‘What We Do in the Shadows’ is approaching the end, but ‘life goes on’ in the vampire comedy

'What We Do in the Shadows' is approaching the end, but 'life goes on' in the vampire comedy 1

As a devoted fan of “What We Do in the Shadows,” I must express my utter admiration for the exceptional talent and dedication shown by Mark Proksch in his portrayal of Colin Robinson, the energy vampire. His ability to transform what initially started as a one-note character into a central figure with depth and humor is nothing short of remarkable.

Initially, when Harvey Guillén discovered that his “What We Do in the Shadows” character, Guillermo, was going to transform into a vampire, he assumed the series had come to an end.

The actor reminisces during a video chat from Spain that they weren’t informed about Guillermo transforming into a vampire until our annual meeting started; I had assumed we were finishing up the project, since there seemed to be no other direction for his character.

It was surprising to learn that the creators of the renowned vampire mockumentary had additional tales to share. In the sixth and concluding season of “What We Do in the Shadows,” which premiered last week and airs every Monday up until December 16th, viewers can expect to witness Guillermo’s struggle with deciding his future after giving up his lifelong aspiration of becoming a vampire. In the Season 5 finale, Nandor presented Guillermo with a tough decision: become a vampire or revert back to being human. He opted for humanity, but this choice came at the cost of his friend Derek (Chris Sandiford), the vampire who transformed him. However, luckily for Derek, he was revived by the Necromancer (Benedict Wong) in exchange for the money Guillermo had paid Derek to transform him, minus the $270 spent on “vampire clothing” from Hot Topic.

'What We Do in the Shadows' is approaching the end, but 'life goes on' in the vampire comedy

Paul Simms, the showrunner and executive producer of ‘Shadows’, explains that this season focuses largely on the character’s attempts to establish an independent life and leave his vampire past behind. He adds that they had meaningful discussions in the writers’ room about such themes, which resonate with many people’s personal experiences.

In 2019, an otherworldly comedy made its debut, focusing on a quirky ensemble consisting of four vampires: Nandor, played by Kayvan Novak; Laszlo, portrayed by Matt Berry; Nadja, enacted by Natasia Demetriou; and Colin Robinson, embodied by Mark Proksch. Additionally, there’s Guillermo, who used to live with them in their Staten Island residence but has since relocated to Laszlo’s garden shed. The shed is where a peculiar smell – musty – lingers.

Beyond Guillermo’s quest for employment, the final season will find Laszlo renewing his dedication to an old scientific endeavor – reanimating a human. Nadja will continue to satisfy her curiosity about humans, Colin will look for companionship, and Nandor may unexpectedly discover love. As Simms explains, the season is designed to be appealing to new viewers while still offering intricate details that long-time fans will appreciate.

Although the showrunner is keeping secrets about the final episode, which, like previous seasons, was penned during filming, he labels it as “bittersweet” and refers to it as a “happily concluding tale.

“No one dies,” says Simms. “There’s a sense that life goes on.”

For the past five consecutive years, the television series, drawing inspiration from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s 2014 film of the same name, has generated captivating storylines and characters. This adaptation has expanded a vampiric universe that surpasses its original source material. Recently, Simms and the cast of “Shadows” have been on their final tour, which I had the opportunity to join at San Diego Comic-Con in July, interviewing them again prior to their visit to New York Comic Con. The actors mentioned that it felt unusual not to be preparing for filming in Toronto during this season. (Demetriou was unable to attend NYCC following the birth of her child.) As “Shadows” wraps up, the actors and showrunner share their personal recollections, edited for clarity and brevity, about significant moments and character progressions within the series.

Guillermo learns the vampiric lifestyle is not for him

Guillermo de la Cruz resides within a house inhabited by vampires. At first, he was known as Nandor’s loyal servant; however, it was later unveiled that Guillermo hails from the esteemed Van Helsing lineage of vampire hunters – a fact that even the creator, Guillén, found unexpected when selecting the surname “De la Cruz” for his character, assuming it would symbolize the vampires’ indifference towards him given its religious connotations.

In an interview, Guillén stated that as the sole human character on the series, he has been consistently developing each year. He’s not the same character from the pilot episode at the end of Season 1, and certainly not the one you’ll see by the end of Season 6.

In Season 4, Guillermo decided to speed up Nandor’s plan by performing the transformation on himself instead. However, in Season 5, Guillermo found that becoming a vampire wasn’t quite as satisfying as he had imagined.

'What We Do in the Shadows' is approaching the end, but 'life goes on' in the vampire comedy

Guillermo de la Cruz featured on “What We Do in the Shadows” during its first season. (Russ Martin/FX)

Guillén: I told him his background was being constantly bullied, and he found solace in daydreaming about being a vampire. He grew up under strict household rules in a Mexican family, and home wasn’t always the most comfortable place to be. I believe he never fully accepted who he was himself.

