‘Talamasca: The Secret order’ Subverts Vampire tropes wiht Jason Schwartzman’s Burton
new York, NY - AMC’s Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order is deliberately challenging vampire conventions with the introduction of Burton, portrayed by Jason Schwartzman, a character co-showrunner John Lee Hancock describes as an “unexpected vampire.” The series aims to present a fresh take on the mythology, moving away from customary gothic portrayals.
The show centers on Guy (Nicholas Denton), a Talamasca recruit whose first encounter is with the unconventional Burton. Hancock explained to The Hollywood Reporter the intention behind crafting such a unique vampire: “We’ve got this skeptic [Guy] who’s going to meet a vampire, and who is that vampire? I wanted it to be complicated. I didn’t want it to be a dark room with someone in a velvet chair… I wanted to meet it on its own terms. So who’s the unexpected vampire?”
Burton is depicted as a vampire who has previously betrayed others of his kind, living a comfortable, yet isolated, life in New York’s Dakota building, financially supported by the Talamasca. Despite receiving benefits, he remains wary of the organization. Hancock revealed a surprising detail about the character’s lifestyle, suggesting burton and his housekeeper likely spend Tuesday nights watching Bravo reality television, highlighting his loneliness and modern existence.
“The thing about that character is that he is someone who has sold out vampires,” Hancock said. “Yet it’s lonely, and he doesn’t fully trust the Talamasca, even though they’re paying his way and bringing him gifts.”
Schwartzman’s Burton is also highly conscious of his image, meticulously preparing for his meeting with Guy. “He knows he’s being presented. He’s the first vampire that [Guy] has ever met. How does he expect me to look? I told Jason, ‘Here’s the thing I can tell you about this character: he changed clothes five times in anticipation of this meeting to be just right.’ Jason said, ‘That’s a character I can play.'”
New episodes of Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order air Sundays on AMC and AMC+.
