Sink or Swim: Rice's Immortal Universe's Mixed Bag of Transitions to the Small Screen

AMC’s quest to create its very own Immortal Universe is off to a bittersweet start. Sweeping the audience off their feet with its groundbreaking debut, “Interview With the Vampire” lifted hopes with its steamy, engaging plot and hefty dashes of humor. Audiences are singing its praises and eagerly eyeing a Season 3 sculpted as a rock 'n' roll chronicle about our charismatic vampire Lestat, played by none other than Sam Reid.

Unfortunately, the following act in the spectacle, “Mayfair Witches,” took more of a tumble than a glorious second bow. The driving force behind the show, Alexandra Daddario, could not save "Mayfair Witches" as a lackluster sophomore effort. The escapist passion and witty eccentricity so epitomized by “Interview With the Vampire” seemed missing and drained the intrigue for a second season.

Crashing onto the scene comes the third installment of the Immortal Universe: the unfortunately underwhelming and moniker-challenged “Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order.” We’re going to stick to “Talamasca,” because, let’s face it, we don't have all day. Despite a six-episode extravaganza delivered complete to reviewers, the attempt to spin Rice’s age-old secret society into a lukewarm spy thriller stumbles like an awkward middle-school dance.

Talamasca left audiences dazed and scratching their heads. What is it exactly, and who signs up for it? Basic details you’d expect to find out from a show bearing the name. Woven by creators John Lee Hancock and co-showrunner Mark Lafferty, the show positions telepath protagonist Guy, played by Nicholas Denton, as the audience's touchpoint. In the show, he’s plucked by mysterious Brit Helen, played by Elizabeth McGovern, to be part the Talamasca instead of a lucrative law gig. A tantalizing taste of the supernatural is given, but never fully explained.

Poor Guy seems as bland as his name. Despite Denton's best efforts, the Australian's accent cracks under its American façade, especially visible after he heads to London to investigate when a fellow operative bites the dust. Throw in some standard warnings about untrustworthy characters and you've got a story that feels more confusing than compelling.

Moreover, the MacGuffinesque subplot hunting for known-as-752 backup of an archive, that unfortunately caught fire 50 years ago, fails to pump adrenaline into the convoluted plot. The drama of Guy’s missing mother, the deep-pocketed Talamasca’s backdoor tactics, and Helen's hunt for her own family somehow miss their mark.

In its current stride, Rice's Immortal Universe seems headed towards an unsure future on television. While the finale of “Talamasca” leaves room for a Season 2, no new series have been given the green light. For the Immortal Universe to successfully morph onto the small screen, it would need some serious soul-searching to rekindle the riveting drama of “Interview.” Until then, viewers can only dream of “The Vampire Lestat.” Tune in to AMC and AMC+ on Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET for the premiere of the first two episodes of "Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order”.