Simms: In the first season, there was a consensus among us that if Guillermo ever achieved his dream and turned into a vampire, the show would have reached its end. There seemed to be no further direction. However, amidst the turmoil and urgency of brainstorming for the next season in the writers’ room, we found ourselves intrigued by the possibility of him actually becoming a vampire. Given our fondness for the character, it felt organic that he would transform into a vampire, only to later recognize, ‘I’m not truly a killer.’

It’s important to remember in life, Guillén believes, that while we may yearn deeply for certain things – such as a specific family size, a white picket fence, or a marriage at a particular age – not everyone is destined for these exact scenarios. This isn’t due to lack of worthiness or deservingness, but rather because the universe has an alternate, unimagined path prepared specifically for you, which you couldn’t even consider because you were fixated on this limited path.

Nandor can’t admit he cares (or let go)

Nandor the Relentless, known as the leader of his vampire household, was once a formidable ruler over an imaginary kingdom within the Ottoman Empire. In today’s era, however, he has become somewhat softer and is frequently searching for love in unexpected or unsuitable places.

Novak shared that playing Nandor was delightful due to his peculiar blend of silliness and sensitivity. This trait provides a striking contrast to his tough warrior exterior that suggests pillaging, killing, and other harsh activities. However, beneath this facade lies a gentle, endearing, and somewhat childlike character.

Though he does not often show it, Nandor has come to care for Guillermo, his former familiar whose longtime dream was to become a vampire. Even after Guillermo went to another vampire to turn him — which is considered a great betrayal in the vampire social order — Nandor helped Guillermo become human again when he saw he was unhappy.

Guillermo finally got what he desired, stripping Nandor of any control over him. Now, Guillermo has no further desires from Nandor; instead, he wishes to move forward with his life. However, Nandor won’t let go that easily since it feels like an acknowledgement of being discarded. To continue their association without admitting his feelings, Nandor will concoct excuses. Despite this, he secretly cares for Guillermo, but refuses to admit it.

Guillén suggests that the portrayal of two male characters being deeply connected without sexual involvement challenges traditional views on male friendships. It’s peculiar because strong bonds between men are often viewed with suspicion, whereas similar relationships between women are accepted. He believes these characters have contributed to normalizing close friendships among men, where friendship can exist independently of questions about romantic or sexual attraction. The ambiguity in their relationship, he adds, is part of the norm now, as boundaries can become blurred in such deep friendships.

Novak: Working with Harvey has always been a pleasure for me. We’ve had the opportunity to perform some quite intense, emotional scenes. While you play the comedic vampire role, there are also moments when we delve into deeper, almost melodramatic scenes. The trust we share makes it easier for us to delve deeply into these scenes and deliver them convincingly. It requires us to be truly vulnerable instead of relying solely on humor or facial expressions. Our relationship is dysfunctional, but I believe many people can relate to it.

Laszlo goes on the run

Living on Staten Island is a well-educated, self-taught British vampire named Laszlo Cravensworth who has diverse academic pursuits. He’s also known for his open sexuality among the vampire roommates, so it’s hard to predict where a discussion might lead when Laszlo joins in.

Berry shared that the aspect of the job she cherishes most is the element of surprise and being unexpected. She expressed that even when faced with challenging situations during improvisation, they never lost hope and felt liberated to explore the given materials.

In Season 2, Laszlo conceals himself in a quaint Pennsylvania town to evade a vampire creditor named Jim (Mark Hamill). While there, he assumes the identity of “Jackie Daytona,” giving rise to a timeless comedy from “What We Do in the Shadows.

Simms: There’s constant curiosity about when Jackie Daytona will return. You might believe you want him back, but our initial portrayal was so compelling that his return could only disappoint. I recall the excitement in the writers’ room when we first conceived the idea, laughing about transforming our documentary into something entirely different, resembling “Harlan County, USA.” The concept of Laszlo fleeing, the documentary crew pursuing him, and it abruptly becoming a documentary about a struggling steel town revitalized by his hopeful presence was intriguing.

As a devoted film enthusiast, reminiscing about a captivating episode from my past, I had the privilege of viewing the prop box labeled “On the Run”. To my astonishment, everything inside seemed as if I’d just moments ago set it there myself. The memory felt like it was but yesterday, yet seeing those familiar items evoked an odd sense of disorientation. It’s a strange feeling, but I’m overjoyed that the episode resonated so strongly with viewers. Stefani Robinson did an exceptional job penning this masterpiece. The toothpick details? Those were all her brilliant ideas.

