Vampires used to be scary. Then they were sparkly. Now, thanks to a mockumentary crew following a group of roommates around Staten Island, they’re just... kind of losers. Honestly, that's why it works. What We Do in the Shadows isn't just a spin-off of a cult New Zealand film; it has become a massive cultural touchstone that manages to be both incredibly stupid and weirdly heartfelt.
You’ve got Nandor the Relentless, who was once a bloodthirsty conqueror but now spends his time worrying about his gym membership or trying to find love in all the wrong centuries. There’s Laszlo and Nadja, the married couple who have been bickering for hundreds of years. And then there is Guillermo de la Cruz. Poor, overworked, hyper-competent Guillermo.
The show works because it treats the supernatural like a boring office job. It’s the "The Office" but with more beheadings and ancient curses. If you haven't sat through the chaos of a Vampiric Council meeting or watched Colin Robinson literally bore someone to death, you’re missing out on the sharpest satire currently airing. It’s rare for a show to maintain this level of quality over multiple seasons, but the writers somehow keep finding ways to make the mundane feel magical and the magical feel utterly pathetic.
The Genius of the Energy Vampire
Most vampire lore focuses on the "cool" stuff. Turning into bats. Sleeping in coffins. Drinking blood from crystal chalices. But What We Do in the Shadows introduced the world to a much more relatable monster: the Energy Vampire.
Colin Robinson doesn't need fangs. He doesn't need a cape. He just needs a cubicle and a very long story about his grandmother's hip surgery. Mark Proksch plays this role with a terrifying level of accuracy. We all know a Colin Robinson. Maybe it’s the guy at the DMV. Maybe it’s your uncle who insists on explaining the tax code during Thanksgiving dinner.
By adding an Energy Vampire to the mix, the show creators—Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi—grounded the fantasy in something we actually experience every day. It’s a stroke of genius that separates this show from every other piece of vampire media. While Nandor is struggling with the concept of "superb owls" (which he thinks are actually owls that are superb), Colin is out there feeding on the frustration of internet trolls. It's brilliant. It's painful. It's far too real.
Why the Mockumentary Style Doesn't Feel Stale
We've seen the mockumentary format done to death. Seriously. Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, The Office—they all used the "look at the camera" trick to death. Yet, in the shadows of a crumbling Staten Island mansion, it feels fresh again.
The cameras are a character. The vampires often forget they are being filmed, leading to these incredibly vulnerable, albeit disgusting, moments. Or, they are overly performative, trying to look "cool" for the crew. The documentary format also allows for those quick-cut gags that wouldn't work in a traditional sitcom. Think about the photo montages of Laszlo’s "human" alter ego, Jackie Daytona. That joke shouldn't be as funny as it is, but the presentation makes it legendary.
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Guillermo and the Hero's Journey (Sorta)
Harvey Guillén is the heart of this show. Period.
Guillermo starts as a "familiar," which is basically a fancy word for an unpaid intern who disposes of corpses. He wants to be a vampire so badly it hurts. But then, the show throws a massive curveball: he’s actually a descendant of Van Helsing. The world's most dedicated vampire servant is also a natural-born vampire killer.
This tension drives the emotional stakes of What We Do in the Shadows. You actually care about Guillermo. You want him to get what he wants, even if what he wants is technically a curse. His relationship with Nandor is the backbone of the series. It’s a weird, co-dependent, potentially romantic, definitely toxic mess that somehow stays endearing.
The Staten Island Setting
Why Staten Island? It's the perfect joke.
These vampires think they are the rulers of the New World, but they’re stuck in a borough that most New Yorkers treat like a footnote. They live in a dilapidated mansion that looks like it belongs in a horror movie, right next to a normal suburban house with a well-manicured lawn. The juxtaposition is the point. They are out of time and out of place.
They try to attend city council meetings to "take over the world" and end up getting bogged down in zoning laws and noise complaints. It’s a reminder that even if you’re immortal, you can’t escape bureaucracy.
The Supporting Cast and Cameos
The show's ability to pull in massive stars for one-off jokes is legendary. Remember the Vampiric Council episode? Tilda Swinton, Evan Rachel Wood, Danny Trejo, and Paul Reubens all appeared as their "actual" vampire characters from other movies. It was a meta-masterpiece.
