coven, so, in some way, he was her Maitre. I think Santiago’s hatred for Armand and Louis was stronger than his liking for Claudia. I like to believe he left the stage when she burned so he wouldn’t have to witness it first person. None of the vampires seemed to enjoy watching her burn, I doubt he would’ve liked it. Also, the story is told through two biased retelling, I’m sure in the facts it was quite different. Possibly Claudia and Santiago being closer.
I do think in this adaptation Francis bonded with Claudia in a way a mentor bonds with their mentee, but being part of a coven means following the demands of the Maître. From what happened to Francis’s maker, he knew if you don’t tow the line with Armand you get put in box to starve to death. He even tells her so in the scene he’s speaking to her about her journal in the wet room. This is what I feel. Francis along with the rest of the coven were meant to go along with slowly breaking Claudia’s spirit so she would eventually take her own life. Leaving Louis for Armand to destroy to get back at Lestat for leaving him. But Francis let Claudia have a longer leash than what Armand demanded, befriending her and letting Claudia develop a friendship with Madeline. Which halted Claudia’s depression for a little while. It was only after Armand’s threat in the street that Francis stole Claudia’s journals, he could have stolen them before that. In the end, Francis valued his life more than any possible bond he had to Claudia. The things Francis was saying about the Claudia’s ashes, it felt like he was purely saying them to piss off Louis since he killed all the coven. Could he have meant it? He could have…
Claudia and Louis and the other issues surrounding them created controversy about her existence in the vampire community. The vampires who live in coven's depend on each individual to blend in the mortal world, while carefully managing their own interests without conflicting with the coven's structure and function. I think Santigo was looking for a way to control how Claudia and Louis's presence impacted and influenced Armand and the coven. Santigo knew Armand was content staying with the coven because there was nothing else that offered Armand belonging and purpose. Armand can't stand to be lonely. But he doesn't form attachments with other vampires unless he can control them or they love him without reservation. Anyone who loves you deeply is usually more loyal and devoted than relationships based on fear or survival. Santigo could tell Louis was desired by Armand so he was trying to protect his coven, his home, and his family. Santigo in the show was scheming while ingratiating himself with Claudia. He feigned friendship as he was spying to gather information and influence to be used for his own benefit when the time was right. Santigo in the book is very powerful, but he is not charming or approachable he dislikes Claudia in the book because her existence is forbidden. The only reason other vampires tolerated her existence was because she had a vampire willing to care for her and the law forbids killing other vampires. Santigo knew Claudia was a vulnerability of Louis. Both the show and book reveal Santigo's motive for his actions was getting Louis to join the coven or finding a way to get rid of him without killing him. Santigo and the coven observed Armand wanted to leave and travel with Louis Book and Show Santigo is a hateful prick but the issue Santigo is trying to manage is the ramifications for the coven because of Armand's desires to be with Louis while Louis was devoted to Claudia, in both the book and show Claudia's existence and and Louis's love of her brought death and destruction to the coven and theater. Even though the coven was cruel and merciless in handling Claudia's and Madline's trail and execution, I felt pity for the coven. Louis's wrath and revenge against the coven proved why vampires who are sired outside of the law are a danger to other vampires
I don't think Santiago was telling the truth about Claudia's ashes, at least not the pleasuring himself bit. That was purely to piss Louis off because he'd just discovered Louis slaughtered his entire coven, including his girlfriends. It was meant to be disrespectful and disgusting, but not really true. Louis didn't seem to believe it because he referred to the comments as "talking sh*t" (or something similar). That said, I agree that had the trial been up to Santiago, he likely would've killed Louis and allowed Claudia to live.
He seemed to merely suffer from a deep seated desire to be the center of attention... despite not being star material. He wasn’t coven leader material like Armand… he wasn’t the naturally gifted stage performer that Claudia and Lestat were…. And he wasn’t as alluring or attractive as Louis (which bought him out of having to follow the rules everyone else had to).
It's not just you thinking that they had a spark between each other!! I don't think Santiago ever got anywhere physical with her side from what we saw simple bc he was very very traumatized by what the coven can do when the rules are shirked tho 🤔
Yes the 20 mins of Louis revenge was weaaaaakkkkkkk in the show. They should've done so much more with that. You're so right. After not having thought about the clear racism aspect til now, I'm actually mad they didn't give more. At first I was just disappointed but not I'm actually actually upset. Whether the actor consciously intended it or not, all of the elements you mentioned are 100% present in the way the show plays out.
I said it was an unpopular opinion. My thoughts changed on this many times while watching the show. 🤷♀️🤷♀️ even thought he had those feelings for Armand and was jealous of Louis.
