It finally happened. We knew it was coming, but knowing and seeing are two very different things when it comes to the Staten Island housemates. The What We Do in the Shadows finale didn't just wrap up a season; it closed the coffin on a six-season run that redefined how we look at mockumentaries. Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle the show stayed this funny for this long. Most comedies start to smell a little bit like a dusty crypt by season four, but somehow, Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, Colin Robinson, and Guillermo kept the chaos fresh.
They didn't go for the obvious "everyone dies" or "everyone becomes human" trope. Instead, the creators opted for something a lot more grounded, if you can call a show about ancient vampires "grounded."
The Long Road to the What We Do in the Shadows Finale
To really understand why the What We Do in the Shadows finale hit the way it did, you have to look at the trajectory of Guillermo de la Cruz. For years, we watched him pine for a life he wasn't really built for. He wanted to be a vampire so badly he could taste it. But as we saw in the penultimate season and the lead-up to the end, the reality of being an apex predator is actually kind of gross. It involves a lot of murder. Guillermo, for all his Van Helsing DNA and combat skills, is a softie.
The finale leaned hard into the idea of legacy. What do these creatures leave behind after hundreds of years of doing absolutely nothing?
Laszlo Cravensworth spent most of the series being the most arrogant man in the room, but his final arc showed a weird, twisted kind of growth. He’s still a pervert. He’s still obsessed with topiary. But he’s also the closest thing the group has to a protective father figure, even if that protection usually involves a lot of yelling and unnecessary experiments.
Why the Documentary Format Mattered Until the End
The camera crew. We often forget they are actually "characters" in the show. In the What We Do in the Shadows finale, the fourth wall wasn't just tapped on; it was acknowledged as the only reason we know these idiots at all. Think about it. Without the documentary crew, Nandor would have just sat in a dark room for eighty years straight. The presence of the cameras forced them to perform, to explain themselves, and eventually, to face the reality of their stagnation.
It's actually pretty funny when you think about the logistics. How many camera operators died making this show? The finale doesn't shy away from the absurdity of the premise.
🔗 Read more: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
Nandor and the Weight of Immortality
Nandor the Relentless is the heart of the show's sadness. While Laszlo and Nadja have each other, Nandor has his familiar and his horse. Mostly his familiar. The What We Do in the Shadows finale had to resolve the tension between Nandor and Guillermo, a dynamic that has fluctuated between master/servant, best friends, and something much more codependent.
Nandor’s struggle has always been boredom. When you’ve lived for centuries, what is left to do? You've pillaged. You've conquered. You've tried to use a treadmill.
In the final episodes, the writers explored the "Jerry" character—the former roommate who woke up after a long slumber. This was a brilliant move. It showed the viewers (and the vampires) exactly what they would become if they didn't change: relics. Jerry was the mirror. He was the version of them that didn't have a documentary crew or a Guillermo to keep them tethered to the modern world.
The Colin Robinson Factor
We can't talk about the end without mentioning the energy vampire in the room. Colin Robinson is the most terrifying character on television because he is the most real. We all know a Colin. The finale didn't try to "fix" him. That would have been a mistake. Colin Robinson doesn't need a redemptive arc because he doesn't think anything is wrong. He’s just looking for a way to drain the most people possible.
His role in the conclusion was perfectly mundane.
How the Ending Stacks Up Against the Movie
Comparing the What We Do in the Shadows finale to the original Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi film is inevitable. The movie was a tight, 90-minute cult classic. The show had to sustain that energy for dozens of hours.
💡 You might also like: The A Wrinkle in Time Cast: Why This Massive Star Power Didn't Save the Movie
The TV show leaned much more heavily into the "found family" aspect. The movie was about roommates who happened to be vampires. The show was about a family that was stuck together by fate and sheer incompetence. The ending reflected that shift. It wasn't about a clean break; it was about the messy, ongoing nature of relationships that literally never end.
Some fans were worried the show would end on a cliffhanger or a tragic note. But that wouldn't fit the vibe. This isn't The Sopranos. It’s a show where a man turns into a bat and flies into a glass door. The ending needed to be as ridiculous as the beginning.
The Production Reality of the Final Season
Behind the scenes, the decision to end with Season 6 wasn't a cancellation in the traditional sense. It was a choice. Showrunner Paul Simms and the writing staff, including voices like Marika Sawyer and Sarah Naftalis, realized that there are only so many ways you can play with the "vampire out of water" trope.
They filmed in Toronto, as usual, turning the suburbs into a gothic playground. The production design in the final season went all out. The house felt more cluttered, more lived-in, and more like a character than ever before.
Key Takeaways from the Series Conclusion
If you're looking for the "point" of the What We Do in the Shadows finale, it's basically this: change is possible, but it’s slow. Very slow.
- Guillermo’s Independence: He finally realized that his value doesn't come from being a vampire.
- The Vampire Bond: Despite their bickering, the core trio is inseparable. They are trapped in an eternal loop of their own making.
- The Humor: The show never lost its edge. The jokes stayed fast, mean, and incredibly silly.
What to Watch Now the Shadows are Gone
It’s a bit of a grieving process when a show this unique ends. There isn't much else like it. You could go back and watch Wellington Paranormal, which exists in the same universe but focuses on the cops. Or you could dive into Our Flag Means Death for that same mixture of heart and absurdity.
📖 Related: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
But honestly? The best thing to do is just start the pilot again. Seeing "Nandor the Relentless" trying to buy glitter for a vampire party hits different once you’ve seen the end of his journey.
The legacy of the show is its commitment to the bit. It never tried to be "important" or "preachy." It just wanted to show us that being immortal would actually be a huge pain in the neck.
Moving Forward After the Finale
If you want to keep the spirit of the show alive, the next logical step is exploring the deeper lore that inspired the series. Look into the history of the mockumentary format, specifically how The Office and Parks and Recreation paved the way for the camera-work used here. You can also track the careers of Matt Berry and Kayvan Novak—both have massive bodies of work in UK comedy that explain exactly how they developed their perfect comedic timing.
Don't go looking for a reboot or a spin-off yet. Let the finale sit for a bit. The beauty of the What We Do in the Shadows finale is that it actually feels like an ending, which is a rare gift in the era of endless content.
Check out the official FX behind-the-scenes specials if you haven't yet. They show the incredible practical effects and prosthetic work that went into the final episodes, proving that even in the age of CGI, nothing beats a guy in a rubber suit and some clever lighting.