WARNING: Spoilers Ahead for Episode 9 of “Vampire Academy”
Strigoi violates St. Vladimir’s Academy, and poor Mia Karp was a key part of doing so in the final episode of “Vampire Academy”. And, according to series star Mia McKenna-Bruce, the finale is about to bring “chaos.”
In fairness, Mia didn’t intentionally help Strigoi attack. She was just kidnapped, and used as a bargaining chip for Strigoi to free her recently made sister Sonya. This, of course, comes soon after Mia learns that her own father has allowed Sonya to use his spiritual powers to heal her several times, eventually leading the darkness to consume her, As a result of which she turned into strigoi. And on top of that, Mia’s got to worry about a budding affair with Meredith, especially since Meredith has been trying to spend time with her, to no avail. it is enough.
“I didn’t really process what she was going through,” McKenna-Bruce told TheWrap. “Everything was happening slowly, and then I got to a point where I was having a conversation” [showrunner] Marguerite McIntyre, and then we both sat there and it was like, ‘Oh my god, Mia’s been through So Very, ‘You know?’
And now, Mia has to survive the night as Strigoi attacks. Because, as it turns out, the real puppeteer here was none other than Tatiana Vogel, who would do literally anything to reignite the dominion. This involves stealing the stake controlling the wards, killing the guardians who protect him, and allowing Strigoi to massacre his people.
“It was chaos. It was organized chaos, but it was chaos,” McKenna-Bruce teases the ensuing nightmare.
You can read more of TheWrap’s conversation with Mia McKenna-Bruce about Episode 9 of “Vampire Academy” below.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
First and foremost Mia, I need to apologize. Because the first time you and I spoke at the beginning of this series, I said I don’t know how much I trust Mia. And of course, that’s just one big old cinnamon roll. he is a kind person who Is Clever and knows what she wants, but she is a good egg. So for the official record, sorry, I made the wrong decision.
No, that’s cool because that’s what we want! We wish this ‘Mia out for herself’ from Offset and then you realize that just isn’t all there for her!
However, she sometimes makes some interesting choices, so before we get into that, let’s talk episode 8. There is tension. There is tension between Mia and Meredith. How hard was it for you to deal with such a horrifying moment with Ryan Blundell? Because I know you guys love each other.
Yes! Do you know what, it was so hard, because obviously, we filmed a lot till the pairing of the two of them settled. So then to get to this point, plus clearly Mia had so much going on, that it was a real one – she hasn’t intentionally seen Meredith or anything like that. So I think it was a really real one coming from Mia, but then there was also a really real hurt coming from Meredith. So it was very difficult!
He definitely has a lot going for him. This poor girl has lost her sister, and finding out in episode 9 that her father is low-key is a little terrifying. These are some really, really emotional moments for Mia, and you really have to tap into this vulnerable part of yourself. How do you see yourself being in a good headspace when you’re not filming?
I mean, I had a dog with me in Spain. And I think there’s always an answer to everything. (laughs). But I mean, I didn’t really process what she was going through. Everything was happening slowly, and then I got to the point where I was having a conversation [showrunner] Marguerite McIntyre, and then we both sat there and it was like, ‘Oh my god, Mia’s been through So Very, ‘You know? His hands hurt, and, you know, he’s got a really exciting part of his life where he’s falling in love, but his real life is falling apart too. So it was to achieve a kind of balance that everything is falling apart, but at the same time, there is one thing, Meredith, holding everything together. So it’s finding that balance, I guess.
Well, then she gets kidnapped and whatever is going on in her life, she is kidnapped. How scary is Strigoi on set? Cause I’m genuinely worried about seeing them on screen, So are they personally terrible?
Yes. (laughs). Absolutely. I mean, the guys we’ve seen playing Strigoi are incredible. Therefore, even when they are simply moving around the set, they will move in a way that the strigos move. So you look at them and you’re like, immediately, they look like straight monsters. Before we were filming a scene.
I think they all spend seven hours or something like that in makeup too prosthetics. So it’s very realistic, what are they doing with them. Seeing them in their makeup, the way they do it – it’s so realistic. This is unbelievable.
So tell us about seeing your onscreen sister Sonya, Jonetta Kaiser in her strigoi makeup. Because obviously, it’s heartbreaking when Mia sees him for the first time. Screaming, and just absolute heartbreaking.
The first time I actually saw Jonetta in her makeup, I had no idea she would be in her makeup. So I just knocked on the door of her trailer, and she opened the door and obviously was like Strigoi and I did, I was really, scared. And then I was with him in his trailer, we were just having dinner, having dinner on set. And I just kept saying, ‘I can’t look at you. I can’t look at you.’
And then of course, Sonya becomes a piece of distraction to launch an attack on St. Vladimir. What can you tell me about it, because it’s obviously going to be massive,
I mean, these were, I think, my favorite scenes for the film, because it was just this kind of collective energy. We were filming a lot at night, so everyone was really preparing themselves for these night shoots and making sure they had enough energy to complete the night. And it was chaos. It was organized anarchy, but it was anarchy.
And I got to do a lot with Dre, who plays Christian, we had a great time. So it was about keeping our energy up at all times. But that kind of came pretty easily because you know, when there was – I can’t remember exactly how many extras there were, but there were loads of extras, and they were all great to keep going. Even, you know, at 3, 4 in the morning.
And it’s a friendship that fans really like between Christian and Mia.
Yes! I love it because it was so unexpected too. But then when you actually see it, it’s definitely okay! They both have gone through similar journeys in different ways. So it’s like, oh, really, this is a friendship that really makes sense. And I mean, in real life, he’s one of my closest friends. So we always have the best time.
Episode Nine of “Vampire Academy” is now running on Peacock.