Honestly, if you're living next door to a group of centuries-old vampires in Staten Island, you've basically got two options. You either end up as a drained corpse in a dumpster, or you become Charmaine Rinaldi.
Most fans of What We Do in the Shadows spend their time obsessing over Nandor’s latest existential crisis or Matt Berry’s incomparable vowel sounds as Laszlo. But if you look closely at the periphery of the chaos, you’ll find the real heart of the human element. Charmaine What We Do in the Shadows isn't just a "neighbor" character. She is the perfect foil to the supernatural absurdity.
Portrayed by the powerhouse Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, Charmaine is the Staten Island wife we all know—or at least, the one we wish we lived next to. She’s loud, she loves leopard print, and she has a tolerance for "weird" that borders on the miraculous.
The Brain Scramblies and the Rinaldi Romance
The first time we really get a taste of the Rinaldi household dynamic is in the iconic "Brain Scramblies" episode. It's a masterclass in awkward neighbor interactions. Sean, played by the brilliant Anthony Atamanuik, invites the gang over for a "Superb Owl" party.
The vampires, being idiots, think they are attending a literal celebration of a majestic bird. Charmaine is just there to host. She’s serving snacks and dealing with her husband’s high-stress gambling habits. But things go south when Sean starts suspecting that Laszlo and Nandor might be vampires because, well, they don't age and they dress like 18th-century noblemen.
To fix it, the vampires try to hypnotize Sean. They overdo it. They give him "the brain scramblies."
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What makes Charmaine’s reaction so human is that she doesn't immediately call an exorcist. When Sean comes back from his hypnotic haze, he’s basically a vegetable. Charmaine's response? She’s just happy he’s finally being nice to her. It’s dark. It’s funny. It’s exactly why Charmaine What We Do in the Shadows works so well as a character. She’s so grounded in her own suburban reality that the literal supernatural events occurring in her backyard are just "neighborhood quirks."
Marissa Jaret Winokur: Bringing the Broadway Energy
You might recognize Marissa Jaret Winokur from her legendary run as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway. Bringing that kind of "big personality" energy to a show as dry and mockumentary-style as Shadows was a stroke of genius.
She plays Charmaine with this specific New York toughness that feels lived-in. In Season 3’s "The Casino," we see her and Sean renewing their vows in Atlantic City. (Actually, it was the Monaco Grand Hotel and Casino, which is basically the same thing to them).
While the vampires are losing their minds because their "ancestral soil" was vacuumed up by housekeeping, Charmaine is just trying to have a nice time. She’s wearing her best outfits. She’s probably had a few drinks. She’s the anchor.
Why Charmaine and Sean Stay Alive
It's a legitimate question. Why hasn't the household eaten them?
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- Laszlo’s Genuine Friendship: Laszlo actually likes Sean. He calls him his "best friend, his pal, his home-boy."
- The Convenience Factor: The Rinaldis do the little things, like bringing in the trash cans when the vampires "forget" (or are asleep during the day).
- Hypnosis Overload: At this point, the Rinaldis have been hypnotized so many times their brains are probably like Swiss cheese.
There’s a hilarious bit where Charmaine is confronted with the fact that she was out late, but she insists she was in bed by 9:00 PM. She’s been wiped so many times she has no idea what her life actually looks like.
The "Marijuana" Quote That Lives Rent-Free
If you ask any hardcore fan for their favorite Charmaine What We Do in the Shadows moment, they’ll point to the "marijuana" exchange.
After the vampire wedding in Season 4, Sean is found wandering the lawn with his pants down. Charmaine finds him and blames her own confusion on her CBD cream. When Sean tries to explain what happened, she shuts it down with: "I would nevah do the marijuana!"
Sean’s scream back—"WHAT DO YOU THINK CBD IS?!"—is peak Staten Island comedy. It’s the kind of authentic, bickering-couple energy that makes the show feel real, even when there’s a literal Hellhound in the next room.
What Charmaine Represents in the Shadows Universe
Ultimately, Charmaine and Sean represent the "normal" life that the vampires are both fascinated by and completely incapable of achieving. They are the benchmark.
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Throughout the series, we see the vampires try to integrate. They go to school board meetings. They try to join private clubs. They try to host parties. But it always fails because they are monsters.
Charmaine doesn't have to try. She just is. She’s the Queen of Staten Island. She handles the vampires’ weirdness with the same "whatever" attitude she’d use for a noisy leaf blower or a stray cat.
Key Appearances to Rewatch
If you want the full Charmaine experience, you need to hit these specific episodes:
- Season 2, Episode 3: "Brain Scramblies" – The introduction to the Rinaldi household and the birth of Sean’s scrambled brain.
- Season 3, Episode 4: "The Casino" – The vow renewal and the chaos of Atlantic City.
- Season 4, Episode 6: "The Wedding" – Charmaine attending the most chaotic vampire wedding in history.
- Season 5, Episode 8: "The Roast" – Seeing the neighbors interact with the wider vampire community.
The show is heading toward its final curtain, and honestly, if the series ends without one last leopard-print-clad appearance from Charmaine, it’ll be a missed opportunity. She’s the only human (besides Guillermo) who has truly survived the house on Ashley Street with her spirit intact.
The next time you’re binge-watching, pay attention to the background of the Rinaldi house. The decor, the snacks, and Charmaine’s absolute refusal to be fazed by anything. She isn't just a neighbor; she’s a survivor.
To fully appreciate the layers of the show, go back and watch the "Brain Scramblies" episode specifically focusing on Charmaine's facial expressions while the vampires talk. It's a masterclass in "I don't get paid enough to care about this" acting.