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But even the recurring side characters are gold.
- The Guide: Kristen Schaal brings her signature chaotic energy to the "bureaucrat of the underworld" role.
- Sean: The next-door neighbor who is constantly being brainwashed but remains a "good time guy."
- Simon the Devious: Nick Kroll’s recurring villain who is obsessed with a very specific, very cursed hat.
These characters fill out the world, making it feel lived-in and absurdly complex. There is a whole secret society of vampires, werewolves, and gargoyles living right under our noses, and they’re all just as dysfunctional as we are.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
People think it’s just a "funny vampire show." It isn't.
It’s a show about loneliness. If you look past the blood spatter and the bat-form transformations, you see four (well, five including Guillermo) people who are desperately trying to find a sense of belonging in a world that has moved on without them. Nandor misses his 37 wives. Nadja misses the village life. Laszlo just wants to be left alone to work on his topiary (which is all shaped like vulvas, naturally).
They’re a family. A weird, murderous, ancient family.
Technical Brilliance: Costumes and Effects
We should talk about the production value. For a comedy, the practical effects are startlingly good. The makeup on the ancient Baron Afanas is genuinely creepy, even when he’s out at a bar eating a pink cupcake. The costume design by Amanda Neale is top-tier. Every outfit Nadja wears is a gothic dream, perfectly reflecting her 16th-century Greek origins while still looking "vampire chic."
The show doesn't look cheap. It looks like a high-budget horror film that accidentally became a comedy. This visual "seriousness" makes the jokes land harder. When a character does something incredibly stupid while dressed in $5,000 worth of velvet and lace, it’s objectively funnier.
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The Legacy of the Shadows
As the show heads into its final seasons, its legacy is already secure. It proved that you could take a niche indie film and turn it into a long-running, Emmy-nominated powerhouse without losing the original soul. It didn't "sell out." It actually got weirder as it went along.
We’ve seen Colin Robinson die and be reborn as a giant-headed baby. We’ve seen the housemates go to Atlantic City and lose their "ancestral soil." We’ve seen a nightclub for vampires that is mostly just a health code violation.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Newcomers
If you’re looking to get the most out of What We Do in the Shadows, here is how to dive in or level up your fandom:
- Watch the 2014 Film First: While the show is its own thing, the movie (starring Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement) sets the tone and the rules of the world. It’s essential viewing to understand the "Council" references.
- Pay Attention to the Background: The set design is packed with "Easter eggs." The portraits on the walls often change, and the junk in the background usually tells a story about where the vampires have been over the last few centuries.
- Listen to the Dialogue Closely: The show uses "vampiric" phrasing that is easy to miss. Laszlo’s euphemisms alone deserve a dictionary.
- Follow the Cast on Social Media: Harvey Guillén and Matt Berry are particularly great at sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the makeup and stunt work.
- Look for the Folklore: Many of the "rules" the vampires follow are based on actual, obscure European folklore, not just the Bram Stoker version. Researching "vampire myths" after an episode can be a fun rabbit hole.
The show reminds us that immortality would probably be exhausting. It’s not all brooding on rooftops and dramatic monologues. Most of it is just trying to figure out how to pay the Wi-Fi bill when you don't have a social security number and your roommate keeps eating the delivery driver.
That is the true magic of the series. It takes the extraordinary and makes it hilariously ordinary. It’s the kind of show that rewards repeat viewings because the jokes are layered like a very old, very dusty onion. Whether you’re here for the "Jackie Daytona" memes or the genuine character growth of a familiar named Guillermo, there’s no denying the impact this show has had on the comedy landscape.
It’s rare to find a show that is this consistently funny while remaining so deeply weird. If you haven't stepped into the shadows yet, it's time to invite yourself in. Just make sure you leave your energy at the door—Colin Robinson is probably waiting for you.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Check Availability: Ensure you’re caught up on Hulu or Disney+ depending on your region.
- Soundtrack Exploration: Look up the show's theme song, "You're Dead" by Norma Tanega; it's a 1966 folk gem that perfectly encapsulates the show's vibe.
- Attend a Convention: The cast frequently appears at NYCC and SDCC, providing deep dives into the production process that aren't available elsewhere.