Vampires are usually sexy. Or terrifying. Or sparkly, if you’re still living in 2008. But the vampires in What We Do in the Shadows Hulu? They are mostly just idiots. They’re roommates who argue about who didn't wash the blood-stained dishes or why no one has conquered Staten Island yet despite living there for over a century. It’s a miracle they haven't accidentally walked into a sunrise while looking for a lost remote.
Honestly, that’s why the show works.
When FX and Hulu teamed up to bring Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s 2014 cult film to the small screen, people were skeptical. You can’t blame them. Remaking a perfect mockumentary is a gamble that usually ends in a cringe-worthy disaster. But somehow, the show didn't just meet the bar—it cleared it, did a celebratory dance, and then fell into an open grave.
The Staten Island Coven You Actually Want to Hang With
The setup is basic. We follow four vampires sharing a dilapidated Victorian mansion in New York’s least glamorous borough. You’ve got Nandor the Relentless, who was once a fierce warrior and is now mostly just confused by the concept of "creepy paper" (crepe paper). Then there’s Nadja and Laszlo, a married vampire couple who spend their time either insulting everyone or reminiscing about their centuries-long sex life in ways that make you want to hide under a rug.
But the real genius of What We Do in the Shadows Hulu—and the reason it stays fresh—is the inclusion of Guillermo and Colin Robinson.
Guillermo is Nandor’s "familiar." He spends years doing the vampires' laundry and disposing of bodies in hopes of being turned into a vampire himself. He’s the heart of the show. His journey from a subservient assistant to a badass vampire hunter (turns out he's a descendant of Van Helsing, talk about awkward) provides the actual emotional stakes. Then there’s Colin Robinson. He’s an energy vampire. He doesn't suck blood; he sucks the life out of you by talking about zoning laws or explaining how a toaster works. We all know a Colin Robinson. That's the horror of it.
Why the Mockumentary Style Still Hits
The "found footage" or mockumentary style should be dead by now. The Office did it. Parks and Rec did it. It’s a tired trope. Yet, in the hands of showrunner Paul Simms and the writing team, it feels vital. The cameras aren't just there to capture the jokes; they are part of the world.
The characters acknowledge the crew. They get frustrated when the cameras catch them being pathetic. There’s a specific kind of comedy that only comes from a vampire accidentally turning into a bat and hitting a closed window, followed by a quick, sheepish glance at the lens. It creates a level of intimacy that a standard sitcom couldn't touch.
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Beyond the Gags: The Lore and Guest Stars
One thing people often overlook is how well the show handles actual vampire mythology. It doesn't just mock the genre; it honors it. They take the "rules"—no garlic, no silver, needing an invitation to enter a house—and turn them into logistical nightmares.
Remember the Vampire Council episode? That was a turning point. They managed to get Tilda Swinton, Wesley Snipes, Paul Reubens, and Danny Trejo to play "themselves" as vampires. It wasn't just a cameo fest. It grounded the show in a wider universe where every vampire movie ever made is secretly canon.
And let’s talk about "Jackie Daytona." If you haven't seen the episode where Laszlo goes into hiding as a regular human bartender in Pennsylvania, you haven't lived. It’s peak television. It proves that Matt Berry’s comedic timing is a literal weapon. He puts a toothpick in his mouth and suddenly he’s a completely different person. Or at least, he thinks he is.
The Evolution of the Familiar
Guillermo de la Cruz (played by Harvey Guillén) is the MVP. His character arc is actually quite tragic if you stop laughing for a second. He spent over a decade being a literal slave to a guy who forgets his name half the time.
The dynamic shifted drastically when his Van Helsing lineage came to light. Suddenly, the most dangerous person in the house wasn't the guy who could turn into mist; it was the guy who could throw a wooden stake with surgical precision. This power dynamic flip-flop is what keeps the plot moving. If it were just the vampires failing at life for six seasons, we’d get bored. But seeing Guillermo grapple with his loyalty versus his destiny? That’s good writing.