Simms: We had assumed that [Laszlo] wore a somewhat subtle human mask, but it was [Stefani] who suggested the idea of jeans and a toothpick for him to fully blend in. Such simple items are all he needs to completely transform his appearance. Stefani also came up with the name Jackie Daytona, which I find amusing because it seems like a vampire’s notion of the most ordinary American human name. With the moniker Jackie Daytona and hailing from Tucson, Arizona, he struggles to pronounce the name correctly.

Nadja and her mini-me

Originating from the humble life of a peasant girl on the island of Antipaxos five centuries ago, Nadja, who now lives alone in a house inhabited by vampires, has dabbled in various professions throughout her long life. She’s sought membership in the governing body of the vampire world, known as the vampiric council, and even owned a nightclub, all with the intention of ascending the social ranks within the vampire society.

Demetriou remarked, “She’s an incredibly assertive and self-assured woman, who some might call foolish, but she’s a dream. If a human had to set fire to their own club for insurance reasons, it would likely be a turning point in their life. But for Nadja, it’s just another step forward.

At a tender age, transformed into a vampire, Nadja exhibits an unusual fascination with humans. She frequently communicates with the spirit of her past human self, which inhabits a doll resembling herself. The Nadja doll was initially presented in Season 2, but it has since played a significant role in many of its own storylines.

Demetriou: Everyone found an enjoyable part in the “Ghosts” episode since we all encountered our ghostly counterparts from past lives. The doll that arrived on set was incredibly lifelike and impressive. Initially, I don’t believe there were any plans to include the doll in future episodes. However, upon seeing it on set and appreciating its realistic fit into the show’s world, the decision was made to keep the doll as a recurring character. She truly excelled at her role. In just a blink of an eye, she transitioned from being a guest actor to a regular one.

Simms: Originally, the Nadja doll was intended as a one-time joke in that specific episode. However, our prosthetics expert Paul Jones crafted such an impressive doll that we found ourselves incorporating her into other episodes gradually. There are subtle touches by costume designer Laura Montgomery too, like she’s often dressed in a scaled-down version of what Nadja wears. Shooting the Nadja doll isn’t simple because it needs puppeteers and additional equipment, but it’s a delightful character. Many aspects of our show started as one-time jokes that we found so enjoyable, we decided to continue them.

Demetriou: As soon as I laid eyes on that doll, it felt like she was my own child. Yet, it holds a deeper meaning. It represents loving oneself, embracing your past self – in the form of a doll. That’s quite an unusual statement. I found it incredibly natural to perform with the doll due to the skilled puppeteers, making her appear as if she were truly alive. It’s not digital effects; her eyes and hands move independently. When they make her walk, they use a special rig for support.

Colin Robinson all over again

Initially intended as a humorous gag for the first episode alone, Colin Robinson eventually became a key character in the show due to Proksch’s side-splitting performance as the energy-draining character.

Initially, I worried that the role would be too limited, lacking depth and appeal, Proksch admitted. However, following Season 1, he approached Paul Simms, who had already anticipated this need, and realized it was essential to expand the character’s universe, allowing for more humorous dialogue and varied actions for me to perform.

Characters portrayed as daywalkers who sustain themselves by siphoning off others’ vitality instead of blood, energy vampires represent an innovative concept devised by the “Shadows” crew. As the storyline unfolded, they needed to establish unique rules and folklore for these entities to adhere to in the series.

A rule implemented towards the end of the third season established that an energy vampire lives for precisely 100 years. On his hundredth birthday, Colin met an untimely, gassy death and emerged from his corpse as a newborn baby. The entirety of Season 4 was dedicated to Colin’s transformation back into his original form. However, even Proksch, the creator, found Colin’s initial demise unexpected.

Proksch: Paul Simms, the showrunner, overlooked informing me about my character’s death in the show, despite our friendship. I don’t believe he was concerned that I would feel excluded, he just slipped up on communication. The revelation left me wondering if my performance could potentially harm the series. However, as I received the scripts, it became clear that the writers had a firm grasp of the situation. My main task was to convincingly portray Colin at various stages of his life – from infancy to adolescence – without overacting or forcing humor.

Simms: Much of that particular season was influenced by my own kids, who were approximately 9 and 11 years old at the time. On one occasion, we went for a lengthy walk together, and I took down our conversation to share with Mark Proksch, so he could understand what it’s like when you listen to a child chatter endlessly about Lego and Roblox, and how they can sometimes drain your energy like little energy-consuming entities.

Proksch: Being childless, I was completely clueless about these references except for Legos. I had to look them up. I aimed to capture the rhythm as much as possible. Acting isn’t something I was trained in. It was novel to me, this preparation. It was enjoyable experiencing the real-life actor moment.

2024-10-28 13:32

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