Streaming vs. Cable: The Hulu Factor
Having the show on Hulu has been a game-changer for its longevity. While it airs on FX, the "FX on Hulu" partnership allowed it to find a massive secondary audience that doesn't own a cable box.
Binge-watching this show is a different experience. You start noticing the background details—the weird taxidermy, the ancient portraits that change slightly, the way the house slowly falls apart over the seasons. It’s a dense show. You miss half the jokes on the first pass because you’re laughing too hard at the first one.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
There’s a misconception that this is just "vampire South Park" or something purely absurd. It’s actually surprisingly smart about interpersonal relationships. It’s about people (well, undead people) who have lived together for so long that they are effectively a dysfunctional family.
They bicker, they sabotage each other, but they also can't function alone. When Nandor goes through a mid-life (or mid-death) crisis and joins a wellness cult, the others are genuinely concerned, even if they show it in the most toxic ways possible. It’s a show about loneliness and the weird people we find to stave it off.
Why the Humor Isn't For Everyone (But Should Be)
Look, if you hate slapstick or dry, British-inflected humor, you might struggle for the first ten minutes. But the writing is so tight that it eventually wears you down. It’s a mix of high-brow wit and the lowest-brow fart jokes imaginable. It shouldn't work. It’s a tonal mess on paper. But in practice, it’s a symphony of chaos.
They also aren't afraid to be dark. It is a show about killers, after all. They eat people. Frequently. The show never lets you forget that these "lovable losers" are actually monsters. That edge keeps it from becoming too sweet or sentimental.
The Cultural Impact of the Energy Vampire
We have to circle back to Colin Robinson. Mark Proksch’s performance has literally changed how we describe boring people. "Energy Vampire" is now part of the common lexicon.
The show’s exploration of his "species" is some of the most creative world-building in recent years. In one season, he dies and is reborn as a baby with a giant adult head. It’s horrifying. It’s hilarious. It’s something only this show could pull off without losing the audience. It’s a testament to the trust they’ve built with the viewers.
Technical Brilliance in the Shadows
The practical effects deserve a shoutout. In an era where everything is smoothed over with bad CGI, this show uses a lot of wirework, prosthetics, and clever camera angles.
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When a character flies, they look heavy and awkward, like a person actually dangling from a string. It fits the aesthetic. The costume design is also top-tier. Every outfit Nadja wears is a gothic masterpiece that looks like it’s been rotting in a trunk since 1890. It’s this attention to detail that makes the world feel lived-in.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re caught up on What We Do in the Shadows Hulu, or if you’re just starting, pay attention to the "familiar" hierarchy. There’s a whole secret world of human servants in New York that the show explores periodically. It’s a biting satire of the gig economy.
Also, watch the background when Colin Robinson is talking. The actors playing the "victims" of his draining are often doing incredible physical comedy as they slowly lose the will to live.
Essential Next Steps for Fans
To truly appreciate the craftsmanship behind the series, you should diversify how you consume the franchise. Don't just stop at the TV show.
- Watch the 2014 film if you haven't. It features different characters (Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav) but exists in the same universe. You'll see several cameos from them in the show.
- Track down Wellington Paranormal. It’s a spin-off from the original movie following the two police officers who investigate supernatural occurrences in New Zealand. It has the same DNA and dry wit.
- Listen to the Matt Berry "Toast of London" albums or watch his other work. Understanding his comedic background makes his performance as Laszlo even funnier.
- Pay attention to the credits. The show uses incredible, often obscure, folk and international music that sets the tone perfectly.
The show is currently moving toward its final chapters, and the stakes (pun intended) have never been higher for Guillermo and the gang. Whether he finally becomes a vampire or the house finally burns down around them, the journey has been one of the most consistent comedic runs in the last twenty years. There's no filler here. Every episode is a dense, bloody, ridiculous gift to fans of the genre.
Go back to the pilot. Watch it again. You’ll realize that the seeds for the most recent plot twists were planted years ago. That's the mark of a show that knows exactly what it is and where it's going. It’s a masterpiece of the macabre, and it’s waiting for you to hit play.---